What Boris Johnson says this week about Partygate could bring about his downfall as he battles for political life

Did he lie to parliament and will he be forced into a by-election? Sean O’Grady looks into the ex-PM’s comeback options

Boris Johnson has a busy few days ahead (Reuters)

Boris Johnson is having a momentous few days. He has just been reselected as the prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which he has represented since 2015. Less of a formality will be his appearance before the House of Commons Committee of Privileges on Wednesday, where he will be answering questions about whether he lied to parliament. He’s also got a few books and some lucrative speeches to write, and of course a young family to attend to with his customary solicitude. Recent controversies on economic policy, taxation, Ukraine, Gary Lineker and the Northern Ireland protocol have drawn surprisingly little comment from the usually voluble ex-premier.

Will Boris Johnson be MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the next parliament?

Not necessarily. There are still rumours that Johnson might skip Uxbridge, where he faces near-certain defeat to Labour, and get on the “chicken run” to a safer seat. His old constituency of Henley (he was MP there from 2001 to 2008) has been mentioned, as has Derby Dale and Mid-Bedfordshire, where his devoted friend Nadine Dorries has said she is standing down.