UK Politics

Rishi Sunak has become the first frontline politician to appear in the Sunday Times Rich List alongside his wife, Akshata Murty, with their joint £730 million fortune.It comes just days after the chancellor said the coming months would be “tough” amid a cost-of-living crisis, with families across the country facing soaring energy bills and inflation at a 40-year high.Despite intense political pressure, Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak have so far resisted calls for an emergency budget, a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, and further help for the poorest households.It also follows intense scrutiny over Mr Sunak and his wife’s financial affairs, after The Independent revealed Ms Murty, the daughter of one of India’s richest men, had been claiming non-dom status in the UK.The tax status typically applies to someone who was born overseas and spends much of their time in the UK, but still considers another country to be their permanent residence or “domicile”.It has been estimated Ms Murty’s non-dom status could have saved her £20 million in taxes on dividends from her shares in Infosys, an Indian IT company founded by her father.After a furious political row, Ms Murty agreed to pay UK tax on her worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, saying she did not want her tax status “to be a distraction for my husband”.Mr Sunak was also cleared of breaching the ministerial code by Boris Johnson’s standards adviser after considering his declarations.On Friday morning, the annual Sunday Times Rich List revealed they featured at 222 in the list with the joint forecast of £730 million, driven by Ms Murty’s £690 million stake in Infosys.Asked about the news, Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, said it was “fantastic” the chancellor had joined the rich list.He added: “I think we want more of those people. I think it’s fantastic that you’ve got someone of British-Indian origin, showing all people in our country that you can get to the top of politics.“And frankly, I think if I understood correctly, the Sunday Times Rich List was a reflection of not just him but his wife. His wife is an incredibly successful entrepreneur in her own right.“Again someone that’s here, British-Indian, and actually I think we want to see more women succeeding in both business and politics.”The latest ranking of the 250 richest people in Britain also revealed a record 177 billionaires in the UK this year, up from 2021.Overall, the richest 250 in the UK this year are worth £710.72 billion, compared to £658.09 billion in 2021, an 8 per cent rise on last year, the Sunday Times said.On Wednesday, it was revealed that prices rose at their fastest rate in more than 40-years in the 20 months to April, with inflation climbing to a fresh record of 9 per cent — up from 7 per cent in March.At an address to the Confederation of British Industry on the same day, Mr Sunak said: “I cannot pretend this will be easy.“There is no measure that any government could take, no law we could pass, that can make these global forces disappear overnight. The next few months will be tough. But where we can act, we will.”Additional reporting by Press Association More

The US Congress will not agree to a free trade deal with the UK if Boris Johnson plunges ahead with a plan to “discard” the Northern Ireland Protocol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said.The leader of the US House of Representatives said it was “deeply concerning” the British government was planning to unilaterally end protocol checks previously agreed with the EU.Ms Pelosi said she had previously told Mr Johnson and foreign secretary Liz Truss that if they choose to “undermine” the Good Friday Agreement, then Congress “cannot and will not support a bilateral free trade agreement with the UK”.Mr Johnson and Ms Truss have insisted they do not plan to tear up the protocol completely, but aim to unilaterally “fix” the agreement through new legislation to override parts of the Brexit deal.However, the powerful US figure issued a stern rebuke. She said that maintaining arrangements designed to ensure there is no hard border in Ireland was “absolutely necessary” to uphold Good Friday Agreement.“It is deeply concerning that the UK is now seeking to unilaterally discard the Northern Ireland Protocol,” Ms Pelosi said in a statement issued on Thursday.“Negotiated agreements like the protocol preserve the important progress and stability forged by the Good Friday Accords, which continue to enjoy strong bipartisan and bicameral support in the US Congress,” Ms Pelosi added.The US speaker urged Mr Johnson’s government to resume “constructive, collaborative and good-faith negotiations” with the EU to implement “an agreement that upholds peace”.US president Joe Biden downplayed the prospect of a trade deal with the UK when he met Mr Johnson in September, when the prime minister was forced to admit: “Joe has a lot of fish to fry.”His administration is understood to be reluctant to enter talks on a comprehensive post-Brexit deal because of his concerns about the ongoing row with the EU over Northern Ireland. More

A leading expert on Covid laws has questioned the “inconsistency” of the Metropolitan Police fines handed out to Downing Street staff while Boris Johnson escaped further punishment.Junior staff at No 10 are reportedly angry at being given fixed penalty notices – in some cases receiving multiple fines – while the PM and other senior figures avoided fresh action from Scotland Yard.Describing the outcome of the Partygate inquiry as a “bit odd”, barrister Adam Wagner said it appeared that Mr Johnson had avoided fines despite attending illegal leaving drink events. More

Downing Street staff who received fines for attending the same lockdown parties as Boris Johnson have reacted with fury after the prime minister escaped further sanctions on Thursday.There was anger inside No 10 as the Metropolitan Police concluded its Partygate investigation, leaving the prime minister with just one fixed penalty notice (FPN) compared to some junior staff who amassed as many as five – despite insider accounts that they had attended the same events.The full findings of Sue Gray, the senior civil servant carrying out a wider report into the scandal, are now expected as soon as next week.Police said a total of 126 fines were issued to 83 people over events spanning eight dates between May 2020 and April 2021.Mr Johnson’s wife, Carrie, also received just one penalty linked to her husband’s birthday party on 19 June 2020.“It’s a joke,” one No 10 source told The Independent. “He told people to ‘let their hair down’ and enjoy their drinks which they’d earned for ‘beating back the virus’.”They said the prime minister had participated in socialising with officials and advisers in a manner that had been regarded as an endorsement of partying after work.“He’s a man of little or no integrity,” they added, referring to his handling of the Partygate affair.A former No 10 official who worked there during the pandemic said that the moment an official line was issued denying parties, “I gasped at the audacity of the lie”.A spokesperson for No 10 declined to comment.Legal experts have suggested that Mr Johnson may have escaped fines for attending lockdown-busting parties as his workplace and home are combined within the Downing Street complex.Covid-19 legislation, which changed numerous times during the period when the parties took place, means that Mr Johnson may have had a “reasonable excuse” in law that prevented him from being fined.However, the police may have taken a more lenient approach in the Partygate probe, compared to other examples of enforcement.Kirsty Brimelow QC, a human rights barrister who has represented people fighting Covid fines, told The Independent: “What I saw in cases up and down that country is that the ‘reasonable excuse’ part was never applied – police would only look at exemptions around the gathering itself.”She added that the police’s approach in the No 10 investigation, of only issuing fines when confident of defending them in court, was different too: “FPNs would be issued if there was a reasonable belief of a breach, rather than having all the evidence shipshape if it went to court.“The Met has applied the regulations, but applied it in a way which is setting the police a higher bar before issuing an FPN,” Ms Brimelow said.One Whitehall source said the investigation might have been “legally correct” but it was “morally ridiculous” as given the long hours many officials worked during the height of the pandemic, “we were all living at the office”.The sense that the investigation had revealed one rule for bosses and another for workers was shared in 70 Whitehall Place, where a fine was issued for an event on 17 December, which cabinet secretary Simon Case was aware of, sources claimed.Mr Case, the most senior civil servant in the UK, had not suggested the event was inappropriate and chatted to attendees, they said.The Cabinet Office did not respond to a request for comment.There was bewilderment among Westminster critics of the PM that he had escaped with only one fine when so many No 10 staff were more harshly punished.“Some of us don’t understand the police logic on the fines,” said one Conservative MP who has already sent a letter of no confidence in Mr Johnson. “Avoiding fines for events where staff have been fined seems extraordinary.”Rebels were hopeful that the publication of Ms Gray’s report, expected next week, will trigger a fresh slew of letters to the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, who must call a vote on Mr Johnson’s future if requested by 54 Tory MPs.“Sue Gray might be a flashpoint next week,” one told The Independent. “It’s still a big moment. The fact that he hasn’t been fined again doesn’t necessarily change public anger.