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

‘The gig’s up’ – senior Tory MP calls on Boris Johnson to resign

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.

Key Points

• Boris Johnson insists he has ‘absolutely nothing, frankly, to hide'
• Government makes major U-turn over Partygate inquiry
• Nadhim Zahawi labels Partygate inquiry vote ‘petty politics'
• Motion tabled to delay probe into whether PM misled Parliament
• Boris Johnson signals visa flexibility with India to win trade deal
• PM offers apology 35 times during his Commons appearance

[20 April 2022 12:45 · Joe Middleton]

'He must be out of his tiny mind': Johnson and Starmer exchange heated words over BBC criticism

[20 April 2022 13:12 · Jane Dalton]

Tory MP asks for minister for men

A Conservative MP who criticised the idea of women taking traditionally male screen roles has called on Boris Johnson to set up a new ministerial post for men, writes Adam Forrest:

[20 April 2022 13:30 · Jane Dalton]

Johnson on borrowed time, says Ian Blackford

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called on Boris Johnson to stand down, accusing him of being “on borrowed time”.

“Isn’t it time for him to accept that neither his party nor the public can afford to keep him around as prime minister for one minute longer?” Mr Blackford asked in the Commons.

Suggesting Mr Johnson offer his resignation to the Queen before her birthday tomorrow, he said: “No government can be led by a prime minister who’s in a constant state of crisis to save his own skin.

“And what’s worse: the UK government is now led by a tag team of scandal - a prime minister who can’t be trusted with the truth and a chancellor who can’t be trusted with his taxes.”

The PM said the government would get on with the job in hand and deliver for the entire people of Britain.”

He had a dig a the SNP’s policy of getting rid of “unilateral defence”, meaning nuclear weapons.

[20 April 2022 13:48 · Jane Dalton]

Keir Starmer ‘weaponising’ Covid tragedies, says Tory MP

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has accused Sir Keir Starmer of “weaponising” the public’s personal tragedies with his partygate attacks, after the Labour leader said he had spoken to a constituent of Mr Fabricant about how he had obeyed Covid rules and had not been able to spend time with his wife before she died. Adam Forrest reports:

[20 April 2022 13:58 · Jane Dalton]

Johnson did not apply pressure over Lebedev peerage, says watchdog

No pressure was exerted by the Prime Minister or Downing Street when it came to recommending Lord Lebedev for a peerage, according to a Lords watchdog.

Lord Bew, chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, told MPs the assessment for the media mogul, whose father was a former KGB agent, was a unique process that involved security checks.

But he said the committee approved the peerage without interference from Boris Johnson.

Questions have been raised over whether the Prime Minister asked anyone in the security services to revise, reconsider or withdraw their assessment of Lord Lebedev, who owns the Independent and Evening Standard newspapers, ahead of his appointment in November 2020.

Crossbencher Lord Bew told the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: “There was no pressure on this issue from No 10 or the Prime Minister.”

Lord Bew, a former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said there was a back-and-forth with security services and a search for clarification, but stressed there was no warning or delay issued about Lord Lebedev.

[20 April 2022 14:12 · Joe Middleton]

Boris Johnson repeats false jobs claim in parliament – despite previous admission it was untrue

Boris Johnson has repeated a discredited claim about more Britons being in work than before the Covid pandemic – despite previously accepting a correction by the statistics watchdog.

The prime minister told the Commons on Wednesday that they were “more people in work than there were before the pandemic”.

It is the same claim that the UK Statistics Authority had previously scolded him for making in parliament – saying it was simply “wrong”.

Adam Forrest has the details.

[20 April 2022 14:29 · Joe Middleton]

Nicola Sturgeon could step aside if SNP loses another independence referendum

Nicola Sturgeon has said she could step aside as Scotland’s first minister if her party loses another independence referendum.

Appearing on popular daytime talk show Loose Women, Ms Sturgeon was quizzed by panellist Carol McGiffin on what it would take for her to resign as leader.

Ms Sturgeon insisted she has no intention of quitting the role as First Minister or leader of the SNP, however she conceded she may hand the reins over if the country again votes No to independence.

The Scottish Government has said it plans to hold another referendum on Scotland’s place in the Union by 2023, however an official date is yet to be set.

There was fiery debate between Ms Sturgeon and McGiffin as the politician was quizzed on how she would react if another referendum was held and independence was rejected.

Ms Sturgeon jumped in to tell the panellist that it is a matter of “when” a referendum is held.

She said: “When Scotland next votes on independence, we will vote Yes,” she said.

Addressing a “hypothetical” scenario where Scotland votes No, she added: “I suspect I would make way for somebody else.

“I’m in the fortunate position of having been in politics for a long time, I’m not about to give it up, but when I do I will hopefully still be relatively young.”

[20 April 2022 14:45 · Joe Middleton]

Should Boris Johnson be investigated further over Partygate? Have your say

MPs will get the opportunity to debate, and vote on, whether Boris Johnson should be referred to the Commons privileges committee over potentially false statements he made to parliament about Partygate, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has announced. And we want to know what you think should happen next.

Have your say. Click the link below to take part in our reader poll.

[20 April 2022 15:00 · Joe Middleton]

‘You’re a parasite’: Tory MP launches angry tirade against Brexit protester outside parliament

A Conservative MP has launched a verbal tirade against an anti-Brexit protester outside parliament, telling him: “You’re nothing but a parasite”.

Lee Anderson, who was elected MP for Ashfield in 2019, was asked by activist Steve Bray whether he would still be supporting “liar” Boris Johnson to stay as prime minister, writes Jon Stone.

Mr Anderson, who was accompanied by guests and two police officers at the time, appeared angered by the question, stating: “At least I’ve got a job to lose, you haven’t got one.”

The activist, who is regularly seen outside parliament urging the government to reverse Brexit, said: “My job’s annoying and holding people like you to account.”

[20 April 2022 15:10 · Joe Middleton]

Senior Tory will abstain on Labour motion

Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Charles Walker said he expects he will abstain in Thursday’s vote on a Labour motion to refer Boris Johnson to the privileges committee.

Sir Charles, who is vice-chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, said he did not believe there were sufficient Tory MPs prepared to call for a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson to force a vote in the “foreseeable future”.

But he also told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One programme: “If the fines keep racking up there is only so long that the prime minister will be able to lean on his party for support.”