Partygate showdown is set to descend into farce

Partygate showdown is set to descend into farce as Rishi Sunak and other MPs may skip voting on report altogether

• Six and a half hours have been allotted to Monday’s Commons debate on report 
• Read Boris Johnson’s first column for the Daily Mail by clicking HERE 

The expected parliamentary showdown over Boris Johnson risks descending into farce after it emerged that MPs may avoid voting on the controversial report altogether.

A massive six and a half hours had been allotted to Monday’s Commons debate on the Privileges Committee’s finding that the former Prime Minister had deliberately misled MPs over lockdown gatherings in No 10.

It had been thought that Conservatives would have to choose between angering grassroots members by endorsing its damning findings, or be seen as disrespecting the institutions of Parliament by voting against it.

But senior figures now increasingly believe it will be a damp squib, with the lengthy debate likely to end early due to a lack of speakers and attempts under way by some to avoid the planned free vote.

Even Rishi Sunak – despite their recent clashes over honours – has refused to confirm his attendance in the chamber.

A massive six and a half hours had been allotted to Monday’s Commons debate on the Privileges Committee’s finding that the former Prime Minister had deliberately misled MPs (pictured June 15)

It is rumoured that the Prime Minister will use a conveniently timed meeting with his Swedish counterpart to dodge attending the Commons (pictured June 15)

No 10 claimed yesterday (FRI) that the Prime Minister had not yet had time to ‘fully consider’ the report amid a diary packed full of meetings.

But asked if the PM had a view on the ‘vindictive’ sanctions recommended for Mr Johnson – a 90-day suspension had he not resigned and a ban on him receiving a former member’s pass – his official spokesman said: ‘The PM doesn’t think it’s appropriate to express a government view or a view on behalf of the government given that it’s a matter for individual MPs and MPs have a free vote on this on Monday.’

It is rumoured that the Prime Minister will use a conveniently timed meeting with his Swedish counterpart to dodge attending the Commons.

Asked if he planned to attend the vote, his spokesman said: ‘We will set out the PM’s movements and activities for next week on Monday.’

Whatever the Prime Minister’s decision, it is likely his attendance or non-attendance will be hotly contested within his own party.

Former Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg – a key ally of Mr Johnson – said that Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a ‘parliamentary matter’.

But senior Tory Damian Green, who served as a minister under Theresa May, urged the PM to show leadership in the house.

Read Boris Johnson’s FIRST Mail column by clicking here

He told the BBC: ‘I think personally it is such an important act that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.’

He went on: ‘Clearly it is very, very unusual if not unique to have this kind of report on a former prime minister and I am going to vote for it with a heavy heart, with sadness.

‘I don’t want to be doing this but it seems to me the report is very clear cut and parliament should respect its own procedures.’

Senior figures within the party have signalled their discomfort at the strict measures recommended by the report, including stripping Mr Johnson of his parliamentary pass.

Mr Johson’s successor Liz Truss told GB News: ‘I’m not going to question the integrity of these MPs.

‘We do have these committees that have been set up, but it does seem to me a very harsh decision.’

And former Tory party chairman Sir Jake Berry told ITV he would ‘certainly be one of those in the no lobby’, adding: ‘I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong’.

However, it is understood that Mr Johnson will not ask his supporters to oppose the sanction and the vast majority of Tories are likely to stay away completely.

There is also a growing likelihood that the few Conservatives who do attend will attempt to avoid a vote taking place.

When the Speaker ends the debate, members present are asked to say ‘aye’ or ‘no’ to the motion. But if there nobody signals their opposition, there will be no formal vote.

That means it would be recorded in Hansard as having been approved by a decision of the House but without the usual list of MPs who voted in favour or against.

One senior figure told the Mail it is ‘not impossible’ that this result will be engineered, although opposition MPs would be able to shout no in order to force a division.

It is not even clear how many senior Labour MPs will be present, as Sir Keir Starmer and other shadow cabinet members are understood to have an event scheduled for earlier in the day.

And even the Liberal Democrats have called for the report on Mr Johnson to be approved without a debate in order to avoid wasting parliamentary time.

Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘For the Conservatives to devote a whole day to debating this report shows they are even more out-of-touch than we thought.’

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