The majority of Nottinghamshire's MPs did not vote on whether to accept a report which said Boris Johnson deliberately misled the House of Commons over lockdown parties. The crucial vote was held on Monday (June 19) after the findings of the committee investigating the former Prime Minister were published.
MPs decided to accept the report overall, which means Mr Johnson will lose his right to the parliamentary pass which is usually afforded to former members. The committee also recommended Mr Johnson should be suspended from the House of Commons for 90 days after finding that he committed several offences when saying rules had been followed at all times in Downing Street.
That 90-day suspension could have triggered a by-election in Mr Johnson's constituency, but this recommendation was rendered irrelevant after Mr Johnson decided to resign earlier this month. A by-election will therefore be held in his constituency anyway, with the former Prime Minister releasing a resignation statement which said the committee investigating him was a "kangaroo court."
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The records from Monday night's vote show that 225 MPs did not record one, including the majority of Nottinghamshire's MPs. Explaining why MPs may not decide to vote, the House of Commons website says: "A member may wish to abstain, or have a procedural reason for not voting. Members can be absent carrying out constituency or ministerial business, or be unable to attend for other reasons."
Of Nottinghamshire's eleven MPs, seven of its Conservatives did not vote and none was recorded for one of the three Labour members. In terms of Labour, Nottingham East's Nadia Whittome and Nottingham North's Alex Norris both voted to accept the report.
Nottingham South's Lilian Greenwood did not record a vote, given that she was acting as a 'teller' for the proceedings. Tellers are those appointed to verify the count when a vote takes place in Parliament, with two MPs representing those voting yes and two others representing those voting no.
As the Deputy Chief Whip for Labour, Lilian Greenwood was one of the tellers for those voting no. This was alongside Labour Chief Whip Alan Campbell, who forced last night's vote by loudly shouting 'no' next to the Speaker.
In terms of the Conservative MPs in Nottinghamshire, just one voted to accept the report - Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards. The other seven did not record a vote.
Mansfield MP Ben Bradley explained he was unable to attend the vote because he was caring for his wife after an operation, adding: "I trust that constituents will understand that the health of my family is my first priority in this instance." Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith explained that he was at another event whilst the vote was taking place.
Mr Clarke-Smith was attending a conference of the International Democrat Union at which Boris Johnson himself was speaking, saying: "I've been in London all day and had a better offer than having to listen to some of the pious speeches in the half-empty Commons today. Far better speeches here with some real democrats."
The other MPs not to have voted include Newark's Robert Jenrick, Sherwood's Mark Spencer, Gedling's Tom Randall and Broxtowe's Darren Henry. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was also not present for Monday's vote, with a spokesperson saying he had other diary commitments.
