Inside Politics: Northern Tory MPs revolt over Covid curbs

The Northern Research Group of ‘blue wall’ backbenchers are demanding Boris Johnson comes up with a road map out of restrictions, writes Adam Forrest

Boris Johnson (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Everyone loves a bit gossip – especially when it comes from one of the Johnson clan. According to the prime minister’s sister Rachel, George and Amal Clooney didn’t actually know Harry or Meghan, despite getting invited to their wedding. Funnily enough, a mutually-convenient relationship between megastars is dominating British politics at the moment. Boris Johnson hailed Marcus Rashford’s “terrific” food poverty campaign – he loves Marcus! – but he still won’t budge on free meal vouchers. The PM mutually-convenient relationship with blue wall Tories is also under strain, as dozens of his northern MPs rebel over Covid restrictions.

Inside the bubble

Chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for today: