No more privileges: Farris off the Partygate committee

Newbury MP Laura Farris has confirmed she has resigned from the committee looking into Partygate – in favour of spending her time working in her constituency.

She has stepped off the Privileges Committee which is due to meet again in September to investigate if outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.

But she has said she ‘maintains confidence’ in the committee.

“Following the Prime Minister’s resignation, I decided that my time in Parliament was best spent working on the considerable challenges facing my constituents in West Berkshire, starting with the cost of living,” she said.

“I stood down from the committee on July 22, and although official ratification won’t follow until the House returns from recess, my resignation has been accepted by the chair and my involvement is at an end.

“Since I am no longer a member of the committee, I think it's important not to prejudice its work. However I would add that the committee has a mandate to undertake this investigation via a resolution of the House of Commons on April 21. This remains the case unless or until the House itself should decide otherwise.”

Mrs Farris was one of four Conservative MPs on the committee, which is chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman MP.

She will likely be replaced on the committee by another Conservative MP when the house returns in the autumn

Select committees tend to represent the balance of the house, and the Privileges Committee had a four Tory, two labour and an SNP make up.

While the committee has conducted numerous investigations before, the sitting Prime Minister has never previously been referred to it for scrutiny.

The Commons mandate cites the member for Uxbridge – which is Boris Johnson’s seat – rather than the Prime Minister.

Mrs Farris faced a torrent of criticism on Twitter over the weekend for not publishing her resignation statement or reasons for resigning.

She has also pledged her support for Rishi Sunak to become the next Prime Minister, saying he is the best option to sort out the economic fortunes of the country.

She resigned her post as permanent private secretary to Liz Truss, the other Prime Ministerial candidate, in order to sit on the Privileges Committee.

Asked if the committee amounted to a career fouling move, she would not be drawn on her political ambitions.

"I do not do this for a role in government," she said. "I am backing Rishi as I believe he is the best person to steer our economy."

She was among the 148 Conservative MPs who voted against Mr Johnson in the recent vote of no confidence, saying his actions had had a “corrosive effect on public trust”.