Jacob Rees-Mogg slams privileges committee after Boris Johnson’s allies shamed in Partygate probe
Jacob Rees-Mogg discussing the privileges committee
GB News
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has slammed the privileges committee after Boris Johnson’s allies were shamed in the latest Partygate development.
The North East Somerset MP defended himself after the seven-member committee took umbrage with his comments about its investigation lacking a “proper legal setup”.
Speaking on his GB News show earlier tonight, Rees-Mogg said: “It must be possible to criticise Parliament.
“It must be possible to criticise Members of Parliament.
Boris Johnson has denied telling lies to the Commons about PartygatePA“We must not allow Parliament to use its powers to clamp down on opposition.”
“No one likes being criticised but it’s fundamental to be able to criticise politicians.
“Frankly, if you don’t like being criticised, you shouldn’t be a politician.”
All seven members of the committee were invited to appear on Rees-Mogg’s GB News show but not one accepted the invitation.
The 54-year-old was not the only Johnson loyalist singled out by the privileges committee.
Ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries and former Home Secretary Priti Patel were criticised.
Lord Zac Goldsmith, Mark Jenkinson, Sir Michael Fabricant, Brendan Clarke-Smith and Andrea Jenkyns were also named as politicians who undermined the privileges committee.
Johnson spectacularly resigned as the MP for Uxbridge & South Ruislip just days before the committee published its report.
Nadine Dorries is a fervent supporter of ex-Prime Minister Boris JohnsonPAThe seven-member committee ruled Johnson deliberately misled Parliament, should have been suspended from the House of Commons for 90-days and should have his former member’s pass revoked.
MPs emphatically voted to approve the committee’s recommendations, with just seven Johnson loyalists entering the no lobby.
However, Rees-Mogg was not the only MP to speak out against the privilege committee’s latest findings.
Clarke-Smith said: “This raises serious questions about free speech in a democratic society and my colleagues and I will continue to defend these principles going forward.”
Former Home Secretary Priti Patel was also singled out by the privileges committee
GB NewsJenkinson also claimed: “In another perfect example of gross overreach, the committee use a tweet that did not refer to them and was about the media witch hunt of Boris Johnson.”
Fabricant added: “I stand by my statement. Some of the members of the Privileges Committee treated their witness, Boris Johnson, with contempt by gestures and other actions.
“Had it been in a law court, the judge would have called them to order.
"Respect for the Committee needs to be earned.”
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