The Privileges Committee of the House of Commons named eight members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday who they say undermined the work of the government’s inquiry into whether or not Boris Johnson misled Parliament.
They 14-page report explained how some members, outside of Parliament, from both the House of Commons and House of Lords went out of their way to undermine the committee’s work. According to the report, those involved used newspapers, radio outlets and social media to spread mistrust in the committee. MPs named in the report include the likes of Nadine Dorries, Sir Jacob Rhys Mogg, Priti Patel—who are all former cabinet ministers.
The report also cited comments from Dorries, Lord Zack Goldsmith, Mark Jenkinson and Michael Fabricant, who described the decision to suspend Johnson as a “witch hunt,” “kangaroo court,” and invoking “serious questions about how this investigation was conducted.” Another MP called the committee’s proceedings a “Banana Republic.” The report claims that comments such as these “serve[d] to undermine the work of the committee.”
The report also discussed the impact MPs had, stating, “[P]ressure was applied, particularly to conservative members of the committee.” The report continues, “[T]he clear intention was to drive those members of the committee and frustrate the work of the house.” While the report notes that the pressure did not ultimately affect the conduct or outcome of the committee’s inquiry, it “had a real personal impact on them as well as security concerns.”
The report further says, “This House notes with approval, the special report from the Committee of privileges”—meaning a vote will be held on the findings next week. The report is caveated with a backup in case the government refuses to call a vote. The report reads, “[I]f the government don’t bring a vote on it, other MPs can and then want to draw attention to this but here it will be for the House to consider what further action is any to take in respect of those members of the house.”