What is the Privileges Committee? Report on how Johnson misled parliament is accredited
The report final week discovered that the then-prime minister repeatedly violated the legislation along with his Partygate denials and that if he had not resigned as an MP he ought to have been expelled from the Commons for 90 days.
Mr Johnson and different Conservative members, together with present PM Rishi Sunak, had been fined by police for breaking lockdown restrictions – together with internet hosting events and gatherings.
The movement to uphold the committee’s findings was simply handed 354 to 7 with numerous Tories and Johnson loyalists abstaining. No vote was recorded for 225 MPs.
“We conclude that, when he told the House and this Committee that the rules and guidance were being complied with, his own knowledge was such that he deliberately misled the House and this committee,” the report learn.
Mr Johnson, who stepped down as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip after being given advance notice, stated it was a “deranged conclusion”.
The report was composed by a bunch of MPs and is predicted to search out that Mr Johnson intentionally misled MPs along with his assurances that lockdown guidelines had been adopted in Downing Street
Mr Johnson previously attacked the seven-person committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman however has a Conservative majority, as a “kangaroo court”.
What is the Privileges Committee?
The Privileges Committee is a cross-party House of Commons physique that investigates issues that “may prevent or hinder” the work of Parliament. Its obligations embody analyzing situations of MPs being accused of breaking guidelines. It is there to “consider specific matters relating to privileges referred by the House”.
The committee has been wanting into whether or not Mr Johnson misled MPs about what he knew about events held in Downing Street throughout Covid lockdowns.
The committee was established in its present type in 2013. It was as soon as merged with the committee on requirements however they’ve since been cut up.
Who is the chair?
Labour grandee Harriet Harman is chair of the Privileges Committee. In Parliament since 1982, she is the longest-standing feminine MP and a former Cabinet minister.
Ms Harman, as a result of stand down on the subsequent common election, has lengthy been an outspoken advocate for equality in politics and a powerful feminist. She has served in quite a few authorities roles and senior positions in Labour underneath a succession of leaders, and in addition served as deputy chief.
What about different members?
Sir Bernard Jenkin is one other veteran MP. A Conservative, he has been in Parliament since 1992. A veteran Tory Eurosceptic and chairman of the highly effective Liaison Committee, he was a critic of Mr Johnson’s dealing with of the Chris Pincher affair and is an usually vocal contributor from the backbenches.
Sir Charles Walker, one other member of the committee, is standing down on the subsequent election. Another independently minded Conservative backbencher, he made headlines final 12 months for his emotional criticism of the chaos that engulfed the ultimate days of the Truss administration.
The remainder of the committee is made up of Conservative MPs Andy Carter and Alberto Costa, in addition to Labour’s Yvonne Fovargue and the SNP’s Allan Dorans.
Boris Johnson: Downing Street Partygate
What powers does the committee have?
The powers of the committee are restricted to issuing a report for the Commons for MPs to contemplate. In its findings, it could actually conclude that a person has been discovered to have “committed a contempt” in deceptive the House, and it could actually advocate imposing sanctions starting from an oral or written apology to suspension and even expulsion from the Commons.
But it’s as much as MPs to determine whether or not to simply accept the findings of the report and to observe by with any penalty.
Parties have normally not advised their MPs which method to vote on stories from the Privileges Committee.
As Mr Johnson has already resigned as an MP, it isn’t but clear what penalty the committee will advocate.