Boris Johnson was unaware at the time. But the most flamboyant, divisive, controversial Tory politician of recent decades finally ran out of political road in a quiet room in the House of Commons on Tuesday 6 June.
It was then, at 10am, that the seven MPs - four of them Conservatives who have been conducting an inquiry into whether he misled parliament over Partygate, met in secret in committee room 20, and in effect sealed his fate. Chaired by Labour's Harriet Harman, the privileges committee was unanimous across party lines.
After months of exhaustive inquiries and evidence sessions looking into whether the prime minister lied about Covid rule-breaking parties in No 10, they had concluded that the former prime minister had indeed misled the Commons about what had gone on. Not inadvertently or casually - but either recklessly or deliberately and on more than one occasion.
For any MP, such a verdict would be difficult to survive. But for a former prime minister, it was of another order of magnitude altogether.
The committee resolved to recommend Johnson's suspension from parliament for more than 10 days a level of punishment at the higher end of expectations, and one severe enough to trigger a potential byelection in his seat.
Aware of the implications of their conclusion, the MPs were ready at last. They would despatch a draft copy of their findings to Johnson, and give him two weeks to respond. Because he was abroad, the document was sent to his lawyers who relayed it to their client.
This story is from the June 16, 2023 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 16, 2023 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
No 298 Bean, cabbage and coconut-milk soup
Deep, sweet heat. A soup that soothes and invigorates simultaneously.
Cottage cheese goes viral: in reluctant praise of a food trend
I was asked recently which food trends I think will take over in 2025.
I'm worried that my teenage son is in a toxic relationship
A year ago, our almost 18-year-old son began seeing a girl, who is a year older than him and is his first \"real\" girlfriend.
BOOKS OF THE MONTH
A roundup of the best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror
Dying words
The Nobel prize winner explores the moment of death and beyond in a probing tale of a fisher living in near solitude
Origin story
We homo sapiens evolved and succeeded when other hominins didn't-but now our expansionist drive is threatening the planet
Glad rags to riches
Sarcastic, self-aware and surprisingly sad, the first volume of Cher's extraordinary memoir mixes hard times with the high life
Sail of the century
Anenigmatic nautical radio bulletin first broadcast 100 years ago, the Shipping Forecast has beguiled and inspired poets, pop stars and listeners worldwide
How does it feel?
A Complete Unknown retells Bob Dylan's explosive rise, but it als resonates with today's toxic fame and politics. The creative team expl their process-and wha the singer made of it all
Jane Austen's enduring legacy lies in her relevance as a foil for modern mores
For some, it will be enough merely to re-read Persuasion, and thence to cry yet again at Captain Wentworth's declaration of utmost love for Anne Elliot.
