#prime-minister-boris-johnson

#prime-minister-boris-johnson

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has resigned as an MP and announced he is stepping down with immediate effect.In a lengthy statement the ex-PM accused a Commons investigation of attempting to "drive me out".Mr Johnson first became and MP in 2001, representing the constituency of Henley in Oxfordshire, since then he went on to become the Mayor of London, MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and then the prime minister.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Downing Street staff were not touching each other's pens but did pass drinks at work events during Covid lockdown.Johnson has said he would not pretend guidance was "enforced rigidly", but adds "that's explicitly what the guidance provides for".

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said there were some "extremely peculiar" aspects to the privileges committee hearing about Partygate claims.Johnson told chairman Harriet Harman she had made "prejudicial" comments but added he trusted her impartiality.He told MPs that he "emphatically" did not set out to deceive MPs when he denied claims about lockdown gatherings in Downing Street.

The Commons Privileges Committee will quiz former prime minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday.They'll ask if when he made these comments, he inadvertently, recklessly or intentionally misled Parliament
Mr Johnson accepts that some of his statements about lockdown parties at Downing Street turned out to be incorrect, but insists that he did not mislead MPs on purpose.

Labour's Angela Rayner called Boris Johnson's resignation honours list a sickening insult.Former prime minister Boris Johnson has nominated close allies for knighthoods and damehoods in his resignation honours list.Those put forward for a knighthood include former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg, former housing secretary Simon Clarke and MPs Conor Burns and Michael Fabricant.

Saturday's newspapers are led by the resignation of BBC chairman Richard Sharp.The Guardian, Financial Times and The Independent all report how Mr Sharp's resignation came after he was found to have broken the rules by failing to disclose his role in helping former Prime Minister Boris Johnson secure a loan guarantee.

The media industry has reacted to the resignation of Richard Sharp as the chair of the BBC.The former Tory donor, 67, was found to have broken the rules by failing to disclose he played a role in getting then-prime minister Boris Johnson an 800,000 loan guarantee.On Friday, Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said Mr Sharp had lost the dressing room at the BBC over the long-running probe into his breach of appointment rules.

Rishi Sunak is expected to address a conference of Conservatives in the north of England later, as senior Tories seek signs of Government commitment to levelling up pledges.The Prime Minister, fresh from his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington, is expected in Doncaster on Friday afternoon for the Northern Research Group conference.

Rishi Sunak's government was plunged into an extraordinary row over Boris Johnson's Whatsapp messages when the official Covid inquiry threatened legal action over its refusal to share details.The Cabinet Office has so far refused to hand over unredacted copies of the former prime minister's diary entries, WhatsApp messages and emails, prompting the head of the public inquiry to warn of possible criminal sanctions.

Political correspondent, BBC News

In the Commons, opposition MPs had lots of questions about Javad Marandi.What access to government ministers - if any - did his financial support for the Tories secure?Are diligence checks for accepting donations strong enough?Would the Tory party be returning Mr Marandi's money?

A director at Ofcom said the watchdog will be looking at GB News to see if the broadcaster is behaving itself following the channel breaching its broadcasting code with Covid claims for the second time.Adam Baxter, director of broadcasting standards at Ofcom, was speaking at the Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV) spring conference on Thursday when he was asked about the recent ruling.

Ms Gideon was elected with a majority of 670 in 2019, to a so-called "Red Wall" seat taken from Labour under prime minister Boris Johnson.She said she "came late to party politics", first running her partner's general election campaign in 2001 and joining her party's candidate list in 2002 before becoming a district councillor for more than a decade.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Rishi Sunak has signalled that tax cuts will not be announced in the Budget as his administration focuses on cutting the regressive tax of inflation.The Prime Minister said the Government's priority was reducing the rate of inflation and easing the cost-of-living crisis gripping Britain.

Ukraine and its allies will be at the whim of American voters once again next year if the winner of the US election is not as enthusiastic about defending democracy on the European continent as President Joe Biden has been over the last fifteen months.Former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner, has refused to say whether he believes Ukraine should win the war against Russia, and his main challenger, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has hedged on the conflict, describing Russia's unprovoked invasion as a territorial dispute.

Boris Johnson has been sent the findings of the Commons Partygate probe which will determine his future as an MP.The former prime minister has been given a draft of the Privileges Committee's report and has two weeks to respond.The committee will then consider Mr Johnson's response before giving a recommendation to Parliament on any potential sanctions.

Police are being urged to investigate after a video emerged of Boris Johnson allegedly not wearing a seatbelt in what appears to be a moving vehicle.In a video being widely shared on social media, the former prime minister is heard urging Derbyshire Conservatives ahead of Thursday's local elections to get as many people as possible to turn out and vote for us.

