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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Boris Johnson: I've been forced out over Partygate report | Boris Johnson: I've been forced out over Partygate report |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 | Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 |
| Boris Johnson is to step down as an MP with immediate effect after receiving the Partygate report. | Boris Johnson is to step down as an MP with immediate effect after receiving the Partygate report. |
| That report by the MP-led Privileges Committee looked into whether he misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street. | That report by the MP-led Privileges Committee looked into whether he misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street. |
| Mr Johnson accused the Commons inquiry of attempting to "drive me out". | Mr Johnson accused the Commons inquiry of attempting to "drive me out". |
| In a statement he said: "They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons." | In a statement he said: "They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons." |
| Earlier on Friday, he received a copy of the yet-to-be-published report, which he claimed was "riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice". | Earlier on Friday, he received a copy of the yet-to-be-published report, which he claimed was "riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice". |
| In evidence given to the Privileges Committee in March, Mr Johnson admitted misleading Parliament, but denied doing it on purpose. | In evidence given to the Privileges Committee in March, Mr Johnson admitted misleading Parliament, but denied doing it on purpose. |
| He said social distancing had not been "perfect" at gatherings in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns. | He said social distancing had not been "perfect" at gatherings in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns. |
| But he said they were "essential" work events, which he claimed were allowed. | But he said they were "essential" work events, which he claimed were allowed. |
| He insisted the guidelines - as he understood them - were followed at all times. | He insisted the guidelines - as he understood them - were followed at all times. |
| Follow live: Boris Johnson resigns as MP | Follow live: Boris Johnson resigns as MP |
| Boris Johnson: Resignation statement in full | |
| Announcing he would step down, the former prime minister issued a lengthy statement on Friday evening in which he said: "I did not lie, and I believe that in their hearts the committee know it." | |
| "They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister," he said. | "They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister," he said. |
| Mr Johnson said he corrected the record as soon as possible, and claimed committee members "know that". | |
| He said the "current prime minister and then occupant of the same building, Rishi Sunak" also believed they were "working lawfully together". | |
| He condemned the committee as a "kangaroo court", and claimed that its "purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts". | |
| Mr Johnson claims his removal is a "necessary first step" in attempts by some to reverse the 2016 Brexit result | |
| Mr Johnson's statement said: "It is very sad to be leaving Parliament - at least for now - but above all I am bewildered and appalled that I can be forced out, anti-democratically, by a committee chaired and managed, by [Labour MP] Harriet Harman, with such egregious bias." | |
| He claimed his "removal" was the "necessary first step" by some who oppose him, "to take revenge for Brexit and ultimately to reverse the 2016 referendum result". | |
| His resignation will trigger a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. | His resignation will trigger a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. |
| Mr Johnson was prime minister from July 2019 until September 2022, and has been an MP since 2001. | Mr Johnson was prime minister from July 2019 until September 2022, and has been an MP since 2001. |
| BBC political editor Chris Mason said not only was Mr Johnson giving up as an MP, but he was "doing so in an explosive manner - taking a direct pot shot at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he does so". | |
| Our political editor that Mr Johnson was "rallying the Brexit troops in suggesting his demise is driven by a motivation to overturn the result of the EU referendum". | |
| Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner condemned what she called "this never-ending Tory soap opera played out" at the expense of the British public. | |
| For the Liberal Democrats, deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "Good riddance." | |
| SNP deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black said Mr Johnson "jumped before he was pushed", adding "no-one in Scotland will be sorry to see the back of him". | |
| Reacting to the resignation statement, Boris Johnson's local Conservative association chairman, Richard Mills, said the former PM "has delivered on his promises to local residents". | |
| Earlier on Friday Mr Johnson's resignation honours list was published, in which a number of sitting MPs featured. | |
| One of them, Michael Fabricant, criticised the Privileges Committee for what he called its "disgraceful treatment" of the former prime minister. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson |