Johnson ‘certain’ to be in contempt
Boris Johnson is taking legal advice over a privileges committee investigation, as those close to him accept it is a “foregone conclusion” that he will be found to have been in contempt of parliament.
The Prime Minister is fighting to save his seat by arguing for a lenient punishment that would avoid a recall petition. A petition could result in him leaving the House of Commons only weeks after being pushed out of Downing Street.
Some of Mr Johnson’s senior team have all but given up hope of escaping censure after the committee of MPS who will decide his fate concluded that he did not have to have knowingly misled the Commons to be found in contempt.
Allies of the Prime Minister have attempted to argue that this means the process is “rigged”, with loyalists such as Nadine Dorries, the Culture Secretary, condemning the investigation as a “witch-hunt”.
The committee hit back, criticising attempts to “undermine” and “subvert” the process and “intimidate” members. Harriet Harman, the Labour MP who is chairing the committee during the inquiry, and the Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin wrote: “There have been unfounded allegations about ‘goalposts being moved’ and ‘rules changed’. But this is inaccurate. The House should be reluctant to allow intimidation and the targeting of individuals to subvert the proper processes. We will not let this succeed.”
Another senior Conservative MP said there was anger at Mr Johnson for using his final days in power to try to undermine the legitimacy of the committee. “There are a lot of quite steady colleagues who are just horrified by that kind of conduct,” they said.
“It is the most toxic thing. Especially for the Conservative MPS who have been appointed to that committee by the chief whip. Then to find themselves attacked for being prepared to serve is really quite shocking.”
Senior figures in No 10 accept it is clear that after police issued 126 fines for breaching Covid laws, the privileges committee will conclude that Mr Johnson was wrong to tell the Commons “all guidance was followed in No 10” and “no Covid rules were broken”.