Partygate; Tory votes, anniversary of lockdown parties - just another birthday it seems for Boris Johnson

It’s Boris Johnson’s birthday today and boy does he know how to make an event of such an occasion. If celebrating his 59th birthday wherever he is currently holed up after the release of the Partygarte report, in which it was concluded that he did mislead Parliament and the public of the affair, isn’t enough - consider that today almost marks the anniversary of one of those gathering that he has been found to have mislead everyone about.

To complete the trifecta of landmarks today for Boris Johnson, MP’s will be voting in the House of Commons later on who is in favour of the findings regarding the report, and who is against the findings. There is also the third option, one that seems to be popular with Conservative MP’s who understand the loyalty that Boris Johnson has fostered within the party, but understand their constituents might be tired of the ongoing saga involving Boris Johnson and his cronies - and in that case, many are set to abstain from voting.

Initially, the voting would be to approve if the punishment set out for Johnson, a 90 day suspension from his position and the revoking of his pass allowing him access to Parliament. However in light of Johnson resigning from his position, forcing the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election to take place on July 20, the vote is now whether the revoking of his pass is “too harsh” of a punishment, and if he should indeed be allowed back into parliament. 

Johnson resigned from his position almost a mere day before the publication of the report, which he has denounced as a “kangaroo court,” though earlier today The Guardian have reported that he has asked supporters not to vote against the report, with a source Johnson has told allies to stay away from the vote in the hope of depriving the moment of drama.

That however doesn’t look to deter some of his most fiercest allies - so on his 59th birthday, could Boris Johnson get the best birthday present he could hope for this year; an allowance to return to Parliament and receive his pass once again?

Who will wish Boris Johnson a happy birthday… and will they vote against the Partygate report?

Nadine Dorries

Perhaps Boris Johnson’s staunchest ally, who has yet to resign from her position as MP of Mid Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries no doubt be wishing her former leader a Happy Birthday given how close the pair are. It was under Johnson’s premiership that Dorries was elevated through the backbenches to the front bench, so she naturally feels she owes a debt of gratitude to the former Prime Minister.

She has also been very vocal about the Partygate report, going as far as to state that anyone who voted in favour of the report’s findings should be kicked out of the conservative party.

For or against the report: a massive against, unsurprisingly.

Sir Simon Clarke

Sir Simon Clarke has also been an outspoken critic of the Partygate report and a fierce supporter of Boris Johnson in the wake of the committee’s conclusion that the former Prime Minister did mislead everyone regarding the 16 gatherings held during the nationwide lockdown. “This punishment is absolutely extraordinary to the point of sheer vindictiveness," were his exact words on the matter.

No doubt Sir Simon Clarke will be raises a glass to Boris Johnson on his birthday, and for good reason; he only recently became a sir after his name was accepted from the list of resignation honours from the former prime minister - while Nadine Dorries still awaits why he name was snubbed for a peerage.

For or against the report: definitely against the report.

Sir Jake Berry

Sir Jake Berry in an interesting one to watch; although he has come out and said that he will be voting against the Partygate inquiry as a support of Boris Johnson, The Spectator last year also wrote how the one time Liz Truss supporter did an about turn regarding his sentiments towards Rishi Sunak when he took over as Prime Minister.

So in the event that Sir Jake Berry is stuck between a rock and a hard place - in this case, his cabinet leader and his former cabinet leader - there is every possibility that instead of voting for or against the findings, he’ll abstain from the process. Still, we’re sure that he’ll counterbalance that with sending the former Prime Minister a Happy Birthday.

For or against the report: we think he might abstain in the end, unless Nadine Dorries had a word with him over the weekend.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

Another interesting situation regarding where he stands regarding the findings; while Jacob Rees-Mogg has defended Boris Johnson and believes that a comeback could be on the cards after the next general election, he was cautious regarding the findings of the report and how he would vote. 

Which is a pragmatic approach from a very pragmatic member of the Conservative party, which leads us to believe that while he may wish Boris Johnson a Happy Birthday, he may actually for the sake of party unity and not undermining the Privileges Committee abstain from any vote.

For or against the report: we have a strange feeling that he might abstain - but that’s a long shot if you’re looking at booking odds. Still, stranger things have happened…