FORMER Prime Minister Boris Johnson will accept a ban from MPs for misleading Parliament and hopes to fight for his seat at the next election, according to political commentator Christopher Hope.

He told GB News: “Essentially, Johnson denies misleading or knowingly or intentionally or recklessly misleading Parliament over what he knew about these parties during lockdown.

“But what has been made clear to me by MP allies close to Johnson is that he will accept a verdict of recklessly misleading, if that’s where it ends up.

“He recognises it’s a political trial of him, not a judicial one…at least it’s clear from their questioning they think he should have known more about the parties than he did.”

In a discussion with Esther McVey and Philip Davies, he said: “The idea is that if he accepts recklessly that rather than intentionally misleading MPs, that means that it will end up with a ban of less than 10 days.

“More than 10 days, then of course the Speaker Lindsay Hoyle can order a recall by-election which would be a huge circus, a seat where Boris Johnson has a majority of 7,210 in the last election down there in Uxbridge and South Ruislip

“And also what it would do to the Tory party if MPs you and your colleagues would were told or asked to vote to ban Johnson from the Commons, maybe end his political career.”

He added: “I’m not sure how party members would like it. That there’s at least 10,000 who signed a petition by Lord Cruddas last summer, saying that Johnson should be able to stay on as Prime Minister.

“So, it’s a very bad look for the Tory party. This is probably the landing zone where it might end up.”

Asked by Esther McVey if Mr Johnson’s position may have been influenced by legal advice, Mr Hope said: “To be quite clear, he’s not going to suddenly plead guilty to the lesser charge.

“He maintains that he did not recklessly or intentionally mislead MPs. The article in the Telegraph I wrote is trying to make clear that if the MPs found him guilty of recklessly misleading Parliament, he would accept that.

“He can see the political reality is, it’s been described to me, of his position and it’s almost a way out for the Tory party, for Johnson and the Partygate investigation.

“He accepts a ban, he moves on and that’s where I think he’s going to end up.”