Tag Archives: Politics

Boris Johnson Dodges Questions On His Political Survival During Ukraine Press Conference

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Boris Johnson dodged uncomfortable questions about his political survival during a major press conference in Ukraine.

The prime minister was taking questions from journalists when he was asked about the partygate scandal rocking his premiership.

The BBC asked him: “Prime minister, first, have you done enough to survive? Have you done enough to persuade enough colleagues to rescue your premiership?

“And on the issue of Ukraine, why should the international community take your diplomacy seriously, when you’re so preoccupied at home, when you put talking to MPs ahead of talking to President Putin?”

Johnson simply responded by saying his focus was “entirely on delivering on the priorities of the British people” before going on to talk about the security of the UK’s allies.

However, later in the conference Johnson did appear to commit to publishing the full Sue Gray report into the partygate scandal once the Metropolitan police probe is complete.

“Yes, of course we’ll publish everything that we can as soon as the process has been completed,” he said.

It comes as a tenth Conservative MP went on the record calling for him to resign over the scandal.

The PM faced the cameras alongside Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky as part of a trip aimed at showing support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.

Johnson warned: “It goes without saying that a further Russian invasion of Ukraine would be a political disaster, a humanitarian disaster, in my view it would also be for Russia, for the world, a military disaster as well.

“And the potential invasion completely flies in the face of president Putin’s claims to be acting in the interest of the Ukrainian people.”

Ahead of the talks in Kyiv, Johnson announced £88 million of new funding to promote stable governance in Ukraine and reduce its reliance on Russian energy supplies.

The prime minister had also been due to speak to Russia’s president Vladimir Putin on Monday afternoon, but it was postponed after Johnson had to give a statement to the house over the partygate scandal engulfing his government. The two leaders are now expected to speak on Wednesday afternoon.

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Tory MP Quits Government With Swipe At Boris Johnson Over Partygate Response

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During a stormy session in the Commons, Johnson was warned he has lost the support of a senior Tory MP over the handling of the allegations.

Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell said he had previously given his “full-throated support” to the PM over a 30-year period.

But Mitchell became the latest Tory MP to publicly question Johnson as he said: “I have to tell him he no longer enjoys my support.”

Meanwhile, Conservative former prime minister Theresa May said: “The Covid regulations imposed significant restrictions on the freedoms of members of the public. They had a right to expect their Prime Minister to have read the rules, to understand the meaning of the rules and indeed those around him to have done so too and to set an example in following those rules.

“What the Gray report does show is that Number 10 Downing Street was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public, so either my right honourable friend had not read the rules or didn’t understand what they meant and others around him, or they didn’t think the rules applied to Number 10. Which was it?”

Johnson replied: “No, Mr Speaker that is not what the Gray report says, I suggest that she waits to see the conclusion of the inquiry.”

Former chief whip Mark Harper was among the Tory backbenchers to ask for Johnson to commit to publish Gray’s report in full once the police investigation has concluded.

He noted: “Many have questioned, including my constituents, the prime minister’s honesty, integrity and fitness to hold that office. In judging him he rightly asked us to wait for all the facts.”

Johnson replied: “What we’ve got to do is wait for the police to conclude their inquiries, that is the proper thing to do. People have given all sorts of evidence in the expectation that it would not necessarily be published, at that stage I will take a decision about what to publish.”

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Mandatory Covid Jabs For Healthcare Workers Scrapped In Major U-Turn

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Plans to make Covid vaccinations compulsory for NHS and social care staff have been scrapped in a major government U-turn.

Health secretary Sajid Javid today confirmed he would no longer go ahead with the policy, due to come into force from 1 April, following warnings it would lead to a mass staff exodus.

The U-turn comes just days after Javid reaffirmed his commitment to the policy, arguing that it was the “professional duty” of all frontline staff in England to get vaccinated.

However, the health secretary had been under pressure to ditch the mandate following concerns that up to 80,000 unvaccinated workers could leave the industry rather than receive the jab.

In a statement to MPs, Javid said it was the “right policy at the time”. But Omicron is “intrinsically less severe” so it is “no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment”.

He said: “Omicron’s increased infectiousness means that at the peak of the recent winter spike, one in 15 people had a Covid-19 infection, according to the ONS (Office for National Statistics). Around 24% of England’s population has had at least one positive Covid-19 test, and as as of today in England, 84% of people over 12 have had a primary course of Covid-19 vaccines and 64% have been boosted, including over 90% of over-50s.

