Dumfries and Galloway MP Alister Jack has been slammed for not taking part in a vote on whether former Prime Minister Boris Johnson misled parliament.
On Monday night, MPs overwhelmingly voted to back a privileges committee report that Mr Johnson had lied when he claimed coronavirus rules had been followed at Downing Street at all times – despite evidence parties had taken place.
More than 200 MPs either didn’t attend or abstained – including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Scottish Secretary Mr Jack, who is due to stand down at the next election.
South Scotland Labour MSP, Colin Smyth, said: “His failure to vote will be interpreted as an endorsement of Boris Johnson’s shocking behaviour.
“It will anger Mr Jack’s and my constituents that while they weren’t able to attend family funerals or see loved in care homes, Mr Jack’s bosses were partying and then lied to Parliament over it.
“It’s shameful Mr Jack thinks Boris Johnson should get off scot free for such appalling behaviour. It really does show how a change of government cannot come soon enough.”
After coming to the conclusion Mr Johnson had lied, the privileges committee said they would have recommended a 90-day suspension had he not recently resigned as an MP. They also recommended banning him from having a pass to access the Houses of Parliament – something normally available to former MPs.
Monday’s vote saw 354 MPs vote to back the report and seven vote against it. 225 MPs either abstained or did not turn up.
Mr Jack – a staunch supporter of Mr Johnson – was among those who did not vote and his spokesman did not respond when asked by the News why that was the case.
However, this week Mr Jack re-iterated his backing for Mr Johnson in an interview with the Holyrood magazine.
He said: “I know the public perception was that he was not popular in Scotland, I understand that, but it was a false perception. I found when I walked the streets with him in Scotland, people were incredibly supportive.
“But my view is that I’m very fond of Boris, I think he’s an enormous talent and I was very sorry the way things ended.”
