B
oris Johnson insisted that he believed a party held in lockdown by Downing Street staff was a work event as he declined to confirm whether he would resign if it emerged he had misled parliament.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, the prime minister denied he had been told of the gathering ahead of time.
It contradicts claims from his former adviser Dominic Cummings that he had been warned about the event in advance – but refused to take action.
“I’ve seen the email from Martin Reynolds. Clearly that was not phrased in a way that was right,” he told Sky News. “I only saw it when it emerged (in the press”.
Asked if he would resign if the report concluded he had misled MPs, he said: “We’ll have to see what Sue Gray says. She could be given the space to get on with her inquiry.”
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The ministerial code states: “Ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament will be expected to offer their resignation to the Prime Minister.”
Earlier on Tueday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted he “believes” the prime minister’s explanation.
Asked whether Mr Johnson would have to resign if it was proven he had lied to parliament, Sunak said: “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. The ministerial code is clear on these matters.
“But as you know, Sue Gray is conducting an inquiry into the situation. I think it’s right that we allow her to conclude that job.”
The Chancellor was not present at prime minister’s questions last Wednesday while Mr Johnson made his apology to MPs, fuelling speculation in Westminster that he was attempting to distance himself from the crisis.
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Sturgeon says restrictions brought in for Omicron will end next week
Fresh restrictions introduced in Scotland to counter the wave of Omicron infections will be brought to an end next Monday, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
In the Scottish Parliament, the First Minister said nightclub closures and the requirement for table service in hospitality will come to an end. Attendance limits on indoor events will also be lifted.
Ms Sturgeon said: “From Monday we will also lift the guidance asking people to stick to a three-household limit on indoor gatherings.
“However, it is important to stress this point: notwithstanding the improving situation, the level of Covid infection circulating in the community is still high.
“So to minimise the risk of us getting the virus it would be sensible for all of us to remain cautious in our social interactions at this stage.”
Baseline measures in place before the pandemic – such as vaccine passports and face coverings in public indoor settings – will remain.
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Home Office had lockdown drinks
The Home Office has admitted a “small number” of staff enjoyed a drink together while watching news coverage of an immigration policy launch during lockdown last year.
The department was responding to claims that some of its press and events team “mingled” and drank Prosecco in their office while Covid restrictions were in force on March 24 2021.
The Big Issue reported that around a dozen staff members gathered to celebrate an announcement on immigration rules leading the BBC News at Six.
A Home Office spokesman said: “In line with the guidance at the time, some members of staff came into the office to launch a major immigration policy.
“A small number had a drink whilst watching the broadcast coverage of their work on 6pm news bulletins before returning to work or going home.”
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Labour calls for investigation into fraud linked to coronavirus help schemes
Labour has called on the Treasury to launch an investigation in to the “shocking degree” of fraud linked to funds allocated to coronavirus help schemes.
Asking an urgent question on the “levels of fraud uncovered” in coronavirus grant schemes, shadow Treasury minister Pat McFadden said: “Last week the Government confirmed it expects to write off around £4.3 billion of the funds allocated to Coronavirus help schemes.
“No press release, no Instagram video, no statement to this House, no sight of the vanishing Chancellor at all, just buried away on the Government website. If robust measures to prevent fraud were in place why did they fail to this shocking degree?”
He added: “So will the minister now launch an investigation into how this happened and do more to recover this money from the fraudsters who stole it in the first place?”
Responding, Treasury minister John Glen said: “The Government has taken the issue of potential fraud relating to Covid grants schemes extremely seriously. Robust measures were put in place to control error and fraud in the key Covid support schemes from their inception.”
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‘Boris knows it’s the end of the road’ – Angela Rayner
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has reiterated her call for Boris Johnson to resign following his latest comments on the No 10 drinks party.
“Boris Johnson clearly knows it’s the end of the road,” she said.
“He’s the Prime Minister, he set the rules, he didn’t need anyone to tell him that the party he attended broke them.
