Boris Johnson has promised to address parliament next week about his fine for breaching Covid laws and “set the record straight in any way that I can” on his previous claims that no rules were broken.
Answering questions following a speech on immigration in Kent, Mr Johnson said that Rishi Sunak – who also faced a £50 fine for attending the prime minister’s lockdown-breaching birthday party in 2020 – was safe in his position as chancellor.
Earlier another back bench Tory MP suggested Mr Johnson should resign over the Partygate scandal, saying the public is “right to expect the highest standards of behaviour from our leaders.
Karen Bradley, a former cabinet minister who represents Staffordshire Moorlands, said: “I will spend the next few days consulting my constituents and will decide on what action to take after listening to them.
“But I do wish to make it clear that if I had been a minister found to have broken the laws that I passed, I would be tendering my resignation now.”
Labour MP describes Rwanda plans as ‘morally debased’ diversion from Partygate
Sending asylum seekers to Rwanda ‘absurd and despicable stunt’ to distract from Partygate
Anti-fascism and anti-racism campaigners have called the government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda “yet another absurd and despicable stunt” that is distracting from Partygate.
Director of policy at Hope Not Hate, Rosie Carter, said ministers had set out a “completely unworkable and unethical plan” that gives the “green light” to anti-migrant hate”.
She said: “The far right has used revived interest in immigration and asylum as a tactic to mainstream their appeal, feeding on the hostile environment created by the Government.
“In the last few years we have seen repeated explicit targeting of people who are migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and the organisations that support them.
“In a hostile climate, where migrants and refugees have faced daily harassment from organised far-right political groups, the Home Secretary has offered no safeguards, but instead pursued a line of inflammatory language that incubates the far right.”
ICYMI: All the times the UK has changed prime minister during a war
Some Tories have argued they cannot change leader because of the war in Ukraine, John Stone, our policy correspondent, writes.
But changing prime minister during a war or international crisis is not unusual… in fact, it is rather the norm throughout history.
Read John’s full piece here:
Sunak in US next week amid Partygate and green card saga
Rishi Sunak will visit the US next week for the first time since it emerged that he held a green card while chancellor and was fined for breaking Covid laws.
Mr Sunak is due to visit Washington DC from 19 April until 21 April to take part in the Spring Meetings of the IMF, his spokesperson told the HuffPost.
The meeting brings together bankers, ministers, private sector bosses and academics to discuss the global economy and politics.
ICYMI: Can Boris Johnson survive or will his party realise he is an electoral loser?
There is little room for sentimentality in the Tory party, and not much gratitude for past glories, writes Sean O’Grady.
Read Sean’s full piece here:
Patel: PM should be respected for apologising
Home secretary Priti Patel said the prime minister should be “respected” for giving a “very thorough and fulsome apology” after being fined for breaking lockdown rules.
Asked by reporters during her visit to Rwanda whether she was disappointed that Boris Johnson had been fined for breaking the rules, she said: “The prime minister has apologised, the prime minister has paid a fine.
“I’m not going to give a running commentary on this, there’s an investigation still ongoing. But I think I just come back constantly to the fact that the prime minister has given, actually, a very thorough and fulsome apology, and he should be respected for that.”
ICYMI: Johnson’s pals severely underestimate the intelligence of the British public and it shows
Social posts are a way for prime ministers to keep track of loyalty – and a lack of affirmation is often put down as a betrayal, Tom Peck writes.
Read Tom’s full piece below:
Boris Johnson’s Rwanda migrant announcement is a lazy diversion tactic at best
Instead of taking ownership of his own behaviour and that of his government, the prime minister would rather stoke the fires of anti-immigration sentiment, Emma Clarke writes.
Read Emma’s full piece below:
More Tory MPs say Boris Johnson should go
More Conservative MPs have urged Boris Johnson to resign after he was fined for breaking lockdown rules at his illegal No 10 birthday party.
Former Cabinet minister Karen Bradley is among Tories to voice concerns about the PM’s leadership, branding Mr Johnson’s behaviour during lockdown “unforgivable”.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more details below:
Boris Johnson promises to ‘set the record straight’ on Partygate fine in parliament next week
Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock has more on this story:
