Rishi Sunak – latest: Tory civil war deepens as Goldsmith hits back over claim he refused to apologise

Tory peer hits out at Sunak government’s ‘apathy’ – day after Downing Street faced down calls to fire him

Moment MPs vote in favour of Partygate report finding Johnson misled parliament

The Tory civil war has grown more fractious as Zac Goldsmith hit out at “misleading” No 10 briefing over his scathing resignation, insisting that Rishi Sunak was “wrong” to claim he had refused to apologise over his Partygate comments.

The outgoing environment minister claimed he was “happy to apologise” for remarks labelled “disturbing” by the privileges committee in their report alleging “interference” from 10 Tories during their investigation which found that Boris Johnson repeatedly lied to parliament.

As he sought to get back on the front foot at a No 10 briefing outlining his plans for NHS reforms, Mr Sunak insisted the Tory peer had resigned after taking a “different course” when asked to apologise for his “incompatible” remarks – despite No 10 insisting just hours earlier that he had the PM’s confidence.

But Lord Goldsmith opened up a new front of criticism for Mr Sunak as he countered the PM’s claims of his refusal to apologise on Friday, insisting the Sunak government’s “lethargy” on climate meant his resignation had been a “long time coming”.

Key Points

• Rishi Sunk says Zac Goldsmith’s Partygate remarks were ‘incompatible’ with his position ...
• ... but Goldsmith insists Sunak is ‘wrong’ and he resigned over PM’s climate ‘lethargy’
• PM in battle to get back on front foot as he sets out new NHS plan
• Tory peer resigns with scathing letter – hours after No 10 rejects calls to sack him
• Boris Johnson’s allies accused of undermining democracy with ‘unprecedented’ attack
• MPs to vote on whether to sanction Johnson allies named in report

[19 June 2023 23:01 · Andy Gregory]

We’re going pause updates on the blog for tonight, thanks for following here.

For those looking to catch up on how this evening’s historic humiliation for Boris Johnson unfolded, our political correspondent Adam Forrest and home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden have this comprehensive report on the vote and the preceding debate.

If you’d like to read back on how the day’s as we reported them, you can keep scrolling to read our updates below.

[20 June 2023 08:04 · Matt Mathers]

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

We’ll have all the reaction to MPs voting through the privileges committee’s report which concluded that Boris Johnson lied to parliament over Partygate.

Stay tuned for the latest updates on this story and others from Westminster and elsewhere.

[20 June 2023 08:07 · Matt Mathers]

Give back your peerage, senior Tory tells Shaun Bailey

A senior Conservative has called on former Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey to consider handing back the peerage given to him by Boris Johnson.

Amid anger over a mid-lockdown party at Tory headquarters attended by Mr Bailey, Tobias Ellwood told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there are "big questions" around his peerage.

"Absolutely he needs to consider that, if I’m frank," Mr Ellwood added.

He said that Rishi Sunak should "grasp" the issue of peerages, adding: "You can’t simply have prime ministers stuffing the Lords with their friends."

Mr Ellwood added: "If there’s anything to come of this I really encourage Mr Sunak to now draw a line under Boris Johnson’s tenure and indeed influence over the parliamentary party.

"There’s an opportunity now for the Prime Minister to draw a line, to continue the progress that he’s already made, further stamp his personality by dealing and confronting things like this directly."

(Getty)

[20 June 2023 08:30 · Matt Mathers]

Sunak was right to dodge vote on Partygate report - cabinet minister

Rishi Sunak was right not to vote on the Partygate report that concluded Boris Johnson lied to parliament, a cabinet minister has said.

Mel Stride, the work and pensions secretary, said he hoped that the former prime minister and his senior colleages could “row together” now the investigation has finished.

He told Times Radio he backed the Privileges Committee’s findings that the former prime minister lied to MPs but said he felt "quite uneasy" with the 90-day suspension recommended so decided to abstain.

"I think the committee conducted itself with absolute integrity, I totally accept its findings in terms of wrongdoing," he said, praising its "diligence".

