Don't run away from backing the Boris verdict, Tory MPs are urged

RISHI SUNAK and other Tory MPs came under pressure today not to “run away” from defending Parliament’s rules by failing to vote through the damning privileges committee report on Boris Johnson.

- Nicholas Cecil

Damian Green, who was Theresa May’s de-facto deputy prime minister, argued that to “deliberately abstain is not really rising to the importance of the occasion”. But former Tory party chairman Sir Jake Berry severely criticised the report and said he would be voting against it on Monday.

A significant number of Tory MPs may abstain as the vote is a “one line whip” which means they are not under pressure from party chiefs to take part in it.

Some of them may be swayed by many of their local party members being Johnson supporters.

The committee, which has a Conservative majority but is chaired by Labour MP Harriet Harman, found Mr Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over “partygate” by claiming Covid rules and guidance were followed at all times in No10.