T
Conservative MPs on Thursday called for Boris Johnson to step down as pressure on the prime minister grows after the release of Sue Gray’s party report.
John Baron, Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, said this morning that he could no longer give the Prime Minister “the benefit of the doubt”.
He said: “The most serious charge against the Prime Minister is to knowingly deceive parliament. Given the scale of non-compliance with the number 10 rule, I cannot accept that the Prime Minister was not aware “.
His comments were soon followed by Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner MP David Simmonds, who asked Mr. Johnson to resign “so that the new leadership can carry out the important work of the government to ensure that our people and our country prosper.”
Later on Thursday, MP Stephen Hammond of Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden and Motspur Park sent a letter of censure to Sir Graham Brady.
READ MORE
Julian Sturdy, a Member of Parliament for York Outer, became the first to call for the resignation of the Prime Minister on Wednesday following the publication of Mrs Gray’s report.
It came when Rishi Sunak announced an extraordinary tax on energy companies and an additional £ 15bn in household support in a statement to the Commons on the cost of living crisis.
The chancellor said the government would offer “significant support to the British people”, with soaring inflation and energy bills rising by another £ 800 in the fall by the millions.
The discount on the energy bill will double to £ 400 in the fall and will be in the form of a subsidy, rather than a bonus due to the 25 per cent tax on energy companies.
Live updates
Show latest updates 1653584832
The Treasury Minister admits that the Sunak tax is an extraordinary tax
A finance minister admitted that the tax announced by the chancellor on oil and gas companies was an extraordinary tax, and Rishi Sunak avoided calling it so during his appearance before the commons.
Simon Clarke, Secretary-General of the Treasury, told BBC Radio 4’s PM: “It’s an extraordinary tax, but it’s crucially an extraordinary tax with a built-in investment bonus element to really encourage the investment we want to see. in the new North Sea oil and gas production.
“I think this is a carefully calibrated offer.”
Asked about Conservatives’ criticism of the new tax, Clarke said: “There is a long history of such measures, even in relatively recent times.
“George Osborne started an extraordinary tax in 2011, Margaret Thatcher set one in 1981 and Labor I think also in 1997.
“The thing is, when you start it, you have to be very careful that it doesn’t have perverse effects and perverse consequences as a result, and that’s something we’ve done.”
1653581305
Deputy Prime Minister Spokesman Jamie Davies apologizes for lying to reporters about 10th party
The deputy prime minister’s official spokesman has apologized for not telling reporters the truth about parties breaking the rules on Downing Street.
Jamie Davies was also asked if he would talk to former 10th official Allegra Stratton after she left the government for a leaked recording of a mock press conference.
You could hear Mr. Davies jokingly said that an event “was not a party, it was cheese and wine”.
The weeping Allegra Stratton resigns amid shouts over the leaked video of her joke about the Downing Street “party”
He told reporters: “I don’t think it would be right for me to use this platform to talk about myself, obviously we are here to speak on behalf of the Prime Minister, but we apologized this morning and I echoed that. Sorry. ”
When asked how they can be trusted, Mr. Davies said: “We’ve always tried to answer the questions as best we can, as we’ve said that we accept that we should have taken the time to establish the full facts from the beginning. That’s what Sue has done. Gray now, and I echo the apology you heard this morning. “
He declined to say whether any members of the Downing Street press room had been disciplined by the scandal.
1653581196
Rishi Sunak said he respects the Met’s decision to beat him with a party fine
The chancellor said he respected the decision of the metropolitan police to fine him for violating the blocking rules by attending Boris Johnson’s surprise birthday party in Downing Street in June 2020.
Asked by broadcasters during a visit to B&Q in Watford if he felt unfairly treated as Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was not fined for attending the same event, Rishi Sunak said: “I respect the police, who have concluded the his research.
“I paid the fine and I am deeply and sincerely sorry for the harm and anger this has caused me.
“And I’m doing my best to focus on the work I have at a time when it’s a challenge for the country.”
