Question Time audience reveal if they thought Boris Johnson was telling MPs the truth
Boris Johnson is already preparing for a “worst case” scenario in which he has to fight a by-election he is expected to lose, allies have said.
MPs investigating whether the former prime minister intentionally misled parliament over his understanding of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic could recommend a suspension of more than 10 days, triggering a contest for his Uxbridge constituency.
“He is planning for the worst case, there’s no point in waiting until they’ve delivered their verdict,” an ally told The Times.
Tory pollster Lord Hayward told The Independent there was “no question” Mr Johnson would lose to Labour in a by-election.
Meanwhile, a senior Tory MP told The Independent the Partygate inquiry and a failed rebellion on Brexit were the “death throes of the Boris cult”, saying the “dying rump” of around 20 to 30 loyalists left would not be able to rebuild support for Mr Johnson in the parliamentary party.
Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal for Northern Ireland was formally signed-off by James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, and the European Commission’s Maros Sefcovic at a meeting in London.
