Boris Johnson – latest: Ex-PM’s allies named and shamed for ‘disturbing’ attacks in fresh Partygate report

Boris Johnson’s allies have been accused of undermining democracy with a “coordinated campaign of interference” which put “unprecedented” pressure on the committee investigating whether the ex-PM lied to parliament over Partygate.

The priviliges committee has published its new special report highlighting “disturbing” comments by Tory MPs who criticised the cross-party MPs during their 14-month inquiry.

With Johnson allies having described the probe as a “witch hunt” and “kangaroo court”, those named include Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Andrea Jenkyns and Priti Patel. MPs now appear set to vote on whether to sanction them.

In its damning report earlier this month, the committee found that Mr Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate and recommended a 90-day suspension.

Related: Watch as UK government’s asylum policy ruled unlawful

But he evaded that punishment by quitting as an MP after being told in advance of its findings. Shortly after, he accepted a new role as a columnist at the Daily Mail.

The new report will come as another blow for Rishi Sunak who has been desperately trying to draw a line under the Johnson era.

Key Points

• Privileges committee publishes new Partygate report

• Boris Johnson’s allies accused of undermining democracy with ‘unprecedented’ attack

• MPs to vote on whether to sanction Johnson allies named in report

• Tory peer named by committee hits out again at ‘kangaroo court’

Watch: Sunak ‘fundamentally disagrees’ with Court of Appeal ruling that Rwanda policy is ‘unlawful’

13:29 , Andy Gregory

Johnson opposes Sunak in Covid inquiry WhatsApps clash

13:12 , PA

Boris Johnson has backed the UK Covid Inquiry in its High Court clash with his successor Rishi Sunak’s overnment over his unredacted WhatsApp messages, diaries and notebooks, report Sian Harrison and Jess Glass.

The Cabinet Office is bringing a judicial review of inquiry chair Baroness Heather Hallett’s order to release the documents, arguing it should not have to hand over material which is “unambiguously irrelevant”.

Lawyers for the department argue the inquiry does not have the legal power to force ministers to release documents and messages it says cover matters “unconnected to the government’s handling of Covid”.

At a hearing in London on Friday, Sir James Eadie KC, representing the department, said the challenge was “brought with some considerable reluctance”, but Lady Hallett’s demand was “so broad” it was “bound to catch” a large amount of irrelevant material.

Lady Hallett contends the Cabinet Office’s position “undermines” her ability to carry out the inquiry properly and would have “serious implications” for all public inquiries.

In written arguments put before the court on Mr Johnson’s behalf, his lawyers said he has “no objection” to the inquiry having the unredacted material, subject to “appropriate security and confidentiality arrangements” being in place – which he has been assured of by the inquiry.

Mr Johnson, who is an interested party in the case, along with his former adviser Henry Cook, is asking the court to reject the government’s challenge.

Goldsmith took ‘different course’ after remarks ‘incompatible’ with his position, says Sunak

12:57 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak said he accepted that Lord Goldsmith had taken a “different course” rather than apologise for his comments about the Commons partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson.

Speaking at his Downing Street press briefing about the NHS, the PM said: “On Lord Goldsmith, he was asked to apologise for his comments about the Privileges Committee because I felt they were incompatible with his position as a minister.

“He obviously has chosen to take a different course, I accept that. I’m proud of the record of this government and indeed Zac in government, making sure that we tackle climate change and protect our natural environment.

“The UK has played a leadership role globally and we will continue to do so, as you will see.”

His press conference has now concluded.

Sunak insists NHS doctors being lured to Australia ‘not widespread'

12:52 , Andy Gregory

Asked about NHS doctors being lured to higher paid roles in Australia, Rishi Sunak said: “I read all those reports as well and I was concerned, the health secretary was concerned and we sat down and went through it all together, we went and looked through the data.

“And the data shows that it is not as widespread a practice as I think people assume it is. And clearly if it was, we would look to do something. That’s why with dentistry, which we’ve touched on before, where we think there is a potential issue there we are exploring ... the possibility of introducing a dental tie-in.

“But when it comes to doctors ... it was around 95 per cent of people who, after they completed their foundation training, were still working in the NHS. So I think the scale of what is happening is not at the level that people commonly assume it is.”

Sunak says he ‘fundamentally disagrees’ with court’s Rwanda asylum deal verdict

12:49 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak has been asked by the Daily Mail about the Court of Appeal’s ruling against his Rwanda asylum plan yesterday and whether any flights carrying small boat migrants will take off this year.

The PM said: “I respect the court, but I fundamentally disagree with their conclusions.

“I strongly believe – and the Lord Chief Justice made clear that he agrees with us as well – that the Rwandans have provided all the assurances necessary to ensure that there is no real risk that asylum-seekers that are relocated under our policy would be wrongly returned to third countries.

“Rwanda is a safe country. The High Court agrees with that and ... the UNHCR, they use Rwanda for their own refugee scheme for Libyan refugees. Given all of that we’re going to seek permission to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court.”

He added: “The policy of this government is very simple – it is your government, and it is not criminal gangs who should decide who comes here.”

‘Everything we are doing is geared towards patients,’ says NHS chief

12:41 , Andy Gregory

Asked whether people will notice any difference in the delivery of NHS care within the next 12 months, with levels of satisfaction at an all-time low, NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Everything we are doing is of course geared towards making things better for patients.

Discussing the things that will make a difference immediately, Ms Pritchard pointed to efforts at retention of staff, and reforms to training processes which will allow new roles to come onstream more quickly.

She added: “I think there is a lot in this plan that speaks to today, as well as the confidence it can give our current staff that we will get to a place where we have a sustainable staffing model in the longer term.”

Watch: Sunak claims his government has invested more in NHS than any other

12:28 , Andy Gregory

Sunak quizzed over lack of new funds for NHS wages

12:27 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak has defended the lack of funds in his new plan towards wages.

Probed by ITV about the fact that his announcement pledges money for training but not for NHS wages, with low pay a factor driving some out of the workforce, Mr Sunak said: “Would everyone like to be paid more? Of course they would be.

“But I think everyone also recognises the economic context that we’re in. Our job in government is to balance all those things, make sure that we reward people fairly and well for the incredible work they’re doing, particularly our NHS workers, but also make sure we’re doing things that are good for them and the rest of the country in the long-term and that means bringing down inflation.

“Because it won’t help anybody if we take the easy course and ultimately make things worse,” he said, adding that he was “really pleased” the NHS staff council had voted to accept the government’s recent pay offer, adding: “I’m very grateful to all of them for doing that.”

Challenges facing the NHS have changed, says Sunak

12:22 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak told the Downing Street press briefing the purpose of protecting the nation’s health has not changed but “what has changed are the challenges facing the NHS”.

He added: “Our society is growing older, the burden of illness is changing, and all of this will put pressure on an already overstretched workforce.”

Pictured: Sunak’s letter to Goldsmith

12:19 , Andy Gregory

Sunak responds to Zac Goldsmith’s stinging resignation

12:17 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Rishi Sunak confirmed Lord Goldsmith resigned after being asked to apologise for his comments about the Privileges Committee.

“They were incompatible with your position as a minister,” Mr Sunak said in a letter to the former minister.

“I am grateful for your service,” Mr Sunak added, highlighting “historic UK successes” at the Cop26 and Cop27 climate summits.

And the prime minister shrugged off criticism from Lord Goldsmith – who accused him of being “apathetic” about climate issues – saying the government can be “proud of the UK’s record as a world-leader on net zero”.

“We are going far beyond other countries and delivering tangible progress,” he said.

Mr Sunak said the government is committed to leaving the environment “in a better state than we found it”.

And he hit back at Lord Goldsmith’s criticism of a decision to “to attend the party of a media baron rather than attend a critically important environment summit in Paris”.

Mr Sunak said the UK was represented by minister of state for development, Andrew Mitchell.

“I wish you all the best for the future,” Mr Sunak said.

Sunak touts ‘biggest ever expansion’ of NHS apprenticeships

12:16 , Andy Gregory

It is not enough just to have more doctors and nurses, Rishi Sunak said, insisting that the government needs “to change the way they work so that they can deliver better care”.

He pointed to opportunities provided by AI and virtual wards, and vowed to expand new roles such as nurse and physician associates, to allow the most qualified staff to focus on patients with the most complext needs.

The prime minister also touted “the biggest ever expansion” of NHS apprenticeships, so that one fifth of training will be offered through degree apprenticeships. Staff will also have more opportunities to progress, Mr Sunak claimed.

“Training, retention and reform – that’s our plan to build the NHS workforce of the future and secure the NHS for the long-term,” the PM said.

Sunak vows to reduce reliance on agency staff by £10bn

12:13 , Andy Gregory

The government’s 15-year NHS plan will cost £2.4bn, Rishi Sunak has said.

