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Boris Johnson accused of lying to MPs over images showing him drinking at leaving do
Boris Johnson is facing claims that he suggested to Sue Gray she should drop plans to publish her long-awaited report into the Partygate scandal during a “secret meeting” last month.
The incendiary allegation comes just hours after the publication of leaked photographs showing the prime minister drinking wine with No 10 staff in the depths of England’s second Covid lockdown.
Following a furious row over the weekend, Downing Street admitted on Monday that a meeting between Mr Johnson and the senior civil servant Ms Gray was instigated by a No 10 official in early May to discuss the “timings and publication process” of the report.
But according to fresh reports in The Times, the prime minister suggested at the face-to-face meeting that Ms Gray did not need to publish her report — despite public commitments to do so – after the Met police probe.
Recommended Boris Johnson accused of lying to MPs over pictures showing him drinking at leaving do ‘Another punch to the heart’: Bereaved relatives furious at photos of PM drinking at No 10 lockdown party Boris Johnson under pressure over lockdown party ‘lies’ The photographs of Boris Johnson raising a glass tell their own story
Key Points PM ‘suggested Partygate probe be kept secret’ No 10 ‘made the first move’ over Sue Gray meeting with Boris Johnson Boris Johnson faces fresh accusations of lying to parliament Partygate: How did Boris Johnson react to being fined for breaking Covid laws? Watch moment Boris Johnson denies party at No 10 on night he was pictured drinking Dominic Cummings accuses Boris Johnson of lying to the cops
Show latest update 1653384625 Richard Ratfcliffe: ‘Startling’ that government involved in false confession claim
Richard Ratcliffe has said that it was "startling" that the British government were involved in the Iranian authorities' requirement for his wife to sign a false confession in order to be released from Iran.
Mr Ratcliffe told Sky News that when his wife was at the airport in Iran, she was forced to sign a confession in order for her to be released, after Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe told the BBC that after traveling to Tehran International Airport on the day of her release, she was "made to sign [a] forced confession at the airport in the presence of the British government."
"I was sitting at home getting texts from her and I was furious that this happened," Mr Ratcliffe told Sky News.
"I'm hugely pleased that she's home, but I think it was startling that the British Government also required her to sign that confession."
He added Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "worried" that speaking about the confession would have an impact on her family in Iran and would be used in TV propaganda.
"It felt very important that she did it. There's a lot of friends she's got left behind who are sitting in prison cells, who are being abused in horrible ways, and she has a platform there is always a risk, we'll see what happens next," he said.
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 10:30
1653383425 Home Office warned protest banning orders backed by Priti Patel would not work
The Home Office warned that protest banning orders now backed by Priti Patel would not work, MPs have been told.
The new orders would empower police to put electronic tags on disruptive demonstrators and restrict where they go, who they meet and what they do in person or online, even if they have not committed a crime.
Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:
Home Office warned protest banning orders backed by Priti Patel would not work Proposals ‘essentially take away a person’s right to protest and would very likely to lead to a legal challenge’, government said in March 2021
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 10:10
1653382551 Who is expected to shoulder the blame over Partygate?
Ms Gray will be well aware that her report could have significant repercussions for Mr Johnson, our politics correspondent, Ashley Cowburn, writes.
But it remains to be seen just how severe the criticism of the prime minister will be, and whether he will be singled out as being responsible for the culture in Downing Street.
Read Ashley’s full piece here:
The senior government officials who could shoulder Partygate blame as report looms Individuals named in the report were notified over the weekend, writes Ashley Cowburn
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 09:55
1653381949 Sinn Fein leader 'not hung up' on what to call Northern Ireland
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill has said she does not get "too hung up" on what she calls Northern Ireland.
Ms O'Neill, who said she uses the term "North of Ireland" but referred to "Northern Ireland" in the assembly earlier this month, said people should be "a bit relaxed about those things".
Her comments come ahead of a meeting between Sinn Fein and Conservative MPs in Westminster later on Tuesday.
Ms O'Neill, first minister designate of Northern Ireland, was asked why she is meeting the Conservatives.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think it's really important that over the course of yesterday and today that we take this opportunity to put across the fact that, a number of things I suppose, firstly that the democratic outcome of the election must be respected, that the British Government need to stop pandering to the DUP, that the DUP's voice does not reflect the wider view at home.
"The reality is that the protocol is working. The reality is the business community at home want to see economic certainty. They want clarity around what's next.
"And the fact that the approach of Liz Truss and Boris Johnson in terms of unilateral action is not what's wanted. So I think it's really, really important that we drive that message home, that we give that different perspective.
"And actually, I will go even further to say that true perspective actually of what's happening on the ground."
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 09:45
1653381049 Johnson’s attempt to ‘influence Gray’ was ‘really poor judgement'
Boris Johnson showed "really poor judgement" if reports that he tried to influence Sue Gray are accurate, a union chief has said.
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA Union, was responding to claims that the PM had suggested to the civil senior servant that she should not publish her Partygate report in full.
Mr Penman, who represents civil servants, said: "She's a formidable individual, which is why, if reports of the prime minister trying to influence her are true, then that's really poor judgment from Boris Johnson."
He also said it would be difficult for the Met Police to explain why the PM had not been fined for attending the gathering when one of those also present had been.
He said: "I think, like anyone else in the country, if I look at those pictures and try and reconcile with the decisions taken, that's going to be tough to explain the decision of the Met, why some people in that room were fined."
He added: "A picture paints a thousand words and that one certainly does."
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 09:30
1653380082 Johnson misled the Commons from dispatch box - senior Tory
Boris Johnson misled the House of Commons when he told MPs there were no parties in Downing Street during Covid lockdown, a senior Tory has said.
Sir Roger Gale is one of the Tory MPs calling for the prime minister to resign.
“I believe that the PM has misled the HoC’s from the despatch box,” he tweeted on Tuesday morning.
“That is a resignation issue. I have made my own position clear,” he added. “It is now a matter for my Conservative parliamentary colleagues to decide whether or not to instigate a vote of no confidence.”
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 09:14
1653378589 Boris Johnson ‘suggested Sue Gray shouldn’t publish report’ at secret meeting
Boris Johnson is facing claims that he suggested to Sue Gray she should drop plans to publish her long-awaited report into the Partygate scandal during a “secret meeting” last month.
Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Boris Johnson ‘suggested Sue Gray shouldn’t publish report’ at secret meeting Grant Shapps says he is unaware ‘exactly what was discussed’ between PM and senior civil servant
Matt Mathers 24 May 2022 08:49
1653378357 ‘Seriousness’ in government matters, says Tory MP
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said "seriousness" in Government matters.
Asked about what his view is on whether the Prime Minister knowingly misled Parliament when he said there was no party on November 13 2020, Mr Tugendhat told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're spending the morning talking about two incredibly serious things. One is Nazanin, one is Afghanistan.
"And the implications for both of those are the lack of seriousness in British policy, and that lack of seriousness has a direct effect.
"It has an effect because it means that our enemies decide to test us and our friends aren't sure about us.
"It means that countries like Ukraine are invaded because people like Vladimir Putin don't believe the guarantees that are given and it means that communities across the United Kingdom see higher food and energy prices.
"Seriousness in government matters. It costs us all. And I'm afraid this just doesn't look serious."
Chiara Giordano 24 May 2022 08:45
1653377757 Grant Shapps does not deny reports PM suggested partygate probe need not be published
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps did not deny reports that Boris Johnson suggested to Sue Gray she did not need to publish her partygate investigation.
He told Sky News: "I wasn't in the room so I don't know that's the case.
"Exactly what was discussed, I don't know.
"Occasionally things get reported that are not entirely accurate, the civil service were there to make sure that all the correct processes were followed so I have no particular reason for concern about the two of them meeting."
Chiara Giordano 24 May 2022 08:35
1653376857 Boris Johnson does not think he was attending party despite images, says Grant Shapps
Boris Johnson does not think he was attending a party in the image showing him raising a glass and surrounded by wine bottles at a leaving do, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.
The Cabinet minister told Sky News: “I don’t think the fact of the pictures, us seeing them for the first time, changes what the police and Sue Gray already know.
“I see his red box is there, which is his work box, it looks to me like he goes down on his way out of the office and thanks the staff and raises a glass, and doesn’t in his mind recognise it as a party. And indeed the police have looked into this and spent a lot of time and resources.”
Asked if he is comfortable with the photographs, he said: “I’m not, I couldn’t see my own dad for a long period of time because we were obeying the rules but I also accept the Prime Minister has long since apologised, has made fundamental reforms in No 10 and have no doubt if he had his time again he wouldn’t have dropped by to say thank you to a member of staff leaving.”
Chiara Giordano 24 May 2022 08:20
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