South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has slammed the Secretary of State for Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway MP Alister Jack for failing to turn up to vote on the report finding Boris Johnson guilty of lying to Parliament.

Mr Jack was one of a number of MPs, including Rishi Sunak and 12 SNP MPs, who failed to vote.

Some 354 MPs voted in favour of the privileges committee’s report last night (Monday 19 June) which said that Johnson should have been suspended from the House of Commons for 90 days if he hadn’t already resigned. It also recommended he is not given an ex-MP parliamentary pass. Only seven MPs voted against the recommendation.

Commenting on the decision, Colin Smyth said: “We know that Alister Jack is in his job largely due to his blind loyalty to Boris Johnson and is demob happy and off to the House of Lords soon so couldn’t care less what his constituents think. Clearly this was pay-back time.

“His failure to vote will be interpreted as an endorsement of Boris Johnson’s shocking behaviour.

“It will anger Mr Jack’s and my constituents that while they weren’t able to attend family funerals or see loved in care homes, Mr Jack’s bosses were partying and then lied to Parliament over it.

“It’s shameful Mr Jack thinks Boris Johnson should get off scot free for such appalling behaviour. It really does show how a change of Government cannot come soon enough.”