Partygate: Johnson is not facing further action while the police investigation is over
Sue Gray reportedly wants to name government officials accused of violating Covid’s rules in her long-awaited report on the Partygate scandal.
As complaints surfaced that the public remained “in the dark” over who was actually involved in the 10 parties after the capital’s police completed their investigation, the BBC reported that Ms Gray’s desire to name could delay her own report, which is expected since early next week.
Downing Street officials fined for attending the same blocking parties as Boris Johnson reacted angrily after the prime minister escaped additional sanctions, while some junior officials amassed up to five fines, with some legal experts questioning The “inconsistency” of the fines.
“It’s a joke,” a No. 10 source told The Independent, saying the prime minister had “told people to” let go of their hair “and enjoy their drinks, which they won for fighting the virus. ““.
Speaking about Mr Johnson’s attitude towards the saga, they added: “He is a man of little or no integrity.”
Key points
Show the latest update 1653044354
Ireland opposes UK violating international law on NI protocol, said Liz Truss
The Irish Foreign Secretary said he had “made it clear” to Liz Truss that the Irish Government was opposed to the UK’s violation of international law.
Following a meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary this morning to discuss ongoing concerns over the Northern Ireland Protocol, Simon Cowney called on the UK to “return to negotiations with the EU”.
Earlier, he said he called on the British government to “move away” from threats of unilateral violations of international law and “damage to international relations”, saying Brussels “remains ready to negotiate pragmatic solutions”.
Ms Truss promised to publish a legal statement soon on her plan to repeal parts of the protocol and insisted that the United Kingdom would not violate international law under the plans.
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 11:59
1653043514
Former Governor of Bank of England warns UK must prepare for “very unpleasant period”
The cost of living crisis is partly a “failure of the economic profession”, said a former governor of the Bank of England, warning that the United Kingdom must prepare for a “very unpleasant period”.
In an interview with Sky News, Mervyn King said monetary policy was “too loose” and “should be tightened” as he criticized the decision of central banks – not excluding the Bank of England – to print hundreds of billions of pounds and dollars during of the pandemic.
“When you get an intellectual error in politics and allow inflation to rise if you are then affected by bad luck – which happened in the 1970s and is happening now – it becomes a very unpleasant result. Difficult actions are required. And this is not a pleasant period that we will have to go through, “he said.
Lord King added: “They didn’t have to print the extra money; what governments were doing was enough to deal with the consequences of Covid. They are now worried about inflation, when they were not before … [But] not everything is the result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was predictable because there was a misdiagnosis of what to do with the pandemic.
He warned that “significant” interest rate hikes are now needed to prevent a repeat of the 1970s.
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 11:45
1653042632
Nadhim Zahaui “looks very carefully” at how he helps schools with energy bills
The education minister reportedly said he was “looking very carefully” to give schools more money for growing food and energy bills.
Commenting by Matt Chorley of Times Radio, Nadim Zahawi said energy costs for out-of-contract schools could rise from 1.4 percent of their budgets to as much as 10 percent.
“We have little headroom, but we are not complacent,” he said.
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 11:30 a.m.
1653041865
Cost of living: Answer your questions about inflation, energy bills and food prices
Although we all know how rising prices affect us, many questions probably remain.
What is actually causing this situation, how is it allowed to happen and what can be done to alleviate it in the short term as well as to protect ourselves in the future?
Independent business reporter Ben Chapman will hold a live “Ask Me Everything” session at 1 p.m. on Monday. To participate, register, then ask your questions in the comments section of this article:
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 11:17
1653041231
Boris Johnson “lies on an industrial scale,” says Sir Ed Davy
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey accused Boris Johnson of telling “industrial-scale lies”.
Asked by BBC Breakfast if he believed the prime minister had deliberately misled parliament, Sir Ed said: “I am absolutely sure he did. He did it not just once, but many times.
“And for those of us who have to listen to him week after week, we see a prime minister lying on an industrial scale. I have been in the parliament under many different beliefs, I have never known a prime minister who … ”
Interrupted by the observation that it was a strong accusation, he said: “Yes, I do. And I stand by that. And I’m not the only one. “
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 11:07
1653039709
Sue Gray “Wants to Identify Number 10 Violators”
Sue Gray wants to name government officials accused of violating Covid’s rules in her long-awaited report on the Partygate scandal, according to the BBC.
The senior civil servant contacts those he wants to name, and if those individuals object to what is being said about them, this could delay the publication, according to the airwaves.
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 10:41
1653038401
Oil and gas operators are “really worried” about unforeseen tax calls
Many North Sea operators other than BP are “really worried” that an unforeseen tax could affect their investments, said a body representing the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry.
“The supply chain relies on the work of operators,” Offshore Energies CEO Deirdre Mickey told Times Radio.
“They are really worried that if an investment from the operators starts to withdraw, it will undermine the projects they hope to achieve, and that’s where the jobs start to go.
“This is a supply chain that has jobs. In addition, he has the expertise and skills that will be at the heart of the energy transition. We must have no doubt that all gas companies, their supply chain, will push the energy transition forward. “
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 10:20 p.m.
1653037511
Tories “suggest it might be better to lose the next election”
Numerous reports this morning suggest that some Conservatives in private have suggested that their party may be better off losing the next general election.
Citing talks with “half a dozen Tory politicians”, including “a few people who would be good bets on a seat in the cabinet for a while in the next decade”, The Spectator reports that the prevailing view is that “winning next time would really be gloomy: a Tory administration with a small majority and no ideas, stumbling through a fifth term, is a completely uninspiring prospect even for some conservatives.
In The Times, the political editor of the same magazine, James Forsythe, also reported that “some Tories are beginning to whisper heretical thought,” especially in light of “anemic economic growth forecasts for the first half of the next parliament.”
According to both reports, these Conservatives believe that a progressive pact between Labor and a potential SNP could be a likely option in the event of a Tory defeat that they say “will struggle to survive more than one term”.
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 10:05
1653036378
Sinn Fein accuses the DUP of “denying democracy” over the Brexit protocol
Sinn Féin accused the DUP of denying democracy by refusing to enter the Northern Ireland government in protest of the post-Brexit trade protocol agreed by Boris Johnson in 2020.
Speaking before his meeting with Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin in Belfast, Sinn Fein Vice President Michel O’Neill said he “has a very important role to play in co-sponsoring our peace agreement and should therefore play the role of governor”.
She added: “At a time when democracy is being denied, at a time when the DUP continues to prevent the facilitation of the formation of the executive branch, an executive branch that can start producing results for the public, I think it is important for it to be here. to stand up for his role and listen to all parties.
“There are parties here that want to be in government together, there are parties that want to be in the executive branch, but unfortunately the DUP, sponsored by the British government, is holding back all this progress and preventing us from starting to put money in our pockets. people. “
Andy Gregory May 20, 2022 09:46
1653036097
The United Kingdom has moved “too far unilaterally” under the NI protocol, warns the Prime Minister of Ireland
Boris Johnson’s government has moved “too far unilaterally” on its approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, warned Taosich Michael Martin.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with political leaders in Belfast today, the Irish prime minister said the idea that the EU was “inflexible” was simply “not true”, accusing the UK government of approaching “our way or not”.
“I believe that the current UK government has moved too far unilaterally on issues, be it legacy or protocol. In my opinion, this is not entirely in line with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, which includes cooperation, joint work, “he said.
As the DUP still refuses to enter the power-sharing institutions in Stormont in protest of the post-Brexit trade protocol, Mr Martin warned: “We cannot have …
Add Comment