The allies of Boris Johnson have accused a UK Parliament committee of conducting a "witch-hunt" against the outgoing British Prime Minister.
Johnson, who resigned in early July triggering a leadership election for the governing Conservative Party to pick a new party leader and the Prime Minister, continues to be investigated by the House of Commons Privileges Committee over whether he knowingly misled Parliament when he denied any breaches of COVID lockdown laws at Downing Street - known as the Partygate scandal.
The members of Parliament close to the 58-year-old outgoing leader believe that probe must now be dropped as he is on his way out.
"If this witch hunt continues, it will be the most egregious abuse of power witnessed in Westminster," said UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, one of Johnson's staunchest allies.