Partygate probe may leave Boris Johnson in limbo for months as verdict is not expected until the summer
- Whitehall sources said the committee inquiry still had ‘some way to run’
- Read more: Johnson denies ‘recklessly’ misleading MPs in Partygate dossier
Boris Johnson could be left in political limbo for months because the controversial investigation into Partygate may not be published until the summer.
Whitehall sources said the Commons privileges committee inquiry into whether the former prime minister lied to Parliament had ‘some way to run’, despite the committee not planning to hold any more evidence sessions.
One source said the report could be published as late as June or even July, potentially delaying a vote on Mr Johnson’s future until the autumn. The committee has the power to recommend a long suspension from Parliament, which could trigger a by election in his west London constituency.
Any delay to its findings would leave the threat hanging over him, effectively putting him in limbo.
One ally of the ex-PM said the committee would ‘string out’ its deliberations for as long as possible, despite making it clear that they already believe he is guilty.
Boris Johnson making his opening statement as he attends a Parliamentary Privileges Committee hearing
The former Prime Minister could be left in political limbo as the Partygate investigation may not be published until summer
‘They have made up their minds but they will take ages,’ the source said. ‘They will string it out because that’s in Labour’s interests.’
Another said: ‘There does seem to be a deliberate effort to remove him from the fray for as long as possible. The report could come as late as July, which would push any vote back to September. It’s completely unreasonable.’
READ MORE: Boris was as agile as a cat. SARAH VINE reviews ex-PM’s battle to clear his name
Allies of Mr Johnson have accused the committee of moving at a glacial pace. The investigation into whether he deliberately misled Parliament was launched in April last year. Wednesday’s evidence session was the first public hearing it has held.
Yesterday’s warning followed the fractious parliamentary hearing in which Mr Johnson clashed repeatedly with MPs on the committee, which is led by Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman.
A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he had enjoyed the opportunity to set the record straight, and insisted he would not be knocked off course by the committee’s deliberations.
‘Mr Johnson did not knowingly or recklessly mislead Parliament,’ the spokesman said. ‘He continues to campaign on issues that matter to him including Brexit, levelling up and Ukraine, as well as in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, where he is standing at the next general election.’
Ukrainians have been praying for Mr Johnson, whom many regard as a hero for his staunch backing of Kyiv’s forces in their fight against Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Mykolai Boiko, the head Orthodox priest in the Shumskiy region of western Ukraine, held a special mass earlier this week in support of the former PM.
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