“There are people who are unhappy with him over Partygate who haven’t put letters in. They’ve said they are waiting for Sue Gray. So the time is now.”But there was a sense among some of Johnson’s critics that the absence of further fines has taken a lot of the momentum out of the drive to oust him.They urged colleagues who have so far held back from calling for Johnson’s removal to do so if he is admonished by Ms Gray.Still, one senior Tory MP opposed to Mr Johnson’s leadership was downbeat on the chances of her report triggering a leadership contest, arguing that the biggest point of danger will come in the autumn if Tory poll numbers haven’t improved.“I don’t think Sue Gray is the be-all and end-all,” said the backbencher. “It’s not a judgement about parties any more – the judgement among colleagues will come in the months ahead on whether he is an election winner or loser.”Sir Charles Walker, who previously suggested that Mr Johnson should consider his position, said on Thursday he had been “wrong” to think the PM would have to go over Partygate.“Love him or loathe him Boris Johnson is an extraordinary politician,” the former vice chair of the 1922 Committee told the BBC’s Newsnight.“Four months ago, people thought he was down and out. I was one of those people. And he just rewrote the script. The prime minister is going to continue at No 10.”Close Johnson ally Conor Burns appeared to suggest that the Gray report could result in further sanctions for No 10 officials rather than Mr Johnson.“I think when the Sue Gray report comes there will be questions to be answered in terms of accountability for others, other than the prime minister, for some of the things that happened in No 10,” said the Northern Ireland minister.Home Office minister Kit Malthouse said it was now time to “move on” from Partygate. “I’m pleased that it’s done … I hope now we can now move on to the really pressing issues,” the policing minister told the BBC’s World at One.Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Partygate affair had undoubtedly been “damaging” for Mr Johnson and the No 10 operation.“It was wrong, he has apologised a lot for it – and so he should – because they lost control of what was happening in Downing Street,” said the former Tory leader. More

Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries has claimed that Channel 4 faked a reality TV show she appeared on by hiring actors to play poverty-stricken people on a housing estate. The culture secretary appeared on the reality documentary programme Tower Block of Commons in which she briefly lived on an estate in London’s south Acton neighbourhood. “I discovered later, they were actually actors,” Ms Dorries told a committee of MPs on Thursday, referring to the residents she lived alongside.“The parents of the boys in that programme actually came here to have lunch with me, and contacted me to tell me, actually, they were in acting school, and that they weren’t really living in a flat, and they weren’t real,” the minister said.She added: “And even, if you remember, there’s a pharmacist or somebody that I went to see who prepared food – she was also a paid actress as well.”Channel 4 did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the claims made by Ms Dorries, who was grilled by MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee about plans to privatise the channel.Asked what she thinks about Channel 4 News, Ms Dorries said she “gets on really well” with presenter Cathy Newman and had been asked on a number of times in the last two weeks.But in an apparent reference to reports that ex-anchor Jon Snow shouted “F*** the Tories” five years ago, she said: “I have been on Channel 4 News a number of times. It is edgy.“I am not going to justify a news programme whose anchor went out shouting obscenities about the Conservative Party.”Ms Dorries added: “So they didn’t do themselves any favours sometimes on the news programme and I think that is probably as much as I want to say about that.”The culture secretary also admitted that she shares her Netflix password with four other households during her appearance at the committee.“My mum has access to my account, the kids do. I have Netflix but there are four other people who can use my Netflix account in different parts of the country,” she told MPs.Laughing, Ms Dorries added: “Am I not supposed to do that?”Last month, Netflix suffered its first subscriber loss in more than a decade, causing its shares to plunge 25 per cent in extended trading.Ms Dorries said a potential move by Netflix into advertising, as opposed to subscription alone, would further negatively impact public service broadcasters such as Channel 4.“I think for people to even try and paint a picture that Netflix is unsuccessful or struggling is probably slightly over-egging the pudding,” said Ms Dorries. She added: “Netflix has done what many businesses do. It has reached the point of market saturation … and they will probably revise it in a way that will make it much more difficult for public service broadcasters who rely on advertising revenue.”Ms Dorries also confirmed the review of the BBC’s funding model and the future of the licence fee will begin “considerably before the summer recess”. More

