Channel 4 News stumped Boris Johnson with a zinger of a question about Partygate
On Thursday, MPs agreed to refer the PM to the Privileges Committee to determine whether he misled the House over his knowledge of parties taking place during lockdown.
Ahead of the vote, when it looked as though the Conservative whips were going to order MPs to vote against allowing such scrutiny, the Leader of the Opposition wrote this.
Boris Johnson has abused his office and mislead Parliament.
Honesty, integrity and the truth matter in our politics.
Today, Conservative MPs have the opportunity to defend those principles and to vote in the national interest.
If they don’t, they won't be forgiven.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 21, 2022
Very few Conservatives turned up, which meant the motion went through unopposed.
UK MPs approve inquiry into whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson misled Parliament over parties held during Covid lockdown https://t.co/Xu4Rnxeovt
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) April 21, 2022
Although the committee’s investigation won’t take place until the Met confirms its investigations into Partygate are over, it means Johnson is effectively under scrutiny from Sue Gray, the police and the Privileges Committee.
The good news is that no matter how many fines I get, or how bad the Sue Gray report is, I will just say “I can’t possibly comment until the Privilege Committee reports”. https://t.co/0hYS16CgAJ
— Parody Boris (@Parody_PM) April 21, 2022
Excellent work and absolutely right this should happen. Hopefully conservative MPs have found their moral compass…or are there plans afoot… https://t.co/5D21PWavHF
— Deborah Meaden 🇺🇦 (@DeborahMeaden) April 21, 2022
I love how we need a committee to decide if Boris Johnson misled Parliament when he was filmed doing it and we all watched it live.
— Brendan May (@bmay) April 21, 2022
Calls to resign came even from MPs on his own back benches, such as Brexit hardman Steve Baker, and William Wragg.
This was very good &, if Johnson is toast, should merit at least a footnote in the history books. https://t.co/wuK2ZNXGbm
— James Oh Brien (@mrjamesob) April 21, 2022
It made no difference to Johnson’s resolve.
🚨NEW: On route to India, PM says he intends to fight the next election as Tory leader, tells me he doesn’t intend to offer his resignation or put himself forward for a confidence vote, & says other things matter more than Partygate to voters. Punchy.
— Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) April 20, 2022
Channel 4 News’ Gary Gibbon touched on the matter of his resignation with this spectacular question.
"If it turned out the building you preside over… attracted more fixed penalty notices than any location or event in the history of lockdown – might that be a cause for resignation?"
That was @GaryGibbonC4's question to Boris Johnson over lockdown parties at No 10. pic.twitter.com/2aRdaNP8ta
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 21, 2022
“I can tell you. Because I think it already has broken that record.”
World beating.
from Andy Samberg GIFs via Gfycat
Viewers and tweeters enjoyed seeing the PM face such scrutiny.
I wonder why they want to undermine Channel 4. It's a mystery. https://t.co/JJ2A8Ct1Oh
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) April 21, 2022
It would be easy to draw a line under it. Just come completely clean about everything that happened. Instead it's always wait a little longer, I can't answer this or that, it's just not true. https://t.co/pTRkvyxevS
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) April 21, 2022
He looks completely defeated. https://t.co/GHiMpzbBJT
— Dan Rebellato (@DanRebellato) April 21, 2022
Yes, your resignation. pic.twitter.com/YolqXOr84p
— Azeem (@officiallyazeem) April 21, 2022
I believe the phrase I'm looking for is "mendacious prat," yes? https://t.co/HwpPUObqxV
— Benjamin Dreyer 🇺🇦 (@BCDreyer) April 21, 2022
Why does Nadine Dorries hate C4 news? Why? https://t.co/iPmGCqT7r1
— James Mitchinson (@JayMitchinson) April 21, 2022
This man has no shame. Britain can do much, much better than this. https://t.co/dGWhcMuUls
— Thom Brooks (@thom_brooks) April 21, 2022
One person wanted Johnson to stay in post – but not out of admiration.
Johnson's really hating this. So I'd be inclined, personally, to keep him in post for a bit longer. #bbcpm #C4News https://t.co/eApQe3idZc
— Mum of Fat Cassie (@MumofFatCassie) April 21, 2022
It’s well worth watching the full interview with Gary Gibbon here, in which it’s very clear that Johnson’s sweat wasn’t only down to the Indian heat.
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This Labour MP’s speech on Boris Johnson and undermining democracy was magnificently done
Source Channel 4 News Image Screengrab