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Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that he welcomes questions about the “partygate” scandal, relating to several events held across Whitehall while Covid restrictions were in place.
In an interview with Sky News’ Beth Rigby, the prime minister was asked if he would welcome “tough questions” on the scandal.
“Yes, of course. That is what it’s all about. Seriously,” he said.
Meanwhile, amid criticism of the Spring Statement, chancellor Rishi Sunak has said that he goes to bed at night knowing that he cannot do everything that people want him to.
It comes as Mr Johnson promised more help for families struggling with rising prices and bills to fix the UK’s cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Johnson said that it is “the single biggest thing we’re having to fix” after the Office for Budget Responsibility warned living standards face their biggest fall in a single year since records began in the mid-1950s.
Recommended Spring statement: What does Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget mean for your finances? Sunak faces backlash over mini-Budget forecast to drive 1.3m people into poverty ‘No food and no money until Monday’: one family’s descent into poverty in cost crisis Britain Boris Johnson described Brexit as a fight for freedom – but has it made us more free? Boris Johnson looks on awkwardly as Macron and other EU leaders greet at Nato meeting
Key Points Chancellor borrows Sainsburys worker’s car for photo-op Sunak statement criticised for not helping poorest families Tax burden highest since post-war era Fuel duty cut by 5p and NI threshold raised by ￡3,000 Britons facing biggest drop in living standards since records began
Show latest update 1648185541 Anoosheh Ashoori accuses Boris Johnson of 'opportunism'
Anoosheh Ashoori has said that he felt let down by prime minister Boris Johnson in assisting his family to secure his release from Iran.
Mr Ashoori, 68, a retired civil engineer, was arrested in August 2017 while visiting his elderly mother in Tehran, and held in Evin prison.
He arrived back in the UK last week on the same flight as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, another British-Iranian who spent six years in detention in Iran.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Ashoori said that his pleas for help did not get any response from the prime minister.
“Unfortunately he [Mr Johnson] did not expend even five minutes to give a telephone call to my family.”
Referring to the invitation extended by the prime minister to meet him, Mr Ashoori said: “Now he’s eager to see us. How would you interpret that?
“I think that there’s a bit of opportunism involved in it.”
He added that he is “not sure” about whether he would meet with the prime minister.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe smiles and waves at cameras while fellow British-Iranian detainee Anoosheh Ashoori gives the peace sign after they arrive at RAF Brize Norton
(REUTERS)
Sravasti Dasgupta 25 March 2022 05:19
1648184947 Boris says he 'welcomes' questions over partygate
Boris Johnson has said that he welcomes questions about the “partygate” scandal, relating to several events held across Whitehall while Covid restrictions were in place.
In an interview with Sky News’ Beth Rigby, the prime minister was asked if he would welcome “tough questions” on the scandal.
“Yes, of course. That is what it’s all about. Seriously,” he said.
He added that Russian president Vladimir Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he lived in a democracy where questions were asked.
“I think what people understand is that if Vladimir Putin lived in a democracy, and if Vladimir Putin had Newsnight on his case, and people asking him really penetrating questions about what he really thought he was doing in Ukraine and whether he really understood what kind of people the Ukrainians were, and if he’d really thought it through, I don’t think he would have made the catastrophic mistake that he’s made.”
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson departs 10 Downing Street for the House of Commons, London
(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Sravasti Dasgupta 25 March 2022 05:09
1648183258 Johnson hints at more help to ease cost-of-living crisis
Boris Johnson promised more help for families struggling with rising prices and bills as Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spring statement was criticised for failing to go far enough to protect living standards.
Read more in this full report:
Johnson hints at more help to ease cost-of-living crisis The PM said the squeeze on household finances is the single biggest problem the Government has to fix.
Sravasti Dasgupta 25 March 2022 04:40
1648182129 Sunak says he 'can't do everything' amid criticism of Spring statement
Amid criticism of the Spring Statement, Rishi Sunak has said that he goes to bed at night knowing that he cannot do everything that people want him to.
In an interview with Sky News’ Beth Rigby, the chancellor said: “On a daily basis, I’m confronted with the fact that I can’t ever in this job do all the things that people would like me to do - and I have to deal with that every single day.
“I have to, every single day, know that I can’t solve all the problems that people want me to, no matter how many hours, and I put in quite a lot.“And no matter how many I put in, I can’t solve all those problems.”
He added that people should judge him by his actions and measures he took during the pandemic.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivering his spring statement (UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor)
(PA Media)
Sravasti Dasgupta 25 March 2022 04:22
1648180310 I'm not optimistic that Putin wants peace, Boris says
Prime minister Boris Johnson has said that he is not optimistic that Russian president Vladimir Putin wants peace in Ukraine, a month after the invasion.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight Mr Johnson said: “Everybody wants peace including the United Kingdom. If this thing could be solved it would be fantastic. I’ve got to tell you that I am not optimistic that Vladimir Putin wants that.
