Markus Andrews

Voters think Boris Johnson is a “charlatan”, a senior Tory and former minister has said in a withering attack on the prime minister following his party’s by-election defeat to the Liberal Democrats.Dominic Grieve, who served as attorney general, spoke out against Mr Johnson after Sarah Green overturned a huge Conservative majority to record a stunning victory at the Chesham and Amersham contest.Mr Grieve, a remainer ousted from his Beaconsfield seat at the last general election, put the Tories defeat down to what he described as a “pretty sophisticated electorate” in the Buckinghamshire seat, which is located about a 35 minute drive from Watford in Greater London and not far from his former constituency.Voters in Chesham and Amersham know “what a fraudulent prospectus is, and they have a very low opinion of the prime minister,” Mr Grieve said.”And they consider him to be a charlatan,” he added. “And this is I think quite a widespread view among a certain section of the electorate that has consistently voted Conservative all their lives because this is a deeply conservative area with a ‘small c’.”Thursday’s by-election was triggered by the death of former cabinet minister Dame Cheryl Gillan, who took the seat with a majority of 16,233 in the 2019 general election, securing some 55 per cent of the vote.In what was a big upset, the Lib Dem candidate Sarah Green secured 21,517 votes against Tory Peter Fleet’s 13,489.”Tonight the voice of Chesham and Amersham is unmistakable,” Ms Green said in her acceptance speech. “Together we have said: ‘Enough is enough, we will be heard, and this Government will listen.'”The Greens came third and Labour in fourth, with its candidate securing just 622 votes in what was another hugely disappointing election result for the party. Labour was never expected to win but its poor showing will raise further questions about Keir Starmer’s stewardship of the party.Speaking to BBC News on Friday morning Mr Grieve, who was suspended from the Conservative Party in 2019 for defying the prime minister on a Brexit vote, claimed that the Chesham and Amersham was predictable.”Indeed all the information I was picking up from the from friends who live there suggested to me that this was going to be the outcome,” he said.The HS2 rail project and green belt planning concerns were two big issues in Chesham and Amersham contest – a seat that has only ever chosen a Tory MP. But Mr Grieve is adamant that Mr Johnson’s approach to politics and his “fraudulent prospectus” helped the Lib Dems win.”I think this is quite a widespread view among a certain section of the electorate that has consistently voted Conservative all their lives because this is a deeply conservative area with a ‘small C’,” he said.”And that’s the fundamental problem the Conservative Party’s got; they have a prime minister who appears to have an appeal to some sections of the electorate…Towards another group, who perhaps take life a bit more seriously, he comes across extremely badly and he’s got much, much worse.”Conservative Party HQ has been attempting to play down the significance of the defeat, saying it is rare for governing parties to win byelection. But policing minister Kit Malthouse branded the defeat “very disappointing” and said that there would have to be a “fairly significant post-match analysis” on what went wrong for the Tories.Speaking to broadcasters earlier, Mr Malthouse said there was a “complicated message” after the humiliating defeat for the Conservatives.Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have claimed their win will “send a shockwave through British politics”. Party leader Ed Davey said that the result demonstrates that the “blue wall” of Tory southern seats could be vulnerable. More

Sadiq Khan will accept his full salary after taking a voluntary pay cut last year, his spokesperson has confirmed.The London mayor in June last year took the decision to reduce his £152,734 pay packet by 10 per cent.He said the move was in recognition of the impact coronavirus was having on the Greater London Authority’s finances.In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “The Mayor has always prioritised protecting frontline services during this pandemic and in June 2020 he volunteered to take a temporary 10 per cent salary cut for an initial six months after it became clear that the Greater London Authority would need to make significant savings.”The spokesperson added: “The Mayor also froze the pay of his mayoral appointees during this period.”It comes after Mr Khan was re-elected to City Hall for a second term following a closer than expected challenge from the Tory candidate, Shaun Bailey.The incumbent gained 1,013,721 first-preference votes compared to Mr Bailey’s 893,051, then a further 192,313 second-preference votes compared to Mr Bailey’s 84,550.The Green Party came third behind the two main candidates, with Sian Berry getting 197,976 first-preference votes and 486,798 second-preference.Actor-turned-populist Laurence Fox gained 47,634 first-preference votes, while novelty candidate Count Binface beat Piers Corbyn with 24,775 against 20,604.In his victory speech from City Hall, Mr Khan said he was “deeply humbled” to be re-elected and pledged to a build a “better and brighter future” for the capital following the Covid pandemic.”It’s in this spirit that I promise to lead London over the next three years, building bridges between the different communities in our city, building bridges across cultural, social and class divides,” he said. More

