Boris Johnson has made threats to unleash “terrors of the earth” on the Conservative MP who was responsible for making misogynistic claims about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.
Tory rebels are working together to oust Boris Johnson after the local elections in May, according to a report.
The i says factions on the Conservative back benches are working in a more synchronised manner to remove the prime minister over the Partygate scandal.
“They are working together more now,” one source told the paper. “One Nation and 2019 Tory MPs are more coordinated.”
It comes as Mr Johnson comes under increasing pressure over Covid law-breaking in Downing Street.
A separate report in The Times said a Whitehall investigation into the scandal could be so damning for the PM that he could be left with no option but to resign.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson was forced to condemn “misogyny” from his own party after deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accused Tory MPs of using anonymous briefings to spread “desperate, perverted smears”.
Misogynistic Rayner claims ‘can only deter’ women considering standing for election, Speaker says
Here is more detail from Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s announcement that he will be meeting with Mail on Sunday editor David Dillon to discuss its widely condemned article about Angela Rayner.
In statement at the start of Commons business on Monday, the Speaker told MPs: “I said to the House last week in response to a point of order about a different article that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously – it is one of the building blocks of our democracy.
“However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the Prime Minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantiated claims – and misogynistic and offensive.”
He added: “I express my sympathy to (Angela Rayner) for being the subject of this type of comment in being demeaning, offensive to women in Parliament and can only deter women who might be considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.
“That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby, the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community. I’m also arranging separately – and I believe we’ve now got a time – where I’ll be meeting with (Ms Rayner) this evening.”
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more here:
Exclusive: Ministers targeted by Russian hoax callers pretending to be captured British citizens
Ministers are being targeted by hoax callers pretending to be British citizens captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, The Independent understands.
Russian information operations are believed to be behind the calls, which have been made to the private offices of Cabinet members.
To date, two British soldiers fighting with the Ukrainian army have been captured by Vladimir Putin’s troops, both of whom were paraded on Russian television last week.
In an email sent by Cabinet Office security last week, staff were urged not to engage with callers impersonating the soldiers and instead direct them to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Our senior news correspondent Samuel Lovett has the full exclusive report here:
Commons speaker to meet Mail on Sunday editor over Angela Rayner story
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he would be meeting the Mail on Sunday editor to discuss an article which reported “misogynistic and offensive” claims that Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tried to district Boris Johnson in the Commons by crossing and uncrossing her legs.
Misogyny should be banned under code of conduct, says Harriet Harman
Labour MP Harriet Harman has called for a change to the Commons rules to make misogynistic, homophobic and racist briefings a breach of the MPs’ code of conduct, writes our politics reporter Adam Forrest.
“Sexist briefings designed to undermine them is an age old way of trying to shut women up,” Ms Harman, who is the Mother of the House – the longest serving female MP – told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme.
“I don’t buy the argument that it was a casual remark. When an MP briefs a journalist they are doing something as part of their work. This is a deliberate way of undermining women MPs.”
Nigel Farage tried to sabotage my interview with Trump, Piers Morgan claims
Piers Morgan has claimed that Nigel Farage tried to sabotage his interview with Donald Trump.
Morgan said the former Brexit and UKIP party leader sent the ex-US president a three page document containing all the negative things he’d said about him just minutes before an interview due to air tonight.
More comments from Morgan below:
Boris Johnson backs Jacob Rees-Mogg leaving notes on civil servants’ desks
The government efficiency minister was criticised by unions last week after it emerged he had left “crass” and “condescending” messages for officials who were not at their desks.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Photos of Downing Street parties may never be published
Potentially damning photos of Downing Street parties may never be published, it emerged today.
Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
PM claims he remains electoral asset for Tories
Boris Johnson has claimed that he remains an electoral “asset” to the Tory party despite the ongoing scandal over lockdown parties in Downing Street, writes our political reporter Adam Forrest.
Asked if he was still an asset to the Tories in the forthcoming local council elections, he said: “I’m not denying that.”The PM said there was “absolutely no circumstance” in which he was going to comment on the final report of the senior civil servant Sue Gray.
A report in The Times, citing an official it described as being familiar with the contents of the complete report, said it is “excoriating” and could force Mr Johnson’s resignation.
Rishi Sunak falls to bottom of cabinet rankings in Tory faithful survey
Rishi Sunak has fallen to the bottom of a regular survey charting the popularity of senior cabinet ministers among the Tory faithful.
It follows weeks of criticism of the chancellor’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis, and intense scrutiny over his wife’s tax affairs, after it was revealed by The Independent she was claiming non-dom status.
Alongside Boris Johnson, the chancellor was also fined earlier this month by the Metropolitan Police for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room of No 10 during England’s first national lockdown.
Ashley Cowburn has more:
Boris Johnson threatens to unleash ‘terrors of the earth’ on Tory who made Rayner remark
Boris Johnson has threatened to unleash “terrors of the earth” on the Conservative MP who made misogynistic claims about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.
An unnamed Tory MP told the Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs on the Labour front bench during PMQs in an attempt to distract the prime minister.
Mr Johnson described the comments made about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner in a newspaper article as “the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe”.
Adam Forrest reports:
