Boris Johnson news - live: MPs to investigate PM over potential partygate Commons lies

PM accused of ‘running away’ from Commons drama with twice-delayed India trip

‘The gig’s up’ – senior Tory MP calls on Boris Johnson to resign

Boris Johnson is set to be investigated for potentially lying to MPs over parties held at Number 10, after a landmark decision by the House of Commons.

This comes after the prime minister rejected a call by former Brexit minister Steve Baker for him to resign over Partygate, insisting that he has “absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide”.

Tory MP claimed the prime minister “now should be long gone” after – in a major U-turn, amid fears of a rebellion – the government backed down from a bid to force its MPs to delay a vote on whether to hold a Commons inquiry into whether he misled parliament, which is now expected to go ahead.

Ahead of Thursday’s debate, Labour threatened to plaster the names of MPs who blocked the probe across election leaflets, and accused Mr Johnson of using his two-day trip to India as a distraction.

Speaking from a JCB factory in Gujarat, Mr Johnson claimed he was “very keen for every possible form of scrutiny” and said MPs “must do whatever they want.”

In the Commons, the SNP’s Ian Blackford branded Mr Johnson a “liar” – and was not ordered to retract his remark by the Speaker.

Key Points

• Boris Johnson insists he has ‘absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide'
• Government makes major U-turn over Partygate inquiry
• Nadhim Zahawi labels Partygate inquiry vote ‘petty politics'
• Motion tabled to delay probe into whether PM misled Parliament
• Boris Johnson signals visa flexibility with India to win trade deal
• PM offers apology 35 times during his Commons appearance

[21 April 2022 21:07 · Eleanor Sly]

‘The Prime Minister is a basket case. He must go,’ says David Lammy

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy tweeted:

[21 April 2022 21:51 · Eleanor Sly]

MPs allowed by Speaker to call Boris Johnson a ‘liar’ in parliament

The Speaker of the House of Commons has permitted MPs to call Boris Johnson a “liar” during a parliamentary debate, breaking with recent convention.

The unusual step comes as parliament discusses whether the prime minister should face a standards probe for his conduct during the Partygate scandal – and over whether he misled parliament.

MPs are banned from using unparliamentary language in the chamber, which normally includes referring to other MPs as liars.

Jon Stone writes:

[21 April 2022 22:04 · Eleanor Sly]

We’re pausing live updates for this evening, but will be back tomorrow with all the latest from Westminster...