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The Commission on Privileges is unlikely to finish its investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Congress before Easter, and a final report may not be released until after May’s local elections.
Commission chair Harriet Harman said Wednesday’s oral evidence hearing was not the end of their investigation and lawmakers were not ruling out calling other witnesses to testify directly.
MPs from four Conservative parties, two Labor parties and one SNP will review oral and written evidence of Mr Johnson to determine whether he recklessly or deliberately induced Parliament. .
Part of the review process will also include the Commission’s follow-up questions of Mr. Johnson and his legal team.
The former Prime Minister, who admitted to inadvertently misleading the House of Commons, is seeking full evidence to be released, which requires witness confirmation and consent, and must contact the witnesses.
This means the final report is unlikely to be published before Commons is up for its Easter recess on Thursday, March 30th.
There are also political concerns that it should not be made public before the May 4th local elections as it could affect votes.
In its report, the committee has the power to recommend sanctions, but these must be voted on without debate by the entire House.
These may include demands for a verbal or written apology, suspension from the House for a limited period, or salary withholding without suspension.
The committee can also recommend its members be expelled from the House, but no member has been formally expelled since 1947.
If Johnson is found to have recklessly or willfully deceived Congress, he will most likely face a temporary suspension from the House of Representatives for an exact period to be determined at the discretion of the committee.
If the Commission’s recommendation is a suspension of parliamentary attendance for 10 days or more, recall petitions will automatically start in the marginal constituencies of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
By-elections will start automatically when 10% of voters sign the petition. Incumbent MPs can stand, but the election will be dangerous for Mr Johnson, who won just 7,210 Labor majority seats in 2019.