Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Dame Priti Patel have questioned the Privilege Committee's report on Boris Johnson. Credit: Eddie Mulholland and Jeff Pugh for The Telegraph/Steve Parsons/PA Wire
Boris Johnson's allies got away with it after some of them dismissed a House of Commons inquiry into the partygate case, calling it a “kangaroo trial” .
Last week, the Privileges Committee criticized eight Conservative MPs and one colleague for undermining their investigation into the former prime minister in a coordinated attempt to undermine the work of the commission.
The Liberal Democrats have put forward amendments that would see eight politicians, including Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Dame Priti Patel and Nadine Dorries, face possible sanctions.
However, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, declined to name these amendments, which means that they will not face the threat of suspension.
During the debate, one MP revealed that he was about to commit suicide when an independent panel appointed by the House of Commons found him guilty. two years ago about “repeated and unwanted sexual harassment,” a conclusion he disagreed with. spoke out against the processes of the House of Representatives, and criticized Sir Jacob and others for this.
He said: “When at one particularly low moment I found myself balancing on the railing of Westminster Bridge, I felt the urge to step back, not forward, and ask for help. A good friend from those benches stepped in, and I owe him one. The privileges committee has been called a “kangaroo court” by some of Boris Johnson's allies. Photo: Pixel8000. colleagues who have been named will reflect on their actions.
“I know of at least one member mentioned in the report who took the time to speak with regret to some of the other members of this committee, and I applaud them . for this.
“If Castlereagh and Canning could be civil after the duel, I live in hope that today will be the end of this sad story.”
Defensively, Sir Jacob said: “There are some problems with this report, I think it starts, as it happened, with its title, a “coordinated intervention campaign” … there is no evidence that it was coordinated …
“And it was legal and legitimate to question the committee chairman's position.”
Dame Prity said it would set a “dangerous precedent” for MPs if they supported the committee's report.
She told the House of Commons: “If this House approves this report, then it is, in my opinion, a dangerous precedent in approving a report that censures and judges the members of this House without providing any due process, fair due process, I I should add, in relation to those members against whom he brings charges.
What is Boris Johnson doing? Allies said
Conservative Michael Fabrikant admitted that calling the privileges committee a “kangaroo court” was wrong.
Speaking, Alberto Costa, a Conservative MP who sits on the committee, asked Lichfield MP: “I noticed that on his own website on Twitter, there is a tweet dated July 31, 2022, where he states: “Harriet Harman is determined stitch up Boris, changing the rules of the Committee on Privileges, kangaroo court.”
“Does he now agree that calling the kangaroo privileges committee a court is wrong?”
Mr Fabrikant replied, “I don't remember the tweet, but the answer is: in fact, yes, I know.”
The Liberal Democrat Amendment would send MPs back to the committee to decide if their behavior amounted to contempt of parliament.
If the committee ruled that there has been contempt, MPs could be subject to potential sanctions, including suspension from parliament long enough to petition for recall.
Sir Lindsay did not name an amendment, and MPs supported the committee's report without a vote.< /p>
Rishi Sunak didn't show up for the debate, leading to accusations of his “weakness”.
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