Keir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson of attempting to ‘intimidate’ MPs probing Partygate scandal

Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of trying to “intimidate” MPs investigating him over the Partygate scandal. Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said: “We think this is a committee that’s carrying out a function asked to by parliament, it’s a parliamentary matter, and the Leader of the House set out how we would want parliamentarians to engage with it.” Commons leader Penny Mordaunt had told MPs that “a very dim view will be taken” about anyone who tries to prevent the work of the investigation into whether Mr Johnson lied to parliament. open image in gallery Boris Johnson leaves his home on Monday Conservative Post – website affiliated with Lord Cruddas’ Conservative Democratic Organisation – has urged party members to email the four Tory MPs who sit on the committee and urge them to quit the “banana republic” inquiry. He had told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “It seems to me the person who is chairing this committee has predetermined it, and that causes me a degree of anxiety for parliament’s reputation in handling this with integrity.” Former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve said Mr Johnson has “a lot of explaining to do” when he faces MPs, adding that the former PM has a “serial reputation for telling untruths whenever it suits him”. Former chancellor Tory George Osborne said on Channel 4’s The Andrew Neil Show last night that it was “not clear” the PM would campaign for Mr Johnson if he faces a by-election.