This evening, there is a vote on the Report of the Privileges Committee on the “Matter referred on 21st April 2022 (Conduct of Boris Johnson)". The vote is as much about the integrity of the House of Commons and our ability to self-regulate as it is about the former Prime Minister.
I will vote for the motion today.
This motion is not about the rights or wrongs of Boris Johnson’s actions, whether he did or did not break lockdown restrictions, it is about the integrity of the House of Commons and whether or not he misled the House of Commons. I believe that all MPs should accept the principle that deliberately misleading the House is a serious offence. For if you do not accept that principle, no statement can be relied upon, and Parliamentary democracy cannot function.
Mr Johnson has been found to have misled the House by a committee of his peers set up with the House’s and Mr Johnson’s approval, and with a Conservative majority. For the House of Commons to continue to be trusted to regulate itself we must adopt this report. If you were to ask an outside judge or such like to conduct these investigations this would be in my opinion an unacceptable intrusion into the rights of the House and the Sovereignty of Parliament.
I am clear that this report is not a ‘Kangaroo Court’ or a ‘witch hunt’, it is the result of diligent work by a Conservative majority committee. The report comprehensively details its findings about what happened in Number 10 during lockdowns and the statements made by Mr Johnson at the dispatch box it concludes were misleading. Mr Johnson was given appropriate opportunities to respond. The Committee were advised by a former High Court Judge to ensure legality. It should also be noted that the Committee had found in favour of Mr Johnson on a previous referral.
Finally, to address the claims of the former Prime Minister that he has been forced out of Parliament, in addition to the Conservative Majority on the Privileges Committee, the Report is to be voted on by the full House of Commons, which has a Conservative Majority. Whilst the punishment of a proposed ninety-day suspension might be considered harsh and the removal of his pass might be considered petty – that does not affect the conclusions of the Committee. The House can reconsider the sanctions if it sees fit.
This was not a stich up, it was not a coup, it was not a conspiracy. This was due process in action, and I support the Committee’s findings.