UK Politics

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

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

Photos will emerge within the next two days which show that Boris Johnson “obviously lied” to police and the House of Commons about Downing Street parties, the prime minister’s former top aide Dominic Cummings has claimed.Mr Cummings predicted that pictures would be released by factions involved in in-fighting within No 10 as the official report by senior civil servant Sue Gray is finally published.And he alleged that a previously unreported party took place on the evening of Mr Johnson’s 56th birthday in June 2020, following the presentation of a cake for which the PM and wife Carrie were fined.The much-delayed Gray report is expected to include some of the 300-plus photos which she gathered in her inquiry into lockdown-busting events at No 10, but sources close to the investigation suggested that they would not be used to “name and shame” people involved in revelry.However, Mr Cummings suggested that the report could act as a trigger for the release of pictures by people within the system who are concerned Mr Johnson may escape unscathed from the scandal, having received just one £50 fine from police.Writing on his blog, Mr Johnson’s former adviser said divisions were opening up between officials in post at the time of the parties in 2020 and 2021 and others who have arrived more recently as part of a “reset” in response to Partygate.“Some of those in key positions now or very recently have tried to blame other officials,” said Mr Cummings.“Those officials think some of those in key positions now have behaved appallingly and are preparing to take action.“One of the consequences is that I expect photos of the PM will emerge very quickly, within the next 24-48 hours.“Any reasonable person looking at some of these photos will only be able to conclude that the PM obviously lied to the Commons, and possibly to the cops, and there is no reasonable story for how others were fined for event X but not him.”Mr Cummings said that the 126 fines handed out by the Metropolitan Police inquiry into parties had gone predominantly to junior officials, and particularly young women.Some of them were told to go to events, such as the notorious “bring your own booze” garden party in 2020, or were assured that steps had been taken to ensure that the gatherings were lawful, he claimed.Asking why Mr Johnson had not received more fines, Mr Cummings said: “It’s not because the PM’s presence is in doubt: multiple officials have told the cops he was at X or Y event that the cops have defined ‘unlawful’ and given the cops photos, so the cops know he was there.“Part of the reason is that for some events the police simply have not investigated, haven’t asked him about X or Y.“Further, some people told the police (but not Sue Gray, because they did not want the PM to read their evidence) that they had evidence regarding the organisation of illegal events from the flat.“Apart from the ‘cake ambush’ there was a separate birthday party, uncovered by the media so far I think, that evening (which almost nobody knew about at the time, including me). There is a paper trail including WhatsApps from the flat. Sounds very bad for Boris/Carrie right? Surely that must be investigated? No! The police simply ignored it. Simple! PM cleared!”Using his nickname for Mr Johnson as “the trolley” – because of his claims that he veers around uncontrollably – Cummings said: “Trolley trying usual SW1 trick – blame junior women, many of whom saved many lives by forcing him to change idiotic decisions.“Secretaries told to go to what they were told was a lawful event by their boss get fined. Trolley, present and responsible for the event? Not fined!“Core issue is NOT junior (often heroic) officials saying goodbye to colleagues they sat in the same office with. It’s Trolley forcing a second huge cover-up (after his illegal donations) and lying to parliament about his own crimes and trying to bend the Cabinet Office/cops to help the cover-up.”A spokesperson for the prime minister declined to comment on Mr Cummings’ allegations. More

The Student Loans Company (SLC) is considering recommendations by customers that it change the tone of its correspondence with graduates, including the suggestion that it should adopt the manner of a “friendly librarian”.It was also suggested that the public body, which has contact with 8 million people in the UK every year, should wish students good luck with their education. A spokesperson for the SLC, which is trying to improve its “customer experience”, said the ideas were being “broadly considered”. But such a move could prove controversial, with interest rates on student loans set to soar this year as part of a wider cost of living crisis.The highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank has warned that students and graduates in England could pay up to 12 per cent interest on their loans this autumn.The recommendations emerged after a customer panel was set up by the body to provide feedback on its services. Members of the panel suggested that the current tone of the SLC’s communications felt distant and “missed personal touches, such as wishing students luck in their studies”.The minutes of a recent SLC board meeting report that the panel thought the tone should instead aspire “to be akin to a helpful, friendly librarian”.The board was also told recently that improving the experience of customers was one of education minister Michelle Donelan’s top priorities.The SLC approves around 2 million applications for student finance every year. But overall the company talks to roughly 8 million people a year, including those who are in the process of repaying their loans.There has been a flurry of warnings in recent days of the effect the current crisis will have on living standards in the UK.Earlier this week, inflation hit a 40-year high, and the governor of the Bank of England sounded a warning over “apocalyptic” food shortages that may be imminent as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, vice-president for higher education at the National Union of Students, said: “Students need more than just a tone change; they need urgent support on student loans. Amidst a cost of living crisis, it’s simply unfathomable that the maximum interest rate on student loans will be increasing to 12 per cent later this year.“This is brutal, and will deter thousands of students from going to university. It will also cause unparalleled uncertainty for the millions of graduates already repaying their loans, with thousands of pounds added to their debt sheet.”She added: “Students aren’t cash cows, and we can’t keep taking the brunt of this government’s regressive actions that have left millions exposed to hardship. Education is a right for all, not a product that can be bought and sold for individual gain.”The SLC is understood to be keen to ensure that its communications are straightforward and easy for customers to engage with. Sources suggested that the company seeks to engage in a constant process of improvement.The SLC is technically a non-departmental public body, and is owned mainly by the Department for Education. More

A Treasury minister has ruled out restoring the £20-per-week uplift to universal credit as a measure to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.Despite calls from senior Conservative MPs and anti-poverty campaigners, Simon Clarke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “That is not going to return”.The minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was made “explicitly clear” last autumn, when the government cut the support, it was a “temporary response” to the Covid pandemic.However, Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson later told reporters that nothing had been ruled out as ministers draw up a package of measures to help with cost of living.The spokesperson said: “My understanding is that we are keeping all our options open.”He said he would not “put a particular timescale” on when the government could announce further measures.He claimed the government took decisive action on universal credit in December to change the taper rate — the rate at which benefits are withdrawn as people’s earnings rise.“It is precisely the kind of authentic Conservative solution to this question that we want to see,” Mr Clarke added.However, with inflation at a 40-year high and rocketing energy bills, some Tory MPs, including the chair of the Northern Research Group, Jake Berry, have called on the government to do more to help the most vulnerable, including restoring the £20 uplift.Speaking to The Independent last week, Baroness Stroud, a Tory peer who helped set up the universal credit system, said the initial introduction of the uplift was a “recognition that the levels of welfare are too low”.“I never though it should be taken away, and I think it should be restored,” she added.“The fact we were able to bring it in so swiftly at the time of the pandemic demonstrates just how easy it would be to restore it now.”But Mr Clarke said on Monday: “That is not going to return. The question is how we best now look at the next range of solutions to deal with the challenges”. Tackled on the issue of a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, Mr Clarke stressed the governemnt is “not going to rush into action” on making a decision after weeks of deliberatons.Asked when Rishi Sunak might decide on the fiscal policy – a measure the govenrment has not ruled out – the chief secretary to the Treasury said: “That is a question for the Chancellor.“We obviously recognise that we are in a situation which is fast developing and we want to make sure that we are supporting people ahead of what will likely be a challenging autumn and winter ahead.“I’m not going to set a specific timetable for that, but the chancellor is clear that we are looking at the situation with real urgency and intent.“And it is against this backdrop that people can be reassured that the Government is on the case,” he added.“We are not going to rush into action, but at the same time nor are we going to sit here and not provide the support that is needed given the severity of the situation.” More