Boris Johnson quits parliament, blaming ‘witch hunt’

London: Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is quitting parliament, claiming to have been the victim of an anti-Brexit witch hunt after receiving the findings of an investigation into whether he misled the House of Commons over the string of parties held at Number 10 during COVID lockdowns.

Johnson, who was ousted by his own MPs last year – in part due to the scandal, dubbed Partygate – said he was sad to be “leaving parliament – at least for now”.

“I have received a letter from the Privileges Committee making it clear – much to my amazement – that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament,” Johnson said in a statement released on Friday evening local time.

“I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee chaired and managed by Harriet Harman, with such egregious bias,” he said.

“Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts. This is the very definition of a kangaroo court.

“There is a witch hunt underway, to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result.”

The report of the findings from the House of Commons’ Privileges Committee chaired by Labour MP Harriet Harman has not been made public.

The Times of London reported that the committee had recommended Johnson be suspended from parliament for 10 days, which would trigger a byelection. Earlier, Johnson’s ally Nadine Dorries announced she would be quitting immediately after she was not included in Johnson’s list of peerages that are ultimately signed off by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak – Johnson’s arch-rival.

This sets up two byelections when the Conservatives are polling 14 points behind Labour.

Johnson laid into Sunak’s performance in his resignation statement.

Johnson’s downfall as prime minister was linked to his partying while Britain was in lockdown.Credit: AP

“When I left office last year the government was only a handful of points behind in the polls. That gap has now massively widened.

“Our party needs urgently to recapture its sense of momentum and its belief in what this country can do.”

He said the party needed to cut taxes instead of “endlessly putting them up”.

Privileges Committee chair Harriet Harman opens proceedings for former prime minister Boris Johnson.Credit: AP

Johnson has made £5 million ($9.3 million) since leaving Number 10 in July 2022 for appearances, speeches and a planned book.

The former London mayor headed the successful Vote Leave referendum in 2016 and became prime minister in 2019, toppling Theresa May for the job.

He won with a landslide majority, defeating Labour – then led by Jeremy Corbyn – on a promise to break the parliamentary deadlock on Brexit.

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