London – Boris Johnson will be investigated by a Commons committee over claims he misled Parliament about parties in Downing Street during lockdown.
MPs approved the Privileges Committee launching an inquiry once the police have finished their own investigation into the gatherings.
The government had tried to delay the vote, but made a U-turn following opposition from its own MPs.
Johnson said he had “absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide”.
Speaking during an official trip to India, the prime minister added: “If the opposition want to focus on this and talk about it a lot more, that’s fine.”
Last week, the prime minister – along with his wife and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak – was fined for breaking COVID-19 laws by attending an event in Downing Street to celebrate his birthday.
So far the police have announced they have issued at least 50 fines as part of their investigation.
Johnson had previously told MPs laws were not broken in Downing Street, leading to accusations from opposition parties that the prime minister had misled them.
Under government guidelines, ministers who knowingly mislead the House of Commons are expected to resign.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called the government’s U-turn a “humiliating climb-down” that showed Tory MPs “know they can no longer defend the indefensible”.
Speaking after the vote, he added: “Boris Johnson has lost the trust of the public over parties held in Downing Street during lockdown.
“Now it’s clear he has lost the confidence of his MPs.” (BBC)
