Share Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former Cabinet minister, has cautioned the Conservative Party against obstructing Boris Johnson's potential bid to stand in another parliamentary constituency,

stating that it could lead to "civil war" within the party.

Rees-Mogg's remarks came in response to Johnson's resignation as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, prompted by the ongoing investigation into the Partygate scandal.

The Conservative Party emphasized that all prospective candidates, regardless of their previous positions, go through the same vetting process.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of failing to resolve the "Tory chaos" and called for a snap election.

Johnson stepped down as an MP after receiving an advance copy of the report by the Commons Privileges Committee, which examined whether he deliberately misled the House of Commons regarding lockdown breaches at Downing Street.

In a strongly-worded statement, Johnson expressed surprise at the committee's determination to use the proceedings to drive him out of Parliament. He criticized the draft report for inaccuracies and prejudice, referring to the committee as a "kangaroo court" that aimed to find him guilty regardless of the facts.

The committee is expected to publish its report, including the recommended sanction, later this week. According to BBC sources, the recommended sanction is a suspension from the Commons lasting more than 10 days, which would trigger a recall petition and potentially a by-election.

In his resignation letter, Johnson left open the possibility of a return to Parliament in the future. Shortly before his resignation, Nadine Dorries, a prominent ally, unexpectedly stepped down from her seat, followed by Nigel Adams on Saturday, leading to a third by-election for the Tories.

Rees-Mogg expressed confidence that Johnson could easily regain a parliamentary seat in the next election and positioned him as the potential Conservative leader in the event of a vacancy. However, he strongly cautioned against any attempts to block Johnson's party nomination in another constituency, warning that it would fracture party unity and cause a civil war within the Conservatives.

In contrast, former Conservative deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine argued against allowing Johnson to run as a Tory MP again. He questioned Johnson's credibility and integrity, stating that it would be inconceivable for him to return to Parliament under these circumstances.

Labour leader Keir Starmer criticized Rishi Sunak for his perceived lack of opposition to Johnson and accused him of rewarding cronies with honors. Starmer called for an election to allow the public to pass judgment on the Conservative Party's 13 years in power.

A government source rejected Starmer's claims, stating that Sunak is focused on delivering what the British people want. Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.