Boris Johnson – latest: Former PM accused of breaking yet more rules over Daily Mail job

Boris Johnson has been accused of committing a “clear breach” of the rules for failing to follow protocol ahead of announcing his new columnist role at the Daily Mail.

The former prime minister was confirmed as the newspaper’s new “erudite” columnist earlier today, just days after quitting as an MP.

However, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said Mr Johnson only informed them half an hour before the public announcement.

A spokeswoman for the Acoba said: “The Ministerial Code states that Ministers must ensure that no new appointments are announced, or taken up, before the Committee has been able to provide its advice.

“An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

“We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.”

The latest breach in rules comes after a cross-party committee of MPs found the former prime minister repeatedly lied to Parliament before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation.

Key Points

• Johnson committed ‘clear breach’ of rules over Daily Mail job, watchdog says

• Boris Johnson announced as Daily Mail’s ‘erudite’ new columnist

• Sunak still hasn’t read Partygate report

• Boris Johnson supporters vow to target Tory members endorsing report for deselection

• Report in full: Read all 30,000 words of Partygate committee findings

If we really want to punish Boris Johnson, let’s kick the greased piglet out of the Tory party

15:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

If he were still an MP, then there’d certainly be a case for removing the whip from him. But even though he’s skipped that particular pen, he is still snuffling around the sty, Sean O’Grady writes:

If it is right to, in effect, kick Boris Johnson out of parliament for knowingly lying on at least eight separate occasions, why, one may ask, is it alright for him to be a member of the Conservative Party?

If he were still an MP, then there’d certainly be a case for removing the whip from him; and, now that he’s skipped that particular pen, our greased piglet is still snuffling around the sty.

He is, at the time of writing, a member of the Tory party, throwing his weight around, chucking odure at Rishi Sunak, making trouble and getting his snout firmly in the trough to find a perpetual leadership campaign.

But why should any party put up with that sort of behaviour?

It’s time to kick the greased piglet out of the Tory party | Sean O’Grady

Johnson committed ‘clear breach’ of rules over Daily Mail job, watchdog says

15:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson committed a “clear breach” of the rules by only informing the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments of becoming a columnist at the Daily Mail half an hour before the public announcement, the watchdog has said.

A spokeswoman for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said: “The Ministerial Code states that Ministers must ensure that no new appointments are announced, or taken up, before the Committee has been able to provide its advice.

“An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

“We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.”

Boris Johnson joins Daily Mail but ‘did not inform watchdog'

14:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson has confirmed he is joining the Daily Mail as a columnist but could already be in hot water with parliamentary authorities over the job.

The former prime minister - who has vowed to offer uncensored views - could again find himself under scrutiny after Whitehall’s anti-corruption watchdog said he had not applied for clearance.

The chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), Tory peer Lord Eric Pickles, is writing to Mr Johnson about his new role.

The right-leaning outlet confirmed the news on Twitter on Friday, saying it is “delighted” to welcome “one of the wittiest and most original writers in the business”.

In a video shared alongside the announcement, Mr Johnson said he is “thrilled” to contribute to “those illustrious pages”, and promised to deliver “completely unexpurgated stuff”.

Although he quipped he will only cover politics when “I absolutely have to”, the column gives him a powerful platform to take shots at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with whom he has been publicly clashing.

Mr Johnson’s column will appear in the paper every Saturday.

There has been speculation about whether Mr Johnson would return to his journalism roots after he dramatically quit as an MP last week ahead of a report that found he lied to Parliament with his denials of lockdown rule-breaking in No 10 while prime minister.

Before he became party leader, Mr Johnson received a £275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, which will likely pale in comparison to the sum he will pocket as a former premier.

But Acoba suggested it was not notified about Mr Johnson’s new role.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the independent watchdog before taking up a new appointment or role.

An Acoba spokeswoman told the PA news agency: “We haven’t had an application and we will be writing to Mr Johnson.”

A source close to Mr Johnson insisted he has written to Acoba, but did not say when the letter was sent.

Exclusive: Government quietly awards travel firm £1.6bn contract for asylum barges and accommodation

14:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

An Australian travel firm previously slammed for its handling of Covid quarantine hotels has been quietly handed a £1.6bn contract covering the UK’s new asylum accommodation ships, The Independent can reveal.

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) was put in charge of the lucrative two-year arrangement in February, weeks before the government revealed it would use a barge as its first offshore accommodation for asylum seekers.

The contract was awarded directly to CTM without a competition, and a lawyer with knowledge of the system said the government had pushed a wider deal originally drawn up for official travel “beyond what it was intended to be used for”.

Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:

Revealed: Australian firm awarded £1.6bn contract for asylum barges and accommodation

By-election dates announced for Boris Johnson and Nigel Adams’ constituencies

14:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak will face a test of his leadership in two by-elections on July 20 caused by Boris Johnson and an ally.

The former prime minister quit his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat to avoid the judgment of the privileges committee.

The cross-party panel subsequently recommended he should have faced a 90-day suspension for deliberately misleading MPs over partygate and his conduct in attacking the committee.

Another contest will be held in Selby and Ainsty, triggered by Nigel Adams who quit as a Conservative MP after being denied a peerage in Mr Johnson’s resignation honours list.

By-election dates announced for Boris Johnson and Nigel Adams’ constituencies

Police face questions over forensic tent outside Nicola Sturgeon home

13:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

An SNP MP who previously worked as a police officer has claimed it was highly unusual for a tent to be erected outside Nicola Sturgeon’s home when her husband was arrested as part of a fraud probe into the party’s finances.

