UK’s Johnson may face contempt probe over “partygate” scandal

Britain’s parliament is set to vote on a motion to launch an investigation into whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson misled the parliament over lockdown breaches in 2020, when he attended several parties in No. 10 Downing Street, while the country was under strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Johnson’s spokesman said on Thursday that members of the Conservative Party will be free to vote in favor of holding an investigation, while the opposition members also secured the right to vote on the motion.

A majority of parliamentarians must vote in favor of the motion for it to pass. If it passes, the prime minister will be referred to a special committee that will determine whether his conduct amounted to contempt.

The development comes after the Tory MPs were not successful in blocking or delaying the inquiry with an amendment.

“I understand it is now the intention of the government not to move that amendment,” House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told lawmakers on Thursday.

Johnson apologized to the parliament on Wednesday after becoming the first British leader fined for breaking the law by attending parties while his own administration had enforced strict pandemic lockdowns, including restrictions on gatherings.

“That was my mistake and I apologize for it unreservedly,” he said, addressing parliament for the first time since the April 12 fining.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that Britons “don’t believe a word the prime minister says,” adding that he’s a “man without shame.”

Deliberately misleading parliament represents a breach of the ministerial code, and ministers who do so are expected to resign.

According to the government website, the ministerial code sets out the standards of conduct expected of ministers and how they discharge their duties.

Peter Hennessy, a historian and member of the upper house of parliament, said earlier this week that the PM effectively “shredded the ministerial code” after he told parliament last year that all rules were followed in Downing Street during the pandemic.

The opposition has repeatedly called for his resignation over the so-called partygate scandal.