He vowed to double the number of medical training places by 2031, training over 24,000 more nurses and midwives a year, and increasing the number of GP places by 50 per cent.

This will, in time, reduce spending on temporary agency staff by £10bn and cut the need for international recruitment, he claimed – cutting this from one in four, to one in 10.

The prime minister said the UK will retain more of its workforce, keeping up to 130,000 more staff in the NHS over the next 15 years.

He vowed to modernise the pension scheme, “so staff can partially retire or return to work much more easily if they wish to”.

Sunak touts ‘most ambitious staff plan in NHS history'

12:09 , Andy Gregory

Governments from all parties have ducked the challenge of NHS staffing for decades, Rishi Sunak has claimed.

It isn’t right that we don’t train enough people at home to properly staff the NHS, the prime minister said.

“Overcoming this won’t be quick or easy,” he said, adding that it is only possible because of difficult decisions elsewhere and by prioritising the NHS there will be other things that government can’t afford.

“Unless we act now ... the challenges we face will only get worse,” he said, touting the “most ambitious transformation in the way we staff the NHS in its history.”

Sunak says more staff and reform needed as NHS speech gets under way

12:05 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street press conference on the NHS workforce plan is under way.

“We need more doctors and nurses to ease the pressures and we need reform to free them up to do their jobs properly,” the prime minister says.

Watch live as Sunak sets out new NHS plan

12:01 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street address to the media over his NHS plan is expected imminently.

He will be flanked by NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard and NHS national medical director Stephen Powis.

You can watch live here:

Sunak making ‘dog’s ear’ of climate action, says Greenpeace

11:59 , Archie Mitchell

Greenpeace said Rishi Sunak is making a “dog’s ear” of climate action, accusing him of “going too slow or in reverse”. And the environmental group warned the prime minister he will “pay a price” at the next election for his record on climate change.

It highlighted criticisms of the government this week from former prime minister Theresa May, its own climate advisers and now Lord Goldsmith.

“Rishi Sunak is making a dog's breakfast of climate action and even some of those around him no longer have the stomach to pretend it's a three Michelin-star dinner,” said Greenpeace’s head of politics Rebecca Newsom.

She added: “Whether it's blocking affordable renewables, pushing for more oil and gas drilling, or snubbing a crucial global summit to boost funding for climate-vulnerable countries, there's hardly any areas where the Sunak government isn't either going too slow or in reverse.

“The public deserves better than the prime minister's climate omnishambles that will lead to colder homes, higher energy bills, and missed opportunities for job creation. But it’ll be the Conservatives who also pay a price at the next election if Sunak doesn’t sort out the government’s record fast.”

Sunak insists new NHS staff will be ‘trained and regulated properly'

11:49 , Andy Gregory

Speaking earlier on a visit to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, Rishi Sunak insisted that people being brought into new roles in the NHS will be “trained properly and they’ll be regulated properly”.

The General Medical Council (GMC) will bring new roles like physician associates into their remit so that they can prescribe, Mr Sunak said.

Speaking ahead of his briefing to reporters outlining the new NHS plans, he said: “But that’s what having a modern workforce is about. It’s about adapting to how people’s health needs to be treated and if you talk to some of the people that I was talking to earlier, they’re doing all these new roles.

“We should be modernising the NHS so it’s fit for the future. Healthcare is evolving and the NHS needs to evolve with it, and that’s what the plan does.”

NHS plan explained: More than 300,000 extra doctors, nurses and other workers expected

11:27 , Andy Gregory

More than 300,000 extra nurses, doctors and other health workers are expected to be employed in the NHS in England over the coming years through radical plans to improve staffing in the health service, reports Ella Pickover.

The possibility of cutting the amount of time doctors spend in medical school, driving up the number of home-grown NHS staff and ramping up apprenticeship places are among the ideas to deal with severe staff shortages in the NHS.

The NHS’ first-ever long-term workforce plan has been hailed as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to put staffing in the service on sustainable footing over the next 15 years.

It comes as officials warned that, without action, there could be 360,000 vacancies in the health service by 2037. There are currently 112,000 vacancies across the NHS in England.

Officials say the plans set out, along with new retention measures, could mean the health service has at least an extra 60,000 doctors, 170,000 more nurses and 71,000 more allied health professionals in place by 2036/37.

Alongside the plan, officials have asked the doctors’ regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), and medical schools to consult on the introduction of four-year medical degrees, which are five years at present, and medical internships, allowing students to start work six months earlier.

NHS plan explained: More than 300,000 extra workers expected

Watch: Rishi Sunak refuses to address Zac Goldsmith’s resignation

11:11 , Andy Gregory

What has Sunak said about his government’s NHS plan?

11:09 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak has touted his NHS Long Term Workforce Plan as the “biggest workforce training expansion” in the history of the health service, in what he describes as a 15-year plan to “build the health workforce of the future”.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Sunak said: “This week, in conjunction with the NHS, we’ll announce a series of new policies to transform the way we deliver healthcare.

“The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan will be the biggest workforce training expansion in the NHS’s history. It will ensure we train, retain, reform and make the most of our talented and experienced staff.

“It will be a 15-year plan to give the NHS certainty, because we recognise it takes time to train these staff, who are among the most highly skilled in our society.

“We will be using the latest techniques and innovations to streamline the journey from classroom to clinic, to get more patients the care they need. And it will be backed by government funding and support, balanced against the wider pressures on the economy.”

Mr Sunak described the plan as the “cornerstone” of his government’s vision for “a better, more modern healthcare system”, adding: “I feel a great responsibility to ensure our NHS endures.”

Rishi Sunak outlines 15-year plan to ‘build the health workforce of the future’

Goldsmith accused of ‘throwing his toys out of the pram'

11:05 , Andy Gregory

Former environment secretary Dame Andrea Leadsom accused Lord Goldsmith of “throwing his toys out of the pram”.

And the Tory MP added that his resignation was “inexplicable”.

Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Leadsom said: “It's much easier to protest than it is to govern ... It's much easier to throw your toys out the pram and become a protester than it is to actually be inside the tent finding solutions.

“It’s all very well to sort of throw stones at someone else. But actually somebody, and that does fall to the government, has to pick up the pieces and decide actually what to do. And it’s much better if people are constructively engaged rather than just, you know, having a tantrum.”

She disputed Lord Goldsmith’s claim that Rishi Sunak is “apathetic” toward climate issues, insisting that the prime minister is “passionate about the environment and net zero”.

And she added: “He was a good minister and it's a shame that he's decided to go.”

Sunak ‘should have had the guts’ to sack Goldsmith

10:58 , Archie Mitchell

The Liberal Democrats said Rishi Sunak should have “had the guts” to sack Lord Goldsmith after he was named and shamed in Thursday’s damning Partygate report.

The party added that Lord Goldsmith’s resignation confirms the prime minister “does not give a damn about the environment and animal rights”.

Lib Dem treasury spokesman Sarah Olney said: “”This Conservative chaos is never ending.

“Every day brings more resignations and scandals in this depressing Westminster soap opera. Sunak is clearly too weak to control his own party.

“Zac Goldsmith’s resignation has at least confirmed what we have known all along, that Rishi Sunak’s Government doesn’t give a damn about the environment and animal rights.

“They have scrapped plans to stop puppy smuggling, watered down climate change action and let water companies pump sewage in our rivers. What a sorry state of affairs this is.”

Read Zac Goldsmith’s resignation letter in full

10:57 , Andy Gregory

Zac Goldsmith has quit as an environment minister, blaming Rishi Sunak’s “apathy” toward climate change and warning lack of action will hurt Tory votes at the next general election.

You can read his resignation letter in full here:

Read Zac Goldsmith’s resignation letter in full as he attacks Tory election hopes

Analysis | Sunak faces battle to get back on front foot

10:49 , Andy Gregory

Our Whitehall and politics editor Kate Devlin writes:

Rishi Sunak has been hoping that today’s press conference could help him get back on the front foot after a difficult few weeks.

The prime minister is hoping to win the next general election by projecting an aura of capability and competence.

But he is now battling on a series of fronts.

Yesterday he was told his flagship Rwanda policy was unlawful.

He is facing a series of potentially damaging by-elections, following rows within his own party over the Partygate findings and Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.

And the failure to get inflation under control is causing misery for millions.

So Mr Sunak would have been forgiven for hoping he could draw a line and today concentrate on this ambitious plans to reform the NHS.

But just three hours before his rare appearance live in front of the cameras, a minister resigned with a full frontal attack on his record and ability to win crucial votes at the next election.

This press conference could be an uncomfortable half hour for Mr Sunak …

Sunak’s weakness ‘laid bare’, says Labour

10:47 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Labour said Rishi Sunak’s “weakness” has been laid bare in the last 24 hours and his government is “in disarray”.

