Now scrap the kangaroo court

SUE Gray’s appointment as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff may also offer Boris Johnson a lifeline.

The full, unredacted version of Ms Gray’s report into ‘ Partygate’ has been submitted to the long-delayed controversial parliamentary inquiry into whether the former prime minister misled the Commons.

And his supporters say the new allegations about her potential bias could derail the Privileges Committee probe, which was finally expected to question Mr Johnson within the next few months.

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay wrote online: ‘Her dossier will form a key part of the Privileges Committee work to determine the parliamentary career of a Conservative colleague.

‘Does this smell right?’

The Commons Partygate inquiry was launched in April last year but has still not held a single evidence session with witnesses. It is being led by former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman, who has publicly criticised Mr Johnson’s conduct, leading Tory critics to complain that the former PM is facing a ‘kangaroo court’.

If the committee finds him guilty, it could recommend Mr Johnson is suspended from Parliament, potentially forcing him to fight a difficult by-election in his west London constituency.