Boris Johnson in desperate last-ditch ruse to derail Partygate verdict

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mr Johnson’s frantic last stand came as he prepared to face judgement day on Partygate, with senior Tories predicting that the cross-party committee’s report will “finish his career”. Rishi Sunak’s government was also warned against any attempt to “water down” a Common vote on the report’s verdict on Mr Johnson – however scathing – with one senior Tory telling The Independent: “Let’s put the bloody thing through parliament.” Another day of high drama at Westminster saw Mr Sunak fire back at Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries and her failure to formally resign – with No 10 insisting her constituents deserve “proper representation”. has no choice but to explain his actions to his own committee, for his colleagues to investigate and then to resign.” The ex-PM also revealed that the committee had found him guilty of misleading parliament and would have punished him had he not quit, saying: “Bernard Jenkin has just voted to expel me from parliament.” open image in gallery Boris Johnson called on senior Tory MP to resign hours before report A source close to the privileges committee told The Independent that claims of hypocrisy were “desperate stuff” from the Boris camp, noting that MPs were ruling on Mr Johnson’s claims in the Commons rather than Covid-era gatherings themselves. “He won’t get anywhere, so it doesn’t need the prime minister to get involved.” Best moments: Boris Johnson grilled by MPs over Downing Street lockdown parties MPs have raised concerns about reports that the Sunak government is looking at ways to avoid a meaningful vote on the Partygate report by making sure a motion would merely “note” the findings, rather than accept them in full.