Shadow environment secretary Jim McMahon called for the Conservatives to step aside and “make way” for a Labour government.

He said: “Rishi Sunak’s weakness is laid bare as 24 hours after he refused to condemn Zac Goldsmith, Goldsmith scathingly condemns him. This ‘simply uninterested’ Prime Minister can’t lead his own team, never mind lead the country.

“The Conservatives are in disarray – with mortgages soaring, NHS waiting lists rocketing, and in their own words: ‘apathy in the face of the greatest challenge we face’.

“It’s time for this chaotic Tory government to make way for a Labour government which will provide the leadership this country needs – making it a clean energy superpower for lower bills, good jobs, energy security, and the urgency the climate and environment emergency demands.”

Zac Goldsmith resigns – hours after Rishi Sunak rejects calls to sack him

10:45 , Andy Gregory

We’re picking up the blog again this morning to provide live updates as Rishi Sunak prepares to face the media with his new NHS plan, while reeling from the resignation of Lord Goldsmith and his criticism of the prime minister.

In a scathing letter sent just hours after No 10 said Mr Sunak had confidence in him – despite calls to sack him over his inclusion in a report alleging “disturbing” interference with MPs’ Partygate probe into Boris Johnson – the Tory peer hit out at the PM’s approach to climate change.

In the two-page letter, Lord Goldsmith took aim directly at Mr Sunak as he wrote: “Having been able to get so much done previously, I have struggled even to hold the line in recent months.

“The problem is not that the government is hostile to the environment, it is that you, our Prime Minister, are simply uninterested. That signal, or lack of it, has trickled down through Whitehall and caused a kind of paralysis."

He concluded the letter: "It has been a privilege to be able to work with so many talented people in government, in particular my Private Office, and to have been able to make a difference to a cause I have been committed to for as long as I remember.

“But this government's apathy in the face of the greatest challenge we have faced makes continuing in my current role untenable. With great reluctance I am therefore stepping down as a Minister in order to focus my energy where it can be more useful.”

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:52 , Andy Gregory

We’re going to pause updates on the blog for this afternoon, thanks for following here.

For those looking to catch up on today’s events, my lobby colleagues have this extensive report detailing the privileges committee’s accusations against Boris Johnson’s allies.

To explore the rest of The Independent’s political output, click here.

Or else you can keep scrolling to catch up on the day’s developments, as we reported them:

Anonymous defiance among Tory ranks in wake of privileges committee

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:45 , Andy Gregory

The special report on interference into the privileges committee investigation has been met with defiance by some Tory MPs, underscoring the difficulty of the tightrope act facing Rishi Sunak – who previously promised “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level”.

In one of the less edifying comments to The Express following the report’s publication this morning, a “Tory source” is quoted as saying: “This report would make Chairman Mao blush.

“Members of parliament have the right to speak freely on matters of their own procedure. This is an ancient right of parliament. The privileges committee is degrading the rights of parliamentarians which is incredibly dangerous. This is not North Korea.”

One anoymous MP was quoted as describing the committee as “clowns”, while another told the paper: “The committee has maligned elected MPs for doing nothing more than upholding the great British tradition of freedom of expression.”

Watch: Suella Braverman says she ‘respectfully disagrees’ with Rwanda ruling

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:27 , Andy Gregory

Angela Rayner criticises ‘disgusting’ treatment of privileges committee

Thursday 29 June 2023 15:19 , Andy Gregory

Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has described the behaviour of MPs highlighted in the privileges committee report as “disgusting” and “clear intimidation”, as she and Keir Starmer visited Selby.

“MPs – cross-party MPs, these are not one particular party – they’re doing a job on behalf of Parliament and to try and undermine it in that way is disgusting behaviour,” Ms Rayner said.

“Rishi Sunak is still not addressing that behaviour. We’ve seen the behaviour and the conduct, even ministers involved in this, that has fell below the ministerial code, that has fell below the standards that Parliament would expect, and yet Rishi Sunak promised a fresh start and we’ve not had that.

“We’ve had this constant merry-go-round. Every day there’s new material of their conduct and it undermines Parliament.

“Labour have set out our ethics and integrity committee. We’ve said that we’d take action and it’s about time that the prime minister did what he promised the people of this country, and he cleans up his party.

“As we’ve seen here in Selby, Conservative MPs don’t seem to think any more that it’s a public duty to be an MP. They see it as their private endeavours to get what they can as an individual.”

New Partygate report shows Tories ‘incapable of governing’, says Starmer

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:55 , Andy Gregory

Sir Keir Starmer has said the privileges committee’s Partygate report was “further evidence of a divided party that is incapable of governing”.

Speaking during a visit to Selby, Sir Keir told the PA news agency: “Rishi Sunak is simply too weak to deal with his MPs and you’ve got yet another story about misbehaviour by Tory MPs, and at the same time we’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“So, at the moment you want the government to step it up, it’s sitting it out, arguing about the behaviour of their own MPs, and this is one of the main causes of the fact that we’re in this economic chaos now, and it’s families that are paying the price.”

Starmer and Rayner say hello to Tory activists

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:39 , Adam Forrest

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner were greeted at Selby train station by Tory party activists as they campaign in the Selby and Ainsty byelections.

But the Labour leader and deputy choose to embrace the moment.

Watch: Nicola Sturgeon told off for using Covid inquiry to criticise Brexit’s ‘false economy’

Thursday 29 June 2023 14:11 , Andy Gregory

‘Jesus Christ returning as Tory leader’ couldn’t win election, says ex-No 10 adviser

Thursday 29 June 2023 13:55 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

Even the returning Messiah could not win the next general election for Conservative party, according to a former No 10 adviser.

“If Jesus Christ returned to earth today and put the theology aside and becomes leader of the Conservative party – the Conservative party is doomed at the next election,” said Tory pundit Tim Montgomerie.

He told BBC Politics Live that there’s now nothing the Tories can do to turn its “fortunes around” – but will continue to “play the card” of promising to stop the boats.

No 10 declines to criticise MPs named in privileges committee report

Thursday 29 June 2023 13:31 , Andy Gregory

Downing Street has declined to criticise MPs named in the privileges committee report, but instead pointed to previous remarks by Rishi Sunak.

“You heard direct from the PM himself on this. He said he supported and respected, not just the work of the committee, which he believed to have done a thorough job, but also the decision of the House,” his official spokesperson said.

He said that Downing Street had been clear about the need to avoid “traducing” the committee.

Asked if the PM agreed with the objections of some Boris Johnson allies that it is a free speech issue, the spokesperson said: “It will be for the House to come to a view on Monday. We have facilitated the time for that debate, but you have heard the prime minister talk about his respect for the committee.”

Sunak backs Goldsmith as No 10 declines to say if he will vote on report’s findings

Thursday 29 June 2023 13:07 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak has confidence in Lord Goldsmith, Downing Street has said, after the government minister was named in the Privileges Committee report.

The PM’s official spokesperson also declined to say whether Mr Sunak would vote in the Commons to back the report, which criticised and named several MPs and peers for putting pressure on the committee's inquiry.

The spokesperson said that he would not get into the PM’s movements in advance.

Declining to criticise Mr Goldsmith over his remarks, the spokesperson pointed to the Commons debate scheduled for next month, saying: “That's when individuals will be able to give their view.”

Mr Sunak was absent from the debate and vote earlier this month in which all but seven MPs voted to censure Boris Johnson in line with the privileges committee’s recommendations.

Nicola Sturgeon rebuked for using Covid inquiry to criticise Brexit: ‘It’s a witness box not a soap box’

Thursday 29 June 2023 12:51 , Andy Gregory

In addition to the arrival of the the privileges committee’s report, it is a busy day in UK politics, with the Court of Appeal’s rejection of the government’s Rwanda asylum deal and Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon appearing before the Covid inquiry.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports that the former SNP leader was told off at the Covid inquiry for getting on her “soap box”, after claiming that “every aspect” of Britain’s exit from the EU “has been a false economy”.

Nicola Sturgeon told off for ‘soap box’ attack on Brexit at Covid inquiry

‘Astounding’ criticism of Goldsmith unlike any in 44 years at parliament, peer says

Thursday 29 June 2023 12:35 , PA

Questions have been raised in parliament over whether Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park can continue as a minister following criticism of his conduct by the privileges committee.

The Tory frontbencher had been due to present two statutory instruments to the upper chamber on Thursday, but instead this was carried out on his behalf by government whip Lord Davies of Gower.

Lord Goldsmith is minister for overseas territories, Commonwealth, energy, climate and environment at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Raising the report’s findings in the Lords, Labour former minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said: “Lord Goldsmith is one of the subjects of this report produced by the Privileges Committee. It is an extraordinary report the like of which I have never seen before.

