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Boris Johnson alleged to the Privileges Committee that he did not deliberately mislead Congress during the three-and-a-half hours of intense questioning by MPs.
The former prime minister repeatedly testified during testimony sessions, refuting the commission against their “ridiculous” questions and claiming he was convinced there was no evidence against him.
The investigation is trying to determine whether he misled the House of Commons about his claims about his knowledge of the Partygate rally at 10th and Whitehall. continued.
When will the Privilege Commission give its verdict on Boris Johnson?
I We understand that we are unlikely to finish the investigation by Easter and that the final report may not be released until after the local elections in May.
After the session ended, the chairman, Labor MP Harriet Harman, said he would not rule out calling further witnesses to give oral evidence.
While dozens of witnesses have already provided written evidence to the investigation, Mr Johnson is the first person they have publicly questioned regarding the allegations against him.
The committee’s four Conservatives, two Labor MPs and one SNP MP will review Mr Johnson’s oral and written evidence to determine whether he recklessly or willfully misled Parliament. judge.
They may also contact Mr Johnson’s legal team with follow-up questions to clarify points raised in the oral evidence.
The process could be further delayed by Mr Johnson’s demand that the evidence against him be made public in full, and the commission will have to seek the consent of the witnesses they spoke to.
The final report is unlikely to be released before the House enters its Easter recess on Thursday, March 30, and could affect votes, so it should be released before local elections on May 4. There are political concerns that the final report should not be made public.
Parliament will return from its Easter recess on April 17, and will be in session from May 3 to May 9, allowing members of parliament to celebrate the coronation, which takes place days after local elections in May. .
What sanctions can the Commission recommend?
After considering the evidence, the Commission issues a report outlining its findings and recommending what sanctions should be applied.
Congress has the power to impose a number of possible sanctions, including demands for verbal or written apologies, suspensions from the House for limited periods, and salary withholdings 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.
Recommended sanctions must be voted on by the House as a whole, and it is customary that this is a free vote, and lawmakers are not required to vote along party lines.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would not hold any vote on sanctions against Mr Johnson, saying such a move would be “not right” as “it is not the government’s problem”.
Could Boris Johnson lose his seat?
If Mr Johnson is suspended for more than 10 days, a recall petition will automatically start in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituencies.
Within 10 business days after the Chair notifies precinct officials, a petition signature location will be established within the area. These are valid for 6 weeks and he can also vote by mail or by proxy.
If 10% of voters sign the petition, a by-election will be held in that precinct and Mr. Johnson will be able to run.
Tory Lord Hayward told Sky News on Wednesday that by-elections in Uxbridge and South Ruislip could cause “serious problems” for both Mr Johnson and the Conservatives.
“My guess is that if we had a by-election, we would certainly lose the constituency in the current polls, so that’s what’s there, but it’s a matter of prior judgment on what the commission will decide. You can not.