British MPs have overwhelmingly voted to back a damning report that found Boris Johnson lied to parliament over partygate, as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stayed away from proceedings.
Just seven MPs voted against the Privileges Committee's findings, in a humiliating turn of events for the former prime minister.
With 354 votes in favour, MPs endorsed sanctions against Mr Johnson recommended by the committee, including banning him from having a pass to access parliament - which is usually available to former MPs.
A cross-party committee also concluded that Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP and labelled the probe a "kangaroo court" after being told in advance of its findings, should have faced a 90-day suspension for misleading the House when he told the Commons that Covid rules were obeyed in No 10 despite the parties taking place.
After several hours of debate on Mr Johnson's conduct, Labour forced a vote on the motion, with the opposition providing tellers for both the ayes and noes.
Mr Sunak had been accused of "running scared" for refusing to take part in the vote, but insisted he did not want to "influence" how MPs might vote.
Before the vote, Mr Johnson's departure was described as the "narcissistic howl of a man child who won't see that he only has himself to blame" as British MPs clashed in the Commons over the report.
Labour's Angela Eagle described the Privileges Committee's conclusions as a "damning verdict and one which I believe the whole House must not only note but vote to accept".
She said: "He (Mr Johnson) has left in disgrace, he has run from accountability for his lies and untruths.
"There has been no self-reflection, no apology, no acceptance of a shred of responsibility, just the narcissistic howl of a man child who won't see that he only has himself to blame.
"So egregious and so damaging for public trust in our democracy, Boris Johnson and his cheerleaders' actions, it's now imperative that this report is accepted."
But Conservative and former parliamentary private secretary for Mr Johnson Lia Nici defended her former boss saying the "prime minister is not the caretaker of the building, it is not their job to go round and look in rooms and decide who may be working and who may not be working".
The MP for Great Grimsby said: "I have to speak in the House today because I cannot see where the evidence is where Boris Johnson misled Parliament knowingly, intentionally or recklessly.... The reality is - is that Boris Johnson did not knowingly or intentionally mislead this House."
She added: "Sadly this is all becoming part of a kind of political opportunism for those people who don't like Boris Johnson's approach."
But Labour former minister Chris Bryant cast doubt on the arguments of Mr Johnson's supporters who sought to discredit the terms of the parliamentary investigation.
Rhondda MP Mr Bryant told the Commons: "I am left feeling that those who attack the process simply don't believe that there should be any process for determining whether a member has lied to the House.
"As I have said before, I kind of admire the personal loyalty, but I dislike the attitude because it is in effect an excuse for appalling behaviour."
Earlier, Theresa May urged MPs to vote to back the report that found Boris Johnson lied to the British Parliament over partygate.
Conservative former prime minister Mrs May said backing the Privileges Committee's conclusions would be "a small but important step in restoring people's trust" in Parliament.
In a veiled swipe at Mr Sunak's absence from the chamber, Mrs May urged her party to "show that we are prepared to act when one of our own, however senior, is found wanting".
Mrs May said she accepted the committee's findings and commended its members "for their painstaking work, and for their dignity in the face of slurs on their integrity".
"The decision of the House on this report is important," she said.
"It is important to show the public that there is not one rule for them and another for us.
"Following an unsettling period in our political life, support for the report of the Privileges Committee will be a small but important step in restoring people's trust in members of this House and of Parliament.
"And I also say to members of my own party that it is doubly important for us to show that we are prepared to act when one of our own, however senior, is found wanting."
Free vote
Conservative MPs were given a free vote, and Mr Sunak claimed his reticence about publicising his view on the report's conclusions is because he "wouldn't want to influence anyone in advance" of the potential vote.
But publicly backing the report and its sanctions could risk deepening the Tory civil war between Johnson loyalists and his own administration.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said he had afternoon meetings today, including hosting his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, before attending a dinner in the evening.
Pressed repeatedly on whether Mr Sunak could make an appearance in the Commons, the official said: "Currently you've got his schedule for today, which doesn't include attending Parliament."
It came as the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were reviewing new material in relation to a Christmas party held at Conservative Campaign Headquarters during the height of the pandemic in December 2020.
Tory activists were invited to what was described as a "jingle and mingle" party, according to the BBC, despite members of the public being banned from seeing each other under Covid regulations in place at the time.
Both former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallet, who were handed a peerage and an OBE respectively in Mr Johnson's resignation honours, attended the gathering.
