Boris Johnson has made eleventh-hour representations to the privileges committee earlier than it publishes a report which is predicted to search out that he intentionally misled parliament.
A spokesman for the inquiry stated it was “dealing with” additional submissions obtained from the previous prime minister at 11.57pm on Monday.
The letter was despatched because the panel of MPs analyzing claims that Mr Johnson lied to parliament over “partygate” met to conclude its investigation.
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Their report was anticipated to be printed as early as Wednesday after Mr Johnson sensationally give up as an MP, having obtained a sophisticated copy of its findings.
The former Tory chief claimed he was being “forced out” of parliament and accused the committee, chaired by Labour’s Harriet Harman however which has a Tory majority, of “bias” and conducting a “witch hunt”.
No data was given by the privileges committee concerning the arguments made by Johnson’s authorized representatives, however his last-minute intervention is more likely to delay the publication of their findings.
A committee spokesman stated on Tuesday: “A letter enclosing further representations from Mr Johnson was received by the committee at 11.57pm last night.
“The committee is coping with these and can report promptly.”
It has been instructed that the panel had been discussing a 20-day suspension as punishment for mendacity, triggering a recall petition and potential by-election.
Mr Johnson can’t be suspended now he has resigned, however he may very well be refused a parliamentary cross provided to former MPs, a sanction imposed on former speaker John Bercow after a bullying report.
Despite the findings anticipated to be damaging, Mr Johnson has insisted “I’ll be back” – a reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator.
In the Daily Express, the previous prime minister stated: “We must fully deliver on Brexit and on the 2019 manifesto. We must smash Labour at the next election.
“Nothing lower than absolute victory and whole Brexit will do – and because the nice Arnold Schwarzenegger stated, I’ll be again.”
The message echoed Mr Johnson’s sign-off during his final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions last year, when he told MPs: “Hasta la vista, child” – the catchphrase of Schwarzenegger’s cyborg character in the 1991 movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
That reference similarly left the door open for a possible comeback, but the former Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP remained on the back benches until quitting the Commons on Friday.
Following his shock resignation, Mr Johnson launched into a public spat with Rishi Sunak over his resignation honours list.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer warned that Tory infighting between the two erstwhile allies is damaging the UK’s reputation internationally and putting off investors.
He told business chiefs at London Tech Week: “There’s a deeper value as a result of there is a status hit to the UK.
“I think there’s an economic hit as well, many investors said to me, we’re not investing in the UK right now because we don’t see the conditions of certainty and stability we need in order to invest.”
Content Source: information.sky.com