MPs vote overwhelmingly for report that found Boris Johnson lied about partygate
Only a handful of MPs voted against the report's findings
Last updated 20th Jun 2023
MPs have voted overwhelmingly to back a damning report that found Boris Johnson lied to Parliament with his partygate denials, as Rishi Sunak stayed away from proceedings.
Just seven MPs voted against the Privileges Committee’s findings, in a humiliating defeat for the former prime minister less than a year after he left No 10.
With 354 votes in favour, MPs endorsed sanctions against Mr Johnson recommended by the committee, including banning him from having a pass to access Parliament, which is usually available to former MPs.
The Tory-majority panel also concluded that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension for misleading the House when he told the Commons that Covid rules were obeyed in No 10 despite parties taking place.
Mr Sunak was accused of “a cowardly cop-out” for refusing to take part in the vote, but had insisted he did not want to “influence” how MPs might vote.
Mr Johnson was censured in his absence, having quit as an MP and labelled the inquiry a “kangaroo court” after being told in advance of its findings.
Branding him the first former prime minister to have lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee found Mr Johnson committed “repeated contempts” of Parliament by deliberately misleading MPs over lockdown-busting parties before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation.
The ex-premier had urged his allies not to oppose the report, arguing that the sanctions had no practical effect, although critics said it was a move designed to avoid revealing the low level of remaining support for him among Tory MPs.
The vote followed several hours of debate, during which Tory and opposition MPs delivered a series of blistering speeches in which Mr Johnson was criticised as a “man child who won’t see that he only has himself to blame” and defended as “a human too”.
As the debate went on, Mr Johnson, who turned 59 on Monday, was reportedly speaking at an event for the International Democratic Union in London.
Earlier in the day, it was not clear whether there would be a vote, but ultimately Labour forced one.
Conservative MPs were given a free vote, with 118 backing the report and the majority opting to stay away, including the Prime Minister.
Cabinet ministers who supported the motion included Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, Science Secretary Chloe Smith, Welsh Secretary David TC Davies and Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt. Government chief whip Simon Hart also supported it.
The seven who voted against it included senior backbencher Sir Bill Cash and Nick Fletcher, who during the earlier debate urged MPs to remember Mr Johnson was “human” and that he “nearly died” during the pandemic.
Conservative former prime minister Theresa May said backing the Privileges Committee’s conclusions would be “a small but important step in restoring people’s trust” in Parliament.
In a veiled swipe at Mr Sunak’s absence from the chamber, she urged her party to “show that we are prepared to act when one of our own, however senior, is found wanting”.
Rishi Sunak stayed away from proceedings
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he had afternoon meetings on Monday, including hosting his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, before attending a dinner in the evening.
Mr Sunak has claimed his reticence about publicising his view on the report’s conclusions was because he “wouldn’t want to influence anyone in advance” of the vote.
But publicly backing the report and its sanctions could have risked deepening the Tory civil war between Johnson loyalists and his own administration.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Tonight Rishi Sunak committed a cowardly cop-out. His failure to vote says all you need to know about this Prime Minister’s lack of leadership.
“Sunak promised integrity yet when push came to shove, he was too weak to even turn up.
“The British public doesn’t yet have the opportunity to tell Sunak and his sleaze-ridden Conservative Government what they think of them but the people of Somerset and Bedfordshire definitely do.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Rishi Sunak is too weak to lead a party too divided to govern and working people are paying the price.
“Rather than distance himself from his disgraced predecessor, Rishi Sunak has repeatedly demonstrated he’s just more of the same Conservative failure we’ve had to put up with for 13 years now. It’s time for a change.”
Partygate timeline
First party is discovered
Claims first emerged of a party in Downing Street at the end of November, when several parties were alleged to have taken place in November and December 2020 while England was in tight Tier 3 restrictions. A spokesperson from Downing Street then denied the party had happened, but it was alleged the parties were attended by the Prime Minister, something that Johnson categorically denied.
Allegra Stratton controversy
After denying that other parties had taken place, a leaked video by ITV showed the Prime Minister's press secretary Allegra Stratton appearing to joke about a staff party which took place on December 18th, 2020. The video, showing Stratton in a mock press conference, caused public outrage and condemnation and lead to Stratton's emotional resignation from her post.
Johnson seen attending garden party
After denying his involvement or knowledge of any parties in the Downing Street garden, pictures emerged of the Prime Minister socialising with other staff. The photo dated to the 15th of May 2020, where people could only meet one other person outdoors according to the rules. Johnson denied the nature of the photograph, saying that it had been a quick break after a long day at work. Stock picture for illustrative purposes only.
