The motion, tabled by MP, Leader of the Labour
Party, and signed by the Westminster Leaders of the Liberal
Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and Alliance, will be
debated on Thursday.
The committee has wide-ranging powers to investigate whether the
Prime Minister misled Parliament. It can compel the release of
reports, documents and photos and has the power to recommend
sanctions.
MP, Leader of the Labour
Party, said:
“We are urging Conservative MPs to do the right thing. To respect
the sacrifices that their constituents made during the pandemic.
To say that the public were right to follow the rules. And to
vote in the national interest not under pressure from the party
whips.
“The British public know that the rules were broken in Downing
Street. Voting to say otherwise won’t persuade the public that
everything was fine but will further damage the reputation of any
Conservative MP who is happy to say it was one rule for the
public and another for this government.
“Tomorrow’s vote is an important step to restoring decency,
honesty and integrity into our politics.”
Ends
- The debate will begin at 1130 on
Thursday 21 April.
- The full text of the motion, tabled
today, reads:
That, this House
(1) notes that, given the issue of fixed penalty notices by
the police in relation to events in 10 Downing Street and the
Cabinet Office, assertions the Rt hon Member for Uxbridge and
South Ruislip has made on the floor of the House about the
legality of activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet
Office under Covid regulations, including but not limited to the
following answers given at Prime Minister’s Questions: 1 December
2021, that all guidance was followed in No. 10., Official Report
vol. 704, col. 909; 8 December 2021 that I have been repeatedly
assured since these allegations emerged that there was no party
and that no Covid rules were broken, Official Report vol. 705,
col. 372; 8 December 2021 that I am sickened myself and furious
about that, but I repeat what I have said to him: I have been
repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken, Official
Report vol. 705, col. 372 and 8 December 2021 the guidance was
followed and the rules were followed at all times, Official
Report vol. 705, col. 379, appear to amount to misleading the
House; and
(2) orders that this matter be referred to the Committee of
Privileges to consider whether the hon Member’s conduct amounted
to a contempt of the House, but that the Committee shall not
begin substantive consideration of the matter until the inquiries
currently being conducted by the Metropolitan Police have been
concluded.
