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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/09/what-are-possible-sanctions-boris-johnson-burqa-row-tories
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Q&A: what sanctions could Boris Johnson face? | Q&A: what sanctions could Boris Johnson face? |
| (1 day later) | |
| What is the complaint against Boris Johnson? | What is the complaint against Boris Johnson? |
| The Conservatives have received dozens of complaints about Boris Johnson’s comments on Muslim women who wear burqas, according to party sources. He used a column in the Telegraph to compare fully veiled women to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”. | The Conservatives have received dozens of complaints about Boris Johnson’s comments on Muslim women who wear burqas, according to party sources. He used a column in the Telegraph to compare fully veiled women to “letterboxes” and “bank robbers”. |
| Among those who have written to the Tory party chairman, Brandon Lewis, is Lord Sheikh, founder of the Conservative Muslim Forum, who said he had written to the chair demanding serious action be taken against the former foreign secretary. | Among those who have written to the Tory party chairman, Brandon Lewis, is Lord Sheikh, founder of the Conservative Muslim Forum, who said he had written to the chair demanding serious action be taken against the former foreign secretary. |
| Lewis had personally asked him to apologise on Tuesday but Johnson, who is on holiday, has refused to do so. | Lewis had personally asked him to apologise on Tuesday but Johnson, who is on holiday, has refused to do so. |
| How will the party deal with the complaint? | How will the party deal with the complaint? |
| The party’s code of conduct, adopted after the Westminster harassment scandal broke last year, says that Tory MPs and other holders of public office should “foster respect and tolerance” in their work. | The party’s code of conduct, adopted after the Westminster harassment scandal broke last year, says that Tory MPs and other holders of public office should “foster respect and tolerance” in their work. |
| The code also says MPs and other holders of public office should “not use their position to bully, abuse, victimise, harass or unlawfully discriminate against others”. It promises that complaints will be investigated “in a timely and confidential manner”. | The code also says MPs and other holders of public office should “not use their position to bully, abuse, victimise, harass or unlawfully discriminate against others”. It promises that complaints will be investigated “in a timely and confidential manner”. |
| Conservative campaign headquarters has confirmed it will investigate the complaints against Johnson. It said investigations were at a preliminary stage. | Conservative campaign headquarters has confirmed it will investigate the complaints against Johnson. It said investigations were at a preliminary stage. |
| Who will decide if he has broken the rules? | Who will decide if he has broken the rules? |
| The party’s code of conduct says investigations “will be conducted by someone with appropriate experience and no prior involvement in the complaint”. | The party’s code of conduct says investigations “will be conducted by someone with appropriate experience and no prior involvement in the complaint”. |
| Its first stage will be to obtain written statements from the complainants and notify Johnson that a formal complaint has been made, so he can provide evidence to support his position should he choose to dispute the complaint. | Its first stage will be to obtain written statements from the complainants and notify Johnson that a formal complaint has been made, so he can provide evidence to support his position should he choose to dispute the complaint. |
| The code says it will not go further with cases it believes to be “obviously trivial or lacking in merit, or that cannot be fairly investigated”. | The code says it will not go further with cases it believes to be “obviously trivial or lacking in merit, or that cannot be fairly investigated”. |
| What happens if the party decides Johnson has a case to answer? | What happens if the party decides Johnson has a case to answer? |
| The next stage is for a panel of three people to be appointed by Lewis, which should include a member of the “voluntary party” such as a lay member, rather than a party official, and an independent member. | The next stage is for a panel of three people to be appointed by Lewis, which should include a member of the “voluntary party” such as a lay member, rather than a party official, and an independent member. |
| One of the panel should be a person nominated by Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, according to the code. The panel will determine if there has been breach of the code, or if the complaint is “vexatious, malicious or trivial”. | One of the panel should be a person nominated by Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, according to the code. The panel will determine if there has been breach of the code, or if the complaint is “vexatious, malicious or trivial”. |
| What are the possible sanctions? | What are the possible sanctions? |
| If the panel believes there is evidence that Johnson has broken the rules, it will present the evidence to Lewis, along with a recommendation of what action to take, with any dissenting views from the panel presented alongside its verdict. The code says the panel may decide to seek qualified legal advice. | If the panel believes there is evidence that Johnson has broken the rules, it will present the evidence to Lewis, along with a recommendation of what action to take, with any dissenting views from the panel presented alongside its verdict. The code says the panel may decide to seek qualified legal advice. |
| It is then up to both Lewis and Theresa May, as leader of the party, to decide on what any sanction should be. The code says it can include suspension or expulsion from the party. That is, however, reserved for the most severe offences and is unlikely to be the outcome in Johnson’s case. | It is then up to both Lewis and Theresa May, as leader of the party, to decide on what any sanction should be. The code says it can include suspension or expulsion from the party. That is, however, reserved for the most severe offences and is unlikely to be the outcome in Johnson’s case. |
| Is the process fair? | Is the process fair? |
| The format may cause some problems for the party. Lewis and May have both already said publicly that Johnson’s comments were offensive, which may be grounds for Johnson to say he does not believe the investigation will be fair. | The format may cause some problems for the party. Lewis and May have both already said publicly that Johnson’s comments were offensive, which may be grounds for Johnson to say he does not believe the investigation will be fair. |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |
| Conservatives | Conservatives |
| Islam | Islam |
| analysis | analysis |
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