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More resignations
Dan Rosenfield and Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds were the latest to stand down from their roles in Downing Street.
Their resignations followed that of communications director Jack Doyle and policy chief Munira Mirza.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “Dan Rosenfield offered his resignation to the Prime Minister earlier today, which has been accepted.
“Martin Reynolds also informed the Prime Minister of his intention to stand down from his role as Principal Private Secretary and the Prime Minister has agreed to this.
“He has thanked them both for their significant contribution to government and No 10, including work on the pandemic response and economic recovery.
“They will continue in their roles while successors are appointed, and recruitment for both posts is underway.”
Mr Reynolds is to return to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
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Truss accuses Russia of ‘unprovoked aggression’
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has accused Russia of “unprovoked aggression and underhand activity” to destabilise Ukraine following reports of a plan by Moscow to fabricate a pretext for an invasion using a faked video.
The New York Times reported that US had acquired intelligence about the Russian plan which involved staging and filming a fabricated attack by the Ukrainian military.
The supposed attack would either take place on Russian territory or against Russian-speaking people in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Ms Truss said: “This is clear and shocking evidence of Russia’s unprovoked aggression and underhand activity to destabilise Ukraine.
“This bellicose intent towards a sovereign democratic country is completely unacceptable and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
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PM claims he had ‘not commented on Starmer’s personal involvement’ in Savile prosecution
The Prime Minister said he had not commented on the “personal involvement” of Sir Keir Starmer in his handling of the decision not to prosecute Jimmy Savile while he was the director of public prosecutions.
Boris Johnson on Monday accused the Labour leader of having “used his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile”, as the PM came under pressure in the Commons over Sue Gray’s report into alleged lockdown breaches at No 10.
Asked about Munira Mirza, the head of policy at Downing Street, and her decision to quit over his comments, the Prime Minister told Channel 5 News: “Let me make it absolutely clear, because people keep going on about this, and no-one is commenting – least of all me – about the personal involvement of the leader of the opposition in the handling of that case.
“All that I’ve said is that the leader of the opposition apologised for the CPS’s (Crown Prosecution Service) handling of that issue during his tenure and that’s all, frankly, that needs to be said on that matter.”
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No10 confirms news of Jack Doyle’s resignation
Downing Street has confirmed the news of Jack Doyle’s departure.
A No 10 spokesman said: “Jack Doyle has left government. He has made a huge contribution and the Prime Minister is immensely grateful for the work he has
done.”
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No10 comms chief resigns, says report
Downing Street’s director of communications Jack Doyle has resigned in another bitter blow for Boris Johnson, according to reports.
Downing Street did not deny a report by the Daily Mail, where Mr Doyle formerly worked.
He reportedly told staff: “It was always my intention to do two years.
“Recent weeks have taken a terrible toll on my family life.
“Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. I wish you all the best for the future.”
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Rayner: Energy inflation is ‘huge problem for people’
Angela Rayner, Labour deputy leader, said energy inflation was “a huge problem for people, now”, and claimed the Government was “plunging people into poverty” by failing to properly understand the cost-of-living issue.
She said: “We’re in the winter months at the moment, it’s cold and that is really going to thump working families.
“At the same time we’ve got this National Insurance hike – the tax that they’re going to put on working families.
“Work should be able to provide for people so they can live a good quality of life.
“In this country, that’s not the case at the moment.
“And the Government are not doing anything to support them with that, that’s my frustration.”
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Donaldson: Northern Ireland ‘must not be second best’
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the DUP will not allow Northern Ireland to be consigned to “second best”.
He said: “I believe it is time for the people of Northern Ireland to have their say.
“I’m a democrat, I believe in the will of the people and I look forward to presenting our case to the people in every county, in every town and every village across Northern Ireland.
“In doing so, we make it clear that unless the protocol is replaced by arrangements that restore Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom we will not give our consent to consigning Northern Ireland to second best.
“We want to make Northern Ireland work and we want to see everyone succeed and to realise their potential.”
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NI protocol ‘shreds work done to respect differences’, says Donaldson
Mr Sunak has now finished his press conference, so we return to the political crisis in Northern Ireland for a moment.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, an MP for the DUP, has said the protocol agreed in the Brexit deal “shreds” work done to respect difference and secure consensus in Northern Ireland.
He added: “If this Irish Sea border is left in place, then the divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom will grow, and without a single vote cast, the protocol will have re-oriented our supply chains and our economy away from our fellow UK neighbours in Great Britain.
“Laws will be made and implemented that impact every single citizen in Northern Ireland, but without any local representative having shaped them or voted upon them.
“Is this democracy?”
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Sunak unable to confirm whether price cap will increase in October
Mr Sunak says he is not able to confirm whether Ofgem’s price cap will increase again in October.
He says: “I don’t have a crystal ball. Current energy markets are forecasting they go up in October.
“I think interventions we’ve done are designed to last.”
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Sunak: ‘Being a Conservative is about being responsible with public finances’
Responding to whether a tax hike makes him “Labour light”, Mr Sunak says that “being a Conservative is about being responsible with public finances”.
He adds: “It’s what people expect from a Conservative chancellor.
“We were faced with an enormous shock… its going to take us time to fix that. But fixing that is the responsible thing to do.
“Today’s energy situation is an example is why it’s important. We need to have the resilience to respond to future shocks.
“We’ve had the financial crisis and then Covid … I was really fortunate that I was able to respond comprehensively and generously through that crisis.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-politics-news-boris-johnson-letters-ukraine-energy-price-cap-rishi-sunak-b980398.html