“The second factor is that the dominant variant, Omicron, is intrinsically less severe. When taken together with the first factor that we now have greater population protection, the evidence shows that the risk of presentation to emergency care or hospital admission with Omicron is approximately half of that for Delta. Given these dramatic changes, it is not only right but responsible to revisit the balance of risks and opportunities that guided our original decision last year.

“While vaccination remains our very best line of defence against Covid-19, I believe that it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment through statute.

“So I’m announcing that we will launch a consultation on ending vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and all social care sectors. Subject to the responses and the will of this House, the government will revert the regulations.”

The government made it mandatory for frontline NHS workers to be fully vaccinated by 1 April back in the Autumn, meaning workers would have to get their first jab by this Thursday, February 3.

Up to 40,000 care workers are thought to have left their jobs since the policy was introduced for the care sector last November.

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, welcomed the reversal but said the policy had already caused “upset and heartache for those who lost their jobs”.

“We need to know now if they can have their jobs back,” he said.

And he said there was a “huge gap” between how NHS care and social care are treated.

“We were robbed of thousands of staff back in November when the policy came in for care and nursing home workers and nobody lifted a finger,” he said.

“But when a similar threat is levelled toward NHS staff, the policy is reversed.

“It is another in a long history of slaps in the face for social care, which, given the services it provides, should have the same respect as NHS care.”

Approximately 77,000 workers — 5% of the NHS workforce — in the health service are currently unvaccinated, Javid said earlier this month.

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Boris Johnson Branded ‘Pathetic’ As He Postpones Call With Vladimir Putin Amid Partygate

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Boris Johnson has been branded “pathetic” after he postponed a phonecall with Vladimir Putin amid the partygate scandal.

The prime minister’s official spokesman revealed this morning he was due to speak to the Russian president in a phone call on Monday afternoon as part of efforts to avoid a conflict in Ukraine.

However, a Downing Street source confirmed with HuffPost UK that the call had been “postponed”.

They could not say when it would take place, only that they were looking for a new date.

The PM’s official spokesman separately said there had not been a “settled time” for the call.

SNP MP Stewart McDonald tweeted simply: “A pathetic embarrassment.”

Meanwhile, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said: “Amid a dangerous crisis threatening peace in Europe, a vital diplomatic opportunity has been missed as Boris Johnson scrambles to hold on to his job.

“These are the real world consequences of a distracted prime minister unfit for office running a government in disarray.”

Johnson’s spokesman said: “It’s not unusual for timings with world leaders to change and you will appreciate the control of the timing for the receipt of this report rightly (was) with Sue Gray and her team, and the prime minister had committed to come to the house to make an update.”

Johnson is set to visit Ukraine on Tuesday alongside foreign secretary Liz Truss when he will hold a press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Truss today warned Russian oligarchs they have “nowhere to hide” as she announced a crackdown on Kremlin-linked money.

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Boris Johnson Accused Of Leading ‘Zombie Government’ Distracted By Partygate Row

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Boris Johnson has been accused of leading a “zombie government” which is too busy dealing with the “partygate” row to focus on running the country.

Labour pointed to a lack of progress on a number of bills as well as the government’s failure to deal with a raft of problems as proof that the PM has become paralysed while he waits for Sue Gray’s report into alleged lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall to report back.

They said the online harms bill, which was due before Christmas, had still not been published, while the animal welfare bill is also delayed.

A new bill boosting employment rights, promised in the 2019 Queen’s Speech, had still not appeared, Labour said, while the levelling up white paper has also been repeatedly delayed.

A failure to act on surging energy bills or the dumping of sewage in rivers and lakes was further proof of a government in disarray, they said.

The House of Commons has also risen early on a number of occasions because MPs have had no business to deal with, most recently on Wednesday when it adjourned at 4.40pm.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said: “Boris Johnson and the Conservatives are failing Britain.

“This zombie government is so mired in scandal and police investigations that it cannot address the urgent issues facing our country.

“From the cost of living crisis hitting people’s pockets to the emergency in our NHS – the prime minister’s inability to govern has created gridlock in our political system.

“We are still waiting for new employment laws, legislation to protect from online harms, and a plan to address rocketing energy bills – which Labour will fix by cutting VAT and insulating our homes.

