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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
John Stevens

Boris Johnson sends 11th-hour letter to Partygate inquiry - delaying report

Boris Johnson has submitted a letter at the 11th hour to the MPs investigating whether he misled Parliament over parties during lockdown.

Its report into whether the former PM lied over Partygate has been delayed after these last-minute representations.

The committee had been expected to publish its findings on Wednesday, but it is now believed they will not come until Thursday.

The committee said it was "dealing with" submissions received from the former prime minister at 11.57pm on Monday.

A committee spokesman said: "A letter enclosing further representations from Mr Johnson was received by the committee at 11.57pm (on Monday night)."

"The committee is dealing with these and will report promptly."

Meanwhile Johnson’s allies have threatened revenge on MPs as he faces being shamed over Partygate.

David Campbell Bannerman suggested Tory MPs on the Privileges Committee should be deselected (Ben Pruchnie)

The Privileges Committee is expected to find on Thursday that the former PM deliberately misled Parliament over lockdown-busting gatherings in Downing Street.

Mr Johnson has stood down as an MP ahead of the publication of the findings.

His Tory supporters today warned there would be consequences for the committee of seven MPs.

David Campbell Bannerman, chairman of the Conservative Democracy Organisation, said they should be “brought to book” as he warned the four Tories on the committee could be deselected.

“It's really outrageous how they behaved and they should be brought to account on this,” he added.

“Maybe deselect them to be honest. Let's get a vote of no confidence in those MPs. Let their associations decide because many of their members are pro-Boris.”

The Conservative Democracy, which was set up by Mr Johnson’s most vocal cheerleaders, is critical of the way Rishi Sunak was appointed as Tory leader without a vote of members.

Mr Johnson provided a signed magnum of Bollinger rose as a raffle prize for its conference last month and sent a video message which was played in the main hall.

"A massive thank you to you for everything you've done and continue to do for our great party, the Conservative Party,” he told the delegates.

The Privileges Committee has been investigating whether Mr Johnson told the truth about parties in No10.

Mr Johnson announced his resignation last week after being informed he faced being suspended from the Commons and a possible by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.

Since he has already announced he will stand down as an MP, it may choose to publicly shame him rather than hand down a punishment.

Or it could recommend withholding the Commons pass given to most former MPs allowing them continued access to the parliamentary estate.

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