Boris Johnson has refused to withdraw his attack on the Church of England, following the Archbishop of Canterbury’s criticism of the government’s new immigration policy.
At a private meeting with Tory MPs on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Johnson said the plans to send lone male asylum-seekers to Rwanda was a “good policy” despite some “criticism on the BBC and from senior members of the clergy”.
He added that they both “had been less vociferous in their condemnation on Easter Sunday of Putin than they were on our policy of illegal immigrants”.
The comments drew a swift risposte from John Bingham, head of media at the Church of England, who said in a post on social media that if the reports from the meeting were true they were “a disgraceful slur”.
At PMQs on Wednesday, Labour leader Keir Starmer asked the prime minister whether he would “take this opportunity to apologise for slandering the Archbishop and the Church of England”.
However, Mr Johnson declined, saying he was surprised the government had been attacked for the new agreement with Rwanda.
Tory MP asks for ‘minister for men’ to combat mental health crisis
Boris Johnson ‘not here to lecture us on Ukraine’: What India hopes to get from UK PM’s visit
Russia, trade and respect are high on Delhi’s list as the British leader visits, writes Maroosha Muzaffar.
Labour MP will recuse himself from prospective investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament
Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs the Commons’ Committee of Privileges, has said he will recuse himself from a prospective investigation into whether Boris Johnson misled Parliament over partygate claims.
In a letter to members of the committee, he said: “I understand that some Honourable and Right Honourable Members have questioned whether I should chair such an inquiry into the Prime Minister, given that I have made several statements in the media on this matter.
“I am certain that if the House were to refer this matter to the committee, all of us would be entirely diligent in setting aside our personal feelings and allegiances, and discharging our duty to protect the reputation of the House without fear or favour.”
Mr Bryant continued: “However, it is also important that the House be seen to proceed fairly without any imputation of unfairness and that the whole House have confidence in the Committee of Privileges’ proceedings. I have therefore decided that if the motion to refer is carried tomorrow, I will recuse myself from any consideration of the matter.
“I will still chair the Committee of Privileges and the Committee on Standards for all our other business, but it will be for the rest of the committee to decide who should chair proceedings on this inquiry and how it should proceed.”
I’ve never seen Boris Johnson look quite so lost at the despatch box
The prime minister was like a boxer saying it must be time for the bell, writes John Rentoul.
Senior Tory will abstain on Labour motion
Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Charles Walker said he expects he will abstain in Thursday’s vote on a Labour motion to refer Boris Johnson to the privileges committee.
Sir Charles, who is vice-chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, said he did not believe there were sufficient Tory MPs prepared to call for a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson to force a vote in the “foreseeable future”.
But he also told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme: “If the fines keep racking up there is only so long that the prime minister will be able to lean on his party for support.”
‘You’re a parasite’: Tory MP launches angry tirade against Brexit protester outside parliament
A Conservative MP has launched a verbal tirade against an anti-Brexit protester outside parliament, telling him: “You’re nothing but a parasite”.
Lee Anderson, who was elected MP for Ashfield in 2019, was asked by activist Steve Bray whether he would still be supporting “liar” Boris Johnson to stay as prime minister, writes Jon Stone.
Mr Anderson, who was accompanied by guests and two police officers at the time, appeared angered by the question, stating: “At least I’ve got a job to lose, you haven’t got one.”
The activist, who is regularly seen outside parliament urging the government to reverse Brexit, said: “My job’s annoying and holding people like you to account.”
Should Boris Johnson be investigated further over Partygate? Have your say
MPs will get the opportunity to debate, and vote on, whether Boris Johnson should be referred to the Commons privileges committee over potentially false statements he made to parliament about Partygate, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has announced. And we want to know what you think should happen next.
Have your say. Click the link below to take part in our reader poll.
Nicola Sturgeon could step aside if SNP loses another independence referendum
Nicola Sturgeon has said she could step aside as Scotland’s first minister if her party loses another independence referendum.
Appearing on popular daytime talk show Loose Women, Ms Sturgeon was quizzed by panellist Carol McGiffin on what it would take for her to resign as leader.
Ms Sturgeon insisted she has no intention of quitting the role as First Minister or leader of the SNP, however she conceded she may hand the reins over if the country again votes No to independence.
The Scottish Government has said it plans to hold another referendum on Scotland’s place in the Union by 2023, however an official date is yet to be set.
There was fiery debate between Ms Sturgeon and McGiffin as the politician was quizzed on how she would react if another referendum was held and independence was rejected.
Ms Sturgeon jumped in to tell the panellist that it is a matter of “when” a referendum is held.
She said: “When Scotland next votes on independence, we will vote Yes,” she said.
Addressing a “hypothetical” scenario where Scotland votes No, she added: “I suspect I would make way for somebody else.
“I’m in the fortunate position of having been in politics for a long time, I’m not about to give it up, but when I do I will hopefully still be relatively young.”
Boris Johnson repeats false jobs claim in parliament – despite previous admission it was untrue
Boris Johnson has repeated a discredited claim about more Britons being in work than before the Covid pandemic – despite previously accepting a correction by the statistics watchdog.
The prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday that they were “more people in work than there were before the pandemic”.
It is the same claim that the UK Statistics Authority had previously scolded him for making in parliament – saying it was simply “wrong”.
Adam Forrest has the details.
Johnson did not apply pressure over Lebedev peerage, says watchdog
No pressure was exerted by the Prime Minister or Downing Street when it came to recommending Lord Lebedev for a peerage, according to a Lords watchdog.
Lord Bew, chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, told MPs the assessment for the media mogul, whose father was a former KGB agent, was a unique process that involved security checks.
But he said the committee approved the peerage without interference from Boris Johnson.
Questions have been raised over whether the Prime Minister asked anyone in the security services to revise, reconsider or withdraw their assessment of Lord Lebedev, who owns the Independent and Evening Standard newspapers, ahead of his appointment in November 2020.
Crossbencher Lord Bew told the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: “There was no pressure on this issue from No 10 or the Prime Minister.”
Lord Bew, a former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said there was a back-and-forth with security services and a search for clarification, but stressed there was no warning or delay issued about Lord Lebedev.
