On Boris Johnson’s birthday, Parliament set to deal him humiliating blow
Washington PostJun 05, 2023
The Facts
On Monday, UK members of parliament signed off on a report by the Privileges Committee which concluded that former prime minister Boris Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate.
The House of Commons voted 354-7 to approve the findings that Johnson deliberately misled lawmakers over lockdown gatherings at 10 Downing Street with Theresa May — whose premiership was ended by Johnson — urging Tory members of parliament to show their readiness to act when one of their own is "found wanting."
The Spin
Left narrative
Boris Johnson may now be gone from politics as his plans to erode public confidence in institutions and democracy failed, but it is disturbing that so many Tories have backed him despite it being clear long before he took office that he was unfit for any kind of public service. Only a general election and a Labour Party government can finally move Britain away from its disgraceful right-leaning populist legacy.
Right narrative
Had Boris Johnson not resigned a week ago, he would face a 90-day ban that has only ever been exceeded by Keith Vaz over his "drugs for sex workers" scandal. While his blunders during the lockdown made it too easy for his foes to come after him, this extreme verdict could even reignite his political career. The decision was certainly not a fair trial, with those in charge of his judgment coming to a decision on Johnson far before it was their job to do so.
