Boris Johnson would win a by-election "comfortably" if the Privileges Committee’s partygate investigation ends with the former prime minister being suspended, Jacob Rees-Mogg said. 

The former business secretary said he believed the ex-premier would triumph at the ballot box because "he’s winning in the court of public opinion" and voters view the investigation as a "kangaroo court".

The committee is investigating whether Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House of Commons over his partygate denials, something he vehemently denies. 

If Mr Johnson fails to convince the committee that he did not deliberately mislead MPs then he could be found to have committed a contempt of Parliament. The committee would then recommend a punishment which would be voted on by the Commons. 

A suspension of 10 days or more could result in a high-profile by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.

Mr Rees-Mogg told Channel 4 News: "We will have to wait and see what the committee suggests. But I think that if Boris Johnson went to a by-election he would win it comfortably. Because I think he’s winning in the court of public opinion, who see this as a kangaroo court."

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