The UK Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a report by a committee documenting former Prime Minister Johnson’s lies in the Partygate affair. However, many Conservative MPs were absent from the debate.
Members of the UK House of Commons have approved the Parliamentary Committee’s report that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson lied to Parliament about parties at his seat during the coronavirus lockdown.
The MPs thus approved the sanctions provided for in the report, including a parliamentary ban for the conservative ex-politician. The report was approved by 354 MEPs, only seven voted against.
Many mainly Conservative MPs, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, abstained. MPs had previously discussed whether they would agree with the findings of the parliamentary committee and support the proposed penalties for the former prime minister.
Criticism of Sunak’s absence
In the 106-page report, released on Thursday, committee members concluded that Johnson lied to MPs about parties at his official residence during the coronavirus lockdown. They want Johnson to lose the access to Parliament normally enjoyed by former British leaders.
Lower House leader Penny Mordaunt had already announced at the beginning of the session that she wanted to vote for the report. However, she emphasized that all MEPs should make up their own minds.
Sunak stayed away from the vote, which the opposition interpreted as a “weakness.” “If the Prime Minister is not even able to show leadership when it comes to holding liars accountable, how can he expect the people of this country to trust him on anything else,” said Labor MP Thangam Debbonaire .
Consequence of the “Partygate” affair
As a consequence of this so-called “Partygate” affair about the parties during the corona lockdown, Johnson had already resigned as head of government in July last year. On June 11 of this year he resigned from his position as a member of parliament.
Because he has already left Parliament, the vote in the House of Commons has no major consequences for him. Otherwise he would have been suspended for 90 days as an MP for his behavior.