Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been labelled a “coward” and a “disgrace” for resigning as an MP before the results of a parliamentary investigation into whether he misled MPs in regards to the partygate scandal were launched. Members of the opposition blasted Johnson, who criticised the Commons privileges committee in a scathing 1,000-word statement as he stepped down on Friday. Johnson accused the cross-party group, which has a Conservative majority, of being “determined to find him guilty” of deceiving parliament and claimed a “witch hunt” was underway to precise revenge for Brexit.
Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, argued that the former prime minister had “jumped” to keep away from facing a potentially embarrassing by-election in his marginal Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. She advised Sky News, “I suppose Boris Johnson has proven himself to be a coward as quickly as more. He’s a man that can by no means maintain his arms up to what he’s done. And I assume he’s an absolute disgrace.”
Rayner highlighted that the Commons would vote on any beneficial suspension from the privileges committee, and if a suspension of 10 days or more was agreed upon, Johnson’s constituents would then have a say in whether there must be a by-election. She said that Johnson had chosen to “dodge all of that as a outcome of he knows he’s not going to get via that course of because it is clear he misled parliament.”
The committee has been investigating whether Johnson lied to the Commons when he claimed that COVID rules were adopted in Downing Street after reviews of lockdown-busting events emerged through the pandemic. It was allegedly getting ready to advocate a 10-day suspension from the Commons, a conclusion which, if supported by MPs, would have led to a recall petition among his constituents and a possible by-election in his west London constituency if over 10% supported one.
Will Walden, a former spokesman for Boris Johnson, said his previous employer had “seen the writing on the wall” that he might be removed and labelled his departure “very Trumpian.” Walden added, “Boris hates the comparisons with Trump, but it’s the language of vendetta. It’s an extended rant, and frankly, it’s deeply deceptive in places. But it’s very Boris.”
Chris Bryant, the Labour chair of the privileges committee who recused himself from the Johnson investigation, suggested that the previous prime minister could face a new contempt of parliament cost after his “narcissistic rant.” He mentioned, “He’s been so cowardly that he’s not ready to face the music in the House of Commons.”
The privileges inquiry is scheduled to meet on Monday to finalise its conclusions and is expected to promptly publish its report. In Frenzy released by the committee on Friday night, a spokesperson said Johnson had “impugned the integrity” of the Commons with his attack.
Johnson expressed his bewilderment and dismay at being “forced out, anti-democratically” by an investigation that he claimed had set out from the beginning to “find me guilty, regardless of the information.”