Former UK premier Boris Johnson resigns as MP

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Friday his resignation as MP over claims he misled parliament about breaking coronavirus rules.

Johnson said in a statement he is stepping down with immediate effect and maintained he did not lie.

He said he believes that "in their hearts the committee know it." The committee is the one investigating his social distancing breaches during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

Johnson was accused of misleading parliament about lockdown parties held in Downing Street while the UK was under COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic.

"They know perfectly well that when I spoke in the Commons I was saying what I believed sincerely to be true and what I had been briefed to say, like any other minister," he said.

He claimed that its "purpose from the beginning has been to find me guilty, regardless of the facts."

Speaking before the committee in March, Johnson admitted misleading parliament, but denied doing it on purpose. "Hand on heart, I did not lie to the House,” he said.

Partygate was the name given to the scandal that saw dozens of parties held during the pandemic at the Prime Minister's Office and government departments that were exposed in the media.

Johnson, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, was ousted by his party MPs last July following a series of allegations.