Boris Johnson has finally run out of luck

Last night, Boris Johnson unexpectedly resigned from the House of Commons. His graceless and indignant resignation statement made clear that he blamed the Privileges Committee for his departure, arguing that he had been forced out of parliament over partygate.

The committee had written to Mr Johnson in advance of the publication of its report, outlining its proposed criticisms. It seems pretty clear that Johnson seems to have jumped before he was pushed. Yet, if one looks more closely at Johnson’s account of events, it contains a some significant inaccuracies which go far beyond the usual rough and tumble of politics.

Johnson argued that the Privileges Committee was conducting a ‘political hit job’ and described it as a ‘kangaroo court’. He also claimed that he had ‘no formal ability to challenge anything they say’.