Over recent weeks, Boris Johnson has repeatedly claimed that there were no rule-breaking parties in Downing Street and that ‘the rules were followed at all times’.
We now know these claims were completely false – and that, by making them, the Prime Minister has misled Parliament and the public.
Yet, when I made this simple, indisputable, factual point in the House of Commons yesterday I was ordered by the Speaker to withdraw it or be suspended from Parliament.
While I have the utmost respect for the Speaker, who is simply doing his job under the current system, I have absolutely no regrets about standing up for my constituents and telling it like it is.
It beggars belief that Mr Johnson can get away with lying, while MPs who state the obvious and challenge his behaviour are marched off the parliamentary estate by a man with a sword – a ludicrous spectacle from a bygone era.
In the 24 hours since I was asked to leave the chamber, I’ve received over 12,000 supportive emails.
The response I’ve had from my constituents, people across Scotland and the UK, proves the broken Westminster system couldn’t be more out of touch.
The public believe Boris Johnson lied – and they want to see him held to account.
The Prime Minister’s dishonesty is at the crux of this matter. People are so angry about the Downing Street lockdown parties precisely because we feel duped, and taken for mugs, by those in power at No 10.
Millions of us have made painful sacrifices over the past two years to obey the rules and keep each other safe.
Families missed birthdays, weddings, and special occasions. We couldn’t even hug our loved ones. And we missed out on important moments in their lives.
Worst of all, many families weren’t able to visit their loved ones when they were dying or attend their funerals.
And yet, at the same time, we now know those in Downing Street who were setting the rules were breaking them and lying about it.
People feel sick at the idea that Boris Johnson, and the most powerful people in the Tory Government, were taking us for fools with their partying.
While we were protecting each other – they were effectively sticking two fingers up at the rest of us.
I am reminded, in particular, of one painful example in Scotland.
On 20 May 2020, when Boris Johnson attended a BYOB party with dozens of people at No 10, Graeme Wilkie from Edinburgh was in intensive care fighting for his life.
In the 24 hours since I was asked to leave the chamber, I’ve received over 12,000 supportive emails
His sister Jenni, and father Victor, were forced to watch his final breaths on a video call – because, under Covid safety rules, they weren’t allowed to be in hospital by his side.
Jenni has spoken out about her anger, telling reporters: ‘We feel traumatised by what happened… and then all these revelations come out that Boris and his staff are telling us to do one thing while they do another. I just don’t get it. It’s time for him to go.’
There are countless similar stories. Most of us can think of painful sacrifices we made to stick by the rules. That’s why it’s so galling to know the Prime Minister and his team were repeatedly flouting them.
But this isn’t just about boozy Downing Street parties – it is also about something more fundamental: the principles of conduct in public office.
There simply cannot be one rule for the most powerful people in the country, and another for the rest of us.
We can’t allow a situation where the people who make the rules are able to break them and get away with it – otherwise the public will wonder why they should follow the rules.
The damning Sue Gray report has made clear that events took place and should never have happened.
Boris Johnson has been forced to admit he knew about these events and attended some of them.
But it is absolutely astounding that the Prime Minister can frequently deceive Parliament – and yet the only people who are punished are those MPs who dare to tell the truth and call him out.
And we’re now in an extraordinary situation, where the Metropolitan Police are investigating a sitting Prime Minister and his colleagues for potential criminality.
Boris Johnson’s position is completely untenable. For once in his life, he must put duty to public office first – and resign. And if, despite everything, he still won’t go willingly, then Tory MPs must accept their responsibilities and remove him from office.
People in Scotland are looking on in horror at a Westminster system that has never felt more arrogant, corrupt and out of touch.
The events of recent weeks will lead more to conclude that Scotland needs to become an independent country – so we can escape the damage of Westminster control for good.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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