Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson quits as MP

Penny Mordaunt confirmed she will support the motion to approve the Privileges Committee report into the conduct of Boris Johnson.

The report by the cross-party group of MPs found the former prime minister lied to Parliament with his partygate denials.

The committee recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if h had not quit and be banned from receiving a pass to access Parliament which is usually available to former MPs.

Asked by shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire about how she would vote, Ms Mordaunt told the Commons: “As the member for Portsmouth North I will be voting to support the committee’s report and recommendations.

“But all members need to make up their own minds and others should leave them alone to do so.”

Introducing the motion, the Commons leader told MPs: “The committee’s report found that Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House and the committee and in doing so committed a serious contempt.

“It also found that Mr Johnson breached confidence, undermined the democratic process of this House and was complicit in a campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee.

“It is for members to decide whether these findings and conclusions and sanctions they propose are correct and reasonable, and that is question in front of us today.”

It comes as Rishi Sunak looks set to duck a potential vote on the investigation on his predecessor.

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Other senior Tories have also taken themselves away from Westminster amid the Commons debate.

The former prime minister sensationally quit as an MP and labelled the probe a “kangaroo court” after being told in advance of its findings.

It is not clear whether there will ultimately be a vote on the conclusions of the report, which could go through on the nod unless there are objections from Mr Johnson’s supporters.

The ex-prime minister was urging his allies not to oppose it, arguing that the sanctions have no practical effect.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mr Sunak has afternoon meetings on Monday, including hosting his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, before attending a dinner in the evening.

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