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BORIS JOHNSON HAS agreed to face a televised questioning on whether he lied to UK MPs over partygate next Wednesday in a hearing that will determine his political future.
The former British prime minister is to appear before the cross-party Commons Privileges Committee at 2pm on 22 March, it was announced this afternoon.
Johnson will need to convince the MPs he did not knowingly mislead the House with his denials of lockdown-breaching parties being held in No 10 if he is to avoid censure.
In an interim report, the Privileges Committee said the evidence strongly suggests breaches of coronavirus rules would have been “obvious” to Johnson during the partygate saga.
They are examining evidence around at least four occasions when he may have deliberately misled MPs with his assurances to the House of Commons.
But Johnson, who was fined by the Metropolitan Police for breaching his own Covid laws, has denied lying to the House and says he expects to be cleared.
The committee will publish its findings on whether Johnson committed a contempt of Parliament and would make a recommendation on any punishment, but the ultimate decision would fall to the full House of Commons.
A suspension of more than 10 sitting days could lead to a by-election for Johnson in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency.
The former Tory leader has raised concerns over partygate investigator Sue Gray’s pending move to Labour leader Keir Starmer’s office from the civil service.
However, the committee, chaired by Labour grandee Harriet Harman but with a Conservative majority of four of its seven MPs, denied its inquiry is based on the Gray report.
Instead, the inquiry has taken evidence from witnesses’ WhatsApps, emails and photographs from a Downing Street photographer.
This week, Rishi Sunak committed to giving Tories the freedom to determine Johnson’s fate with their conscience.
Speaking to ITV News during a visit to San Diego, the UK Prime Minister insisted he would not try to exert influence over Conservatives on the committee not to impose a large punishment.
“That wouldn’t be right,” Sunak said.
Asked if he was concerned about a by-election, Sunak added: “This is a matter for Parliament, for the House.
“It’s not right for the Government to get involved.”
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I agree fitness is extremely important,
But I hope things have changed from when I was in school where if you didn’t do GAA it meant you basically did nothing.
There’s more to exercise then GAA stuff
@Barry Somers: Totally agree, if you love football and hurling great, but if not you were neglected. It’s only when you get to uni that you get to do the cool sports like fencing or paragliding
@Catalanista: A bit childish now ,that’s not what he meant and you know it but to add to the situation there is a insurance problem with claim’s for all sort’s of rubbish
@Barry Somers: where i was at school if you did GAA sport, football or hurling and if you were any good to play for the school team but didnt or wouldnt play then you were victimised by the couch who doubled as a teacher as well.
@Barry Somers: Our native sports should be promoted as much as possible at schools level. Of course children should be encouraged and given the option to try lots of different sports, but for the likes of you its any excuse to have a cheap shot at the GAA. You could say the exact same about lots of other schools which promote rugby, soccer, even volleyball at the expense of other sports, obviously you went to a GAA focused school
Replace the half hour per day on the primary curriculum spent on religious instruction/education with PE. Kill two birds with the one stone.
@The Risen: cycle or walk to school and use the religious period for nutrition classes, social awarenessand mental health education. A holistic approach to personal and societal well being.
@James Wallace: Agreed. however, many families are not within walking distance of their school. A solution is needed that catches all students.
@The Risen: true but even new schools are not incorporating safer ‘active travel’ options for students. Last year, somewhere in Dublin I forget where, councillors objected to safe cycling routes for children that were part of the new school build plan, because of the impact it would have on traffic. We have our priorities all wrong in that regard. Also, have a look at this link from Knocknacarra in Galway. There are alternatives Scroll to the bottom for video
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=undefined&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwj43beF09bgAhWVRBUIHXBLDaQQzPwBCAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fnews%2Fconnacht%2F2019%2F0125%2F1025475-schools-galway-cycling%2F&psig=AOvVaw2haFEj5onldEwKi0PIsDxX&ust=1551176001321962
I agree about offering what girls want. Many will opt for classes that they see connected to appearing fit. Circuit training and weights may also be a positive option. I can’t remember physical education classes being enjoyable at all.
@Rathminder: they trialed yoga with our year for P.E. and I’ve never seen the whole class more engaged with exercise. It worked really well.
Pilates, TaeBo (kick boxing) and Zumba would be great options. Also weightlifting would be brilliant. I learned how to design a weight-lifting regimen in one of my university classes and it was a life skill that I have been able to pass onto my 15-year old son. Only offering hockey or rounders for PE in senior cycle is a bit short sighted.
Regular exercise reduces all cancers by 45%.
Regular exercise essentially reduces every disease (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, bone fracture, dementia…..) by half and not exercising doubles the incidence of most diseases.
No sponsorship from big pharma to get this message out.
Dream on ,between health and safety, solicitors, and insurance premiums any type of physical activity “est vorbodden”
have your say