In a scathing report released on Thursday, a committee of U.K. lawmakers heavily criticized former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, accusing him of lying to Parliament about lockdown-breaking parties and complicity in intimidating those investigating his conduct during the coronavirus pandemic.
The House of Commons Privileges Committee found Johnson’s actions to be such a blatant violation of the rules that they recommended a 90-day suspension from Parliament, potentially leading to a costly by-election. However, Johnson resigned last week after being given advance notice of the committee’s findings, thus avoiding this potential consequence.
The release of the committee’s 77-page report has sparked a heated exchange of recriminations. Johnson has once again referred to the panel as a “kangaroo court,” with the committee dismissing his defense as a mere after-the-fact justification.
The report and its reception highlight the ongoing battle over Johnson’s legacy amid upcoming elections that could bring about significant changes in social and economic policy. The Conservative Party, which has governed the U.K. since 2010, is currently lagging behind the more liberal Labour Party in public opinion polls.
Since taking office in October, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been making concerted efforts to shift the focus away from Johnson, promising to tackle inflation, immigration, and government debt ahead of the upcoming elections. However, Johnson’s influence still looms in the background, as he is still revered by many Conservatives for his decisive victory in December 2019 and successfully leading Britain’s exit from the European Union.
For now, attention remains on Johnson, as the full House of Commons is set to debate the committee’s report, providing an opportunity for both his supporters and detractors to engage in further debate. Following the debate, lawmakers will vote on whether to uphold the panel’s findings and recommended sanctions.
The scandal surrounding Johnson’s staff holding parties during pandemic restrictions, dubbed the “partygate” scandal, was first exposed by British news organizations. Initially, Johnson denied the existence of any parties, but later admitted that pandemic rules were not followed.
After a 14-month investigation, the committee concluded that Johnson’s assurances were misleading and that he failed to correct the record when given the opportunity, constituting a “serious contempt” of Parliament. The committee emphasized the seriousness of the prime minister’s actions and the fact that no precedent exists for a prime minister being found to have deliberately misled the House.
Johnson and his wife, Carrie, were previously fined for breaching COVID-19 laws at a birthday party in June 2020. As a result of several scandals, including the partygate scandal, Johnson stepped down as prime minister in September, prompting numerous government resignations.
Johnson has attempted to salvage his political career by attacking the privileges committee and its members, claiming the investigation was unfair and undemocratic. However, his responses to the findings, along with his attacks on fellow Conservatives, may make a political comeback unlikely.
Although the committee’s proposed sanctions would not bar Johnson from seeking office in the future, the fallout from the report and his reactions may have long-lasting effects on his political future.
Revelations of parties taking place during pandemic restrictions, while millions were barred from seeing loved ones or attending funerals, angered many Britons and added to a series of ethics scandals that ultimately led to Johnson’s downfall.
Johnson admitted to misleading lawmakers by claiming that no rules had been broken, but insisted that he did not do so deliberately. He maintained that the gatherings he attended were “lawful work gatherings” intended to boost staff morale during a challenging time.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who served as Johnson’s treasury secretary during the pandemic, was among the individuals fined for attending office parties and social gatherings in government buildings.
The COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, a group representing relatives of those who died during the pandemic, expressed their pain at the committee’s findings. They called for Johnson to be barred from holding office again, citing his lack of remorse and repeated lies.
As the debate on the committee’s report unfolds in the House of Commons, the future political prospects for Boris Johnson, once a celebrated figure, remain uncertain.
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