A defiant Boris Johnson has told critics of his planning shake-up they have got it wrong, despite his humiliation in the Chesham and Amersham by-election.The prime minister called suggestions that the Conservatives are losing their Southern heartland voters “a bit peculiar, a bit bizarre”.And he insisted: “I think there’s some misunderstanding about the planning reforms – even some wilful misunderstanding on the part of some of our opponents.“What we want is sensible plans to allow development on brownfield sites. We’re not going to build on greenbelt sites, we’re not going to build all over the countryside.”The triumphant Liberal Democrats have pointed to anger over the top-down planning changes as a key reason for the shock overturning of a 16,000 Tory majority in the true-blue Buckinghamshire constituency.Some believe the shake-up – which critics say hands too much power to developers, undermining local democracy – may be dead in the water, with the government fearing a further backlash.But Mr Johnson appeared to point to the construction of the HS2 high-speed rail line as the reason for his crushing defeat, referring to “particular circumstances there”.And he defended the planning changes, claiming they are vital to enabling young people to get onto the housing ladder – something rejected by a recent Commons inquiry.“The young people growing up in this country should have the chance of homeownership and that’s what we’re focusing on,” the prime minister said, on a college visit.“I think it’s a great dream for young people in their 20s, 30s that they currently don’t have in the way that they perhaps had a few decades ago.“And that’s something that we want to bring back, we want to make it easier. And that’s what we’re all about.”Ed Davey, celebrating his party’s “best-ever by-election result”, called the planning controversy “symbolic” of the way Southern voters are being ignored by the Tories.It would “give so much power to developers and take them away from communities and not result in the affordable housing people need”, the Lib Dem leader warned.But the prime minister’s spokesman played down any immediate rethink, telling journalists: “I’m not aware of any planned changes.”Speaking in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, Mr Johnson also said he is “very confident” that the remaining coronavirus restrictions in England will be lifted on 19 July.Again, calling it “a terminus date” he said: “I think that’s certainly what the data continues to indicate.”And he backed Matt Hancock despite the revelation that he called the health secretary “f***ing hopeless” in embarrassing messages revealed by Dominic Cummings.Mr Johnson said: “I have complete confidence in Matt and indeed all of the government who have been dealing with Covid-19 during the pandemic.” More

Boris Johnson is to strip the Electoral Commission of the power to prosecute law-breaking, just weeks after it launched an investigation into his controversial flat refurbishment.The watchdog has been threatened with curbs ever since it embarrassed senior Tory figures by fining Vote Leave for busting spending limits for the Brexit referendum.Now ministers have announced that a new Elections Bill will remove its ability to prosecute criminal offences under electoral law – arguing it “wastes public money”.The watchdog launched an immediate protest, warning the move would “place a fetter on the Commission which would limit its activity”.The shake-up was condemned as a “thinly-veiled government power grab” by the Electoral Reform Society.And Cat Smith, Labour’s shadow minister for democracy, said: “It is not for any government to dictate the priorities of an independent watchdog. This is yet another attempt by the Conservatives to rig democracy in their favour.”Parliament’s standards chief has stepped back from her own probe into flat makeover – which saw a Tory donor originally fund the lavish redecoration – while the Commission does its work.Amid that furore, it was widely anticipated that the government would back away from changes that would be seen as enfeebling the Commission.But Chloe Smith, the constitution minister, insisted “the proper place for criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to electoral law is with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service”.“In recent years, the Electoral Commission has sought to develop the capability to bring criminal offences before the courts,” she said. “This has never been agreed by the government or Parliament.“Having the Electoral Commission step into this space would risk wasting public money as well as present potential conflicts of interest for a body responsible for providing advice and guidance on electoral law to initiate proceedings which might depend on the very advice that was given.”Jess Garland, the Electoral Reform Society’s policy director, said: “The government is on the one hand creating new rules for the Electoral Commission to enforce – while at the same time reducing its independence, extending political influence over what should be a neutral body,” said.“The Electoral Commission is the UK’s number one experts on Britain’s complex electoral law, so it is vital it retains the ability to raise alleged wrongdoing in the courts.”The shake-up will also see a Commons committee – with a Conservative majority – set strategic priorities, in a further perceived undermining of the watchdog’s impartiality.A Commission spokesperson said: “Parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of the Commission’s activities are essential in ensuring the Commission commands trust and confidence.“It is important, however, that the Commission’s independence is preserved and that it is able to continue to deliver all duties within its remit, including effective enforcement.“Some changes announced today place a fetter on the Commission which would limit its activity. We will work with the Government to explore these areas.” More

