Boris Johnson news – latest: Michael Gove says former PM is ‘man of integrity’

‘I think that Boris is someone who puts the country first,’ the levelling up secretary said

Question Time audience reveal if they thought Boris Johnson was telling MPs the truth

‘Boris Johnson is a man of integrity,’ Levelling up secretary Michael Gove agreed on Sophy Ridge on Sunday

When questioned on the show this morning about whether he thinks the former prime minister is a man of integrity, Mr Gove replied: “I think that Boris is someone who puts the country first, yes,”

It comes as Mr Johnson is under investigation by the Commons privileges committee over whether he deliberately or recklessly misled the Commons with his statements about Partygate.

MPs investigating whether the former prime minister intentionally misled parliament over his understanding of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic could recommend a suspension of more than 10 days, triggering a contest for his Uxbridge constituency.

Mr Johnson is now preparing for a “worst case” scenario in which he has to fight a by-election he is expected to lose, allies have said.

Key Points

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• ‘Cult’ of Boris ‘in death throes’ as Tory support fades

[25 March 2023 09:30 · Joe Middleton]

ICYMI: ‘Cult’ of Boris Johnson ‘in death throes’ as Tory support fades

This week’s double parliamentary humiliation marked the “death throes” of the Boris Johnson “cult” with only a rump of loyalists now supporting him, Tory MPs have said.

The former prime minister was forced to plead “hand on heart” that he had not lied to MPs over the Partygate scandal.

He also failed to lead a successful Commons revolt against Rishi Sunak’s post-Brexit agreement, which passed the Commons by a huge majority of 486.

[25 March 2023 09:00 · Joe Middleton]

ICYMI: Watch as Sunak welcomes Israeli prime minister to Downing Street amid backdrop of protests

Watch as Rishi Sunak welcomes Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, to 10 Downing Street.

The pair are expected to hold discussions amid a backdrop of anti-judicial review protests in Mr Netanyahu’s home nation.

His departure to the UK was delayed as activists attempted to block his path to the airport, as he made his way to Europe for the third weekend in a row.

[25 March 2023 08:30 · Joe Middleton]

Why Andrew Bailey’s remark on prices has raised eyebrows

As an attempt at moral suasion it doesn’t even make sense, says Sean O’Grady.

[25 March 2023 08:00 · Joe Middleton]

Liz Truss ‘trying to create a new peer for every 10 days in office’

Liz Truss has been accused of trying to reward failure following reports that she plans to create a peer for every 10 days she spent in office.

The former prime minister is reported to have nominated at least four new members of the House of Lords, despite having been in post for only 49 tumultuous days.

The names on her resignation honours list include a Tory donor and a former long-time aide, according to reports.

[25 March 2023 07:30 · Joe Middleton]

ICYMI: Partygate: Boris Johnson apologises for 'inadvertently misleading' House

[25 March 2023 07:00 · Emily Atkinson]

ICYMI | Tom Peck: Boris Johnson looked more prime suspect than prime minister at his Partygate hearing

At 2pm, into a de facto courtroom in Westminster, walked the world’s worst liar.

Rather unluckily for him, he was on trial for lying, and had very little choice but to spend the next three-and-a-half hours trying to lie his way out of it. And though the consequences were predictable, they were no less spectacular for it.

Read Tom Peck’s latest political sketch here:

[25 March 2023 06:30 · Maroosha Muzaffar]

Covid victims’ families react to Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe: ‘I missed mother’s last moments’

Having missed her last moments due to Covid restrictions, Mick Yates stood two metres apart from his brothers as his mother’s coffin was lowered into her grave on 26 June 2020. A week before, Boris Johnson had been photographed in a room full of at least 30 people celebrating his birthday at a time of strict lockdown rules.

Throughout the pandemic, countless people were in Mr Yates’ position, unable to be with loved ones when they died, and banned from hugging family and friends at funerals – if they were even able to attend. Meanwhile, the then-prime minister attended gatherings at Downing Street, flouting the very rules he was supposed to be enforcing as part of attempts to curb the virus’ spread and reduce pressure on the NHS.

Mr Yates and an NHS worker, who lost three friends in 2020, have shared their experiences during a week when Boris Johnson endured a fraught showdown with MPs who are investigating whether he intentionally misled Parliament over the parties.

[24 March 2023 10:10 · Liam James]

Boris Johnson to ‘step up’ campaigning as he ‘braces for worst-case scenario by-election’

Boris Johnson will step up campaigning in his constituency as concerns grow that he will face a by-election within months if he is found to have deliberately misled Parliament over Downing Street lockdown parties (Thomas Kingsley writes).

It comes after Tory polling guru Lord Hayward warned the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip seat if he is punished severely by the cross-party committee and forced to fight for his seat.

According to The Times, Mr Johnson is planning for the “worst-case scenario”– that the committee imposes a 10-day suspension from the Commons, which could trigger a by-election.