- By Paul Seddon
- Politics reporter
Rishi Sunak was challenged over his attendance document at PMQs
Rishi Sunak has refused to say whether or not Tory MPs accused of undermining the Commons Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson ought to apologise.
The Privileges Committee stated final week that the MPs, together with Nadine Dorries and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, had tried to “interfere” with the probe.
Asked whether or not they need to express regret, the prime minister did not say, including he hadn’t learn the committee’s report.
MPs will resolve whether or not to approve the findings at a debate subsequent Monday.
Last month, the Commons backed the committee’s discovering, in a separate report, that Mr Johnson misled Parliament over Covid rule-breaking in No 10.
Mr Sunak has by no means stated whether or not he agrees with the findings of that report – and missed final month’s vote to approve it, blaming a diary conflict.
The follow-up report by the Privileges Committee, printed final week, stated a number of allies of Mr Johnson had sought to “influence the outcome” of its unique probe into the previous prime minister.
It accused the seven MPs and three friends, all Conservatives, of mounting attacks on the committee designed to “discredit” its findings.
The report has led to a free speech row, with a number of of these named, together with Ms Dorries and Sir Jacob, saying there isn’t a motive they shouldn’t be capable of criticise its conclusions.
At a scheduled look on the Commons Liaison Committee, Mr Sunak didn’t reply to a query from Labour MP Chris Bryant about whether or not the MPs named ought to apologise.
Instead, he stated he had not learn the report – which runs to a handful of pages – from “cover to cover,” though he was conscious of its findings.
He confirmed he had requested Lord Zac Goldsmith, one of many Tory friends named within the report, to apologise – however stated this was due to his then position as an atmosphere minister.
Lord Goldsmith give up his authorities publish final week, citing unhappiness with inexperienced insurance policies. He has denied a declare from Mr Sunak that he had refused to apologise over being named within the report.
Mr Bryant, who chairs the Privileges Committee however didn’t participate in its probe into Mr Johnson as a result of he had criticised him earlier than it started, additionally criticised Mr Sunak for lacking the Commons vote on its findings.
The prime minister replied he could not attend as a result of he was scheduled to talk at a charity occasion, however the Labour MP accused him of selecting “not be in Parliament”.
In a collection of testy exchanges, he additionally took a swipe at Mr Sunak’s attendance document in Parliament, noting that he’s scheduled to overlook the subsequent two periods of Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Sunak replied he’ll miss this week’s session as a result of he’s attending an occasion marking the 75th anniversary of the NHS, while subsequent week he’s at a summit of Nato leaders in Lithuania.
He denied that he had any management over the timing of the NHS occasion, telling Mr Bryant: “I did not decide when that was.”
