Rishi Sunak reveals he’ll give Tory MPs free vote on any Boris Johnson punishment over partygate ahead of showdown

RISHI Sunak today confirmed Tory MPs will be given a free vote on punishing Boris Johnson if the ex-PM is found guilty of lying to Parliament.

Mr Sunak insisted a free vote would be following "general process" and added it's not for him to interfere with "matters for Parliament".

It comes as the investigating Privileges Committee will today release Boris' defence dossier ahead of tomorrow's partygate probe showdown.

Allies of the former PM insist the bombshell documents will vindicate him - and prove he did not knowingly mislead MPs over lockdown gatherings at the heart of government.

It came as one of Boris' close colleagues warned against a McCarthy-style "witch hunt" against him led by enemies determined to bring him down for good.

But this morning the PM and his allies refused to smear the probe as biased or vindictive.

He said: "That's ultimately something for Boris Johnson and he'll have the committee process to go through and that's a matter for Parliament."

Transport Secretary Mark Harper added: "The Privileges Committee was set up by the House of Commons.

"It was a unanimous decision of the House of Commons, not a single member of Parliament opposed setting it up.

"I think the Privileges Committee should be allowed to get on and do its work."

Mr Johnson’s written defence to allegations he lied to Parliament over partygate was handed to the Privileges Committee yesterday afternoon.

Lawyers for the probe were pouring over the details late into the evening, delaying its publication into today.

Away from the drama, Mr Sunak said he's preoccupied with other issues.

"That's not what I'm focused on," the PM told BBC Breakfast.

Earlier this month an initial update from the Privileges Committee said Mr Johnson may have misled Parliament multiple times - something he denies.

Tomorrow's marathon session - which could last up to five hours - will see a group of MPs grill him on what he knew and when.

The ex-PM, Rishi Sunak and dozens of others were fined for lockdown gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown.

If BoJo is found guilty of misleading Parliament he could be suspended from the Commons, or even face a recall petition in his Uxbridge seat.

All MPs will be given the chance to vote on any punishment recommended by the committee.

Mr Sunak, who won't stand in their way, said: "These are matters for Parliament and the House and MPs as individuals, rather than for Government.

"So that is the general process that we will follow."