June 14th 2023.
Boris Johnson has made a last-ditch appeal to MPs investigating whether he misled parliament over lockdown parties. In an explosive statement, he accused the privileges committee of running an ‘absurdly unfair’ and ‘kangaroo court’.
The former prime minister said the committee should publish their report and let the world judge their findings, claiming he was not allowed to criticise their conclusions. He also expressed his views in writing and promised to speak out more widely when the report is released.
He then went on to criticise his arch political nemesis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Johnson accused Sunak of secretly blocking the peerage of Johnson’s loyal follower, Nadine Dorries. However, Sunak responded that Johnson wanted him to ignore the recommendations of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Johnson denied this, saying it was not necessary to ‘overrule Holac’ but just to ask them to renew their vetting, which was a mere formality.
Downing Street sources said the Cabinet Office had made it clear to Johnson that there is no re-vetting process. Johnson’s spokesperson also denied that anyone from No. 10 had attempted to remove or change the list.
Three upcoming by-elections have been sparked by Johnson, Dorries and Nigel Adams’s resignations. However, the by-election in Dorries’s constituency has been delayed because she has not formally resigned.
Johnson ended his dramatic exit as MP by quoting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator line: ‘I’ll be back’. This echoed his final appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions last year, when he said ‘Hasta la vista, baby’. His sardonic parting words have been met with both amusement and dismay.
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