The government is hoping that Monday’s vote by British MPs on a damning report that revealed former prime minister Boris Johnson had lied to the legislature on purpose about lockdown-invading parties will mark the end of the disastrous “Partygate” affair.
On his 59th birthday, the parliamentary vote is taking place as Johnson mulls his next course of action. Allies anticipate that Johnson will eventually return to the political arena.
It also occurs at a time when Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government is facing escalating political difficulties as a result of voters being economically hurt by persistently high inflation and steadily rising interest rates.
At the most recent general election in December 2019, Johnson—the populist architect of Brexit—led the Conservative party to a resounding victory.
But Partygate and a number of other scandals prompted him to step down as prime minister in July.
Johnson has disregarded the Privileges Committee’s report, stating that he was the victim of a political smear campaign and a “kangaroo court” instead.
The committee in a scathing 106-page report on Thursday found him guilty of “repeated contempts (of parliament) and… seeking to undermine the parliamentary process”.
