A Cabinet minister is facing a backlash after he appeared to compare Boris Johnson's "partygate" fine for breaking coronavirus lockdown rules to receiving a speeding or parking ticket.

       Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, was asked during an interview on Sky News if a "law-maker" can ever be a "law-breaker" and he replied: “I think that we do see consistently, whether it is through parking fines, whether it is through speeding fines, ministers of both parties over the years have been in that position.”

       The remarks were swiftly condemned by Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who described them as "an insult to bereaved families" and claimed "the excuses of Conservative ministers are getting more pathetic by the day".

       Sir Keir Starmer also rejected the comparison, telling the Lorraine programme on ITV: "It isn't like a speeding fine at all. In all of my days I have never had anybody breakdown in front of me because they couldn't drive at 35 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone."

       The row came as Mr Johnson prepares to address MPs this afternoon in the House of Commons for the first time since he was fined.

       The Prime Minister is expected to offer a "full throated apology" as he attempts to head off a potential Tory rebellion.

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       Sir Keir Starmer has rejected the idea that a fine for breaking Covid rules is comparable to receiving a parking ticket or a speeding fine (see the post below at 09.05).

       The Labour leader told the Lorraine programme on ITV: "I don't think you can just say to people 'oh, just move on'. I also don't accept this argument that some Conservatives are putting out that it's a bit like a speeding fine.

       "It isn't like a speeding fine at all. In all of my days I have never had anybody breakdown in front of me because they couldn't drive at 35 miles an hour in a 30 mile an hour zone.

       "I have had no end of people in tears, in real bits, about complying with rules that really, really hurt them."

       Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has responded to Brandon Lewis appearing to compare a Covid fine to a parking ticket (see the post below at 09.05).

       Sir Ed said: "The excuses of Conservative ministers are getting more pathetic by the day. There is a massive difference between getting a parking fine and Boris Johnson breaking his own lockdown rules.

       "It is an insult to bereaved families and all those who made huge sacrifices while Johnson partied in Number 10. Conservative MPs need to discover their moral backbone and sack Johnson instead of defending the indefensible."

       Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, was asked during an interview on Sky News if a "law-maker can ever be a law-breaker".

       He replied: “I think that we do see consistently, whether it is through parking fines, whether it is through speeding fines, ministers of both parties over the years have been in that position.”

       He added: “You asked me if somebody who sets the laws and the rules can also be someone who breaks the rules.

       “That clearly has happened with a number of ministers over the years.”

       Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said Boris Johnson "hasn't misled Parliament" over "partygate".

       He told Sky News: “He hasn’t misled Parliament. He has outlined to Parliament what he believes to be the case and the truth at the point.

       “He has equally, quite rightly, apologised for what has happened, accepted the position the police have taken and paid the fine.”

       Boris Johnson will face a bruising appearance in front of MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon as he is grilled over his "partygate" fine.

       He has been accused by critics of misleading Parliament after he said on December 1 last year that "all guidance was followed completely in No 10".

       Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said this morning that Mr Johnson had been "speaking what he believed to be the truth".

       Mr Lewis told Sky News: “The point he made to Parliament, when he spoke to Parliament, he was speaking what he believed to be the truth and what he outlined to be the truth.

       “That is absolutely right and proper.

       “As he said last week, he absolutely accepts the police have found that the rules were broken to a point that they issued a fine… that is why he has paid the fine and he has outlined that he accepts that.”

       Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Conservative MP for The Cotswolds, said Tory MPs are "waiting to see what happens" in the coming weeks before making their judgement on Boris Johnson's future.

       He said: "As always, you have to weigh the events and their important together to come to a decision. As I say, at the moment I think it would be the wrong thing to do.

       "And that is why you are not having Conservative members of Parliament rushing onto your programme calling for the Prime Minister to go at the moment.

       "They are all withholding their judgement and waiting to see what happens."

       Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of the 1922 Committee, told the BBC that he wants to see "all the evidence" on "partygate" and what the "verdict" is of the British public at local elections on May 5 before making a judgement on Boris Johnson's future.

       He said: "I think, as you say, for me personally I would like to see all the evidence, whether there are more fines issued, what Sue Gray has to say and then what the verdict of the British people in the local government elections are before making any decisive judgements.

       "But at the moment my judgement would be it is certainly not in the country's interests to think about replacing the Prime Minister."

       Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, a senior Tory MP and the treasurer of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, said now is not the time to remove Boris Johnson from No 10.

       Sir Geoffrey told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "At a time when thousands of our constituents are facing the biggest squeeze in their cost of living for a generation, when we are facing a bloody war in Europe the like of which we haven't seen since the Second World War, when we are seeing a slow down of the world economy because of all of that, to force a prime minister out and have instability at the top of government for at least two months as I know... when we re-selected a successor to Theresa May, I think would be not in the country's interests."

       Good morning and welcome to today's politics live blog.

       The House of Commons will return from recess this afternoon from 2.30pm and we are expecting Boris Johnson to deliver a statement at about 3.30pm.

       The statement is expected to deal with a number of issues including the war in Ukraine and the Government's energy security strategy but all eyes are likely to be on what the PM has to say about "partygate".

       It will be the first time the PM has addressed MPs since he was fined for breaking Covid rules.

       Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, is on the morning broadcast round for the Government while Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of the 1922 Committee, has also been speaking.

       I will guide you through the key lines.

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