UK Politics

Boris Johnson is to hold talks on the Ukraine crisis with Nato’s secretary general on Thursday before flying to Poland on a trip designed to reassure eastern European allies about the UK’s support in the face of Russian aggression.Meanwhile Liz Truss will become the first British foreign secretary in more than four years to visit Russia, where she will tell counterpart Sergey Lavrov that it is time for Moscow to call off its build-up of troops near the border with Ukraine.The Polish foreign ministry in Warsaw indicated that Mr Johnson will meet prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and resident Andrzej Duda, and he is also expected to visit British troops in the country.And Nato announced that the PM will hold talks with secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at its Brussels HQ ahead of a joint press conference early on Thursday morning. Labour said that leader Sir Keir Starmer will also meet Mr Stoltenberg in Brussels later in the day.Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is also expected to visit Moscow this week as part of the high-level international push to resolve the crisis.Ahead of her visit, Ms Truss said: “The UK is determined to stand up for freedom and democracy in Ukraine.“I’m visiting Moscow to urge Russia to pursue a diplomatic solution and make clear that another Russian invasion of a sovereign state would bring massive consequences for all involved.“Russia should be in no doubt about the strength of our response. We have said many times that any further invasion would incur severe costs, including through a co-ordinated package of sanctions.“Russia has a choice here. We strongly encourage them to engage, de-escalate and choose the path of diplomacy.”The UK is prepared to impose what Ms Truss has branded “the toughest sanctions regime against Russia we have ever had” if there is an invasion of Ukraine, targeting those closest to the Kremlin.The visits form part of an intensive period of diplomatic contacts as the international community attempts to defuse tensions around Ukraine.Mr Johnson held talks with Lithuanian PM Ingrida Simonyte in Downing Street and a call with Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte on Tuesday.Russia has insisted it has no plans to invade Ukraine but President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns about Nato expansion in eastern Europe – Ukraine is not a member of the alliance but has received support from the West. More

Ministers defended Boris Johnson’s lockdown quiz on the basis that it did not feature alcohol – before photos emerged of the prime minister with a bottle of bubbly.New images of the PM were reported by the Daily Mirror on Wednesday showing a new angle on the banned social gathering.The picture contradicts earlier claims by ministers in December about what happened at the event when it was first revealed.At the time they took to the airwaves to downplay the gathering on the basis that no booze was being served or drunk.”What do we see in that picture? We see a prime minister on a virtual quiz night for 10 to 15 minutes, to thank his staff – who by the way had no choice but to come in every single day,” Education Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News on 12 December.”Sitting in his office with the two people who are closest working with him, no alcohol on the table, not drinking – on a zoom call or teams call, virtual call – respecting the lockdown rules.”However the latest photograph shows the prime minister with a bottle of what appears to be Prosecco and a half-eaten packets crisps.At the time London was under Tier 2 regulations, which banned any social mixing between two or more people who lived in different households.Social events outside household bubbles were banned under government rules at the time, including with colleagues who might otherwise have been working together.Official guidance stated: “You must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.” More

Boris Johnson has been confronted over a new picture revealing an open bottle of what appears to be champagne or sparkling wine at a No 10 “virtual” Christmas quiz during lockdown.The prime minister is flanked by three members of staff, one wearing tinsel and another a Santa hat, at the event on December 15, 2020, the image shows.In the Commons, Mr Johnson was told it looked like “one of the Christmas parties” that he had denied took place – but insisted the claim was “completely in error”.The gathering is not one of the 12 being investigated by the Metropolitan police, a probe which has left the prime minister’s survival in office hanging by a thread.In the Commons, Mr Johnson was urged to “refer the matter to the police”, but replied: “That’s precisely the point – it already has been submitted for investigation”.But Adam Wagner, the barrister and expert in lockdown restrictions, said: “We can now see the food and alcohol and an extra person. I think there is no longer any justification for the police not to investigate this event.”At the time, then-vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi argued the gathering could not have been a party – because no alcohol was present.The publication of the photo – by the Daily Mirror – will add to Tory MPs’ fears of a drip-drip of more damaging evidence of Covid rule-breaking in No 10, as the Met inquiry continues.Dominic Cummings, the ousted Johnson aide, who has claimed more evidence will emerge, tweeted: “There’s waaaaay better pics than that floating around, incl in the flat.”That is a reference to the separate alleged party hosted by the prime minister’s wife, in November 2020, when ABBA songs were heard being played, at loud volume.At a stormy prime minister’s questions, Mr Johnson was also warned, by former Tory chief whip Mark Harper, not to stall on publishing the full Sue Gray report – once the Met inquiry is completed.“I will immediately publish in full whatever Sue Gray gives me,” MPs were told – although it is not clear whether that report will include the 300-plus photos and 500-plus pages of written evidence she has gathered.Mr Johnson was accused of personally breaking Covid laws by hosting the festive event in December 2020 – but No 10 argued quiz participants had joined virtually.At the time, London was under Tier 2 regulations banning any social mixing between two or more people from different households.Official guidance also stated: “You must not have a work Christmas lunch or party, where that is a primarily social activity and is not otherwise permitted by the rules in your tier.”On the desk in front of Mr Johnson – from where he read out quiz questions to teams in different rooms – is what appears to be champagne and a half-eaten packet of crisps.Two days after the Mirror broke the story, the prime minister said: “I can tell you once again that I certainly broke no rules.” More

Boris Johnson pictured with champagne and tinsel at No 10 Christmas quizBoris Johnson has been confronted over a new picture showing an open bottle of bubbly at a No 10 “virtual” Christmas quiz during lockdown.During another tense PMQs, Labour MP Fabian Hamilton said the image of the PM flanked by three members of staff, one wearing tinsel and another a Santa hat, looked “very much like one of the Christmas parties” he denied took place.The 15 December 2020 gathering is not one of the 12 being investigated by Metropolitan Police officers. However, in the Commons today, Mr Johnson was urged to “refer the matter to the police” and replied: “That’s precisely the point – it already has been submitted for investigation”.Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser and now one of his most vocal critics, swiftly tweeted to say the there are “waaaaay better pics than that floating around, including in the flat”, likely referring to the PM’s Downing Street residence. Follow live updates belowShow latest update

1644418214Watch: PM pictured with bubbly and tinsel at No 10 Christmas quizBoris Johnson pictured with bubbly and tinsel at No 10 Christmas quizSam Hancock9 February 2022 14:501644417923Boris Johnson to discuss Ukraine crisis in visits to Nato HQ and PolandBoris Johnson is to hold talks on the Ukraine crisis with Nato’s secretary general on Thursday before flying to Poland on a trip designed to reassure eastern European allies about the UK’s support in the face of Russian aggression.Meanwhile Liz Truss will become the first British foreign secretary in more than four years to visit Russia, where she will tell counterpart Sergey Lavrov that it is time for Moscow to call off its build-up of troops near the border with Ukraine.The Polish foreign ministry in Warsaw indicated that Mr Johnson will meet prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and resident Andrzej Duda, and he is also expected to visit British troops in the country.And Nato announced that the PM will hold talks with secretary general Jens Stoltenberg at its Brussels HQ ahead of a joint press conference early on Thursday morning. Labour said that leader Sir Keir Starmer will also meet Mr Stoltenberg in Brussels later in the day.Andrew Woodcock9 February 2022 14:451644417023Boris Johnson has ‘full confidence’ in new comms chief, says No 10Downing Street said Boris Johnson had “full confidence” in his new communications chief Guto Harri after a turbulent first few days in the role.The Daily Mail earlier reported that Mr Harri was given “both barrels” over a Welsh-language interview in which he said the prime minister was “not a total clown” and revealed the pair sang I Will Survive.Mr Harri has also come under scrutiny for his past lobbying work for firms including Huawei.Asked if Mr Johnson had full confidence in Mr Harri, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “Yes.”The spokesman said Mr Harri had “resigned from his post providing advice to private companies, which is within the rules”.In another potential strain on his relationship with his new boss, Mr Harri reportedly said that the prime minister regretted backing Brexit before the EU referendum was held. Matt Kelly, editor-in-chief of The New European, said Mr Harri told him in 2018 that Mr Johnson knew he had “f***** up” by supporting Brexit.Liam James9 February 2022 14:301644416123Boris Johnson Christmas quiz: How Tory ministers defended ‘gathering with no alcohol’ before photo of booze emergedMinisters defended Boris Johnson‘s lockdown quiz on the basis that it did not feature alcohol – before photos emerged of the prime minister with a bottle of bubbly.New images of the PM were reported by the Daily Mirror on Wednesday showing a new angle on the banned social gathering.The picture contradicts earlier claims by ministers in December about what happened at the event when it was first revealed.At the time they took to the airwaves to downplay the gathering on the basis that no booze was being served or drunk.However the latest photograph shows the prime minister with a bottle of what appears to be Prosecco and a half-eaten packets crisps.More on this here:Jon Stone9 February 2022 14:151644415268Labour ‘concerned’ Boris Johnson gave ‘legitimacy’ to Jimmy Savile claimsLabour said there was “concern” that Boris Johnson gave “legitimacy” to far-right conspiracies that had possibly fuelled demonstrators to ambush Sir Keir Starmer outside Parliament.The prime minister has refused to apologise for accusing the opposition leader of having failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile when he ran the Crown Prosecution Service, a baseless claim made popular in far-right circles online.A spokesman for Sir Keir said: “You will have heard Labour spokespeople say in the last 24 hours that there has been concern at the prime minister giving legitimacy to these views that originated in the dark corners of the internet, in far-right conspiracies.“And I think there is a question over whether these are ideas that the prime minister should give legitimacy to by raising them at the despatch box in the House of Commons.”Labour said it would not be commenting on whether security arrangements would be being scaled up following the incident with Sir Keir on Monday.Liam James9 February 2022 14:011644413459Watch: Starmer says PM and ‘loan shark chancellor’ scamming taxpayersKeir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson and ‘loan shark chancellor’ of scamming taxpayersSam Hancock9 February 2022 13:301644413002Johnson says Labour want to ‘clobber’ oil and gas profitsHere’s Adam Forrest with a little more on Boris Johnson’s defence of fossil fuel giants, as laid out by him at PMQs (see posts from 12.15pm and 12.25pm).The PM accused Labour of wanting to “clobber” oil and gas companies’ profits, as he again rejected a windfall tax. It came after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Johnson of letting down hard-pressed families hit by a cost of living crisis – calling the £200 energy bill rebate a “scam” and a “con”.“The government is insulting people’s intelligence by pretending it’s giving them a discount. But it’s not. It’s a con, a buy now pay later scheme. A dodgy loan, not a proper plan,” Sir Keir said, to which the PM said his government’s plan “faster, more efficient and more generous than anything [Labour] have set out”.Sam Hancock9 February 2022 13:231644412427And that’s it for PMQs as dozens of MPs spill out of the Commons. Sam Hancock9 February 2022 13:131644412209PM commits to publish Gray report in full once police inquiry overTory MP Mark Harper, after a groan by colleagues, asks the PM to promise that, when the police inquiry into Partygate is over, he will publish the full Sue Gray report in full.Johnson says that once that inquiry is over he will immediately publish whatever Sue Gray hands over to him. No 10 has made this pledge already, but this is the first time Johnson has made this promise from the despatch box, which Harper says was the reason he asked.He has been one of the PM’s harshest critics over Partygate, hence people from his own benches collectively groaning when he stood up and announced he had a question related to the scandal. Sam Hancock9 February 2022 13:101644412199PM suggests blaming him for Starmer Savile mob ‘lets thugs off hook’Here’s more on Jones’ remarks and Johnson’s reply, from our policy correspondent Jon Stone:Sam Hancock9 February 2022 13:09 More

Boris Johnson has accused Labour of wanting to “clobber” oil and gas companies’ profits, as he again rejected a windfall tax and defended the fossil fuel giants at PMQs.Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of letting down families hit by the cost of living crisis – calling the government’s £200 energy bill rebate a “scam” and a “con”.Sir Keir said: “The government is insulting people’s intelligence by pretending it’s giving them a discount. But it’s not. It’s a con, a buy now pay later scheme. A dodgy loan, not a proper plan.”The Labour leader added: “When his donors give him cash to fund his lifestyle and tell him he has to pay it all back later – are they giving him a loan or a discount?”Mr Johnson replied: “Our plan to tackle the cost of living is faster, more efficient and more generous than anything that they have set out.”The government last week outlined an energy rebate scheme, giving people £200 off their bills which then has to paid back in instalments over five years from 2023.The Labour leader said chancellor Rishi Sunak’s scheme would see “billions of pounds” handed to energy companies, before families have to pay it back. “The loan shark chancellor, and his unwitting sidekick, have now picked up a buy now, pay later scheme.”Sir Keir added: “It leaves taxpayers in debt, while oil and gas companies say they have got more money than they know what to do with. It’s the same old story with this government. Get in a mess, protect their mates, and ask working people to pick up the bill.”The Labour leader called for a windfall tax on oil and gas firms’ record profits to help people with the soon-to-soar energy bills – but the idea was firmly rejected by the prime minister.Mr Johnson said: “What they would do is clobber the oil and gas companies right now with a tax that would deter investment in gas just when this country needs gas in the transition towards green fuel. It would be totally ridiculous. And it would raise prices for consumers.”Grilled the PM over the cost of living, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said nurses face a £275 “pay cut” due to the planned rise in national insurance – calling on Mr Johnson to scrap it.“Rather than the prime minister and the chancellor scrapping over the Tory leadership, will they do something useful and scrap the regressive hike in national insurance?” Mr Blackford asked.The PM replied: “We value our nurses, we love our NHS, and we are paying for it.”Keir Starmer accuses Boris Johnson and ‘loan shark chancellor’ of scamming taxpayersThe prime minister was also confronted about a new picture revealing an open bottle of what appeared to be champagne a No 10 “virtual” Christmas quiz on 15 December. The event is not one of those being probed by the Metropolitan Police.The photo published by The Mirror showed the prime minister flanked by three members of staff, one wearing tinsel and another wearing a Santa hat, near an uncorked bottle and an open bag of crisps.Labour MP Fabian Hamilton challenged Mr Johnson, asking: “Will the prime minister be referring this party to the police as it is not one of the ones currently being investigated?”Mr Johnson said the MP was “completely in error”, and later said: “That event has already has been submitted for investigation.” More

Britain’s departure from the European Union has brought higher costs, more red tape and border delays for businesses, and not yet delivered promised benefits, a public spending watchdog said Wednesday.A day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed a “Brexit opportunities” minister, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee said that the “only detectable impact” of Brexit so far has been to increase burdens on businesses.Britain left the European Union’s vast single market for goods and services on Dec. 31, 2020. Most trade remains tariff-free, but Brexit has brought a host of new customs checks and other barriers to previously frictionless trade. Supporters of Brexit argue that leaving the bloc, which Britain joined in 1973, will allow the U.K. to slash red tape, increase productivity and streamline the economy. “Yet the only detectable impact so far is increased costs, paperwork and border delays,” said Meg Hillier the Labour Party lawmaker who heads the committee, which has members from both government and opposition parties.Before Brexit, about half of Britain’s trade was with EU nations. The committee’s report said the coronavirus pandemic had severely hit international trade, making it hard to discern the exact effect of Brexit. But it said “it is clear that EU exit has had an impact.”It said border delays are likely to increase as international travel and transport returns to pre-pandemic levels, the EU imposes new checks on people entering the bloc later this year and Britain brings in full import controls, including checks on plant and animal products.Rod McKenzie of the Road Haulage Association told the BBC that long lines and delays near the main English Channel port of Dover were “the new normal” for truckers.He called for a veterinary agreement between Britain and the EU to eliminate the need for plant and animal checks, and “a lighter touch on these border controls” to ease delays.The U.K. government said it was giving businesses “the support they need to trade effectively with Europe and seize new opportunities as we strike trade deals with the world’s fastest growing markets.”On Tuesday, Johnson appointed Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg to the new post of minister for “Brexit opportunities and government efficiency.” It was part of changes intended strengthen Johnson’s grip on power after weeks of destabilizing scandal over lockdown-breaching government parties during the pandemic. More

Voters want the government to cap the price of food and other essentials like clothing, housing and transport, a new survey of public opinion has found.The research found strong support for price controls across the economy to stem the growing cost of living crisis putting pressure on household budgets across Britain.In total 71 per cent of voters would support price controls that would “place limits on the prices that companies can charge for certain goods and services, such as energy, housing and other essential goods” – with just 7 per cent opposed.The survey, conducted by pollster Opinium, also found strong support for the policy across the political spectrum, with Conservative voters at 76 per cent even more supportive than the general population.It comes as the chancellor Rishi Sunak last week announced a new £200 subsidy for energy bills this winter, to be funded by a levy on energy bills over the next five years.And the Office for National Statistics announced in January that it is reviewing how it calculates inflation for food products – after writer and activist Jack Monroe raised concerns that the stats agency was under-reporting price increases for people on lower incomes. Asked specifically whether they would support price controls on food, 70 per cent of voters, including 65 per cent of Tory voters and 77 per cent of Labour voters, said they agreed. Just 11 per cent of voters were opposed. Inflation soared to the highest level since 1992 last month, with the Consumer Price Index hitting 5.4 per cent.People were less supportive of price controls for clothing and footwear, with 47 per cent in total in favour and 18 per cent against; price controls on transportation fares were supported by 72 per cent to 8 per cent while fuel was supported by 76 per cent to 8 per cent.Meanwhile unspecified price controls on housing received 65 per cent support against 11 per cent opposed. Previous polls have recorded strong support for rent controls specifically across the political spectrum.Many economists oppose price controls because they say the policy distorts the market and can lead to supply shortages.Others say there is a place for price controls in some circumstances. James Kenneth Galbraith, an eminent US economist, said last month that blanket opposition to price controls came from a “reactionary mindset has no sound basis”. But Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman said controls would “screw up” the adjustment of the supply chain.Commenting on latest Opinium polling Mathew Lawrence, director of the think-tank Common Wealth, said: “As the cost of living crisis explodes, and corporate profits surge, it is no surprise the public overwhelmingly support price controls for vital goods and services. “From the energy cap and minimum wage laws to interest rates, much of our economy already has forms of controls. What role they can play to help ease the crisis and rebalance power is now an urgent question.”Meanwhile Fran Boait from the campaign group Positive Money said: “Big corporations are making huge profits as the cost of essentials like energy rise for ordinary households, so it’s no surprise that the public support price controls, which would put the squeeze on corporate profits rather than workers’ wallets.”Examples of existing price controls in effect in the UK are the energy price cap on household bills and the regulation of some train tickets. More