JACOB Rees-Mogg is being urged to cancel the Westminster recess - due to begin this evening - and ensure Boris Johnson faces opposition parties for Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow.
The call has been made by Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain who has today written to the Leader of the House of Commons.
Westminster is due to go into recess this evening and does not sit again until November 15 raising fears Boris Johnson will continue to evade scrutiny over standards and claims of "cash for peerages".
READ MORE: Newspapers turn on Boris Johnson with sleaze row dominating front pages
Johnson came under attack and was mocked yesterday for visiting a hospital in the north of England rather than answering questions over sleaze allegation.
In Chamberlain's letter, sent after her emergency debate on standards yesterday, the LibDems say that the UK Government has opened “Pandora’s Box” and “despite their subsequent attempts to U-turn, it has proved impossible to close”.
She added “story after story” has broken into the news regarding sleaze, corruption and lobbying.
Chamberlain hit out at Rees-Mogg for failing to address MPs in the emergency debate, accusing him of “[sitting] in silence”, adding that “Members of the general public will be forced to conclude that sleaze is not considered a priority for you, or for the Prime Minister.”
After accusing the Prime Minister of “running scared” yesterday, she has called for a series of debates on Parliamentary standards and for the Prime Minister to address the House of Commons directly.
“Boris Johnson must not run and hide from this sleaze scandal. The Conservatives are hoping that they will be saved by the bell, so they don’t have to answer questions on these allegations. It is utterly unacceptable," said Chamberlain.
“Any upstanding Prime Minister would show leadership and cancel Parliament’s recess. Boris Johnson’s attempts to avoid accountability tells you all you need to know about this Prime Minister who is taking voters for granted.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer urged to make complaint to Met over Boris Johnson and senior Tories
“It is vital that Johnson faces Prime Minister’s Questions tomorrow. He must not be allowed to get off scot-free. It’s time for the Prime Minister to finally come out of hiding and answer questions from MPs about the sleaze scandal.”
Meanwhile, SNP MP Pete Wishart has called on Labour to make a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police about Johnson and other senior Tories.
Wishart wrote to Cressida Dick, Met Police Commissioner yesterday, asking her to investigate the Prime Minister and his predecessors following reports that Tory donors who had given more than £3 million to the party had been elevated to the Lords.
The MP for Perth and North Perthshire, and the SNP’s shadow commons leader, wrote to Dame Cressida ahead of the Commons debate on the Government’s attempt to change the was MPs are investigated for rule-breaking.
Dominic Raab this morning insisted there is “absolutely no question” of the Government being involved in a cash for honours scandal.
The Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister said opposition parties were making “political points” by asking the Metropolitan Police to investigate following reports that Tory donors who had given more than £3 million to the party had been elevated to the Lords.
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