'What a terrific day!'

Have I Got News For You panel celebrate Boris Johnson quitting the Commons

comedy Panellists on tonight’s Have I Got News For You have – unsurprisingly – laid into Boris Johnson following his resignation as an MP.

Ian Hislop joked that the opening round should be titled ‘Reasons To Be Cheerful’, adding: ’It’s been a terrific day. The sun is out, and so is he. The Privileges Committee have found that Boris Johnson did deliberately lie.

‘He lied at the time to the Commons, he lied about lying later, he lied about whether he lied about the lying, he lied at every point and he ended up calling the Committee liars. He got into a terrific tantrum, had a go at everyone and said it was a witch hunt - which it isn't if you are a witch.

‘He says everyone has behaved incredibly badly, except himself. But he's gone, he's gone!’

‘…but he's here tonight!’ joked Paul Merton, pointing out to the studio wings.

Some people have blamed Have I Got News For You for contributing to Johnson’s popularity, thanks to his regular appearances on the show earlier in his political career.

Hislop said of the former PM’s reaction to his censure by the committee: ‘He went into full Trump mode. I was surprised his supporters weren't wearing antlers and outside the House of Commons, storming it with AK47s.’

While Munya Chawawa – making his first appearance on the show – joked that with the 90-day suspension Johnson would have got had he not quit he could have had ‘one day of quality time per child’.

The panel also discussed the former PM’s resignation honours list during last night’s recording, which was hosted by Clive Myrie, pictured.

Hislop said: ‘The only people who are defending Boris are the people who he gave an honour three days ago. There is a case I think for suggesting that the political honours that he gave out should all be nulled.

Merton added: ‘’There’s a coterie of weirdness about him isn't there. People like Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries, Michael Fabricant. It’s like the human version of The Muppets.

‘Everything Johnson touches turns to shit really,’ Hislop replied. ‘The honours system is the last of them. Normally, we go through the honours list looking for people who are dodgy. This year we went through looking for anyone who wasn't.… there was a bloke called Party Marty. I wonder what he was in charge of?" .’

Tonight’s #HIGNFY is hosted by @CliveMyrieBBC, with panellists @munyachawawa and @helenlewis joining Ian and Paul. BBC One at 9pm (also on iPlayer) pic.twitter.com/H7btIX9ZpL
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) June 16, 2023