Today’s parliamentary probe into Boris Johnson’s behaviour was harsher than expected.
The long-awaited study said Johnson committed “repeated contempts of parliament” by deceiving the Commons about lockdown breaches at Number 10 during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Johnson also “breached the confidence” of the committee by discussing its draft conclusions before their release, “impugned the committee and… undermined the democratic process of the House.”
Perhaps most damning, it said Johnson was “complicit in the campaign of abuse and intimidation of the committee” investigating him.
In summary, the privileges committee deemed the former PM to be a liar and a bully and recommended that he be suspended from parliament for 90 days.
Mr. Johnson’s reaction was less startling than the report’s bluntness.
They also suggested denying him the Commons pass provided to retired MPs to use the parliamentary estate.
When he resigned as an MP on Friday night, he called it a “kangaroo court,” and this morning he attacked the committee members, particularly its chair, Labour MP and mother of the House Harriet Harman, and its most senior Tory member Sir Bernard Jenkin, calling the report’s findings “deranged.”
According to the committee, he willfully deceived the House and concealed his knowledge of criminal occurrences.
It’s rubbish. A falsehood. The committee must say many stupid things or contradict the facts to obtain this insane conclusion.
Johnson behaved like a “pound shop Trump,” according to Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.
Johnson wants to make a return, but today’s report may end his political career.
Former Cabinet ministers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Simon Clarke, both awarded honours by Johnson, condemned the report and said they would vote against a motion on its findings on Monday.
Johnson’s return to politics seems unlikely.
He is reported to have resigned from the Commons on Friday because he anticipated he would lose a by-election after a recall petition in his area.
Last weekend, a voter in his previous Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge, “Don’t mention that name in front of me, that filthy piece of toe rag.”
Savanta’s midday snap survey showed that many political voters saw Johnson similarly.
The privileges committee found that he wilfully deceived the House of Commons, and just 19% disagreed. A Johnson comeback was rejected by 62% of UK voters, including 48% of his party’s 2019 general election supporters.
Johnson’s blunt conclusion is that even if the Conservatives or a new political party chose him as a candidate, the voters would not rush to support his return to the Commons.
The report’s position in future historians’ judgments may upset Johnson most and explain his extreme words.
Some are already arguing that his image was already low when he was forced to quit in disgrace from Number Ten last year after his ministers and MPs lost their support after a series of scandals.