A Cabinet division has emerged regarding the partygate report on Boris Johnson, with a minister expressing discomfort with the 90-day suspension imposed. Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, believes that while the report correctly concluded that Mr Johnson misled the House of Commons, the punishment was unduly severe.
On Monday night, Members of Parliament voted in favor of a report by the Privileges Committee, which found Mr Johnson guilty of lying to MPs and recommended a 90-day suspension. Mr Stride stated, “I agreed with the findings of wrongdoing on Boris Johnson’s part, but I was distinctly uncomfortable with the severity of the sanction.”
Highlighting the disproportionality of the punishment, Mr Stride stated, “To put it into perspective, a 90-day sanction is nine times the threshold of ten days required for the possibility of a recall petition for a sitting MP. This excessive severity made it impossible for me to support the motion. In the end, I decided to abstain.”
Six Cabinet ministers, including Penny Mordaunt, the Commons leader, voted in favor of the report, while seven backbenchers voted against it. All other participating MPs supported its conclusions.
Mr Stride explained his position, saying, “I respect the decision of my Cabinet colleagues who reached a different conclusion, but I have provided my rationale for dissenting.”
In practical terms, the 90-day suspension will not have any effect as Mr Johnson has already resigned.
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