"Bring your own booze" party
The 'Partygate' scandal continued for Boris Johnson into 2022 with details of a "bring your own booze" party organised by Downing Street staff being leaked to the public. Responding to the allegations, the Prime Minister refused to admit he had been present at the party on the 20th of May 2020, but went on to say that he believed the party was a work event.
Kier Starmer hits back
With increasing allegations of numerous parties taking place in Downing Street, Labour leader Kier Starmer attacked Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions, saying that the man had "run out of road". Facing backlash from the opposition and from some in his own party, Johnson continued to deny responsibility for the occasions, but apologised to the public for attending. The Prime Minister then instructed that people wait for an independent report from civil servant Sue Gray.
Met Police investigates
It soon emerged that another party had taken place on Boris Johnson's birthday, when restrictions only allowed up to six people outdoors. As a result of the growing allegations, Dame Cressida Dick from the Metropolitan Police announced that the force would be investigating some of the alleged parties. As a result, Sue Gray's report was subsequently postponed from publication while the police investigation was underway.
Sue Gray's report published
On 31st January 2022 the initial findings from Sue Gray's report into lockdown parties in Downing Street were released. In the report she describes some of the gatherings as 'a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time' and that the behaviour was 'difficult to justify'.
First fines are handed out
Following a three-month investigation, the Metropolitan Police announced it would begin to hand out fines, saying that lockdown rules had indeed been broken by Downing Street staff. On March 29th, 2022 the Met Police said that twenty fines had been issued to staff and would be referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office, with more fines potentially being issued as more evidence is discovered.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are fined
On 12th April, it was announced that Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were each issued with a fixed penalty notice (FPN) by the Met Police for breaking lockdown rules in June 2020. FPN for breaches of Covid-19 restrictions can range from £30 to as much as £10,000, but the three were only fined £100, with the amount they actually had to pay being £50 if paid within 14 days.
Boris apologises
On April 19th, one week after he had been fined, Boris Johnson addressed MPs and offered a 'wholehearted apology' for breaking the law. Labour branded the apology as "dishonest", before being asked to withdraw the remark by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. MPs were due to vote on whether the Prime Minister misled Parliament, but the government tried to delay the vote until after the Metropolitan Police's investigation concluded.
Police investigation concludes
In May 2022 Downing Street confirmed that the Met Police had concluded the partygate investigation and that Boris Johnson would face no more fines for lockdown breaches. Scotland Yard said it had issued 126 fixed-penalty notices for events in Downing Street and across Whitehall spanning eight separate days, with 28 people receiving between two and five fines.
Sue Gray report says senior leadership must 'bear responsibility'
On the 25th May, Sue Gray finally published her report into the partygate scandal, pointing to senior leadership in the Government saying they must "bear responsibility" for the culture which led to lockdown rules being broken.
She wrote: "The events that I investigated were attended by leaders in government. Many of these events should not have been allowed to happen."
Sue Gray's full report is released
On 25th May 2022, Sue Gray's full report is published. An initial report was released at the end of January, but the full report was pushed back until the Met Police concluded its investigation into some of the events. The report looks into 16 events between May 2020 and April 2021, it's reported that many of the gatherings were not in line with Covid-19 guidelines at the time. Sue Gray directly links failure of leadership at Downing Street to the covid rule breaking at the heart of government. It describes a series of events including one in June 2020 - which involved excessive drinking, someone being sick after having too much to drink, and a fight breaking out. There are also photos - including of the surprise birthday party in the Cabinet Room for which the PM got his one fine for. At another event, the night before Prince Philip's funeral, some partied until 4am. The Prime Minister said he takes full responsibility, saying there have been changes since gatherings he admits shouldn't have happened. He also said sorry for examples of poor treatment of security and cleaning staff. After the report's release, Boris Johnson said he was "surprised" to get a partygate fine and insists it would be irresponsible of him to step down.
Boris Johnson faces a no confidence vote
On 6th June 2022, Boris Johnson faced a no confidence vote. The vote was called because more than 15% of Conservative MPs (54), sent letters saying that they no longer have confidence in Boris Johnson as the parties leader, after the publication of Sue Gray's report. Alongside Conservative MP's, opposition MP's and party leaders called for the Prime Minister to resign. To remain as leader, he required the majority of votes which was a secret ballot.
Boris Johnson survives his no confidence vote
On the evening of 6th June 2022, it was confirmed that Boris Johnson survived a no confidence vote, which means he can remain in the role of Prime Minister. He insisted the government can 'move on' after surviving the vote in his leadership. He won the vote by a majority of 63. But 148 of his own MPs (41%) said they wanted him out, despite remaining in his position it seems his authority's been damaged.