THE “kangaroo court” probing Boris Johnson would be ruled unlawful by real judges, one of the country’s most senior lawyers says.
And it will have a “chilling effect” on what ministers can say to MPs, according to Lord Pannick.
The ‘kangaroo court’ probing Boris Johnson would be ruled unlawful by real judges, one of the country’s most senior lawyers says
The Remainer QC claimed Parliament’s Privileges Committee is adopting an unfair and “fundamentally flawed” Partygate probe.
His comments triggered calls for it to now be halted.
The Harriet Harman-led probe is looking at whether Mr Johnson lied to Parliament over lockdown parties, despite him admitting he inadvertently misled the Commons.
His supporters say it is political witchhunt to force Boris out of the Commons.
Downing Street commissioned legal advice from the respected cross-bench peer and QC.
Lord Pannick argues in the document that “the committee has failed to understand that to prove contempt against Mr Johnson, it is necessary to establish that he intended to mislead the House”.
Labour MP Chris Bryant claimed the legal opinion by Lord Pannick was “disgraceful bullying”.
Lord Pannick QC claimed Parliament’s Privileges Committee is adopting an unfair and ‘fundamentally flawed’ Partygate probe
