A key ally of Boris Johnson has claimed that “some members” of the cross-party privileges committee have a “predetermined view” of the former PM ahead of their public clash later this week.
Mr Johnson is due before the privileges committee on Wednesday, which will decide whether the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP misled the commons on partygate and if it was “reckless or intentional”.
The committee is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but has a Conservative majority.
Conor Burns, a Conservative MP and former minister, said he had spoken to Mr Johnson yesterday afternoon and the ex-PM was “looking forward to the opportunity” to get his “case out there”.
He also questioned the impartiality of some members of the committee, in particular Ms Harman.
Speaking to the BBC’s Westminster Hour programme, Mr Burns said: “Now, the concern that some of us have is that it appears that some members of that committee have predetermined their view. I have real reservations.
“I rate Harriet Harman highly but she did tweet in April 2022 that if the prime minister, the former prime minister, the now Prime Minister, the former chancellor, admit guilt by which she said was accepting a fixed penalty notice then they are also admitting that they misled the House of Commons.
“Boris Johnson contests that but it seems to me the person who is now chairing this committee has predetermined that and that causes me a degree of anxiety for parliament’s reputation in handling this with integrity”.
Mr Johnson’s defence will be revealed before he faces the committee on Wednesday. But he is expected to highlight previously unrevealed WhatsApp messages from senior civil servants and members of his Number 10 team, showing he had relied on their advice when he made statements to parliament.
Other messages will showcase a belief that the gatherings were covered by the “workplace exemption” in the lockdown rules, according to briefings.
It is also expected that Mr Johnson will highlight the committee’s use of evidence from Sue Gray, the former partygate investigator who is tipped to become Sir Keir Starmer’s new chief of staff.
The former prime minister’s case will be submitted to the privileges committee by barrister Lord Pannick KC. In total, an estimated £220,000 of taxpayers’ money has been allocated for Mr Johnson’s legal bills.
Should Mr Johnson be found in contempt of parliament, the committee will recommend a punishment that MPs will subsequently get to decide upon. Prime minister Rishi Sunak is expected to grant MPs a free vote on any committee recommendation.
A suspension from parliament of 10 days or more could trigger a by-election in Mr Johnson’s seat.
Dominic Grieve, a former Conservative MP who served as attorney general under Theresa May, told Sky News this morning “that elements of the Conservative Party are still delusional about Mr Johnson”.
He added: “If they want to continue along that path, it’s a matter for them. But Mr Johnson is not going to help the Conservative party’s electoral fortunes”.
On whether he believes Mr Johnson broke the rules, Mr Grieve said: “So on the face of it, he seems to have known that there were gatherings which were taking place which appear to have been in breach of the lockdown rules”.
Shadow social care minister Liz Kendall told the same programme: “I think this week we’re just going to see what we’ve always seen with Boris Johnson.
“This is a man who’s more concerned about himself than all the people who couldn’t get to say goodbye to their loved ones during COVID and will blame anybody else, anyone but himself, for his downfall.
“You know, it wasn’t just about the parties he attended, he backed Owen Paterson who was lobbying on behalf of companies who paid him. He backed Chris Pincher, when there were all of those allegations about sexual misconduct.
“And I think the problem for the Conservatives and Rishi Sunak is when most people are desperately worried about how on earth they’re going to pay their bills, they see them talking about themselves more concerned about the future of the Conservative Party than the future of the country”.