Former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng offered to facilitate setting up a meeting between a fake foreign firm and former prime minister Boris Johnson during a sting interview.Mr Kwarteng was caught up in a hoax organised by campaign group Led By Donkeys in which he was approached about providing political advice to a bogus company it alleged existed in South Korea.

Kwasi Kwarteng told a fake South Korean firm set up by campaign group Led by Donkeys that he could set up a meeting with great guy Boris Johnson.The former chancellor and ex-health secretary Matt Hancock were by both drawn in by the ruse and were caught on camera offering to work for the firm for thousands of pounds per day.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails The head of Ofcom has said the BBC needs to weigh freedom of expression with reputation for impartiality when reviewing its social media guidelines following the difficult episode with pundit Gary Lineker.

The husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has accused a film that portrays an attempt to kill former prime minister Boris Johnson of "normalising violence" against politicians.Killing Boris Johnson, which premieres at Cannes Film Festival this month, follows a main character who takes a gun to a primary school being visited by Mr Johnson after it was revealed parties were being held at Downing Street during lockdown.

One of the world's largest carmakers has said it will be unable to keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal.Stellantis the parent company of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat which employs more than 5,000 people in the UK told a Commons inquiry into supply of batteries for EV manufacture that their UK investments were in the balance due to the terms of the trade deal.

One of the world's largest carmakers has said it will be unable to keep their commitment to make electric vehicles in the UK without changes to the Brexit deal.Stellantis the parent company of Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat which employs more than 5,000 people in the UK told a Commons inquiry into supply of batteries for EV manufacture that their UK investments were in the balance due to the terms of the trade deal.

A top businessman named as a person of interest in a global money laundering investigation has been revealed as a major Tory donor.Javad Marandi, who was awarded an OBE for business and philanthropy, was identified after losing a 19-month legal battle to remain anonymous.He denies any wrongdoing and is not subject to criminal sanction.

More Britons should be trained as HGV drivers, fruit pickers and butchers so the UK does not have to rely on foreign workers to fill jobs, Suella Braverman will tell a Conservative conference on Monday.The home secretary will use a speech in London to say the UK mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves, claiming there is no need to depend on low-skilled foreign labour to fill vacancies in sectors such as haulage, butchering or farming.

Overall immigration to the UK must come down, Suella Braverman is set to tell a Conservative conference on Monday.The Home Secretary will use a speech in London to stress the need for the Tories to re-commit to the party's 2019 manifesto commitment, which on immigration promised fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down.

British talent Ben Whishaw and Kate Winslet have won the top acting prizes at the Bafta TV awards ceremony at Royal Festival Hall on Sunday evening.Winslet, 47, won the best actress award for her performance in Channel 4's drama I Am Ruth, which sees a mother and her real-life daughter Mia Threapleton work through emotional turmoil on-screen.

Rishi Sunak is disappointed by the decision of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to block Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky from addressing the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest.The body, which produces the event, said on Thursday night that it had declined Mr Zelensky's request to speak on Saturday over fears it could politicise the contest.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meet Ukrainian troops being trained to command Challenger 2 tanks at a military facility in Lulworth, Dorset in southern England on Feb. 8. (Andrew Matthews/AFP/Getty Images)Britain, which has prided itself on being ahead of its Western allies in introducing new weapons systems to Ukraine, now appears poised to send Kyiv the long-range missiles the Biden administration has long denied it.

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meet Friday in Paris for a summit aimed at mending relations following post-Brexit tensions, as well as improving military and business ties and toughening efforts against Channel migrant crossings.Are you on Telegram?Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine.

The King's coronation service at Westminster Abbey was watched by more than 18 million viewers in the UK, provisional figures have shown.The lavish ceremony on Saturday which saw Charles and Camilla crowned was broadcast simultaneously on a range of channels between about 11am and 1pm, including BBC One and Two, ITV and Sky News.

It is ludicrous to say Ukraine's Nato membership is provocative to Russia and the UK Government should support an application from Kyiv, former prime minister Boris Johnson has said.He told MPs the next meeting of Nato heads in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July will be an important test of the military alliance's willingness to fulfil its long-standing promises to Ukraine.

Richard Sharp has resigned as BBC chairman after becoming embroiled in a cronyism row.The former Goldman Sachs banker, 67, announced on Friday morning that he will stand down at the end of June after the findings of barrister Adam Heppinstall KC's review into his appointment were published.Here the PA news agency explains what led to his resignation.

Richard Sharp has resigned as BBC chairman after conceding a report found he breached the governance code for public appointments.He announced on Friday morning that he will stand down at the end of June after reading the findings of barrister Adam Heppinstall KC's review into his appointment, which has just been published.

Close BBC chair Richard Sharp discusses his donations to the Tories BBC chairman Richard Sharp is braced for a damning report into his appointment to the role after he helped facilitate an 800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson.The investigation by barrister Adam Heppinstall KC is expected to be published on Friday morning.

The BBC's savings target has increased by 40% to 400 million amid high inflation and a licence fee freeze.In its Annual Plan published on Thursday, the broadcaster said it was responding by cutting 1,000 hours of content commissions across its portfolio, among other measures.The BBC previously projected it needed to save 285 million by 2027/28 the end of the current charter period.

Former director-general Lord Birt has said presenters such as Gary Lineker who are inextricably bound up with an important BBC programme should have to abide by impartiality rules.The executive, who led the BBC between 1992 and 2000, appeared before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee as part of a session in the wake of the pundit and former England player's three-day suspension from Match Of The Day. Lineker was taken off by the BBC after posting a tweet in which he said the language used by the Government to promote its asylum plans was not dissimilar to 1930s Germany, but was returned following a boycott by top on-air talent.

Matt Hancock is not worth 10,000 a day, according to a minister and Tory colleague of the former health secretary.Chris Philp, policing minister, said the sight of Mr Hancock and other senior Conservatives offering to advise a fake Korean company for enormous daily sums was pretty unedifying.He was speaking as new footage was released of Sir Graham Brady, chair of the influential 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, telling an activist posing as an employee of Hanseong Consulting that he would work for around 500 an hour.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's anti-social behaviour crackdown features across Monday's front pages, along with an NHS recruitment drive and Harry Styles' public kiss with an American supermodel.The Daily Telegraph leads with the PM's crackdown on anti-social behaviour, including police being given new powers on beggars, allowing them to confront and move rough sleepers.

The BBC is facing some perception challenges, shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said as she announced that Labour is launching an independent review panel into the future direction of the broadcaster.She noted that the BBC does face a number of headwinds including its charter renewal and constant questions around future funding, adding that its independence and impartiality is constantly being questioned.

It has been three years since then Prime Minister Boris Johnson said we had to stay at home because of Covid-19 and only go out for exercise or shopping.In that time, the way many of us work and shop has completely changed.Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that before the pandemic, about 12% of adults reported working from home but - during the lockdown - almost of half of us were doing it.

1679493274 Independent TV is hosting the prime minister's appearance before the Privileges Committee live on YouTube.Liam James22 March 2023 13:54 1679545824 Boris Johnson is fighting for his political future after MPs investigating his partygate denials denounced the flimsy assurances they were based on.

Rishi Sunaks new deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland has cleared its first Commons test despite the threat of a Tory-DUP rebellion led by Boris Johnson.MPs voted 515 to 29 a majority of 486 in favour of regulations to implement the Stormont brake section of the Windsor Framework, which would allow a minority of politicians at the Northern Ireland Assembly to flag concerns about new EU laws there.

Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged Tuesday that he misled Parliament about rule-breaking government parties during the coronavirus pandemic but insisted he never intentionally lied.Britain's boisterous former leader is set to be grilled by lawmakers on Wednesday over whether he lied when he denied there had been parties in his Downing Street offices in violation of COVID-19 lockdown rules.

The Home Secretary doubled down on the Government's commitment to the Rwanda deportation policy during a trip the country this weekend.During her visit, Suella Braverman is due to meet President Paul Kagame and her counterpart Vincent Biruta to discuss the deal.This is how events leading up to the trip unfolded.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A former head of BBC television news has said the next BBC chairman should not be a political appointment.Roger Mosey, who was also director of sport at the broadcaster, said it would be a great act of statesmanship for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to de-politicise the appointment.

