Boris Johnson news: PM not among first 20 fined for Partygate, as No 10 refuses to
Jacob Rees-Mogg defends calling Partygate row ‘fluff’
Downing Street has confirmed that Boris Johnson has not yet been informed whether he is to be fined over lockdown-breaking parties he allegedly attended.
Asked if Mr Johnson had received a fixed penalty notice (FPN), his official spokesman said: “No – no change” and that the prime minister will only comment at the conclusion of the process.
Downing Street also continues to refuse to accept the law had been broken, despite the Met issuing 20 FPNs.
It comes as former Whitehall ethics chief Helen MacNamara has been reportedly been fined in connection with a party held during lockdown.
Controversial comments by the Brexit opportunities minister were heard this morning as he defended his dismissal of the partygate row as “fluff” saying it was “not the most important issue in the world” in the context of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis.
Jacob Rees-Mogg acknowledged that people were “undeniably cross” but insisted that Boris Johnson had not misled parliament, suggesting the PM had been given “wrong information”.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talks non-disclosure agreements and sexual harassment
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said “nobody” in the party would be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement after making an accusation of sexual harassment.
When asked about reports of the practice within Labour, Sir Keir said: “I cannot comment on the individual cases. What I can say is nobody in the Labour Party is asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement in relation to sexual harassment.
“That is against our policy.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 15:17
UK should drill ‘every last drop’ of North Sea oil and gas, says Jacob Rees-Mogg
My colleague Adam Forrest reports.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 15:05
‘Who cares if wind farms are an ‘eyesore’, Mr Shapps?’
“After business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced a significant push for renewable and nuclear energy, Grant Shapps sounded a note of caution that wind farms are an ‘eyesore’.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 14:53
Sir Keir Starmer says the country needs an ‘energy strategy’- not ‘energy rationing’
Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK needs a proper energy strategy from the Government rather than going “cap in hand” to dictators.
Asked by broadcasters whether his shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was right to agree over the weekend that the country needed to prepare for energy rationing, Sir Keir said: “We don’t need energy rationing. We do need an energy strategy.
“And going from one dictator in Russia for your oil and gas, cap in hand to another dictator in Saudi Arabia is not an energy strategy.
“We need a strategy that is fast-forwarding on renewables and on nuclear, retrofitting so that we can actually keep our houses and our homes warmer.
“That is the strategy, the security strategy, that we need for this country and we don’t have it from this Government.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 14:38
Putin’s ‘barbaric’ actions leave UK ‘in no doubt’ further sanctions needed, No 10 says
Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 14:20
Average nursery place cost soars by nearly £1,500 in five years – Labour says
The average annual cost of a nursery place for children under two has risen by nearly £1,500 in five years, putting a strain on working families, Labour has claimed.
The Independent has more here:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 14:05
Energy supplier gives out free electric blankets to customers as heating bills soar
As British households struggle with rising electricity and gas bills, Octopus Energy has been praised for handing out 5,000 free electric blankets to its customers to help them keep warm.
My colleague Joe Sommerlad has more:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 13:50
Sunak’s popularity plummets in new Cabinet survey
As the cost of living crisis gets tougher by the day, the chancellor’s popularity takes a hit according to a survey charting the views of the Tory grassroots.
My colleague Adam Forrest reports.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 13:40
ICYMI-Welsh secretary said world has ‘moved on’ from Partygate saga
In case you missed it, MP Simon Hart told Sky News this morning that he thinks the world “has moved on a considerable distance” from Partygate.
Mr Hart said his 65,000 constituents in west Wales want “contrition” and an apology but “they don’t want a resignation”.
#NotMovingOn has been trending on Twitter in response to the minister’s comments.
My colleague Adam Forrest has more:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 April 2022 13:25
Government acted ‘to save both lives and livelihood’ during the pandemic
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think at all times the Government took action to save both lives and…
Read More:Boris Johnson news: PM not among first 20 fined for Partygate, as No 10 refuses to