Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face a triple challenge this week from lawmakers angry over his fine from Partygate, with frantic 24-hour action by the House of Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Opposition parties are negotiating with the president to find a way to hold Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak accountable when parliament returns from its Easter holiday.
Labor and the Liberal Democrats hope to force the Conservatives to express public support for Mr Johnson by voting against a proposal condemning his behavior – which they then plan to use against the party in next month’s local elections.
Mr Johnson promised to give a statement to municipalities on Tuesday afternoon, when the House of Representatives meets again after an 18-day break. The prime minister is expected to apologize for violating Covid’s rules by attending a 10th birthday party at Downing Street, but will say he did not realize he had broken the law.
He will also highlight the dangers of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and his role in leading Britain’s response, in an attempt to persuade Tory supporters that they should not seek to oppose it.
According to The Sunday Times, Mr Johnson will use part of his speech to say: “On April 12, I spoke with President Biden to inform him of my visit to Kyiv and suggested that our long-term goal be to strengthen and strengthen of Ukraine so that Russia will never dare to invade again. And of course … The Chamber will know that this was also the day I received a fixed notice of punishment in connection with the Downing Street event on 19 June 2020.
Less than 24 hours later, he will face his first session of questions to the prime minister after being fined by police last Tuesday, giving Sir Keir Starmer six opportunities to ask him about the details of his explanation.
At some point on Tuesday or Wednesday, lawmakers are likely to vote on a formal reprimand for Mr Johnson – a proposal to either hold him in contempt of parliament or trigger an investigation into the standards, which could theoretically lead to his removal. municipalities.
Critics say the prime minister deliberately misled parliament, which is usually a reason to resign, repeatedly claiming that number 10 did not violate Covid’s rules.
Opposition leaders are also negotiating with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the mayor, to ensure that any vote is procedurally sound and binding on the government.
They privately admit that the Tories are unlikely to support the proposal – but want to force Conservative MPs to declare whether or not they support Mr Johnson’s behavior.
Parties can then target voters living in the constituencies of these buttocks, emphasizing their support for the prime minister.
Sir Kear said: “Boris Johnson is the first prime minister in the history of our country to break the law. He broke the law at a time when the British people were making unimaginable sacrifices, and then lied about it many times. He is unfit for work and every day he stays on Downing Street further humiliates his office.
“The Tory cabinet, ministers and MPs need to realize that this will not change, and every time they defend Boris Johnson, they get caught up in his web of lies. Are they really willing to stand aside and do nothing because his behavior is tarnishing their reputation? Only conservative MPs have the power to end this shameful saga. If the prime minister does not resign, then they must take action when parliament returns this week to send a clear message that honesty and integrity in public life still matter.
A Lib Dem source added: “Anything that could make the Conservatives have to vote with Boris Johnson for Partygate is a good thing.”
Many Tories, who had previously called for the prime minister to resign, withdrew their request on the grounds that the crisis in Ukraine would be an inappropriate time to change leadership – but former cabinet minister Caroline Knox said on Sunday that she still wants Mr Johnson to I’m going.
Jacob Rees-Mogg defended the prime minister, telling the BBC: “I think when you hear what happened at the party he was fined for, many people would think they were in line with the rules when they met. they were with people every day who happened to wish them a happy birthday, because that was the day. I think that was a completely rational thing to believe. Now the police have decided otherwise and the police have powers. But he didn’t think it was irrational or unreasonable that it was within the rules.
Add Comment