Allan Dorans, who spent 15 years in the Metropolitan Police and rose to the level of detective inspector before entering politics, said he “never knew” of any occasions where a structure was assembled outside the home of a suspect accused of fraud.

His comments come just days after James Dornan, an SNP MSP, claimed that there appeared to have been “collusion” between the police and media in an attempt to maximise coverage of the arrest. Party leader Humsa rejected the suggestion.

Police face questions over forensic tent outside Nicola Sturgeon home

Public health spending decreased before pandemic, expert says

13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, told the inquiry that social care and public health spending had gone down before the pandemic, especially in the most deprived parts of the country.

Citing the Government’s own data, he said it showed that the “greater the deprivation, the greater the need, the greater the need, the greater the reduction in local authority spend in general ... That will damage the health of people, other things equal, and will contribute to inequalities in health.”

Sir Michael later said it was his general view “that if you look at the evidence from previous pandemics, including the current one that we’re considering, that the impact of the pandemic is very much influenced by pre-existing inequalities in society, including inequalities in health.”

He said it was not just about “whether there was a report somewhere in government about planning for a pandemic, you’ve got to plan for better health and narrow health inequalities, and that will protect you in the pandemic.”

Daily Mail confirms Boris Johnson will be new columnist

13:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Daily Mail has confirmed that Boris Johnson will be its new columnist.

The Daily Mail Online account tweeted: “We are delighted to announce Boris Johnson as our new columnist.

“Famed as one of the wittiest and most original writers in the business, Boris’s column will appear in the Daily Mail every Saturday and you’ll be able to get a preview on MailOnline and The Mail+ on Fridays.”

The former prime minister’s new gig has been announced just days after a damning Partygate report.

UK entered pandemic with ‘depleted’ public services

12:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The UK entered the coronavirus pandemic with “depleted” public services and widening health inequalities, the Covid inquiry has heard.

A report prepared jointly by professors Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said Government austerity policies impacted the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic.

The report was filed as part of the first week of public hearings in the Covid inquiry, which is exploring the UK’s preparedness for a pandemic.

The “expert opinion” report highlighted health inequalities in the UK, including regional differences when it comes to things such as life expectancy and the number of deaths which can be impacted by the quality of healthcare.

Kate Blackwell KC, counsel to the inquiry, read from the report, which said Government austerity policies after 2010 had “an adverse effect on health inequalities”.

The report concluded: “It is plausible that adverse trends in the social determinants of health since 2010 led to the worsening health picture in the decade before the onset of the pandemic.

“In short, the UK entered the pandemic with its public services depleted, health improvements stalled, health inequalities increased and health among the poorest people in a state of decline.”

Downing Street decline to comment on Boris Johnson columnist rumours

12:33 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Downing Street declined to comment on speculation that Boris Johnson is taking a job as a Daily Mail columnist.

Asked whether Rishi Sunak is looking forward to reading his predecessor’s column, a No 10 spokesman said: “That’s not a matter for Government and it’s not a question I’ve asked him specifically.”

Sunak still hasn’t read Partygate report

11:48 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak still hasn’t read the privileges committee report on Boris Johnson lying to parliament over Partygate, Downing Street has said.

No 10 refused to say whether Mr Sunak would turn up to vote to approve the report on Monday.

“The prime minister hasn’t had time yet to consider it fully … he does intend to take the time to do that,” said his spokesman.

Pressed for Mr Sunak’s views on Monday’s crunch vote Downing Street, the spokesman said it was “right for MPs to come to a considered view on it”.

Johnson’s response to report ‘particularly sad'

11:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Theresa May’s former deputy PM said it will be “quite difficult” for Boris Johnson to return as a Tory candidate for the Commons in the future.

He added: “What I feel particularly sad about is the response he has made.

“I think if he had been more temperate in his response it would be easier for him to have a way back into active politics, but he’s chosen to use phrases like ‘kangaroo court’ and ‘witch hunt’ and described the report as ‘deranged’.”

Johnson Partygate fallout leaves Sunak with a battle to hold Tories together

11:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The fallout from a scathing report which found Boris Johnson lied to MPs over partygate has left Rishi Sunak with a battle to hold his warring Tory party together.

The Commons will vote on Monday on the Privileges Committee’s report, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment and be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament.

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

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the report’s findings, although many more Conservatives could simply not turn up.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days as prime minister after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a “very harsh decision”.

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Downing Street is yet to say whether the Prime Minister will vote.

Boris Johnson ‘considering running for London mayor’

10:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson is said to be considering an audacious independent bid to become London mayor for a second time after his exit from parliament and dramatic fall from grace in the Tory party.

The former prime minister is weighing up his next moves after sealed in a damning report that found he deliberately and repeatedly lied to the Commons over Partygate.

Mr Johnson is thought to have agreed a “high six-figure sum” with the Daily Mail to pen a weekly column, with the newspaper teasing that its “mystery” new writer will be “required reading in Westminster – and across the world!”

And the Financial Times has reported that Mr Johnson could look to get his old job back in City Hall by running as an independent candidate to defeat Labour mayor Sadiq Khan.

Boris Johnson ‘considering running for London mayor’

Rod Stewart explains why he’s ‘still a fan’ of disgraced Boris Johnson

10:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Sir Rod Stewart has explained why he is “still a bit of a fan” of Boris Johnson despite the former prime minister’s very public exposure as a liar.

The “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” singer shared his views on Mr Johnson after a report found that he repeatedly misled Parliament about gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown.

The report concluded that Johnson was “complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation” of the privileges committee. He criticised the findings, calling them a “deranged conclusion” and accusing the Tory-majority group of MPs, who he has repeatedly sought to disparage, of lying.

