I resigned from the Government (as PPS to the Department of Health and Social Care) last July. In doing so, I wrote to the then PM, Boris Johnson, saying: "I have strived to offer you my loyalty but regrettably it is clear that the party and the country is no longer governable under your tenure. Integrity and trust must be central to all that we do, but increasingly it has been impossible to defend you in the face of the damaging allegations and perceptions that exist."
All in all, we have seen a police investigation, the Sue Gray report and, most recently, the Privileges Committee Report. It is commonplace for such reports to be "nodded through" the Commons i.e. be accepted unanimously. I was content, albeit saddened, for this to be the case yesterday.
In the event, the Labour chief whip "manufactured" a division (vote) last night by shouting "no" when the Speaker asked whether MPs supported the Privileges Committee report.
I think it is regrettable that seven of my colleagues chose to vote against the report.
I feel I have already made my position clear. I had received limited correspondence from constituents concerning the Privileges Committee report. This was on both sides of the argument, including those who felt that the length of suspension (90 days) and the act of withdrawing the Parliamentary pass was somewhat vindictive. While I accepted the report, I was not minded to dance to the tune of those merely seeking political capital from this sorry episode. Boris Johnson has already not only resigned as Prime Minister but also as a Member of Parliament.
I very much share concerns about honesty in Parliament. I hope we can now return to more constructive matters.