But he said that Rishi Sunak was right not to vote either way, adding that the Prime Minister had been "extremely busy" on Monday.

"I think he took the position before the vote, which I think is the right decision, which is to not put his oar into the water on this, for fear of being seen perhaps to pressurise people one way or another," Mr Stride said.

"I do know he was extremely busy yesterday, I know he saw the Swedish prime minister and other things, long-standing engagements and so on."

He acknowledged it had been a "difficult period", adding: "My hope is that Boris Johnson, the current Cabinet - they are very united incidentally behind those priorities - that we can all row together now and focus on what people really care about."

People who feel they are getting “very poor” interest on their savings should “shop around” and find a bank that will pay “a better rate”, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said (PA) (PA Archive)

[20 June 2023 09:06 · Matt Mathers]

Shaun Bailey could be stripped of peerage if found guilty of lockdown breach - cabinet minister

A cabinet minister has suggested former Tory mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey could have his peerage scrutinised if the police take action over a lockdown party.

Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "The Metropolitan Police are ‘looking into’ the events... They will no doubt come to their conclusions.

"There are then mechanisms involving the Forfeiture Committee that can lead to changes to honours that have been given in the past. But I don’t want to start pre-judging that process."

[20 June 2023 09:34 · Matt Mathers]

Written statements due in Commons today

Here are the written ministerial statements due to be made in the Commons on Tuesday:

• Secretary of State for Business and Trade: India Trade Negotiations: Update.
• Secretary of State for Defence: Defence Infrastructure Update.
• Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Update on volume price promotion restrictions.
• Secretary of State for the Home Department: HMICFRS Inspection Report: An inspection of the National Crime Agency’s effectiveness at dealing with corruption.

[28 June 2023 20:59 · Joe Middleton]

Allies of Boris Johnson set to be named in fresh Partygate report

Allies of Boris Johnson are set to be named in a fresh report into the Partygate scandal on Thursday, according to reports.

The report is expected to highlight issues the cross-party Privileges Committee faced in carrying out a 14-month inquiry into Mr Johnson, highlighting potential contempts of parliament.

Nadine Dorries and Jacob Rees-Mogg are among those believed to be named in the report after comments they made about the probe, according to The Guardian.

Ms Dorries, a former culture secretary, previously called the Partygate inquiry a “witch hunt” and Mr Rees-Mogg, the former business secretary said it was a “kangaroo court”.

After the publication of the Partygate conclusion, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension if he had not quit Parliament, the former prime minister and his allies stepped up their attacks.

Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP in protest after learning of the inquiry’s intention to hand him a lengthy enough punishment to potentially trigger a by-election in his seat, said the committee had reached a “deranged conclusion”.

In his resignation statement, the former Tory leader labelled the investigation a “kangaroo court” that was akin to a “witch hunt”.

[28 June 2023 21:53 · Lucy Gray]

ICYMI: Shaun Bailey: Senior Tory at centre of new Partygate row to become peer within weeks despite police probe

A failed Tory London mayoral candidate is set to become a peer within weeks despite a new police probe into a Covid-era party organised by his campaign.

Shaun Bailey is under pressure to hand back his honour, received in Boris Johnson’s controversial resignation honours list, after an explosive video of the Partygate event emerged.

It showed members of Mr Bailey’s campaign team dancing at a Christmas party in December 2020, when indoor socialising was banned under strict tier 2 conditions.

[28 June 2023 22:00 · Joe Middleton]

Key moments from Boris Johnson's Partygate 'dossier'

[28 June 2023 23:00 · Joe Middleton]

Rishi Sunak finally gives his verdict on Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies

Rishi Sunak has finally given his verdict on Boris Johnson’s Partygate lies, saying it is right the disgraced former prime ministerhas been held to account.

In a final humiliation on Monday MPs backed a damning report which found Mr Johnson had lied to Parliament over and over again - stripping him of his Westminster pass.

He faced accusations he was “too weak” to stand up to his predecessor and his “sycophants” within their fractious party.