Rod Stewart explains why he’s ‘still a fan’ of disgraced Boris Johnson

Boris’s historic humiliation: the fatal flaws that made a wannabe Churchill unfit to be PM

09:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

With a historic majority and the full support of his party, the former PM had all the political momentum in the world. So how did he manage to squander it? Andrew Grice explains

Boris Johnson always wanted to be a history maker. “No one puts up statues to journalists,” he once said. He constantly invited comparisons with Winston Churchill, who led the UK through the Second World War.

When Johnson wrote a book about his hero, The Churchill Factor, it was as much about his own ambition and desire to emulate him. Although Johnson’s finest hour came during the next war on European soil – in the strong, decisive leadership he showed on Ukraine – it was eclipsed by a series of self-inflicted disasters that stemmed from the fatal flaws that made him unfit to be prime minister.

Historic humiliation: the inside story of how Boris blew it | Andrew Grice

‘An attack on free speech’: MP criticises Johnson allies for threats

09:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

It is an “absolute disgrace” that the Privileges Committee threatened MPs who criticised its report on Boris Johnson, the former chairman of the Conservative Party has said, accusing the panel of seeking to “gag MPs”.

Sir Jake Berry, an ally of the former prime minister, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “For the first time in my parliamentary career, I’m afraid to talk about a report or the findings of a committee of Parliament, because they have threatened MPs that if they do so, they themselves will be subject to the sorts of sanctions.

“It’s an attack on free speech. It’s an absolute disgrace and it rather begs the question that if the committee is so certain and so happy with their findings, why are they trying to stop any debate on this, to gag MPs and prevent them talking about it.”

He said he was “almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour” of the report on Monday, but that he will “certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.”

Abstaining from Commons vote would not be rising to the occasion, senior Tory MP says

09:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green said abstaining from the vote to approve the damning report into Boris Johnson on Monday would not be rising to the occasion.

Asked if Rishi Sunak must take part, the former de facto deputy prime minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Every individual will make up their own mind obviously.

“I think personally it’s such an important act that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.”

He said if the Prime Minister does not take part it shows he is “the busiest”, adding: “It’s not for me to tell him how to behave in this sort of situation.”

Mr Green said he intends to vote to approve the report with a “heavy heart”.

Theresa May’s former deputy also said it will be “quite difficult” for Boris Johnson to return as a Tory candidate for the Commons in the future.

He added: “What I feel particularly sad about is the response he has made.

“I think if he had been more temperate in his response it would be easier for him to have a way back into active politics, but he’s chosen to use phrases like ‘kangaroo court’ and ‘witch hunt’ and described the report as ‘deranged’.”

Will Boris attend Commons vote on damning report?

09:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson will host a foreign leader on Monday, meaning he may be too busy to attend a Commons vote on the report into Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies, the Telegraph reported.

Tory MPs are torn over whether to approve the “damning” Partygate report over the former prime minister’s conduct.

Many cabinet ministers are expected to skip the vote, while No10 has refused to say if Mr Sunak will attend.

Missing the would raise questions about Mr Sunak’s commitment to integrity in public life, while supporting it would risk stoking anger among Boris allies, who have warned those endorsing the report they could face de-selection as Conservative MPs.

Boris Johnson rumoured to be Daily Mail’s ‘erudite’ new columnist

08:58 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson is rumoured to be unveiled as the Daily Mail’s “erudite” new columnist days after quitting as an MP.

The disgraced former prime minister is believed to be the blacked out silhouette on the paper’s front page who will write for it weekly starting tomorrow.

The Mail promises Mr Johnson’s column will be “required reading” in Westminster and around the world. It is paying a “very high six-figure sum”, Politico reported.

It would be a big step up from the former PM’s £275,000 salary as a columnist for the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Johnson is expected to take swipes at his successor Rishi Sunak, with the relationship between the two having descended into open warfare last week.

In a row over the former PM’s resignation honours list, Mr Johnson publicly accused his successor of “talking rubbish”.

Mr Sunak has denied “wielding the dagger” against Mr Johnson with his resignation as chancellor last July, a move which was seen as the beginning of the end of Mr Johnson’s premiership. He resigned just two days later.

Boris Johnson supporters vow to target Tory members endorsing report for deselection

08:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson allies have vowed they will target Conservative members who endorse the Privileges Committee’s report for deselection.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries was among the first to condemn the report, calling it “quite bizarre”.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committee’s report on Monday were not “true Conservatives” and would be “held to account by members and the public”.

“Deselections may follow. It’s serious,” she said.

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

08:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A damning report by parliament’s privileges committee has concluded that Boris Johnson misled parliament and recommended that he should be barred from having a parliamentary security pass in future.

The 106 page document, put together by the cross-party group of MPs with a Tory majority, is packed with detail and arguments. Here are the seven most damning sections:

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

Labour launches new attack ad against Sunak

08:38 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Labour has launched a new attack ad against the prime minister, claiming that “whatever he pretends now, Rishi Sunak was Boris Johnson’s enabler”.

The party claims Mr Sunak “defended Mr Johnson’s lies and stood by him while he held the British public in contempt”.

The ad features a highlight reel of the prime minister’s public praise for his predecessor, including the claim Mr Johnon is “one of the most remarkable people I have ever met”.

“Britain won’t forget Rishi Sunak’s loyalty to a man who disgraced the office of prime minister,” the ad claims.

It also attacks Mr Sunak as “weak” for failing to scrap Mr Johnson’s resignation honours list, which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called “honours for Tory cronies”.

Boris ‘deserves further punishment’- Sir Ed Davey

08:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Boris Johnson “deserves further punishment” following the Privileges Committee report that found he lied to MPs, the leader of the Liberal Democrats has said.

Sir Ed Davey told Sky News: “I think now we look to the Prime Minister to show some leadership. Rishi Sunak has been quite weak on this. He’s kowtowed to his backbenchers and people in the Conservative Party who still won’t face the facts about Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak should therefore withdraw this lifetime allowance.

“Boris Johnson will be paid £115,000 a year for the rest of his life to organise his offices. I mean, I just don’t think that sits alongside this report. He deserves further punishment, for sure.”

Sir Ed also said Mr Sunak’s potential absence from the Commons vote on the committee’s findings on Monday “confirms yet again his weakness” and “would be a massive failure if he doesn’t join Parliament in holding the former prime minister Boris Johnson to account”.

I’m the woman who asked Boris the question that brought him down – I’m still angry and heartbroken

08:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

When he discovered he was going to face the consequences of his actions, Johnson lashed out. His behaviour fails to uphold the best traditions of our parliament, writes Catherine West.

Those dark days of the pandemic took a huge toll on so many. The loss of loved ones, missing the birth of a child or the funeral of a friend, the unbearable stress placed on key workers, the closed businesses, and health effects that linger for many to this day. Faced with such an unprecedented health emergency the British people did what they had to do – they stayed at home and followed the rules, often at great personal sacrifice.

Not Boris Johnson.

While the country hunkered down for the greater good, it’s now confirmed that he oversaw a Downing Street culture which repeatedly breached the same Covid rules they set. When allegations came to light that there had been parties in Downing Street, I asked the then prime minister, clearly and specifically, if he could tell the House if there had been a party in No 10 on 13 November.

“No, but I am sure that whatever happened the guidance was followed, and the rules were followed at all times.” That’s how the prime minister – from the despatch box, in front of a full House of Commons – answered my clear question.

I’m the woman who asked the question that brought down Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson

Watch: Liz Truss believes in former boss’s political comeback

08:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former prime minister Liz Truss has said she is sure we “will hear more from” Boris Johnson as she said “never ever ever write Boris off”.

Telling the truth is a ‘central value of our democratic system'

07:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Former Chair of the Committee of Standards in Public Life Sir Alistair Graham reiterates the importance of telling the truth being a “central value of our democratic system”.

‘An absolute disgrace'

07:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

It is an “absolute disgrace” that the Privileges Committee threatened MPs who criticised its report on Boris Johnson, the former chairman of the Conservative Party has said, accusing the panel of seeking to “gag MPs”.

Sir Jake Berry, an ally of the former prime minister, told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “For the first time in my parliamentary career, I’m afraid to talk about a report or the findings of a committee of Parliament, because they have threatened MPs that if they do so, they themselves will be subject to the sorts of sanctions.

“It’s an attack on free speech. It’s an absolute disgrace and it rather begs the question that if the committee is so certain and so happy with their findings, why are they trying to stop any debate on this, to gag MPs and prevent them talking about it.”

He said he was “almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour” of the report on Monday, but that he will “certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.”

Boris Johnson report in full: Read all 30,000 words of Partygate committee findings

07:00 , Joe Middleton

The long-awaited investigation by MPs on the privileges committee into whether Boris Johnson lied to parliament over the Partygate scandal has finally been published.

The findings come more than a year after the inquiry was first commissioned by the former prime minister, in a move which failed to prevent his unceremonious ousting from Downing Street less than three months later, swiftly followed by that of his immediate successor.

Despite Mr Johnson dramatically stepping down as an MP days before the 30,000-word report was published, thereby averting the risk of an embarrasing by-election triggered by its findings, the former PM still saw to it that the document arrived in a haze of controversy.

In full: Read all 30,000 words of the Boris Johnson Partygate inquiry

Boris Johnson the liar: How the former PM lied and lied again to the Commons

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Boris Johnson’s disgrace has been sealed in a damning report that found he deliberately lied and lied again to parliament over Partygate.

In a sensational verdict, a cross-party group of MPs said they’d have recommended a 90-day suspension had he not already quit the Commons to spite their sanction.

The former prime minister should still suffer the humiliation of being stripped of his Commons pass, the privileges committee ruled.

Mr Johnson called their conclusion “deranged” and “the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination”.

It came as:

• The report found there was “no precedent” for the scale of the lies as Mr Johnson misled parliament in five different ways

• Mr Johnson’s allies threatened a Commons revolt against the “vindictive” report

• No 10 rejected calls to axe Mr Johnson’s honours list or strip him of his annual £115,000 allowance

• A No 10 official revealed that Covid compliance was “a pantomime” and that “4pm wine-time Fridays” had continued during lockdown

• The ex-PM could be found guilty of further contempt over 16 gatherings still being looked at by police

Read the full piece here:

Boris Johnson the liar: How the former PM lied and lied again to the Commons

Liz Truss resigned ‘because the lettuce was better than her’, Jess Phillips says

06:00 , Joe Middleton

Liz Truss resigned as prime minister “because the lettuce was better than her”, Labour MP Jess Phillips has said.

Speaking about the controversy around Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list, the shadow minister took a passing shot at his successor.

“We forget this all the time, Boris Johnson resigned because he covered up for Chris Pincher, and Liz Truss resigned because the lettuce was better than her,” Ms Phillips said, referencing the infamous Daily Star live stream of the iceberg lettuce that outlasted her.

“They left in disgrace for crashing the economy, and Partygate, and all the rest of it.”

Liz Truss resigned ‘because the lettuce was better than her’, Jess Phillips says

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A damning report by parliament‘s privileges committee has concluded that Boris Johnson misled parliament and recommended that he should be barred from having a parliamentary security pass in future.

