Why did Boris Johnson avoid the Commons chamber on Monday? The official reason for the Prime Minister skipping an emergency debate on MPs’ standards is that he has a pre-planned visit. The problem for Johnson is that many of his MPs are taking it as another sign that he is missing in action when it comes to the escalating row over Tory sleaze, following the botched attempt to spare former MP Owen Paterson a 30-day suspension.
While opposition MPs had plenty to shout about in that debate – with Labour leader Keir Starmer accusing the government of ‘giving a green light to corruption’ – it’s the Tory benches where Downing Street has the most to worry about. There was a low turnout among Tory MPs for the debate, but of those who spoke former chief whip Mark Harper made the most critical intervention. He said:
As Johnson avoids facing the music, Tory MPs believe they are being left to fend for themselves in a row made worse by No.
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