Police investigating Covid law-breaking in government during the pandemic say a total of 126 fines have now been issued to 83 people in the Partygate scandal.The Metropolitan Police said it had concluded its Operation Hillman probe into rule breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall.The force has not said who has been given Fixed Penatly Notices (FPNs) but prime minster Boris Johnson has previously admitted he and his wife Carrie are among them, having received one fine each.Police said 53 fines were issued to 35 men and 73 fines were issued to 48 women. A total of 28 people were fined more than once, receiving between two and five FPNs.In total, 16 events are being considered by civil servant Sue Gray who is compiling a report into Partygate.Only 12 of the events were investigated by police under Operation Hillman. The Met did not say which of the gatherings resulted in fines, but did reveal that the offences related to eight dates.Operation Hillman comprised 12 full time dedicated police officers and cost £460,000. Between 27 March 2020 and 18 July 2021, the Met issued referred 16,796 fines.The Independent looks at all the claims of parties and investigations into gatherings across No 10, government departments and at Conservative Party HQ.15 May 2020 – No 10 garden gatheringA joint investigation by The Independent and The Guardian revealed that a wine and pizza gathering was held in the No 10 rose garden on 15 May 2020 – despite rules limiting people from different households to one-on-one meetings outdoors. An image later published showed wine and cheese being consumed by the prime minister, Ms Johnson, and advisers including Dominic Cummings. Former health secretary Matt Hancock was also photographed in the Downing Street garden, after having delivered the day’s covid press conference. Mr Johnson has previously insisted “those people were at work, talking about work”. At the time, Covid laws banned gatherings of more than two people unless they met specific exemptions, such as being “for work purposes”.No fines were issued for this event.20 May 2020 – ‘Bring your own booze’In a blog post, Mr Cummings dismissed the idea that the 15 May photograph depicted a party, insisting it was common practice for meetings to be held in the open air of the garden. However, he claimed that a “socially distanced drinks” event did take place on 20 May 2020. A leaked email sent from the PM’s private secretary showed that over 100 No 10 staff had been invited to the event and were told to “bring your own booze”. Mr Johnson subsequently apologised, confirming that he attended the event for around 25 minutes but assumed it was “a work event” – an excuse that drew laughs of incredulity in the Commons and mockery from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.Fines were issued for this event, which police found to be a breach of Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (Restriction on leaving, or being outside of, the place where you were living without reasonable excuse.)Boris Johnson says he was ‘at work’ during No 10 garden gathering18 June 2020 – Cabinet Office leaving doMs Gray’s interim report said a gathering in the 70 Whitehall building was held to mark the departure of a No 10 private secretary, reportedly former home affairs policy adviser Hannah Young, who left Downing Street to take up the role of deputy consul general in New York.Fines were issued for this event, which police found to be a breach of Regulation 7 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering consisting of two or more people)19 June 2020 – Boris Johnson’s birthdayDowning Street staff held an afternoon birthday party for Mr Johnson at No 10. His wife, Carrie Johnson, led the surprise gathering where there was cake, a singing of happy birthday, and picnic food from M&S. A No 10 spokeswoman confirmed that a group of staff had “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room “to wish the prime minister a happy birthday”, adding: “He was there for less than 10 minutes.” Fines were issued for this event, which police found to be a breach of Regulation 7 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering consisting of two or more people)Mr Sunak is said to have received his fixed penalty notice (PFN) for attending this event.Boris Johnson was ‘ambushed with a cake’, claims loyal Tory MP13 November 2020 – Lee Cain leaving speech and Downing Street ‘flat party’ Another allegation made by Mr Cummings was of a “flat party” in Mr Johnson’s official residence on 13 November 2020 – the same day he left No 10. Mr Cummings claimed staff “could hear the music playing loudly”. Asked at PMQs if there had been a party, Mr Johnson said “no” but added: “I’m sure that whatever happened the guidance was followed at all times.” Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson is reported to have given a brief leaving speech for Lee Cain, his director of communications. New lockdown laws had once again banned gatherings and leaving home “without reasonable excuse” at the time. Indoor gatherings were allowed in some circumstances if “required precautions” were undertaken.Fines were issued for this date, although police did not specify for which event. Police said there had been a breach of Regulation 8 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering consisting of two or more people.)27 November 2020 – Cleo Watson’s leaving eventAnother leaving event was reported to have been held two weeks later — when the lockdown remained in place — for adviser Cleo Watson, with the PM personally delivering a speech while alcohol was consumed. Police did not investigate this event but it is one of the events being looked at by Sue Gray.10 December 2020 – Education department drinks eventAlso under scrutiny is a social event reportedly held at the London offices of the Department for Education on 10 December 2020, instigated by the then-education secretary Gavin Williamson to thank his staff. The department admitted a “gathering of colleagues” took place on 10 December, with “drink and snacks brought by those attending”, adding: “Looking back we accept it would have been better not have gathered in this way at that particular time”. The law had changed again, including different levels of restrictions for different areas according to Covid rates. London was in Tier 2, which banned indoor social gatherings unless specific exemptions applied.Police did not investigate this event and it will not form part of the Sue Gray’s inquiry.14 December 2020 – Shaun Bailey’s Tory HQ partyFour days later, with Londoners still subject to Tier 2 restrictions, a party took place at the Conservative Party headquarters in Westminster. A picture of the gathering was later published by the The Mirror showing a catered buffet, leading to the resignation of Shaun Bailey from an official role at the London Assembly as chair of the police and crime committee. Disciplinary action was was taken against four CCHQ staff seconded to his unsuccessful London mayoral campaign. Police did not investigate this event and it will not form part of Sue Gray’s inquiry.15 December 2020 – Christmas quizNo 10 staff were involved in a festive quiz, with invitations reportedly were sent out in advance. An image later published by the Sunday Mirror showed the PM flanked by colleagues, with one draped in tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat. After the photographic evidence emerged, Downing Street admitted the prime minister had “briefly” attended the quiz but insisted it was a virtual event and claimed he broke no rules. Tier 2 laws remained in force.No fines were issued for this event.16 December 2020 – Transport department drinks eventThe Mirror reported senior civil servants were “boozing and dancing” at yet another event, this one allegedly planned by staff from transport secretary Grant Shapps’ office. A departmental spokesman said: “Fewer than a dozen staff who were working in the office had a low-key, socially distanced gathering … where food and drink was consumed. We recognise this was inappropriate and apologise for the error of judgement.” At midnight, London had been moved into tougher Tier 3 restrictions and indoor gatherings remained banned.No fines were issued for this event.17 December 2020 – Two Cabinet Office drinks events and No 10 leaving do for Steve HighamA leaving party was held at the Cabinet Office for the outgoing head of the civil service Covid taskforce, while a separate gathering was held in the Cabinet Office to hold an online Christmas quiz for the Cabinet Secretary’s private office. Separately, a leaving do was held at No 10 for a departing Downing Street official, reportedly Captain Steve Higham, one of Mr Johnson’s private secretaries. The Mirror, which first reported the event, said Mr Johnson was only there “for a few minutes”.Police investigated the two Cabinet Office events. Fines were issued for this date. Police found one or both of the Cabinet Office events was in breach of Paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 – (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering in the Tier 3 area consisting of two or more people.)18 December 2020 – ‘Christmas party’ that kicked off scandalAllegations of a Christmas party held in No 10 were the focus of much anger. It happened while London remained in strict Tier 3 measures, and just a day before Mr Johnson imposed an effective lockdown in the capital and other swathes of the country. Mr Johnson was forced to address the issue in the Commons after the explosive leak of a video showing