The row over Boris Johnson’s future escalated on Monday as MPs were set to debate a damning report that found he lied to Parliament over partygate.
Allies of the former prime minister continued to insist that the Privileges Committee had “grossly overreached” when it recommended Mr Johnson be suspended for 90 days, had he not resigned, and lose access to a parliamentary pass usually available to ex-PMs.
However, MPs are expected to “nod” through the committee’s report this evening after Mr Johnson urged his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect.
Rishi Sunak and senior Cabinet ministers are expected to skip the debate and Tory MPs are unlikely to want to force a vote on the findings as critics have argued the level of support shown for Mr Johnson would have been low.
Tory MPs will be given a free vote. But allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.
Former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke said: “My views are clear on the Privileges Committee report — and how I would have voted had there been a division. However, this will not now be pushed to a vote and I respect that
decision.
“Boris’s mandate was two-fold: first as MP for Uxbridge and second as PM with a landslide. It is extraordinary how he has been effectively removed from Parliament in this way.”
Conservative MP for Workington Mark Jenkinson added: “The committee has grossly overreached in my opinion. But I think they’ve caused significant damage to themselves and undermined their own legitimacy while doing so.”
However, senior Tory David Davis said he would vote with the committee. “I’m probably in the minority who have actually read every word in this report,” he told TalkTV.
“The committee makes a very good point. It shows that he knew what was going on when he told the House that there weren’t parties. It shows he was pretty much aware that the rules were being broken... it makes the case very, very clearly.”
Conservative MP Stephen Hammond said he was planning to vote, should one be called, in favour of the Privileges Committee ruling that Mr Johnson misled MPs over partygate.
Speaking to TalkTV, the former health minister said: “I think there are two issues here. Firstly, regardless of who this report is about, we have House of Commons procedures and if we’re not prepared to uphold them in this case, will we be prepared to uphold them in future cases?
“And if we can’t support what the committee which we set up has said, are we capable of self-regulating ourselves? And do we really want judges and outside people doing this sort of inquiry in the future? I think not.
“So there is a point of principle here for Members of Parliament to think about quite carefully, about our own rules and how Parliament and the sovereignty of Parliament works.”
Mr Sunak on Monday morning refused to say whether he would take part in the debate, amid anger over partygate following a newly published video.
Scotland Yard is “considering” footage from a 2020 Christmas gathering at Conservative Party headquarters.
“This committee was established under the former prime minister,” Mr Sunak said. “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.”
He added he did not want to give his verdict on the report’s conclusions because he “wouldn’t want to influence anyone in advance of that vote”.
Mr Sunak is facing at least three by-elections in coming months following the resignations of Mr Johnson, Nigel Adams and David Warburton.
Nadine Dorries has also announced she will quit the Commons, but has not yet handed in her official resignation.
The PM was this morning challenged to “show leadership” and not duck a vote on a report.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Sunak should “show us where he stands” on the issue.
