Boris Johnson news

Boris Johnson should resign if he is fined by the Metropolitan police for lockdown breaches, despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Labour has said, ...

So it shows a pattern of behaviour where the prime minister is not telling the truth to the British public. A source said the fines would probably be imposed on “low-hanging fruit” – an indication that Boris Johnson is unlikely to be among them, as he has denied breaking the law. “Then he says, ‘I didn’t realise it was party,’ when it was found out that he was actually there.

A scandal over lockdown-breaching parties is taking a backseat to the Ukraine invasion — but that could still change.

While he has to endure another uncomfortable instalment of prime minister’s questions Wednesday, parliament will adjourn soon afterward for a two-week Easter break. Misleading the house has traditionally been considered a resigning matter. “It’s been mentioned prominently every time I ask about the government and PM — more so than Ukraine.” War in Europe may have strengthened the prime minister’s position, but things could quickly change. Information on the penalties is limited so far, with the police saying they will not identify those who have been fined or which events the fines relate to. Most Conservative MPs agree they are in a holding pattern until there’s any word on whether Johnson himself receives a fine, something that could take months.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly defended himself and the Government in light of allegations that Covid restrictions were broken by gatherings and parties ...

The Prime Minister added: “I apologise for the impression that has been given that staff in Downing Street take this less than seriously. That is what I have been repeatedly assured.” The Prime Minister repeatedly refused to say if he was there. Mr Johnson said in an interview on December 20 2021: “Those were meetings of people at work. Those were meetings of people at work, talking about work.” It is no use saying that people were working hard.”

BORIS Johnson has been proven a liar and should resign, his opponents have said after the Metropolitan Police confirmed at least 20 instances of…

By dragging it out longer all he is doing is pouring more salt on the wounds of those who have already suffered so much.” On December 8, after the initial partygate reports were published in the press, he told MPs: "I have been repeatedly assured that the rules were not broken. Labour deputy chief Rayner commented: "The culture is set from the top. He also declined to say whether fined individuals can carry on working in No 10, though former chief whip Mark Harper suggested law-breaking civil servants or special advisers would have to be sacked. “Frankly, bereaved families have seen enough. Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

Some of the heat may have gone but the return of stories of parties in the build-up to the local elections is a cause of concern.

Ultimately the biggest problem for the Prime Minister and his team is that the improving mood amongst his own MPs faces a disconnect with the feeling in the country. What’s more, others could set an unhelpful precedent for the Prime Minister. Would any other senior figures in Downing Street quit if they received a fixed penalty notice? At spring conference, Jacob Rees-Mogg claimed that the Ukraine conflict had shown that the whole story was “fluff”. Rees-Mogg might have put it more bluntly, and more publicly, than most others would have done. Should one arrive, there are those around the Prime Minister who are keen he responds by showing contrition and offering a sincere apology – a clear change from the old No 10 tactics of stonewalling and denying anything happened. Now that the police have found that the law was broken by those working at the heart of government, this period is over. After the MPs’ away day was postponed not once but twice due to events, the dinner – and group photo ahead of it – was meant to bring back a sense of team morale.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to avoid a fine for his illegal parties in Downing Street after agreeing to voluntarily attend a Party Awareness Course ...

But inside, obviously it’s a case listening to someone speak for a couple of hours to avoid a fine. “The Party Awareness Course has all sorts of materials, from simple charts to horrific videos showing people photocopying their arses. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to avoid a fine for his illegal parties in Downing Street after agreeing to voluntarily attend a Party Awareness Course instead.

Boris Johnson faced a renewed threat to his position over the partygate scandal after the police decision to fine 20 people for lockdown breaches appeared to ...

On Tuesday night the College of Policing said that police forces must apply proportionality when considering what information to keep from the public. Those given fixed-penalty notices will receive a letter from the criminal records office, Acro, giving 28 days to pay the penalty. The Met has said those who are issued notices will not be named, based on the professional practice guidance for fixed-penalty notices. So I think he’s out of the woods for the moment and the real question is when we return to normal politics [after Ukraine] because the moment we do, the risk goes up again. And former lord chancellor Robert Buckland said on Tuesday: “I think any head of government who has been found to have infringed the law has got some explaining to do.” The conventional wisdom is that if he survives the year, then he survives until the election.”

But if the PM is found to have broken the law, it will take more than a free dinner to win back MPs.

The PM knew the situation was precarious a couple of months ago. But aside from that, dozens and dozens of people could be found to have broken the law but their identities never revealed. In a reassuringly traditional, or perhaps frustrating, way, the fines have to wing their way to individuals through the post.

Hundreds of grief-stricken families gathered at the National Covid Memorial Wall in London on Tuesday to mark its first anniversary and pay tribute to those ...

The sisters tearfully recalled how just 15 people were allowed to their father’s funeral and they were not allowed to touch his coffin. Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage, despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed, as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond. But he described the parties in Whitehall as an “insult” to his family and all those who lost a loved one, adding that the Prime Minister should “definitely” resign if he at any point receives a penalty. “He lied to every citizen in this nation and he should hold his head in shame, because he should resign.” A 19-year-old who lost his father to Covid said the wall had served as a reminder to his family that they were not alone in their grief. “And that the people in Westminster have to look across the river every day at the blood-red of that wall, the blood that’s been shed because they’ve handled the pandemic so badly.”

The Metropolitan Police said 20 fixed penalty notices will be referred to the ACRO Criminal Records Office.

“We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. “We are making every effort to progress this investigation at speed and have completed a number of assessments. The buck stops with the Prime Minister, who spent months lying to the British public, which is why he’s got to go.”

Boris Johnson will endure Prime Minister's Questions and a lengthy grilling at the Liaison Committee.

Both Ukraine and the economic pressures facing households will feature in the questions posed to Mr Johnson by the Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs. Mr Bridgen, who has withdrawn the letter of no confidence in the PM that he submitted to the Tory 1922 Committee, said he would back Mr Johnson if there was a vote on his future “otherwise we’d be playing into the hands of Mr (Vladimir) Putin”. In a tweet, the Tory MP posted a screenshot of the Civil Service Code, highlighting a passage saying they must “comply with the law”. Mr Johnson is likely to face a difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and he will then endure a further grilling from senior MPs at the Liaison Committee. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman refused to say whether Mr Johnson would quit if he was fined. Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

Boris Johnson will endure Prime Minister's Questions and a lengthy grilling at the Liaison Committee.

Both Ukraine and the economic pressures facing households will feature in the questions posed to Mr Johnson by the Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs. Mr Bridgen, who has withdrawn the letter of no confidence in the PM that he submitted to the Tory 1922 Committee, said he would back Mr Johnson if there was a vote on his future “otherwise we’d be playing into the hands of Mr (Vladimir) Putin”. In a tweet, the Tory MP posted a screenshot of the Civil Service Code, highlighting a passage saying they must “comply with the law”. Mr Johnson is likely to face a difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and he will then endure a further grilling from senior MPs at the Liaison Committee. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman refused to say whether Mr Johnson would quit if he was fined. Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

The Downing Street staff fined for breaches of lockdown laws will not have to report it to their superiors and will never be publicly named.

He has said sorry for the ways things have been handled and that mistakes have been made.” But the names of other law-breaking staff will never be released, Downing Street said. he has said sorry for the things that we did not get right.

The former Health Secretary said Mr Johnson 'can and should' stay in his job as 'he has apologised and he has acknowledged there were problems and made ...

A previously unreported gathering is being probed by the police. A report from ITV News suggested up to 30 people attended and the PM was presented with a cake. Reports said Lulu Lytle, the interior designer behind lavish renovations of Mr and Mrs Johnson's No 10 flat, briefly attended while undertaking work in Downing Street. He is expected to host a dinner for a large number of Tory MPs tonight. 'We will today initially begin to refer 20 fixed penalty notices to be issued for breaches of Covid-19 regulations. Number 10 previously said: 'This is totally untrue. The Telegraph quoted a Number 10 spokesman as saying Mr Johnson was not in Downing Street that day and is said to have been at Chequers. Any penalty received by Mr Case will also be made public. The Sue Gray update said the police are also probing a gathering in Downing Street held to mark the departure of a Number 10 official on December 17. They have denied wrongdoing, apart from Mr Reynolds who has not commented. Some MPs have withdrawn letters of no confidence. The PM is said to have been at six of the 12 events under investigation and has received a legal questionnaire - equivalent to being interviewed under caution - but he has rejected claims he broke rules.

MPs on the liaison committee will question the prime minister about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis, but he could now face ...

The committee, made up of chairs of different select committees, is also expected to question Mr Johnson about the cost of living crisis and Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr Johnson is expected to be questioned about the Russian war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis when he appears before leading MPs on the Commons liaison committee from 3pm on Wednesday. Boris Johnson is set to face further scrutiny from senior MPs over the "partygate" scandal after it was announced the first of 20 lockdown fines would be issued.

Boris Johnson will endure Prime Minister's Questions and a lengthy grilling at the Liaison Committee.

Both Ukraine and the economic pressures facing households will feature in the questions posed to Mr Johnson by the Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs. Mr Bridgen, who has withdrawn the letter of no confidence in the PM that he submitted to the Tory 1922 Committee, said he would back Mr Johnson if there was a vote on his future “otherwise we’d be playing into the hands of Mr (Vladimir) Putin”. In a tweet, the Tory MP posted a screenshot of the Civil Service Code, highlighting a passage saying they must “comply with the law”. Mr Johnson is likely to face a difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and he will then endure a further grilling from senior MPs at the Liaison Committee. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman refused to say whether Mr Johnson would quit if he was fined. Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

Boris Johnson will endure Prime Minister's Questions and a lengthy grilling at the Liaison Committee.

Both Ukraine and the economic pressures facing households will feature in the questions posed to Mr Johnson by the Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs. Mr Bridgen, who has withdrawn the letter of no confidence in the PM that he submitted to the Tory 1922 Committee, said he would back Mr Johnson if there was a vote on his future “otherwise we’d be playing into the hands of Mr (Vladimir) Putin”. In a tweet, the Tory MP posted a screenshot of the Civil Service Code, highlighting a passage saying they must “comply with the law”. Mr Johnson is likely to face a difficult session of Prime Minister’s Questions and he will then endure a further grilling from senior MPs at the Liaison Committee. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman refused to say whether Mr Johnson would quit if he was fined. Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond.

Hundreds of grief-stricken families gathered at the National Covid Memorial Wall in London on Tuesday to mark its first anniversary and pay tribute to those ...

How lucky we are to be given this love.” How blessed we are to be gifted with their life. “Our home is full of love with our three daughters and we couldn’t be happier.”

PM likely to face pressure at PMQs over partygate after the police issued fines in relation to lockdown breaches at Downing Street.

He told MPs: “These are really big falls in the real living standards for households that are budgeting over relatively short periods of time. The RF has calculated that the cost of living crisis will push 1.3 million households into absolute poverty. The Treasury committee were told that chancellor Rishi Sunak’s measures will leave the poorest, out-of-work households the worst-off group from his support packages.

Deputy prime minister Dominic Raab has denied that Boris Johnson deliberately misled parliament over the Partygate scandal – saying he had been telling the ...

But Mr Raab suggested any ministers would have to be named if fined. “I am not going to comment on hypothetical questions or speculate on an ongoing police investigation,” he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Former chief whip Mark Harper suggested law-breaking civil servants or special advisers would have to be sacked. It’s quite right to say we weren’t aware of those infractions at the time.” Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Mr Raab said Mr Johnson had been “updating parliament to the best of his knowledge and understanding” before suggesting he may have said things that “turned out not to be true”.

Labour says prime minister 'has got to go' as he allegedly attended six of 12 parties under investigation.

Putin has escalated this war and this approach is vital to ensuring he loses in Ukraine and that we see a full withdrawal of Russian troops and Ukraine’s hand is strengthened at the negotiating table.” So while we keep it under review we have no plans at the moment.” We need to announce a tough new wave of sanctions. “The idea that we should wait for something else bad to happen is just completely wrong,” she said. Putin must lose in Ukraine. Later this week the G7 foreign ministers and the Nato foreign ministers will meet. Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

Russian leader has 'nobody to write 54 letters to Sir Graham Brady', PM quips.

She said holding a lavish dinner was especially inappropriate given the cost-of-living crisis hitting millions of people and the war in Ukraine. “I think it’s disgusting. Former chief whip Mark Harper suggested law-breaking civil servants or special advisers would have to be sacked. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The Labour leader said too many people were intolerant of others when discussing the issue on LBC earlier this week. Mr Johnson was said to have admitted he is currently “more popular in parts of Kyiv than in parts of Kensington” at the dinner, but vowed to “turn” his popularity around. It comes as Conservative MP Jamie Wallis announced he has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

BORIS JOHNSON tore into Sir Keir Starmer last night, openly mocking the Labour leader.

The Prime Minister joked about his floundering opposite number as he sought to rally his backbenchers. He made the announcement just hours after attending a bonding dinner organised for Conservative MPs at which he said he was "reminded of the incredible support those you work with can provide". “What I want to see is a reform of the law as it is, but I also am an advocate of safe spaces for women." The Bridgen representative said he was "not ok" as he opened up about his mental health. And seeking to unite the troops after a year that has seen Covid rules and partygate rows test relations, Mr Johnson took aim at Sir Keir as he addressed the room. He made the remarks at a dinner held for Tory MPs at the Park Plaza hotel in Westminster.

Mr Wallis said it was “time” for the truth to come out, stating that he wants to be trans having been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and comes after he was ...

“I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover. Responding on Twitter, the PM said: “Sharing this very intimate story would have taken an immense amount of courage. Mr Johnson issued a highly supportive statement of his own in response to the news. “I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child. I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud.” Giving details of the rape, the MP said: “I ‘hooked up’ with someone who I met online and when I chose to say ‘no’ on the basis that he wouldn’t wear a condom he chose to rape me.

The Bridgend MP also said in a personal statement he had been raped and blackmailed.

“I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover. Well they’ve certainly earned their keep with me.” “I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child. I always imagined I would leave politics well before I ever said this out loud. Mr Wallis said he fled the scene after the smash in November “because I was terrified”. He said the story would “undoubtedly support others” and “the Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself”.

Critics of Johnson say the move by police to issue fines to officials over partygate proves the PM misled MPs when he insisted rules had not been broken.

A fixed penalty notice is not a criminal conviction, yet it can be recorded on the Police National Computer - it is the equivalent to a minor speeding offence. He added: “You can expect to hear more from the prime minister when the investigation is concluded and Sue Gray has set out her report.” Mr Johnson is not thought to be among those set to receive a fine at this stage – despite it being understood that he was present at six of the at least 12 events being probed – as he is contesting the allegations and took advice from his personal lawyer on how to respond. “The prime minister has apologised to the House already.” Shouts of “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” were directed at Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg as they turned up to the venue. If he was claims he had been misled by his team's explanation of the Christmas party and therefore he was speaking honestly in December, then it would be incumbent upon him to correct the record at the earliest opportunity, which would be today.

The prime minister began a speech to his party by making jibes about "people who are assigned male or female at birth".

Asked on Monday if the prime minister believes trans women are women, Johnson’s official spokesperson said: “When people want to make the transition in their lives, they should be treated with maximum possible generosity and respect. They added: “We should be very proud of it. Thank you @JamieWallisMP for your bravery, which will undoubtedly support others.

The prime minister is reported to have remarked on Labour leader Keir Starmer's support for trans rights during a dinner at London's Park Plaza hotel on Tuesday ...

After Wallis reported it to the police, the person was eventually jailed, he added. Hours after the event, Wallis posted a statement to Twitter in which he came out as trans. Let this be a lesson to everyone… Trans-led charity Gendered Intelligence said Johnson’s comment “suggests at best ignorance, and at worst contempt for trans and non-binary people”. A spokesperson for the group said Johnson’s “reference to the ‘basic facts of biology’ recalls the worst arguments of anti-trans groups”. — David Paisley (@DavidPaisley)March 30, 2022 The prime minister also called for people wanting to make a “transition in their lives” to be “treated with the maximum possible generosity and respect”. — Chris Kelly (@chr1stopherleo)March 30, 2022 — Helen🏳️⚧️💙💛 (@mimmymum)March 30, 2022 — weaponised gender identity (@notCursedE)March 30, 2022 — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson)March 30, 2022 — Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1)March 30, 2022 “The Conservative Party I lead will always give you, and everyone else, the love and support you need to be yourself,” Johnson continued.

Pressure on the Tory leader had eased in recent weeks as the nation's attention pivoted to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

He has to resign. We now know that@BorisJohnsonknowingly mislead Parliament. He repeatedly lied. He has to resign.”

Police announced on Thursday that 20 fixed penalty notices were being issued in relation to breaches of Covid laws in Downing Street.

Shouts of “shame on you” and “off to another party are we?” were directed at Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg as they turned up to the venue. While previous editions of PMQs have focused on the Ukraine war, “partygate” is likely to return to the top of the agenda today. The next edition of Prime Minister’s Questions is on Wednesday 30 March starting, as always, at 12.00pm.

Boris Johnson has insisted the West should instead “intensify” sanctions against Russia until every single one of Vladimir Putin's troops leave Ukraine.

Asked on the UK’s visa programme, Mr Johnson said: “What I wanted was a system as light touch as possible. He also says it is not the “objective of the UK Government” to remove Mr Putin and is focused on stopping violence. The Prime Minister also said it is not wise to stop sanctions on Russia and should continue to “intensify” measures. In order to help refugees, Mr Johnson said he hopes refugees will be taken in on a more “equitable” way across the UK. Asked on rising energy costs, he said the the Government is trying to get people back into work and is “doing all sorts of things to help people”. Mr Johnson said the UK must fill job vacancies and one the challenges must “be to get those in their 50s back into work”.

Boris Johnson has praised the 'courage' of the first British MP to come out as trans, hours after reportedly joking about gender identity to a room full of ...

‘I have not been myself since this incident and I don’t think I will ever recover. The police were so supportive, so understanding and on this occasion the system worked. I’ve been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and I’ve felt this way since I was a very young child. ‘I had no intention of ever sharing this with you. Or to be more accurate, I want to be. ‘Thank you for your bravery, which will undoubtedly support others.

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That in itself is a sign of how infectious it is. But Covid has not gone away - indeed, there will be very few of us in recent weeks who have been untouched by this virus, either ourselves or within our families. Nicola Sturgeon said: “From next Monday 4 April, it will no longer be a legal requirement to wear a face covering in places of worship or while attending a marriage ceremony, a civil partnership registration, or a funeral service or commemorative event. The legal requirement to wear face coverings in some settings in Scotland will be removed on a “phased basis” from April 4, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said. “We have now been living under some form of legal Covid restrictions for over two years. Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that the Scottish Cabinet has agreed the “legal requirement to wear face coverings should be replaced with guidance” on a “phased basis”.