UK Politics

Metropolitan Police are believed to have issued fines to government staff who attended a party at No 10 on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral last year.Fixed-penalty notices (FPN) have been handed to some who attended the 16 April leaving gathering for former communications director James Slack by email, according to the BBC.It comes as cabinet minister Simon Hart claimed “the world has moved on” from the Partygate scandal – and warned against a “self-indulgent” leadership contest if Boris Johnson receives a fine.Asked if the idea of a party on the eve of the funeral “sits comfortably” with him, Mr Hart told Sky News: “Of course it doesn’t, why should it? … It doesn’t sit comfortably for anybody.”However, the Welsh secretary said his constituents would not want the PM to resign if fined. “The idea that it might be appropriate to have a six-week, self-indulgent leadership contest – frankly, I don’t that’s very sensible … The world has moved on a considerable distance.”Jacob Rees-Mogg also defended his dismissal of the partygate row as “fluff” in the context of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis – saying it was “not the most important issue in the world”.The government’s former ethics chief Helen MacNamara has also been fined over the “partygate” scandal as part of the initial round of 20 fines, according to reports.Ms MacNamara, who used to be the deputy cabinet secretary, is said to be among the first group of people to receive a FPN as part of the police investigation into lockdown-breaching parties.She received a £50 fine on Friday in connection with a leaving do held in the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020 to mark the departure of a private secretary, according to The Telegraph.Some officials who joined Mr Slack’s leaving do on 16 April last year were told they will be given fines, The Guardian first reported. Staff reportedly held such a boisterous party that they broke a garden swing used by the prime minister’s son Wilf.Meanwhile, Mr Johnson will reportedly not be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police as part of their investigation into alleged lockdown-breaching parties.This is because the force is not interviewing those who have received questionnaires as part of the inquiries, and could potentially be fined, according to ITV News.The Met is investigating 12 events, including as many as six Mr Johnson is said to have attended, and has sent out more than 100 questionnaires. The PM received his in February.ITV host Robert Peston said the only officials being interviewed are “witnesses”, whose role is to help the police interpret questionnaires submitted by other people. “The Met are not interviewing those who received questionnaires and are in the frame to be fined,” he said.Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson has not been informed whether he is to be fined over gatherings he attended during the pandemic, while No 10 continued to refuse to accept the law had been broken.His official spokesman said: “The prime minister wants to comment at the conclusion of the process and not in the middle of it … we will have more to say at the conclusion of the process.”Mr Rees-Mogg acknowledged during a LBC phone-in that people were “undeniably cross” but insisted that Mr Johnson had not misled parliament, suggesting the PM had been given “wrong information”.“The prime minister said that he was told the rules were followed, but that turns out not to be correct and we know that fines have now been issued, but the prime minister can only work on the information he is given.”The minister for Brexit opportunities told LBC that some coronavirus restrictions imposed during lockdown were “inhuman”. He also said lessons to be Covid inquiry were “not in relation to parties” but in the harshness of rules the government had imposed. More

Cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg said soaring food prices have “nothing to do” with Brexit, blaming global inflation rates.The minister for Brexit opportunities was challenged on LBC over previous claims that the UK’s exit from the EU would make energy bills and food costs cheaper.Accused by caller Brenda of “lying” to the public before the referendum, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “There is a global inflation in food prices which has nothing to do with Brexit.”He added: “The fact that the wheat price has gone up because, partly, the invasion of Ukraine by Putin’s forces, is not something I was speculating on in the run-up to Brexit.”Mr Rees-Mogg also claimed that post-Brexit trade deals would help ease the cost of living crisis – despite predictions food inflation will hit 15 per cent this year.“With the trade deals we are doing – and particularly important with Australia and New Zealand – we are taking tariffs off food, footwear and clothing,” the minister said. “The more free trade deals we do, the more tariffs will be removed.”The Brexit opportunities added: “These are tariff and non-tariff barriers which are being removed as we make more free trade deals, and that is fundamentally important.“And that – in a cost of living crisis – becomes even more important, because it helps ameliorate the cost of living crisis that we are suffering from.”The latest figures show food inflation has risen by 5.3 per cent year-on-year – following several months of price hikes – with food industry chiefs saying the impact of the Ukraine crisis was only just beginning.LBC caller Brenda said Mr Rees-Mogg was “so patronising”, adding: “I find it absolutely outrageous that people are going to suffer from hypothermia … they can’t eat and can’t heat their homes. How is that helping the ordinary, struggling person?”Challenged on whether chancellor Rishi Sunak had given struggling families enough support at the Spring Statement, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “You have to keep government expenditure under control.”The senior Tory admitted he was in “a very fortunate situation” financially – before suggested he was helping constituents make sure they were claiming the right benefits.“My concern is people coming to my constituency surgery … what can be done to help people, to make sure they’re claiming the right benefits – simple things like that,” he said. “There is help, but it is difficult.”Mentioning that the price of milk going up from 20p to 54p at the farm gate, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “That is extraordinary. There is a real cost of living crisis coming from the farm gate all the way through.”Jacob Rees-Mogg tells Andrew Marr that Brexit is a ‘great success for the country’Mr Rees-Mogg also blamed the EU for the higher export costs facing British fisherman. “The EU is very cross that we left and they want to make life as difficult as possible,” he said.Meanwhile, the senior minister backed greater extraction of North Sea gas ahead of the government’s “energy security strategy” – expected to be revealed on Thursday.“We need to be thinking about extracting every last cubic inch of gas from the North Sea,” he said. “2050 is a long way off. We’re not trying to become net zero tomorrow – and we’re going to need fossil fuels in the interim.”The cabinet minister also said he was “very much in favour of going nuclear” and described the idea of reopening fracking sites “quite an interesting opportunity.”Mr Rees-Mogg also defended his dismissal of the partygate row as “fluff” in the context of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis, saying it was “not the most important issue in the world”.The minister told LBC that some coronavirus restrictions imposed during lockdown were “inhuman”. He also said lessons to be Covid inquiry were “not in relation to parties” but in the harshness of rules the government had imposed.He acknowledged that people were “undeniably cross” but insisted that Boris Johnson had not misled parliament, suggesting the PM had been given “wrong information”.“The prime minister said that he was told the rules were followed, but that turns out not to be correct and we know that fines have now been issued, but the prime minister can only work on the information he is given.” More

The wife of Conservative MP David Warburton is said to be “standing by” him as he faces an investigation into his alleged misconduct.It comes as the MP was admitted to a psychiatric hospital on Sunday, after a report emerged that a parliamentary watchdog is probing alleged sexual harassment and drug use claims.The Somerton and Frome MP, who has had the whip withdrawn by the Conservative Party, is now receiving medical treatment for shock and stress, his wife confirmed to the BBC.Mr Warburton’s brother-in-law, Jonathan Baker-Bates, said the MP and his wife of 20 years believed he had “not done anything wrong”.Mr Baker-Bates, brother of Harriet Warburton told the Mail that the couple were “absolutely … standing by each other”.He said: “They’ve always been a very happy couple for as long as I’ve known them. Harriet is obviously affected herself. I think she is obviously finding it hard.”“She seems to be surprised by it as much as anyone else,” Mr Baker-Bates added. “Her line is as his – he’s not done anything wrong and these things have explanations.”Mr Warburton is facing claims his conduct is being examined by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).Following the publication of an image which appeared to show the Tory MP pictured alongside lines of a white substance, his brother-in-law said “that behaviour is out of character”.Mr Baker-Bates also questioned whether the allegations could be part of a “fix-up”.“As far as I know, that behaviour is out of character and the wider allegations appear out of character,” he told the paper. “He was always very conscious that he is an MP so it is surprising in that context.”The Sunday Times reported that two women had made formal complaints to the ICGS about Mr Warburton’s behaviour and a third woman had also made allegations about his conduct.All three women accuse him of unwanted sexual comments and sexual touching, the newspaper said, and the latter also accuses the MP of having used cocaine at her home.According to the report, the two women who complained to the ICGS were former parliamentary aides, while the other met him through politics.Mr Warburton is said to deny any wrongdoing. He was cited as telling The Telegraph: “I have enormous amounts of defence, but unfortunately the way that things work means that doesn’t come out first.“I have heard nothing whatsoever from the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. I’m sorry, I can’t comment any further.”Transport secretary Grant Shapps earlier said that allegations about Mr Warburton’s conduct should be investigated and the facts established.Mr Rees-Mogg said on LBC on Monday that he felt sorry on a “personal level” about Mr Warburton’s position, but there was a need for a “proper process” to make sure people could feel safe working in parliament.Meanwhile, fellow cabinet minister Simon Hart said he was a “staunch defender” of MPs being able to employ their spouses.The Sunday Times said two complainants sidestepped Mr Warburton’s Commons office in part due to the person responsible for handling HR complaints being his wife Harriet, whom he employs on a publicly funded salary, which could be worth up to £52,000.Mr Hart, who also employs his wife, was asked on Times Radio whether MPs should be allowed to give family members jobs.“I think that’s actually pretty insulting towards so many husbands, wives and partners who do a really good job in parliament, work bloody hard, and provide the taxpayer real value for money,” he said.A Commons spokesperson said: “Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) operates on the basis of absolute confidentiality. Therefore, we cannot provide any information on complaints or investigation, including whether or not a complaint has been received.” More

A former Whitehall ethics chief has reportedly been fined in connection with a party held during lockdown.Helen MacNamara, an ex-deputy cabinet secretary, is said to be among the first wave of people to be dealt a fixed-penalty notice (FPN) by the Metropolitan Police as part of its investigation into the Partygate scandal.She received the fine on Friday in relation to a leaving party at the Cabinet Office on 18 June 2020 to mark the departure of a private secretary, according to the The Daily Telegraph.Ms MacNamara was the director general of propriety and ethics in the Cabinet Office from 2018 to 2020 and left government to work for the Premier League.The purpose of her role was to ensure the highest standards of propriety, integrity and governance within government.It has also been reported by ITV News that Boris Johnson will not be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police as part of their investigation into the string of lockdown-busting parties held in Whitehall.This is because the force is not interviewing those who have received questionnaires as part of the inquiries, the broadcaster said.The Met is investigating 12 events, including as many as six that Mr Johnson is said to have attended. The force has sent out more than 100 questionnaires, including one to Mr Johnson in February.It follows several reports that suggest people have also received £50 fines linked with a gathering that took place on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral last year. These FPNs were among the initial round of 20 issued by the Metropolitan Police.Downing Street staff attended two separate parties on the evening before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral during strict Covid rules, which saw the Queen forced to sit alone as she bid farewell to her husband of 73 years, it has been alleged.Two events were reported to have been held on the evening of 16 April 2021 – when the country was under step two Covid-19 restrictions which banned indoor mixing.Both events were said to be leaving parties for staff working in the prime minister’s inner team. One was reportedly held for James Slack, Boris Johnson’s then-director of communications, and the other for the prime minister’s personal photographer.Witnesses said that “excessive alcohol” was drunk, attendees danced to music DJ’d by a special adviser, and the gatherings lasted beyond midnight.The Guardian reports that a note sent by the Operation Hillman team, investigating the lockdown-breaching events, told some of them that it had been “assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that you committed an offence in contravention of the regulations”.The email, which was received by some late last week, added: “In light of this, you are to be reported for the issuance of a fixed penalty notice (FPN), offering you the opportunity of discharging any liability to conviction for the offence by payment of a fixed penalty.”A spokesperson for Scotland Yard told The Independent it would not be providing a “running commentary” on the fines issued, or the identities of those issued a FPN.But last week, the Met confirmed that 20 Covid offences in Downing Street and Whitehall had so far resulted in fines.The referrals represented the first penalties to be imposed in relation to a series of 12 gatherings in 2020 and 2021 and the first police confirmation that coronavirus laws were broken.With additional reporting from PA More

Tory MP David Warburton has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital after an investigation was launched into allegations about his behaviour.The Somerton and Frome MP, who has had the Tory whip removed, is being treated for shock and stress.It comes after it emerged his conduct was being examined by the parliamentary harassment watchdog following sexual harassment and drug use claims.The Sunday Times reported two women had filed formal complaints to parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) about Mr Warburton’s behaviour, while a third woman made allegations about his conduct.The allegations reported by the newspaper relate to sexual misconduct and a claim he had taken cocaine.Mr Warburton is said to deny any wrongdoing. He is quoted as telling The Telegraph: “I have enormous amounts of defence, but unfortunately the way that things work means that doesn’t come out first.“I have heard nothing whatsoever from the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. I’m sorry, I can’t comment any further.”A spokesperson for the Whips Office previously said: “David Warburton MP has had the Conservative Party whip removed while the investigation is ongoing.”Mr Warburton has been MP for Somerton and Frome since 2015.The former businessman is chair of the all-party parliamentary group on music and has previously been a member of the European scrutiny committee.He lives near Somerton, in Somerset, with his wife and their two children.The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme was set up in 2019 following the MeToo movement in Westminster.Anyone working in parliament can contact the helpline about incidents of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct. More

Boris Johnson is poised to bow to pressure from Conservative MPs to block new onshore wind farms, rejecting calls to kickstart the industry in response to the energy crisis.A long-delayed “energy independence plan” is set to maintain planning rules that allow just a single local objection to kill off proposed schemes in England. These rules have been blamed for a falling off in investment in onshore wind.No 10 has considered scrapping the effective veto, but a government spokesperson said: “Any decisions on onshore wind will always be subject to consent from local communities.”The decision comes despite pressure from Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, who wants to double the power generated by onshore wind turbines by 2030 in order to help wean the UK off Russian gas.Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, laid bare the cabinet split when he branded wind turbines an “eyesore” that “sit on the hills” and create “problems of noise”.Meanwhile a Tory backbencher has warned the prime minister of a party backlash that would scupper any attempt to dilute the planning restrictions that were imposed, under similar pressure, by David Cameron’s government.James Gray told BBC Radio 4 that some 120 MPs are in a WhatsApp group opposing wind and solar farms, adding: “The government would not be able to get a change through without our support. We need to preserve our countryside, we need to preserve fields. And if I have to make a fuss about it, I’m going to. Watch out, Mr Government – here I come.”The energy strategy will finally be published this week, but will focus on reviving nuclear power and expanding offshore wind, as well as on controversial new North Sea oil and gas licences.The shadow business secretary criticised the government’s stance, arguing that onshore wind power is crucial to “secure supplies that are renewable and that meet our net-zero objectives”. Labour’s Jonathan Reynolds said: “The government are really making a mistake if they believe that onshore wind, which is the cheapest form of new electricity generation, isn’t going to be part of the solution to this.”But earlier, Mr Shapps said of the turbines: “They sit on the hills there and can create something of an eyesore for communities, as well as actual problems of noise. So I think, for reasons of environmental protection, the way to go with this is largely – not entirely – but largely [offshore].”The transport secretary indicated that the prime minister backs his view, something he said would be apparent when the strategy is released, probably on Thursday.“What you really want to do is develop in other ways – nuclear, we will have offshore wind. I don’t think you want a huge expansion of onshore wind,” he said.Mr Johnson is pushing to get 25 per cent of the UK’s electricity from nuclear power, which will require up to six new power stations to be built at a cost that is alarming the chancellor, Rishi Sunak.However, the National Infrastructure Commission has warned that nuclear plants are “incredibly difficult to deliver on short timescales” and that any begun now may not come online until the mid-2040s. More

Grant Shapps has revealed he is struggling to get the Ukrainian family he wants to host into the UK, laying bare the long delays dogging the refugee scheme.The transport secretary made the offer three weeks ago – and was “in touch” with the family concerned a week later – but the application has still not been processed.The three-generation family from Kyiv, a mother, her six-year-old son, her grandmother, 75, and their dog Max, are due to live at Mr Shapps’ home in Hertfordshire, after he “found them on Facebook”.But, speaking to Times Radio, Mr Shapps revealed his struggles, saying: “I just want to get the family over here, you know, and feel that they’re safe and living with us.”The problems emerged after the government admitted that just one in 10 applications to the Homes for Ukraine had been granted – only 2,700 of 28,300 applications, by last Wednesday.The UK, alone in Europe, has refused to waive normal bureaucratic visa rules, arguing it would expose the country to potential terrorism or further chemical attacks by Russian agents.The newly-appointed refugees minister has admitted only “hundreds” of refugees have arrived in Britain under the scheme – after Boris Johnson declined to disclose the number.Richard Harrington is vowing to speed up the processing, setting the ambitious target of dealing with cases within two days and to bring in 15,000 people each week.The Homes for Ukraine scheme has been set up to allow refugees with no family links to come to Britain and be sponsored by members of the public, who will be paid £350 per month for doing so.A staggering 150,000-plus people quickly registered their interest in becoming hosts – but many have since lashed out at the red tape of a 51-page application form, while the lives of potential refugees are in grave danger.Mr Shapps has explored enrolling the child at a local primary school and will use one of his own children’s bedrooms to house the family while they are at university.He admitted the delays he is facing are “frustrating” but defended the lengthy form-filling and security checks involved.“It wouldn’t be beyond Putin to put Russian saboteurs into groups of people fleeing the country, and I think it is reasonable [that] the UK would want to carry out some checks,” he argued.He is the only cabinet minister believed to be hosting refugees, after the prime minister and Michael Gove suggested it would be too difficult for them to do so.Lord Harrington told The Sunday Times: “I am happy to say publicly that my target is 48 hours from when they download the application form to when they are given permission to travel.”The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page. More

Grant Shapps described on shore wind farms as an ‘eyesore’ for communities Boris Johnson’s cabinet remains split on how to move forward with energy plans, with the transport secretary expressing his opposing views publicly. Grant Shapps has said the government’s upcoming energy security strategy will not include plans to increase onshore wind farms. He previously described onshore wind farms as “something of an eyesore” which cause noise problems, and has suggested the government proceed with solar, tidal, offshore wind farms and new nuclear energy. The government’s energy strategy was set to be published last week, but has since been delayed. The plan will include the government’s aims for more renewable energy and to reduce the UK’s reliance on Russian fuel. Show latest update

1648993082We’re pausing on live updates for today. Thank you for following.Aisha Rimi3 April 2022 14:381648989658Facts need to be established amid allegations against MP David Warburton, says ministerAllegations about the conduct of David Warburton should be investigated and the facts established, said transport secretary Grant Shapps.Mr Shapps made the comments when asked about the backbench MP having the Tory whip withdrawn pending an investigation into claims about his conduct.The allegations, relating to sexual misconduct and a claim he had taken cocaine, are being examined by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).Amy Gibbons has more: Aisha Rimi3 April 2022 13:401648988736 Labour proposes a package of “emergency” measures to help ease rising costs on businessesIn an effort to ease the burden of rising costs on businesses, Labour has proposed a package of “emergency measures” – including an immediate tax cut. Alongside the tax cut, Labour’s proposals include an energy support fund, a “green steel” fund and the scrapping of the scheduled hike in national insuranceUnder the proposed plans, a pub would be £2,600 better off, while for the average cafe or restaurant, it would be £2,700. Jonathan Reynolds, shadow business secretary, said businesses are facing a “tidal wave of extra costs” and so are being “held back” under the Tory government. Amy Gibbons has more: More