“The Tories are so compromised by the prime minister’s scandal they can’t govern at all. He needs to resign and make way for a Labour government that will offer security, prosperity and respect to the British people.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman rejected the accusation that government had ground to a halt while it waits for the Gray report and any subsequent fallout.

He said: “This is a government that is getting on with the job and is focused on the public’s priorities.”

Asked about the regular meetings Johnson is having with Conservative MPs in a bid to shore up support within the party, the spokesman said: “You would expect any prime minister to engage with his MPs and answer their questions.

“You can see from what the prime minister has done this week that it is not detracting from the work of government, both internationally in Ukraine or domestically.”

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Boris Johnson Says It’s ‘Total Rhubarb’ He Authorised Afghan Pet Evacuation

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Boris Johnson has denied personally intervening to authorise the evacuation of dogs from Afghanistan.

The prime minister said claims that he had ordered the controversial airlift himself were “total rhubarb”.

Johnson has come under fresh pressure after the emergence of a leaked email suggesting that the PM had “authorised” the evacuation of animals from former Royal Marine Paul “Pen” Farthing’s Nowzad charity as the Taliban re-took control of the country.

The mission coincided with Operation Pitting, which saw the RAF manage to evacuate thousands of British citizens trapped in Kabul.

Asked about his involvement during a visit to Wales, the PM said: “This whole thing is total rhubarb. I was very proud of what our armed services did with Op Pitting and it was an amazing thing to move 15,000 people out of Kabul in the way that we did.

“I thought it was additionally really good that we were able to help those vets who came out as well.”

Asked if he directly intervened in the process, Johnson replied: “Absolutely not. The military always prioritised human beings and that was quite right, and I think that we should be incredibly proud of Op Pitting and what is achieved.”

The row reignited on Wednesday when the Commons foreign affairs committee published an email in which a Foreign Office official said “the PM has just authorised” the animal evacuation.

Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: “Once again, the Prime Minister has been caught out lying about what he has been doing and deciding.

“He should never have given priority to flying animals out of Afghanistan while Afghans who worked for our armed forces were left behind.”

But on Thursday, the prime minister’s official spokesman said the Foreign Office official who sent the email had been mistaken.

He said: “It’s not uncommon in Whitehall for a decision to be interpreted or portrayed as coming directly from the Prime Minister even when that’s not the case and it’s our understanding that’s what happened in this instance. We appreciate it was a frenetic time for those officials dealing with this situation.”

Earlier, work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey said she was “absolutely confident” that the PM played no part in the animal airlift.

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Leftwing Bid To Restore Labour Whip To Jeremy Corbyn Defeated

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A bid by left-wing Labour officials to readmit Jeremy Corbyn as an MP has been rejected by the party’s ruling body.

A motion to restore the whip to Corbyn, who currently sits an independent, was defeated by 23 votes to 14 at a meeting of the party’s ruling National Executive Committee.

Mr Corbyn said he was “very disappointed” by the result.

The motion, proposed by Fire Brigades Union chief Ian Murray, was considered at the “emotional” meeting, with one Corbyn supporter invoking the words of Martin Luther King when making their case.

Yasmin Dar said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer removed the party whip from Corbyn — meaning he cannot sit and vote with the party he once led — following his reaction to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into anti-Semitism in the party.

The EHRC found the party committed unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination while Corbyn was leader — but the former party leader said allegations about anti-Jewish racism on his watch had been “dramatically overstated” by his political opponents.

In a Facebook post after the report was published, Corbyn said he did not accept all of the EHRC’s conclusions.

“Anyone claiming there is no anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is wrong. Of course there is, as there is throughout society, and sometimes it is voiced by people who think of themselves as on the left,” he said.

“Jewish members of our party and the wider community were right to expect us to deal with it, and I regret that it took longer to deliver that change than it should.

“One anti-Semite is one too many, but the scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.”

The wording of the NEC motion, seen by HuffPost UK, said that continuing to withhold the whip from Corbyn was a “deeply divisive act by the leadership of the party and the chief whip.”

It claimed that Corbyn — who has been the MP for Islington North for nearly 40 years — had been “disbarred” from party processes to reselect sitting MPs ahead of the next election, “increasing the tension and anger amongst party members and moving us further from the unity that is required to take on this government”.

