Rishi Sunak – live updates: Met Police reopen investigation into new Partygate allegations
Police have reopened an investigation into potential Covid breaches during a Tory party HQ Christmas Party and launched a fresh probe into a gathering in parliament.
But they will take no further action against Boris Johnson over gatherings at Downing Street and the then-prime minister’s country residence Chequers in 2020 and 2021.
Scotland Yard said that after assessing new evidence including a video, it was re-investigating a “Jingle and Mingle” party at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020.
The second probe will look into an event on 8 December 2020 – the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The Met is now re-opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.
“Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event on 8 December 2020.”
Key Points
Sunak says he has not read Partygate report in detail
Met Police reopen investigation into new Partygate allegations
Shaun Bailey could be installed as peer in mid July despite partygate row
Met Police not taking further action against Boris Johnson
Lib Dems: Bailey should not be allowed to join Lords while under investigation
New probe to investigate ‘Jingle and Mingle’ Christmas party held at Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters
December 2020 gathering in parliament to be investigated by Met Police
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09:14 , Tara Cobham
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RECAP: Eight Tories who undermined democracy over Partygate
07:48 , Tara Cobham
Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among eight senior Tories who attempted to undermine the work of the Privileges Committee as it investigated 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.
Seven MPs, and one peer, are named in the report, which accused them of being part of an “unprecedented and coordinated” campaign to undermine the House of Commons.
Archie Mitchell reports:
Partygate: The 8 Tories who undermined democracy from Dorries to Rees-Mogg
Liberal Democrats call for pausing of Shaun Bailey’s peerage
07:00 , Namita Singh
The Liberal Democrats renewed calls for Shaun Bailey’s peerage to be paused as police investigate the Tory headquarters gathering during Covid restrictions.
Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “Rishi Sunak needs to confirm he will call for honours to be stripped from anyone found to have broken the law. Anything less would make a complete mockery of his pledge to lead with integrity.
“He should also step in to stop Shaun Bailey from taking his seat as a peer while this investigation takes place.”
What did the Met office say?
06:30 , Namita Singh
Issuing a statement about the new investigation into potential Covid breaches in December 2020, Metropolitan police said: “The Met and Thames Valley Police have assessed new material in relation to potential breaches of Covid Regulations in 2020 and 2021. The Met will be opening one investigation and re-opening a previous investigation.
“The approach to the assessment of these events has been consistent, enforcing the law carefully, thoroughly, proportionately, impartially and without fear or favour.
“The Met has previously published criteria for assessing when to launch investigations into breaches of the Regulations reported retrospectively.”
The force added it would only do so when there was evidence of a “serious and flagrant” breach of the rules and said it would provide further updates at an “appropriate time”.
Addressing the material it had been referred to over Boris Johnson’s time in Chequers and Downing Street, the Met said it had assessed the events alongside Thames Valley and found they did “not meet the retrospective criteria” for opening an investigation.
Met previously decided ‘insufficient evidence’ to take action in ‘jingle and mingle’ event
06:00 , Namita Singh
The Metropolitan police had previously investigated the “jingle and mingle” event organised at Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020 but decided there was “insufficient evidence” to take further action.
Both former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and Tory aide Ben Mallett - who were handed a peerage and an OBE respectively in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours - attended the gathering.
In a clip published by the Mirror last month, Conservative Party staff appear to dance, drink and joke about Covid restrictions.Mr Bailey, who remains a London Assembly Member, resigned as chairman of the governing body’s Police and Crime Committee after the picture emerged.
The Met issued 126 fines over rule breaches in Whitehall and Downing Street while Mr Johnson was prime minister, in a scandal that helped end his tenure in No 10.
Mr Johnson and his then-chancellor Rishi Sunak paid fixed-penalty notices over a gathering held for Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday.
Sir Bernard refuses to comment on probe
05:30 , Namita Singh
Sir Bernard Jenkins has refused to issue a statement on the ongoing probe looking into 8 December 2020 “birthday drinks”.
“It is not appropriate to comment on a continuing investigation,” he said.
Birthday drinks ‘arranged’ by deputy speaker
05:00 , Namita Singh
The 8 December 2020 “birthday drinks” are said to have been arranged by Commons deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing while London was in Tier 2 measures that restricted indoor socialising.
A spokeswoman for the speaker’s office said: “As this is a live investigation any further inquiries should be directed to the Met Police.”
According to PA news agency, Dame Eleanor will not be stepping down as deputy speaker while the investigation continues.
Boris Johnson accuses Sir Bernard Jenkin of ‘monstrous hypocrisy’
04:30 , Namita Singh
The Metropolitan Police launched a new probe into an event in parliament on 8 December 2020, when privileges committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin is reported to have attended a “birthday drinks” event for his wife in parliament.
The 8 December gathering was cited by Boris Johnson in a scathing statement accusing Sir Bernard of “monstrous hypocrisy” for allegedly attending the event before sitting on the cross-party panel which found the former prime minister had lied to MPs with his Partygate denials.
Two new Partygate investigations opened by Met police – as Boris Johnson let off the hook
03:52 , Namita Singh
The Partygate scandal deepened on Tuesday night as police dramatically opened two new investigations into events held in parliament and Conservative Party headquarters during Covid restrictions – but said they would take no further action against Boris Johnson.
Scotland Yard announced that it was reinvestigating a “jingle and mingle” Christmas party held by Shaun Bailey’s London mayoral campaign staff at CCHQ on 14 December 2020, after assessing new video evidence.
Rishi Sunak immediately faced fresh calls to block Mr Bailey’s peerage – handed to the failed mayoral candidate by Mr Johnson in his resignation honours – while the police investigation takes place.
My colleagues Lizzie Dearden, Kate Devlin and Adam Forrest report:
Two new Partygate investigations opened by Met Police – as Boris let off the hook
Watch: Rishi Sunak says he has not read Partygate report in detail
03:00 , Martha Mchardy
VOICES: Rishi Sunak’s head boy polish deserted him when he needed it most
02:00 , Martha Mchardy
Under hostile attack from the liaison committee, Sunak embodied a new, unpatented emoji: doomed prime minister face, writes Sean O’Grady.
Rishi Sunak’s head-boy polish deserted him when he needed it most | Sean O’Grady
The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson
01:00 , Martha Mchardy
When the long-awaited report into Boris Johnson’s lockdown lies about Partygate was published, 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.
Click below to read about the five lies that led to Mr Johnson’s downfall.
The five lies that doomed Boris Johnson
Revealed: Full extent of boozing, debauchery and blatant Covid rule-breaking inside Boris’s No 10
Wednesday 5 July 2023 00:00 , Martha Mchardy
A former Downing Street official who worked throughout the Covid crisis has revealed the true scale of the drunken debauchery under Boris Johnson – with No 10 parties so wild that staff passed out on the stairway.
Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the whistleblower said the details in the Partygate report were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the raucous drinking culture and blatant rule-breaking throughout the pandemic.
They revealed that Mr Johnson was “happy” to have his staff drinking and oversaw a culture of endemic rule-breaking so widespread that it put No 10 at odds with the rest of the country.
Adam Forrest reports:
Revealed: Full extent of boozing, debauchery and rule-breaking inside Boris’s No 10
Watch: Shaun Bailey reacts to Partygate video leak
Tuesday 4 July 2023 23:00 , Martha Mchardy
Shaun Bailey apologised “unreservedly” after a video emerged of his Tory campaign team drinking and dancing at a gathering during lockdown in December 2020.
At the time, lockdown rules meant that six people were allowed to meet socially distanced outside.
The video emerged after the former London mayoral candidate was offered a peerage by former prime minister Boris Johnson, who was found by the Privileges Committee to have misled Parliament over parties at Downing Street during Covid lockdowns.
Mr Bailey said the event “obviously turned into something once I left and I didn’t realise that.”
‘The buck stops with me’: Shaun Bailey reacts to Partygate video leak
Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the 6 other Tories who undermined democracy in Partygate row
Tuesday 4 July 2023 22:00 , Martha Mchardy
Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among eight senior Tories who attempted to undermine the work of the Privileges Committee as it investigated Boris Johnson, a fresh Partygate report has found.
In a damning annex to its original report, the MPs spelled out a series of the most “disturbing” attacks on its inquiry into Mr Johnson’s lies to Parliament.
Seven MPs, and one peer, are named in the report, which accused them of being part of an “unprecedented and coordinated” campaign to undermine the House of Commons.
Archie Mitchell reports:
Partygate: The 8 Tories who undermined democracy from Dorries to Rees-Mogg
Met Police not taking further action against Boris Johnson
Tuesday 4 July 2023 21:00 , Martha Mchardy
The Met Police has announced it will not take any further action against Boris Johnson for lockdown breaches.
Scotland Yard reopened its investigation into potential Covid regulation breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020 and has launched a new probe into a gathering in Parliament during the same month.
However, police said a “number of other events” at Downing Street and the prime minister’s country residence Chequers, which were believed to involve Mr Johnson in 2020 and 2021, would not be probed further.
Officers assessed official diary entries that were passed to the Met by the Cabinet Office ahead of the Covid public inquiry, in a move attacked by Mr Johnson’s allies.
At the time, a statement from the former prime minister’s office said his lawyers had written to police to “explain in detail why the Cabinet Office is entirely wrong in its assertions”.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Based on an assessment of that material and an account provided regarding the diary entries, and also having sought some further clarification, the Met and Thames Valley Police have each assessed the events in their jurisdiction and concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.”
What happened at the ‘Jingle and Mingle’ Christmas party held at Conservative Party’s campaign HQ
Tuesday 4 July 2023 20:25 , Martha Mchardy
The Metropolitan Police said it has reopened its investigation into potential Covid regulation breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020.
Scotland Yard said that after assessing new evidence including a video, it was re-investigating a “Jingle and Mingle” Christmas party held at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020.
It comes after a video emerged appearing to show Tory staff drinking, dancing and joking about “bending” Covid lockdown rules.
The video, said to have been taken on 14 December, 2020, when socialising inside was banned in parts of the UK, showed for the first time, staff joking about their Christmas party at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in London breaking the rules, according to The Mirror.
The party was organised by the campaign team behind Shaun Bailey’s ultimately failed bid to become mayor of London and “formal disciplinary action” was taken against four staff members over the “unauthorised” event.
The party was organised by the campaign team behind Shaun Bailey’s ultimately failed bid to become mayor of London and “formal disciplinary action” was taken against four staff members over the “unauthorised” event.
One attendee in the footage could be heard saying: “As long as we don’t stream that we’re like, bending the rules,” before laughing, while a man and woman hold hands and dance.
At least 24 guests were reportedly at the gathering which was held just a few days before Mr Johnson’s 19 December announcement that Tier 4 Covid curbs would be implemented. This put London and the southeast of England under severe restrictions which meant many could not see their families on Christmas Day.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” he said just five days after the party.
Watch: Rishi Sunak says he has not read Partygate report in detail
Tuesday 4 July 2023 19:50 , Martha Mchardy
Dame Eleanor will not be stepping down as deputy speaker while partygate investigation continues
Tuesday 4 July 2023 19:25 , Martha Mchardy
Deputy Commons speaker Dame Eleanor Laing will not be stepping down while the Partygate investigation continues, Sky News reported.
The Met Police announced it was launching a probe into “potential breaches” of Covid rules at a gathering inside parliament on 8 December 2020, the date of an alleged drinks event held at the Commons office of Dame Eleanor, and attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin for his wife’s birthday.
Who is Sir Bernard Jenkin?
Tuesday 4 July 2023 19:14 , Martha Mchardy
Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has been in Parliament since 1992.
A veteran Tory Eurosceptic and chairman of the powerful Liaison Committee, he was a critic of Mr Johnson’s handling of the Chris Pincher affair and is an often vocal voice from the backbenches.
Sir Bernard is alleged to have attended a drinks event in the Commons office of Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker, in December 2020.
The Metropolitan Police announced it was launching a probe into “potential breaches” of Covid rules at a gathering inside parliament on 8 December 2020.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has previously accused Sir Bernard, the most senior Conservative member of the Commons Privileges Committee, of “monstrous hypocrisy” after the Guido Fawkes website reported the MP had gone to a drinks party in Parliament while Covid restrictions were in place on December 8.
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:59 , Martha Mchardy
On the police probe, a spokeswoman for the Speaker’s Office said: “As this is a live investigation any further inquiries should be directed to the Met Police.”
The Metropolitan Police announced it was launching a probe into “potential breaches” of Covid rules at a gathering inside parliament on 8 December 2020, the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin for his wife’s birthday.
The alleged gathering was held in the Commons office of Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker, and attended by Sir Bernard Jenkin.
Dame Eleanor will not be stepping down as Deputy Speaker while the investigation continues, PA news agency reported.
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:56 , Martha Mchardy
Sir Bernard Jenkin said of the police probe: “It is not appropriate to comment on a continuing investigation.”
The Metropolitan Police announced it was launching a probe into “potential breaches” of Covid rules at a gathering inside parliament on 8 December 2020, the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin for his wife’s birthday.
December 2020 gathering in parliament to be investigated by Met Police
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:48 , Martha Mchardy
The Metropolitan Police announced that it was also launching a probe into “potential breaches” of Covid rules at a gathering inside parliament on 8 December 2020, the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin for his wife’s birthday.
A Met Police statement said: “Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in Parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event on 8 December 2020.”
The alleged gathering was held in the Commons office of Dame Eleanor Laing, the deputy speaker, and attended by Sir Bernard Jenkin in December 2020.
The event came to light shortly before the publication of the privileges committee report into Boris Johnson
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has previously accused Sir Bernard Jenkin, the most senior Conservative member of the Commons Privileges Committee, of “monstrous hypocrisy” after the Guido Fawkes website reported the MP had gone to a drinks party in Parliament while Covid restrictions were in place on December 8.
Which parties are being investigated?
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:35 , Martha Mchardy
The Metropolitan Police will reopen an investigation into COVID-19 lockdown breaches at a December 2020 event held in the headquarters of the governing Conservative Party following an assessment of new evidence.
However, police said other referrals, made to them by the government following an examination of former prime minister Boris Johnson’s diary, did not meet the criteria for further investigation.
The reopened investigation concerns a Christmas party organised by staff working on a mayoral election campaign.
No fines were issued when it was initially investigated, but a video recently aired by British media, which showed people dancing and partying at the event, has prompted officers to look again.
Police said their approach was only to retrospectively launch investigations when there was evidence of a serious and flagrant breach and other conditions were met.
The Conservative Party did not issue a fresh comment following the police announcement, and referred to a previous statement in which it said the gathering was unauthorised and that four staff had been disciplined as a result.
An additional investigation was opened into a Dec. 8 2020 gathering in parliament, but police did not provide details about those in attendance.
Police also said they had assessed information provided by the Cabinet Office regarding potential breaches of the regulations between June 2020 and May 2021 at Johnson’s then-Downing Street residence and office, and the prime ministerial country home, Chequers.
They had “concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation”, police said.
Shaun Bailey could be installed as peer in mid July despite partygate row
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:25 , Martha Mchardy
Shaun Bailey is expected to be installed as the latest member of the House of Lords as early as the middle of July.
He is poised to take up the job for life on 18 July, sources told The Independent.
However, 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.
A Labour Lords source described the introduction of peers on Boris Johnson’s list as “rushed”.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Wendy Chamberlain said: “Shaun Bailey should do the right thing and agree to turn down this peerage now. If he refuses to do that, Rishi Sunak must finally show some backbone and confirm he will withdraw the Conservative whip from Bailey if he joins the Lords. Anything less would be an insult to bereaved families who followed the rules while the Conservatives broke them.”
