London: Boris Johnson, having been handed just enough rope by his parliamentary colleagues, may have finally ended any chance of rehabilitation and potentially his political career.

The former British prime minister lost his cool during a lengthy grilling by the House of Commons Privileges Committee on Wednesday as he accused its members of “complete nonsense”.

He was in the dock to fight for his future over the so-called partygate saga, which this time last year had engulfed his leadership and triggered a downward spiral that eventually ended it.

Having already been subject to a police inquiry, an independent probe, and the judgement of his cabinet colleagues, Johnson’s temper flared in response to a suggestion from senior Tory backbencher Sir Bernard Jenkin that he did not seek proper advice before telling MPs that no parties had taken place in Downing Street during lockdown.

“This is complete nonsense, I mean, complete nonsense,” he said. “I asked the relevant people. They were senior people. They had been working very hard. [Then Downing Street director of Communications] Jack Doyle gave me a clear account of what had happened.”

Johnson had previously said a gathering he attended during the second national lockdown was “absolutely essential for work”. He insisted “hand on heart, I did not lie to the House” shortly after swearing on the Bible.

The inquiry into whether he deliberately misled parliament over partygate is likely to end any faint hope he may have of a political comeback. It could result in him being suspended for 10 days, or, worst-case scenario, result in him facing a byelection and losing his seat in the Commons altogether.

The committee began its inquiry on June 29 last year, and has assessed a range of evidence, including 46 WhatsApp messages between Johnson and government officials, photographs and input from the former prime minister’s legal team. While Johnson’s supporters have dismissed the committee as a “kangaroo court”, the panel of seven MPs is made up of four Conservative members, two Labour and one from the Scottish National Party.