Some MPs on the Privileges Committee have a ‘pre-determined view’ of Boris Johnson, an ally claims
A key ally of Boris Johnson has claimed that “certain members” of the cross-party privileges committee have a “pre-determined view” of the former prime minister ahead of their public showdown later this week.
On Wednesday, Mr. Johnson is due to appear before the Privileges Committee, which is investigating whether he deliberately misled the House of Representatives at the party.
The committee will decide whether Uxbridge and South Ruislip MPs misled the public and whether it was “reckless or deliberate”.
The committee is chaired by veteran Labor MP Harriet Harmon, but has a Conservative majority.
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Conor Burns, a Conservative MP and former minister, said he had spoken to Mr Johnson yesterday afternoon and the ex-prime minister was “looking forward to the opportunity” to make his “case”.
He also questioned the impartiality of some members of the committee, particularly Ms. Harmon.
Speaking on the BBC’s Westminster Hour, Mr Burns said: “Some of us are concerned that it seems that some members of this committee have made up their minds in advance. I have real reservations.
“I think highly of Harriet Harmon, but she tweeted in April 2022 that if the Prime Minister, the former Prime Minister, the current Prime Minister, the former Chancellor, pleads guilty, resulting in according to her, received a notice of a fixed fine, then they also admit their guilt that they misled the House of Commons.
“Boris Johnson is disputing it, but it seems to me that the man who is now chairing this committee has pre-ordained it, and that makes me somewhat concerned for the reputation of Parliament in dealing with it honestly.”
Mr Johnson’s defense will be revealed before he faces the committee on Wednesday. But he is expected to release previously undisclosed WhatsApp messages from senior civil servants and members of his Number 10 team, revealing he relied on their advice when making statements to Parliament.
Other messages would show the belief that the gatherings were covered by a “workplace exception” to the lockdown rules, according to the briefings.
Mr Johnson is also expected to outline the committee’s use of the evidence of Sue Grey, the former Partygate investigator who is tipped to become Sir Keir Starmer’s new chief of staff.
The former Prime Minister’s case will be referred to the Privileges Committee by barrister Lord Panik KS. In total, approximately £220,000 of taxpayers’ money was allocated to Mr Johnson’s court accounts.
If Mr Johnson is found in contempt of parliament, the committee will recommend a punishment, which will then be decided by MPs. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to give MPs a free vote on any committee recommendation.
Suspension from Parliament for 10 days or more could lead to a by-election for Johnson.
Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative MP who served as Attorney General under Theresa May, said Sky News This morning “elements in the Conservative Party are still delusional about Mr Johnson”.
He added: “if they want to go down that path, that’s their business. But Mr. Johnson is not going to help the Conservative Party in the election.”
On whether he believed Mr Johnson had broken the rules, Mr Grieve said: “So on the face of it, he appears to have been aware that meetings were taking place which appear to have breached the lockdown rules.”
Shadow minister Liz Kendall said on the same programme: “I think we’re just going to see this week what we’ve always seen with Boris Johnson.
“This is a person who cares more about himself than all the people who couldn’t say goodbye to their loved ones during COVID and will blame anyone but himself for his downfall.
“You know, it wasn’t just the parties he attended, he supported Owen Patterson who lobbied on behalf of the companies that paid him. He stood by Chris Pincher when there were all those sexual misconduct allegations.
“And I think the problem for the Conservatives and Rishi Sunak is that most people are desperately worried about how they’re going to pay their bills, they see themselves talking about being more concerned about the future of the Conservative Party than the future of the country.”
