Partygate panel to publish report after Johnson quits as lawmaker

A report into whether former prime minister Boris Johnson misled British lawmakers over his "partygate" assurances will be published "promptly" after his decision to dramatically quit the Commons.
The Commons Privileges Committee said the cross-party panel of lawmakers will meet on Monday to complete its inquiry into whether he misled the British parliament over parties held during coronavirus pandemic lockdowns.
It comes after Johnson launched a blistering attack on the Conservative-majority committee, comparing it to a "kangaroo court" and a "witch hunt", as he announced his intention to stand down as an MP and trigger an immediate by-election.
In a statement, a spokesman said: "The committee has followed the procedures and the mandate of the House at all times and will continue to do so.
"Mr Johnson has departed from the processes of the House and has impugned the integrity of the House by his statement.
"The committee will meet on Monday to conclude the inquiry and to publish its report promptly."
Johnson had accused the probe, chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman, of "bias" and suggested it was attempting to use its investigation to "drive me out of Parliament" in a move he said was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit.
Several reports have suggested the committee had ruled that Johnson did lie to the Commons when he said that Covid rules were followed in Downing Street following reports that lockdown-busting parties were held during the pandemic.
The committee was said to be recommending a 10-day suspension from the Commons, a conclusion which would have resulted in a recall petition among his constituents and a potential by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.
Mhairi Black, SNP deputy Westminster leader, said the former No 10 incumbent "jumped before he was pushed".
The former Conservative Party leader's announcement that he was quitting as an MP came only hours after his resignation honours list had been published, in which he gave peerages, knighthoods and damehoods to close allies.
Johnson's resignation means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Tories face a tough battle to hold onto his old seat at an upcoming by-election.
Polling released by Savanta suggested Labour, which came second at the 2019 election in Uxbridge, currently holds a 14-point lead over the Tories in Johnson's former west London constituency.
It was the second by-election triggered on Friday following former culture secretary Nadine Dorries' decision to quit the Commons immediately, rather than wait until the next election.
She had widely been tipped to be in line for a peerage, but she did not feature on Johnson's honours roll.