The 106-page document, put together by the cross-party group of MPs with a Tory majority, is packed with detail and arguments. Here are the seven most damning sections:

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

Tory MPs split over 'damning' Partygate report

05:08 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Tory MPs are split over whether or not to approve the “damning” Partygate report.

Several MPs told the media that they were “hovering” between voting and abstaining.

One Conservative MP told BBC: “I think I’m hovering between voting for the report and abstaining, the latter solely because voting for it will rile members.”

Another member said: “The report speaks for itself.” They described the 90-day suspension as “a bit tough, but hey-ho”.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News: “Inevitably, Boris will lose the vote because you have the whole of the Opposition against him… you also have the Boris haters in the Conservative Party.”

Nadine Dorries tweeted: “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. It’s serious.”

Angela Rayner labels Johnson 'pound shop Trump' after report finds he misled MPs

05:00 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson should be banned from parliament for ‘unprecedented’ lies, rules Partygate committee

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Boris Johnson has been found in contempt of parliament for deliberately lying to the Commons about Partygate in an utterly scathing report by a cross-party group of MPs.

The former PM would have faced a suspension of 90 days for deliberately misleading MPs and “being complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation” of the privileges committee.

The committee also found that Mr Johnson be banned from parliament – recommending that he should not be entitled to a former member’s pass.

Mr Johnson immediately fired back at the verdict – claiming the committee was “beneath contempt” because it reached a “deranged conclusion” to deliver “what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination”.

Boris Johnson the liar: How the former PM lied and lied again to the Commons

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

04:00 , Joe Middleton

A damning report by parliament‘s privileges committee has concluded that Boris Johnson misled parliament and recommended that he should be barred from having a parliamentary security pass in future.

The 106 page document, put together by the cross-party group of MPs with a Tory majority, is packed with detail and arguments. Here are the seven most damning sections:

The 7 most damning findings from the report into Boris Johnson misleading parliament

Christopher Eccleston brands Boris Johnson ‘inhuman scum’ after damning Partygate report

03:00 , Joe Middleton

Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston has branded Boris Johnson “inhuman” and “scum” following a damning verdict on the former prime minister’s conduct.

A report into Partygate has found that Johnson repeatedly lied to Parliament about gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown, and was “complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation” of the privileges committee.

Johnson has criticised the findings, calling them a “deranged conclusion” and accusing the Tory-majority group of MPs, who he has repeatedly sought to disparage, of lying.

Christopher Eccleston tears into ‘inhuman scum’ Boris Johnson after damning report

I’m the woman who asked Boris the question that brought him down – I’m still angry and heartbroken

02:00 , Joe Middleton

When he discovered he was going to face the consequences of his actions, Johnson lashed out. His behaviour fails to uphold the best traditions of our parliament, writes Catherine West

I’m the woman who asked the question that brought down Boris Johnson | Boris Johnson

Rishi Sunak rejects calls to strip Boris Johnson of £115,000 a year expenses for life

01:00 , Joe Middleton

Downing Street has rejected calls to strip Boris Johnson of the £115,000 a year expense allowance given to former prime ministers – after an inquiry found he had repeatedly misled parliament.

The ex prime minister is facing a ban from holding a parliamentary security pass after a devastating cross-party committee blasted his handling of the Partygate scandal.

But there are now calls that Mr Johnson should be stripped of the other trappings of office, including generous lifetime expenses and gongs for his allies and cronies.

Rishi Sunak rejects calls to strip Boris Johnson of £115,000 a year expenses for life

Have we seen the last of Boris Johnson?

Thursday 15 June 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton

Sean O’Grady looks at what could happen when the findings of the privileges committee are debated in parliament on Monday

Have we seen the last of Boris Johnson?

At long last, Boris Johnson and his runaway lies have run out of road

Thursday 15 June 2023 23:00 , Joe Middleton

Editorial: In the hothouses of politics, across the despatch box or in the television studios, the former prime minister’s tactics of bluster and obfuscation have served him well. In the cold, forensic climate of a sustained investigation, he has wilted

Editorial: At long last, Boris Johnson and his runaway lies have run out of road

Boris Johnson's former boss says ex-prime minister is not 'a decent human being'

Thursday 15 June 2023 22:00 , Joe Middleton

Nadine Dorries in sinister warning to Tory MPs as Boris allies hit back

Thursday 15 June 2023 21:00 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries has offered a sinister warning to Tory MPs they face losing their seats if they back a damning report which found he deliberately misled parliament over Partygate.

MPs who support the privileges committee’s findings were “fundamentally not” Conservative and would be “held to account”, the ex-culture secretary claimed.

A small group of fellow Johnson allies also vowed to vote against the “vindicative” report on Monday – and warned those who back it could be “given the boot” by angry, grassroots Tory members.

Nadine Dorries in sinister warning to Tory MPs as Boris allies hit back

Boris Johnson has done what dog does against lamppost, says former boss Max Hastings

Thursday 15 June 2023 20:30 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson’s former boss says the former prime minister is not a “decent human being” and made fools of the public while in No 10.

Max Hastings, who was editor of The Daily Telegraph when Mr Johnson worked there, slated his ex-staffer’s behaviour after the privileges committee report found he repeatedly lied to Parliament before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation.

“I don’t hate Boris Johnson. He is what he always was – doing what the dog does against the lamppost,” Mr Hastings told the BBC.

Boris Johnson has done what dog does against lamppost, says his former boss

'Boris Johnson told a pack of lies': Lord Heseltine launches scathing attack on former PM

Thursday 15 June 2023 20:03 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson the liar: How ex-PM lied and lied again to Commons

Thursday 15 June 2023 19:39 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson’s final disgrace has been laid bare in a damning report which found he deliberately lied and lied again to parliament over Partygate.

