'They have no excuse for delay': Boris Johnson calls on Privileges Committee to publish 'nonsense' report
13 June 2023, 20:55 | Updated: 14 June 2023, 02:14
Boris Johnson has urged the privileges committee to publish its Partygate report on whether he lied to MPs and “let the world judge their nonsense”.
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The former prime minister played down Partygate allegations during his time in No10 and claimed advisers told him the rules and guidance had been followed. He told the Commons that social distancing was observed.
But the privileges committee, which looks into cases of parliamentary standards, found officials did not tell him that guidance had been followed.
The committee, of which four of the seven MPs are Conservatives, is expected to present its findings on Wednesday.
The findings are expected to be damning for Mr Johnson, given he quit as MP on Friday and criticised the committee in the process.
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In a statement on Tuesday evening, the former PM Boris Johnson said: "The privileges committee should publish their report and let the world judge their nonsense.
"They have no excuse for delay.
"Their absurdly unfair rules do not even allow any criticism of their findings.
"I have made my views clear to the committee in writing - and will do so more widely when they finally publish."
MPs are due to recommend he should have been suspended for at least 10 days had he remained in the Commons, which would have triggered a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.
Read more: Boris Johnson misled Parliament by claiming Covid rules were followed, privileges committee to say
A committee spokesman said on Tuesday: "A letter enclosing further representations from Mr Johnson was received by the committee at 11.57pm last night.
"The committee is dealing with these and will report promptly."
Having quit last week, Mr Johnson can no longer be suspended but he could be refused a parliamentary pass offered to former MPs.
