Boris Johnson has announced that he is stepping down as a Member of Parliament (MP) after being accused of misleading Parliament in the partygate investigation. He believes the committee investigating him is biased and trying to force him out of Parliament. Johnson compared the investigation to a “kangaroo court” and said he is saddened and bewildered that he can be removed from his position without a fair chance to defend himself.
His decision to resign as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip came shortly after his resignation honours list was published. This means the Conservative Party will face a tough challenge to keep the seat in a by-election.
The Privileges Committee has been looking into whether Johnson lied to MPs about following Covid rules during parties at 10 Downing Street. Johnson strongly criticized the committee’s report, which has not been released yet, saying it is full of mistakes and bias. He also expressed frustration at not being able to challenge their findings properly. Johnson insists that there is no evidence that he knowingly gave false information to Parliament.
Johnson believes the committee’s goal all along was to find him guilty, regardless of the facts. He maintains that he corrected the record as soon as possible and that he and other officials, including the current Prime Minister and Chancellor, believed they were acting within the law. Johnson firmly denies lying and believes that deep down, the committee members know he is innocent.
As a result, Johnson has written to his association in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, informing them of his immediate resignation and triggering a by-election. He expressed his sadness at leaving his constituency, where he served as mayor and MP. Johnson also called for the inquiry led by Harriet Harman, a Labour MP, into his partygate comments to stop, describing it as a witch hunt and revenge for Brexit.
Johnson has had a long political career, having been elected as an MP in 2015 and previously serving as the MP for Henley. He also served as mayor of London. He became the Prime Minister in 2019 after a general election and later resigned in 2022 due to controversies surrounding his handling of sexual assault allegations.
In his recent statement, Johnson criticized the current government’s decisions, such as raising taxes and abandoning the possibility of a free trade deal with the United States.
During the 2019 general election, Johnson won his Uxbridge seat with a significant majority, but the upcoming by-election is expected to be challenging for the Conservative Party, as Labour currently has a strong lead in the polls.
The chairman of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip Conservative Association, Richard Mills, expressed respect for Johnson’s decision to step down and praised his advocacy for the community. However, Mhairi Black, the SNP deputy Westminster leader, suggested that Johnson left before he could be forced out. Angela Rayner, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, expressed frustration with the ongoing issues within the Conservative Party and urged voters to embrace a fresh start under a Labour government. Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, bid a not-so-fond farewell to Mr. Johnson.