No 10 staff holding a mock press conference and making jokes about a Christmas party. Sobbing Allegra Stratton resigns over No 10 party videoIt led to the resignation of government aide Allegra Stratton and the PM announcing Ms Gray’s investigation, claiming he was “shocked” by the video. “I apologise unreservedly for the offence that it has caused up,” Mr Johnson told MPs.Police investigated the event.Fines were issued for the event, which police found to be in breach of Paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 – (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering in the Tier 3 area consisting of two or more people.)14 January 2021 – More No 10 leaving drinksA gathering was held in No 10 to mark the departure of two private secretaries. Reports have suggested the PM attended the leaving event, which was for a senior civil servant in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, according to The Telegraph. The other official’s identity is so far unknown.Police investigated the event. Fines were issued for the event, which police found to be in breach of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 3A to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 (Restriction on participating in an indoor gathering in the Tier 4 area consisting of two or more people.)16 April 2021 – Leaving drinks on eve of Philip’s funeralTwo parties were held by Downing Street staff at No 10 on this date — the night before Prince Philip’s funeral. One was a leaving party for the director of communications James Slack, who now works as deputy editor-in-chief at The Sun newspaper, and the other was for Mr Johnson’s personal photographer. Boris Johnson was not at either party. Witnesses reportedly said “excessive alcohol” was drunk and attendees danced to music while at one point a staffer was allegedly sent to a local Co-op with a suitcase to buy bottles of wine.Police investigated these events.Fines were issued for this date, although police did not specify for which event. Police said there was a breach of Paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 (Restriction on participating in an outdoor gathering in the Step 2 area consisting of more than six people.) More

Inflation hits 40-year high as energy bills soarA leading expert on Covid laws has questioned the “inconsistency” of the Metropolitan Police fines handed out to Downing Street staff while Boris Johnson escaped further punishment.Scotland Yard announced 126 fines had been given out over eight events as its Partygate probe came to an end.Both the prime minister and his wife Carrie Johnson previously received £50 fixed penalty notices in relation to a 56th birthday party held for Mr Johnson in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.But the PM’s official spokesperson confirmed Mr Johnson had been told by police he would receive no further penalties, and The Independent understands the same assurance has been given to Ms johnson.Junior staff at No 10 are reportedly angry at being given fixed penalty notices – in some cases receiving multiple fines – while the PM and other senior figures avoided fresh action.Describing the outcome of the Partygate inquiry as a “bit odd”, barrister Adam Wagner said it appeared that Mr Johnson had avoided fines despite attending illegal leaving drink events.Show latest update

1652971546UK threat of unilateral action over Northern Ireland could ‘nix’ Brexit agreement, EU ambassador warnsThe EU’s Brexit negotiators have been given a firm instruction from the 27 member states that there can be no change in their mandate and no renegotiation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Brussels’ ambassador to London has revealed.João Vale de Almeida said no “credible alternative” to the protocol had been identified and warned that unilateral UK action to override it could “nix” the agreement altogether.Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has the full story:Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 15:451652970915EU ambassador warns unilateral action over Northern Ireland Protocol will provoke response from BrusselsThe EU’s ambassador to the UK Joao Vale de Almeida warned unilateral action by Boris Johnson’s government over the Northern Ireland Protocol would provoke a response from Brussels.”There is still potential in the proposals that we’ve made, we would like to focus on that instead of going unilateral,” he said.”Unilateral calls for unilateral. Action calls for reaction.”And is that what we want, an escalation around Northern Ireland at this present point in time? I don’t think so.”Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 15:351652969335Starmer condemns ‘industrial scale lawbreaking’ at No 10Sir Keir Starmer is standing by his call for Boris Johnson to resign, as he condemned the PM for setting a culture of “industrial-scale law-breaking” in No 10.The Labour leader told reporters in Leeds: “What I want to see now is the full Sue Gray report published, there’s no further hiding places for the prime minister on that.”Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said it “beggars belief that Conservative MPs are allowing our great country to be run by a prime minister who broke the law then repeatedly lied about it”.Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 15:081652968323Time to ‘move on’ from Partygate, says Home Office ministerHome Office minister Kit Malthouse has said it is time to “move on” from Partygate.“I’m pleased that it’s done, thankful to the police for conducting themselves efficiently,” he told the BBC’s World at One.“I hope now we can now move on to the really pressing issues.”Asked if understood why the PM received only one fine, Malthouse said: “You’d have to discuss that with the police. My job is to look at the results and be relieved that it’s done, and get on with the really important stuff that we need to focus on.”Meanwhile, environment secretary George Eustice told the BBC: “The prime minister has apologised for everything that’s happened at No 10.“Obviously there’s been a very thorough investigation and rightly so. There were failings, and we acknowledge that. We acknowledge the angry that some people will feel.”Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 14:521652967395Legal expert questions ‘odd’ fines for junior No 10 staff while PM escapesA leading expert on Covid laws has questioned the “inconsistency” of the Metropolitan Police fines handed out to Downing Street staff while Boris Johnson escaped further punishment.Junior staff at No 10 are reportedly angry at being given fixed penalty notices – in some cases receiving multiple fines – while the PM and other senior figures avoided fresh action from Scotland Yard.My colleague Adam Forrest has the full story:Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 14:361652966280Police ‘rightly able to use their discretion’ over shoplifters stealing food out of desperation, says No 10Downing Street said the law does need to be enforced, but police officers are “rightly able to use their discretion”.The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was asked for Boris Johnson’s view on officers turning a blind eye to shoplifters stealing food out of desperation, after a police watchdog suggested discretion should be used during the cost-of-living crisis.He replied: “I think that the police minister talked about this this morning. Obviously the law does need to be enforced. At the same time police officers are rightly able to use their discretion.”Beyond that, he said he would not seek to say anything that could be perceived as treading on the police’s operational independence.Pressed on whether that meant police should be able to turn a blind eye in some cases, he said: “I’m just talking in broad terms about the long-standing principle where police officers are able to use discretion.”But I think you’ll know the policing minister challenged the premise of this question this morning … the financial pressures people (are) facing don’t necessarily mean they are going to turn to crime.”Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 14:181652965361Boris Johnson raises ‘significant concerns’ with Ukrainian president about rising food pricesBoris Johnson has raised “significant concerns” with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about rising food prices linked to the Russian invasion.In a call this morning, the pair looked at options to “open up critical sea and land supply routes for Ukrainian grain stocks”, and committed to directing their teams to “work urgently on the next steps”, Downing Street said.A No 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister spoke to Ukrainian president Zelensky today to discuss a range of issues, including military support and global food security.”The prime minister raised his significant concerns about the growing global fallout from Russia’s illegal invasion and president (Vladimir) Putin’s craven and reckless blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, including rising food prices in developing countries.”They looked at options to open up critical sea and land supply routes for Ukrainian grain stocks, and committed to direct their teams to work urgently on the next steps.”The PM also stressed his “undimmed admiration for the brave defenders of Mariupol” and urged Russia to treat any prisoners of war with dignity and respect, No 10 said.Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 14:021652963853Policing minister deflects questions about why Boris Johnson only received one finePolicing minister Kit Malthouse deflected questions to Scotland Yard when asked how Boris Johnson received only one fine despite reportedly being at multiple events.Mr Malthouse told BBC Radio 4’s World At One programme: “You’d have to discuss that with the police.”My job is to look at the results and be relieved that it’s done and get on with the really important stuff that we need to focus on.”Chiara Giordano19 May 2022 13:371652962026Downing Street ‘not aware’ of any more fines for ministersThe prime minister’s spokesman said he was not aware of any other ministers implicated in the Partygate scandal.Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have been dealt one fine each, both of which have been paid.As the Met ended its investigation today, the prime minister was spared another fine. It is understood the chancellor was also yet to be fined again.Asked if any other government ministers will confirm to MPs if they have been fined over the scandal, the PM’s spokesman said: “Our commitment is to update with regards to the prime minister and the cabinet secretary, as I have done.“I’m certainly not aware of any other ministers who would be involved in this. But that’s our commitment, as before.”Liam James19 May 2022 13:071652960744Boris Johnson will address Commons on Sue Gray report – No 10Downing Street said the prime minister will update parliament when the Sue Gray report is published.Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “I would say the prime minister is pleased the investigation has concluded and we’d like to thank the Met Police for their work in bringing this investigation to completion.“Beyond that … I think the prime minister will update parliament in the first instance on the publication, once Sue Gray’s report is published, and that’s when he will talk in more detail. So beyond that I wouldn’t be going into more detail.”Ms Gray’s report into Partygate could be published as soon as next week, a source close to her team told The Independent after the conclusion of the Met’s investigation.A version of the report was published in January but it was heavily redacted to avoid interfering with the police investigation.Liam James19 May 2022 12:45 More

The EU’s Brexit negotiators have been given a firm instruction from the 27 member states that there can be no change in their mandate and no renegotiation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, Brussels’ ambassador to London has revealed.João Vale de Almeida said no “credible alternative” to the protocol had been identified and warned that unilateral UK action to override it could “nix” the agreement altogether.Foreign secretary Liz Truss is calling for more flexibility from European Commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič over British demands to cut checks on goods entering Northern Ireland, with the threat of legislation to unilaterally override the protocol if UK demands are not met.But in a meeting of EU ambassadors last night, there was unanimous opposition to any change to the instructions given by the member states to Mr Šefčovič, which allow him only to look for technical improvements within the terms of the deal struck by Boris Johnson in 2019.Speaking at a Westminster lunch today, Mr Vale de Almeida said: “It’s not very reassuring to go into a negotiation where you are presented with two options – either negotiation or unilateral action to override the treaty.”Echoing Mr Johnson’s claim that he wanted to “fix not nix” the protocol, the ambassador said: “This is not the best way to fix, this is rather a way maybe to nix. If we want to fix it – which is what we want, and I understand that that is what the government wants as well – we need to create a better atmosphere.”Mr Vale de Almeida said that Brussels has “low levels of trust” in the UK following this week’s announcement of planned legislation by Ms Truss, which he said appeared to “ignore” the solutions which have been offered by the EU over the past year.“We were told that we should get a new mandate,” he said. “But I can tell you very clearly, what the member states are telling us is very simple – You don’t need a (new) mandate and even if you ask for one you will not get one.“This is what we got from our member states and this is our starting point in telling our British friends that we believe we have put on the table… the potential of those proposals is not yet exhausted. There is untapped potential in those proposals for us to find the solutions, provided that we are focused on finding solutions.”He warned that Brussels will respond firmly if the UK presses ahead with the proposed legislation – which would not only ease customs checks but breach Northern Ireland’s position in the single market by removing the role of European judges and giving Westminster new powers over taxes and subsidies.“Unilateral calls for unilateral,” he said. “Action calls for reaction. Is that what we want? An escalation around Northern Ireland at this present point in time? I don’t think so.“So my call on all of us is to contribute to creating the right atmosphere for the talks to continue. And you can be sure of our openness and availability to do exactly that if the political mood on the British side is there as well.” More