Former UK PM Boris Johnson quits as MP after learning he will be sanctioned over 'partygate'

By Team Newsable | First Published Jun 10, 2023, 11:54 AM IST

Boris Johnson resigned after receiving the results of an investigation by lawmakers into misleading statements he made to Parliament about "partygate", a series of rule-breaking government parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, on Friday (June 9) shocked Britain by quitting as a lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for misleading Parliament. He departed with a ferocious tirade at his political opponents — and at his successor, Rishi Sunak — that could blast open tensions within the governing Conservative Party.

Johnson resigned after receiving the results of an investigation by lawmakers into misleading statements he made to Parliament about "partygate", a series of rule-breaking government parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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In his resignation statement, the former UK PM accused opponents of trying to drive him out — and hinted that his rollercoaster political career might not be over yet. "It is very sad to be leaving Parliament — at least for now," Johnson said.

The 58-year-old had said that he had "received a letter from the Privileges Committee making it clear — much to my amazement — that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of Parliament."

He called the committee investigating him — which has members from both government and opposition parties — a "kangaroo court". "Their purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts," Johnson said.

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Boris Johnson's resignation will trigger a special election to replace him as a lawmaker for a suburban London seat in the House of Commons. Johnson, whose career has seen a series of scandals and comebacks, led the Conservatives to a landslide victory in 2019 but was forced out by his own party less than three years later.

Johnson had been awaiting the outcome of an investigation by a House of Commons standards committee over misleading statements he made to Parliament about a slew of gatherings in government buildings in 2020 and 2021 that breached pandemic lockdown rules.

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