Sunak urged action against MPs planning a conspiracy against Partygate
The allegation by the SNP’s Diedre Brock came as the House of Commons debated a report detailing attempts by the former Prime Minister’s supporters to discredit the Parliamentary Committee and examining whether he had swayed Parliament with its denial that it breached the rules, misled or not.
Supporters including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nadine Dorries have been accused of launching an “unprecedented and coordinated” attack on the Privileges Board during the 14-month investigation.
CONTINUE READING: Boris Johnson has been found guilty of willfully and repeatedly misleading MPs
In a report released last week, the committee said the ousted Tory leader’s friends had all sought to “undermine the processes of the House of Commons”.
“Attacks by senior members are all the more concerning because they knew the privileges committee was unable to respond to the attacks during the course of the investigation,” the report said.
The four Tory members on the committee were particularly targeted, the committee said: “This had the clear intention of ousting these members from the committee and thus frustrating or preventing the House’s intention to conduct the inquiry. ‘ came to a conclusion that the critics did not want.
“It had a significant personal impact on individual members and raised significant security concerns.”
CONTINUE READING: Boris Johnson’s allies have been criticized for trying to influence the Partygte probe
Penny Mordaunt, the Conservative leader of the House of Commons, opened the debate on the report and said she hoped colleagues would “think about their actions”.
“One of the most painful aspects of this whole affair is that there has been animosity between peers and peers of the same political persuasion.
“But I know of at least one member named in the report who regretted taking the time to speak to some other members of this committee, and I applaud them for doing so.
“I hope that some of the speeches we hear this afternoon will recognize the obligation we have to one another as colleagues. If Castlereagh and Canning could display civil courtesy after a duel, I live in hope that today will be the end of this sad affair.”
Mrs Mordaunt’s last remark relates to the former Foreign Secretary George Canning being challenged by the War Secretary, Lord Castlereagh, to a duel over the use of troops in 1809.
Speaking on behalf of the SNP, Ms Brock replied that “the whole saga has further eroded the public’s faith and trust not only in this place but in democracy itself.”
She added: “It can only add to the existing sense of cynicism and frustration that we see across British society today.”
“Boris Johnson has been proven to have lied to the House of Representatives and the Privileges Committee. Yet some of its most ardent supporters sought to intervene, to undermine and attack the integrity of the committee and its work.
“It now seems appropriate to consider whether campaigns like this should lead to disciplinary action.”
Ms Brock slammed the Prime Minister and Tory leaders for dodging the debate: “As one of my constituents told me in a surgery a few days ago, if those at the top wouldn’t bother to observe or would just to show their support for the rules, why should we?”
CONTINUE READING: David Duguid says he followed the “governing rules” regarding his wife’s BP shares
Liberal Democrat leader Wendy Chamberlain, who tabled an amendment calling for MPs to be punished, said: “Nadine Dorries, Jacob-Rees Mogg and these other Conservative MPs launched a Trump attack on our House and his independent report on Boris Johnson’s Partygate Lies.”
“Rishi Sunak must confirm that he will support these Conservative MPs over possible sanctions. Their shameful deeds must have consequences.
“Every time Boris Johnson’s lies and Conservative machinations are voted on, Sunak is too weak to take a stand.
“It has to be different this time if he’s going to show that he has a shred of integrity left.”
