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       Boris Johnson 'will have his say' on Partygate scandal, says minister

       Boris Johnson is expected to make a “full-throated apology” to MPs on Monday, after he was fined by police for breaching his own Covid rules when he attended a birthday event at No 10 during lockdown.

       The PM will make a statement in the House of Commons later today, following a Cabinet meeting, as MPs return to Westminster following the Easter recess.

       It comes after Mr Johnson was last week fined by the Metropolitan Police for attending a birthday bash, thrown in his honour, in the Cabinet room in June 2020, while strict coronavirus restrictions were in place.

       A Downing Street source said he will “offer a full-throated apology and recognise the strength of feeling” among MPs on Partygate, but is unlikely to go into too much detail on the matter, according to a report by The Telegraph.

       His statement will come a day after a public opinion poll by JLPartners found that Mr Johnson is widely regarded as “a liar” by the British public.

       Recommended Starmer says confidence in justice system ‘collapsed’ under Tories Partygate: Boris Johnson accused of ‘showing no respect for law and order’ as he prepares to address parliament Police speak to Nicola Sturgeon over suspected breach of face mask law

       Key points PM will ‘outline his version of events’ in the Commons, says minister Boris Johnson widely regarded as a 'liar' by voters, poll finds ‘PM has demeaned his office’, says Labour deputy leader Sturgeon apologises after police speak to her about breaching face mask law

       Show latest update 1650349305 Good morning

       Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling politics coverage.

       Stay tuned as we bring you the latest, including live updates on Boris Johnson’s scheduled address to the House of Commons, in which he will apologise to MPs after being fined by the police in relation to the Partygate saga.

       Sam Hancock 19 April 2022 07:21

       1650347374 Faith in justice system has collapsed, Labour says

       Labour has claimed that the justice system has collapsed under Tory management.

       Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, argued that belief in the criminal justice system is being “devastatingly undermined” under the Conservatives, adding that “Britain deserves better”.

       According to a new analysis from the party a quarter of reported crimes are going unpunished due to victims not pursuing charges.

       Amy Gibbons has more:

       Faith in justice system has collapsed under Tories, Labour claims A quarter of reported crimes are going unpunished due to victims not pursuing charges, new analysis from the party has suggested.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 06:49

       1650346638 NHS leader urges mask usage as Tories 'pretend Covid doesn't exist'

       NHS leader Chris Hopson has said that there should be a debate about Covid restrictions as infections surge.

       He was quoted as saying to The Sunday Times that infections were surging partly because of pretending Covid “doesn’t exist any more and that nobody needs to take any precautions”.

       He highlighted the need for mask usage and outdoor socialising and said that “no one is arguing” for a return to lockdown.

       “There is concern across the NHS that the government doesn’t seem to want to talk about coronavirus any more.

       “We think we need a proper grown-up national debate about what living with Covid actually means.”

       Nearly 2,000 people have died in the last week in the UK within 28 days of a positive Covid test - similar to the last peak in January, reported The Mirror.

       (PA Wire)

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 06:37

       1650344666 Tory rebels plotting to oust Johnson will regroup today

       While some of the Tories who had previously called for Boris Johnson’s resignation over partygate have withdrawn their pleas citing the Russian war in Ukraine, a senior Conservative has said that rebel Tories will regroup when they return to Westminster on Tuesday.

       Ex-International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has hinted at a renewed revolt against Mr Johnson after the Easter recess.“I haven’t changed the view I expressed,” he was quoted as saying to The Mirror.

       “But Parliament is in recess so colleagues have not had a chance to discuss the fact that the Prime Minister has been fined for committing a criminal offence and when Parliament returns no doubt we will look at these matters.”

       It takes 54 letters of no confidence from Tory MPs to trigger a leadership contest.

       More Tory MPs say Boris Johnson should go Former Cabinet minister Karen Bradley is among those to criticise the prime minister

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 06:04

       1650343278 NHS urges people to take up lung cancer check

       NHS chiefs are urging people to take up invitations for lung cancer check-ups after 600 people were diagnosed with the disease in travelling trucks, which visit convenient community sites across the UK.

       Dame Cally Palmer, NHS cancer director, said: “These lung checks can save lives – by going out into communities we find more people who may not have otherwise realised they have lung cancer – with hundreds already diagnosed and hundreds of thousands due to be invited.”

       The call by the NHS comes as new figures show only a third (35 per cent) of patients go to their lung health check when invited by the NHS.

       NHS urges people to take up lung cancer check as 600 diagnosed in mobile trucks Hundreds of people have been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier through NHS mobile trucks.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 05:41

       1650341737 Rail ticket sale launched amid cost of living crisis

       Train tickets are set to be slashed by as much as half as the Government looks to address cost-of-living pressures with cheaper travel in April and May.

       Dubbed as the Great British Rail Sale, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said more than one million train tickets would be reduced this spring.

       “Operators across the rail industry are coming together to help passengers facing rising costs of living by offering up to 50% off more than a million tickets on journeys across Britain,” he said.

       Officials said offering half-price rail tickets was “one of the ways” the Government was helping to support families with the cost of living, having previously announced measures to defer energy costs and offer council tax discounts for some households.

       Half-price sale on rail fares announced to help with cost-of-living pressures The Department for Transport said the move would be a boost for UK tourism.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 05:15

       1650340909 Johnson accused of ‘showing no respect for law and order’ ahead of Commons address

       Boris Johnson has been accused of showing “no respect for law and order”, as he prepares to face a grilling from MPs in his first parliamentary appearance since being fined by the Metropolitan Police.

       Last week fines were issued to the prime minister, his wife, Carrie, and the chancellor Rishi Sunak, for attending a birthday gathering in the Cabinet Room in June 2020.

       “Every day that Boris Johnson remains tarnishes his party and the office of the prime minister,” said former Conservative MP and cabinet minister Rory Stewart urged his former colleagues to act on Monday.

       Sir Keir, the Labour leader, who has put tackling crime at the centre of his campaign for the 5 May local elections, also claimed that Mr Johnson has showed “no respect for law and order”.

       The Independent’s political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more:

       PM accused of ‘showing no respect for law’ as he prepares to address MPs on Partygate Johnson will face MPs for first time since being fined by Metropolitan Police

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 05:01

       1650339835 PM to offer ‘apology' as he faces MPs in Commons

       Boris Johnson is today expected to make a “full-throated apology” to MPs after he was fined by police for attending a birthday bash in breach of Covid rules.

       His statement is expected in the Commons today, as MPs return to Westminster following the Easter recess.

       According to reports the prime minister will however stop short of addressing allegations he instigated a separate lockdown leaving do, as he attempts to convince politicians there are bigger issues to focus on than the partygate saga.

       My colleague Amy Gibbons has more:

       Boris Johnson to make ‘full-throated apology’ to MPs over partygate fine It is thought the Prime Minister will focus on the crisis in Ukraine and the Rwanda migrant deal in a speech in the Commons.

       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 04:43

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       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 04:40

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       Sravasti Dasgupta 19 April 2022 04:31