Question Time audience reveal if they thought Boris Johnson was telling MPs the truth
‘Boris Johnson is a man of integrity,’ Levelling up secretary Michael Gove agreed on Sophy Ridge on Sunday
When questioned on the show this morning about whether he thinks the former prime minister is a man of integrity, Mr Gove replied: “I think that Boris is someone who puts the country first, yes,”
It comes as Mr Johnson is under investigation by the Commons privileges committee over whether he deliberately or recklessly misled the Commons with his statements about Partygate.
MPs investigating whether the former prime minister intentionally misled parliament over his understanding of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic could recommend a suspension of more than 10 days, triggering a contest for his Uxbridge constituency.
Mr Johnson is now preparing for a “worst case” scenario in which he has to fight a by-election he is expected to lose, allies have said.
Watch: Michael Gove backtracks on Boris Johnson comments insisting he’s ‘man of integrity’
Kwasi Kwarteng, Sir Graham Brady and Stephen Hammond should have the whip withdrawn so allegations they may have broken parliamentary rules on second jobs and use of offices can be investigated, shadow culture secretary told Times Radio.
Matt Hancock has already had whip removed
‘MPs should not have second jobs’, says shadow culture secretary
‘MPs should not have second jobs,’ shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell told Times Radio.
Ms Powell said there are “some exceptions” such as when MPs work as doctors or nurses.
The shadow culture secretary said MPs who work as political consultants should not have second jobs.
Boris was telling the truth on Partygate, says Gove
Michael Gove, asked on BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme whether he believed Boris Johnson’s evidence, said: “Yes, I did.”
Asked whether Mr Johnson had always told the truth, Mr Gove replied: “I think that all of us will at some point have told a white lie or an untruth.”
Gove said: “But I think the fundamental thing here … what was Boris’ argument? He was working incredibly hard, every hour that the Lord sent in order to try and do the right thing.”“
He believed that saying thank you to people who were leaving in the cramped and confined circumstances of 10 Downing Street was part of that job. Did he attend those events in a spirit of self-indulgence? No, he did so in order to show his gratitude to those who were working with him.”
He added: “I am inclined to give him not just the benefit of the doubt but to believe that when he places his hand on his heart and he said he did not think he was breaking the rules, I do believe him.”
Labour launch independent review panel into the ‘future direction’ of BBC
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the BBC is facing “some perception challenges” as she announced Labour was launching an independent review panel into the “future direction” of the broadcaster.
Asked if the BBC was currently independent of Government, she told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “Well I think there are some perception challenges at least in that regard and the reason that I’ve launched this independent review panel today with some very pre-eminent people from the industry working with me who are going to make recommendations and advise Labour on the future direction, is because the BBC does face a number of headwinds.
“But we’re sure that as the Labour Party that we support a universally funded, public service, publicly funded broadcaster in this country, we think that’s absolutely critical, but there are a number of headwinds that it faces. It’s got a charter renewal coming up, there are constant questions around future funding.
“This Government have basically put the BBC under threat in terms of its future funding. Its independence and impartiality is constantly being questioned and at the centre of culture wars and of course in the streaming age, the platform age, the social media age, that we are now living in, there are big challenges for the BBC and that’s why I want this panel at this stage to really do some deep policy work for Labour on these issues, so that we can secure the future of the BBC not just to survive, but to thrive into the next generation.”
Junior doctor’s strike ‘will not put patients’ lives at risk,’ says BMA chair
Dr Robert Laurenson, who co-chairs the The British Medical Association’s (BMA) junior doctor committee has apologised for the disruption further strike action will cause but said he does not think it will put patients’ lives at risk.
On whether the fresh walkout will put lives at risk, he told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: “I don’t think so and actually the NHS has shown itself to be very resilient over our last action, which was last week, over a 72 hour period.”
On cancelled appointments and the “huge” NHS backlog, he added: “This strike action, yes, it causes disruption and I’m sorry for that but it just demonstrates that we have 9,000 vacancies in secondary care have, we 6,000 fewer GPs, and it’s very difficult for patients to access health care that they deserve.”
On demands for a 35% pay rise, he added: “So doctors have lost 26.1% over the last 15 years in real terms and what we’re asking for is for that to be restored, so we’re asking for it to go back to a cost neutral point of view from 2008, and what that looks like, is about a five to £10 pound an hour increase. At the moment doctors start on £14 pounds an hour and we’re just asking for that to be restored to £19 an hour.”
Government’s anti-social behaviour plan ‘amounts to nothing,’ says shadow cabinet minister
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the Government’s anti-social behaviour plan “amounts to nothing”.
She told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “Well, look we’ve heard it all before from this Government and I think we have to judge them by their record and community sentencing over the last thirteen years is down not just by a third, but by two thirds.”
She added: “They scrapped the Asbo (Antisocial behaviour orders) regime that the last Labour government brought in and under their watch anti-social behaviour has got worse, sentencing has fallen immeasurably and we’re seeing crimes going unsolved.
“So yes, we hear these sort of re-boots and another re-boot and another announcement to get the Sunday media attention, but I think it amounts to nothing.”
Watch: Michael Gove challenged over cocaine use as he sets out ban on laughing gas
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he believes Boris Johnson’s evidence on partygate.
He says the former PM worked hard and believed saying thank you to departing No 10 staff was part of that job.
Gove says he is inclined to give Johnson the benefit of the doubt.
Rising rents ‘unacceptable’ says Gove
Rising rents are ‘unacceptable’, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
When asked if it is acceptable rents are climbing significantly, Gove replied “no”.
He said “unscrupulous” landlords should not “jack up rents and victimise tenants”.