The DUP is yet again looking for a new leader after the disastrous tenure of Edwin Poots – forced out last night after only 20 days in charge of the party.His departure followed a heated three-hour crisis meeting of party officers in Belfast on Thursday night, which saw an angry party revolt against his decision to agree a deal with Sinn Fein and nominate a new first minister.It leaves delicate power-sharing arrangements at Stormont in disarray – and raises the prospect of the Northern Ireland Executive once again collapsing, as it did in 2017.Why was Edwin Poots forced out?It was made clear to Mr Poots he had to resign at a “robust” three-hour meeting with party figures last night. DUP MPs and MLAs hated the fact that he had agreed a deal giving the Irish language equal status in Northern Ireland.Mr Poots had chosen to do a deal with Sinn Fein and push through Paul Givan’s nomination as first minister on Thursday – despite DUP pleas to keep stalling in the stand-off.Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis had made clear to Mr Poots that the UK government would intervene and pass Irish language legislation at Westminster in October, should the executive fail to do so before then.Sammy Wilson said party figures had been “very, very clear” that Mr Poots should not have forged ahead with Mr Givan’s nomination (and the Irish language deal) before they had chance to put his appointment to an internal vote.Mr Poots hadn’t proved too popular during his three weeks in charge. He was perceived to have failed to reach out to more moderate supporters of his defeated rival Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.The firebrand wing was also disappointed. Prior to his election, DUP ministers had been engaged in a de facto boycott of north-south political meetings over Brexit trading arrangements.But within a week of his ratification, Mr Poots announced a reengagement in such meetings after holding talks with Irish premier Micheal Martin in Dublin. More

The Liberal Democrats’ leader Sir Ed Davey has claimed his party’s shock by-election win in Buckinghamshire has sent a “shockwave through British politics” – demonstrating that the blue wall of Tory seats in the south can be knocked down.But just how significant is the by-election victory over the Conservatives in Chesham and Amersham? Does it herald a wider sea-change in attitudes, or was it merely a protest vote based on purely local issues?Plans to build the new HS2 rail link – which cuts right through the areas’ Chiltern Hills – had provoked much local hostility, while the government’s recently announced proposals to reform planning laws have also riled voters in the constituency.But the scale of the win was remarkable, suggesting something deeper and wider than an angry backlash against development may be going on.Sarah Green secured a majority of 8,028 – overturning a comfortable Conservative majority of 16,000 in the seat which has been a Tory stronghold since its creation in 1974.Polling guru Professor John Curtice pointed out that Chesham and Amersham is one of several Tory seats in the south where a majority voted to stay in the EU, with Brexit continuing to create a big cultural divide at each election.He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the Lib Dem victory was down to a “combination of the Remain inclination of the constituency and a number of local issues – HS2, planning”.Prof Curtice added: “Labour voters, who of course the majority are Remain voters, were quite happy to switch to the Liberal Democrats.”The elections expert also believes Boris Johnson could be losing ground among well-educated voters in the south – even as he wins over working-class Leave supporters in other parts of England.Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said his party’s “record-breaking” victory was part of a trend of beating the Tories in the south – pointing to recent gains in Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Wiltshire at the recent local elections.“People feel that the Conservatives are out of touch, they’re not listening to places like this, they’re taking them for granted,” he told Today – predicting that the party could take “dozens” of Tory seats in the south. More

