Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson given new Bucks title to facilitate Government exit

Boris Johnson has been given a new ceremonial title representing Buckinghamshire to help facilitate his exit from the Government.

Yesterday (12 June) Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, named Mr Johnson as steward and bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.

As MPs are not formally permitted to resign the former Conservative leader has joined a Buckinghamshire organisation which dates back to the 17th century.

Three Chiltern Hundreds covers Buckingham, Aylesbury, Cottesloe, Upper Pollicott, as well as parts of Milton Keynes.

Holding the Chiltern Hundreds title instantly disqualifies the 58-year-old from being an MP.

Nigel Adams who also said he was leaving parliament was given the title of steward and bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

On Parliament’s website it states: “In modern times they are unpaid, formal titles that are applied for when an MP needs to disqualify themselves from the Commons.”

MP for Rhondda, Sir Chris Bryant, said: “Yet again our system puts its archaic nonsense on show. They haven’t actually resigned ‘with immediate effect’ at all.”

After receiving the findings from the privileges committee’s investigation into whether he had misled Parliament, Mr Johnson announced his resignation as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Johnson was suspected of misleading MPs when declaring that he had followed Covid protocols at all times, in response to accusations that he held parties, which broke social-distancing laws.

In a 1,000-word statement announcing his intentions to quit, the ex-Prime Minister said he was being forced out of politics, by the group investigating his actions after he was accused of hosting parties during lockdown.

He said: “I have received a letter from the privileges committee making it clear – much to my amazement – that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament.”

The Times reports that the privileges committee, which is made up of seven MPs, will release a report stating that Mr Johnson did mislead Parliament.

A conclusive report is due to be released today (13 June).

If Johnson had continued as an MP he would have been sanctioned and suspended for over 10 days, enough to trigger a by-election, according to The Times.