MPs investigating Boris Johnson’s involvement in Partygate will soon release additional documents in advance of a hearing that will determine his political future.
The former prime minister is accused of misleading Parliament regarding security parties held in Downing Street during his administration.
He has admitted that his initial assurances to MPs in 2021 that Covid regulations were strictly adhered to were misleading.
However, he claims that this was not intentional and that the hearing will vindicate him.
The former premier, who was removed from office last year due to a series of scandals, could be suspended if MPs determine he intentionally misled them.
The seven-member Commons privileges committee is investigating whether Mr. Johnson’s statements to the House prevented it from holding him accountable.
At 09:00 GMT, the committee will issue a “core bundle” of evidence to be used during the hearing.
Mr. Johnson’s legal team has already received all of the evidence gathered by the committee, including written statements from 23 witnesses, official diaries, and correspondence between officials.
His attorneys have provided the committee with 46 WhatsApp messages between the former prime minister and five unidentified individuals.
The committee will question him live on TV Wednesday at 14:00 GMT.
During the session, he will be able to confer with members of his publicly-funded legal team. Mr. Johnson expects that some of his supporters will be present.
He will swear on the King James Bible and answer queries before the hearing.
Late in 2021, the media began to report on staff parties held in Downing Street when Covid regulations prohibited socializing indoors. This controversy would later be dubbed the Partygate scandal.
Several times afterward, Mr. Johnson informed the House of Commons that Downing Street had adhered to Covid regulations.
Later, an investigation by senior official Sue Gray determined that rule violations had occurred on multiple occasions, and the police issued fines to 83 individuals, including Mr. Johnson, for violating Covid laws.
The committee, convened by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but dominated by Conservatives, stated earlier this month that any violations of pandemic guidance would have been “obvious” at the time.
Mr. Johnson refuted this on Tuesday in a 52-page document outlining his defense before the television hearing.
Birthday celebration
He assured MPs that lockdown protocols were followed “in good faith” in his submission.
He added that he had not “intentionally or recklessly” misled lawmakers and that he had “never dreamed” of doing so.
And he stated that he did not realize at the time that events he attended. Including a June 2020 birthday party at No. 10 for which he was fined, violated the rules.
Regarding other events he had not attended, he stated that his officials had not informed him that they had violated the rules. So it was reasonable for him to believe their account.
He also accused the committee of departing from the norms established by previous investigations.
The committee has determined that whether or not he intended to mislead MPs is irrelevant in determining whether he obstructed the work of Parliament, also known as “contempt.”
However, if they determine that contempt was committed, they will consider his intentions when recommending a punishment.
A finding that he intentionally misled lawmakers is likely to result in the harshest punishment. Another possibility is that they conclude he brazenly misled the legislature.
In his argument, the former prime minister criticized this line of thinking, stating that intentionally misleading members of Congress were an “entirely novel concept.”
The full House of Commons must ratify the committee’s final recommendations and any sanctions. Which could range from requiring him to apologize to suspending him from the House of Commons.
Conservative members of Congress will have a free ballot, meaning party leaders will not instruct them on how to vote.
If he is suspended for more than 10 days, this could result in a by-election in his constituency. Even though suspensions of this length have historically been uncommon.
Paul Goodman, the editor of Conservative Home, stated that a survey of approximately 650 Tory electors conducted by his website revealed that members disliked the inquiry process, but only a fifth desired his return as leader before the next election.
“Does Boris Johnson give the impression that the dogs are barking and the caravan is moving on?” he asked.