It continued: “Disbarring the sitting member of parliament from the process is extremely disrespectful to the people of Islington North who have overwhelmingly elected Jeremy Corbyn as their Labour MP for nearly four decades.

“Disbarring Jeremy Corbyn at the next general election brings with it the added danger of local electorate punishing the Labour Party, should they not have the candidate they wish in place, creating a huge media storm in the process.”

Supporters of Starmer hailed the 23-14 NEC vote, with one source telling HuffPost UK: “In NEC terms, that’s a landslide.”

But the leader’s opponents branded it “purely factional and not in the best interests of the party”.

One Labour source said it was “nauseating to see Jeremy Corbyn presented as a victim”, adding: “The only victims in this whole story are Jewish members who suffered anti-Semitism and were afraid of what a Labour government might mean for them.”

They told HuffPost UK: “This was a self inflicted defeat for Jeremy Corbyn supporters. They didn’t need to push a vote on this, but they did so knowing that Starmer has a solid majority on the NEC.

“The chief whip [Alan Campbell] made it very clear to the NEC why Corbyn is outside of the PLP: he needs to apologise for his comments on the day of the EHRC report, remove or edit his post about it and co-operate with the party in implementing the EHRC definition of anti-Semitism.

“He is choosing not to do any of these things and the moment and that is why he does not have the whip.”

One left wing source hit out at the entire process. They claimed that a bid to request a meeting with key stakeholders after the vote was denied, making it “totally unaccountable”.

They also said the disquiet over the Facebook post was a “red herring”.

“This has become a factional war led by people who can’t bear that Jeremy was ever leader and want him politically dead.”

The NEC vote has reopened questions about Corbyn’s future and whether he can make any comeback in the Labour Party.

There has been speculation that he may choose to stand as an independent at the next election or even form a breakaway party of disaffected Labour MPs and members.

However, one pro-Corbyn source said there there is “hardly anyone who thinks that’s a good idea”.

Responding to the NEC result, Corbyn said: “I am very disappointed at the majority decision of today’s National Executive meeting.

“They had an opportunity to help restore unity in the Labour Party but unfortunately did not take it.

“I am very grateful for the support of 14 members of the NEC and of many, many people in my constituency of Islington North.

“The real issues facing this country are the horrific levels of social injustice, the attacks on our public services by the Government, and the falling living standards of many people. That should be the focus of the Labour Party.

“I will continue to campaign for social justice in Britain, and peace and human rights around the world.”

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Sue Gray Inquiry Could Be Split In Two Due To Met Probe

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Sue Gray’s investigation into Partygate could be split in two as a result of the investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police, Downing Street has suggested.

The prime minister’s spokesman said the inquiry’s terms of reference made clear she could not reveal her findings on gatherings subject to a police probe.

It means the full results of Ms Gray’s investigation may not be known for months.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick confirmed this morning that detectives will investigate “a number” of parties alleged to have taken place in Downing Street during lockdown.

In a briefing for journalists, the prime minister’s official spokesman said that effectively meant Gray report will be in two parts.

He said: “As the terms of reference make clear, they won’t publish anything that relates to the work of the police.

“There are a number of events and allegations that they have looked into that the police said don’t reach their threshold, which they are able to continue looking into. And it is my understanding that they will be able to publish detail about those events rather than ones which the police might be taking forward.

“It’s up to the investigation team when they publish, it’s my understanding they are able to publish the aspects that aren’t a matter for the police.”

Number 10 later denied claims that it was trying to delay the publication of Gray report.

The prime minister’s spokesman said talks were continuing between the police and the inquiry team over how much could be published and when.

He said: “I have seen reports suggesting that we were seeking to prevent the publication and that is not accurate.

“There are discussions still ongoing between the investigations team and the police.

“That still needs to be worked through both in relation to what may or may not be published and the ongoing work of both the police and the investigation.”

Cressida Dick announced the police investigation at the London Assembly.

She said: “What I can tell you this morning is that as a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team and, secondly, my officers’ own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations.”

It has also emerged that Boris Johnson decided not to tell his Cabinet colleagues about the Met probe, despite being told about it before their weekly meeting this morning.

The prime minister’s spokesman said: “It’s important not to pre-empt a police statement on this sort of issue at any point.”

Instead, the spokesman said the prime minister had “alluded” to the ongoing row at the end of Cabinet by “emphasising there was more work to do to deliver for the public and that the government would not be deterred from getting on with the job”.

