In response to the release of the Partygate report, Boris Johnson has announced his resignation as a Member of Parliament with immediate effect. The report, conducted by the Privileges Committee, investigated whether Johnson had misled Parliament concerning parties held at Downing Street during the lockdown period.
In a statement, Johnson criticized the Commons inquiry, accusing it of attempting to drive him out and highlighting the lack of evidence supporting the claim that he knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons. Earlier on the same day, he received a copy of the yet-to-be-published report, which he described as being filled with inaccuracies and prejudice.
During his appearance before the Privileges Committee in March, Johnson admitted to having misled Parliament but denied any intention to do so. He acknowledged that social distancing had not been perfect during gatherings at Downing Street but argued that they were essential work events, permitted under the guidelines as he understood them. He maintained that he spoke sincerely and based his statements on the briefings he received as a minister.
In his extensive statement following his resignation, Johnson maintained his innocence, stating that he did not lie and expressing his belief that the committee members knew it as well. He asserted that he corrected the record as soon as possible and criticized the committee as a “kangaroo court” with a predetermined objective of finding him guilty, irrespective of the facts. Johnson also expressed sadness at leaving Parliament, at least for now, and expressed his dismay at being forced out in an anti-democratic manner, citing what he believed to be biased management of the committee by Harriet Harman, a Labour MP.
As a result of Johnson’s resignation, a by-election will be triggered in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Boris Johnson served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from July 2019 until September 2022 and has been an MP since 2001.