“Lord Goldsmith, a minister of the House of Lords, is severely criticised by the privileges committee for interfering in the procedures of the House of Commons. In my 44 years in Parliament I have never known such a criticism. It is astounding. What is happening to Lord Goldsmith? Is he able to, in the light of this criticism, to continue as a minister of the Government?”

Lord Davies noted the peer’s comments.

Inclusion of Zac Goldsmith leaves ‘big questions’ for government

Thursday 29 June 2023 12:18 , Andy Gregory

Here is some of the immediate reaction by journalists to the priviliges committee’s special report:

The BBC’s Nick Eardley says the inclusion of serving minister Zac Goldsmith leaves “big questions” for the government:

Mikey Smith of the Daily Mirror suggests some are deliberately misinterpreting the report’s conclusions:

Peter Walker of The Guardian is bracing for a discussion around “free speech”:

Tim Shipman of the Sunday Times was less sympathetic, however:

The eight Tories named and shamed in Partygate report

Thursday 29 June 2023 12:00 , Andy Gregory

Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among eight senior Tories who attempted to undermine the work of the Priviliges Committee as it probed Boris Johnson, a fresh Partygate report has found.

In a damning annex to its orginal report, the MPs spelled out a series of the most “disturbing” attacks on its inquiry into Mr Johnson’s lies to Parliament.

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has more details in this report:

Partygate: The 8 Tories who undermined democracy from Dorries to Rees-Mogg

‘Spare me their victimhood’: Tory MP named in report labelled ‘snowflake'

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:50 , Andy Gregory

Labour’s Jess Phillips has described Brendan Clarke-Smith as a “snowflake” after the Tory MP claimed to be “shocked and disappointed” to be named in the privileges commitee report into interference in their Partygate probe.

“Oh spare me their victimhood, absolute snowflakes. Actions have consequences, suck it up,” wrote the Labour MP.

The Tory MP was reprimanded for referring to the committee’s inquiry into the former PM as a “witch-hunt which would put a banana republic to shame”.

In the wake of the committee’s Partygate report earlier this month, he had tweeted:

Johnson allies ‘overstepped the mark’, says Wes Streeting

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:42 , Andy Gregory

Allies of Boris Johnson “overstepped the mark” in their criticism of the privileges committee, a Labour frontbencher has said.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told TalkTV: “I think the privileges committee had a very difficult job to do, and an important job because part of cleaning up our politics is holding MPs to the standards the public expect of us.

He added: “The privileges committee was trying to hold Boris Johnson to account and to do that in an evidence-based way, and they came under some pretty heavy fire and criticism from Boris Johnson’s allies and supporters.

“I think they overstepped the mark in their criticism of the committee, actually. And I think the committee had a difficult enough job to do without having that sort of criticism levelled.

“I accept that the report today and the defence the committee’s made of themselves and the whole furore about parliamentary process effectively and our conduct pales into insignificance compared to the pressures people are under with their bills, with their mortgages, with the state of the NHS, and I know there is a bit of a danger of people going, ‘bloody MPs talking about themelves again’.

“But I think it is important that the privileges committee is able to hold us all to account ... and to do it without fear or favour.”

Sunak urged to ‘condemn’ those named in report

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:17 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Labour has accused Rishi Sunak of standing by while “senior members of his party undermine and attack” democracy.

As calls mounted for Lord Goldsmith to be sacked, Labour said his position as a minister “is an example of Mr Sunak’s weakness”.

Shadow leader of the House of Commons Thangam Debbonaire said: “Rishi Sunak has allowed senior members of his own party to undermine and attack Britain’s democratic institutions. This includes a serving government minister and two former Cabinet ministers.

“While Rishi Sunak focuses on keeping the Boris Johnson sycophants in his own party happy, people up and down the country are left facing the cost of the Tory mortgage penalty and soaring rents. Keir Starmer will restore trust in politics, show leadership on the issues that matter to working people and act immediately to bring down the cost of living.”

Ms Debbonaire called for Mr Sunak to “condemn” those named in the report, and to “make time to allow MPs to approve it in full”.

Sunak must sack Goldsmith, say Lib Dems

Thursday 29 June 2023 11:12 , Adam Forrest

The Lib Dems said Rishi Sunak should now sack Lord Goldsmith – who remains minister for Commonwealth, energy and the environment at the Foreign Office – “if he wants to show any shred of integrity”.

The party’s Lords leader Lord Newby said: “This report was already damning enough but to now see a serving government minister named as interfering with the report’s findings is truly shocking.”

He said the Tories were “wrapped up in dealing with sleaze and chaos”.

'I’m actually going to church’: Rees-Mogg bats away reporter’s questions

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:57 , Andy Gregory

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg dodged questions from journalists after being named in the Privileges Committee report.

In footage aired on Sky News, he declined to comment on the criticism contained in the report.

He said: “I’m actually going to church, because it is the feast of St Peter and St Paul and a holy day of obligation and I would encourage you all to do the same. Then I shall be at the Test match, which I am looking forward to.”

Breaking: MPs to debate new Partygate ‘interference’ report

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:48 , Andy Gregory

The House of Commons will debate the new privileges commitee report into Partygate interference on 10 July, Penny Mordaunt has announced.

She told MPs: “I hope this reassures the House how seriously the Government takes these matters of privilege.’’

Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire responded that she was “glad” MPs would be allowed to approve the report, adding: “It’s conclusions are clear. It found senior Tory parliamentarians took it upon themselves to undermine the procedures of this House.

“Shamefully, this includes a serving government minister, and a former leader of the House.”

The Labour frontbencher added: “This undermines democracy, it undermines this House, we owe it to the members of the privileges committee to give them our support, and frankly it’s about time the prime minister showed up and showed some leadership.

“If he doesn’t stand up for standards, what does he actually stand for? I urge this House to endorse the report.”

UK government's Rwanda asylum plan is unlawful, says Court of Appeal

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:42 , Andy Gregory

In a further blow to Rishi Sunak this morning, the Court of Appeal has ruled that his government’s £140m Rwanda deal is unlawful, with judges concluding that it is not a safe country to receive asylum seekers from the UK.

Flights will remain suspended ahead of an expected showdown at the UK Supreme Court.

Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden has the full report here:

Rwanda deal unlawful as country ‘not safe’ for asylum seekers, court rules

Conservative Post email campaign saw committee bombarded with hundreds of emails

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:29 , Andy Gregory

The Privileges Committee report also points to the “selective pressure” of a Conservative Post email campaign, which described the inquiry into Boris Johnson as “nothing but a politically motivated attack” and as “deeply flawed, biased, and unfair”.

The report notes: “Two Members of the House of Lords, whose peerages were conferred on the recommendation of Mr Johnson, were among over 600 people who emailed Committee members using the template email devised by Conservative Post.

Referencing an article published by Conservative Post on March 14, the committee notes: “Over 600 emails to Conservative members of the Committee followed over the next few days. They included emails appearing to come from Lord Cruddas and Lord Greenhalgh.”

Earlier this morning, Lord Cruddas tweeted that if “don’t want people noticing they are a kangaroo court then they should hop less”:

Call for Sunak to investigate possibility of ‘gongs for cronies scandal'

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:21 , Archie Mitchell

The Liberal Democrats called for Rishi Sunak to investigate whether Boris Johnson agreed to hand honours to MPs who defended him over Partygate.

The party said several of the MPs who “shamelessly attacked” the Privileges Committee were rewarded with gongs just weeks after.

“This looks like a gongs for cronies scandal,” deputy leader Daisy Cooper said.

She added: “Rishi Sunak has shown himself to be totally spineless so far on this issue. He refused to block Boris Johnson’s honours list, failed to vote for the Partygate report and his promise of integrity has been left in tatters.

“The least he can do now is order an investigation into whether any collusion took place between Johnson and these MPs, and commit to revoking their honours if it did.”

New Partygate report a headache for Sunak

Thursday 29 June 2023 10:15 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest reports:

The new report causes further problems for Rishi Sunak, as the committee made clear that his ministers cannot sit on their hands – urging the government to table a motion backing the committee’s latest conclusions.

Saying its work was “crucial to our democracy”, the panel recommended that MPs agree a resolution approving the report, one which would make clear that parliamentarians “should not impugn the integrity” of the committee.

Tory MP ‘shocked and disappointed’ to be named in report

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:52 , Archie Mitchell

Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said he was “shocked and disappointed” to be named in the Privileges Committee’s report.

The Boris Johnson supporter said he had “fully respected the processes” and claimed his inclusion raised “serious questions about free speech”.

Mr Clarke-Smith was reprimanded for referring to the committee’s inquiry into the former PM as a “witch-hunt which would put a banana republic to shame”.

