West Dorset MP explains why he didn't vote on 'partygate' report
Chris Loder says it has 'achieved nothing either way'
West Dorset's MP says a vote in the House of Commons on the 'partygate' report, 'achieves nothing, other than dragging out this soap opera'.
Chris Loder didn't take part in the debate and vote earlier this week, following the publication of the Privileges Committee's findings on lockdown parties at Westminster.
It found former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has 'misled' Parliament about his knowledge of the gatherings.
Mr Johnson resigned as an MP before the report was published.
Chris Loder's released a statement:
“Over this last weekend, I read the sizeable final report issued by the House of Commons Privileges Committee concerning the conduct of Boris Johnson. It concluded two things. 1. That the former member of parliament should be suspended by 90 days; 2. and that his parliamentary pass should be removed. The Report’s recommendation, that Boris Johnson should be suspended as an MP, was satisfied prior to the Report’s release when he resigned on the 9th June.
“To vote for an outcome which has already been actioned achieves nothing - other than dragging out this soap opera – which of course is what some activists want, but most people are tired of it. Using six hours of parliamentary time to debate and vote on something which had no action was, in my opinion, not a good use of that time. That is why, whilst I was present in the House, I did not vote, because it would have achieved nothing either way.”