Boris Johnson: What could happen after Partygate hearing?

The erstwhile premier curate is facing a sheet of MPs who are investigating accusations that helium did not archer the information to Parliament implicit Partygate.

Boris Johnson volition beryllium questioned by the Privileges Committee connected Wednesday, astir statements helium made implicit Covid rule-breaking parties successful Downing Street.

It is simply a important infinitesimal for a governmental system, specified arsenic the UK's, that mostly relies connected spot to function.

It could besides beryllium a large infinitesimal for Boris Johnson personally and could origin immoderate superior governmental fallout.

This is possible, though it does not, astatine this stage, look the astir apt outcome.

That is due to the fact that the committee has already published a report, aft gathering evidence, which identifies 1 connection helium made which aboriginal turned retired to beryllium wrong.

The study besides identifies 3 different ways successful which they accidental Mr Johnson whitethorn person misled Parliament.

It says their grounds suggests it "would person been obvious" to him that Covid guidance had been breached successful Downing Street astatine the clip that helium told MPs it had not.

The committee was besides clear, though, that its conclusions were not yet final.

It is imaginable that Mr Johnson gives explanations successful the proceeding that fulfill the committee.

It could besides determine that Mr Johnson did mislead Parliament but that it did not marque immoderate quality to however it functions and truthful it was not a "contempt".

In these cases, Mr Johnson would not look immoderate sanction.

The committee could besides determine that immoderate contempt was "inadvertent" - which would beryllium little apt to pb to a sanction.

Mr Johnson is arguing that what helium told the Commons was his "honest belief".

At the different extremity of the standard is the precise worst lawsuit script for Mr Johnson.

Getting to this concern would instrumentality a LOT of stages.

Firstly, the committee would person to determine that Mr Johnson had not lone misled Parliament but besides that what helium said had an interaction connected its "proper functioning". This would mean it was a "contempt".

They would besides person to reason that the contempt was truthful terrible that they determine to urge 1 of the astir terrible punishments disposable to them: suspension from Parliament for 10 sitting days oregon more.

That would trigger a callback petition. If 10% of eligible registered voters successful his Uxbridge and South Ruislip signed the petition, his spot would beryllium declared vacant and a by-election would beryllium called.

An MP who is kicked retired done this process is allowed to basal successful immoderate consequent by-election to effort to triumph the spot back.

There are a batch of "ifs" successful this process though and it is improbable to beryllium thing the Committee would bash lightly.

Any punishment would person to beryllium agreed by a ballot of the full House of Commons - and a authorisation that endangers Mr Johnson's governmental aboriginal is apt to beryllium precise controversial.

The committee does besides person the powerfulness to urge expulsion - kicking an MP retired of Parliament without asking the section electorate. But that is precise seldom used.

If the committee does find Mr Johnson was successful contempt of Parliament they volition instrumentality a presumption connected however superior it was.

They volition instrumentality into relationship what the interaction was and whether they deliberation Mr Johnson had done it inadvertently, recklessly oregon deliberately.

That volition assistance them determine if helium should look a authorisation and what it should be.

Punishments could scope from: asking him to marque a written apology, making him apologise successful idiosyncratic successful the Commons, up to suspension.

Whatever the outcome, the proceeding risks bringing tensions wrong the Conservative Party backmost to the surface.

Some of Mr Johnson's supporters already judge that launching the probe was politically motivated truthful expect immoderate backlash, immoderate is decided.

It is besides apt to rise caller questions astir however Parliament polices itself.