Ex-PM Johnson resigns as MP

Boris Johnson quit his seat in the U.K. Parliament, denouncing as a “kangaroo court” the panel of lawmakers investigating his behaviour and attacking the policies of the current prime minister, Rishi Sunak.

The former premier, who blames Sunak for the role he played in his own downfall last year, said Parliament’s privileges committee has mounted a “political hit job” and accused its chair, Labour’s Harriet Harman, of “egregious bias.”

The committee didn’t respond to a request for comment. The panel has been investigating whether Johnson misled lawmakers over his knowledge of COVID-19 rule breaches by officials.

“The committee’s report is riddled with inaccuracies and reeks of prejudice,” Johnson said in a statement issued late on Friday. He was privately informed this week of their findings — which are not yet public.

“I am now being forced out of parliament by a tiny handful of people,” he said.

Johnson’s resignation triggers a challenging special election for Sunak in a seat that the ruling Conservative Party held in 2019 with a relatively slim majority of about 7,000.

The departure also reopens the feud between the two men that has simmered since Sunak resigned as chancellor of the exchequer in protest against Johnson’s leadership last year. That move precipitated Johnson’s departure as premier.

Johnson claimed that his downfall was brought about by opponents of Brexit.

While Johnson’s immediate political career is over, he hinted that he may attempt to return at some point.

“It is very sad to be leaving parliament — at least for now,” he said.