Bitter Gove dismantles Boris’s Partygate claims with brutal one-word snub
Michael Gove has damaged his silence on Boris Johnson’s resignation as MP – and delivered a one-word snub to the previous PM’s claims the Commons Privileges Committee was the “very definition of a kangaroo court”.
In a 1,000-word assertion confirming his resignation, the previous Tory chief took purpose on the committee, which has been investigating whether or not he lied to the Commons when he mentioned Covid guidelines have been adopted in Downing Street following stories that lockdown-busting events had been held there whereas restrictions have been in place.
Mr Johnson claimed the seven-person panel was on a “witch hunt” and mentioned it aimed to drive him out of Parliament.
He mentioned he was “bewildered and appalled” at being “forced out, anti-democratically” and alleged the investigation had set out from the start to “find me guilty, regardless of the facts”.
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In his assertion, Mr Johnson mentioned: “I did not lie, and I believe that in their hearts the Committee know it. But they have wilfully chosen to ignore the truth because from the outset their purpose has not been to discover the truth, or genuinely to understand what was in my mind when I spoke in the Commons.
“Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.
“Most members of the Committee – especially the chair – had already expressed deeply prejudicial remarks about my guilt before they had even seen the evidence. They should have recused themselves. In retrospect, it was naive and trusting of me to think that these proceedings could be remotely useful or fair.”
There have been stories the committee, consisting of seven MPs and chaired by Harriet Harman, was getting ready to advocate a 10-day suspension from the Commons.
This conclusion would have resulted in a recall petition amongst Mr Johnson’s constituents and a possible by-election if greater than 10 p.c voted for one.
Now Michael Gove has turn into the primary minister to interrupt his silence because the resignation and refuted his former ally’s claims.
Asked at Kite Festival on Saturday if he thought the committee was a kangaroo courtroom, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities merely replied “no”.
Mr Gove added that he felt a “profound sense of sadness” however that till the report is revealed “we’ve got to trust their judgement”.
He mentioned individuals would make their very own minds up when the report was revealed and in that sense, “I don’t think it’s additional damage done”.
Mr Gove, who was dismissed by Mr Johnson in 2022, singled out the Covid vaccine rollout and help to Ukraine as issues the previous Prime Minister had carried out to enhance lives.