“I think he’s decided to double down and try to Groznify the great cities of Ukraine in the way that he has always tried to do.”
Mr Johnson added that the only thing Western countries can do in such a scenario is toughen sanctions against Russia and send more missiles to help Ukraine to make things difficult for Russian troops.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a press conference following a special meeting of Nato leaders in Brussels, Belgium. (Henry Nicholls/PA)
(PA Wire)
Sravasti Dasgupta 25 March 2022 03:51
1648136740 Rishi Sunak borrowed a car from a Sainsbury’s worker – and had his photo taken – to prove he’s one of us
“The New Cross shop assistant who lent Sunak his Kia Rio can count himself lucky – he, at least, got as much as a third of a tank of free petrol out of the chancellor,” writes Tom Peck.
Read his full piece here:
Sunak failed to prove he’s one of us in spectacular fashion | Tom Peck The New Cross shop assistant who lent Sunak his Kia Rio can count himself lucky – he, at least, got as much as a third of a tank of free petrol out of the chancellor
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 15:45
1648135840 Who are the latest entities and individuals to be targeted?
The UK has pledged dozens of new sanctions against entities and individuals deemed to be “fuelling (Vladimir) Putin’s war machine”.
The exact number hit with punitive measures on Thursday was unclear – as a notice from the Treasury said 59 entries had been added to the list, while Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said 65 new sanctions had been announced.
Amy Gibbons reports:
Russia sanctions: Who are the latest entities and individuals to be targeted? A notice from the Treasury said 59 entries were added to the UK’s list on Thursday.
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 15:30
1648134753 Who is sanctioned ‘stepdaughter’ of Russia foreign minister?
Polina Kovaleva is in her mid-twenties, and said to have master’s degree from a leading London university and experience travelling the world.
But as of today, she has also been sanctioned by the UK Government over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ms Kovaleva, 26, is the alleged stepdaughter of the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and is said to own a London property worth in the region of ￡4 million.
Her assets in the UK will now be frozen, along with the other newly targeted individuals, the Foreign Office said - which means no person or company in the country can do business with her.
A new financial sanctions notice from the Treasury, published on Thursday, gave a Kensington address for her property, which tallies with reports she bought a luxury apartment in the area with no mortgage in 2016, when she was only 21.
MPs and campaigners had previously called for Ms Kovaleva to be sanctioned, according to The Daily Telegraph, as her mother is said to be Mr Lavrov’s alleged mistress.
Amy Gibbons has more details below:
Who is the sanctioned ‘stepdaughter’ of the Russian foreign minister? Polina Kovalena is the alleged stepdaughter of Sergei Lavrov, and is said to own a London property worth around ￡4m.
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 15:12
1648134734 Who is sanctioned ‘stepdaughter’ of Russia foreign minister?
Polina Kovaleva is in her mid-twenties, and said to have master’s degree from a leading London university and experience travelling the world.
But as of today, she has also been sanctioned by the UK Government over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ms Kovaleva, 26, is the alleged stepdaughter of the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and is said to own a London property worth in the region of ￡4 million.
Her assets in the UK will now be frozen, along with the other newly targeted individuals, the Foreign Office said - which means no person or company in the country can do business with her.
A new financial sanctions notice from the Treasury, published on Thursday, gave a Kensington address for her property, which tallies with reports she bought a luxury apartment in the area with no mortgage in 2016, when she was only 21.
MPs and campaigners had previously called for Ms Kovaleva to be sanctioned, according to The Daily Telegraph, as her mother is said to be Mr Lavrov’s alleged mistress.
Amy Gibbons has more details below:
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 15:12
1648134134 Sunak’s tax cuts will have ‘negligible impact’ on poorest, Tory MP says
Tax cuts announced in Rishi Sunak’s spring statement will have a “negligible impact” on Britain’s poorest families, a Tory MP has warned.
The chancellor slashed fuel duty by 5p and raised the threshold at which workers pay national insurance contributions by ￡3,000.
But Peter Aldous, the Tory MP for Waveney, said Mr Sunak’s failure to provide a real-terms increase to Universal Credit payments would see those “most exposed” to inflationary pressures hit with a further fall in their spending power, “following a decade of real-terms freezes or cuts.”
“Whilst the measures announced will go？ some way to alleviating the crisis for many families, it is worth putting in context the more negligible impact they will have for the most vulnerable,” he added.
Matt Mathers 24 March 2022 15:02
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