Johnson fans ‘would leap to by-election aid’

BORIS JOHNSON’S supporters would flood his constituency, boosting its local economy, if he was forced by a partygate inquiry decision to fight a by-election, an ally of the former prime minister has claimed.

Sir James Duddridge, a Tory MP, predicted the influx at Uxbridge and South Ruislip would be so great that visitors would be unable to get “a hotel room or a table for dinner for miles”, as allies mobilised “one hell of an operation”.

If the parliamentary privileges committee finds that Mr Johnson “knowingly or recklessly” misled MPS over what he knew about lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street, it could recommend a series of sanctions, such as barring him from the Commons. A suspension of more than 10 days would trigger a recall petition, which could ultimately lead to a by-election.

“I’ll support Boris in whatever he chooses to do,” said Sir James, the MP for Rochford and Southend East. “I think he needs to keep his options open. If he did have to fight a by-election, we could mobilise one hell of an operation.

“I would imagine Uxbridge would be flooded. It probably will single-handedly rejuvenate the Uxbridge economy. You won’t be able to get a hotel room or a table for dinner for miles.”

Another ally suggested Mr Johnson could front-load spending in his constituency in anticipation of a by-election as no campaign cap is in place. “There’s no limit as to what a person can spend now, but when an election is triggered, there’s a very strict limit,” they said.