Who is Harriet Harman, and why are Boris Johnson and his allies taking aim at the Partygate inquiry chair?

Despite the publication of the scathing Partygate report earlier this morning, allies close to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson are still standing by him and believe that his political career, contrary to numerous political commentators, is still very much in the balance - especially ahead of an MP debate in the House of Commons on Monday.

In an interview with Beth Rigby on Sky News earlier this afternoon, Jacob Rees-Mogg stated that he didn’t think this would be a “knockout blow” for Boris Johnson, but also doesn’t foresee him coming back until after the general election. He also likened taking away Johnson’s pass, which granted him access to the Houses of Parliament, to that of “taking away a child's Nintendo" a few minutes early.

There is one name however that Boris’ allies have aimed barbs at since the publication of the Partygate report, which concluded that the former Prime Minister did mislead the House of Commons, Privilege Committee and the general public; Harriet Harman, the chair of the Partygate enquiry. 

Supporters of Johnson contend that the inquiry was merely a “kangaroo court” and have accused Harman of impartiality, after she tweeted her criticism of Boris Johnson. She published three tweets on April 12 2022, one of which read that if Boris Johnson and then Chancellor Rishi Sunak accepted a fine for a lockdown breaking party “then they are also admitting that they misled the House of Commons”.

Harman took over as chair of the enquiry from MP Chris Bryant, who recused himself from the role as a matter of principle after he too launched a stinging attack on Boris Johnson, stating he thought it was unlikely the committee he chairs would be asked to investigate the partygate scandal at Downing Street, adding the Prime Minister had “repeatedly lied to parliament” and “is not fit for office”.

Who is Harriet Harman?

Harriet Harman is a prominent figure in British politics and has had a long and distinguished career within the Labour Party. She was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1982, representing the Peckham constituency at the time. Since 1997, she has been the MP for the Camberwell and Peckham constituency.

Harman has held various important roles within the Labour Party and the UK government. From 2007 to 2015, she served as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under the leadership of Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. During this time, she played a key role in shaping Labour Party policies and strategies.

In addition to her deputy leadership role, Harriet Harman has held several ministerial positions. She served as the Secretary of State for Social Security from 1997 to 1998, focusing on welfare and benefits policies. She later became the Secretary of State for Equalities and Minister for Women and Equality, advocating for gender equality and promoting women's rights.

Harman has been a vocal advocate for social justice, equality, and women's rights throughout her career. She has been involved in initiatives and legislation aimed at addressing gender inequality, domestic violence, and promoting diversity and inclusion. Her contributions to these areas have earned her recognition and respect within and outside of the Labour Party.

Harman married Jack Dromey in 1982 after meeting him during the Grunwick dispute in 1977, where she served as a legal advisor to the Grunwick Strike Committee. They have three children together named Harry, Joseph, and Amy.