It's not the end for Boris Johnson, says ex-adviser
BBC By Chris Mason, Political Editor, Helen Catt, Political Correspondent & Suzanne Leigh
BBC News
The decision by Boris Johnson to quit as an MP ahead of publication of the Partygate report does not mean it is the end of his political career, an ex-adviser to the former PM has said.
Will Walden said Mr Johnson "had seen the writing on the wall".
The Commons Privileges Committee has looked at whether the ex-PM lied to Parliament over No 10 lockdown parties.
Mr Johnson dismissed the committee as a "witch hunt", while Labour labelled the former prime minister a "coward".
Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Walden, who was chief media adviser to Mr Johnson when he was foreign secretary, said he would not have wanted to fight a by-election he was almost certain to lose.
"There is only one thing driving Boris and that is that he likes to win, or at least not to lose".
He added: "He knew he probably would lose a by-election in his marginal seat. His primary motivation here, as it has been for the last year or so, is protecting his version of the narrative.
