All you need to know about Boris Johnson’s return as he defends himself over Partygate March 22, 2023 Boris Johnson will be grilled by the Privileges Committee on Wednesday as he aims to defend himself against claims he lied to Parliament over the partygate scandal. The former prime minister is expected to offer a robust defence when he appears before MPs to give evidence. Before the highly anticipated session, here is what you [...]
Brexit: Boris Johnson set to vote against Rishi Sunak’s Windsor framework as PM facing Tory resistance March 22, 2023 Boris Johnson has said he will vote against Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal. The former prime minister, who had already voiced concerns about the deal brokered with Brussels, confirmed that he will not be backing the deal when MPs vote on the Stormont brake in the Commons later on Wednesday. In a statement, Mr Johnson said: [...]
Boris Johnson claims reason for partygate fines ‘remains unclear’ March 21, 2023 Boris Johnson has claimed it “remains unclear” to him – and possibly to Rishi Sunak – why they were fined for breaching lockdown laws after the Met Police investigation into partygate. The former prime minister has released his defence dossier ahead of a marathon evidence session before the cross-party parliamentary privileges committee tomorrow. In the [...]
Europe’s banks post strong gains as Janet Yellen is set to signal further support for US banks March 21, 2023 European Bank stocks continued to recover today as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to signal further support for regional US lenders. Europe’s largest banks were all firmly in the green around midday. BNP Paribas rose 3.9 per cent, Deutsche Bank was up 5.2 per cent, while UniCredit and Santander climbed 6.3 per cent [...]
Boris Johnson admits misleading Parliament over Partygate but says it was ‘unintentional’ March 21, 2023 Boris Johnson has denied “intentionally” misleading parliament over alleged breaches of lockdown rules during parties at 10 Downing Street. Johnson acknowledged his claims to MPs, that Covid rules had been “followed at all times,” did not “turn out to be correct.” However, the former prime minister denied deliberately misleading parliament, as he claimed he immediately [...]
Hunt must commit Treasury and BoE to review of rate rise impact, Labour shadow City minister urges March 21, 2023 Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has been urged to commit the Treasury and the Bank of England to a review of “sharp interest rate rises” in light of the ongoing banking turmoil. Shockwaves have rocked the financial sector in the past weeks with the collapse of the US arm of tech bank SVB – plus the buyout [...]
Bacon in Muslim officer’s shoes and rape kits in fridges: Five shocking takeaways about the Met from the Casey Review March 21, 2023 London’s Met Police force has been found to be “institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic” by a blistering landmark review. Crossbench peer Baroness Louise Casey was commissioned to look into culture and standards at the Met after the murder of Sarah Everard by serving cop Wayne Couzens. Her review – which has been branded “damning” by [...]
Sadiq Khan: Climate deniers will be ’emboldened’ if ULEZ expansion fails March 20, 2023 London’s ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) expansion is now a “key frontier” in the global fight against climate change, Sadiq Khan has said. The mayor of London has called on the environmental lobby to come out more strongly in favour of the controversial policy, saying climate change deniers will be “emboldened” if it fails. Speaking at [...]
‘Nothing changed since Stephen Lawrence’s murder’: Backbench Tory MP calls for Met to be ‘abolished’ March 20, 2023 The Met Police should be “abolished” after failing to change since the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence, a Conservative MP has suggested in the wake of a blistering report. Baroness Louise Casey branded the Met “institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic” and warned cops like killer Wayne Couzens and rapist David Carrick may still be in [...]
‘No limits friendship’: Why is China premier Xi in Moscow – and can he help end Russia’s war in Ukraine? March 20, 2023 Chinese leader Xi Jinping has arrived in Moscow on a three-day visit that shows off Beijing’s new diplomatic swagger and offers a welcome political lift for Russian President Vladimir Putin as the fighting in Ukraine slows to a grinding war of attrition. China and Russia have described Mr Xi’s trip as part of efforts to [...]