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ITV News correspondent Romili Weeks explains why more than Boris Johnson’s support is pouring in, as two other Tory MPs are pushing for his resignation amid criticism of alleged lack of integrity.
Boris Johnson will face a third party after lawmakers agreed that the Privileges Committee should investigate whether he misled parliament with his multiple denials of Downing Street parties during the coronavirus blockade.
There was no need for the Municipality to vote on whether to launch an investigation, as the proposal passed without resistance.
It was a disastrous debate for Mr Johnson with several Tory MPs who used their time in the Municipalities to call on the Prime Minister to resign.
Tory senior Steve Baker said the opportunity for him to forgive the prime minister for violating his own coronavirus rules was “gone”, adding: “The prime minister just needs to know that the concert is ready.”
“Really harmful”: Robert Peston tells how today’s events show that support for the Prime Minister is fragmented among Tory MPs
Conservative backbender William Ragg told lawmakers he “can’t put up with” Johnson remaining prime minister, reminding lawmakers he has already submitted a no-confidence motion against the Tory leader.
He rejected the argument that the war in Ukraine should keep the prime minister in office, saying: “The invasion of a sovereign nation by a dictatorial aggressor should not be a reason for us to adopt lower standards.”
Listen to the ITV news podcast What you need to know – with the latest in partygate research
Conservative MP Anthony Mangle said he could not forgive the prime minister for “misleading the House”.
“Every day I see violations of problems and rules in this place only confirms my conviction that we must stand in this place and show clearly that dishonesty, inaction and deception of the House can not be tolerated by anyone .
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said his proposal was linked to the principle of “honesty, integrity and truth-telling”, while urging lawmakers to return to an investigation into the prime minister’s behavior.
He said the prime minister had tried to “cover up his atrocities” by taking advantage of the municipal convention so as not to call anyone a liar.
“The prime minister has stood before this chamber and said things that are not true, certainly he will not be accused of lying because he cannot be,” said Sir Cair.
“He was standing next to this box and he denied that there was a violation of the rules when it happened.
“In doing so, he hoped to gain additional protection from our good faith that no prime minister would deliberately deceive the House of Representatives.
Labor leader Cyrus Starmer says Boris Johnson “must leave”, but it is up to his own MPs to do so.
Scotland Yard’s investigation into the Downing Street and Whitehall parties during the blockade in England in 2020 and 2021 continues, although the local elections on 5 May mean there will be no announcement of additional fines until after election day.
The prime minister told ITV News that he was “determined” to lead his party in the next general election, although many believe he will receive more police fines.
He is believed to have been at six of the 12 events investigated by Scotland Yard.
The motion, voted by MEPs, said Mr Johnson’s comments, “including but not limited to” four separate remarks in the General Assembly, “appear to be a deception to the House”.
He said the partygate saga had been “a long time” and “there is a limit to the amount of focus policy should have on it”, but he accepted the need for an investigation.
“I want all the facts to be there,” Mr Johnson said, but partygate should not “displace everything else”.
Has the government made a new U-turn?
Late Wednesday night, it turned out that the government would add an amendment to the vote to postpone it, but just minutes before the debate began, it was withdrawn.
Mr Johnson said during a visit to India that lawmakers must wait for the police investigation to be completed in order to obtain “full facts” about the party scandal.
However, the prime minister agreed that it was the “prerogative” of lawmakers to vote today on whether an investigation should follow the completion of the police investigation and the publication of Sue Gray’s report.
Downing Street explained that the amendment was dropped because it became clear that any investigation by the Privileges Committee would not begin until MPs saw Ms. Gray’s report on government parties during the pandemic.
A senior government source said Mr Johnson was “happy to face” a parliamentary inquiry after Tory MPs were given a free vote on whether to.
During his trip to India, the prime minister wanted to talk about trade, but according to deputy political editor Anushka Asthana, he could not escape questions about the scandal with the party haunting his prime minister’s office.
What can the Privileges Committee do? Can Boris Johnson be expelled from parliament?
The Privileges Committee will decide whether the prime minister has disrespected parliament by misleading the House, an accusation that could have led to a prison sentence.
The power of imprisonment – or fine – has not been used by Parliament for more than 100 years, but there are some severe sanctions that the Privileges Committee can recommend.
It could be said that Mr Johnson should be removed from parliament or even expelled if he has a sufficiently critical view of his behavior.
If he is expelled from parliament, he will cease to be an MP, but he will not be barred from running again.
If he is removed for more than two weeks, he will face a withdrawal petition, which could lead to the defense of his place in the by-elections. If 10% of his constituency supports a recall petition, it will lead to by-elections.
All proposed sanctions will be voted on by MPs, but due to Mr Johnson’s large majority in municipalities, they are unlikely to be adopted.
Fans of the parliamentary convention would expect the prime minister to resign if found disrespectful to parliament, but as prime minister he may decide this is not necessary.
Critics of the prime minister say the police fine shows he violated the law and therefore misled parliament by saying he did not.
Asked on the first day of his trade mission to India whether he had deliberately or unknowingly misled parliament, Mr Johnson said: “Of course not”.
According to the ministerial code – signed by the prime minister – anyone in the government who has been found to have deliberately misled lawmakers is “expected to resign”.
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