Kangaroo court risks damaging democracy

TO any fair-minded and dispassionate observer, the Commons privileges committee’s inquiry into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate is an appalling travesty of natural justice.

The panel deciding his fate is so tainted with prejudice and partiality, there is virtually no chance of him receiving a fair trial. Indeed, even the chairman herself – Harriet Harman – has summarily declared Mr Johnson guilty as charged.

The whole process has more than a whiff of the witch-hunts of Salem. Because really, what is the point of this case?

By the time the tribunal convenes next month, Mr Johnson will have paid the heaviest price for his lockdown misdemeanours – being forced from No 10.

Yet the truth is, his downfall does not quench his enemies’ thirst for revenge. Vindictive opposition parties and unforgiving Remainers want him humiliated and crushed for political reasons.

That is why the kangaroo court pursuing Mr Johnson sneakily ripped up the parliamentary rulebook.

Rather than having to prove that the accused ‘knowingly’ misled the Commons, it will now be enough to censure him even if he did so inadvertently (and which, illustrating the farce of this inquisition, Boris has admitted and apologised for).

Of course, this spiteful stitch-up would delight the Boris-haters. But as a dossier of legal advice drawn up by his allies makes clear, such an extraordinary abuse of power risks having chilling ramifications.

If ministers feel unable to make statements in the Commons in case they unwittingly tell an untruth, won’t they clam up? Instead of trying to be helpful, mightn’t they simply parrot non-answers?

The unintended consequences of this unhealthy desire to effectively impeach Mr Johnson could be irreparable damage to our precious democracy.