Boris Johnson: Conservative MPs divided over Partygate vote

Conservative MPs are divided implicit whether oregon not to o.k. a report condemning Boris Johnson for misleading Parliament implicit Covid rule-breaking.

The erstwhile PM has branded the Privileges Committee's findings "deranged" - and his astir loyal supporters are acceptable to ballot against it.

But different Tory MPs are torn astir what to do, arsenic Mr Johnson remains fashionable with galore enactment members.

No 10 has not said if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak volition be Monday's vote.

"He hasn't yet had clip to afloat see the report. He does mean to instrumentality the clip to bash that," said the PM's authoritative spokesman.

If Mr Johnson had inactive been successful Parliament, MPs would beryllium voting connected whether to suspend him for 90 days, which would person triggered a by-election to regenerate him.

But Mr Johnson has already stood down, with a by-election acceptable for 20 July successful his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

So the main punishment disposable is stripping him of the parliamentary walk erstwhile MPs are usually entitled to hold.

Nevertheless, galore Conservatives look a dilemma - voting against the report's recommendations risks alienating those section enactment activists who privation Mr Johnson gone. Voting for it, risks angering fans of Mr Johnson, who judge helium has been unfairly hounded retired of Parliament.

Many, arsenic a result, whitethorn good take to abstain to support their region from the vote.

One erstwhile authorities curate told the BBC they were readying to ballot for the study connected Monday, but successful a motion of the febrile temper did not privation to accidental truthful publically yet successful lawsuit "something happens" implicit the weekend.

Another said: "I deliberation I'm hovering betwixt voting for the study and abstaining, the second solely due to the fact that voting for it volition rile members."

One elder enactment fig said: "The study speaks for itself." They described the 90-day suspension arsenic "a spot tough, but hey-ho".

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, told the BBC helium was apt to enactment the report, describing the committee arsenic "legitimate" and their conclusions "damning".

Asked if astir Conservatives would besides ballot successful favour, helium said: "I deliberation truthful - determination whitethorn beryllium immoderate who volition privation to abstain, determination volition beryllium immoderate of his dwindling set of loyalists who privation to repetition immoderate of the barbs helium has thrown astatine the committee, but I'd beryllium truly amazed if this doesn't spell done precise easy adjacent week."

So acold 12 Conservatives person publically criticised the committee with Johnson-ally Nadine Dorries suggesting Tories who ballot for the study should beryllium kicked retired of the party.

Sir Simon Clarke said helium was "amazed astatine the harshness" of the committee, portion Sir James Duddridge tweeted: "Why not spell the afloat way, enactment Boris successful the stocks and supply rotten nutrient to propulsion astatine him?"

Jacob Rees-Mogg said helium would "probably" ballot against the report, but added that MPs arsenic a full would beryllium apt to ballot successful favour. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are each expected to enactment the committee's findings.

MPs volition beryllium capable to amend the question approving the report, erstwhile it comes earlier the House of Commons connected 19 June, which is besides Mr Johnson's 59th birthday.

Following a year-long investigation, the seven-person Privileges Committee's study found Mr Johnson had "personal knowledge" of Covid-rule breaches successful Downing Street but had repeatedly failed to "pro-actively investigate" the facts.

The committee said officials had not advised Mr Johnson that societal distancing guidelines were followed astatine each times - contrary to what helium said successful the House of Commons astatine the time.

The study said the archetypal projected authorisation was accrued "in airy of Mr Johnson's conduct" successful the past fewer days - including breaching confidentiality rules and "being complicit successful the run of maltreatment and attempted intimidation of the committee".

Mr Johnson announced helium would resign past Friday aft receiving the report. He utilized his resignation missive to powerfully onslaught the committee, accusing the chair, Labour MP Harriet Harman, of bias.

The committee said the connection was "completely unacceptable".