In a sensational verdict a cross-party group of MPs recommended that he face a 90-day suspension – nearly twice as long as Liz Truss was prime minister – had he not dramatically quit the Commons last week.

The former prime minister should still suffer the humiliation of being stripped of a pass to the House of Commons, the privileges committee ruled.

Kate Devlin and Adam Forrest report.

Boris Johnson the liar: How ex-PM lied and lied again to Commons

More than half of Tory voters from 2019 don’t think Boris Johnson’s career is over, Savanta survey says

Thursday 15 June 2023 19:10 , Joe Middleton

The latest Savanta survey indicates that 47 per cent of people believe that Boris Johnson’s political career is over.

However 40 per cent of people still think there is the possibility of a comeback. This percentage increases to 54 per cent when people who voted Conservative in 2019 were asked.

Shadow Commons leader calls Boris Johnson 'liar' as Partygate report finds he misled MPs

Thursday 15 June 2023 19:06 , Joe Middleton

Corbyn praises former Labour politician Glenda Jackson

Thursday 15 June 2023 18:52 , Joe Middleton

Jeremy Corbyn has praised veteran actress and former Labour politician Glenda Jackson as someone who “gave it all in her life”.

The ex-Labour leader told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “She gave it all, gave it all in film, gave it all in theatre, gave it all in politics, and was, I think, very funny often to talk to.”

He said he first met her at a Sunday evening fundraiser for the homeless in the 1970s and that he was “impressed” she would participate in such an event “when she was already a very famous actress”.

He also noted the “support she gave later in the 1970s to the anti-racist campaign, the anti-Nazi league”.

When she entered Parliament, “she wanted to be seen to be a serious politician representing her constituency and dealing with issues that faced London and other places”, Mr Corbyn said.

“She and I didn’t always agree on everything,” he said, adding that he respected “her openness and clarity of expression”.

He particularly praised her speech criticising Margaret Thatcher during a Commons debate which had been called to pay tribute to the former prime minister after she died.

Rishi Sunak rejects calls to strip Boris Johnson of £115,000 a year expenses for life

Thursday 15 June 2023 18:20 , Joe Middleton

Downing Street has rejected calls to strip Boris Johnson of the £115,000 a year expense allowance given to former prime ministers – after an inquiry found he had repeatedly misled parliament.

The ex prime minister is facing a ban from holding a parliamentary security pass after a devastating cross-party committee blasted his handling of the Partygate scandal.

But there are now calls that Mr Johnson should be stripped of the other trappings of office, including generous lifetime expenses and gongs for his allies and cronies.

Jon Stone reports.

Rishi Sunak rejects calls to strip Boris Johnson of £115,000 a year expenses for life

Rod Stewart says he's still 'a fan' of Boris Johnson despite Partygate report

Thursday 15 June 2023 18:00 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson faces call to stand down from Privy Council

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:42 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson is facing calls to stand down from the Privy Council, which advises the monarch, in the wake of the finding he misled parliament over Partygate.

Chris Bryant, the chair of the Commons standards committee, told the Independent: “He’s a disgraced former prime minister. You really wouldn’t normally want a disgraced former minister carrying on in the Privy Council.

“But I don’t suppose for a second that Boris Johnson has enough insight into what he’s done and feels at all accountable. So I don’t suppose for a second that he will stand down.”

He added: “John Profumo was struck off from the privy council for having lied to parliament as a minister.” He also accused Rishi Sunak over “running for the hills over” the scandal.

Tory peer Lord Lexden agreed Mr Johnson should no longer be a member of the Privy Council, saying: “To do it in the fevered atmosphere which exists at the moment would risk drawing the monarch into politics, and give Johnson yet another target for his acrimony. It should be done a little later.”

What sanctions could Boris Johnson face?

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:31 , Joe Middleton

In an unprecedented ruling, the cross-party privileges committee has recommended that Boris Johnson be banned from parliament for 90 days, with members unanimously agreeing on a ban of at least 10 days – which would have been enough to trigger a by-election had he not resigned just days earlier.

The committee now recommends that he should not be given a former member’s pass, which would effectively ban him from visiting parliament. But his fate ultimately lies in the hands of MPs, who will debate and vote on the committee’s findings on Monday.

However, even if MPs do vote to revoke his pass, this decision would be rendered void were Johnson ever to be re-elected as an MP.

On Monday, MPs could push for Johnson to be prevented from standing again, but the convention that no parliament can bind its successors means that only those at Conservative Party headquarters could truly stop him trying to be a Tory MP.Another potential route back to parliament that Johnson could consider is via the upper chamber.

But according to a former member of the House of Lords appointment commission who spoke to the Financial Times, the committee’s verdict of “contempt” would “be an important factor to be taken into consideration”, and ultimately could enable the Lords commission to block any attempt to hand Johnson a peerage.

With Johnson loyalists lining up to condemn the committee’s report ahead of Monday’s Commons showdown, as his critics call for his Honour’s List to be scrapped, it remains to be seen whether the inquiry, the vote – or perhaps a peerage-related snub – could prove to be the former PM’s final indignation.

Nadine Dorries ‘off her rocker’, says senior Tory

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:15 , Joe Middleton

Sunak allies told The Independent that Nadine Dorries was “off her rocker” by threatening deselections, and urged colleagues to “show backbone” when the crunch free vote to approve the cross-party report comes on Monday.

One senior Tory told The Independent: “Nadine is off her rocker and biting the hand that put her in public life.

