Newtown mayor urges MP to send letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson over partygate

Cllr Richard Williams said he is "disappointed" that Boris Johnson was found guilty of breaking Covid-19 rules "when Newtown residents and millions across the country were adhering to the spirit and letter of the law".

Mr Johnson has already received one fixed-penalty notice for attending his birthday party in the Cabinet Room in June 2020 but is thought to have been at half of the 12 gatherings under investigation by Scotland Yard.

In a letter posted on his public Facebook page on April 20 "as Mayor to our MP", Cllr Williams said he was not speaking on behalf of Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Town Council nor in his civic ceremonial role.

ONE EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVING. NO ALTERING OR MANIPULATING. NO USE ON SOCIAL MEDIA UNLESS AGREED BY HOC PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE. MANDATORY CREDIT: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor Handout photo issued by UK Parliament of the Prime Minister Boris

"The rule of law in the UK is a long-standing principle, and that everyone is equal under the law. This is a must for the law to be respected and obeyed by society," Cllr Williams said.

"It is outrageous that a person in a senior constitutional position has been found guilty of an offence - the first sitting Prime Minister to be found guilty of an offence in British legal history.

"There are serious issues facing residents in Newtown, our country and the world. Some may argue that replacing a Prime Minister at this moment is unwise, howver we all have a duty to the rule of law and a person, especially one who is involved in making the law, should always adhere to it. I therefore believe that the Prime Minister's position is untenable.

Cllr Williams added: "I urge you to support a motion presented before Parliament on Thursday, April 21, to refer the Prime Minister to the House Committee of Privileges and submit a letter of no-confidence in Boris Johnson as Leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party."

Labour has stepped up calls for Boris Johnson to resign, saying it was clear the Prime Minister lied to Parliament over lockdown parties in Downing Street.

Conservative MPs have been urged to back a parliamentary investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons on at least four occasions over the partygate row.

The Commons will decide on Thursday whether to ask the Privileges Committee to consider whether the Prime Minister’s conduct amounts to contempt of Parliament.

The motion, tabled by leading figures from seven opposition parties, says that the committee’s inquiry should not begin in earnest until the Metropolitan Police have concluded their own investigation into lockdown-busting parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.