1653580662
Government accused of using cost-of-living package as “cover fire for Boris Johnson and his shameful role at the party”
The government has been accused of using Rishi Sunak’s cost-of-living package to distract and deviate from Sue Gray’s report on the “partygate” scandal.
The Deputy Leader in the Shadow of the House of Lords, Lord Collins of Highbury, asked: “Why are only measures being taken now?
“Many will see this as an attempt to save the Prime Minister’s blush after the release of the Gray report, which we debated last night, rather than a sign that the government is on its side.”
Baroness Kramer, a spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrat Liberals in the economy, echoed that sentiment.
She said: “Today’s chancellor’s announcements, including the U-changes on the Extraordinary Profit Tax and the increase in profits, basically cover the fire for Boris Johnson and his embarrassing role in Partygate.
“The moment gives it away; “People have been suffering from a cost of living crisis for much of this winter, making a horrible personal decision about eating and warming up, and they need that help.”
1653578149
The deputy sends a letter of censure
Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, Raynes Park, Morden and Motspur Park, has sent a letter of censure to the Prime Minister.
The MP becomes the fourth to withdraw his support for the Prime Minister since the release of Sue Gray’s report.
1653577828
The Conservative MP warns that “raising corporate taxes” is not the conservative way
Conservative MP Richard Drax told the Commons: “I can warn you (Rishi Sunak) that throwing red meat at socialists by raising taxes on companies and telling them where to invest their money is not the conservative way to encourage they create our prosperity and jobs to do just that.
“And do you agree with me that by setting this bar, we run the risk – if we ever lose power – of allowing the Socialists to lift it, which they would gladly do, over and over and over again?”
The chancellor replied: “I believe that a pragmatic and compassionate Conservative government would act to support the most vulnerable in a time of great need, and a fiscally responsible government would try to fund it as much as possible in the fairest way possible. possible “.
1653577437
The US-UK trade deal is “highly desirable,” says one official
A trade deal with the UK remains “highly desirable”, but could be risky because of the threat to the Northern Ireland protocol, Richard Neal said.
Speaking in Northern Ireland on Thursday, the US official said: “The threat to the trade deal is a consequence of the perceived unilateral action that the UK suggested they could use.
“I don’t think it’s been well known anywhere. Again, unilateralism in general means you have a winner and a loser where you would prefer a negotiated outcome where you only have winners.”
1653575385
Met’s acting commissioner responds to Sadiq Khan
Met Police Acting Commissioner Stephen Stephen House has responded to Sadiq Khan after the mayor asked the official to explain the force’s investigation into Cvoid’s breaches.
1653573314
The head of the Met defends not fining the PM for attending the outing party
Acting Met Police Commissioner Sir Stephen House has defended not fining the prime minister for attending a drink for then-communications director Lee Cain.
Commenting on Operation Hillman, Sir Stephen said the investigation was done with “integrity”.
“The explanations given in the questionnaire were carefully considered,” he said.
“Some meetings we decided weren’t work-related, and some we decided were work-related.”
Sir Stephen then concluded: “We also included consideration of the nature of the meeting, the different stages of the meeting and the amount of time spent there, as I said with any participant and critically cross-referenced. to the evidence to identify whether or not the individual, in full consideration of all the facts we had, including his or her own account, had a reasonable excuse for his or her participation in the meeting.
“If the case was taken to court, that is, if we issued a notice of fixed sanction and it was denied and someone said no, I want to go to court, then we had the evidence that we thought would give us a realistic perspective. ‘a conviction
“I think the decisions my agents made were based on facts and were appropriate.”
1653572379
Downing Street bans infamous “wine time Friday”
Downing Street’s infamous “Wine Fridays” have been banned after Sue Gray’s party report revealed that government staff “drank excessively” at events.
The staff of the press office no. 10 was helping to prepare bottles of wine in his office on the last day of the week.
The “WTF” meetings took place before and during the pandemic.
A confinement meeting in the office caused red wine to be seen on a wall and on photocopier paper, while another saw someone sick and a fight broke out.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the events had been “banned” now “because alcohol is not allowed for staff” …