Boris Johnson’s troubles have deepened after it emerged a ministerial aide who publicly defended him privately told a constituent the PM’s position appeared “terminal”.
Lucy Allen said the situation had changed since she made the comment last week, but her remarks will be viewed a sign of the unease within the party over Mr Johnson’s leadership, with the Metropolitan Police expected to contact at least 50 people in No 10 and Whitehall by the end of the week.
The Met itself is embroiled in a political crisis following the resignation of Cressida Dick.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has been accused of leaving a “void” at the top of the force after Dame Cressida was forced out as Metropolitan Police commissioner.
Susan Hall, the Conservative chair of the London Assembly’s police and crime committee, argued the chaotic exit had been handled “extremely badly” by the mayor.
Home secretary Priti Patel has also clashed with Mr Khan. According to Home Office sources, she thought he had acted in a “rude and unprofessional” manner.
PM ‘fears for the security of Europe’ as Foreign Office urges Brits to leave Ukraine
Boris Johnson told world leaders including US President Joe Biden that he fears for the security of Europe, according to Downing Street.
After a virtual call, a No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister told the group that he feared for the security of Europe in the current circumstances.
“He impressed the need for Nato allies to make it absolutely clear that there will be a heavy package of economic sanctions ready to go, should Russia make the devastating and destructive decision to invade Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister added that President Putin had to understand that there would be severe penalties that would be extremely damaging to Russia’s economy, and that Allies needed to continue with efforts to reinforce and support the Eastern frontiers of Nato.”
It comes as British nationals have been urged by the Foreign Office to leave Ukraine immediately “while commercial means are still available”.
Tory MP criticised for urging police to stop wasting resources probing suspected killing of white-tailed eagle
An MP has attracted criticism after he suggested police were wasting resources by investigating the killing of an eagle.
Chris Loder urged police to focus on county lines drug trafficking “rather than spend time and resources” investigating the death of a white-tailed eagle in the county in a tweet on Thursday evening.
A day earlier, the Tory MP for West Dorset had expressed support for a separate police probe into footage showing West Ham player Kurt Zouma kicking a cat.
Tom Batchelor reports.
Boris Johnson needs a lawyer – but would any be foolish enough to take the case?
It is immediately obvious to every lawyer that’s looked at the details thus far that Johnson appears to be absolutely bang to rights over ‘Partygate’. But we shall have to see, writes Tom Peck.
Should all Covid restrictions end this month? Have your say in our poll
Boris Johnson announced this week the government wants to end all domestic Covid-19 restrictions in England, including the legal requirement to self-isolate, a month earlier than planned.
The prime minister told MPs on Wednesday: “Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive – a full month early.”
He said he would present the government’s “Living With Covid” strategy when the Commons returns from its recess on 21 February. Aides said remaining restrictions are expected to be lifted by 24 February at the latest.
The move will make England the first major nation to stand down all of its domestic coronavirus rules, as Downing Street said that the country was “entering the stage of endemicity” of the disease, thanks to a successful vaccine and booster programme.
What do you think about this decision? Do you think this is the right move or is there an alternative. Take part in our poll below and let us know what you think:
Brexit sees non-EU imports overtake trade with the bloc for first time ever
The UK’s imports from non-EU countries overtook those from the bloc last year for the first time since records began.
New data from the Office for National Statistics show that the UK imported £222 billion worth of goods from the European Union last year after Brexit
It is the lowest figure in more than half a decade and shows the clear impact of the UK’s Brexit vote on international trade.
Meanwhile imports from non-EU countries rose from £206 billion in 2020 to £254 billion last year.
Dominic Raab ridiculed over claim of ‘talks with Welsh government’, after meeting Tories
Dominic Raab has been ridiculed after publishing pictures of himself with “the Welsh government” – when he actually met Tory opposition leaders.
The gaffe-prone justice secretary was left red-faced when he tweeted about a meeting in Cardiff about his controversial diluting of human rights laws, to “restore some common sense” he said.
Mr Raab claimed the meeting was with “partners” in the Senedd government, which is run by Labour through a cooperation agreement with the nationalists of Plaid Cymru.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has the details.
Next Met Police Commissioner needs to ‘learn from history’
The next commissioner of the Metropolitan Police needs to “learn from history” and acknowledge the force’s “systemic failures”, a founding member of the National Black Police Association (NBPA) has said.
Leroy Logan, who has been a regular critic of outgoing commissioner Dame Cressida Dick over the last two years, said the next chief must make Scotland Yard “more open and accountable”.
The former Met superintendent, who became the first chairman of the NBPA, has tipped Neil Basu for the top job, saying his “cultural competence” may put him “head and shoulders” above other candidates.
Speaking to PA, Mr Logan said: “I’ve been calling for her (Dame Cressida) to go for the last two years since 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests and the whole George Floyd issue and how she responded to that.
“She wouldn’t acknowledge institutional racism or any other systemic failure … she was in total denial then, and I found it continued throughout the following two years.”
The next candidate for the job must have a “really clear understanding that they need to acknowledge systemic failures – whether it’s institutional racism, sexism, or anything else”, he said, adding that they need to follow that up with making the Met “more accountable and transparent”.
Believing improvements can be accomplished “quickly”, Mr Logan said the sudden change in leadership following Dame Cressida’s departure will give the force the chance for a “clean break”.
