Boris Johnson quits as member of parliament with blast at Partygate probe – POLITICO

Former U.Okay. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is stepping down as a member of parliament with rapid impact.

Johnson made the transfer as he hit out at an investigation by the Home of Commons’ privileges committee, which is analyzing whether or not the ex-prime minister knowingly misled parliament about COVID rule-breaking events held in Downing Avenue.

The resignation of Johnson, the Tory MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, will set off a by-election in a seat he held in 2019 by 7,210 votes.

In an announcement, Johnson mentioned the committee — whose findings have but to be revealed however which may suggest a suspension from the Commons — has “nonetheless not produced a shred of proof that I knowingly or recklessly misled” MPs.

He added: “They know completely properly that after I spoke within the Commons I used to be saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like some other minister. They know that I corrected the file as quickly as potential; they usually know that I and each different senior official and minister — together with the present Prime Minister after which occupant of the identical constructing, Rishi Sunak — believed that we had been working lawfully collectively. 

“I’ve been an MP since 2001. I take my obligations severely. I didn’t lie, and I consider that of their hearts the Committee realize it. However they’ve wilfully chosen to disregard the reality as a result of from the outset their goal has not been to find the reality, or genuinely to know what was in my thoughts after I spoke within the Commons. 

“Their goal from the start has been to seek out me responsible, whatever the information. That is the very definition of a kangaroo court docket.”

Hitting again, a privileges committee spokesperson mentioned the group of MPs had “adopted the procedures and the mandate of the Home always and can proceed to take action.”

They added: ”Mr Johnson has departed from the processes of the Home and has impugned the integrity of the Home by his assertion. The Committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly.”