Dominic Raab says PM caught lying to Parliament should resign
A prime minister who has been found deliberately lying to Parliament would “normally” resign according to Dominic Raab.
Raab’s comments come as the PM’s ex-aide Dominic Cummings accused the PM of lying to MPs last week over a No 10 garden party during lockdown.
Deputy PM Raab said the prime minister had “made clear” he was unaware of the event in advance. He believes Boris Johnson will remain in power “for many years.”
In his blog, Dominic Cummings said the PM had been warned ahead of the party and was told it would break the Covid rules that were in place at the time.
He added that he had warned the PM about the gathering but he had “waved it aside.”
According to the BBC, two other former Downing Street officials said they remembered Dominic Cummings telling them that day he had warned the PM not to allow the garden drinks to go ahead.
Cumming’s blog contradicts the account PM Boris Johnson gave to Parliament last week. The PM said he had not been notified in advance of the party – which was attended by around 30 people. It is believed around 100 staff were invited.
Operation Rinka. Operation Red Meat. Operation Save Big Dog. It's all a fucking game to them while poor people decide whether to starve or freeze. I'm
— RedJohnSocialist (@RedJohnBounds) January 18, 2022
The PM said he had been working in No 10 when the drinks party happened and joined staff for 25 minutes to thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast Mr Raab said the accounts from the PM and Cummings were “irreconcilable”. When asked if any minister caught lying to the House of Commons and failed to correct their remarks should resign, he said “yes.”
And asked later on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether a prime minister who had been found to have lied to Parliament should quit, he said: “He would normally, if it’s not corrected, if it’s lying, and deliberate… if it’s not corrected immediately, it would normally, under the ministerial code and the governance around Parliament, be a resigning matter.
“That is the principle. We uphold the highest standards of principles in public life. That is critically important.”
Boris Johnson – No 10 PartyGate
Boris Johnson is facing mounting pressure from rebel Tories and the public to resign as the fallout from the latest party scandal engulfs the PM.
‘Operation Rinka’: rebel Tories raise pressure on Boris Johnson to resign
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