Salisbury MP explains why he didn't vote on 'partygate' report
John Glen says the findings 'stand, irrespective of personal or party allegiances'
Last updated 21st Jun 2023
Salisbury's MP says a vote in the House of Commons on the 'partygate' report, 'was not required to give its conclusions legitimacy'.
John Glen 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.
Mr Glen says he's has letters and emails from constituents, accusing him of 'not being bothered' to vote.
But he's responded in his latest blog:
"The committee was properly constituted with cross party representation, and it did the job it exists to do. It did not require a vote in the House to give its conclusions legitimacy.
"The report should have been nodded through in the usual way, and it was only loud (and extremely disingenuous) objections from Labour MPs that prevented that from happening and forced it to be put to a vote.
"The report’s conclusions stand, irrespective of personal or party allegiances. Therefore, debating it and relitigating the past was nothing more or less than a partisan act of political theatre and it was that I declined to participate in."
When John Glen resigned from the Government, in protest at Boris Johnson's conduct, he wrote:
“The poor judgement you have shown, made it impossible for me to square continued service with my conscience. The country deserves better.”
Salisbury's MP now says his 'view has not changed' and he 'has nothing else to add'.
He's also thrown his support behind Rishi Sunak once again saying:
"We now have a Prime Minister who committed his government to upholding the values of honesty, integrity, and professionalism – and that is what really matters to me."