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Boris Johnson Had ‘Birthday Party’ At Downing Street During First Lockdown, Report Says

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Boris Johnson is under fresh pressure to resign following reports he had a “surprise” birthday party at No 10 during the first lockdown in 2020.

ITV News claimed a birthday party inside Downing Street’s Cabinet Room was attended by up to 30 people on the afternoon of June 19. The event is said to have lasted between 20 and 30 minutes.

Johnson’s wife Carrie and designer Lulu Lytle – who was renovating his Downing Street apartment – led staff in a chorus of happy birthday, the broadcaster alleged.

ITV News said in its report that family friends were later hosted upstairs in the prime minister’s flat.

Labour leader Keir Starmer hit out at a “chaotic, rudderless government” and repeated his call for Johnson to resign. “He’s got to go,” Starmer said.

But Downing Street disputed the report – saying staff only “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room after a meeting.

A No 10 spokesperson said of the afternoon celebration: “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the prime minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than ten minutes.”

Of the evening event claim, they said: “This is totally untrue. In line with the rules at the time, the prime minister hosted a small number of family members outside that evening.”

In March 2020, Johnson tweeted praise for a seven-year-old girl called Josephine who had postponed her birthday party until “we have sent coronavirus packing”.

He wrote: “Together we can beat this. In the meantime let’s all wish her happy birthday (twice) whilst washing our hands. #BeLikeJosephine #StayHomeSaveLives.”

Starmer told broadcasters: “This is yet more evidence that we have got a prime minister who believes that the rules that he made don’t apply to him.

“And so we have got a prime minister and a government who spend their whole time mopping up sleaze and deceit.

“Meanwhile millions of people are struggling to pay their bills. We cannot afford to go on with this chaotic, rudderless government.

“The prime minister is a national distraction and he’s got to go.”

The PA news agency reported that Lytle briefly attended while undertaking work in Downing Street.

Soane Britain, the luxury designer co-founded by Lytle, said she was “present in Downing Street on June 19 working on the refurbishment”, which has been subject to multiple investigations into its funding.

“Lulu was not invited to any birthday celebrations for the prime minister as a guest,” the spokeswoman said.

“Lulu entered the Cabinet Room briefly as requested, while waiting to speak with the prime minister.”

It came as senior civil servant Sue Gray was working on her inquiry into a series of claims of rule-breaking parties in No 10. It is expected to be published this week.

ITV News said that picnic food from M&S was eaten during the afternoon gathering. Martin Reynolds, Johnson’s under-fire principal private secretary, was also said to have attended.

Social gatherings indoors were forbidden under lockdown laws at the time, with a relaxation of the regulations permitting gatherings of up to six people to take place outside.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries, a staunch ally of Johnson, questioned whether the gathering would have broken the rules in place at the time.

“So, when people in an office buy a cake in the middle of the afternoon for someone else they are working in the office with and stop for ten minutes to sing happy birthday and then go back to their desks, this is now called a party?” she tweeted.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy tweeted “he needs to go now”.

Lammy wrote: “No more excuses, no more delays, no more waiting for Sue Gray.

“For the sake of all the sacrifices the British people have made, for all the loved ones lost and mourned alone, he needs to go now.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Nadine Dorries Pokes Fun At David Cameron’s New Look

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Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has issued a warning about buying tickets from touts – by tweeting a viral photo of former prime minister David Cameron.

The photo quickly became the basis of a meme on social media, with many joking the outfit made Cameron look like the kind of shady character you might find at a pub or car boot sale.

And Cabinet minister Dorries, who once described her one-time party leader as an “arrogant posh boy”, joined in the fun.

She wrote: “Whether it’s a major music festival, sporting event or concert, it’s important that people pay a fair price to see the events they love. Please remain vigilant when considering to buy from ticket touts. Guidance is available if you are unsure.”

Last week, Dorries accused a Tory MP who claims to have faced “intimidation” from their party of “attention-seeking behaviour”.

Many pointed out this was a comment made by the same politician who once appeared on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here and ate ostrich anus on TV.

In any case, Dorries appeared to be going with the consensus in her ribbing.

Last year, Cameron was embroiled in controversy over his intense lobbying for collapsed finance firm Greensill Capital – which was laid bare in 45 emails, texts and WhatsApp messages to ministers and officials.

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