By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson is to face a parliamentary investigation into whether he misled MPs about lockdown-breaking parties at Downing Street.
MPs have backed a Labour-led motion calling for the privileges committee to examine allegations that the prime minister misled the Commons when he denied lockdown rules were broken in Downing Street
Tory MPs were ordered to back a government attempt to delay the vote until inquiries by the Met Police and civil servant Sue Gray have concluded.
There had been speculation in Westminster that Tory MPs were not prepared to wait any longer for an investigation into Mr Johnson’s conduct.
The prime minister missed the debate in the Commons given his departure on a two-day official visit to India, where he told Sky News’ Beth Rigby that he has “absolutely nothing to hide” on partygate.
In a blow to Mr Johnson, former minister Steve Baker, an influential Conservative MP, earlier said the PM “should be long gone”.
Mr Baker, who was a prominent Brexiteer involved in ousting Theresa May, said: “Really, the prime minister should just know the gig’s up.”
Meanwhile, fellow Conservative MP and Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee chairman William Wragg confirmed he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson’s leadership.
“I cannot reconcile myself to the prime minister’s continued leadership of our country and the Conservative Party,” he told MPs in a scathing Commons speech.
“There can be few colleagues on this side of the House I would contend who are truly enjoying being members of parliament at the moment.
“It is utterly depressing to be asked to defend the indefensible. Each time part of us withers.”
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby in India, the prime minister insisted he had “absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide” when trying to explain his decision to drop the government’s amendment to the Labour motion.
“People were saying it looks like we are trying to stop stuff. I didn’t want that. I didn’t want people to be able say that,” the PM said.
He added that he remains confident of leading the Tories into the next general election.
Meanwhile, responding to Mr Baker’s call for him to quit, the PM said: “I understand people’s feelings. I don’t think that is the right thing to do.”
The Privileges Committee will, upon the conclusion of the Met Police’s investigation, determine whether Mr Johnson is in contempt of Parliament for misleading MPs with his repeated denials of lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street.
The motion tabled by Labour and the leaders of seven other opposition parties and nodded through by MPs stated that the PM made at least four separate remarks in the Commons which “appear to amount to misleading the House”: