UK Politics

Boris Johnson has threatened to unleash “terrors of the earth” on the Conservative MP who made misogynistic claims about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.An unnamed Tory MP told the Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs on the Labour front bench during PMQs in an attempt to distract the prime minister.Mr Johnson described the comments made about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner in a newspaper article as “the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe”.In a King Lear reference, the PM threatened to unleash “the terrors of the earth” on the source behind the comments if they were ever identified.Speaking on a trip to Bury, he told reporters: “If we ever find who is responsible for it, I don’t know what we will do, but they will be the terrors of the earth. It’s totally intolerable, that kind of thing.”Mr Johnson confirmed that he had contacted Ms Rayner personally to make clear that he views the wild claims as misogynistic. The PM is said to have told her that the story was “not in his name”.He said: “I have to say I thought it was the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe. I immediately got in touch with Angela and we had a very friendly exchange.”Earlier on Monday, culture minister Chris Philp said that if the Tory MP responsible for the misogynistic comments about Ms Rayner is identified they would face “serious consequences”.The minister said “efforts will be made” to identify who is responsible for the so-called Basic Instinct tactics claim.But Mr Philip also conceded that “journalists fiercely guard their sources and I doubt Glen Owen [Mail on Sunday political editor] will be volunteering that information”.The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipsos) revealed on Monday that it has received 5,500 complaints over the Mail on Sunday article which sparked outrage across the political spectrum.Press regulator Ipso said it was exploring possible breaches of clauses one (accuracy), three (harassment) and 12 (discrimination) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.Asked if he accepted was a cultural problem with sexism in parliament, Mr Johnson told reporters in Bury: “It’s hard to say on the basis of that particular story.”Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted the whole culture of parliament must change after the treatment of Ms Rayner as he claimed: “It’s sexist, it’s misogynist.”“She shouldn’t have to put up with it, but all women in politics shouldn’t have to put up with it. Almost every woman in politics has had an element of this in some shape or form”.He said it was “up to” the Tory party what action they could potentially take, but stressed: “I actually think it’s a culture thing and therefore going after one or two individuals isn’t enough. We have got to change the culture.”Labour MP Harriet Harman has called for a change to the Commons rules to make misogynistic, homophobic and racist briefings a breach of the MPs’ code of conduct.“Sexist briefings designed to undermine them is an age old way of trying to shut women up,” Ms Harman, who is the Mother of the House – the longest serving female MP – told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme.It comes as the Sunday Times reported that three cabinet ministers and two shadow cabinet ministers were facing allegations of sexual misconduct after being referred to the parliamentary watchdog set up in the wake of the #MeToo scandal. Boris Johnson claims people are more interested in India trade deal than PartygateMeanwhile, Mr Johnson has claimed that he remains an electoral “asset” to the Tory party despite the ongoing scandal over lockdown parties in Downing Street.Asked if he was still an asset to the Tories in the forthcoming local council elections, he said: “I’m not denying that.”The PM said there was “absolutely no circumstance” in which he was going to comment on the final report of the senior civil servant Sue Gray.A report in The Times, citing an official it described as being familiar with the contents of the complete report, said it is “excoriating” and could force Mr Johnson’s resignation. More

PM’s chances of political survival ‘50/50,’ says Tory commentatorBoris Johnson has made threats to unleash “terrors of the earth” on the Conservative MP who was responsible for making misogynistic claims about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.Tory rebels are working together to oust Boris Johnson after the local elections in May, according to a report.The i says factions on the Conservative back benches are working in a more synchronised manner to remove the prime minister over the Partygate scandal.“They are working together more now,” one source told the paper. “One Nation and 2019 Tory MPs are more coordinated.”It comes as Mr Johnson comes under increasing pressure over Covid law-breaking in Downing Street.A separate report in The Times said a Whitehall investigation into the scandal could be so damning for the PM that he could be left with no option but to resign.Meanwhile, Mr Johnson was forced to condemn “misogyny” from his own party after deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner accused Tory MPs of using anonymous briefings to spread “desperate, perverted smears”.Show latest update

1650898030Misogynistic Rayner claims ‘can only deter’ women considering standing for election, Speaker saysHere is more detail from Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s announcement that he will be meeting with Mail on Sunday editor David Dillon to discuss its widely condemned article about Angela Rayner.In statement at the start of Commons business on Monday, the Speaker told MPs: “I said to the House last week in response to a point of order about a different article that I took the issue of media freedom very seriously – it is one of the building blocks of our democracy. “However, I share the views expressed by a wide range of members, including I believe the Prime Minister, that yesterday’s article was reporting unsubstantiated claims – and misogynistic and offensive.”He added: “I express my sympathy to (Angela Rayner) for being the subject of this type of comment in being demeaning, offensive to women in Parliament and can only deter women who might be considering standing for election to the detriment of us all.“That is why I have arranged a meeting with the chair of the press lobby, the editor of the Mail on Sunday to discuss the issue affecting our parliamentary community. I’m also arranging separately – and I believe we’ve now got a time – where I’ll be meeting with (Ms Rayner) this evening.”Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more here:Andy Gregory25 April 2022 15:471650897342Exclusive: Ministers targeted by Russian hoax callers pretending to be captured British citizensMinisters are being targeted by hoax callers pretending to be British citizens captured by Russian forces in Ukraine, The Independent understands.Russian information operations are believed to be behind the calls, which have been made to the private offices of Cabinet members.To date, two British soldiers fighting with the Ukrainian army have been captured by Vladimir Putin’s troops, both of whom were paraded on Russian television last week.In an email sent by Cabinet Office security last week, staff were urged not to engage with callers impersonating the soldiers and instead direct them to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.Our senior news correspondent Samuel Lovett has the full exclusive report here:Andy Gregory25 April 2022 15:351650895223Commons speaker to meet Mail on Sunday editor over Angela Rayner storyCommons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he would be meeting the Mail on Sunday editor to discuss an article which reported “misogynistic and offensive” claims that Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner tried to district Boris Johnson in the Commons by crossing and uncrossing her legs.Matt Mathers25 April 2022 15:001650894323Misogyny should be banned under code of conduct, says Harriet HarmanLabour MP Harriet Harman has called for a change to the Commons rules to make misogynistic, homophobic and racist briefings a breach of the MPs’ code of conduct, writes our politics reporter Adam Forrest.“Sexist briefings designed to undermine them is an age old way of trying to shut women up,” Ms Harman, who is the Mother of the House – the longest serving female MP – told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme.“I don’t buy the argument that it was a casual remark. When an MP briefs a journalist they are doing something as part of their work. This is a deliberate way of undermining women MPs.”Matt Mathers25 April 2022 14:451650893423Nigel Farage tried to sabotage my interview with Trump, Piers Morgan claimsPiers Morgan has claimed that Nigel Farage tried to sabotage his interview with Donald Trump.Morgan said the former Brexit and UKIP party leader sent the ex-US president a three page document containing all the negative things he’d said about him just minutes before an interview due to air tonight.More comments from Morgan below:Matt Mathers25 April 2022 14:301650892607Boris Johnson backs Jacob Rees-Mogg leaving notes on civil servants’ desksThe government efficiency minister was criticised by unions last week after it emerged he had left “crass” and “condescending” messages for officials who were not at their desks.Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports: Matt Mathers25 April 2022 14:161650891023Photos of Downing Street parties may never be publishedPotentially damning photos of Downing Street parties may never be published, it emerged today.Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock reports: Matt Mathers25 April 2022 13:501650890123PM claims he remains electoral asset for ToriesBoris Johnson has claimed that he remains an electoral “asset” to the Tory party despite the ongoing scandal over lockdown parties in Downing Street, writes our political reporter Adam Forrest.Asked if he was still an asset to the Tories in the forthcoming local council elections, he said: “I’m not denying that.”The PM said there was “absolutely no circumstance” in which he was going to comment on the final report of the senior civil servant Sue Gray.A report in The Times, citing an official it described as being familiar with the contents of the complete report, said it is “excoriating” and could force Mr Johnson’s resignation.Matt Mathers25 April 2022 13:351650889177Rishi Sunak falls to bottom of cabinet rankings in Tory faithful surveyRishi Sunak has fallen to the bottom of a regular survey charting the popularity of senior cabinet ministers among the Tory faithful.It follows weeks of criticism of the chancellor’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis, and intense scrutiny over his wife’s tax affairs, after it was revealed by The Independent she was claiming non-dom status.Alongside Boris Johnson, the chancellor was also fined earlier this month by the Metropolitan Police for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room of No 10 during England’s first national lockdown.Ashley Cowburn has more:Eleanor Sly25 April 2022 13:191650888032Boris Johnson threatens to unleash ‘terrors of the earth’ on Tory who made Rayner remarkBoris Johnson has threatened to unleash “terrors of the earth” on the Conservative MP who made misogynistic claims about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner.An unnamed Tory MP told the Mail on Sunday that Ms Rayner crossed and uncrossed her legs on the Labour front bench during PMQs in an attempt to distract the prime minister.Mr Johnson described the comments made about Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner in a newspaper article as “the most appalling load of sexist, misogynist tripe”.Adam Forrest reports:Matt Mathers25 April 2022 13:00 More

It’s been a while since Boris Johnson picked a really big fight with Brussels. It looks very much like the prime minister is set to spark another major bust-up with the EU over the terms of the Brexit deal he signed back in 2020.The government is said to be preparing fresh legislation to tear up the parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol it doesn’t like, a move sure to provoke a strong reaction from the European Commission. Could Britain be about to enter trade war territory with its closest neighbours during a cost-of-living crisis?It seems a draft bill is being readied partly in the expectation that Sinn Fein will win the Northern Ireland elections on 5 May – an unprecedented outcome which could see the unionists withdraw from both the executive and the assembly.Could protocol manoeuvres also be aimed at easing Mr Johnson’s own political problems? Will a new crisis help keep some wavering Tory MPs on his side as the Partygate scandal drags on?Meanwhile, the minister for Brexit opportunities Jacob Rees-Mogg is hunting around for some of those much-talked about Brexit benefits.While he’s not leaving passive-aggressive notes on civil servants’ desks, Rees-Mogg is preparing his own bill aimed at making it easier to diverge from EU law. But will he find enough clear wins to keep Brexit backers happy?The government remains reluctant to use the word ‘Brexit’ when it comes to border disruption at Dover and elsewhere. And yet ministers are set to push back the looming Brexit checks on imports for a fourth time – aware of the drag the extra controls will have on businesses.Is it time for politicians to start acknowledging the damaging impact of Brexit on the economy?I’ll be here to answer your questions live at 3pm on Thursday 28 April. All you have to do is register to submit your question in the comments below. If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments box to leave your question. More

Boris Johnson has backed Jacob Rees-Mogg’s policy of leaving ominous notes on the desks of civil servants who work from home.The government efficiency minister was criticised by unions last week after it emerged he had left “crass” and “condescending” messages for officials who were not at their desks.Mr Rees-Mogg, a staunch right-winger, has been carrying out spot checks of government buildings on Whitehall, apparently motivated by antipathy to remote working.Downing Street on Monday said the prime minister supported Mr Rees-Mogg’s approach.”What the minister is seeking to achieve is to do everything possible to get the civil service to return to the pre-pandemic level,” Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson told reporters at a briefing in Westminster.”That is what he is seeking to do. That is supported by the Cabinet Secretary and obviously the Prime Minister.”Asked whether the notes left by the minister were helpful, the spokesman said the prime minister “supports any initiative that encourages people to return to pre-pandemic working”.They added: “We are not talking about putting an end to flexible working, which continues to have a place in the modern workplace, we are talking about returning to pre-pandemic use of taxpayer-funded departmental buildings.”A picture emerged last week of a note left by Mr Rees-Mogg, which complete with official government crest reads: “Sorry you were out when I visited. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon. With every good wish, Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.”Some right-wing newspapers have taken an editorial line against home working, arguing that commercial landlords must not lose out. The antipathy has been more recently taken up by some Tory MPs.Yet despite Mr Rees-Mogg’s personal crusade, actual governemnt departments have generally allowed civil servants to continue doing their jobs flexibly as long as productivity is not impacted. Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, said last week: “That a minister would think it appropriate to leave such crass, demeaning notes for civil servants is testament to just how disconnected Jacob Rees-Mogg is from the business of government.“With every pronouncement and display like this, he demonstrates that he has no clue how the modern workplace operates and cares little about the effective delivery of vital public services.“Instead, he’s intent on virtue signalling to his political base, and is either oblivious to or simply doesn’t care about the damage he’s doing to the morale of civil servants and the reputation of the civil service as an employer.“Ministers should care about what is being delivered by the civil service, not where someone sits at a particular point in the day.“It’s time Rees-Mogg’s Cabinet colleagues stood up for the staff in their departments and ended the harmful culture war that’s being waged on the very people tasked with delivering the Government’s agenda.” More

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the whole culture of Parliament must change after the treatment of Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, claiming: “It’s sexist, it’s misogynist”The Labour leader’s remarks came after MPs across the political spectrum condemned claims made about Ms Rayner by an unidentified Conservative politician in the Mail on Sunday.The newspaper had quoted an anonymous MP claiming the party’s deputy leader crossed and uncrossed her legs in the Commons chamber to distract Mr Johnson during prime minister’s questions.Addressing he the report, Sir Keir told ITV’s This Morning: “It’s rank sexism, rank misogyny. She was just really disgusted that all of her political attributes were just put aside for this ridiculous, offensive story.“She shouldn’t have to put up with it, but all women in politics shouldn’t have to put up with it. Almost every woman in politics has had an element of this in some shape or form”.He said it was “up to” the Conservative Party what action they could potentially take, but stressed: “I actually think it’s a culture thing and therefore going after one or two individuals isn’t enough.“We have got to change the culture. The culture in Parliament — it’s sexist, it’s misogynist and we need to change it.“That is what Angela said to me. She used this expression, she said ‘It triggered something in me about the way women are seen in politics’.”The Labour leader added: “The culture of the whole place has to change. We all have to play a part in that. The first thing we have to do is call this out obviously for what it is.“I need to look at it within my own party wherever we see it. We will be absolutely on it with zero tolerance. There shouldn’t be a party political divide on this.”In response to the story, Boris Johnson said: “As much as I disagree with Angela Rayner on almost every political issue I respect her as a parliamentarian and deplore the misogyny directed at her anonymously today”.The prime minister was later by reported by the Daily Telegraph to have messaged to the Labour frontbencher, insisting the “misogynistic” claims made about her were “not in his name”.On Monday, culture minister Chris Philp said that if the Conservative MP responsible for the misogynistic comments about Ms Rayner is identified they will face “serious consequences”.“I think that if anyone is identified having views like those that were expressed, which are just outrageous and misogynistic, then I would expect serious consequences to follow,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.“I expect efforts will be made to identify who is responsible for those views. But journalists fiercely guard their sources and I doubt Glen Owen [Mail on Sunday political editor] will be volunteering that information.“I think there is ongoing, active work to make sure anyone holding offensive views, including the misogyny we saw demonstrated over the weekend, is called out and action is taken.” More

