Watford MP Dean Russell has claimed it would have been “disingenuous” to vote on the partygate report.

MPs voted overwhelmingly to back a damning report that found Boris Johnson lied to Parliament with his partygate denials.

Just seven MPs voted against the Privileges Committee’s findings, in a humiliating defeat for the former prime minister less than a year after he left No 10.

Watford MP Dean Russell abstained and was one of 225 Tory MPs not to record a vote.

Explaining the decision, he said: “I received strong representations from constituents on all sides regarding the vote.

"Given Boris has resigned as prime minister, and now as an MP, I did not feel the vote would have any consequence on either side.

“I know some will disagree but on balance I decided to abstain, alongside many of my colleagues.

"To have voted any other way would have felt disingenuous given the vote would not materially change anything.”

The prime minister also declined to vote. Speaking at Watford General Hospital, Mr Sunak had claimed his reticence about publicising his view on the report’s conclusions was because he “wouldn’t want to influence anyone in advance” of the vote.

The report recommended Mr Johnson be denied the usual parliamentary estate pass for former MPs and would have recommended suspending him from the house of commons for 90 days.