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I've been forced out over Partygate report, says Boris Johnson Boris Johnson: I've been forced out over Partygate report
(about 3 hours later)
Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020 Mr Johnson claims his removal is a "necessary first step" in attempts by some to reverse the 2016 Brexit result
Boris Johnson is stepping down immediately as a Tory MP after receiving an advance copy of the Partygate report. Boris Johnson has stepped down as a Tory MP after claiming he was "forced out of Parliament" over Partygate.
The report by the MP-led Privileges Committee looked into whether he misled Parliament over lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street. The ex-PM saw in advance a report by the Commons Privileges Committee investigating if he misled the Commons over Downing Street lockdown parties.
The ex-PM angrily accused the inquiry of trying to "drive me out". His resignation now triggers a by-election in his marginal seat.
The Privileges Committee said Mr Johnson had "impugned the integrity" of the House of Commons. The Privileges Committee said Mr Johnson had called into question the integrity of the House of Commons.
The committee said it had "followed the procedures and the mandate of the House at all times " and would meet on Monday to publish its report promptly. The MP-led committee - which has a majority of Conservative MPs - said it would conclude its inquiry on Monday and "publish its report promptly".
In the former prime minister's fiery resignation statement, he said the process was "the very definition of a kangaroo court". But in an explosive and lengthy resignation statement issued on Friday, Mr Johnson described the committee as a "kangaroo court" whose purpose "from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts".
Mr Johnson received a copy on Thursday and claimed it was "riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice". The Uxbridge and Ruislip MP angrily accused the investigation of trying to "drive me out of Parliament", adding the report he had received was "riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice".
He did admit misleading Parliament when he gave evidence to the Privileges Committee in a combative hearing in March, but denied doing it on purpose. "They have still not produced a shred of evidence that I knowingly or recklessly misled the Commons," he said.
He also accused its chairwoman, Labour's Harriet Harman, of "egregious bias", saying he was "bewildered and appalled" at how he was being forced out.
The ex-prime minister has previously admitted misleading Parliament when he gave evidence to the Privileges Committee in a combative hearing in March, but denied doing it on purpose.
He said social distancing had not been "perfect" at gatherings in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns but insisted the guidelines - as he understood them - were followed at all times.He said social distancing had not been "perfect" at gatherings in Downing Street during Covid lockdowns but insisted the guidelines - as he understood them - were followed at all times.
Follow live: Boris Johnson resigns as MP
Boris Johnson: Resignation statement in fullBoris Johnson: Resignation statement in full
Mr Johnson's lengthy statement, issued late on Friday, was scathing of the committee, saying: "I did not lie, and I believe that in their hearts the committee know it. Why did Boris Johnson resign?
He continued that the committee's "purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts". In the shock resignation letter, Mr Johnson also attacked the direction of the current government, saying "we must not be afraid to be properly Conservative" and warning the party's majority was at risk.
The statement went on to criticise the direction of the current conservative government. "We need to show how we are making the most of Brexit and we need in the next months to be setting out a pro-growth and pro-investment agenda," Mr Johnson argued.
And Mr Johnson did not rule out a return to politics, saying "it is very sad to be leaving Parliament - at least for now". "Why have we so passively abandoned the prospect of a Free Trade Deal with the US? Why have we junked measures to help people into housing or to scrap EU directives or to promote animal welfare?"
Mr Johnson claims his removal is a "necessary first step" in attempts by some to reverse the 2016 Brexit result It was a direct aim at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - hours after he stepped off a plane from Washington, where Mr Sunak was not talking about a free trade agreement with US.
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 believed "that it is any coincidence" that she will soon become "chief of staff designate" of the Labour leader. Mr Johnson's statement was also an attempt to rally Brexiteers in his party, suggesting his demise was driven by a motivation to overturn the result of the EU referendum.
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 opposed him - a "witch hunt... 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". The statement contained further criticism of former senior civil servant Sue Gray, who led the investigation into the Partygate scandal.
His resignation will trigger a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip. "I am afraid I no longer believe that it is any coincidence" that she will soon become "chief of staff designate" of the Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer, Mr Johnson wrote.
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. Ending his statement, Mr Johnson said he was "very sad to be leaving Parliament" before adding - "at least for now" - for anyone thinking he is about to retreat into obscurity.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner condemned what she called "this never-ending Tory soap opera". In the wake of his resignation, a Privileges Committee spokesperson said: "The committee has followed the procedures and the mandate of the House at all times and will continue to do so.
"Mr Johnson has departed from the processes of the House and has impugned the integrity of the House by his statement. The committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly."
Mr Johnson's exit will trigger a by-election in his west London constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip - which he held with a 7,000 vote majority in the 2019 election.
The Conservatives will also have to defend the Mid Bedfordshire seat of Nadine Dorries - a close ally of Mr Johnson - after she stepped down earlier in the day.
Boris Johnson was fined for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in 2020
Mr Johnson's dramatic move came after he was given the committee's findings, including details of criticisms it intended to make and evidence to support its conclusion.
He had faced a potential by-election if MPs recommended a suspension from the Commons as a punishment for misleading Parliament.
Responding to his departure on Friday, Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner condemned what she called a "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". However, former home secretary Priti Patel, who was made a Dame in his resignations honours list also announced on Friday, praised Mr Johnson for his work as prime minister on the issues of Ukraine and Brexit, describing him as "a political titan".
Boris Johnson's local Conservative association chairman, Richard Mills, said the former PM "has delivered on his promises to local residents".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. Another sitting MP announced in the resignation honours list, Sir Michael Fabricant, criticised the Privileges Committee for what he called its "disgraceful treatment" of the former prime minister.
One of them, Sir Michael Fabricant, criticised the Privileges Committee for what he called its "disgraceful treatment" of the former prime minister. 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.
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