RISHI SUNAK was accused of “running scared” as MPs were set to back back a damning report last night that found Boris Johnson lied about having parties in No 10 during lockdown.

The Prime Minister was urged to “show leadership” on the issue after refusing to say whether he would take part in the Commons debate over his disgraced former boss’s conduct.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “He should show leadership — come along, get in the lobby, and show us where he stands on this.”

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Refusing to back this motion would be an insult to bereaved families who grieved alone while Johnson lied and partied.

“The buck stops at the very top of government — if Rishi Sunak really wanted to govern with integrity he shouldn’t be running scared of this vote.”

Mr Sunak insisted he did not want to influence how MPs might vote over the findings by the privileges committee and was set to duck the debate as the Star went to press.

Publicly backing the report and its sanctions would have risked deepening the Tory civil war between Johnson loyalists and his own administration.

The committee concluded that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension for misleading the house when he told the Commons that Covid rules were obeyed in No 10 despite parties taking place.

It recommended also banning the ex-premier, who quit as MP after being told of its findings in advance, from receiving a pass to access Parliament, which is usually available to former MPs.

Conservative MPs were given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson had warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

The former prime minister urged his allies not to oppose the report but his critics argued support for him would have been very low anyway.

It was not clear whether there will ultimately be a vote on the conclusions of the report, which could go through on the nod unless there are objections from Mr Johnson’s supporters.

In a briefing with reporters, the Prime Minister’s spokesman said he has afternoon meetings, including hosting his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, before attending a dinner in the evening.

Downing Street said his schedule “doesn’t include attending Parliament” and that he has commitments he “can’t move.”

Shadow leader of the Commons Thangam Debbonaire told Mr Johnson and his cronies to heed the words of Winston Churchill as she endorsed the Privileges Committee report.

Quoting Churchill's "the truth is incontrovertible" saying, she told the Commons: "Boris Johnson in particular and his supporters should heed the words of his hero. Mr Johnson undermined and attacked our democratic institutions is a far cry from a prime minister this country can be proud of.

"Colleagues across the House are decent people and I urge them not to follow [Boris] Johnson's example."