He said on Twitter: “Members of Parliament fulfil an important role in society and it is absolutely vital that they are able to scrutinise and comment on any matters relating to their work.

“I am shocked and disappointed to be named in this new report. This raises serious questions about free speech in a democratic society and my colleagues and I will continue to defend these principles going forward.”

Tory MP ‘stands by’ statement about privileges committee

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:48 , Archie Mitchell

Tory MP Michael Fabricant, accused by the Privileges Committee of a potential contempt of Parliament, said he “stands by” his statement about its work.

The Boris Johnson supporter, handed a knighthood in the former PM’s resignation honours, claimed some of the committee’s members had treated Mr Johnson “with contempt”.

Mr Fabricant shared an annex from the report detailing some of the most “disturbing” attacks on the committee.

He added: “I stand by my statement. Some of the members of the Privileges Committee treated their witness, Boris Johnson, with contempt by gestures and other actions. Had it been in a law court, the judge would have called them to order. Respect for the Committee needs to be earned.”

Which ‘disturbing' comments did the report highlight?

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:45 , Andy Gregory

Here are some of the tweets and comments referred to within the report as “some of the most disturbing examples of the co-ordinated campaign to interfere with the work of the Committee” (see post below):

MPs to vote on whether to sanction Johnson allies named in report

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:41 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

MPs will vote on whether to sanction allies of Boris Johnson accused of mounting an “unprecedented and coordinated” campaign to undermine the Privileges Committee.

In a damning report, the committee said eight MPs had made “disturbing” comments in an attempt to “undermine the procedures of the House of Commons”.

They listed “attacks” on the committee from staunch supporters of the former prime minister including Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Andrea Jenkyns.

And the Privileges Committee recommended MPs vote to reprimand MPs for attempting to “lobby or intimidate” members of the Privileges Committee.

“Such behaviour undermines the proceedings of the House and is itself capable of being a contempt,” it said.

And, raising the prospect of MPs being formally sanctioned for attacking the committee, it added: “It will be for the House to consider what further action, if any, to take in respect of Members of the House referred to in this special report.”

Some of most ‘vociferous attacks’ were made on MPs’ own TV shows, says committee

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:37 , Andy Gregory

The privileges committee notes that, while the Speaker prevented abuse within the Commons, “what needs to be addressed is the campaign waged outside parliament ... to undermine the committee”.

These attacks “involved used newspapers and radio and there was extensive use of social media”, the MPs said, adding that it is “particularly concerned about attacks mounted by experienced colleagues”.

These included a serving minister [Zac Goldsmith], a former leader of the House [Jacob Rees-Mogg] and a former secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport [Nadine Dorries], and at least three members of the House of Lords ... “who took it upon themselves to undermine procedures” of the Commons, the committee said.

“We have not catalogued every tweet or TV appearance, but have set out in an annex to this report some of the most disturbing examples of the co-ordinated campaign to interfere with the work of the Committee,” they continued.

The report highlights remarks by “the individuals referred to above and of others who followed their example”, they wrote, adding: “This matter is made more difficult because two of the members mounting the most vociferous attacks on the Committee did so from the platform of their own hosted TV shows.

“Attacks by experienced Members are all the more concerning as they would have known that during the course of an investigation it was not possible for the Privileges Committee to respond to the attacks.”

Breaking: Boris Johnson allies made ‘disturbing’ attack on democracy, says Partygate report

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:25 , Andy Gregory

A series of “disturbing” attacks launched by Boris Johnson’s against MPs investigating his Partygate claims undermined British democracy, the privileges committee has found.

A scathing report named Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries, Zac Goldsmith and Priti Patel among the Johnson loyalists who made “unprecedented” and “unacceptable” attempts to damage the work of the cross-party group.

The MPs catalogued the “most disturbing examples” of the “co-ordinated campaign to interfere with the work of the committee” in the new 14-page report.

Our political correspondent Adam Forrest has more details in this breaking report, which you can refresh for updates:

Boris Johnson allies made ‘disturbing’ attack on democracy, says report

‘Unprecedented’ attacks ‘raised significant security concerns’, say MPs

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:24 , Andy Gregory

The “unprecedented” attack on MPs investigating Boris Johnson “raised significant security concerns” and had the “clear intention” of frustrating the intention of the House of Commons, the privileges committee report says.

The MPs write: “Pressure was applied particularly to Conservative members of the Committee.

“This had the clear intention to drive those members off the Committee and so to frustrate the intention of the House that the inquiry should be carried out, or to prevent the inquiry coming to a conclusion which the critics did not want.

“There were also sustained attempts to undermine and challenge the impartiality of the Chair, who had been appointed to the Committee by unanimous decision of the House.

“This unprecedented and co-ordinated pressure did not affect the conduct or outcome of our inquiry. However, it had significant personal impact on individual Members and raised significant security concerns.”

Boris Johnson’s allies named in report

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:13 , Andy Gregory

A number of Boris Johnson’s allies have been named in the privileges committee’s new special report.

It describes a “coordinated campaign of interference” which put “improper pressure” on the committee as it investigated the ex-PM, adding: “We have not catalogued every tweet or TV appearance, but have set out in an annex to this report some of the most disturbing examples of the co-ordinated campaign to interfere with the work of the Committee.”

It highlights remarks by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries, Andrea Jenkyns, Priti Patel, Michael Fabricant, Mark Jenkinson, Zac Goldsmith and Brendan Clarke-Smith.

Breaking: Privileges committee publishes new special report

Thursday 29 June 2023 09:06 , Andy Gregory

The cross-party privileges committee has published its new “special report”, taking aim at allies of Boris Johnson who sought to undermine their investigation into the former prime minister.

In its Partygate report published on 15 June, the Privileges Committee said: “From the outset of this inquiry there has been a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the committee’s credibility and, more worryingly, that of those members serving on it.

“The committee is concerned that if these behaviours go unchallenged, it will be impossible for the House to establish such a committee to conduct sensitive and important inquiries in the future.

“The House must have a committee to defend its rights and privileges, and it must protect members of the House doing that duty from formal or informal attack or undermining designed to deter and prevent them from doing that duty.

“We will be making a special report separately to the House dealing with these matters.”

Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney to give evidence at Covid-19 inquiry

Thursday 29 June 2023 08:53 , Andy Gregory

Alongside the expected arrival shortly of a new Partygate report, Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and former deputy first minister John Swinney will give evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry on Thursday.

Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly said the pandemic was one of the hardest things she has ever had to deal with in her political career.

Senior Scottish government officials began giving evidence to the inquiry on Wednesday.

Jeane Freeman, the former cabinet secretary for health and sport, said that while Scotland could have better handled the pandemic, there was ultimately “no plan” that could have helped the country cope with Covid-19.

Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney to give evidence at Covid-19 inquiry

Tory peer says ‘kangaroo court’ should ‘hop less'

Thursday 29 June 2023 08:21 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Lord Cruddas, a Tory peer expected to be named in the Privileges Committee’s “special report”, has said the idea he intimidated MPs is “nonsense”.

The staunch Boris Johnson supporter repeated the claim that the committee is a “kangaroo court”, adding that “if they don’t want people noticing, they should hop less”.

Lord Cruddas, a businessman and Tory donor, also said the committee does not have the power to sanction members of the upper house.

He said on Twitter: “The House of Lords is an independent body. Once again [the Privileges Committee] has embarrassed Parliament by not understanding basic law. The idea I ‘intimidated’ a committee of supposedly grown-up individuals is a nonsense.

“Worse frankly, it is defamatory of me and I suspect it is yet more snobbery directed at someone from the working class who has succeeded in life from these career politicians.

“Based on their ‘logic’ they are intimidating me and committing contempt of the House of Lords. If they don’t want people noticing they are a kangaroo court then they should hop less.”

Invest more in domestic abuse services, women’s groups urge minister

Thursday 29 June 2023 08:10 , Matt Mathers

Women’s groups have urged the justice secretary to commit to increased investment in specialist community-based domestic abuse services which they described as "chronically underfunded".

A coalition of 11 women’s sector organisations has launched a petition to Alex Chalk stating at least £238 million a year is needed for such services through the Victims and Prisoners Bill.

According to a report by Women’s Aid, an annual investment of £427 million is required to fund both community-based and refuge services "to the level needed to support women and children who need to access them", with the latter requiring a minimum of £189 million.

The charity said research estimates the economic and social costs of domestic abuse in England in 2022 were just under £78 billion, and argued timely and effective intervention could save up to £23 billion a year.

Ruth Davison, chief executive of Refuge, said: "For so many services up and down the country, current financial pressures mean that it’s becoming harder for frontline service providers to meet the rising demand for support.

"We need a commitment from the Government that they will allocate sustainable, ring-fenced funding to community-based services so that every survivor can access specialist support when they need it."

