Boris Johnson creates last controversy before leaving

Boris Johnson has nominated a veteran obstructionist backbencher to join the committee investigating whether he misled parliament.

In one of his last acts as prime minister, he has proposed that Sir Christopher Chope, who is best known for objecting to backbenchers’ legislation, fill a vacancy created after a Tory MP stepped down. The seven-member privileges committee, which has a Tory majority but is being chaired by the Labour MP Harriet Harman, is investigating whether Johnson was in contempt of parliament when making inaccurate statements about the Downing Street parties scandal. MPs would have to vote on any sanction it imposed. Chope was a member in 2017-19.

If MPs object to Chope’s nomination there could be a debate or even a vote in the Commons,