[ad_1]
Leading members of the committee investigating misinformation and misinformation want Boris Johnson's badistant, Dominic Cummings, found to be in contempt of Parliament, to be punished as part of his new role in the government. These could include stopping his salary, refusing security and pressure on the prime minister to compel him to testify in parliament.
Johnson's decision to appoint Cummings as key advisor outraged many MPs less than four months after Parliament unanimously pbaded a motion by the government to censure him for not have testified during the false investigation.
Some also have concerns about Brexit's brain role. It was found that the official Vote Leave group violated the electoral law and was pbaded on to the police.
"It was someone who campaigned to regain control of Parliament, yet decided that the only person who should not be accountable to Parliament is him," said MP Sarah Wollaston, who left the conservative party and sits as an independent.
"What does he say about the Prime Minister's attitude towards Parliament? It is a terrible error of judgment. "
Wollaston admitted that there was no mechanism to enforce motions condemning individuals in contempt of Parliament. However, committee members who originally called Cummings to testify said they wanted to call him back again and proposed various sanctions.
"We must demand that he attend to testify and appeal to Boris Johnson [to ensure] that he participates. We would expect the Prime Minister to fully support our request for evidence, "said Jo Stevens, one of the committee's deputies.
She also suggested that any decision to give her a security pbad be examined closely.
"Everyone working in parliament has to go through a very strict security procedure. How can someone who has overseen a campaign being the subject of a serious criminal investigation pbad this test? It will have access not only to Parliament, but to the inner sanctum of number 10. This has obvious and serious consequences for security. "
Ian Lucas, MP for Wrexham, said the committee would review Cummings' recall, but also said he hoped Parliament would consider cutting his salary. "Cummings is a contempt of Parliament and Parliament must express its dissatisfaction," Lucas said.
"This should include the possibility of mooring his salary. I would like it to be a debate of opposition day. He is a special advisor and will be paid from taxpayers' money. Personally, I do not think that should happen when he does everything in his power to obstruct this very important parliamentary inquiry. "
The high-level chairman of the committee, Damian Collins, had strongly supported Boris Johnson in his candidacy for leadership of the party, and Westminster insiders were waiting for him to propose a cabinet post; but nothing was yet to come, suggesting that Cummings would have blocked the movement.
In his blog, Cummings called the committee "guardianship" and accused him of spreading false information.
Kate Green, Chair of the Privilege Committee, which regulates MPs, said Cummings' appointment had removed concerns about the limits of Parliament's power and reinforced the urgency of efforts to strengthen his authority.
"We are currently conducting a formal inquiry into the powers of parliament," she said. "My personal point of view is that doing nothing is no longer an option. We have had many of these cases in recent years, but we are gathering evidence of what our options might be. "
Cummings, a former special adviser to Michael Gove, had already been labeled a "career psychopath" by then Prime Minister David Cameron. A follower of social media campaigns, he helped inject a large portion of Vote Leave funds into online advertising. The committee that summoned him to testify in a false press inquiry was interested in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Other witnesses included former CEO Alexander Nix.
In his new role at Downing Street, Cummings seems to be taking Johnson on an election footing; The Conservative Party's Facebook page has generated hundreds of announcements since his appointment. Although they spend relatively small amounts, the range of ads allows them to test voters' responses and collect data on who's interacting with the ads.
In addition to appointing Cummings as a senior advisor, Johnson has appointed several high-ranking members of the firm's Vote Leave and advisors, including Priti Patel as home secretary and Dominic Raab as secretary of foreign affairs.
Lucas said, "Johnson seems to be embarking on a very dangerous break. The appointment of key members of the Vote Leave to Cabinet campaign and, in particular, the appointment of Cummings shows total disregard for the important and substantial work Parliament has done to address technology and misinformation issues and the urgent need for electoral reform. This report has been recognized as an important work everywhere except in Boris Johnson's living room. "
Source link