The Ministry of Justice said it was committed to “ensuring that victims of domestic abuse can receive the support they need, whenever they need it.”

Public ‘losing sympathy’ with Just Stop Oil activists - minister

Thursday 29 June 2023 07:57 , Matt Mathers

A lot of people are “losing sympathy” with Just Stop Oil because of their protest tactics, a government minister has suggested.

Health minister Neil O’Brien said the group’s actions were “not doing the environment any favours at all”.

His comments came after activists disrupted the second Ashes test on Wednesday. More comments from Mr O’Brien below:

ICYMI: Johnson allies Dorries and Rees-Mogg to come under fire in Partygate ‘special report'

Thursday 29 June 2023 07:43 , Matt Mathers

Boris Johnson allies including Nadine Dorries and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg are set to come under fire in a “special report” by Parliament’s Privileges Committee, Archie Mitchell reports.

The committee which ruled the former PM had repeatedly lied to MPs will detail efforts by Mr Johnson’s supporters to interfere with its inquiry - including by branding it a “kangaroo court”.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, one of Mr Johnson’s staunchest allies, urged voters to turf out Tory MPs who backed the committee’s report.

She said: “Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public. Deselections may follow.”

And Mr Rees-Mogg has described the report’s findings were “fundamentally flawed”.

Publishing the long-awaited report into whether Mr Johnson misled MPs over Partygate, the Privileges Committee said there had been “a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the Committee’s credibility”.

“We note that Mr Johnson at no point denounced this campaign while it was under way,” it added.

As well as naming MPs, the special report is expected to identify members of the House of Lords who were part of the “coordinated campaign”.

Conservative Lord Peter Cruddas, given his peerage by Mr Johnson, is also expected to be named having called the inquiry a “political show trial” and an “anti democratic abuse of justice”.

Written ministerial statement due in Commons today

Thursday 29 June 2023 07:38 , Matt Mathers

Here are the written ministerial statements due to be made in the Commons on Thursday:

- Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Publication of the Insolvency Service Annual Plan 2023-24.

- Secretary of State for Business and Trade: Shared Parental Leave Update.

- Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force: Chair’s Report and Government Response.

- Chancellor of the Exchequer: Post Office Compensation Update.

- Secretary of State for the Home Department: Firearms licensing.

- Secretary of State for the Home Department: Undercover Policing Inquiry: Tranche 1 Interim Report.

- Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Building Safety Update.

Special report due to be published Thursday morning

Thursday 29 June 2023 07:00 , Sam Rkaina

MPs who ruled that Boris Johnson lied to Parliament with his partygate assurances are expected to publish a follow-up report detailing attempts to interfere with the inquiry this morning.

The Privileges Committee published its report into the former prime minister earlier this month, concluding he committed “repeated contempts” of Parliament by deliberately misleading MPs with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation

The seven-person panel, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Conservative majority, used its 106-page report to warn Mr Johnson’s most vocal defenders that they would face scrutiny themselves through a special update into attempts to undermine its work.

It is expected that the follow-up document will be published on Thursday.

According to sources cited by The Guardian, the special report will raise issues encountered by the committee during its initial inquiry, including whether statements by Mr Johnson’s supporters could be considered a contempt of Parliament in their own right.

In its partygate report published on June 15, the Privileges Committee said: “From the outset of this inquiry there has been a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the committee’s credibility and, more worryingly, that of those members serving on it.

“The committee is concerned that if these behaviours go unchallenged, it will be impossible for the House to establish such a committee to conduct sensitive and important inquiries in the future.

“The House must have a committee to defend its rights and privileges, and it must protect members of the House doing that duty from formal or informal attack or undermining designed to deter and prevent them from doing that duty.

“We will be making a special report separately to the House dealing with these matters.”

What did privileges committe say in the earlier partygate report?

Thursday 29 June 2023 06:30 , Namita Singh

In its partygate report published on 15 June, the privileges committee said: “From the outset of this inquiry there has been a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the committee’s credibility and, more worryingly, that of those members serving on it.

“The committee is concerned that if these behaviours go unchallenged, it will be impossible for the House to establish such a committee to conduct sensitive and important inquiries in the future.

“The House must have a committee to defend its rights and privileges, and it must protect members of the House doing that duty from formal or informal attack or undermining designed to deter and prevent them from doing that duty.

“We will be making a special report separately to the House dealing with these matters.”

How will the police investigation into Tory gatherings work and how long will it take?

Thursday 29 June 2023 06:09 , Sam Rkaina

The ongoing police probe into further potential breaches of Covid laws at Downing Street, Chequers, inside parliament and the Conservative Party headquarters is likely to cause Rishi Sunak a headache for some time.

It includes more gatherings attended by Boris Johnson while he was prime minister, and a Christmas party where Tory staffers were invited to “jingle and mingle”.

The investigation is likely to be ongoing when by-elections triggered by Mr Johnson’s resignation take place, with voters going to the polls in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on 20 July.

On the same day, there will be a by-election in the North Yorkshire seat of Tory MP Nigel Adams, who resigned in support of the former prime minister.

Metropolitan Police officers are assessing whether new evidence crosses the threshold for a full investigation, and will then decide if to send attendees questionnaires.

Click here for the full story.

‘Honesty is too much to expect from the Tory blame game’

Thursday 29 June 2023 05:30 , Namita Singh

Those providing evidence to the Covid inquiry are doing nothing if not living up to expectations, as they parrot lines of regret before denying any real responsibility for our woeful preparation for and management of the pandemic.

Each of the witnesses is at pains to shift the blame in the direction of some anonymous others.

As Tom Peck so clearly describes, Matt Hancock, in his first appearance before the panel, attempted to manoeuvre the focus toward the lack of preparedness he inherited and the government’s prioritising of post-Brexit planning; both of which could not be blamed on him.

Read more in this letter to the editor:

Letters: Honesty is too much to expect from the Tory blame game

Senior Tory at centre of Partygate row to become peer within weeks despite police probe

Thursday 29 June 2023 05:10 , Sam Rkaina

Meanwhile, a failed Tory London mayoral candidate is set to become a peer within weeks despite a new police probe into a Covid-era party organised by his campaign.

Shaun Bailey is under pressure to hand back his honour, received in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list, after an explosive video of the Partygate event emerged.

It showed members of Mr Bailey’s campaign team dancing at a Christmas party in December 2020, when indoor socialising was banned under strict tier 2 conditions.

It later emerged that partygoers had been formally invited to what was billed as a “jingle and mingle” party.

The Metropolitan Police have since announced that they have launched an investigation into the event.

Despite the uproar, Mr Bailey is expected to be installed as the latest member of the House of Lords as early as the middle of July.

‘Focus on future’ not Boris Johnson, says PM

Thursday 29 June 2023 04:30 , Namita Singh

It comes as Rishi Sunak said he wanted to “focus on the future”, as he sought to draw a line under the partygate saga following Boris Johnson’s exit from Parliament.

The Prime Minister has faced accusations of being too “weak” to stand up to his former party leader after missing Monday’s Commons vote on the Privileges Committee report.

Mr Sunak has also not said whether he agrees with the highly critical report by the cross-party committee, which was backed by MPs this week.

Speaking to the media in Kent on Thursday, he said: “I have enormous respect for the Privileges Committee, support the Privileges Committee and indeed respect the vote of the House that we had on Monday regarding Boris Johnson.

Follow-up partygate report to detail attacks by Boris Johnson’s allies

Thursday 29 June 2023 04:00 , Namita Singh

MPs who ruled that Boris Johnson lied to parliament with his partygate assurances are expected to publish a follow-up report detailing attempts to interfere with the inquiry.

The Privileges Committee published its report into the former prime minister earlier this month, concluding he committed “repeated contempts” of parliament by deliberately misleading MPs with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation

The seven-person panel, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Conservative majority, used its 106-page report to warn Mr Johnson’s most vocal defenders that they would face scrutiny themselves through a special update into attempts to undermine its work.

It is expected that the follow-up document will be published on Thursday.

Report:

Follow-up partygate report to detail attacks by Boris Johnson’s allies

Rees-Mogg among original report critics

Thursday 29 June 2023 03:12 , Sam Rkaina

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith called the MPs’ conclusions “spiteful, vindictive and overreaching”.

Former cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke – who was knighted in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours – said the punishment dealt out by the committee was “absolutely extraordinary to the point of sheer vindictiveness”.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, another honoured by Mr Johnson, suggested the committee’s “fundamental judgment” was “wrong”.

Former Tory leader labelled the investigation a “kangaroo court” that was akin to a “witch hunt”.

Thursday 29 June 2023 02:13 , Sam Rkaina

After the publication of the partygate conclusion, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if he had not quit Parliament, the former prime minister and his allies stepped up their attacks.

Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP in protest after learning of the inquiry’s intention to hand him a lengthy enough punishment to potentially trigger a by-election in his seat, said the committee had reached a “deranged conclusion”.

In his resignation statement, the former Tory leader labelled the investigation a “kangaroo court” that was akin to a “witch hunt”.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, one of Mr Johnson’s most vocal supporters, urged voters to turf out Tory MPs who backed the committee’s report.

“Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public. Deselections may follow,” she said on the day of the report’s publication.

That did not deter MPs from voting overwhelmingly to back the report, with only seven voting against the committee’s findings and 354 voting in favour.

Report comes after Privileges Committee raised concerns about ‘attempts to undermine'

Thursday 29 June 2023 01:18 , Sam Rkaina

The special report will raise issues encountered by the committee during its initial inquiry, including whether statements by Mr Johnson’s supporters could be considered a contempt of Parliament in their own right, according to sources cited by The Guardian.

In its partygate report published on June 15, the Privileges Committee said: “From the outset of this inquiry there has been a sustained attempt, seemingly co-ordinated, to undermine the committee’s credibility and, more worryingly, that of those members serving on it.

“The committee is concerned that if these behaviours go unchallenged, it will be impossible for the House to establish such a committee to conduct sensitive and important inquiries in the future.

“The House must have a committee to defend its rights and privileges, and it must protect members of the House doing that duty from formal or informal attack or undermining designed to deter and prevent them from doing that duty.

“We will be making a special report separately to the House dealing with these matters.”

Partygate follow up report due Thursday

Thursday 29 June 2023 00:01 , Sam Rkaina

MPs who ruled that Boris Johnson lied to Parliament with his partygate assurances are expected to publish a follow-up report detailing attempts to interfere with the inquiry.

The Privileges Committee published its report into the former prime minister earlier this month, concluding he committed “repeated contempts” of Parliament by deliberately misleading MPs with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation

The seven-person panel, which was chaired by veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman but had a Conservative majority, used its 106-page report to warn Mr Johnson’s most vocal defenders that they would face scrutiny themselves through a special update into attempts to undermine its work.

It is expected that the follow-up document will be published on Thursday.

Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:30 , Sam Rkaina

Allies of Boris Johnson set to be named in fresh Partygate report

Allies of Boris Johnson are set to be named in a fresh report into the Partygate scandal on Thursday, according to reports.

The report is expected to highlight issues the cross-party Privileges Committee faced in carrying out a 14-month inquiry into Mr Johnson, highlighting potential contempts of parliament.

Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among those believed to be named in the report after comments they made about the probe, according to The Guardian.

Ms Dorries, a former culture secretary, previously called the Partygate inquiry a “witch hunt” and Mr Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary said it was a “kangaroo court”.

After the publication of the Partygate conclusion, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if he had not quit Parliament, the former prime minister and his allies stepped up their attacks.

Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP in protest after learning of the inquiry’s intention to hand him a lengthy enough punishment to potentially trigger a by-election in his seat, said the committee had reached a “deranged conclusion”.

In his resignation statement, the former Tory leader labelled the investigation a “kangaroo court” that was akin to a “witch hunt”.

Rishi Sunak finally gives his verdict on Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies

Wednesday 28 June 2023 23:00 , Joe Middleton

Rishi Sunak has finally given his verdict on Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies, saying it is right the disgraced former prime ministerhas been held to account.

In a final humiliation on Monday MPs backed a damning report which found Mr Johnson had lied to Parliament over and over again - stripping him of his Westminster pass.

He faced accusations he was “too weak” to stand up to his predecessor and his “sycophants” within their fractious party.

Rishi Sunak finally gives his verdict on Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies

Key moments from Boris Johnson's Partygate 'dossier'

Wednesday 28 June 2023 22:00 , Joe Middleton

ICYMI: Shaun Bailey: Senior Tory at centre of new Partygate row to become peer within weeks despite police probe

Wednesday 28 June 2023 21:53 , Lucy Gray

A failed Tory London mayoral candidate is set to become a peer within weeks despite a new police probe into a Covid-era party organised by his campaign.

Shaun Bailey is under pressure to hand back his honour, received in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list, after an explosive video of the Partygate event emerged.

It showed members of Mr Bailey’s campaign team dancing at a Christmas party in December 2020, when indoor socialising was banned under strict tier 2 conditions.

Senior Tory at centre of Partygate row to become peer within weeks

Allies of Boris Johnson set to be named in fresh Partygate report

Wednesday 28 June 2023 20:59 , Joe Middleton

Allies of Boris Johnson are set to be named in a fresh report into the Partygate scandal on Thursday, according to reports.

The report is expected to highlight issues the cross-party Privileges Committee faced in carrying out a 14-month inquiry into Mr Johnson, highlighting potential contempts of parliament.

Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among those believed to be named in the report after comments they made about the probe, according to The Guardian.

Ms Dorries, a former culture secretary, previously called the Partygate inquiry a “witch hunt” and Mr Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary said it was a “kangaroo court”.

After the publication of the Partygate conclusion, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if he had not quit Parliament, the former prime minister and his allies stepped up their attacks.

Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP in protest after learning of the inquiry’s intention to hand him a lengthy enough punishment to potentially trigger a by-election in his seat, said the committee had reached a “deranged conclusion”.

In his resignation statement, the former Tory leader labelled the investigation a “kangaroo court” that was akin to a “witch hunt”.

Written statements due in Commons today

Tuesday 20 June 2023 09:34 , Matt Mathers

Here are the written ministerial statements due to be made in the Commons on Tuesday:

• Secretary of State for Business and Trade: India Trade Negotiations: Update.

• Secretary of State for Defence: Defence Infrastructure Update.

• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Update on volume price promotion restrictions.

• Secretary of State for the Home Department: HMICFRS Inspection Report: An inspection of the National Crime Agency’s effectiveness at dealing with corruption.

Shaun Bailey could be stripped of peerage if found guilty of lockdown breach - cabinet minister

Tuesday 20 June 2023 09:06 , Matt Mathers

A cabinet minister has suggested former Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey could have his peerage scrutinised if the police take action over a lockdown party.

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "The Metropolitan Police are ‘looking into’ the events... They will no doubt come to their conclusions.

"There are then mechanisms involving the Forfeiture Committee that can lead to changes to honours that have been given in the past. But I don’t want to start pre-judging that process."

Sunak was right to dodge vote on Partygate report - cabinet minister

Tuesday 20 June 2023 08:30 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak was right not to vote on the Partygate report that concluded Boris Johnson lied to parliament, a cabinet minister has said.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said he hoped that the former prime minister and his senior colleages could “row together” now the investigation has finished.

He told Times Radio he backed the Privileges Committee’s findings that the former prime minister lied to MPs but said he felt "quite uneasy" with the 90-day suspension recommended so decided to abstain.

"I think the committee conducted itself with absolute integrity, I totally accept its findings in terms of wrongdoing," he said, praising its "diligence".

But he said that Rishi Sunak was right not to vote either way, adding that the Prime Minister had been "extremely busy" on Monday.

"I think he took the position before the vote, which I think is the right decision, which is to not put his oar into the water on this, for fear of being seen perhaps to pressurise people one way or another," Mr Stride said.

"I do know he was extremely busy yesterday, I know he saw the Swedish prime minister and other things, long-standing engagements and so on."

He acknowledged it had been a "difficult period", adding: "My hope is that Boris Johnson, the current Cabinet - they are very united incidentally behind those priorities - that we can all row together now and focus on what people really care about."

Give back your peerage, senior Tory tells Shaun Bailey

Tuesday 20 June 2023 08:07 , Matt Mathers

A senior Conservative has called on former Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey to consider handing back the peerage given to him by Boris Johnson.

Amid anger over a mid-lockdown party at Tory headquarters attended by Mr Bailey, Tobias Ellwood told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there are "big questions" around his peerage.

"Absolutely he needs to consider that, if I’m frank," Mr Ellwood added.

He said that Rishi Sunak should "grasp" the issue of peerages, adding: "You can’t simply have prime ministers stuffing the Lords with their friends."

Mr Ellwood added: "If there’s anything to come of this I really encourage Mr Sunak to now draw a line under Boris Johnson’s tenure and indeed influence over the parliamentary party.

"There’s an opportunity now for the Prime Minister to draw a line, to continue the progress that he’s already made, further stamp his personality by dealing and confronting things like this directly."

Tuesday 20 June 2023 08:04 , Matt Mathers

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

We’ll have all the reaction to MPs voting through the privileges committee’s report which concluded that Boris Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on this story and others from Westminster and elsewhere.

Monday 19 June 2023 23:01 , Andy Gregory

We’re going pause updates on the blog for tonight, thanks for following here.

