Boris Johnson’s resignation as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip will force Britain to think again on Brexit, Martin Kettle has argued in the Guardian.
A long-awaited report concluding that Johnson misled Parliament with his partygate denials is set to be published on Thursday morning.
After a 14-month investigation, the Privileges Committee will release its findings on whether the former prime minister committed a contempt of Parliament by misleading MPs either recklessly or deliberately by denying lockdown rules were broken in No 10.
Johnson has railed against the committee he has criticised as a “kangaroo court”, and dramatically quit as an MP on Friday after receiving its verdict.
The former Conservative leader’s resignation means he will not serve the lengthy suspension likely to be recommended.
But his resignation could also spell the death of his passion project in Brexit.
Writing in the Guardian, Martin Kettle said: “The biggest lie that Johnson ever told, and the one that was most widely believed, was over Brexit.
“It has resulted in the largest piece of damage of the many he inflicted on the country. Johnson’s fall and unpopularity ought, therefore, to reopen Britain’s relationship with Europe.”
Johnson and Johnson was trending on Twitter shortly after.
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