What are MPs voting on and what are the consequences for Boris Johnson?
MPs are set to vote on Monday on the Privileges Committee’s findings over whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate while in No 10.
The former prime minister quit as an MP the week before the committee published its long-awaited report.
His explosive resignation letter has triggered a furious bout of in-fighting in the Conservative Party and handed Rishi Sunak another by-election headache, with the Tories now facing at least three potentially troublesome nights at the polls after MPs stepped down.
What did the Privileges Committee find?
The Commons group of cross-party MPs recommended a 90-day suspension for Mr Johnson’s “repeated contempts” of Parliament had he not quit his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat in the days before they published their recommendations.
In their damning 108-page report, the committee also said Mr Johnson should be denied a parliamentary pass usually given to former MPs.
They concluded Mr Johnson made “deliberate attempts to mislead the committee and the House”, detailing four occasions in which Mr Johnson lied to the Commons about Partygate.
The committee also found that he was guilty of a further contempt after impugning the committee, thereby “undermining the democratic process of the House”
Mr Johnson had also been “complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the Committee”, according to the report which was published after a year-long inquiry.
What are MPs voting on?
In the Commons on Monday afternoon MPs will debate the report’s findings and face a possible vote on whether or not they endorse the Privileges Committee inquiry.
Whether or not a vote on the report takes place depends in part on how many Johnson loyalists decide to oppose the report.
But if there is a vote, it is expected to pass easily.
Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.
What have senior Tories said?
Rishi Sunak has refused to say whether he will vote in the Commons today on the Privileges Committee report on Boris Johnson.
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss said the report that found her predecessor Mr Johnson had misled MPs was “overly harsh”.
Speaking at a conference in Dublin on Monday, she confirmed would not be back in London in time for the Commons vote.
The debate comes after the Sunday Mirror obtained a video appearing to show Conservative staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions at the height of the pandemic.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who apologised this weekend for the video showing Tory staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions, will also abstain from a vote.
But senior Conservative MP Damian Green said abstaining from the vote to approve the damning report into Boris Johnson on Monday would not be rising to the occasion.
Mr Johnson has urged supporters not to vote against the committee’s findings, but dozens of Tory MPs are expected to abstain.
What are the consequences for Mr Johnson?
As Mr Johnson has resigned as an MP the committee’s recommendations that he is banned for 90-days cannot be enforced now.
Ex-MPs are usually offered Parliamentary Passes which enable them to move freely around the parliamentary estate, but Commons could agree to remove Mr Johnson’s in a vote on the sanction.
Former Commons speaker John Bercow was banned from holding a pass after an investigation found him guilty of bullying in 2022.
Ex-Labour MP Chris Williamson had his pass revoked last year after concerns were raised over his work for Iranian state television.
In his resignation letter, Mr Johnson appeared to leave open the prospect of a return to the Commons.
The vote could have ramifications for any comeback, with Tories critical of Mr Johnson not wanting to be seen to side with him following the commitee’s conclusions.
However, allies of the former PM who see him as the victim may feel he should be backed if he wants to return as an MP.
