Markus Andrews

Moment PM denies No 10 party took place on day he was photographed drinkingBoris Johnson told MPs that there was no lockdown party at Downing Street – a claim since discredited by the emergence of new photos showing him drinking at a gathering.In December 2021 in the House of Commons, Labour MP Catherine West asked the prime minister to say “whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November [2020]?”In the brief exchange, Mr Johnson replied – to the jeers of opposition MPs: “No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.”Almost 18 months later, his denial has been contradicted by four photos, obtained by ITV News and published today, that show the prime minister raising a toast at a party for his then director of communications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.In the pictures, a number of people can be seen standing together around a table of party food and booze, despite – at the time – the rest of the country being banned from socialising during the height of the pandemic.Show latest update

1653281370Minister refuses to say if No 10 called ‘secret meeting’ with Sue GrayA cabinet minister evaded multiple questions about whether No 10 had a “secret meeting” with Sue Gray over her Partygate investigation.Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, refused to divulge any details and ducked several questions by reporters about who requested the talks.Read the full story here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 05:491653281727Boris Johnson ‘must urgently explain’ why he met Sue Gray to discuss her Partygate reportBoris Johnson is under pressure to explain why he met with Sue Gray to discuss her report into the Partygate scandal, which is due within days.Labour warned the “secret meeting” could further damage confidence in the investigation of the scandal, while the Liberal Democrats raised fears of “a stitch up”.Read the full story by Independent’s deputy political editor, Rob Merrick here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 05:551653282195Partygate is a reminder that the government must work with the civil service – not against itWhether or not the meeting between the prime minister and Sue Gray was appropriate, the whole episode is an indication of a wider dysfunctional relationship.Read the Independent editorial here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:031653282739Simon Case to face ‘stinging criticism in Sue Gray report’Top civil servant Simon Case is expected to be hard-hit by the long-awaited Sue Gray Partygate report despite not being fined over the scandal, it has been reported.Reports have also suggested the document, expected to be published in the coming days, will feature photographs of illegal gatherings.Read the full story here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:121653284034 Boris Johnson ‘backs former Met Police chief to take charge of National Crime Agency’According to reports, Boris Johnson is set to back the former head of the Metropolitan Police to take charge of the National Crime Agency (NCA).Lord Hogan-Howe could become the director-general of NCA, the Sunday Times reported — despite failing to make it into the final round of candidates.Following interviews with home secretary Priti Patel, two highly qualified police chiefs have already been rejected for the role. Now, the newspaper reported, Mr Johnson wants the 64-year-old Hogan-Howe to lead the agency.Hogan-Howe was chief of the Met Police from 2011 to 2017.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:331653284727Sue Gray denies calling meeting with No 10Sue Gray has denied requesting a meeting with No 10 to discuss her report into the Partygate scandal.A spokesperson for Ms Gray was quoted by Sky News as saying that she “did not initiate the meeting” and rubbished reports claiming that the Partygate photos were discussed during the talks.However, a No 10 source told the Evening Standard that “the PM did not request the meeting and hasn’t tried to influence the outcome in anyway. It’s rightly for Sue to decide and it’s all done independently.”Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:451653285108Prince William to appear on £5 coin to mark his 40th birthdayPrince William’s 40th birthday will be celebrated with a £5 coin featuring his portrait, it was reported.The Royal Mint said that the UK’s official coin producer has unveiled the coin ahead of William’s birthday on 21 June.It is the first time the duke — who is second in line to the throne — will appear alone on an official coin.The coin features his portrait set amid his royal cypher – his initial W – and the number 40.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:511653285663Local Conservative candidate’s tweet causes outrageOn Saturday a post on the Twitter account of Jonty Campbell — a Conservative local election candidate from Preston — said: “Here’s the thing with girls 22 or under, they smell massively different to a girl of 28. Girls aged 16 to, say 23, have this buttery, creamy, slightly sweet smell that is unbelievably magnetic.”The post received massive criticism online and led to a number of expressions of outrage against Mr Campbell.Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, an author and women’s rights activist, responded: “What did I just FREAKING read? Where do you begin to deconstruct this evil. It’s the mindset of misogyny/violence against women personified. What a sick disgusting perversion about young women. Jonty Campbell is who @Conservatives have as candidate? What a pervert! @CmdrJonty”Mr Campbell’s account was later set to private after the outrage.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 07:011653286623Anticipation over Sue Gray report heightens amid clamour over ‘secret meeting’Sue Gray’s report into the Partygate scandal is finally set to be published this week, as the prime minister faces mounting calls to explain his “secret meeting” with the senior civil servant.It has been reported that top civil servant Simon Case will be hit hard by the damning report expected to be published in the next few days.The Sue Gray report is said to feature photographs of the illegal parties in Downing Street, including those attended by Boris Johnson, during the lockdown.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 07:171653288551Sue Gray Partygate report ‘contains photos’Sue Gray’s long-awaited report into illegal Downing Street parties held during the coronavirus lockdown will reportedly contain images from the events.ITV News political editor Robert Peston wrote on Twitter: “For the first time I can remember, a report by a Cabinet office official will contain photos. The Sue Gray report, when published this week, will – I understand – contain photos of the Downing St [parties]. The stakes for PM and Cabinet Sec Case very high indeed.”Chiara Giordano23 May 2022 07:49 More

