Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson handed over his mandate as an MP with a bang on Friday evening, citing the parliamentary inquiry into “partygate”, the parties held in Downing Street in violation of Covid-19 restrictions.
Boris Johnson, 58, has indicated his decision is effective immediately, triggering a by-election that ends any prospect of a return for now but also highlights divisions within Tory power, deepening the difficulties of his successor Rishi Sunak one year from the next legislative elections.
Almost a year after being ousted from Downing Street by his majority, Boris Johnson remains under a parliamentary inquiry into whether he misled Parliament over the ‘partygate’ affair.
The procedure, led by the privileges commission, is in the process of finishing its work and had just, according to the British press, submitted its conclusions to the former leader. “I have received a letter from the Privileges Committee which makes it clear – to my astonishment – that they are determined to use the procedure against me to oust me from Parliament,” the former Tory Prime Minister wrote in a statement. .
“I am very sad to leave Parliament – at least for now – but I am especially appalled that I was forced to leave, in an undemocratic way”, he added, accusing the commission of “flagrant bias “. In the statement, he accuses the commission of producing a report that has yet to be released, “riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of bias,” without giving him “any formal opportunity to challenge what they say.”
Boris Johnson was forced to resign last summer after a succession of scandals, foremost among which were parties in Downing Street during the confinements imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But the charismatic leader, who was still an MP, remained very influential in the conservative majority.
