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| I've been forced out over Partygate report, says Boris Johnson | I've been forced out over Partygate report, says Boris Johnson |
| (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 | 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." | 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". | 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 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". | 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 claims his removal is a "necessary first step" in attempts by some to reverse the 2016 Brexit result |
| Former senior civil servant Sue Gray, who led the investigation into the Partygate scandal, also came in for criticism from Mr Johnson, who said he no longer believes "that it is any coincidence" that she will soon become "chief of staff designate" of the Labour leader. | Former senior civil servant Sue Gray, who led the investigation into the Partygate scandal, also came in for criticism from Mr Johnson, who said he no longer believes "that it is any coincidence" that she will soon become "chief of staff designate" of the Labour leader. |
| 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." | 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". | 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, although not continuously - having served as mayor of London between 2008 and 2016. | Mr Johnson was prime minister from July 2019 until September 2022, and has been an MP since 2001, although not continuously - having served as mayor of London between 2008 and 2016. |
| 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". | 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". | 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". | |
| For the Liberal Democrats, deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "Good riddance." | 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". | 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". |
| However, former home secretary Priti Patel praised Mr Johnson for his work as prime minister on the issues of Ukraine and Brexit, describing him as "a political titan". | |
| 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". | 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. | 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. | 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 |