Grant Shapps defends Commons Privileges Committee over Boris Johnson allegations

Opposing factions within Britain’s ruling Conservative Party exchanged blows on Sunday as the fallout from Britain’s former prime minister Boris Johnson’s unexpected resignation from parliament.

Grant Shapps, a senior cabinet minister, defended the Tory-dominated committee of MPs – which is expected to condemn Johnson’s behavior this week – insisting he should be allowed to “go about his job”.

Johnson, who resigned as an MP on Friday night, fueled a fresh bout of Tory infighting, claiming the cross-party privileges committee was a “kangaroo court”.

He recently learned that a report expected this week will accuse him of deliberately misleading the House of Commons when he said he did not know about Downing Street parties during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The committee – which will hold a final meeting on Monday – was set to recommend Johnson’s suspension from parliament for more than 10 days, potentially triggering a by-election in his former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Shapps, the energy secretary, rejected the idea that the committee was biased or that Johnson had been coerced by “the establishment”, noting that the seven-strong committee had a conservative majority.

The cabinet minister said that “the world has moved on” from the Johnson era, and dismissed the idea of ​​a Johnson return. sky News: “I’m sure he has many other things he wants to start and do.”

Johnson said in his statement on Friday that he was resigning “for now”, raising the possibility that he could stand in a different seat in the next general election.

Aides sought to bolster that prospect on Sunday.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former cabinet minister, said Johnson would be “in a polarizing position” to return as Tory leader should a future vacancy occur.

Rees-Mogg, who was knighted by Johnson in honor of his resignation on Friday, said: “I would give a stern warning to the Conservative Party management against any attempt to block Boris.” “The master of the unexpected may have one more scene to play.”

Rees-Mogg said she expected Sunak to lead her party into next year’s general election. “I see some indefinite date in the future when Rishi’s hair has turned gray and he has decided to retire and Boris is back on his Charger to save the country.”

Sunak faces three challenging by-elections in the coming weeks after two of Johnson’s colleagues – Nigel Adams and Nadine Dorries – followed his lead and said they were leaving the Commons.

A Tory insider described the by-election as the first major test of Sunak’s leadership, saying “if we don’t do well there will be problems”. The person said, “The mood in the party was already not good and it will disturb people”.

The Conservatives have lost several seats over the past two years in Tiverton and Honiton, North Shropshire, and held huge majorities in Chesham and Amersham.

“The counter-coup is now well underway,” said David Bannerman, a former Tory MEP. “The fad is on borrowed time. Expect other bypolls.

But there was little indication as of Sunday lunch that more MPs would resign in support of Johnson. One Tory MP said: “Boris and Nadine are selfish and they’ve lost. It’s all down to spite.” Another said it felt “like the death of Boris’ support in parliament”.

Opposing factions within Britain’s ruling Conservative Party exchanged blows on Sunday as the fallout from Britain’s former prime minister Boris Johnson’s unexpected resignation from parliament.

Grant Shapps, a senior cabinet minister, defended the Tory-dominated committee of MPs – which is expected to condemn Johnson’s behavior this week – insisting he should be allowed to “go about his job”.

Johnson, who resigned as an MP on Friday night, fueled a fresh bout of Tory infighting, claiming the cross-party privileges committee was a “kangaroo court”.

He recently learned that a report expected this week will accuse him of deliberately misleading the House of Commons when he said he did not know about Downing Street parties during the Covid-19 lockdown.

The committee – which will hold a final meeting on Monday – was set to recommend Johnson’s suspension from parliament for more than 10 days, potentially triggering a by-election in his former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Shapps, the energy secretary, rejected the idea that the committee was biased or that Johnson had been coerced by “the establishment”, noting that the seven-strong committee had a conservative majority.

The cabinet minister said that “the world has moved on” from the Johnson era, and dismissed the idea of ​​a Johnson return. sky News: “I’m sure he has many other things he wants to start and do.”

Johnson said in his statement on Friday that he was resigning “for now”, raising the possibility that he could stand in a different seat in the next general election.

Aides sought to bolster that prospect on Sunday.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former cabinet minister, said Johnson would be “in a polarizing position” to return as Tory leader should a future vacancy occur.

Rees-Mogg, who was knighted by Johnson in honor of his resignation on Friday, said: “I would give a stern warning to the Conservative Party management against any attempt to block Boris.” “The master of the unexpected may have one more scene to play.”

Rees-Mogg said she expected Sunak to lead her party into next year’s general election. “I see some indefinite date in the future when Rishi’s hair has turned gray and he has decided to retire and Boris is back on his Charger to save the country.”

Sunak faces three challenging by-elections in the coming weeks after two of Johnson’s colleagues – Nigel Adams and Nadine Dorries – followed his lead and said they were leaving the Commons.

A Tory insider described the by-election as the first major test of Sunak’s leadership, saying “if we don’t do well there will be problems”. The person said, “The mood in the party was already not good and it will disturb people”.

The Conservatives have lost several seats over the past two years in Tiverton and Honiton, North Shropshire, and held huge majorities in Chesham and Amersham.

“The counter-coup is now well underway,” said David Bannerman, a former Tory MEP. “The fad is on borrowed time. Expect other bypolls.

But there was little indication as of Sunday lunch that more MPs would resign in support of Johnson. One Tory MP said: “Boris and Nadine are selfish and they’ve lost. It’s all down to spite.” Another said it felt “like the death of Boris’ support in parliament”.