The Home Office warned that protest banning orders now backed by Priti Patel would not work, MPs have been told.The new orders would empower police to put electronic tags on disruptive demonstrators and restrict where they go, who they meet and what they do in person or online, even if they have not committed a crime.“Serious disruption prevention orders” are among a raft of controversial police powers in the new Public Order Bill, which are being brought to parliament for a second time after being defeated by the House of Lords in January.Other proposed measures include making “locking-on” – where campaigners lock themselves to parts of buildings – a criminal offence and allowing the suspicionless stop and search of protesters for items that could be used for that purpose.The bill would create offences of interfering with key national infrastructure or obstructing major transport works, punishable by imprisonment.But opposition MPs said the prime minister would fall foul of the proposed law himself if he fulfilled his vow to “lie down in front of the bulldozers” to prevent a new runway being constructed at Heathrow Airport.Backing the bill in the House of Commons on Monday, the home secretary said it would combat a “rise in criminal, disruptive and self-defeating tactics from a supremely selfish minority”.Ms Patel said the orders were to target protesters who were “determined to repeatedly inflict disruption on the public”, citing groups including Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, pointed to a HM Inspectorate of Constabulary report commissioned by Ms Patel on protest powers.She said that the Home Office itself had argued against the creation of protest banning orders and was quoted by the watchdog saying they were “unlikely to work as hoped”.The report, published in March 2021, included a Home Office response saying that persistent environmental activists who influence others to commit crimes were “undeterred by the threat of arrest” and fines.“This proposal [of protest banning orders] essentially takes away a person’s right to protest and we believe banning people from attending peaceful protests would very likely to lead to a legal challenge,” the Home Office continued.“It appears unlikely that a court would issue a high penalty to someone who is peacefully protesting. Consequently, we believe it unlikely the measure would work as hoped.”Priti Patel grilled by police officers over payMs Cooper also told MPs that police officers were quoted in the same report as being divided on the prospect of new powers, with some saying existing laws were sufficient but “the ability to implement them is the challenge due to lack of resources”.The home secretary said that HM Inspectorate of Constabulary “argued that stop and search powers would be an effective tool for police in this case”.But the watchdog’s report said: “Arguing against the proposal for a new stop and search power, an officer stated that ‘a little inconvenience is more acceptable than a police state’. We agree with this sentiment.”Ms Cooper told MPs that existing laws and powers, such as court injunctions, could already be used to limit disruptive protests.“This bill won’t make it easier to prevent serious disruption,” the Labour MP added.“It will instead target peaceful protesters and passers-by who aren’t disrupting anyone or anything at all … the government is extending powers normally made available for serious violence and terrorism to peaceful protests.”Ms Cooper questioned why the government had not waited for another raft of controversial protest powers brought in by the previous Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act to be implemented before “coming back for more”.The shadow home secretary proposed an amendment against the second reading of the Public Order Bill, saying it will not prevent serious disruption to essential services and “includes instead measures that replicate existing powers, includes powers that are too widely drawn and which erode historic freedoms of peaceful protest”.Ms Patel said the measures “are not about clamping down on freedom of speech”, adding: “The protesters involved in these types of examples that I have presented have better routes, alternative routes to make their voices heard and they know that.”The bill was expected to pass its second reading in the House of Commons and go into committee scrutiny. More

