Boris calls for Tory MP quits ‘kangaroo court docket’ simply hours earlier than launch of report

Boris Johnson has known as on a Conservative MP to give up a “kangaroo court” committee on the eve of its partygate report.

The former prime minister stated Sir Bernard Jenkin ought to step down from the Privileges Committee over claims he could have damaged lockdown guidelines.

The Guido Fawkes web site reported that Sir Bernard went to a drinks social gathering held by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing in December 2020, whereas London was in Tier 2 measures proscribing indoor mixing.

The allegation emerged because the cross-party committee Sir Bernard sits on was getting ready to publish tomorrow morning its report into whether or not Mr Johnson lied to MPs along with his partygate denials.

In an announcement, the previous prime minister stated: “Bernard Jenkin has just voted to expel me from Parliament for allegedly trying to conceal from Parliament my knowledge of illicit events.

“Now it seems he could have for the entire time recognized that he himself attended an occasion – and hid this from the Privileges Committee and the entire House for the final yr.

“To borrow the language of the committee, if this is the case, he ‘must have known’ he was in breach of the rules.

“He has no selection however to clarify his actions to his personal committee, for his colleagues to analyze after which to resign.”

Lord Cruddas, an ally of Mr Johnson, has called for the police to investigate.

It comes after the ex-PM sensationally resigned as an MP last Friday after receiving the findings of the committee.

In a furious statement, he branded the committee – which is chaired by Labour grandee Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority – a “kangaroo court docket”.

MPs on the panel are understood to have rejected Mr Johnson’s defence that senior officers suggested him Covid guidelines and steering had been adopted in No 10.

The report is anticipated to say he would have confronted suspension from Parliament for a minimum of 10 days, which is sufficient to set off a by-election.

Sir Bernard has been contacted for remark.