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       Partygate: Boris Johnson's repeated denials and excuses

       Boris Johnson‘s conduct over Partygate risks leaving the concept of the ministerial code open to “ridicule”, according to his own ethics adviser.

       In a public rebuke, Christopher Geidt said there were “legitimate” questions over whether the fixed penalty notice, issued for a June 2020 birthday party thrown in Mr Johnson’s honour in the Cabinet Room, might have constituted a breach of the “overarching duty within the Ministerial Code of complying with the law”.

       He also questioned the prime minister’s willingness to “take responsibility for his own conduct” in relation to the ministerial rules.

       Mr Johnson, in a letter released on Tuesday evening, responded by claiming the FPN “did not breach” the Ministerial Code as there was “no intent to break the law”, adding that he had taken “full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch”.

       Meanwhile, former Tory MP and education secretary Justine Greening has joined a call for an expansion of the free school meal programme, amid warnings that more than a million children face going hungry because of the cost-of-living crisis.

       Recommended No-confidence vote: How does it work and should Boris Johnson be worried? Ministerial code at risk of ‘ridicule’ over Partygate, Boris Johnson’s ethics adviser warns ‘Waitrose woman’: Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Johnson The PM’s defences are crumbling – but one thing might still save him

       Key points Ethics chief questions PM’s leadership over the partygate Former Tory education secretary joins call for expansion of free school meals NHS complaints procedures like ‘marking own homework’ ‘Lorry driver conditions should be improved’ ‘No final decision’ on controversial asylum centre

       Show latest update 1654062993 Minister unable to convert ‘universally understood’ imperial measurements

       A government minister on Tuesday struggled to convert from metric measures into what Downing Street has called “universally understood” imperial units.

       Lord Parkinson appeared perplexed when quizzed on the conversions amid reports the government will open a consultation on reviving imperial measures.

       Appearing on Sky News, the arts minister was first asked how many ounces are in a pound - to which he incorrectly said 14. Host Kay Burley continued: “If you are ordering a pound of sausages, approximately how many grams of sausages are you getting? 250, 350, 450, or 550?”

       Cambridge University-educated Lord Parkinson hesitantly chose the first answer - again, incorrect.

       The moment came amid reports that the UK may switch back to imperial units, reports Zaina Alibhai:

       Minister unable to convert ‘universally understood’ imperial measurements Moment comes amid reports UK may make switch back to imperial units

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:56

       1654062318 Starmer and Rayner receive police questionnaire over Beergate

       Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner have both received police questionnaires about the so-called “Beergate” event at a party office in Durham last year.

       The party confirmed that both senior figures had been asked by Durham Constabulary to explain their attendance at the 30 April gathering, at which beer and curry was consumed.

       The Durham force announced earlier this month that it would investigate potential breaches of Covid laws by Starmer and his staff, despite initially deciding against action when images of the meeting first appeared.

       My colleague Adam Forrest reporting the detail:

       Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner receive police questionnaire about Beergate Labour leader has pledged to resign if fined by Durham Constabulary

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:45

       1654061398 ‘Brexit could spark potato shortage in Ireland’

       Brexit could lead to a significant shortage of potatoes for Irish consumers by 2023, experts have warned.

       Prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, the majority of potato seed used by Irish farmers for varieties such as Kerr Pinks, Golden Wonders and British Queens had been imported from Scotland.

       But under post-Brexit rules and following the UK’s departure from the single market, exports of seed potatoes – those not consumed but used to plant other potatoes – from Scotland to Ireland are no longer allowed.

       Andy Gregory reports:

       Brexit could spark potato shortage in Ireland, experts warn ‘It will be a big issue unless something is done with the seed industry,’ grower warns

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:29

       1654061197 ‘Lorry driver conditions should be improved’

       The road haulage sector should be given a two-year deadline to improve conditions for lorry drivers and recruit more workers or face a new tax, demanded a cross-party group of MPs.

       They have also called for the logistics industry to “get its house in order”, including better overnight facilities for drivers and new training routes to recruit more hauliers, as the sector faces labour shortages.

       But the Commons Transport Select Committee said that if the changes are not made within two years, then the most profitable parts of the sector should face a new tax.

       Huw Merriman, the Conservative chairman of the committee, said: “We urge government to be brave and force the sector to get its house in order. A Supply Chain Levy has worked previously to incentivise reform.

       If the industry won’t deliver change, government should do so and send them the bill via increased taxes to those who produce and sell and make the most profits.

       Huw Merriman

       A lorry leaves Larne port, north of Belfast in Northern Ireland, after arriving on a ferry, on 17 May 2022

       (AFP via Getty Images)

       The committee’s report, Road Freight Supply Chain is calling for minimum standards of facilities including security, clean showers and toilets, healthy food options, and services for female drivers.

