This Tory MP’s defence of Boris Johnson isn’t the slam dunk he thought it was

Poke Staff. Updated January 25th, 2022

As you’ll have seen by now, the police have launched an inquiry into those alleged parties at Downing Street after it was revealed there was at least one party to celebrate Boris Johnson’s birthday in 2020.

It remains to be seen exactly what this means for senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report – it could be delayed for up to a year, or it could still come out in the next few days.

But in the meantime Conservative MP Richard Bacon thought he’d do his bit to stand up for Boris Johnson in the House of Commons.

But we’re not sure it’s the slam dunk defence the South Norfolk MP thought it was.

Conservative MP Richard Bacon says that compared to what others have done, the Prime Minister has only committed a “relatively minor offence.” pic.twitter.com/ra9AaQOzLo

— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) January 25, 2022

And here are our 7 favourite things people said about it.

So, only a specific and limited breaking of the law. Dear God…. https://t.co/uabVwr8gIF

— Brian Moore (@brianmoore666) January 25, 2022

If your defence is that you only broke the law in a minor way, that isn't a very good defence. Even worse if you claim to be the party of law and order. And with previous record of believing that a limited breach of international law was fine. https://t.co/qf4zpoUboI

— David Henig 🇺🇦 (@DavidHenigUK) January 25, 2022

thanks for Richard Bacon MP for admitting that an offence has been committed.

— Transfer Wire (@transferdicky) January 25, 2022

https://twitter.com/AlasdairMack66/status/1485981463229181954?s=20

https://twitter.com/davidallengreen/status/1485962063394623493?s=20

Lying to Parliament and to the people is not a minor offence. His accountability depends on him telling the truth. Without sanction for not telling the truth, there's no incentive to tell the truth for a Parliamentarian without integrity who's asked to answer questions.

— CMUL 💙 (@MULCambridge) January 25, 2022

"relatively minor offence"
Standards in public life, eh! https://t.co/0hhTse8roZ

— Adam Wagner (@AdamWagner1) January 25, 2022

Just to be accurate about these things.

Given that Blair wasn't actually interviewed under caution – Richard Bacon will have to retract that in the HoC at the earliest opportunity.

— Dr Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) January 25, 2022

To conclude …

How is @RalphWiggumMP supposed to keep up with this stuff, he's being worked harder than Sue Gray https://t.co/uuTr7Q5bTM

— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) January 25, 2022

Source Twitter @AdamBienkov