Half of all MPs’ staff are suffering from clinical levels of psychological distress and are at “breaking point” due to years of crisis in Westminster, according to a new study.A combination of factors such as a lack of support, abuse from the public and multiple upheavals such as Covid and Brexit have negatively impacted parliamentary aides, as reported by The Guardian.The survey of nearly 200 members of MPs’ staff found that 72.2 per cent found the job “emotionally draining” and 64.4 per cent found it “difficult”.More than a third (34.9 per cent) felt they were undersupported and 1 in five (22.6 per cent) said the job was “harrowing”.The most alarming part of the study, which was the first of its kind, revealed that 49.5 per cent of respondents met the medical threshold for psychological distress, which is more than twice the general population.The survey was carried out by occupational psycologist Dr Ashley Weinberg who used a screening tool called the General Health Questionnaire-12. This is often used to measure levels of psycological distress in patients.The survey also revealed that one-fifth of workers felt unsafe and many said they were struggling to cope with an increased workload from constituents in difficult or emergency situations.Some staff said they were dealing with bullying or harassment. One staff member said: “I enjoy working with colleagues as a result of solidarity from the bullying many in the team face from the MP.”The wellness working group, a cross-party group of MPs’ staff, said the problems highlighted by the report were “very concerning” and called for cultural change at Wesminster. Thomas Fairweather, an executive member of the working group, said the cost of living crisis had left staff fearing that workloads will increase even further.He said: “Staff are too used to the horrible, sickening feeling that coming down the line there will be another huge influx of people in desperate situations, needing help in ways that teams are not trained for. “With more suitable training, resources and changes to fix the wellbeing problem, we could do so much more.”The study comes just days before Sue Gray’s Partygate report is expected to criticise the senior figures at No 10 for multiple gatherings while Covid regulations were in force. More

Moment PM denies No 10 party took place on day he was photographed drinkingBoris Johnson told MPs that there was no lockdown party at Downing Street – a claim since discredited by the emergence of new photos showing him drinking at a gathering.In December 2021 in the House of Commons, Labour MP Catherine West asked the prime minister to say “whether there was a party in Downing Street on 13 November [2020]?”In the brief exchange, Mr Johnson replied – to the jeers of opposition MPs: “No, but I am sure that whatever happened, the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.”Almost 18 months later, his denial has been contradicted by four photos, obtained by ITV News and published today, that show the prime minister raising a toast at a party for his then director of communications Lee Cain on 13 November 2020.In the pictures, a number of people can be seen standing together around a table of party food and booze, despite – at the time – the rest of the country being banned from socialising during the height of the pandemic.Show latest update

1653281370Minister refuses to say if No 10 called ‘secret meeting’ with Sue GrayA cabinet minister evaded multiple questions about whether No 10 had a “secret meeting” with Sue Gray over her Partygate investigation.Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, refused to divulge any details and ducked several questions by reporters about who requested the talks.Read the full story here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 05:491653281727Boris Johnson ‘must urgently explain’ why he met Sue Gray to discuss her Partygate reportBoris Johnson is under pressure to explain why he met with Sue Gray to discuss her report into the Partygate scandal, which is due within days.Labour warned the “secret meeting” could further damage confidence in the investigation of the scandal, while the Liberal Democrats raised fears of “a stitch up”.Read the full story by Independent’s deputy political editor, Rob Merrick here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 05:551653282195Partygate is a reminder that the government must work with the civil service – not against itWhether or not the meeting between the prime minister and Sue Gray was appropriate, the whole episode is an indication of a wider dysfunctional relationship.Read the Independent editorial here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:031653282739Simon Case to face ‘stinging criticism in Sue Gray report’Top civil servant Simon Case is expected to be hard-hit by the long-awaited Sue Gray Partygate report despite not being fined over the scandal, it has been reported.Reports have also suggested the document, expected to be published in the coming days, will feature photographs of illegal gatherings.Read the full story here:Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:121653284034 Boris Johnson ‘backs former Met Police chief to take charge of National Crime Agency’According to reports, Boris Johnson is set to back the former head of the Metropolitan Police to take charge of the National Crime Agency (NCA).Lord Hogan-Howe could become the director-general of NCA, the Sunday Times reported — despite failing to make it into the final round of candidates.Following interviews with home secretary Priti Patel, two highly qualified police chiefs have already been rejected for the role. Now, the newspaper reported, Mr Johnson wants the 64-year-old Hogan-Howe to lead the agency.Hogan-Howe was chief of the Met Police from 2011 to 2017.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:331653284727Sue Gray denies calling meeting with No 10Sue Gray has denied requesting a meeting with No 10 to discuss her report into the Partygate scandal.A spokesperson for Ms Gray was quoted by Sky News as saying that she “did not initiate the meeting” and rubbished reports claiming that the Partygate photos were discussed during the talks.However, a No 10 source told the Evening Standard that “the PM did not request the meeting and hasn’t tried to influence the outcome in anyway. It’s rightly for Sue to decide and it’s all done independently.”Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:451653285108Prince William to appear on £5 coin to mark his 40th birthdayPrince William’s 40th birthday will be celebrated with a £5 coin featuring his portrait, it was reported.The Royal Mint said that the UK’s official coin producer has unveiled the coin ahead of William’s birthday on 21 June.It is the first time the duke — who is second in line to the throne — will appear alone on an official coin.The coin features his portrait set amid his royal cypher – his initial W – and the number 40.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 06:511653285663Local Conservative candidate’s tweet causes outrageOn Saturday a post on the Twitter account of Jonty Campbell — a Conservative local election candidate from Preston — said: “Here’s the thing with girls 22 or under, they smell massively different to a girl of 28. Girls aged 16 to, say 23, have this buttery, creamy, slightly sweet smell that is unbelievably magnetic.”The post received massive criticism online and led to a number of expressions of outrage against Mr Campbell.Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, an author and women’s rights activist, responded: “What did I just FREAKING read? Where do you begin to deconstruct this evil. It’s the mindset of misogyny/violence against women personified. What a sick disgusting perversion about young women. Jonty Campbell is who @Conservatives have as candidate? What a pervert! @CmdrJonty”Mr Campbell’s account was later set to private after the outrage.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 07:011653286623Anticipation over Sue Gray report heightens amid clamour over ‘secret meeting’Sue Gray’s report into the Partygate scandal is finally set to be published this week, as the prime minister faces mounting calls to explain his “secret meeting” with the senior civil servant.It has been reported that top civil servant Simon Case will be hit hard by the damning report expected to be published in the next few days.The Sue Gray report is said to feature photographs of the illegal parties in Downing Street, including those attended by Boris Johnson, during the lockdown.Maroosha Muzaffar23 May 2022 07:171653288551Sue Gray Partygate report ‘contains photos’Sue Gray’s long-awaited report into illegal Downing Street parties held during the coronavirus lockdown will reportedly contain images from the events.ITV News political editor Robert Peston wrote on Twitter: “For the first time I can remember, a report by a Cabinet office official will contain photos. The Sue Gray report, when published this week, will – I understand – contain photos of the Downing St [parties]. The stakes for PM and Cabinet Sec Case very high indeed.”Chiara Giordano23 May 2022 07:49 More

