Chris Bryant to recuse himself from possible probe into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over partygate
Rhondda MP Chris Bryant, who chairs the Commons’ Committee of Privileges, has said he will recuse himself from a prospective investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over partygate claims.
In a letter to members of the committee, he said: “I understand that some Honourable and Right Honourable Members have questioned whether I should chair such an inquiry into the Prime Minister, given that I have made several statements in the media on this matter.
“I am certain that if the House were to refer this matter to the committee, all of us would be entirely diligent in setting aside our personal feelings and allegiances, and discharging our duty to protect the reputation of the House without fear or favour.”
Mr Bryant continued: “However, it is also important that the House be seen to proceed fairly without any imputation of unfairness and that the whole House have confidence in the Committee of Privileges’ proceedings. I have therefore decided that if the motion to refer is carried tomorrow, I will recuse myself from any consideration of the matter.
“I will still chair the Committee of Privileges and the Committee on Standards for all our other business, but it will be for the rest of the committee to decide who should chair proceedings on this inquiry and how it should proceed.”
Blistering attack
Last week Mr Bryant launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Boris Johnson following confirmation he’d been fined for attending a party during the Covid lockdown.
In a social media post Mr Bryant explained that he thought it was unlikely the committee he chairs would be asked to investigate the partygate scandal at Downing Street, adding the Prime Minister had “repeatedly lied to parliament” and “is not fit for office”.
“In my book the PM broke the law, repeatedly lied to parliament and refused to correct the record. That is a threefold breach of the ministerial code. He is not fit for office. I wish it were otherwise, but until Tories wake up Johnson remains the sole arbiter of his own conduct,” the Labour MP added.
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A good start, but so much better if you’d go the whole hog and resign!
Wales does need need your unconditional love of Boris standing between you and the representation Wales deserves.
Why would Bryant resign for telling the truth when Johnson refuses to resign for lying?
Bryant knows that if he sat in “judgement ” on Boris the Tories would dig out the dirt they have on Bryant ! By all accounts there’s plenty of it especially his manipulation of the expenses mechanisms and no doubt they will have some other smut in their information warehouse.
Then there would be mutually assured destruction because when it comes to sleaze, the Tories are its main purveyors. The Tories entire backlog of diet on other parties is roughly equivalent to the dirt the other parties have on pretty much any Tory cabinet minister
We all know the spineless tories will all fall into line and if it looks like there might be an issue, they will be whipped into line to save yet another guilty tory, there’s more chance of hell freezing over than johnson being referred to this committee, and if he is, will all tory members of the committee also sit this one out?
Spines, consciences and morals are in short supply in that party