Boris Johnson branded coward and disgrace for quitting before partygate findings

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been labelled a “coward” and a “disgrace” for resigning as an MP before the results of a parliamentary investigation into whether he misled MPs about the partygate scandal were released. Members of the opposition blasted Johnson, who criticised the Commons privileges committee in a scathing 1,000-word statement as he stepped down on Friday. Johnson accused the cross-party group, which has a Conservative majority, of being “determined to find him guilty” of deceiving parliament and claimed a “witch hunt” was underway to exact revenge for Brexit.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, argued that the former prime minister had “jumped” to avoid facing a potentially embarrassing by-election in his marginal Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. She told Sky News, “I think Boris Johnson has shown himself to be a coward once more. He’s a man that can never hold his hands up to what he’s done. And I think he’s an absolute disgrace.”

Rayner highlighted that the Commons would vote on any recommended suspension from the privileges committee, and if a suspension of 10 days or more was agreed upon, Johnson’s constituents would then have a say in whether there should be a by-election. She stated that Johnson had chosen to “dodge all of that because he knows he’s not going to get through that process because it is clear he misled parliament.”

The committee has been investigating whether Johnson lied to the Commons when he claimed that COVID rules were followed in Downing Street after reports of lockdown-busting parties emerged during the pandemic. It was allegedly preparing to recommend a 10-day suspension from the Commons, a conclusion which, if supported by MPs, would have led to a recall petition among his constituents and a potential by-election in his west London constituency if over 10% supported one.

Will Walden, a former spokesman for Boris Johnson, said his previous employer had “seen the writing on the wall” that he could be removed and labelled his departure “very Trumpian.” Walden added, “Boris hates the comparisons with Trump, but it is the language of vendetta. It’s a long rant, and frankly, it’s deeply misleading in places. But it’s very Boris.”

Chris Bryant, the Labour chair of the privileges committee who recused himself from the Johnson investigation, suggested that the former prime minister could face a new contempt of parliament charge after his “narcissistic rant.” He said, “He’s been so cowardly that he’s not prepared to face the music in the House of Commons.”

The privileges inquiry is scheduled to meet on Monday to finalise its conclusions and is expected to promptly publish its report. In a statement released by the committee on Friday night, a spokesperson said Johnson had “impugned the integrity” of the Commons with his attack.

Johnson expressed his bewilderment and dismay at being “forced out, anti-democratically” by an investigation that he claimed had set out from the beginning to “find me guilty, regardless of the facts.”

Following Johnson’s resignation, Chancellor Rishi Sunak now faces the prospect of two by-elections, as Nadine Dorries – one of Johnson’s closest allies – also announced on Friday that she was stepping down from her seat with immediate effect. The two main opposition parties have pledged to fight hard to win the seats, but the Liberal Democrats confirmed on Saturday that there would be no pact with Labour to oust the Conservatives. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stated, “There’ll be no pacts, no deals. We will fight both by-elections. Voters will make the decision.”