Oxford MPs have backed the privilege committee’s conclusion that Boris Johnson misled parliament, while Conservative Party MPs representing Oxfordshire constituencies have remained tight-lipped about how they will vote.
With a motion coming before the House of Commons today which endorses the findings of the privileges committee over its partygate investigation, Oxford MPs revealed how they will be voting.
The privileges committee’s report, which was published last week, found the former prime minister deliberately misled parliament, was guilty of “impugning” the committee and engaged in a “campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee.”
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Mr Johnson, who dramatically resigned as Uxbridge and South Ruislip’s MP before the report’s findings were published, rejected the findings of the “kangaroo court” and he accused the committee of “egregious bias”.
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Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds and Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran told the Oxford Mail they will be backing the committee’s recommendations and the latter has called on Conservative MPs in Oxfordshire to do the same.
Ms Moran said: “This report is completely unprecedented.
“Never before has a former British prime minister been found to have lied to parliament and treated the public with such contempt.”
The privilege committee’s recommendations included suspending Mr Johnson from parliament for 90 days and it is this recommendation which has been most contentious with Conservative backbenchers.
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Ms Moran urged Witney MP Robert Courts, Banbury MP Victoria Prentis, Wantage MP David Johnston and Henley MP John Howell to back the committee’s motion.
She said: “Conservative MPs across Oxfordshire need to examine their conscience and confirm they will vote to censure Boris Johnson.
“Anything less would be an insult to bereaved families who grieved alone while Boris Johnson lied and partied.”
The Oxford Mail has approached all four Conservative MPs and they have failed to indicate how they will be voting.
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It is expected that a large number of Conservative MPs will abstain, with levelling up secretary Michael Gove revealing on Sunday morning that he would abstain because he disagreed with the report’s conclusion.
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds told the Oxford Mail: “Boris Johnson broke the rules and lied to cover his tracks.
“I will be voting in support of the committee’s recommendations.”
However, unlike Ms Moran, Ms Dodds did not put pressure on Conservative MPs to do the same.
She said: “Whether other MPs choose to do so is up to them.
“The question is: can Rishi Sunak grow a backbone and stand up to Boris Johnson or will we see more of the same weakness.”
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Mr Johnson previously served as Henley’s MP between 2001 and 2008 before he stood down to become the Mayor of London.
Mr Johnson’s resignation has only fuelled speculation that he may choose to seek to become the party’s parliamentary candidate for the Henley seat, as the incumbent MP Mr Howell is not running again.
Plenty of Oxfordshire councillors have also called on Oxfordshire MPs to resolutely back the committee’s findings.
Labour party and county councillor Duncan Enright told the Oxford Mail: “Today we will find out whether Conservative MPs including Robert Courts are on the side of their constituents or their rule breaking Tory cronies, led by leading rule breaker and liar former prime minister Boris Johnson.
“If our MPs don’t vote to support the Tory majority led committee’s recommendation to punish Mr Johnson then they will be letting us down and further damaging democracy.”
It is understood Tory MPs will be given a free vote.
Boris Johnson’s office and the Cabinet Office have been approached for comment.
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Ed specialises in writing political stories for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.
He joined in the team in February 2023, after completing a History undergraduate degree at the University of York and studying for his NCTJ diploma in London.
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