The price of a bottle of wine could increase by 44p from this summer after the chancellor opted to freeze taxes on beer but signalled punishing increases for wine and whisky.Jeremy Hunt promised a Brexit pubs guarantee in his budget, with the discount rising from 5% to 9.2%, although the chancellor offered scant detail on a longer-term pledge of a Brexit pub guarantee.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Rishi Sunak must stand up to his snowflake MPs waging war on free speech following the Gary Lineker row, Sir Keir Starmer has said.The Labour leader sought assurances that Conservative MPs or others connected to the party did not lobby the BBC to effectively cancel Match of the Day last weekend.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Rishi Sunak's family was reminded of the rules around keeping a dog on a lead when in a major London park, the Metropolitan Police said.It comes after a video was shared on the social media website TikTok appearing to show the Prime Minister and his family allowing their pet dog to roam freely while in a Royal Park.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails A former BBC director-general has said the reinstatement of Gary Lineker as host of Match Of The Day is like a 5-0 win for the sports presenter.Greg Dyke, who is also a former chair of the Football Association (FA), said there was a perception that the broadcaster had been bullied by the Government into its initial decision to remove Linker from the programme.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Rishi Sunak has committed to giving Tory MPs the freedom to rule over Boris Johnson's fate ahead of his live grilling on whether he lied over partygate.The Prime Minister said on Monday he would not exert pressure on his Conservative colleagues to go easy on his predecessor as he faces a possible suspension.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Fiona Bruce has stepped back as an ambassador of domestic abuse charity Refuge following claims she had trivialised domestic violence during a discussion about Stanley Johnson on Question Time.

LONDON The BBC secured a draw on Monday in its showdown with Gary Lineker, reversing the former soccer great's suspension from the airwaves for a tweet that criticized the U.K. government's new migration policy.The about-face followed a weekend of chaos and crisis for Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster, which faced a huge backlash after sidelining one of its best-known hosts for expressing a political opinion.

By JILL LAWLESS | Associated Press LONDON (AP) The BBC on Monday reversed former soccer great Gary Lineker's suspension from the airwaves for a tweet that criticized the U.K. government's new migration policy.The about-face followed a weekend of chaos and crisis for Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster, which faced a huge backlash after sidelining one of its best-known hosts for expressing a political opinion.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails BBC chairman Richard Sharp is facing growing pressure to resign as the corporation's policy on impartiality has been challenged after Gary Lineker was told to stand down from presenting Match Of The Day. Mr Sharp, who was appointed chairman in February 2021, has been embroiled in a cronyism row over helping former prime minister Boris Johnson secure an 800,000 loan facility in recent months.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Gary Lineker privately agreed that his tweet at the centre of the crisis engulfing the BBC was a step too far, a fellow broadcaster has claimed.The BBC's sports schedule was plunged into a second day of disarray on Sunday, with much reduced coverage expected on several shows as presenters, pundits and commentators continued their mutiny in solidarity with Lineker.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email The BBC's sports coverage faced a second day of severe disruptions Sunday as dozens of staff refused to work in solidarity with top soccer host Gary Lineker, who was suspended by the broadcaster after he tweeted criticism of the British government's asylum policy.

By James Landale & Jonathan Beale

There will be no immediate transfer of UK fighter jets to Ukraine, the defence secretary has said.Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky renewed his call for fighter jets during a visit to the UK on Wednesday - his first since the Russian invasion.Ben Wallace told the BBC that supplying aircraft to use in the conflict would potentially take months.

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email The BBC faced an escalating crisis Saturday over its suspension of former soccer star and program host Gary Lineker for comments criticizing the British government's new asylum policy.

Andrew Mitchell has said "that is a matter for the BBC," when asked if the broadcaster's chairman Richard Sharp should resign.It comes after MPs found Mr Sharp made "significant errors of judgement" in acting as a go-between on a loan for then prime minister Boris Johnson while he was applying for the post.

Richard Sharp is facing renewed pressure to stand down as BBC chairman.Jonathan Dimbleby and Baroness Wheatcroft have joined a growing chorus of voices questioning his position.Mr Sharp is facing criticism for his role in facilitating a £800,000 loan for then-prime minister Boris Johnson.An MPs' committee said Mr Sharp made "significant errors of judgement" in doing so while applying for the BBC job.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he wanted Britain to have the most competitive business tax rates as he faced calls to scrap a planned hike in corporation tax.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Hugh Bonneville and Jason Watkins jokingly returned to their roles in the BBC sitcom W1A to discuss who should present Match Of The Day, as they poked fun at the corporation's decision to take Gary Lineker off the show.

The government looks likely to agree a deal with the Premier League which would see gambling sponsors' names taken off the front of football shirts.In that review of gambling legislation, the government is not expected to propose banning gambling sponsorship of clubs by law.Instead, the BBC has been told the plan is for the Premier League to agree voluntarily to changes to the front of shirts.

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the UK and Western allies to provide wings for freedom by supplying his air force with advanced jets.In a surprise visit, Mr Zelensky used an address to Parliament to thank the UK for its steadfast support since Russia invaded.

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky gifted the UK a flight helmet worn by Ukrainian fighter pilots as he thanked MPs in advance for future jets they could provide in the war against Russia.