Boris Johnson news - live: MPs to investigate PM over potential partygate Commons lies
PM accused of ‘running away’ from Commons drama with twice-delayed India trip
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Boris Johnson is set to be investigated for potentially lying to MPs over parties held at Number 10, after a landmark decision by the House of Commons.
This comes after the prime minister rejected a call by former Brexit minister Steve Baker for him to resign over Partygate, insisting that he has “absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide”.
Tory MP claimed the prime minister “now should be long gone” after – in a major U-turn, amid fears of a rebellion – the government backed down from a bid to force its MPs to delay a vote on whether to hold a Commons inquiry into whether he misled parliament, which is now expected to go ahead.
Ahead of Thursday’s debate, Labour threatened to plaster the names of MPs who blocked the probe across election leaflets, and accused Mr Johnson of using his two-day trip to India as a distraction.
Speaking from a JCB factory in Gujarat, Mr Johnson claimed he was “very keen for every possible form of scrutiny” and said MPs “must do whatever they want.”
In the Commons, the SNP’s Ian Blackford branded Mr Johnson a “liar” – and was not ordered to retract his remark by the Speaker.
Partygate: The Tory MPs who have refused to back Boris Johnson to lead them into general election
Boris Johnson is under renewed pressure over Partygate, despite apologising dozens of times in the Commons for the Covid law-breaking birthday bash which saw him fined by police.
Mark Harper became the latest Conservative MP to break ranks this week – calling for the prime minister’s resignation and accusing him of being “no longer worthy” of the office.
The Independent took a closer look at the Tory MPs who have either called on Mr Johnson to quit, or refused to back him to lead the party into the next general election.
Adam Forrest has the details below:
The Tory MPs who refuse to back Boris Johnson to lead them into general election
Group of dozen Conservatives have openly questioned his future
Keir Starmer ‘weaponising’ Covid tragedies, says Tory MP Michael Fabricant
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of “weaponising” the British public’s personal tragedies with his Partygate attacks.
Sir Keir said he had spoken to John Robinson – a constituent of Mr Fabricant in Lichfield – about how he had obeyed Covid rules and had not been able to spend time with his wife before she died.
But the Tory MP said it was “beneath” the Labour leader to use his constituent, and others who lost loved ones during the pandemic, in his condemnation of Boris Johnson.
Adam Forrest reports.
Keir Starmer ‘weaponising’ Covid tragedies, says Tory MP Michael Fabricant
‘I would have thought that was pretty beneath him’, says PM’s loyal ally
PMQs is poised to begin...
Boris Johnson has now taken his seat and Prime Minister’s Questions is about to begin
PM wishes the Queen a happy birthday
Boris Johnson kicks of PMQs by wishing the Queen a happy birthday for tomorrow.
Starmer: Why did Allegra Stratton resign?
The Labour leader asks why the Allegra Stratton, who was previously the Downing Street Press Secretary, was forced to resign.
The prime minister replied: “I bitterly regret Allegra’s resignation.
“I think it was very sad and I think she did an outstanding job... particularly since she was the one who coined the expression ‘coal, cars, cash and trees’ which enabled the UK to deliver a fantastic Cop 26 summit last year.”
Starmer asks if Johnson accepts he broke the law
The Labour leader asks if the prime minister “accepts he broke the law”.
Mr Johnson responds that he has been “absolutely clear” and “humbly accepts” what the police have said.
He added that Mr Starmer’s line of questioning is akin to “intellectual bankruptcy”.
Boris Johnson stands by attack on Church of England over immigration
Boris Johnson has stood by his attack on the Church of England after its top clergyman criticised his immigration policy.
The Archbishop of Cantebury criticised the prime minister’s plan to deport refugees to Rwanda in a sermon on Easter Sunday, warning that it could not “stand the judgement of God”.
But at a private meeting of Tory MPs on Tuesday afternoon Mr Johnson tried to deflect the criticism by claiming the clergy had been “less veciforous” in criticising the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The attack was branded a “disgraceful slur” by Lambeth Palace on Thursday evening, but on Wednesday in parliament the prime minister declined to apologise when challenged over it.
Jon Stone has the latest.
Boris Johnson stands by attack on Church of England over immigration
Boris Johnson has stood by his attack on the Church of England after its top clergyman criticised his immigration policy.
PM accuses Starmer of being in ‘Doctor Who time warp'
Boris Johnson accuses Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of being stuck in a “Doctor Who time warp” as he was asked to resign over partygate.
Sir Keir said in the Commons: “Allegra Stratton laughed at breaking the rules. She resigned. The prime minister then claimed he was furious at her behaviour and accepted her resignation.
“Professor Neil Ferguson broke the rules. He also resigned. The prime minister said that was the right thing to do.
“The former health secretary (Matt Hancock) broke the rules. He too resigned. The prime minister tried to claim he sacked him. Why does the prime minister think everybody else’s actions have consequences except his own?”
Mr Johnson replied: “I think he is in some kind of Doctor Who time warp. We had this conversation yesterday, Mr Speaker, and I have explained why I bitterly regret receiving an FPN (fixed penalty notice) and I apologised to the House.”
Starmer accuses PM of opting to ‘slander decent people’ in private but lacking the ‘backbone to repeat it in public'
The Labour leader said Boris Johnson was choosing to “slander decent people” in private but lacking the “backbone to repeat it in public”.
He told the Commons: “He never takes responsibility for his words or actions. They were all there. The prime minister also accused the BBC of not being critical enough of Putin.
“Would the prime minister have the guts to say that to the face of (BBC reporters) Clive Myrie, Lyse Doucet and Steve Rosenberg, who have all risked their lives day in, day out on the frontline in Russia and Ukraine uncovering Putin’s barbarism?”
Mr Johnson replied: “If (Sir Keir) wants to join the Conservative Party and come and listen to the meetings of the Conservative Party he’s welcome to do it though, as I say, I think he’s a Corbynista in an Islington suit.
“But I said nothing of the kind and I have the highest admiration as a former journalist for what journalists do. I think they do an outstanding job. I think he should withdraw what he just said - it has absolutely no basis or foundation in truth.”
Sir Keir countered that Mr Corbyn no longer has the Labour whip.
He added: “That’s how he operates: a mealy mouthed apology when the cameras roll, a viscous attack on those who tell the truth as soon as the cameras are off. Slander decent people in a private room, let the slander spread without the backbone to repeat it in public.”
Blackford asks PM if he lied about breaking Covid laws
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asked Boris Johnson if the Scottish public are right to believe he lied about breaking Covid laws.
Mr Blackford said: “Last night the Prime Minister might have convinced his backbenchers and his spineless Scottish Tories to keep him in place for another few weeks, but the public aren’t so easily fooled.
“82% of people in Scotland said they believe the prime minister lied to this Parliament and to the public about his lawbreaking Covid parties. Are they right? Or should they not believe their lying eyes?”
The prime minister said: “We had a long conversation about this yesterday. I understand the point of his question, but we are going to get on with the job of delivering for the people of the whole of the United Kingdom.”
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