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News from Boris Johnson – live: MPs support prime minister for fine, supporting dishonesty and breaking the law, says Ed Davy

Partygate: Boris Johnson claims he “didn’t think” he was breaking the rules #

Conservative MPs supporting Boris Johnson after he was fined by police for breaking Covid laws approved of dishonesty and breaking the law, Ed Davy suggested.

The Liberal Democrat leader said the prime minister should resign as a “matter of principle” after he and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, received fixed notifications of penalties for attending a meeting for Mr Johnson’s birthday in the cabinet in June 2020. d.

“Conservative MPs who are involved in programs like this and support the prime minister are essentially linking the whole party to this violation of the law, this dishonesty,” Mr Davey told Sky News.

“Everyone is guilty now,” he added. Both the prime minister and the chancellor have refused to step down over the Partygate scandal.

Earlier, Judge Nigel Mills became the first Tory MP to call on Johnson to resign.

“I don’t think the prime minister can survive or should survive by violating the rules he introduced… He’s fined, I don’t think his position is resilient.”

Key points

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The party № 10 that Matt is investigating

Scotland Yard investigates Downing Street celebrations on certain dates, but not on others. Lizzie Deardon explains:

Jane Dalton April 13, 2022 16:49

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Any “violation” of the ministerial code is a matter for the prime minister’s independent adviser, says the Labor MP

Any potential breach of the ministerial code is a matter for Boris Hyde’s independent adviser, Lord Hyde, Chris Bryant said.

Opposition parties say the prime minister violated the code by “lying” to parliament about the Partygate scandal.

The Ronda Labor MP in Wales, who chairs the Municipal Standards Committee, said the committee had no power to sanction the prime minister for violating the Covid Act.

Lord Hyde is an independent government adviser on ministerial interests who is appointed by the Prime Minister and reports to him.

Writing on Twitter, Bryant suggested that the only possible way for Mr Johnson to be removed is if Tory MPs call for a vote of no confidence in him.

He said he suspected that at least 80 Tories wanted Johnson to leave, “but they will not vote for it yet.”

Matter Mathers April 13, 2022 4:08 p.m.

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Voter registration applications are pending local elections

Applications to vote in next month’s election jumped ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

Local elections are being held on 5 May in all four countries in the United Kingdom

A total of 28,273 applications were submitted on Tuesday, government figures show.

This is twice the daily average for the year so far and the highest for one day since last fall.

Craig Westwood, director of communications for the Electoral Commission, said: “It’s only a matter of hours before you register to vote before the May election.

“If you want to make sure your voice is heard and you’re not registered yet, it’s really important to go online and register now at gov.uk/registertovote.

“It only takes five minutes – so the next time you wait for the kettle to boil, you can register to vote. All you need is your name, date of birth and national insurance number.”

Mat Matters April 13, 2022 3:45 p.m.

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How leaders in Scotland, Wales and NI respond well to Johnson

Wales’ first Labor minister, Mark Drakeford, and Plaid Cymru leader Liz Saville have called for Johnson to leave, according to Adam Forest.

In Northern Ireland, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has refused to join calls for Johnson to resign. “I welcome the fact that the prime minister apologized.

Shin Fein leader in Stormont, Michelle O’Neill, has refused to be drawn to Mr Johnson’s future. “Boris Johnson’s position is a matter for the Tories and the British public,” she said.

In Scotland, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar have called for the prime minister to step down.

But Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said the prime minister was a truthful man – but said he “should explain” his previous allegations of breaking the rules in the municipalities.

Matt Mothers April 13, 2022 3:30 p.m.

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Sny Fein: Boris Johnson’s future is a matter for the Tories

Speaking during a visit to a family center in North Belfast, Ms O’Neill said: “Well, Boris Johnson’s position is a matter for the Tories and the British public, and I’m sure they will make their own judgments. over time. ”

The leader of Sinn Féin in Stormont and former Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Michel O’Neill refused to be involved when asked about the future of Boris Johnson.

Mat Matters April 13, 2022 3:15 p.m.

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Lord Frost gives ministers only “B +” to benefit from Brexit – and insists that protocol “cannot survive”

Former Brexit minister Lord David Frost has rewarded the government with only a “B +” for reaping the “benefits” of living outside the EU – saying ministers now need to do more to achieve this.

The man who negotiated the Brexit deal of Boris Johnson, who left the cabinet in December, described his own implementation of the agreement as worthy of an “A”. But he acknowledged that the public wanted to see more “payback”.

Our political reporter Adam Forest tells the story:

Matt Mothers April 13, 2022 3:00 p.m.

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Breakup: ‘Insufficient Evidence’ to prosecute two people suspected of leaking video surveillance of Matt Hancock’s kiss

The Office of the Commissioner for Information (ICO) has found insufficient evidence to prosecute two people suspected of illegally obtaining and revealing CCTV footage of Matt Hancock kissing his former aide, Gina Colalangelo.

The regulator launched a criminal investigation after receiving a report of personal data breach from the video surveillance operator of DHSC, EMCOR Group plc.

My colleague Thomas Kingsley has more details:

Mat Matters April 13, 2022 2:47 p.m.

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Chris Mason will replace Laura Queensberg as the BBC’s political editor

Chris Mason has been named the new political editor of BBC News

The 41-year-old will take over from Laura Cuensberg next month after spending more than a decade as a political correspondent on television.

He said: “What a great privilege to take on what, for me, is the most extraordinary job in British broadcasting and journalism.

“I climb on the shoulders of giants like Laura, Nick (Robinson) and Andrew (Mar) with a little trepidation and a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.

“Leading the best team of business journalists in the best news section of the batch is something I never even dared to dream of. I can’t wait to get started.

Mat Matters April 13, 2022 2:40 p.m.

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Douglas Ross: The Prime Minister is a truthful man

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said the prime minister was a truthful man, but stressed that he needed to explain the circumstances surrounding his recent police fine to the House of Commons.

Earlier, one of the Conservative leaders, calling for Boris Johnson to leave, Ross now says he must argue that the situation in Ukraine requires a stable government in the United Kingdom.

On BBC Radio Scotland on Wednesday, the Scottish leader was asked if he believed the prime minister was a truthful man.

“Yes, he is also dealing with the situation in Ukraine and the situation at home here,” Mr Ross said.

Mat Matters April 13, 2022 2:25 p.m.

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Take my father home, Morad Tahbaz’s daughter called on the government

The daughter of a British-American citizen detained by Iran organized a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling on the UK government to bring her father home.

66-year-old wildlife advocate Morad Tahbaz was returned to custody after being released on leave last month, the day charity worker Nazanin Zagari-Ratcliffe and retired civil engineer Anusheh Ashuri were released.

His daughter Roxana said her family was led to believe that he would be involved in any deal agreed at the time, along with the two dual citizens.

But she said she felt abandoned by the UK government and her father is now in prison again.

Ms Tahbaz said her mother had also been banned from traveling by Iranian authorities.

Speaking at a protest in front of the Office for Foreign Affairs, Community and Development (FCDO) on Wednesday morning, she told the PA news agency: “We are here today because it has been a month since Nazanin and Anusheh returned and my father he is still in prison and my mother is still banned from traveling.

“So we hope that the press and the media will help us call on the government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Liz) Truss to keep his promise and bring it home to us so that we can reunite as a family.

Matt Mathers13 April 2022 14:10