Mr Bailey apologised “unreservedly” after the video was revealed by the Daily Mirror, but said it was for “others to decide” what happened to his peerage.
Mr Bailey does not feature in the video but he appears in a widely-circulated photograph of the event.
Who is Shaun Bailey? The ‘Jingle and Mingle’ lockdown party host named on Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:10 , Martha Mchardy
For over a decade, Shaun Bailey has tried and failed to get into parliament. Last month it looked like he might have finally made it – only for one last obstacle to be put in his way.
New footage emerged showing dancing at a lockdown-breaking Christmas Party organised for his team at Tory HQ, prompting the Met to investigate. Mr Bailey says he is “very upset” and had not seen the footage.
The release of the footage, which dates from 2020, came at a poor time for the politician.
Just days earlier he had been nominated for a life peerage in the House of Lords by Boris Johnson – an honour which he has been urged by critics to reconsider.
Jon Stone reports:
Who is Shaun Bailey? The lockdown party host named on Boris Johnson’s honours list
Lib Dems: Bailey should not be allowed to join Lords while under investigation
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:01 , Martha Mchardy
Responding to the news the Met Police are reopening their investigation into a party held at CCHQ, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said: “Once again Conservative politicians are facing allegations they broke the rules we were all asked to follow.
“Rishi Sunak needs to confirm he will call for honours to be stripped from anyone found to have broken the law. Anything less would make a complete mockery of his pledge to lead with integrity.
“He should also step in to stop Shaun Bailey from taking his seat as a peer while this investigation takes place. There’s no way that Shaun Bailey should be allowed to join the House of Lords while he’s under police investigation.”
New probe to investigate ‘Jingle and Mingle’ Christmas party held at Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters
Tuesday 4 July 2023 17:55 , Martha Mchardy
The Metropolitan Police said it has reopened its investigation into potential Covid regulation breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020.
Scotland Yard said that after assessing new evidence including a video, it was re-investigating a “Jingle and Mingle” Christmas party held at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020.
It comes after a video emerged appearing to show Tory staff drinking, dancing and joking about “bending” Covid lockdown rules.
The video, said to have been taken on 14 December, 2020, when socialising inside was banned in parts of the UK, showed for the first time, staff joking about their Christmas party at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in London breaking the rules, according to The Mirror.
The party was organised by the campaign team behind Shaun Bailey’s ultimately failed bid to become mayor of London and “formal disciplinary action” was taken against four staff members over the “unauthorised” event.
The party was organised by the campaign team behind Shaun Bailey’s ultimately failed bid to become mayor of London and “formal disciplinary action” was taken against four staff members over the “unauthorised” event.
One attendee in the footage could be heard saying: “As long as we don’t stream that we’re like, bending the rules,” before laughing, while a man and woman hold hands and dance.
Met Police not taking further action against Boris Johnson
Tuesday 4 July 2023 17:38 , Martha Mchardy
The Met Police has announced it will not take any further action against Boris Johnson for lockdown breaches.
Scotland Yard reopened its investigation into potential Covid regulation breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020 and has launched a new probe into a gathering in Parliament during the same month.
However, police said a “number of other events” at Downing Street and the prime minister’s country residence Chequers, which were believed to involve Mr Johnson in 2020 and 2021, would not be probed further.
Officers assessed official diary entries that were passed to the Met by the Cabinet Office ahead of the Covid public inquiry, in a move attacked by Mr Johnson’s allies.
At the time, a statement from the former prime minister’s office said his lawyers had written to police to “explain in detail why the Cabinet Office is entirely wrong in its assertions”.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Based on an assessment of that material and an account provided regarding the diary entries, and also having sought some further clarification, the Met and Thames Valley Police have each assessed the events in their jurisdiction and concluded that they do not meet the retrospective criteria for opening an investigation.”
Cabinet office under fire after reporting Boris Johnson to police over Chequers
Tuesday 4 July 2023 17:34 , Martha Mchardy
The cabinet office came under fire after it emerged it had reported Mr Johnson to police over Chequers.
