In the end, he was the Pontius Pilate of Parliament. By washing his hands of the Commons debate and vote on the privileges committee report on Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak not only made a grievous error of judgment but failed a hugely significant test of leadership. His absence from the green benches was as shameful as it was conspicuous.
Since Johnson has already resigned as member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, the only practical consequence of the vote was to remove his parliamentary pass. But the symbolism of MPs’ endorsement of the committee’s report — by 354 to seven — and of its original recommendation to suspend him from the Commons for 90 days, was huge.
