Grant Shapps Unveils Plan To Slash Taxes And Hike Defence Spending

Grant Shapps has pledged to cut income tax straight away if he becomes the next prime minister.

The transport secretary said he would introduce an “emergency budget” within days of taking office to to reduce the basic rate by a penny in the pound.

He also vowed to scrap the planned rise in corporation tax as he sought to underline his tax-cutting credentials.

In addition, Shapps said a government led by him would spend three per cent of GDP on defence – up from around two per cent at present.

He said he would pay for all of those multi-billion pound pledges by cutting public spending – but failed to identify where the axe would fall.

Former chancellor – and the early favourite to be the next Tory leader – Rishi Sunak announced at the budget in April that he wanted to cut income tax by 1p before the next election, which is due in 2024.

But speaking on Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday, Shapps said: “If I become prime minister we’ll have an emergency budget, we’ll introduce that immediately.”

He said he also wants to “freeze” Sunak’s proposed increase in corporation tax, adding: “That is a tax which will not go up.”

Shapps said: “I believe in a lower tax, lower regulation, cut the red tape economy, where… the government essentially actually lowers the barriers for individuals and businesses to achieve the best possible things they can in their own lives.

“And I think the role of the government is to help with that. But sometimes that means reducing taxes, it means being able to reduce red tape, make it easier to deal with government, get on with your life, start a business, bring up a family, bring up children.”

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Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner Avoid Police Fines Over ‘Beergate’

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner will not be fined by police following an investigation into whether he broke lockdown rules.

Durham police, which was investigating allegations the pair broke Covid rules last year, confirmed the Labour leader and his deputy have not been issued with fixed penalty notices.

They had both pledged to resign if they had been fined for eating curry and drinking beer at an event in the town last year, when lockdown rules were still in place.

In a statement, Durham police said their investigation found that the event was “reasonably necessary work” and therefore allowed under the rules.

“Accordingly, Durham Constabulary will not be issuing any fixed penalty notices in respect of the gathering and no further action will be taken,” the force said.

In a tweet, Starmer said: “I’ve always said no rules were broken when I was in Durham.

“The police have completed their investigation and agreed: there is no case to answer.

“For me, this was always a matter of principle. Honesty and integrity matter. You will always get that from me.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner have always been clear that no rules were broken in Durham. The police have completed their investigation and have agreed saying that there is no case to answer.”

Durham Constabularly re-opened their investigation into whether Starmer breached anti-Covid laws by eating a curry and drinking beer with Labour staff in the constituency office of City of Durham MP Mary Foy on April 30, 2021.

Starmer has said he was “confident no rules were broken” and that there was “no equivalence” between the accusations levied at him and the parties that took place in Downing Street during the pandemic.

Both he and Rayner stated that they would stand down from their posts if they had received a fine in a move that was seen as a massive political gamble.

The news will be greeted with relief in Labour circles that the party will not have to endure a leadership election just as the Conservatives begin electing Boris Johnson’s successor following his dramatic resignation yesterday.

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Chequers Chucked: Boris Johnson Won’t Hold Wedding Bash At Country Residence

Boris and Carrie Johnson will not hold their wedding party at the prime minister’s country residence, sources have told HuffPost UK.

The couple were reportedly ploughing on with plans for a bash at Chequers as Johnson shifts to a caretaker role in his final days in office.

However, they have now decided to move the party’s location following criticism of the plan.

The pair married in a low-key, private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year and planned to have a larger celebration in 2022, when coronavirus restrictions were likely to be relaxed.

The Johnsons were said to have sent save-the-date cards to family and friends for the celebration on July 30.

However, a Downing Street source told HuffPost UK there would be no wedding bash at Chequers.

The planned wedding party is instead being moved to a different location at the end of this month, sources told The Sun.

The Evening Standard reported last month that the party would take the form of a “champagne-soaked soiree” to celebrate the couple’s first anniversary.

The Mirror said it was told by two separate sources that the pair were keen to go ahead with the celebrations.

On Friday morning a Cabinet minister suggested any new prime minister should let the couple have their wedding party at Chequers.

James Cleverly told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Private functions like that do not impose a burden on the public purse…

“I think it’s churlish to be negative about two people who want to celebrate their marriage and their love for each other.”

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Boris And Carrie Johnson ‘Intend To Hold Chequers Wedding Party’ Before Departing

Boris and Carrie Johnson are reportedly ploughing on with plans for a wedding party at Chequers as the prime minister shifts to a caretaker role in his final days in office.

The pair married in a low-key, private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral last year.

A small group of family and friends attended the wedding, organised in strict secrecy, which was followed by a reception in the gardens of 10 Downing Street.

It was known the Johnsons planned to have a larger celebration in 2022, when coronavirus restrictions were likely to be relaxed.

They were said to have sent save-the-date cards to family and friends for the celebration on July 30.

The Evening Standard reported last month that this would take the form of a “champagne-soaked soiree” at the PM’s country residence to celebrate the couple’s first anniversary.

It has now been suggested that Johnson wanted to stay on as a caretaker prime minister in part to see this through – although this claim was denied by Downing Street.

The Mirror said it was told by two separate sources that the pair were keen to go ahead with the celebrations.

One Tory source said: “It beggars belief that even after all the criticism Johnson has faced regarding integrity and probity, one of the reasons he is staying is to have his wedding party at Chequers.

“It’s a national asset not his personal home. The Johnsons should do the decent thing and find a different venue. And Boris should do the decent thing and leave No 10 immediately”.

A second insider told the paper: “It’s crass if it goes ahead.”

But a spokesman for Johnson said: “The PM has a strong sense of duty and will continue to serve his country until a new leader is in place solely to continue his obligation to the public.”

It comes after the outgoing PM appeared to slip up in his resignation speech at Downing Street, thanking the “wonderful staff here at Chequers”, before quickly correcting himself to say “here at No 10”.

“And of course at Chequers,” he added.

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Boris Johnson Resigns From ‘The Best Job In The World’

Boris Johnson said he was “giving up the best job in the world” as he announced he was resigning as prime minister.

The outgoing premier also spoke of the “pain” he felt at having been forced out by his MPs.

He said it was “clearly the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister” and that the leadership contest to choose his successor had now begun.

Speaking directly to the British public on the steps of 10 Downing Street, he said: “I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world, but them’s the breaks.”

Johnson was applauded by around 30 supportive MPs, as well as his wife Carrie and Downing Street aides as he made his way from the front door of No. 10 to the lectern in the street outside.

In an at-times graceless speech, Johnson made clear his anger at being dumped by his own party less than three years after winning an 80-seat majority.

He said: “In the last few days, I tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we’re delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate and when we’re actually only a handful of points behind in the polls, even in mid-term after quite a few months of pretty relentless sledging and when the economic scene is so difficult domestically and internationally.

“I regret not to have been successful in those arguments and of course it’s painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.

“But as we’ve seen, at Westminster the herd instinct is powerful, when the herd moves, it moves.

“And my friends in politics, no one is remotely indispensable and our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce another leader, equally committed to taking this country forward through tough times.”

He added: “I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us in 2019, many of them voting Conservative for the first time, thank you for that incredible mandate, the biggest Conservative majority since 1987, the biggest share of the vote since 1979.

“And the reason I have fought so hard in the last few days to continue to deliver that mandate in person was not just because I wanted to do so, but because I felt it was my job, my duty, my obligation to you to continue to do what we promised in 2019.

“And of course, I’m immensely proud of the achievements of this government.”

The PM went on: “I know that even if things can seem dark now, our future together is golden.”

The prime minister also confirmed he plans to stay in office until a new leader is elected, which may not be until the autumn.

Despite Johnson’s insistence that he will stay on until a new leader is in place, angry Tory MPs have demanded he go straight away, a move which would likely see deputy PM Dominic Raab take the reins until a new leader is in place.

North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen told HuffPost UK: “He’s lost the confidence of the party and he’s lost legitimacy to stay in office – leave means leave.

“If he stays we will be mired in further scandal and sleaze allegations throughout the summer, which will distract from government and the leadership election.

“It’s all about Boris Johnson – it’s not about the the party or the country. He’s not fit to remain in office a moment longer.”

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Boris Johnson Resigns: What Happens Next?

Boris Johnson has resigned, after more than 50 Tory MPs dramatically quit in protest at his leadership.

This is what could happen next.

The Conservative Party will need to elect a new leader, who will automatically become prime minister. They do not need to hold a general election.

However this could take some time.

Tory leadership elections have two parts. The first stage sees Tory MPs vote in a series of rounds, whittling the list of candidates down to a final two.

In the 2019 leadership race this took roughly two weeks. But it could take longer depending on how many candidates stand.

The second stage sees the final two candidates go to a vote of Tory members. In 2019, when Johnson took on Jeremy Hunt, this took around a month.

Leadership candidates have on manoeuvres in Westminster in the expectation of a contest for months.

While the contest takes place, the country will still need a prime minister to govern the country.

Johnson has suggested he wants to remain in office as a caretaker prime minister until the Tory party conference in October.

Nick Gibb, a former schools minister, said: “As well as resigning as party leader the PM must resign his office.”

“After losing so many ministers, he has lost the trust and authority required to continue. We need an acting PM who is not a candidate for leader to stabilise the government while a new leader is elected.”

Simon Hoare, the chairman of the Commons Northern Ireland committee, said: “Ministers resigned *because* of the PM. The party lost confidence *because* of the PM. It is beyond credulity that Mr Johnson can stay in office even pro tem. New constitutional territory but he has to go and go means go.”

If not Johnson, Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, is seen as the most likely interim-leader, especially given he has ruled himself out of standing in the leadership contest.

One immediate action a caretaker PM will need to take, whether it is Johnson or someone else, is to fill all the empty ministerial posts.

For example, there are currently no ministers in the Department for Education

It is likely most if not all the ministers and ministerial aides who resigned over the course of the last two days could be reappointed to the same positions.

Once the party elects a new leader, they would have until January 2025 before they had to call a general election.

Attorney general Suella Braverman has already announced she intends to stand.

Other likely candidates include foreign secretary Liz Truss, former chancellor Rishi Sunak, former health secretary Sajid Javid and defence secretary Ben Walllace. Jeremy Hunt has also not ruled out a second bid for the top job.

will automatically become prime minister. They do not need to hold a general election.

However this could take some time.

Tory leadership elections have two parts. The first stage sees Tory MPs vote in a series of rounds, whittling the list of candidates down to a final two.

In the 2019 leadership race this took roughly two weeks. But it could take longer depending on how many candidates stand.

The second stage sees the final two candidates go to a vote of Tory members. In 2019, when Johnson took on Jeremy Hunt, this took around a month.

Leadership candidates have on manoeuvres in Westminster in the expectation of a contest for months.

While the contest takes place, the country will still need a prime minister to govern the country.

Johnson has suggested he wants to remain in office as a caretaker prime minister until the Tory party conference in October.

Nick Gibb, a former schools minister, said: “As well as resigning as party leader the PM must resign his office.”

“After losing so many ministers, he has lost the trust and authority required to continue. We need an acting PM who is not a candidate for leader to stabilise the government while a new leader is elected.”

Simon Hoare, the chairman of the Commons Northern Ireland committee, said: “Ministers resigned *because* of the PM. The party lost confidence *because* of the PM. It is beyond credulity that Mr Johnson can stay in office even pro tem. New constitutional territory but he has to go and go means go.”

If not Johnson, Dominic Raab, the deputy prime minister, is seen as the most likely interim-leader, especially given he has ruled himself out of standing in the leadership contest.

One immediate action a caretaker PM will need to take, whether it is Johnson or someone else, is to fill all the empty ministerial posts.

For example, there are currently no ministers in the Department for Education

It is likely most if not all the ministers and ministerial aides who resigned over the course of the last two days could be reappointed to the same positions.

Once the party elects a new leader, they would have until January 2025 before they had to call a general election.

Attorney general Suella Braverman has already announced she intends to stand.

Other likely candidates include foreign secretary Liz Truss, former chancellor Rishi Sunak, former health secretary Sajid Javid and defence secretary Ben Walllace. Jeremy Hunt has also not ruled out a second bid for the top job.

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Sajid Javid Says He Resigned After Concluding ‘Enough Is Enough’

Sajid Javid has said he resigned after concluding that he had had “enough” of serving under Boris Johnson.

In a devastating speech that offered a bleak assessment of Johnson’s operation, Javid said treading the “tightrope” between “loyalty and integrity” had become “impossible” in recent months following a series of scandals.

Javid, who was the first Cabinet minister to resign last night, indicated he blamed Johnson for the difficulties endured by the Tory party.

He told MPs: “I also believe a team is as good as its team captain and a captain is as good as his or her team. So, loyalty must go both ways.

“The events of recent months have made it increasingly difficult to be in that team.

“It’s not fair on ministerial colleagues to go out every morning defending lines that don’t stand up and don’t hold up.

“It’s not fair on my parliamentary colleagues, who bear the brunt of constituents’ dismay in their inboxes and on the doorsteps in recent elections.

“And it’s not fair on Conservative members and voters who rightly expect better standards from the party they supported.”

Javid said he would “never lose his integrity” and that following the allegations over Chris Pincher and what the prime minister knew, he had concluded “enough is enough”.

“This week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we’ve all been told,” he said.

“And at some point we have to conclude that enough is enough. I believe that point is now.”

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PMQs: Boris Johnson Condemned For Giving ‘Predatory’ Chris Pincher A Job

Keir Starmer has savaged Boris Johnson for keeping “predatory” Chris Pincher in a government job when he was aware of allegations about his behaviour.

The prime minister has been hit with a wave of ministerial resignations following the revelations about his former deputy chief whip.

Speaking during PMQs, Starmer read out the testimony of a man who accused Pincher of sexual assault.

“He knew the accused minister had previously committed predatory behaviour but he promoted him to a position of power anyway. Why?”

The Labour leader told Tory MPs: “They’re all sitting there as if this is normal behaviour.

“When that young man reported his attack to a government whip, she asked him if he was gay, when he said that he was, she replied ‘that doesn’t make it straightforward’.

“Will he apologise for those disgraceful comments on behalf of this government?”

Johnson replied that Pincher no longer had his job, nor the Conservative whip.

The PM added: “I want to say to him that I abhor bullying and abuse of power anywhere in parliament, in this party or in any other party.”

But Johnson also refused to deny he had once made light of the allegations by branding his ally: “Pincher by name, Pincher by nature.”

Starmer told him: “I’m not asking for bluster and half-truth. We’ve all had enough of that. Yes or no?”

Johnson has said that in “hindsight”, he should have realised that Pincher would have not changed.

Downing Street had initially said he had no knowledge of “specific” accusations against Pincher when he appointed him to the whip’s office in 2019.

But No.10 was then forced to admit the PM had been told about formal accusations against Pincher but decided to give him a job anyway.

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Boris Johnson PMQs: Keir Starmer Tells PM Tory MPs Are ‘Sinking Ships Fleeing The Rat’

Tory ministers resigning from Boris Johnson’s government is “the first case of sinking ships fleeing the rat”, Keir Starmer has said.

The prime minister’s grip on power is hanging by a thread, as more ministers resigned from his government over the course of Wednesday morning following the exit of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid.

Johnson was greeted with laughter at the start of PMQs as he told MPs it was a “big day” for the government, but insisted he intended to “keep going” as he had a “colossal mandate”.

Starmer said any ministers resigning now after having long defended Johnson did not have a “shred of integrity”.

“Isn’t this the first recorded case of the sinking ships fleeing the rat?” the Labour leader said.

Starmer added of those ministers who had not yet quit: “As for those who are left, only in office because no-one else is prepared to debase themselves any longer.

“The charge of the lightweight brigade. Have some self-respect.”

“Doesn’t the country deserve better than a z list cast of nodding dogs?”

So far 17 ministers and junior ministerial aides have so far announced their resignations. One minister resigned just minutes into the start of PMQs.

The demands for Johnson to go are coming from across all wings of the party.

Formally super loyal backbenchers Lee Anderson and Tom Hunt, from the 2019 intake, have called on Johnson to quit.

Robert Halfon, the well respected chair of the Commons education committee, called for a change of leader given the “real loss of integrity” but also a “failure of policy”.

Johnson is seen as unlikely to resign, but he could face another vote of no confidence if the 1922 committee of backbench MPs decides to change its rules, allowing a second vote within a year.

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Boris Johnson Forgot He Was Told About Chris Pincher Allegations, Says No.10

Boris Johnson forgot he had been directly told an investigation was held into Chris Pincher’s behaviour, No.10 has claimed.

The prime minister is under mounting pressure over his decision to appoint close ally Chris Pincher to the job of deputy chief whip.

Downing Street’s explanation has changed over the course of the last five days.

A former senior civil servant this morning publicly accused No.10 of saying things that were “not true”.

Pincher resigned from the post on Thursday after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men at a private members’ club in London last week.

Attention turned to what Johnson knew of allegations made about Pincher before he was appointed to the whips office in February 2022.

Downing Street said on Friday Johnson was not aware of any “specific” allegations about Pincher’s past behaviour.

On Monday morning No.10 shifted its position and said the prime minister had been aware of “allegations” as well as “reports and speculation” when he handed Pincher a job.

The PM’s spokesperson defended the decision on the basis that those previous allegations had either been “resolved” or “did not progress to a formal complaint”.

In a letter sent to the parliamentary standards commissioner, McDonald said in the summer of 2019 a complaint by a group of Foreign Office officials about Pincher’s conduct was investigated and upheld.

Crucially, McDonald said that the prime minister was informed of the outcome.

On Tuesday afternoon, the prime minister’s spokesperson said Johnson initially “didn’t recall” having been told about the incident when he was asked on Friday by Downing Street staff.

“At that point at the end of last week he hadn’t established that he had been informed of that in 2019 and we’ve subsequently been able to establish that he was given an update in some form,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said it was “broadly” correct to say the PM had forgotten.

“The prime minister always seeks to provide the information as he has it. This related to a conversation a number of years ago,” they said.

“I can confirm he was briefed on that about the complaint related to Mr Pincher in the Foreign Office which was resolved.”

Asked if they had faith the prime minister was telling them the “full truth”, the spokesperson said: “Yes.”

No.10 defended the decision to appoint Pincher as deputy chief whip in February 2020 on the basis there were “no live allegations against him” at the time.

In his letter, McDonald said: “Mr Johnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation. There was a ‘formal complaint’.

“Allegations were ‘resolved’ only in the sense that the investigation was completed; Mr Pincher was not exonerated.

“To characterise the allegations as ‘unsubstantiated’ is therefore wrong.”

Speaking later on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, McDonald added of No.10: “I think they need to come clean.

“The sort of telling the truth and crossing your fingers at the same time and hoping that people are not too forensic in their subsequent questioning and I think that is not working.”

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