Boris Johnson is being grilled by senior MPs this afternoon as he appears before the Liaison Committee, with the prime minister facing challenges on multiple topics, including the lifting of Covid restrictions and Brexit.
Mr Johnson’s appearance comes as the UK’s sleaze watchdog calls for a crackdown on “dark money” in British politics, with stronger enforcement needed for campaign finance rules, particularly concerning online campaigns.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life will urge the government to close a loophole allowing firms to make political donations from profits made abroad, but the watchdog has admitted that it does not have the power to change the rules.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s government is under pressure following the launch of two official investigations, including one into the use of private emails for government work.
Health minister Lord Bethell, alongside former health secretary Matt Hancock, reportedly routinely used private email accounts to conduct official business, raising concerns about transparency and security.
Johnson refuses to say whether he sacked Hancock over scandal
Boris Johnson has refused to say whether he sacked Matt Hancock as health secretary after being asked repeatedly by Labour’s Chris Bryant about the matter.
In response to a direct question, the PM merely said that Mr Hancock left his position soon after the story of his affair came to light.
“Let me just go back to what I’ve said, many, many times… which is that we read about the story concerning Mr Hancock and the CCTV and so forth on the Friday, and we had a new health secretary on the Saturday,” Mr Johnson said.
According to Sky News’ Sam Coates, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner is expected to respond to Boris Johnson’s statement on the Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan tomorrow:
Boris Johnson has begun his session with the Liaison Committee of senior MPs, where he was asked first about the current situation in Afghanistan.
The US and its Nato allies, including the UK, agreed recently to withdraw all troops from the country in return for a commitment by the Taliban not to allow extremist groups to operate in areas they control.
The prime minister told Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, that he would be making a statement on the situation tomorrow so he believed it would be “better not to anticipate further” on his thoughts on the matter.
Opinion: ‘Johnson and Starmer could learn lessons from England’s football team’
England’s national football team has presented a clearer vision of “progressive patriotism” than many politicians with their support for racial equality and LGBT+ rights during Euro 2020, according to our commentator Andrew Grice.
Andrew writes that both Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer could learn a few lessons from how Gareth Southgate and his players have navigated complex social issues in recent weeks.
He writes:
“Both leaders could learn from Southgate and his team. They are a powerful symbol of a modern, diverse Britain and, with their support for racial equality and LGBT+ rights, have given us a better vision of progressive patriotism than Starmer has managed. The joke in Labour land is that his strategy is to get a bigger and bigger union flag. In fact, Labour made progress this week by announcing a “buy British” policy on public sector contracts – clever, as it merged patriotism with economic gain.”
You can find his full piece below:
Our reporter, Adam Forrest, has more details below on Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi’s scathing criticism of ministers who defend Covid rule breaches by members of the government:
Labour’s shadow home secretary Nick-Thomas Symonds has sent his best wishes to James Brokenshire after the security minister announced that he has stood down from government due to his treatment for lung cancer:
Government minister stands down to concentrate on fight against cancer
Security minister James Brokenshire has announced that he is standing down from the government to concentrate on his fight against cancer.
Mr Brokenshire thanked Boris Johnson on Wednesday for his support as he undergoes treatment following the “frustrating recurrence” of his lung cancer.
“My recovery from treatment and return to full duties is, however, taking longer than anticipated,” he said.
Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more on this breaking story below:
Our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, has more details below on Sir Graham Brady’s re-election today as chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs:
Johnson says he will consider calls for diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics
Earlier today, Boris Johnson told MPs that he would consider calls for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, despite noting that he was “instinctively against” such action.
Conservative former minister Tim Loughton asked the prime minister what his response would be to concerns over the alleged genocide of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and wider human rights issues in China.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Loughton said: “Will the prime minister support our motion, to be debated in this House next Thursday, calling for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics – incredibly awarded to Beijing – until and unless this dangerous regime abides by basic international standards of decency?”
The PM replied: “This country has led the world in condemning human rights abuses in Xinjiang and in putting sanctions on those responsible, in holding companies to account that import goods made with forced labour in Xinjiang.
“I will certainly consider the proposal debated but I must say I’m instinctively, and always have been, against sporting boycotts.”
Sir Graham Brady survives as leader of influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers
Tory grandee Sir Graham Brady has survived an attempt to replace him as the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs.
Sir Graham, who has held the post since 2010, confirmed his victory on Wednesday afternoon after the challenge from former government minister Heather Wheeler – who was thought to be No 10’s preferred candidate.
Downing Street has reportedly been unhappy with Sir Graham, an outspoken critic of lockdown restrictions who has voted against the government a number of times.
“It is a privilege to have been re-elected as chairman of the 1922 Committee after 11 years serving the parliamentary Conservative Party, I am grateful to my colleagues for this vote of confidence,” Sir Graham said.
According to the Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy, one MP described Sir Graham as “a bit of a pompous tit at times” but someone who gives a voice to backbenchers.