She is making a show of herself.”Another senior Tory said colleagues should “show backbone” and ignore deselection threats made by Boris Johnson’s allies.

“I hope colleagues have the integrity to vote how they want – never mind those stamping their feet.”

However, the former minister predicted that there would be an “even mix” of Tory MPs abstain to avoid upsetting Boris-backing constituents, and voting it through to “support the process”.

They said there was some “shock” in the Tory tearoom over the harshness of the 90-day suspension.

Sunak will take time to ‘fully consider’ Partygate report

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:04 , Joe Middleton

Rishi Sunak will take time to “fully consider” the Privileges Committee’s report that found Boris Johnson lied to MPs, Downing Street has said.

“He hasn’t yet had time to fully consider the report,” a No 10 spokesperson told reporters.

“He intends to take the time to fully consider the report.”

The spokesman declined to say whether the prime minister will participate in the Commons vote on the committee’s findings on Monday, saying: “We will set out the PM’s activity for next week on Monday.”

Partygate report 'in danger of making House of Commons look foolish', Rees-Mogg says

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:51 , Joe Middleton

The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:45 , Joe Middleton

When the long-awaited report into Boris Johnson’s lockdown lies about Partygate was published on Thursday morning, his resignation as an MP appeared a lot less shocking.

The former prime minister had seen an early copy of the report, which concluded he had lied to MPs on an “unprecedented” scale. Had Mr Johnson stayed on as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, he would have faced a 90-day suspension from Parliament - more than enough to trigger a tough by-election in the constituency.

The report also recommended Mr Johnson be stripped of a pass for former MPs, effectively barring him from the parliamentary estate.

Archie Mitchell reveals the five lies that led to Mr Johnson’s downfall:

The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson's former boss says ex-prime minister is not 'a decent human being'

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:30 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson’s ‘sanction more than doubled in length after he attacked Privileges Committee’

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:28 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson’s recommended sanction more than doubled in length after he attacked the Privileges Committee, it has emerged.

The former PM was going to face a recommended 40-day suspension from Parliament for repeatedly lying to MPs over Partygate, the Telegraph reported.

But after being sent an early copy of the report, Mr Johnson lashed out at the committee, describing it as a “kangaroo court” before quitting as an MP.

He said the committee members had “forced him out... anti-democratically”, leading MPs to bump up his sanction in the final copy of the report.

While it ended up being merely symbolic after Mr Johnson’s resignation, the former PM faced a recommended 90-day ban from Parliament, more than enough to have triggered a byelection in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat had he stayed in post.

For too long, too many Tory MPs have sustained Boris Johnson’s political career, says SNP MP

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:15 , Joe Middleton

SNP MP Richard Thomson said Boris Johnsons has “done his best to mislead and misdirect” and then to “demonise” the committee that compiled the report into Partygate.

He added: “I think every member of the Conservative party in the House of Commons has to examine their conscience when we come to vote on this on Monday.

“Are they prepared to stand for that? As for too long too many of them allowed themselves to enable, to excuse and sustain Boris Johnson’s political career long beyong any point where it should have been allowed to continue.”

Boris ‘posed for selfies and laughed with locals’ at Kent pub just hours before Partygate report

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:14 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson was pictured looking relaxed at a local Kent pub the night before the damning report into Partygate.

The former prime minister, wearing a suit with no tie, laughed with locals and posed for selfies at the The Milk House, in Sissinghurst, Kent.

Mr Johnson spent most of the evening on the terrace at the former coaching inn in the heart of the picturesque village in the Garden of England, as reported by Kent Online.

Boris should appeal Partygate report at the European Court of Human Rights, says Tory grassroots chief

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:04 , Joe Middleton

The Brexit-backing boss of the Conservative grassroots CDO said Boris Johnson should appeal the committee’s findings via the European Court of Human Rights.

Conservative Democratic Organisation chairman David Campbell Bannerman branded the Privileges Committee probe a “Stalinist show trial” that “imperilled Mr Johnson’s basic human rights”.

The former Member of European Parliament also said the committee’s actions brought Parliament into disrepute and “undermined Parliamentary sovereignty”.

Mr Campbell Bannerman told The Independent: ““I gave up my job as an MEP to fight for Brexit because I believe in Parliamentary sovereignty, and this undermines it.

“The irony of it all is Boris has a very good case to go to the ECHR to say this Stalinist show trial has imperriled his basic human rights under the convention.”

He said Tory MPs on the committee should be “held to account” by Conservative Party members and “face de-selection” for taking part in the probe.

“MPs are responsible to those members. And if those members feel that they’ve acted in a bad way, or unhelpful way that goes against the principle of democracy and the best interests of the party, which I believe it has, then yes, they should be subject to de-selection,” he said.

Former Tory MP says Boris Johnson ‘doesn’t care how much he lies'

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:58 , Joe Middleton

Former Tory MP Rory Stewart has said that the former prime minister “doesn’t care how much he lies, how many institutions he craps on, as long as he, Boris, manages to continue with his weird cult”.

Former Tory MP labelled ‘crackers’ after claiming Partygate report was ‘revenge for Brexit’

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:52 , Joe Middleton

Former Tory MP Lord Jackson has been labelled “crackers” after claiming that the Partygate report written by the Privileges Committee was revenge against Boris Johnson due to his support for Brexit.

Lord Jackson said: “It is a kangaroo court, the people there are politicians, they are masquerading as a quasi-judicial process, there are people with axes to grind.

“There wasn’t due process in my opinion, he has been treated unfairly. This process would not have lasted even 10 minutes in a magistrates court and there are people who are out there to get him. And what this is effectively is revenge for Brexit dressed up as a quasi-judicial process”.

Good Law Project’s Ellie Mae O’Hagan responded that this view was “crackers” and that Lord Jackson was “repeating the kind of croynism we at the Good Law Project challenge, which is why you don’t like it”.

Sunak joins police on illegal working raid as government asylum targets falter

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:30 , Matt Mathers

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said there is "lots of work to do" to reduce asylum claim numbers as he joined immigration enforcement officers on a raid.

Mr Sunak wore heavy boots and a stab vest as he joined officers on the raid in Brent, north west London, early on Thursday morning.

It comes after he promised to abolish the backlog of around 92,000 asylum claims by the end of 2023.

However, Home Secretary Suella Braverman told MPs on Wednesday that the target will not be met at the "current pace".

Asked after the raid about Ms Braverman’s comments, Mr Sunak said: "It was good to be out this morning with our immigration enforcement team and seeing first-hand their work to tackle illegal working.

"That’s an important strand of our work, to stop the boats and tackle illegal migration.

"And that’s because the criminal gangs use a business model that tempts people here with the offer of black market work.

"It’s not right, which is why we’ve increased resources for immigration enforcement.

"We’ve increased the number of raids like the one I was on this morning by 50% and we’ve doubled the number of arrests."

He added: "But we’re not complacent.

"There’s lots of work to do, which is why it’s so important that we pass our Bill through Parliament, our Stop The Boats Bill, which will mean that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay.

"We will be able to detain you and then swiftly remove you."

Two by-elections scheduled for July 20

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:27 , Joe Middleton

The two by-elections triggered by the resignation of Boris Johnson and Nigel Evans will take place on July 20.

Mr Evans previously represented the Selby and Ainsty constituency in North Yorkshire and Mr Johnson was the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, in Greater London.

However no date has yet been set for the by-election in Nadine Dorries constituency as she has refused to formally step down as an MP until she gets answers from Downing Street about why she was denied a peerage.

Yousaf rejects claims of collusion between police and media in SNP finance probe

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:10 , Matt Mathers

Scotland’s First Minister has said he does not believe there has been collusion between the police and media during the investigation into the SNP’s finances.

Humza Yousaf was speaking after one of his backbench MSPs had accused the press of making a "big play" of the arrest of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Sturgeon was released without charge, pending further investigation, on Sunday evening.

SNP MSP James Dornan claimed the "police and the media seem to have some kind of collusion about making sure that the media are in attendance when the slightest thing happens".

Police Scotland has denied the accusation, with a spokesman for the force saying: "Any suggestion that the media were informed in advance of an arrest is untrue."

Asked about Mr Dornan’s comments by journalists at Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Yousaf said: "I don’t believe that."

He said he would not comment further "on a live investigation".

Glenda Jackson death: Oscar-winning actor and former Labour MP dies aged 87

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:58 , Matt Mathers

Glenda Jackson, the double Oscar-winning actor and former Labour MP, has died aged 87 after a “brief illness”.

Her agent issued a statement that said Jackson died at her home in Blackheath, south-east London.

“Glenda Jackson, two-time Academy Award-winning actress and politician, died peacefully at her home in Blackheath, London this morning after a brief illness with her family at her side,” Lionel Larner said.

Roisin O’Connor reports:

Oscar-winning actor and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson has died

The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:45 , Matt Mathers

While just one instance of misleading the house would have been enough to land Mr Johnson a sanction, the committee concluded he had done so on five separate occasions.

Below are the five lies that led to Mr Johnson’s downfall.

Archie Mitchell reports:

The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson

‘Stick that up your kangaroo court, Boris!’: What the committee really meant in its excoriating report

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:36 , Matt Mathers

John Rentoul, our chief political commentator, reads between the lines of the report of the privileges committee: what it said – and what it really meant.

What the Committee of Privileges said: This inquiry goes to the very heart of our democracy. Misleading the House is not a technical issue, but a matter of great importance. Our democracy depends on MPs being able to trust that what ministers tell them in the House of Commons is the truth.

And what it really meant: We take ourselves very, very seriously. You would not have argued with us if you knew what is good for you, Boris.

More from John here:

How the privileges committee tore Boris Johnson apart | John Rentoul

Widow of Covid victim feels ‘empty’ after report published

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:29 , Matt Mathers

A woman whose husband died with Covid-19 said she feels "empty" following the publication of a report that found Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament with his partygate denials.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice (CBFFJ) UK campaign group said Mr Johnson "should never be allowed to stand for any form of public office again".

One member of the group, Fran Hall from Buckinghamshire, said there was "no happiness" at the report’s findings, adding that Mr Johnson is a "disgraced former prime minister", which she said was now "plain and evident to see".

The 62-year-old’s husband, Steve Mead, died three weeks after the couple were married in 2020.

She told the PA news agency: "There are so many people who are just traumatised by what’s happened to them and the people they love.

"They will never recover and there will be no justice.

"They’ve just got to live with the knowledge that they have been absolutely let down by the people that were in charge of ensuring that we were kept safe, and we weren’t.

"It will always sting but we had the worst possible prime minister at the worst possible time and he was surrounded by people that enabled him to continue to lie to everyone.

"I feel empty, really."

Boris Johnson has done what dog does against lamppost, says former boss Max Hastings

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:19 , Matt Mathers

Boris Johnson’s former boss says the former prime minister is not a “decent human being” and made fools of the public while in No 10.

Max Hastings, who was editor of The Daily Telegraph when Mr Johnson worked there, slated his ex-staffer’s behaviour after the privileges committee report found he repeatedly lied to Parliament before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation.

Jane Dalton reports:

Boris Johnson has done what dog does against lamppost, says his former boss