Rachel said:
“Yesterday I voted to abstain on the Committee of Privileges’ report.
“I have the utmost respect for the processes of the House of Commons and the Committee itself was set-up and supported by a vote in the House.
“The Committee has done a thorough job and there is no doubt in my mind, having taken the time to read the report in full, that it was right to conclude Boris Johnson did mislead the House of Commons. This is a very serious matter, and rightfully, sanctions must follow.
“However, there are only two options for voting in the House, Aye or No. I felt that neither of these represented my personal judgement.
“As I’ve said, I believe the former Prime Minister should face sanctions for misleading the House, but the 90-day suspension recommended by the Committee is in my judgement at the extreme end of the range. He has already lost his position as Prime Minister, is now no longer an MP, and I feel that under the circumstances, this punishment is out of all proportion and does not align with natural justice and fairness.
“I now hope we can move on. At a time when we face many challenges, delivering for my constituents remains my sole focus.
“This includes more investment in the Alex, more police on our streets, unlocking Redditch’s full potential, tackling illegal migration and levelling up school funding.”
