The Conservative MP for Newton Abbot has abstained in a vote to approve a report that found former PM Boris Johnson misled MPs over the Partygate scandal.

Anne Marie Morris, whose constituency includes Dawlish, said she accepted the judgement but took issue with the process, saying she does not think MPs "should be judged by their peers on such serious matters."

She welcomed Johnson's resignation in July last year and also submitted a letter of no confidence in him as Prime Minister in 2021.

The Privileges Committee report, published on Thursday, details how Johnson "deliberately misled" Parliament over lockdown parties during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of Conservative MPs who voted to approve the report in a free vote on Monday (19 June) was 118, while seven voted against and 225 abstained or did not attend. 

Ms Morris told Nub News: "The Privileges Committee has completed its investigation and has published its findings, including a recommendation that Boris Johnson face a lengthy suspension from the Commons of 90 days. That sanction has been pre-empted by his decision to resign as an MP. 

"An established process has been followed, and a judgement has been made which I accept. However, there are in my view some long-standing issues with the process by which MPs are held to account.

"I do not think MPs should be judged by their peers on such serious matters. Serious issues both for the House and the individual concerned need objective scrutiny from outside Parliament. That way we ensure the process is both fair and seen to be fair. 

"With these considerations in mind, and whilst I accept the authority of the committee, I abstained on the vote.

"It's important that we now move on under new leadership and focus on priorities that matter to people now, including cutting inflation, growing the economy, and tackling NHS waiting lists."

You can read the report in full here.