Boris Johnson’s allies accused of trying to kill No. 10 Downing St parties probe

Supporters claim the committee due to begin hearing evidence next month is ‘rigged’ against the embattled UK prime minister.

Boris Johnson initially told the Commons no rules had been broken by parties in No. 10. Picture: Peter Byrne / POOL / AFP

Allies of Boris Johnson have been accused of attempting to “kill off” a parliamentary inquiry into whether he knowingly misled MPs over the lockdown parties scandal.

Supporters of the prime minister claimed the Commons privileges committee, which is due to begin hearing evidence as part of its investigation next month, was “rigged” against him.

Labour fears the prime minister’s successor will come under pressure to intervene and try to stop the inquiry, which could result in Johnson being suspended from the Commons.

His backers argue that the process is inherently flawed by allowing MPs to pass judgment on the prime minister despite some of them having criticised him in the past.

“The partygate probe is clearly rigged,” said Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, the environment minister and a friend of Johnson.

“It is a jury comprised of highly partisan, vengeful and vindictive MPs, nearly all of whom are already on the record viciously attacking the person they are judging. It is an obscene abuse of power.”

Boris Johnson and supporter Nadine Dorries, who has called the investigation a witch-hunt. Picture: various sources / AFP

Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, also condemned the investigation, calling it a witch-hunt.

“It will cast serious doubt not only on the reputation of individual MPs sitting on the committee, but on the processes of parliament and democracy itself,” she said.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who was head of the privileges committee before recusing himself from the Johnson inquiry, said “any attempt by the next prime minister to kill off the investigation would deal a potentially fatal blow to their reputation”.

“The Conservatives have been trying to kill this off from the outset,” he added. “But I think if the new prime minister were to lay a new motion rescinding the privileges inquiry it simply wouldn’t wash with the public.”

While the committee mostly consists of Conservative MPs, Johnson’s allies say many are not supportive of him.

Andy Carter, the MP for Warrington South, said Johnson’s resignation was “in the nation’s best interests” and was “the right thing to do”.

Alberto Costa, the MP for South Leicestershire, who is also on the committee, said there had been a “breakdown in good governance” under Johnson. A third member, Laura Farris, revealed she voted against Johnson in the confidence vote in June.

The Mail on Sunday, which first reported the story, said the fourth Tory MP on the panel, Sir Bernard Jenkin, had visited Johnson in Downing Street before his resignation last month and urged him to “leave with dignity”.

Johnson is due to be called to give evidence to the committee in the autumn along with other witnesses including Sue Gray, the civil servant who carried out the parties investigation.

Harriet Harman, the committee’s Labour chairwoman, is allowing witnesses to give evidence anonymously, which has further irritated No. 10.

Johnson initially told the Commons no rules had been broken by parties in No. 10. He corrected the record after the publication of the Gray report detailing the breaches.

The investigation will seek to determine whether Johnson knew this to be untrue when he made the comments.

The Times