Report finds Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over 'partygate' during COVID lockdown
CTV
Former prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament about the lockdown-flouting parties that undermined his credibility and contributed to his downfall, a committee of lawmakers said Thursday after a year-long investigation.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament about the lockdown-flouting parties that undermined his credibility and contributed to his downfall, a committee of lawmakers said Thursday after a year-long investigation.
A scathing report from the House of Commons Privileges Committee found that Johnson's actions were such a flagrant violation of the rules that they warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament. While a damning indictment of the former prime minister's conduct, the recommendation is largely symbolic because Johnson angrily quit as a lawmaker Friday after the committee informed him of its conclusions.
Johnson, 58, last week described the committee as a "kangaroo court" that conducted a "witch hunt" to drive him out of Parliament. A majority of the panel's seven members come from Johnson's Conservative Party.
The report is just the latest episode in the "partygate" scandal that has distracted lawmakers since local news organizations revealed that members of Johnson's staff held a series of parties in 2020 and 2021 when such gatherings were prohibited by pandemic restrictions. The full House of Commons will now debate the committee's report and decide whether it concurs with the panel's findings and recommended sanctions.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.
LONDON (AP) -- Lawmakers are expected to release a long-awaited report Thursday on whether former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over COVID lockdown-flouting parties at his Downing Street office.
