LONDON (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Tory MPs will have a free vote in the discussion on the Prime Minister’s deception of Parliament, making the Labour motion more likely to pass.
Mark Spencer, the Commons leader, has now stated that Tory MPs would be given a free vote in today’s discussion.
That implies the administration may not be able to pass its amendments due to a lack of votes. As a result, it may opt not to put it to a vote.
Full text of the Labour motion calling for an investigation into allegations that the Prime Minister misled parliament.
The wording of the motion, which was proposed by Labour although backed by six other opposition parties, appears below.
It now appears certain to pass, given No. 10’s decision of not asking its MPs to vote against it. It’s possible that it will pass without opposition.
Some Conservative MPs have stated that they will vote against. However, given the Prime Minister’s statement this morning that he now supports an inquiry, voting against would almost definitely be seen as detrimental by Downing Street, and it would be unusual if any Conservatives attempted this.
The fact that this House
(1) takes note of assertions made by the Rt hon Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on the floor of the House about the legality of activities in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office under Covid regulations, including but not limited to the following answers given at PMQs: 1 December 2021: “All guidance was followed in No. 10,” Official Report vol. 704, col. 909; 8 December 2021: He had been repeatedly assured since the emergence of these allegations that there was no party and that no Covid rules had been broken, Official Report vol. 705: He was sickened and enraged by it, said Official Report vol. 705, col. 372 on December 8, 2021, but he restated what he had told to him: He had been repeatedly assured that the rules had not been broken. Thursday, April 21, 2022, Official Report vol. 705, col. 372 6 Official Report vol. 705, col. 379, appear to be deceiving the House; OP No.147: Part 1 Business Today: Chamber and 8 December 2021 “the guidance was followed and the regulations were observed at all times,” Official Report vol. 705, col. 379, appear to be misleading the House;
(2) orders that this matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges to determine whether the Rt hon Member’s actions constituted contempt of the House, but that the Committee not begin substantive discussion of the matter until the Metropolitan Police investigations are completed.
This comes from a senior government official explaining why the administration withdrew the amendment
The PM has always stated that he is willing to face whatever investigations parliament deems necessary, and that he is happy for the house to decide how it wants to move today, therefore he will not be whipping Conservative MPs. They are free to vote on how they believe we should proceed in this matter.
A table was amended last night because we wanted to be clear that Sue Gray will be able to finish and publish her report as soon as possible, and that the Metropolitan Police will be able to wrap up their investigations. We now recognise that this is virtually certainly going to be the situation in practise, and we are delighted for the Labour motion to pass if that is the house’s wish.
