The Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to say whether he will approve a report which found Boris Johnson lied to parliament over partygate.
In an exclusive interview with Good Morning Britain ahead of today’s vote at the House of Commons on the Privileges Committee Report, Rishi Sunak said it was not a matter for the government and he didn’t want to influence other MPs. Mr Sunak also said he wouldn’t offer any extra help to those struggling with mortgage payments.
Speaking to GMB’s Political Correspondent, Louisa James, the Prime Minister said:
“Well this committee was established under the former Prime Minister. It commanded the confidence of the house at the time and I’m sure that they have done their work thoroughly and I respect them for that, obviously, this is a matter for the house and not the government and that’s why each individual colleague will make up their minds when the time comes.”
When repeatedly pressed around how he would vote, he continued:
“This is a matter for the house rather than the government, that’s an important distinction and that is why I wouldn’t want to influence anyone in advance of that vote.
“It will be up to each and every individual MP to make a decision of what they want to do when the time comes, it’s important the government doesn’t get involved in that because it is a matter for parliament and members as individuals, not as members as government.”
The Prime Minister also said there would not be any extra help to people struggling with high mortgage payments, pointing to existing support for first-time buyers and those on benefits:
“I know the anxiety people will have about the mortgage rate, that is why the first priority I set out at the beginning of the year was to half inflation because that is the best and most important way that we can keep costs and interest rates down for people. We’ve got a clear plan to do that, it is delivering, we need to stick to the plan.”
“But there is also support available for people, we have the mortgage guarantee scheme for first time buyers and we have the support for mortgage interest scheme which is there to help people as well. But look, that is why my first priority is to half inflation, one of my other priorities is to cut the waiting lists.”
The comments come following the Prime Minister’s visit to Watford General hospital last night where he spent several hours volunteering on the stroke, respiratory and cardiac wards.
TV Critic Vivian Summers:
“Let’s face it Maggie Thatcher had more conviction and balls than Rishi Sunak, even if she was deranged.”
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