“If he had any respect for the British public, he would do the decent thing and resign.”
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PM ‘bitterly regrets’ No 10 party on eve of Prince Philip’s funeral
Boris Johnson appeared distressed as he faced questions about No 10 parties on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
He could be heard breathing heavily behind his mask as he told reporters: “I deeply and bitterly regret that that happened.
“I can only renew my apologies both to Her Majesty and to the country for misjudgments that were made, and for which I take full responsibility.”
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‘I thought it was a work event’, says PM
Boris Johnson insisted that he believed a party held in lockdown by Downing Street staff was a work event as he declined to confirm whether he would resign if it emerged he had misled parliament.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, the prime minister denied he had been told of the gathering ahead of time.
It contradicts claims from his former adviser Dominic Cummings that he had been warned about the event in advance – but refused to take action.
“I’ve seen the email from Martin Reynolds. Clearly that was not phrased in a way that was right,” he told Sky News. “I only saw it when it emerged (in the press”.
Asked if he would resign if the report concluded he had misled MPs, he said: ““We’ll have to see what Sue Gray says. She could be given the space to get on with her inquiry.”
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‘Of course I believe PM over lockdown parties’, says Sunak
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has insisted he “believes” the prime minister’s explanation over a drinks party held in the garden of Downing Street.
Boris Johnson last week last week apologised to parliament for attending a “bring your own booze” gathering in the Downing Street garden on May 20, 2020, claiming he believed it had been a work event.
Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s aide at the time of the event, on Monday claimed he told Johnson about the party in advance. Downing Street have said it is not true that the prime minister was told in advance.
Asked whether Mr Johnson would have to resign if it was proven he had lied to parliament, Sunak said: “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. The ministerial code is clear on these matters.
“But as you know, Sue Gray is conducting an inquiry into the situation. I think it’s right that we allow her to conclude that job.”
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Putin ‘must not be allowed to rewrite rules’ on Ukraine, says PM
Boris Johnson has warned that Russia’s president Vladimir Putin must not be “allowed to rewrite the rules” over Ukraine amid continued tensions.
Giving an account of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “He said the UK is doing everything possible to support the Ukrainian people in the face of a disinformation campaign from Russia aimed at undermining its sovereign neighbour.
“The UK remains open to further talks with Russia.
“The Prime Minister said that President Putin must not be allowed to rewrite the rules and that as a free democracy must continue to be allowed to aspire to Nato membership.”
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Worst polluters ‘should face fines and jail terms’, say Environment Agency
The nation’s worst corporate polluters should face fines and should have their bosses jailed, the Environment Agency has said.
In a speech to the Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum conference on Tuesday, chief executive Sir James Bevan argued for higher standards, tougher punishment for rule-breakers and industries shouldering more of the cost burden of regulation.
Sir James said: “In cases of extremely harmful and reckless pollution – and we’ve seen far too much of that in the last few years – that would include fines so large they would put a major dent in companies’ bottom lines and sentences that would put their bosses in jail.
“That would greatly concentrate the minds of boards and chief executives and have a powerful deterrent effect.”
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Jeremy Hunt says it would ‘take a lot to persuade him from running again’
Jeremy Hunt has said it will “take a lot” to persuade him to run to be Conservative leader again – but admitted his “ambition hasn’t completely vanished”.
In an interview with The House magazine, reported by Politics Home, the former foreign and health secretary said he had “enjoyed being on the backbenches more than I thought”.
Mr Hunt, who now chairs the health and social care committee, said he believed that the Government could “weather the storm” following reports of multiple parties held by Downing Street staff in breach of lockdown rules.
“I think the issues around ‘partygate’ are substantive issues,” he said.
“They are important issues and we’re now waiting for the results of the independent inquiry to get to the bottom of what happened.”
Read our full report here.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-politics-latest-news-dominic-cummings-boris-johnson-downing-street-party-bbc-protest-lords-b977250.html
