Boris Johnson called on Sir Bernard Jenkin to step down. Photo: Jessica Taylor/AFP
Boris Johnson accused the most senior Conservative MP in the privileges committee of «monstrous hypocrisy» over an alleged breach of Covid rules, just hours before the partygate report was released.
The former prime minister called on Sir Bernard Jenkin to step down and wrote to the committee on Wednesday night, arguing that he should have withdrawn from the investigation.
Sir Bernard was alleged to have attended the 65 his wife's anniversary, which featured drinks and cakes, in December 2020, when no socializing is allowed indoors in London.
He denied attending a drink party, and his ally said no rules were broken.
Mr. Johnson and his allies seized on the allegation to cast doubt on the validity of the privileges committee's investigation into whether it was misleading MPs over quarantine-violating parties.
Committee report due be published on Thursday, it is expected that Mr Johnson has indeed misled MPs and is therefore disrespectful of the House of Commons.
In his letter to Harriet Harman, who heads the committee, Mr Johnson said: «If this is true, he himself broke the rules — and knowingly broke them — Sir Bernard is guilty of blatant and monstrous hypocrisy.
«But I'm afraid it's much worse than that. He just voted to expel me from the House of Commons because he says — falsely — that I withheld my knowledge of illegal events from the House.
“If he really attended an event that clearly violated the rules, he was would be guilty of doing exactly what he claims I did.
In a separate statement, he said of Sir Bernard, «He has no choice but to explain his actions to his own committee, to have his colleagues investigate and then resign.”
Last-minute intervention would — for Mr. Johnson's supporters — further cast doubt on the committee's work. The former prime minister urged Ms Harman to explain what she intended to do with the allegations «since Sir Bernard can no longer be considered a valid judge or investigator in these proceedings.»
The Telegraph understands that the report will indicates the number of days the committee would recommend for Mr. Johnson's removal from the Commons.
Since Mr. Johnson has retired as an MP, no penalty can be applied, but it will show how serious the violation is considered. One source close to the committee said many would be surprised at how high the figure is.
Understandably, the committee has come to the conclusion that Mr. Johnson does not have to attend care events to work. colleagues. the centerpiece of his defense.
The report could include a temporary or permanent suspension of Mr Johnson's parliamentary pass, something that former MPs retain when they leave the House of Commons.
Depriving a former prime minister of his right to come and go to the parliamentary estate would be unprecedented. A committee source declined to say whether the move was proposed in the final report.
The report, a draft of which was given to Mr. Johnson ahead of his dramatic announcement last Friday that he would step down as MP, is this is expected to be extremely critical.
It will examine whether he lied to MPs while denying breaking Covid rules at #10. In the end, the Metropolitan Police issued 126 fines for at least eight events at government buildings that were named partygate.
Expected also that the committee would point to denials by dignitaries in Downing Street that they had told Mr Johnson that no rules had been broken at the No. 10 events. He is expected to criticize Mr. Johnson's allies for attacking the committee process.Sir Bernard Jenkin (right) was among the privileges committee members who questioned Boris Johnson. Photo: Pixel GRG
The debate over whether to accept the results of the report is to be presented on Monday, when Conservative MPs can vote against Mr Johnson after Downing Street decided not to force the vote.
If the report is passed, it would mean that the House of Commons formally considers him Mr. Johnson in contempt of misleading MPs.
Any additional sanctions, such as a punishment that is binding on Mr. Johnson, such as stripping him of his parliamentary mandate, must also be approved by MPs.
The by-elections officially began in Parliament on Wednesday. seats for outgoing Mr. Johnson and his supporter Nigel Adams, with two votes due next month.
But Nadine Dorris, who also announced her retirement on Friday, is deadlocked with No. 10 after refusing to formally leave immediately resigned amid rumors that she wants to prolong potential pain for Rishi Sunak.
If she does not formally leave within the next two weeks, the vote in Mid Bedfordshire is guaranteed to be later than the vote in Uxbridge and South Ruislip and in Selby and Ainsty, the former constituencies of Mr Johnson and Mr Adams.
This could mean the prospect of further humiliation for Mr. Sunak if the Tories lose seats in the by-election on two separate days.
Mr Sunak's spokesman lashed out at Ms Dorris, saying: «The Prime Minister believes the people of Mid Bedfordshire deserve proper representation in this House.»
Since announcing his departure, Mr Johnson accused Mr. Sunak of straying from the path of conservatism. In a statement, the former prime minister demanded that Mr. Sunak «cut taxes on business and personal income rather than levy them endlessly.»
Boris Johnson and Sir Bernard Jenkin
The committee's report on Mr. Johnson may be overshadowed by the new Sir Bernard scandal. The Tory MP for Harwich and North Essex has been in the Commons for 31 years and has clashed with Mr Johnson on numerous occasions during his political career. He is the longest-serving Conservative on the committee.
The former prime minister's allies can now use grievances to try to force him to step down.
Four of the seven MPs on the committee are Conservatives. It is assumed that the final report was adopted with the unanimous support of the committee.
On Wednesday, Guido Fox's website reported that Sir Bernard attended an event that may have violated Covid regulations.
The event was reported to have taken place on 8 December 2020 and was reportedly hosted by Dame Eleanor Laing. , Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, in Parliament to mark the 65th birthday of Sir Bernard's wife, Baroness Jenkin.
On that day, London was at level 2 of England's regional four-tier system, which prohibited mixing with other households indoors , except for support bubbles.
Sir Bernard told the website, «I didn't attend drink parties during the lockdown.» Neither Sir Bernard nor Lady Jenkin responded when The Telegraph reached out for comment.
Dame Eleanor was quoted as saying: «At the start of the pandemic, I consulted how many people could be in a room, I had the room measured and I kept a two-meter ruler to always be able to make sure that no one working here is at risk. She did not respond to The Telegraph's request for comment.
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