Rishi Sunak has fallen to the bottom of a regular survey charting the popularity of senior cabinet ministers among the Tory faithful.It follows weeks of criticism of the chancellor’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis, and intense scrutiny over his wife’s tax affairs, after it was revealed by The Independent she was claiming non-dom status.Alongside Boris Johnson, the chancellor was also fined earlier this month by the Metropolitan Police for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room of No 10 during England’s first national lockdown.Last month, he was third from bottom in the regular ‘Cabinet League Table’ after the spring statement, with a net satisfaction rating of only +7.9 in the survey conducted by the Conservative Home website.But the new April survey shows Mr Sunak’s popularity among the Tory faithful has dropped even further, with the chancellor now in the red alongside a net satisfaction rating of -5.2.The prime minister’s own popularity ratings have also fallen as he continues to face calls for his resignation after becoming the first sitting prime minister to be found to have broken the law for his involvement in “partygate” scandal.He is now third from the bottom of the league table with a +6.6 net satisfaction rating, as the prime minister braces for the possibility of further fines from the Metropolitian Police and a potentially bruising set of local elections results on 5 May.Last night, it was reported by The Times the long-awaited report into No 10 parties by the Whitehall mandarin Sue Gray was “excoriating” and will “make things incredibly difficult” for Mr Johnson. “There’s an immense amount of pressure on her – her report could be enough to end him,” an official described the newspaper described as being familiar with with its contents told the newspaper.However, Ms Gray is not expected to publish her report until Scotland Yard finishes its own probe and determing whether more fixed-penatly notices should be issued.The survey by Conservative Home also showed the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, maintaining his lead over colleagues for a third consecutive month, with a net satisfaction rating of +85.Mr Wallace is followed by the foreign secretary Liz Truss, education secretary Nadhim Zahawi, the international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, and the Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay.Priti Patel, the home secretary, has experienced a significant boost in her net satisfaction ratings among party members, from bottom of the table last month to near middle, on +31.It follows her annoucement of a proposal to send asylum seekers on a one-way ticket to Rwanda in a £120 million deal that faced condemnation from religious figures, including the archbiship of Canterbury who suggested it would not stand the scrutiny of God. More

Boris Johnson could be forced to resign after the Sue Gray review into claims of Covid rule breaches in the Government is published, according to a report.Ms Gray, a senior civil servant, was forced to delay the publication of her investigation into alleged parties held in Downing Street and Whitehall during England’s coronavirus lockdowns due to the Metropolitan Police commencing their own inquiry.In an interim report published in January, the Cabinet Office official said there had been “failures of leadership and judgment” in No 10 over the so-called partygate saga.The Times, citing an official it described as being familiar with the contents of the complete report, said Ms Gray’s full findings were even more personally critical of the prime minister and could end his premiership.According to the paper, the official said: “Sue’s report is excoriating. It will make things incredibly difficult for the Prime Minister.“There’s an immense amount of pressure on her — her report could be enough to end him.”No 10 declined to comment.It comes amid separate reports in the i newspaper that Conservative rebels are preparing to oust Mr Johnson in the event of a poor showing at the local elections next month or if further fines are issued to him. More

Jacob Rees-Mogg is at the centre of a Cabinet row over his drive to get civil servants back at their desks.Culture secretary Nadine Dorries accused Mr Rees-Mogg, the minister responsible for government efficiency, of a “Dickensian” approach to the issue.Mr Rees-Mogg has written to Cabinet ministers calling on them to issue a clear message to staff about a “rapid return to the office” and has been leaving notes in empty Whitehall workspaces with the message: “I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.”The Times reported that Ms Dorries’ response was highly critical of Mr Rees-Mogg’s approach.Mr Rees-Mogg presented figures to Cabinet last week showing that some government departments were using as little as 25 per cent of office capacity in early April – the figure for Ms Dorries’ Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was 43 per cent.Ms Dorries told him his letter to government departments brought to mind “images of burning tallow, rheumy eyes and Marley’s ghost” – a reference to Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.She said: “There’s a whiff of something Dickensian about it. Why are we measuring bodies behind desks? Why aren’t we measuring productivity?”The two ministers have long disagreed about the need to return to places of work following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.But the dispute between the two was “good natured”, one government source said. Unions have objected to Mr Rees-Mogg’s approach, with warnings his stance is damaging civil service morale.Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union which represents senior civil servants, warned that “good people will leave and the civil service brand is trashed in a highly competitive employment market”.Mr Rees-Mogg used a Mail on Sunday article to warn that officials may lose the London weighting on their pay or see their jobs moved elsewhere if they were not at their desks.“Essentially, if people are not back in their office it will be fair to assume that the job does not need to be in London,” he said. More