Senior UK Lawmaker Recuses Himself From Inquiry Into Whether PM Misled Parliament Over Partygate

Undated photograph of Labour MP Chris Bryant talking in the House of Commons, London. Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/PA

A senior British MP who has been publicly critical of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has recused himself from an inquiry into whether the prime minister misled Parliament over the “partygate” scandal.

Labour MP Chris Bryant confirmed that he will stand down as chairman of the House of Commons Privileges Committee, which will investigate if Johnson lied to MPs when he said COVID-19 rules had been “followed at all times” in Downing Street.

This follows the publication of an official report by senior civil servant Sue Gray, which said, “senior leadership” at Number 10 Downing Street must “bear responsibility” for the culture that led to CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus lockdown rules being broken at a series of events in 2020 and 2021.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a press conference in Downing Street, London, on May 25, 2022. Leon Neal/PA Media

Last month, Bryant sent a letter to the Privileges Committee saying he would recuse himself from his position as it was “important that the House be seen to proceed fairly without any imputation of unfairness” following his public criticism of Johnson.

In a statement issued on Friday, Bryant said that he has summoned the committee to a meeting on June 7 to finalise business before a new head is elected.

He said the new committee chair will lead the inquiry into the conduct of the prime minister, in which he will take no part as he has recused himself.

The Sue Gray report, which was published on May 25, detailed events at which officials drank so much they were sick, sang karaoke, became involved in altercations, and abused security and cleaning staff at a time when millions of people across the country were unable to see friends and family.

Gray wrote that “the senior leadership at the centre” must bear responsibility for the breaches, which resulted in a total of 126 fines issued to 83 people, including Johnson, his wife Carrie, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Johnson told MPs he accepts “full responsibility” for the scandal, but stressed he didn’t knowingly mislead the House of Commons.

If the Privileges Committee finds him in contempt of Parliament, it could recommend he is forced to apologise, be suspended from the Commons, or even expelled. Any sanction would need to be approved in a vote by all MPs.

Also on Friday, Conservative MP Paul Holmes resigned as a ministerial aide after saying he was “shocked and angered” by the behaviour described in the Gray report.

In addition, four other Conservative MPs have so far called on Johnson to step down since the report was published.

The prime minister could face a leadership challenge if 54 Conservative MPs—15 percent of the parliamentary party—write to the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, Sir Graham Brady, calling for a vote of no confidence.

PA Media contributed to this report.