       The report highlights testimony from drivers who “criticised poor washing facilities” at overnight stay areas for heavy goods vehicle drivers, including dirty and “vandalised” showers.

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:26

       1654060518 NHS complaints procedures like ‘marking own homework’

       A team of researchers set out to examine the national policies for handling complaints likened the NHS complaints procedure to “asking hospitals to grade their own homework”

       Complaints are a “critical source” to help drive improvements, with most patients and families contributing to the system to prevent harm from occurring to others, yet they “often” feel dissatisfied with the system, said a team of academics, led by experts from Imperial College London.

       Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, President of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, looks at a screen to follow the robotic microwave ablation procedure as he visits The Royal Marsden hospital

       (Getty Images)

       Tasked with examining national policies guiding NHS hospitals, the researchers said the “complex, bureaucratic nature” of the complaints system is often cited as an “obstacle to effective complaint handling”.

       Their paper, published in the Journal Of The Royal Society Of Medicine, identified a number of national policies which “undermine a patient-centric and improvement-focused approach to complaints”

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:15

       1654059918 Former Tory education secretary joins call for expansion of free school meals

       Boris Johnson is under pressure to extend the free school meals programme before the summer holidays amid warnings more than a million children face going hungry because of the cost of living crisis.

       Former education secretaries from both Labour and the Conservatives, as well as the mayor of London, unions and charities have urged the government to act as it did during the Covid pandemic.

       As inflation surges the cost of some foods has already soared, while the governor of the Bank of England has warned of “apocalyptic” prices ahead.

       Justine Greening, the Conservative former education secretary, said: “The government has a chance to avoid the mess on free school meals that happened last year and get ahead of the next phase of the cost of living crisis for families.”

       Read the details in this exclusive by Kate Devlin and Zoe Tidman:

       Expand free school meals in time for summer holidays, PM told Exclusive: Former education secretaries from across the political divide have called on the government to act

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 06:05

       1654059318 Rees Mogg’s suggested bonfire of EU rules is more Brexit propaganda

       Jacob Rees-Mogg received more than 2,000 replies after he asked for suggestions on how to make Brexit even better than we know it is.

       But Sean O’ Grady, the associate editor at The Independent writes the ideas considered worthy of further exploration by the minister aren’t that politically attractive and not necessarily the Brexit people voted for.

       Find out why he feels this way in Politics Explained:

       Analysis: Jacob Rees-Mogg’s suggested bonfire of EU rules is just Brexit propaganda The ideas aren’t politically that attractive – and they are not necessarily the Brexit that people voted for, writes Sean O’Grady

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 05:55

       1654058738 Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Johnson

       Downing Street hopes the “small C conservatives” who shop at Waitrose will keep the PM in power – but our correspondent Colin Drury finds them unconvinced.

       Read the report here:

       ‘Waitrose woman’: Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Boris Johnson Downing Street hopes supermarket’s ‘small C conservatives’ will keep PM in power – but Colin Drury finds them unconvinced

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 05:45

       1654057724 Rees-Mogg hails chance to abolish EU restrictions on vacuum cleaners

       Jacob Rees-Mogg’s office has listed scrapping EU regulations on vacuum cleaners as one of the “most interesting” ideas it has received for how to capitalise on the UK’s newfound Brexit freedom.

       Following his appointment in February as minister for Brexit opportunities and government efficiency, Mr Rees-Mogg launched an appeal in the Daily Express for the paper’s readers to come forward with ideas for how he could fulfil his new brief.

       “Government is not the centre of all knowledge and wisdom. Actually there is a much greater wisdom with the British people as a whole,” Mr Rees-Mogg had said, pledging to push to get rid of “what it is in their daily life that the government does that makes their life harder”.

       Find the details in this report by Andy Gregory:

       Rees-Mogg hails chance to scrap EU vacuum cleaner law one of top Brexit opportunities Cabinet minister appeals for suggestions on how to fulfill his brief

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 05:28

       1654056618 ‘No final decision’ on controversial asylum centre

       The government has taken “no final decision” on its plan to house 1,500 asylum seekers at a former RAF base in a small North Yorkshire village, it has emerged.

       Announced by the Home Office last month, the idea prompted outrage from residents in Linton-on-Ouse, which is currently home to around 600 people.

       The local MP Kevin Hollinrake also said he disapproved of the proposal, as did Hambleton district council, which threatened to take legal action against the government.

       Although the first 60 asylum seekers were supposed to arrive at RAF Linton by Tuesday, ministers have seemingly decided to delay its conversion into a processing centre that has already dubbed Guantanamo-on-Ouse.

       Rory Sullivan reports:

       ‘No final decision’ taken over controversial asylum centre in Yorkshire village Local MP ‘hopeful’ RAF Linton proposal will be scrapped

       Namita Singh 1 June 2022 05:10

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