For those looking to catch up on how this evening’s historic humiliation for Boris Johnson unfolded, our political correspondent Adam Forrest and home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden have this comprehensive report on the vote and the preceding debate.

If you’d like to read back on how the day’s as we reported them, you can keep scrolling to read our updates below.

Which Tory MPs abstained?

Monday 19 June 2023 22:42 , Andy Gregory

While 118 Tory MPs voted in favour of the report, there were 225 who did not cast a vote.

Among them were Boris Johnson’s former Cabinet ministers such as Nadine Dorries, Michelle Donelan, Oliver Dowden, Michael Gove and George Eustice.

Others for whom no vote was recorded included Lee Anderson, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Victoria Atkins, Steve Barclay, Jake Berry and Liz Truss.

How did the evening unfold?

Monday 19 June 2023 22:33 , Andy Gregory

In a further humiliation for Boris Johnson, MPs have voted overwhelmingly to strip him of his former member’s pass to parliament, as they upheld the privileges committee’s findings that he repeatedly lied to parliament.

While a large number of Conservatives abstained, there were some 118 Tory MPs among the 354 who voted to uphold the committee’s “damning” report – versus just seven who voted against it.

With his successor Rishi Sunak accused of “running scared” with his absence during the debate, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt kicked off proceedings at 4:30pm by stating her intention to endorse the report, describing parliamentary rules as “obligations we have to one another, to this place and to those that sent us here”.

Former PM Theresa May was among other senior Tories to do the same, as she accused her successor of being “found wanting” in a scathing speech to MPs, who she called on to back the report to help “restore faith in our parliamentary democracy”.

Of the few to speak in defence of the PM, loyalist Jacob Rees-Mogg compared the privileges committee to “communist China”, and said the move to strip Mr Johnson of his parliamentary pass was going “from the vindictive to the ridiculous”.

His attempt to cast doubt over committee chair Harriet Harman’s impartiality drew what one MP could be heard describing as a “mic drop” moment in response, as the Mother of the House replied that the government had told her it had confidence in her leadership, saying: “I was assured that I should continue the work … and so I did just that.”

While Mr Johnson himself was not among those spotted in the viewing gallery – in contrast with Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen, who was spotted on its benches – the ex-PM was reported to hit out at the “biased and wilfully ignorant” committee in a simultaneous speech to the International Democratic Union, and to claim that there’s “always another innings”.

Those celebrating the results of the vote, however, which came after some five hours of debate, appeared to believe otherwise, with Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant telling The Independent: “It feels like justice takes a long time to turn the bend – finally, chickens are coming home to roost.”

Vote was triggered by Labour

Monday 19 June 2023 22:18 , Andy Gregory

The shouts of “no, no, no” just before Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle ordered a vote earlier came from Labour chief whip Alan Campbell, according to the BBC.

The whip reportedly positioned himself right next to Sir Lindsay to object when the speaker whether MPs supported the report, thus triggering the vote.

The Tory MPs who voted in Johnson’s favour

Monday 19 June 2023 22:15 , Andy Gregory

The division list showed Conservative MPs who opposed the Privileges Committee report were: Sir Bill Cash (Stone), Nick Fletcher (Don Valley), Adam Holloway (Gravesham), Karl McCartney (Lincoln), Joy Morrissey (Beaconsfield) and Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire).

The division list released immediately after the vote contained six names in the noes rather than seven announced in the chamber.

There have been ongoing issues with names being recorded on the division lists, with other votes seeing the Commons authorities issuing updates later on.

Commentators react: ‘Hard to imagine’ greater humiliation for Johnson

Monday 19 June 2023 22:01 , Andy Gregory

Here is some of the reaction to the vote to censure Boris Johnson tonight.

The FT’s Jim Pickard said it was “hard to imagine” a more humiliating result.

ITV’s Robert Peston suggests that no former PM “has ever suffered quite such an indignity”.

Piers Morgan also highlights the low levels of support for Johnson.

Alicia Fitzgerald, of Politics.co.uk, notes that the vote is “extremely significant” despite the number of abstentions.

MPs vote to deny Johnson parliamentary pass

Monday 19 June 2023 21:55 , Andy Gregory

MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the privileges committee’s recommended sanctions.

This means that Boris Johnson will be denied an ex-member’s pass to parliament. The recommendation of a 90-day suspension from the Commons no longer applies given that Mr Johnson stepped down as an MP last week once being made aware of the report’s contents.

There were also calls from some MPs, who argued that removing his pass did not go far enough, to also ensure that the ex-PM’s honour’s list was not approved.

MPs vote to uphold committee’s findings and sanctions

Monday 19 June 2023 21:42 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson has been dealt a humiliating blow as MPs voted to back the findings and recommended sanctions of a damning report which found he lied to parliament over Partygate.

While some of the former PM’s staunch supporters appeared to boycott the vote, while others such as the PM were also absent, Mr Johnson was roundly condemned in several hours of debate before MPs returned a verdict of 354 to seven in favour of upholding the committee’s findings.

MPs to vote on committee report

Monday 19 June 2023 21:29 , Andy Gregory

Several shouts of “no, no, no” could be heard as speaker Lindsay Hoyle ordered the lobbies to be cleared for a vote on the privileges committee report.

We will have the results shortly.

Boris Johnson ‘hits out at committee’ in speech to forum

Monday 19 June 2023 21:25 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson is absent from tonight’s proceedings and is instead reportedly giving a speech to the International Democratic Union.

According to a source cited by the Guardian’s Aubrey Allegretti, the ex-PM has called the privileges committee “biased and wilfully ignorant”, and claimed there's “always another innings”.

Mr Johnson’s supporter Brendan Clarke-Smith, who has called the committee’s recommendations “appalling” said he “fully intended to vote against” but would not give “others the satisfaction of taking part in their silly games”, appeared to be in attendace.

Jess Phillips relieved the ‘system is bigger than demagogue’ Johnson

Monday 19 June 2023 21:11 , Andy Gregory

Labour MP Jess Phillips has expressed relief that “the system is bigger than this demagogue”, as she praised the privileges committee for its report.

“The idea that Boris Johnson didn’t understand the regulations ... I mean, it is a cracking defence on his part I have to say, because it basically means he is too stupid. He is either lying or he is thick,” Ms Phillips told MPs.

The Birmingham Yardley MP added that the committee report reassured her there was “a lock on the system”, also describing it as “a valve to release the pressure”.

She told MPs: “What I have seen for the past five years of people lying and deceiving, specifically Boris Johnson lying and deceiving, I felt like oh gosh, it is okay, the system is bigger than this demagogue, it is bigger than this man who thinks he is bigger than the world.”

Tory MP says he is ‘so over Boris'

Monday 19 June 2023 21:08 , Andy Gregory

A Conservative MP has claimed he is “so over Boris”, as he said telling the truth was a “keystone” of parliament.

Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely told MPs he would vote for the report, but said: “I am so over Boris, and I am pretty over lockdown as well. I think sometimes, and really the point I want to make tonight is that we are in danger of making Westminster look small and petty.”

While he described politicians telling the truth as “a keystone to this place”, he added: “The scandal of lockdown, or Covid and how we dealt with it, is not only whether there were ‘wine Fridays’ and cake in Downing Street, and people in protest carrying about pints of milk, but actually whether lockdown worked, the cost of lockdown in terms of lives, in terms of learning, in terms of sanity, in terms of money, and in terms of truth.”

Nick Fletcher: ‘We must remember Boris is human too'

Monday 19 June 2023 20:04 , Katy Clifton

Conservative Nick Fletcher, who said he will vote against the motion, urged MPs to remember Boris Johnson is “human” and that during Covid, he “nearly died”.

The MP for Don Valley told the Commons: “We must also remember he is a human, too. In addition to running the country, he dealt with the highs and lows that this life brings. During Covid, he nearly died. He got married. He lost his mum and had a child.”

He insisted committees like the Privileges one are “set up to fail”, adding: “Let me use a football analogy: if Man City’s star player had to sit in front of seven of his peers for the hearing, how fair would it be if three of the committee were Man United players? Not very. I think if we are going to use MPs as committee members, which I think we should, then they must be of the same party.”

Meanwhile, Conservative MP for Guildford Angela Richardson said: “I deplore the attacks on members of the Privileges Committee. Whether they come from external commentators or within this House. The work of the committee is thankless, there is no need to make it potentially dangerous, too. The additional security that was needed is deeply shameful.”

She told MPs that Harriet Harman, the Labour chairwoman of the Privileges Committee, is “an exceptional parliamentarian”, adding: “I also deplore the attacks on the member for Warrington South (Andy Carter), who is a voluntary magistrate, as well as serving his constituents in this place. Shame, shame, shame on those who are working to undermine him and his future prospects.”

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website