The Met decision will inflame already heightened tensions within Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.
A cabinet office source last night said the issue was an “operational matter for the police”.
BREAKING: Met Police reopen investigation into new Partygate allegations
Tuesday 4 July 2023 17:18 , Natalie Crockett
The Metropolitan Police said it has reopened its investigation into potential Covid regulation breaches during an event at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020 and has launched a new probe into a gathering in Parliament during the same month.
Sunak challenged on cost of living food insecurity
Tuesday 4 July 2023 17:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak said people can spend Government payments designed to help with the cost-of-living crisis on food when challenged over food insecurity.
In a heated exchange during his appearance before the Commons Liaison Committee, Catherine McKinnell, the Labour MP who chairs the Petitions Committee, pointed to figures suggesting one in seven people are cutting back or going without food because of a lack of money.
The Prime Minister noted the support people are receiving with their energy bills and the rise in the national living wage, adding that the most vulnerable households “will receive direct cost-of-living support through the welfare system”.
He continued: “All the money that people are receiving can be used for whatever they deem is most important to them, including food. The cost-of-living payments that are going to people can be spent on food.”
Plymouth Moor View MP Mr Mercer later commented on Twitter after facing social media criticism for his remarks.
“Enjoying the collective bed-wetting on this,” he posted.
“Military personnel should not be using food banks - period. Disagree if you like, but that is true.
“If you are serving personnel and you are using a food bank because you are ‘starving’ please do call me and I will come and see you.”
Sajid Javid is right that the NHS needs fundamental change – but wrong on how to go about it
Tuesday 4 July 2023 16:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
We know it is possible to make the National Health Service work, because Tony Blair did it, John Rentoul writes.
Some of his advisers were nervous when he said in 2002 that if the NHS was not “basically fixed” by the next election, “I am quite happy to suffer the consequences”, because they worried that it would be a hostage to fortune.
But the NHS was improving fast by the 2005 election, and it was in fact “basically fixed” by the end of the Labour government in 2010. Waiting lists had fallen to such a level that people were barely aware of them. Most targets were being met, allowing the NHS to focus on more difficult challenges, such as the early diagnosis and treatment of cancers. Patient satisfaction was at a record high.
So when Sajid Javid, who was health secretary for a year until a year ago, says that the NHS is “unsustainable” and needs “fundamental change”, the correct response is to point out that this is only true because we have had a Conservative government for 13 years that has systematically “un-fixed” it.
Sajid Javid is right that the NHS needs change – a Labour government | John Rentoul
Sunak insists ‘Stop the Boats’ plan isn’t on hold
Tuesday 4 July 2023 16:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak has declined to say when he will fulfil his promise of stopping small boat crossings but denied it is on hold while the Rwanda policy is grounded by court challenges.
The Prime Minister also said on Tuesday he is “throwing everything at” tackling inflation, as he struggles to achieve the five priorities on the six-month anniversary of setting them.
Facing questions from senior MPs, Mr Sunak denied he has no plan B if the Supreme Court does not overturn the ruling blocking the forceful removal of asylum seekers to Kigali.
He told the Liaison Committee ministers will challenge the appeals court judgment “confidently and vigorously”.
Home Affairs chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson asked: “So you’re betting everything on the Rwanda policy being upheld in the Supreme Court?”
Mr Sunak replied: “No, that’s not a fair characterisation of what we’re doing.”
Asked if his pledge to “stop the boats” is on hold, he said: “No, and a good example of why it’s not on hold is our deal with Albania.”
But pressed on when he will achieve it, Mr Sunak said: “The court will have to determine its own ruling and that’s outside the Government’s hands.
“But in the meantime we can get on with a range of other things.”
Watch: Rishi Sunak asked whether he has backup plan if Rwanda scheme fails
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Privileges Committee report: What did Johnson allies say about partygate probe?
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Remarks from eight separate Conservative politicians were named in the Privileges Committee report, which highlighted comments by allies of Boris Johnson said to have put “improper pressure” on MPs investigating the former prime minister.
