The Liberal Democrats have tabled a ‘Humble Address’ motion to force the government to reveal whether Boris Johnson, ministers and senior officials have been fined by the Met police over law-breaking parties in Number 10.
The parliamentary motion would require the publication of a full list of the names of any elected officials, senior civil servants and political appointees given Fixed Penalty Notices as a result of the police investigation. It would also require the Sue Gray report to be published in full alongside any accompanying evidence including photographs.
The motion states that this information should be published no more than two days after the Metropolitan Police investigation is completed. It has been tabled by Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey and signed by all 13 of the party’s MPs.
The Liberal Democrats are calling on all Conservative MPs to back the motion when Parliament returns next week, to prevent a cover up by Boris Johnson and Number 10.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said:
Boris Johnson can’t be trusted to admit whether he or any other Conservative ministers end up being fined by the police. We’ve seen time and again that his instinct is to lie, blame others or cover up the truth.
MPs from across all parties need to come together and force Boris Johnson to come clean. The public deserves to know whether our prime minister has broken the law, and for the full Sue Gray report including any photos to be published.
If Johnson is found to have broken the law, he must fess up and resign. No more cover-ups, no more lies.
For a sitting prime minister to be found guilty of breaking the law would be unprecedented and put to bed once and for all the Conservative Party’s claim to be the party of law and order.
Motions tabled as a Humble Address can be used by opposition parties to force the publication of government papers and reports. They can be voted on and amended by Parliament and are considered binding if passed.
Full text of the motion tabled by Ed Davey:
That this House considers that a motion for an Humble Address on the laying of papers including the full, unredacted report of the Cabinet Office investigation into alleged gatherings on Government premises during the period of covid-19 restrictions, all accompanying evidence collected as part of the Cabinet Office investigation, including photographs and a full list of the names of any elected officials, senior civil servants, and political appointees given Fixed Penalty Notices as a result of the police investigation, should be debated no later than two sitting days after the confirmation by the Metropolitan Police that their investigation into alleged breaches of covid-19 restrictions in Downing Street and Whitehall was completed.
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5 Comments
It is encouraging to see the Parliamentary Party displaying relevance and prescience.
This motion not only concerns parliamentary standards, but standards in public life. MPs have no neutral response to this motion. However MPs respond, abstention included, will reflect on their integrity and sense of probity.
My fear is that Boris Johnson will again escape, yet again, from any punishment for his actions during the so called Partygate incidents, I understand he has engaged the services of his own lawyer, at his own expense reportedly, to defend him in the event of a charge, and so I am fully behind Ed Davey and his Lib Dem MPs in keeping up the pressure on this subject as the Tories try to deflect public attention away from this scandal.
Agree with friends Martin and Barry.
This is real politics. Really good to see.
But Johnson might try again to get through. If so, he only helps the eventual defeat of his increasingly appalling party!
Martin’s comment is concise and spot-on: if the motion is voted on then it will put pressure on Tory MP’s to reveal their true level of sincerity and integrity.
However, Barry is also right: the Greased Piglet and his allies may escape justice yet again, and whilst the opposition parties will benefit the country will continue to suffer.
I’ve gained the distinct impression since New Year that the Independent and Guardian are giving the Lib Dems more coverage – is this partly a reaction to North Shropshire?
Good stuff.
Next is the independent review into the handling of the pandemic. Must not lose site of that as the failures have led to many unavoidable deaths.