RISHI Sunak has refused to say whether he will approve the Privileges Committee report that found Boris Johnson lied over partygate, as MPs prepare to vote on its findings.
Last week, the Privileges Committee found that Johnson had repeatedly misled Parliament over lockdown parties in No 10.
The report said that this amounted to “an attack on our democratic institutions”.
The motion on the Privileges Committee’s findings come as Scotland Yard is “considering” the footage from a 2020 Christmas gathering at Conservative Party headquarters.
The video, obtained by the Sunday Mirror, appeared to show staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions at the height of the pandemic.
The footage of the event, which happened when indoor socialising was banned and people across the country were separated from family and friends.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who has apologised for the video showing Tory staff dancing and joking about Covid restrictions, will also abstain from a vote.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain on ITV, the Prime Minister said: “This committee was established under the former Prime Minister. It commanded the confidence of the house at the time and I’m sure that they have done their work thoroughly and I respect them for that.
“This is a matter for the house rather than the government, that’s an important distinction and that is why I wouldn’t want to influence anyone in advance of that vote.
“It will be up to each and every individual MP to make a decision of what they want to do when the time comes, it’s important the government doesn’t get involved in that because it is a matter for parliament and members as individuals, not as members as government.”
He said it was a matter for each individual MP to decide their own course of action over the committee findings – leaving the door open for other Conservatives to follow suit and potentially avoid casting a ballot.
The committee recommended that Johnson be denied a former members' pass - effectively barring him from the Houses of Parliament.
Whether or not a vote on the report takes place on Monday – which is the former prime minister’s birthday – depends in part on how many Johnson loyalists decide to oppose the report.
The former prime minister was urging his allies not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect, although critics argue the level of support shown for him would have been low anyway.
Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.