One in eight people who were admitted to hospital with Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021 were later diagnosed with myocarditis, or heart inflammation, research into the long-term effects of the virus has found.Glasgow University and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde carried out the largest study of its kind, tracking 159 coronavirus patients after they were admitted.It found they had a number of ongoing health conditions.The study, published in Nature magazine, examined why some patients suffered long-term ill health after admission to hospital with Covid-19. More

The government has failed to secure cross-party support for its flagship proposals on the Northern Ireland peace process.Labour sources said the party would oppose the plans, which include a controversial amnesty for those accused of crimes during the Troubles, at the second reading of the Bill on Tuesday.The plans, unveiled in the Queen’s Speech, were designed to find a way to protect ex-soldiers who served in Northern Ireland from prosecution, without applying the same rules to former terrorists.Instead, ministers announced that those only who cooperated with a new Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, based on South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, would be offered an effective amnesty. The government declared the plans would provide “the best route to give victims and their families the answers they have sought for years as well as giving our veterans the certainty they deserve”.But they attracted criticism from victims groups and the largest Unionist party in Northern Ireland, the DUP, expressed its concerns.Earlier this month a former Conservative minister told The Independent he did not think his party would “wear” the proposals when their ramificationswere set out.Labour sources said that the plans legislation had been poorly received in Northern Ireland. More

Disgraced former Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.The 48-year-old was expelled from the Conservative Party and later resigned from his West Yorkshire seat after he was convicted for the 2008 attack following a trial at Southwark Crown Court last month.Sentencing on Monday, Mr Justice Baker said Khan had shown no remorse, adding: “The only regret you feel is towards yourself for having found yourself in the predicament you face as a result of your actions some 14 years ago.’’The court heard Khan forced the boy to drink gin, dragged him upstairs, pushed him onto a bed and asked him to watch pornography before attacking him at a house party in Staffordshire.The victim, now 29, told the jury he was left feeling “scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised” after Khan, then 34, touched his feet and legs, coming within “a hair’s breadth” of his genitals, in a top bunkbed after the party. More

A local branch of the Conservative Party is investigating a tweet from the account of a candidate in the local elections that said 16-year-old girls have a “creamy, buttery” smell, The Independent can reveal.A post on the Twitter account of Jonty Campbell, who has stood several times for Preston Conservatives, said: “Here’s the thing with girls 22 or under, they smell massively different to a girl of 28. Girls 16 to, say, 23 have this creamy, buttery, slightly sweet smell that is unbelievably magnetic.”The tweet, sent on Saturday night, was met with disgust online after a screengrab of it was shared by a journalist. Andrew Pratt, chair of Preston Conservatives, said: “The current tweet from [@CmdrJonty] is being investigated and a further statement will follow. This language and opinion about women and girls is completely unacceptable.”Mr Campbell has contested seats on Preston Council for the Conservatives five times in recent elections and by-elections, most recently coming second to Labour in Ribbleton ward last month.The Preston Conservatives website had listed him as the branch’s deputy campaign chair, but on Monday morning his listing was no longer there.The Twitter account from which the tweet was posted, @CmdrJonty, was also gone on Monday morning. More