Sir Keir Starmer says Boris Johnson ought to be banned from parliament after damning partygate report

Sir Keir Starmer has stated Boris Johnson ought to be banned from parliament over the partygate scandal, as he urged the prime minister to not “hide away” from a debate on the problem later right this moment.

The Labour chief stated it is “important to know” the place Rishi Sunak stands after the Commons’ Privileges Committee concluded Mr Johnson lied to MPs concerning the boozy occasions held in Downing Street throughout lockdown.

Boris Johnson vote – newest: Sunak refuses to say if he’ll attend Johnson debate

Asked if the previous prime minister ought to be banned from parliament Sir Keir advised Sky News: “The privileges committee is absolutely clear in its findings, they should be supported.

“I’ll assist the committee, and I would like the prime minister to assist the committee, as a result of it is crucial we all know the place the prime minister stands on this.”

In a damning verdict issued final week, the cross-party panel stated Mr Johnson ought to have confronted a 90-day suspension for deceptive the House over partygate and being complicit in a marketing campaign of intimidation in opposition to them.

MPs will debate the suggestions later right this moment, which additionally embody banning Mr Johnson from receiving the go to entry parliament which is normally obtainable to former MPs.

It is just not clear whether or not there in the end will probably be a vote on the conclusions of the report, which might undergo on the nod until there are objections from Mr Johnson’s supporters.

In a problem to Mr Sunak Sir Keir stated: “Is he going to return into parliament and vote right this moment and present management, or is he going to sit down on his fingers and conceal away?

“I think that is now becoming the crucial issue that will define how things go today in parliament on this.”

Earlier this morning, Mr Sunak refused to say if he’ll attend the controversy amid hypothesis he’s planning to skip it.

He wouldn’t give his view on the proceedings in opposition to his predecessor, saying the vote is “a matter for the House rather than for government”.

It comes amid reignited anger over the Downing Street events scandal following a newly printed video exhibiting Conservative Party employees at a Christmas bash throughout lockdown in 2020.

Two of the individuals within the leaked footage obtained honours from Mr Johnson, which Sir Keir stated was “hard to stomach”.

He stated he’s unaware of any precedent to take away their new titles, and Mr Sunak ought to have waited till the end result of the privileges investigation earlier than approving the nominations from the previous prime minister.

Sir Keir stated: “Rishi Sunak should have simply said no when he was handed that list. He should have said the privileges committee is still coming to its findings and I’m not going to pass through any of these orders until I know the outcome.

“The thought now that two of the individuals dancing and partying in that video, are going to get honours as a result of the prime minister was too weak to do something about it, I believe is one more factor that is very, very exhausting for individuals to abdomen.”