Boris Johnson is already preparing for a “worst case” scenario in which he has to fight a by-election he is expected to lose, allies have said.
MPs investigating whether the former prime minister intentionally misled parliament over his understanding of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic could recommend a suspension of more than 10 days, triggering a contest for his Uxbridge constituency.
“He is planning for the worst case, there’s no point in waiting until they’ve delivered their verdict,” an ally told The Times.
Tory pollster Lord Hayward told The Independent there was “no question” Mr Johnson would lose to Labour in a by-election.
Meanwhile, a senior Tory MP told The Independent the Partygate inquiry and a failed rebellion on Brexit were the “death throes of the Boris cult”, saying the “dying rump” of around 20 to 30 loyalists left would not be able to rebuild support for Mr Johnson in the parliamentary party.
Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal for Northern Ireland was formally signed-off by James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, and the European Commission’s Maros Sefcovic at a meeting in London.
Boris Johnson to ‘step up’ campaigning as he ‘braces for worst-case scenario by-election’
Boris Johnson will step up campaigning in his constituency as concerns grow that he will face a by-election within months if he is found to have deliberately misled Parliament over Downing Street lockdown parties (Thomas Kingsley writes).
It comes after Tory polling guru Lord Hayward warned the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip seat if he is punished severely by the cross-party committee and forced to fight for his seat.
According to The Times, Mr Johnson is planning for the “worst-case scenario”– that the committee imposes a 10-day suspension from the Commons, which could trigger a by-election.
Boris Johnson to ‘step up’ campaigning as he ‘braces for worst-case by-election’
A Tory polling guru said the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip in a by-election
Boris Johnson should quit as MP, says daughter of woman who died from Covid during Downing Street party
A woman whose mother died of coronavirus just days before one of the Downing Street parties has called for Boris Johnson to quit as an MP after he denied “hand on heart” lying to MPs over rule-breaking.
Naomi Fulop, who was prevented by restrictions from being with her siblings to grieve properly or have a full funeral, said it was clear the former prime minister had not been honest with the Privileges Committee investigating his statements.
Prof Fulop told The Independent: “It’s totally clear to me and I think to most of the population that he was telling people to do one thing and doing something else himself because he thinks the rules don’t apply to him.”