Senior Tories were split over backing sanctions against Boris Johnson after the privileges committee found that he deliberately and repeatedly lied to MPs about Partygate.
The former prime minister will be stripped of his parliamentary security pass after MPs backed the committee’s scathing report.
Some 354 MPs backed the Partygate report – a majority of 347, after Labour pushed the motion to a vote. No vote was recorded for 225 Conservative MPs.
Just seven Conservative loyalists voted in his favour, but it was approved by only 118 Tories – with the majority of Rishi Sunak’s MPs choosing to the follow their leader and keep clear of the Commons.
Here’s how senior Tories responded to the report and voted in the Commons:
Rishi Sunak – Abstain
The prime minister did not bother to show up to the debate and No 10 claimed he was too busy hosting the Swedish PM to attend the vote.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister’s schedule on Monday “doesn’t include attending parliament” and that he has commitments he “can’t move”.
Michael Gove – Abstain
Almost the entire cabinet choose to abtain on the big vote. Sometimes an ally of Mr Johnson, sometimes not, Mr Gove choose to offer some backing to the former PM by criticising the 90-day suspension.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday he said he would abstain because he believes a theoretical 90 day suspension is “not merited by the evidence the committee have put forward”. He did however concede there were areas where his former boss “falls short”.
Penny Mordaunt – Backed sanctions
Commons leader Penny Mordaunt was at odds with almost all of the cabinet by voting for the report and sanctions into Mr Johnson. “I will be voting to support the committee’s report and recommendations,” said the senior government figure.
In stinging remarks, she said the findings would protect MPs’ “right not to be misled” or “abused in carrying out our duties” and also touched on “wider issues – such as the debasement of our honours system”.
Theresa May – Backed sanctions
Speaking in the Commons on Monday, the former PM said the Commons must “show that we are prepared to act when one of our own, however senior, is found wanting”.
She added: “It is important to show the public that there is not one rule for them and another for us.”
Liz Truss – Abstain
Like her successor Mr Sunak, the short-lived former prime minister has managed to dodge the vote into Mr Johnson’s conduct, but criticised the punishment given to her predecessor at No 10
She is attending a conference in Ireland, where she said she did not find it funny being compared to a lettuce. The ex-PM also said the proposed punishment was “overly harsh”.
Sir Bill Cash – Against sanctions
The veteran Brexiteer was one of seven Tory MPs who voted against the report. The other Johnson diehards were Heather Wheeler, Nick Fletcher, Joy Morrissey, Adam Holloway and Karl McCartney.
Sir Bill spoke about the principles governing whether a minister has misled parliament and should resign, and highlighted a previous resolution which stated it must have been “knowingly” done.
Mel Stride – Abstain
The work and pensions secretary stayed away from the vote. He told Times Radio “I totally accept its findings of wrongdoing” – but said he had been “quite uncomfortable” with the 90-day theoretical suspension.
Criticising the punishment as “so far out there” he warned and could set a precedent and become a “benchmark” for future punishment of MPs found guilty of wrongdoing by their peers.
Nadine Dorries – Abstain
The arch Johnson loyalist choose to stay away after the former PM made clear he did not wish (with some claiming he did so to prevent it becoming clear how few supporters in parliament he now has).
Ms Dorries said Mr Sunak did not vote on the report because he “would have upset” Tory members and voters who support Boris. “More do support Boris, than Rishi. Those people aren’t stupid though and they also have long memories.”
Steve Baker – Backed sanctions
The ardent Brexiteer voted in favour of the privileges committee report. Mr Baker become a fierce critic of Mr Johnson over Partygate, and is now a minister at the Northern Ireland office.
Several other ministers choose to turn up and back the report. Justice secretary Alex Chalk, security minister Tom Tugendhat and energy minister Andrew Bowie all voted against Mr Johnson.
