MP Tim Farron said he voted to back a damning report that found Boris Johnson lied in the Partygate scandal because the former prime minister showed 'complete contempt for Parliament and the British people'.

Just seven MPs voted against the Privileges Committee’s findings in a humiliating defeat for Mr Johnson less than a year after he left No 10.

With 354 votes in favour, MPs endorsed sanctions against Mr Johnson recommended by the committee, including banning him from having a pass to access Parliament, which is usually available to former MPs.

The Tory-majority panel also concluded that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension for misleading the House when he told the Commons that Covid rules were obeyed in No 10 despite parties taking place.

The Westmorland Gazette: Disgraced former prime minister Boris Johnson appearing on the BBC in 2021

South Cumbria MPs Simon Fell and Tim Farron both supported the committee's findings.

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, who represents Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: “Here in Cumbria and beyond, people made huge sacrifices to protect their loved ones by following lockdown rules.

“Appallingly, Boris Johnson decided that he and his friends in Downing Street were above those rules, and held late night parties while ordinary people weren’t even allowed to see their dying loved ones in hospital.

“To add insult to injury, he then showed complete contempt for Parliament and the British people by lying about whether he knew these parties took place or not.

“What I find most staggering of all though is that not once throughout this whole process have we seen an ounce of contrition from Boris Johnson.

"He is very clearly not sorry for what he has done. But actions have consequences and so I’m glad he is no longer an MP.”

Conservative Mr Fell said: "Standards and integrity in public life matter.

"I sit on a select committee and well understand the hundreds of hours of work that go into reports like these and the weight of evidence that has to be considered before a cross-party agreement is made and recommendations drawn up.

"The attacks on this committee and its members are plain wrong.

"I support their integrity and the important role that they have in holding MPs and the executive to account."

Mr Johnson was censured in his absence, having quit as an MP and labelled the inquiry a 'kangaroo court' after being told in advance of its findings.