The Liberal Democrats have warned Boris Johnson they will snatch “dozens of Conservative seats” in the South if he keeps ignoring its voters, after the party’s stunning by-election win.Ed Davey pointed to anger over top-down planning changes as a key reason for how a 16,000 majority in the true-blue Buckinghamshire constituency of Chesham and Amersham was overturned.That shake-up – which critics say hands too much power to developers, undermining local democracy – may now be dead in the water, with the government fearing the backlash.The Lib Dem leader said the controversy was “symbolic” of the belief that Southern voters are being ignored, as the Tories instead focus on knocking down Labour’s ‘Red Wall’ in the North.“This will send a shockwave through British politics. It’s the Liberal Democrats’ best-ever by-election result and one of the very best ever,” Sir Ed said.“And it will mean that, if repeated across the South, dozens of Conservative seats will fall to the Liberal Democrats.“What was happening is people around here – and actually across the South as we found in the local elections – feel they’ve been ignored by the Conservatives, taken for granted.”The planning changes would “give so much power to developers and take them away from communities and not result in the affordable housing people need”, he warned.“But I think that was symbolic of the fact that the Conservatives are ignoring areas like this. Also, there’s actually a lot more dissatisfaction with Boris Johnson than the polls would suggest,” the Lib Dem leader added.Kit Malthouse, the Home Office minister, admitted the defeat – on a 25 per cent swing, to hand victor Sarah Green an 8,000 majority in a seat held by the Tories since it was created in 1974 – was “disappointing”.And he acknowledged the shift in the underlying electoral plates, saying: “We are seeing a change in British politics. We need to understand that.”Sir Ed made no mention of lingering fury over the damage inflicted by Brexit, but one Tory MP who visited the seat said he was struck by “EU flags still fluttering” in some windows.John Curtice, the elections guru, said the prime minister was losing ground among well-educated Southern voters – even as he won over working-class Leave supporters elsewhere.And he predicted the result – in which Labour lost its deposit with just 622 votes, as anti-Tories voted tactically – would revive pressure for some form of joint working by the two parties.“The speculation about that will continue and that is speculation that Keir Starmer will have to work out how to deal with,” Sir John said. More

In a historic win, the Liberal Democrats have decisively won the Chesham and Amersham by-election, with voters making Sarah Green the country’s newest MP.Ms Green overturned a 16,000-majority to win the seat, which had been been a Conservative stronghold since its creation in 1974, gaining 8,028 more votes than the Tory candidate.The victory marks an erosion of what the Liberal Democrats are calling the “Blue Wall” – affluent constituencies in the south that have traditionally been Conservative safe seats, but could be at risk in light of the party’s political realignment. A clash over Brexit, as well as more localised issues – notably the HS2 railway line and Conservative planning reforms – were central to swinging the vote in the leafy Buckinghamshire constituency and handing a stunning victory to the party.But who is Sarah Green, the UK’s newest MP?Somewhat unsurprisingly, the Liberal Democrat, a marketing executive who founded her own training company in 2014, backed the movement to remain in the EU and was involved as an organiser in the campaign.Ms Green has been a member of the party for 16 years, joining the Liberal Democrats due to their opposition to the Iraq war.The MP has run for the party twice before, though this is her first win. She was selected as the Lib Dem candidate for the Ynys Môn constituency in Wales during the 2005 general election, before being chosen as the party’s candidate for Arfon at the 2010 general election. She finished fifth and fourth, respectively.Ms Green opposes the construction of the HS2 line that is planned to pass through Chesham and Amersham, and is against the government’s planning reforms which she claims would lead to “more unwanted destruction to our countryside”.Her campaign also prioritised supporting the recovery of small and medium sized businesses, conserving green spaces and ensuring support for local public services.In her acceptance speech, Ms Green said: “Tonight the voice of Chesham and Amersham is unmistakable. Together we have said: ‘Enough is enough, we will be heard, and this government will listen.’“This campaign has shown that no matter where you live, or how supposedly safe a constituency may appear to be, if you want a Liberal Democrat member of Parliament, you can have a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament.” More