Related video: Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for handling of sleaze scandal
The prime minister has said he will not intervene after Tory MP Geoffrey Cox was found to have voted from the Caribbean during lockdown, insisting the controversy is not a matter for him.
Asked if it was “appropriate” for the former attorney general to have worked in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Boris Johnson’s spokesman said the “rules are set” by the Commons – not by Downing Street.
It comes as Labour demanded No 10 investigate whether the £1m-earning lawyer “is a Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP”.
“The irony is not lost on me that [Sir Geoffrey] arrived in the Caribbean on the day that those MPs who actually feel a sense of duty to their constituents were debating global anti-corruption standards,” Labour chair Anneliese Dodds wrote in a letter to the PM.
Earlier, justice secretary Dominic Raab defended Sir Geoffrey’s role defending the BVI against corruption charges, saying it was “right and legitimate” for MPs to hold second jobs. Mr Cox, the highest-earning MP, advised the tax haven after the Foreign Office brought an inquiry against it.
Whole Yorkshire board must resign, says Labour
The whole Yorkshire cricket board should resign amid a public backlash against racism at the club, Labour has said.
Shadow sport and culture secretary Jo Stevens said the remaining board members should leave their posts after the “shameful fiasco”, before expressing her hope that the EHRC investigates the matter.
Ms Stevens added that the prime minister, who has himself been accused of racism in the past, should “lead by example” in tackling the problem.
Downing Street backs MPs with second jobs
Parliament has “historically” benefitted from MPs taking second jobs, Downing Street has claimed.
The prime minister’s spokesperson said he condoned “outside experience, where this is reasonable and an MP’s parliamentary duties can still take priority”.
“It’s incumbent on them (MPs) to be able to demonstrate to the electorate that they are working on their behalf,” they added.
Parliamentary recess needs to be cancelled amid sleaze row, say Liberal Democrats
The parliamentary recess due to begin today should be cancelled due to the current sleaze row, the Liberal Democrats have said.
In a letter to the leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Lib Dems said PMQs should be held on Wednesday so Boris Johnson could be held accountable.
“Boris Johnson must not run and hide from this sleaze scandal. The Conservatives are hoping that they will be saved by the bell, so they don’t have to answer questions on these allegations. It is utterly unacceptable,” Wendy Chamberlain MP said.
Ministers must stop ‘incendiary language’ over NI protocol, says O’Neill
The British government should stop its “incendiary language” over the Northern Ireland protocol, Stormont’s deputy first minister has warned.
Michelle O’Neill, of Sinn Fein, said Boris Johnson’s government and the DUP need to “dial down the rhetoric” about the arrangement.
Her remarks followed the torching of two buses in Northern Ireland by loyalists who oppose the protocol.
After speaking to Brexit minister Lord David Frost, Ms O’Neill said disorder must be prevented.
“So we need to do everything in our power to stop it. So I’ve asked them to dial it down, I have warned them against the language they’re using, I have also asked them to remove the threat to trigger Article 16 because that’s not what the majority of parties here want, what the wider business community want,” she said.
Who are the highest paid Tory MPs?
Britain’s highest-earning MPs took home more than £3.2 million from their second jobs since the start of last year.
Theresa May and Fiona Bruce were in the top three earners, after being paid £760,000 and £382,000 respectively.
But Geoffrey Cox, whose extra salaries have raised eyebrows this week, was by far and away the highest paid, with earnings just £30,000 shy of £1 million.
Labour demand PM launches probe into Geoffrey Cox
Labour members are not happy about the Geoffrey Cox voting scandal, with the party calling on Boris Johnson to launch an urgent investigation into Sir Geoffrey role in advising the government of the British Virgin Islands in a corruption probe.
Labour chair Anneliese Dodds has written to the PM, saying: “It appears that your former Attorney General is profiting from advising an administration accused of corruption and tax avoidance.”
In the letter, Ms Dodds said: “It seems Sir Geoffrey took advantage of Covid-related parliamentary rules and flew out to the BVI to vote by proxy from the other side of the Atlantic.
“The irony is not lost on me that he arrived in the Caribbean on the day that those MPs who actually feel a sense of duty to their constituents were debating global anti-corruption standards.
“The people of Torridge and West Devon must be wondering if Geoffrey Cox is a Caribbean-based barrister or a Conservative MP.”
She tweeted this last night:
Johnson refuses to intervene over MP voting from Caribbean
Boris Johnson has refused to intervene after Tory MP Geoffrey Cox voted from the Caribbean during lockdown, saying the controversy is not a matter for him.
Asked if it was “appropriate” for the former attorney general to have worked in the British Virgin Islands, the prime minister’s spokesman said the “rules are set” by the Commons – not by No 10, reports our deputy political editor Rob Merrick.
Asked, three times, if the government would quiz Sir Geoffrey over his activities earlier this year, the spokesman declined to say that he would.
Watch: Raab claims PM ‘followed guidance’ during maskless hospital visit
Ratcliffe says ‘there are consequences for PM’s unkept promises’
On that note, The Independent went and spoke to Richard Ratcliffe last week – on day 10 of his demonstration.
The father-of-one spoke about everything from letters his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, and Boris Johnson exchanged while the former was imprisoned, why he feels the PM is failing to lead properly on the issue, and how Nazanin is coping in Iran.
Here’s how it went:
Starmer and Rayner visit Ratcliffe on day 17 of hunger strike
Some news from outside the Foreign Office now, where Richard Ratcliffe is on day 17 of his hunger strike in his latest bid to secure his wife’s release from Iran.
Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner visited the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Whitehall today.
Deputy Labour leader Ms Rayner told Mr Ratcliffe: “I’m really sorry that you are having to do this.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir told him: “There has to be a resolution to this,” adding: “I feel that there is more support now than last time.”
Mr Ratcliffe is yet to hear from PM Boris Johnson.
