Boris Johnson – live: Tory MP calls on PM to step down as ministerial code ripped up & More Trending News

Boris Johnson’s former chief aide has claimed he was not requested for proof by the Metropolitan Police after they had been investigating gatherings held in Whitehall throughout lockdown.

Dominic Cummings, who held the position of de facto chief of employees in Downing Street till his departure in November 2020, said he additionally had not acquired a effective, regardless of Sue Gray’s report stating he attended two occasions.

Questioned by a journalist on Twitter if he acquired a Fixed Penalty Notice from the power, he replied: “No, didn’t even send a questionnaire or email asking for evidence.”

Isobel Frodsham has extra:

“Good, hard-working and law-abiding Conservatives feel ashamed” by Boris Johnson’s complicity within the string of lockdown-breaking events held in No 10, a Tory MP has mentioned.

Alice Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, who had already mentioned in January that Mr Johnson now not enjoys her confidence, additionally accused the prime minister of getting “contempt and disregard” for the numerous sacrifices made by her constituents and the broader British public over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Posting on Facebook this afternoon, Ms Kearns mentioned: “It is wrong that families were banned from saying goodbye to their dying loved ones, whilst the prime minister was complicit in the holding of many goodbye parties for his staff, which we now know displayed a complete disregard for restrictions and were complete with vomiting, fighting and bullying.”

She provides: “This protracted affair has brought our government and my party into disrepute. It has made good, hard-working and law-abiding Conservatives feel ashamed and has been a complete distraction from the many challenges we should be focused on at this difficult time.

“There are broader issues with the culture that breeds under this regime in Parliament, from the shameful lengths some will pursue to preserve this premiership, to some of the individuals and actions permitted to continue under it.

“My position remains unchanged since January, and the prime minister continues not to hold my confidence.”

Ms Kearns’ assertion is out there to learn in full right here.

In an interview with The Independent, Rachel Reeves claimed the system’s design was a results of the chancellor’s help bundle being “cobbled together at the last minute” and amid damaging Partygate headlines.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has this unique report:

The Bromley and Chislehurst MP mentioned that this week’s Partygate report by senior civil servant Sue Gray had uncovered “wholly unacceptable” behaviour inside 10 Downing Street which had undermined belief in authorities.

And he mentioned: “Trust is the most important commodity in politics, but these events have undermined trust in not just the office of the prime minister, but in the political process itself. To rebuild that trust and move on, a change in leadership is required.”

Here’s extra from our political editor Andrew Woodcock:

Veteran Tory MP Sir Bob Neill has referred to as for prime minister Boris Johnson to stop within the wake of Sue Gray’s report.

In a press release posted to his web site, Sir Bob mentioned that as these the “set the rules”, politicians have a “particular responsibility to stick to them ourselves.”

He continues: “Since the start of this episode, I have been very clear that I would wait for the conclusion of any police investigation and the publication of Sue Gray’s full report before making a judgement.

“My years as a lawyer have taught me not to come to conclusions without the fullest possible evidence. I have been equally clear that we cannot have one rule for those working in government and a different one for everyone else.”

Sir Bob provides: “Sue Gray’s report has highlighted a pattern of wholly unacceptable behaviour, spread over a number of months, by some working in 10 Downing Street, including breaking rules that caused real pain and hardship for many, and which the government, and we as parliamentarians, were telling others to live by.

“I have listened carefully to the explanations the Prime Minister has given, in Parliament and elsewhere, and, regrettably, do not find his assertions to be credible. That is why, with a heavy heart, I submitted a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady on Wednesday afternoon.”

He concludes: “Trust is the most important commodity in politics, but these events have undermined trust in not just the office of the prime minister, but in the political process itself. To rebuild that trust and move on, a change in leadership is required.”

It seems to be seemingly Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer won’t be fined for the so-called ‘Beergate’ occasion held in Durham within the spring of 2020, stories declare.

Sources advised Mail Plus it’s “highly unlikely” Sir Keir will face retrospective motion except a “game-changing smoking gun” emerges.

It comes after Sir Keir confronted allegations from opponents {that a} beer-and-curry gathering in Durham in April final yr breached lockdown guidelines.

Labour insisted the meals was consumed between work occasions, that means it was inside the guidelines regardless of the ban on indoor socialising.

But the Labour chief confronted contemporary questions after a leaked memo urged the takeaway was deliberate, with no additional work apparently scheduled after dinner.

The PM’s former chief aide Dominic Cummings has mentioned he was not requested for proof by the Metropolitan Police after they had been investigating the lockdown-busting gatherings held in Downing Street.

Mr Cummings, who held the position of de facto chief of employees in No 10 till his departure in November 2020, said he additionally had not acquired a effective, regardless of Sue Gray’s report stating he attended two occasions.

Asked by a journalist on Twitter if he had acquired a hard and fast penalty discover from the power, he replied: “No, didn’t even send a questionnaire or email asking for evidence.”

The Met Police, which has all the time said it could not identify those that had been fined or despatched questionnaires due to nationwide steerage, declined to remark to The Independent’s request.