The committee cited comments by senior MPs including Nadine Dorries, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Dame Priti Patel along with peers including Lord Goldsmith – a serving minister – claiming it was part of a co-ordinated attempt to undermine the panel’s work.
The committee said MPs should consider whether their actions could be considered a contempt of Parliament and what further action to take.
Privileges Committee report: What did Johnson allies say about partygate probe?
Rwanda: Rishi Sunak avoids answering if he has backup plan if scheme fails
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:44 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak was avoided a question at the Liaison Committee on whether the government has a “plan B” if the government’s appeal against a High Court judgement ruling plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda are unlawful is unsuccessful.
The prime minister has previously stated that the government will seek permission to appeal against the decision at the Supreme Court as he insisted that Rwanda was a safe country and said that the court had agreed with this.
Appearing before parliament’s Liaison Committe on Tuesday, 4 July, the prime minister did not say whether the government has alternative plans if the scheme is not upheld in the Supreme Court.
Rwanda: Rishi Sunak avoids answering if he has backup plan if scheme fails
Sunak defends absence from Boris Johnson vote
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak defended his absence from the vote on whether Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.
The Prime Minister was challenged about his decision to miss the vote to attend a Jewish Care dinner, even though other MPs at the event managed to make it back to the Commons to take part.
He told the Liaison Committee: “I chose to fulfil my obligation to an incredible charity, for whom that is one of their significant fundraising moments of the year.”
Mr Sunak also said he had not fully read a Privileges Committee report on allies of Mr Johnson seeking to undermine the work of the panel during its investigation into the former prime minister.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith quit as a minister after Mr Sunak asked him to apologise after being named in the report.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve read the findings of the report, I haven’t read the report yet cover to cover.”
Asked if the Tory MPs named in the report should apologise, Mr Sunak said there was a difference because of Lord Goldsmith’s position as a minister.
Sunak says he has not read Privileges Committee report in detail
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:12 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak has admitted he has not read the Privileges Committee report in full, despite being reminded it was only “three pages”.
The confession came as he was challenged for missing a vote on damning conclusions that Boris Johnson repeatedly lied to Parliament over parties in Downing Street.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith quit as a minister after Mr Sunak asked him to apologise after being named in the report.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve read the findings of the report, I haven’t read the report yet cover to cover.”
Asked if the Tory MPs named in the report should apologise, Mr Sunak said there was a difference because of Lord Goldsmith’s position as a minister.
Sunak criticised for missing PMQs
Tuesday 4 July 2023 15:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The prime minister has been criticised for missing PMQs at a “critical point” in parliament.
PM had ‘no active involvement’ in Boris Johnson’s honours list
Tuesday 4 July 2023 14:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak says he had no “active” involvement in Boris Johnson’s resignations honours list.
On him putting forward a resignation list, he said: “It is not something I am focused on or have given any thought to.”
PM acknowledges difficulty of rising mortgage rates
Tuesday 4 July 2023 14:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak told MPs: “Of course I acknowledge the difficulty that rising mortgage rates pose”.
The prime minister also suggested the high number of fixed-rate mortgages was making the fight against inflation more difficult as the “transmission method (of interest rates) is slower than in the past”.
Government ‘committed to bringing inflation down'
Tuesday 4 July 2023 14:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Sunak has said the government “remains committed to bringing inflation down”.
It comes as the average five-year fixed mortgage risen above six per cent for the first time since November.
Sunak on Ukraine joining Nato
Tuesday 4 July 2023 14:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Sunak also hinted he will lobby for Ukraine to join Nato at next week’s summit.
“I’ve previously said that Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato, but the alliance work by consensus so we will have to work together with our allies,” he said.
China could be invited to AI summit
Tuesday 4 July 2023 14:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Rishi Sunak has suggested China could be invited to his flagship AI summit.
The PM said the technology did not recognise national borders.
However, he added it was “early thinking” and talked of bringing “like minded countries” together.
