Nadine Dorries and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, key allies of Boris Johnson, could be suspended from Parliament for their involvement in a campaign against the committee investigating the former Prime Minister's partygate conduct. According to the Privileges Committee, comments made by senior MPs, including Ms. Dorries, Sir Jacob, and Dame Priti Patel, as well as peers like Lord Goldsmith, were part of a coordinated effort to undermine the committee's work.
"The committee is particularly concerned about attacks mounted by experienced colleagues, including a serving minister of the Crown, a former leader of the House, and a former secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport", the committee stated.
The Privileges Committee urged MPs to consider whether their actions amount to a contempt of Parliament and decide on the appropriate course of action. The committee's recommendations led to Boris Johnson's resignation from Parliament in protest. The committee had recommended that Johnson should face a lengthy suspension for misleading the Commons regarding lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.
Supporters of Johnson had branded the Labour-led but Tory-majority committee, branding it a "witch hunt" and a "kangaroo court" – with Mr Johnson found to be complicit in the campaign.
Other MPs mentioned in the report include Mark Jenkinson, Sir Michael Fabricant, Brendan Clarke-Smith, and Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
In response to the report's findings, Downing Street declined to comment and indicated that MPs would have a "free vote" on the matter. The Prime Minister's official spokesperson expressed Rishi Sunak's full confidence in Lord Goldsmith.
According to the report, the MPs who were criticised "did not choose to engage through any proper process such as the submission of letters or evidence to our inquiry, but by attacking the members of the committee, in order to influence their judgment." The MPs aimed to "influence the outcome of the inquiry" and "discredit the committee's conclusions if those conclusions were not what they wanted", the report added.
The involvement of experienced colleagues, including a serving minister, a former leader of the House, and a former secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, raised concern within the committee. The report added: “The committee is particularly concerned about attacks mounted by experienced colleagues, including a serving minister of the Crown, a former leader of the House and a former secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.”
In a reference to Ms Dorries’ work on TalkTV and Sir Jacob’s GB News role, the committee said “two of the Members mounting the most vociferous attacks on the committee did so from the platform of their own hosted TV shows”.
The report also emphasised the role of Lord Cruddas and Lord Greenhalgh, both of whom were given peerages by Boris Johnson, in a Conservative Post campaign that pressured the four Tory members of the committee to resign.
The committee acknowledged that the House of Commons would need to decide on "what further action, if any, to take" in relation to the named MPs. It proposed that MPs agree that attempting to "impugn the integrity of the committee" or "lobby or intimidate" its members could be considered a contempt of Parliament.
The report is scheduled to be considered by MPs on July 10. Additionally, the committee recommended that the Lords be made aware of the report and consider appropriate actions regarding the implicated peers.
Labour called on the Prime Minister to support the report's conclusions and criticised Rishi Sunak for allowing "senior members of his own party to undermine and attack Britain’s democratic institutions."
MP Brendan Clarke-Smith expressed his surprise and disappointment at being named in the report. He defended his tweet, stating that it raised serious questions about free speech in a democratic society.
Sir Michael Fabricant, who was also criticised in the report, stood by his statement and argued that respect for the committee needs to be earned.
Mark Jenkinson criticised the committee's "gross overreach", claiming that he was being targeted for a tweet that did not refer to the committee or its work but was about the media's treatment of Boris Johnson.
Thangam Debbonaire, the Shadow leader of the House of Commons, called on Rishi Sunak to condemn his Conservative colleagues and ensure that MPs have sufficient time to approve the report in its entirety.
Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, suggested that Rishi Sunak should initiate an investigation into potential collusion between the former Prime Minister and his allies, as it appeared to resemble a "gongs for cronies scandal".
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