Lib Dems table amendment to refer Dorries and Rees-Mogg for possible sanctions over partygate report

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Liberal Democrats have tabled an amendment that would refer Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the other five MPs found to have interfered with the partygate report into Boris Johnson for possible sanctions.

Former ministers Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among seven Conservative MPs accused of waging a coordinated campaign to interfere with the committee’s investigation into Boris Johnson.

The amendment will be considered for a vote this Monday [10th July] when the Privileges Committee report is debated in Parliament. If passed, it would refer the seven MPs back to the committee to decide whether their conduct amounted to contempt of Parliament, and recommend a sanction if they are. This is the same process that was applied to Boris Johnson.

Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain said:

“These Conservative MPs actively undermined the independent investigation into Boris Johnson’s partygate lies at every turn, while several were being rewarded with gongs and knighthoods.

“It is right that our elected representatives get to decide on the appropriate sanction, to protect our democratic institutions from being dragged through the mud like this.

“Nadine Dorries has spent weeks defending Boris Johnson’s lies and law-breaking instead of standing up for her constituents in Mid Bedfordshire. People across the country are fed up with this endless Conservative sleaze and scandal, while they struggle to pay their mortgage and rent or see a GP.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The Liberal Democrat amendment can be found online here.

The amendment reads as follows: 

At the end of paragraph (c), add:  

(d) orders that the conduct of the Hon. and Rt hon. members listed in paragraph (e) be referred to the Committee of Privileges to consider whether the conduct of those Hon. and Rt hon. members amounted to a contempt of the House, and accordingly recommend any sanction they deem fit;

(e) the Hon. and Rt hon. members to be considered by the Committee of Privileges are:

(i) the Rt hon. member for North East Somerset

(ii) the Rt hon.  member for Witham

(iii) the Rt hon. member for Mid Bedfordshire

(iv) the Hon. member for Morley and Outwood

(v) the Hon. member for Lichfield

(vi) the Hon. member for Bassetlaw

(vii) the Hon. member for Workington