Downing street parties

Boris Johnson’s relationship with Sajid Javid was under renewed strain on Thursday as the Chancellor was warned about “ill disciplined” briefings to the media over HS2. Downing Street officials accused the Chancellor of a “cack-handed” attempt to seize the agenda over HS2 after he let it be known that he had decided the project should go ahead. Mr Javid had not told Number 10 that he was going to inform newspapers of his decision ahead of a key meeting with Mr Johnson and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary. While there is no suggestion Mr Javid’s job is under immediate threat, Downing Street has made it clear that there must be no repetition of such behaviour. One Downing Street aide said: “This sort of thing became commonplace under Theresa May. But this is not a government led by Theresa May, and we have the authority and the majority to ensure this sort of thing does not go on any longer.” Tensions between the two former party leadership rivals became so evident ahead … [Read more...] about Downing Street anger over ‘ill-disciplined’ Javid’s attempt to hijack HS2 decision

The Democratic Unionist Party’s £1 billion deal to prop up the Conservative government may end up costing the country far more because the DUP will be “back for more”, it emerged last night. The Tories finally sealed a historic deal with the Northern Irish party which guarantees its 10 MPs will vote with the Government on key legislation, in return for which cash will go to Belfast for infrastructure, broadband, schools and hospitals. But the £1billion payment - the equivalent of £33 for every taxpayer in the UK - could be only the start after DUP sources hinted that they will ask for more cash when the deal is “reviewed” in two years’ time. The SNP reacted by immediately demanding more money for Scotland, while the Welsh government claimed it should be given £1.7 bn to achieve parity with Ulster. Sinn Fein, meanwhile, claimed the deal threatened the Good Friday Agreement. After 18 days of negotiations, the DUP leader Arlene Foster flew to London yesterday to oversee the … [Read more...] about DUP deal to prop up minority Tory Government set to cost billions as party hints it will be ‘back for more’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been dealt yet another blow with the publication of Sue Gray’s long-awaited report – which reveals the full extent of Covid-19 lockdown rule breaches in Downing Street. The explosive report, which includes nine damning pictures , follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police that saw Downing Street and Whitehall become the most fined location in the UK . He is due to address the report’s findings today (May 25) during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), as well as delivering a televised statement and later holding a press conference. But how can you watch these live? When can you expect Boris Johnson’s statement and press conference? Boris Johnson delivered a statement following PMQ’s at 12.30pm. It was delivered in the House of Commons to ministers. The press conference is set to take place at around 3.30, according to Sky News. In response to the report, Mr Johnson said in his statement to the Commons that he … [Read more...] about How to watch Boris Johnson’s press conference as Sue Gray report published

SIR – Why did Boris Johnson risk being caught out – yet again – when responding to questions about Chris Pincher’s history? He shows no political savvy, let alone straightforward honesty. Cabinet resignations surely herald the end of the road for him. Tim Lovett SIR – At last members of Mr Johnson’s Cabinet have found the backbone to tell him that enough is enough. Let us hope the Conservative Party can now return to Conservatism. Richard North SIR – “Et tu, Rishi?” Patrick Smith SIR – While Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak are to be commended for resigning from the Cabinet, they really should have done so sooner. It has been clear for a long time that Boris Johnson is at best unprincipled, and at worst (the more likely scenario) morally turpitudinous, unfit to hold the greatest office of state. We could all see this. Why didn’t they? One can only hope that this is a turning point in British politics, marking the restoration of principles and morality in … [Read more...] about Letters: A Prime Minister without candour, judgment – or a party behind him

Rishi Sunak follows Javid and resigns from Johnson’s Cabinet Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Odds on the former Chancellor have dropped from 20/1 to 3/1 within hours of his decision to quit Boris Johnson’s Government saying that change needs to happen. Sources have confirmed that he has been maneuvering for some weeks to launch a potential leadership body. A senior minister told Express.co.uk : “People keep saying Rishi won’t run but I know he will. He has been preparing for some time now.” Related articles Zahawi forces beleaguered Boris to name him as Chancellor Boris will be 'dragged kicking and screaming' says Widdecombe Mr … [Read more...] about ‘Pole position’ Rishi tipped for Number 10 takeover while main rivals ‘cling to Boris’

Michael Gove has told Boris Johnson to step down as prime minister, a bombshell report has claimed. The Levelling Up Secretary is one of the most senior members of Mr Johnson’s Cabinet, but was nowhere to be seen as the PM took a battering during PMQs. According to Mail Plus , it was because he had just told him to resign during a meeting earlier this morning. A spokesman for Mr Gove did not dispute this. Mr Gove famously torpedoed Mr Johnson’s first leadership bid in 2016, before agreeing to join his Cabinet in 2019. The explosive report comes hot on the heels of six ministers resigning in one fell swoop . It’s hard to see how the PM can survive the collapse of his Government, but he told MPs today he would not resign. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid got the ball rolling last night when they dramatically stepped down over the Chris Pincher affair. Almost 30 ministers have now resigned within 24 hours. Who has resigned from … [Read more...] about Michael Gove ‘tells Boris to go’ after 38 resignations in 24 hours

Boris Johnson on Wednesday night refused to quit and instead sacked Michael Gove , despite being confronted by Cabinet ministers, mass frontbench resignations and the threat of another leadership vote. The Prime Minister was on the brink of being ousted as more frontbench walkouts took the total of Tory MPs quitting official posts over the past two days beyond 40. In one-on-one meetings with Mr Johnson on Wednesday night, a string of Cabinet ministers personally told him he had lost the support of his party and should consider resigning . The Telegraph can reveal that the government Whips Office has calculated that Mr Johnson would win the support of just 65 Tory MPs in a new confidence vote, from a total of almost 360. But he rejected the Cabinet pressure to go, insisting there would be three months of “chaos” if he went, while the Tories picked a successor before a likely election defeat to Labour. Anger was building on Wednesday night among Tory critics of Mr … [Read more...] about Mortally wounded Boris Johnson defies Cabinet demands to quit

Leading Conservatives taking to the airwaves since the Chris Pincher scandal have been repeatedly quizzed on what the Prime Minister knew and Number 10’s response to the crisis . Here is what each minister said: Friday, July 1: Simon Hart, Welsh Secretary Simon Hart did the morning media rounds for the Government and was unable to confirm whether the alleged assault was being formally investigated . He said it was "early days yet" and that from the perspective of the alleged victims, it could be "counter-productive" to rush any probe. He said the Chief Whip would be having "conversations" throughout the day and that "we might be having a very different conversation as the day goes on". He told Sky News: "This makes me very sad, it makes me sad for everybody who's been involved in these things. It's clearly something which has gone terribly wrong. There is a process, I think it's important that the process is followed. “I think it is entirely right that the Chief Whip … [Read more...] about The ministers wheeled out to respond to Chris Pincher scandal and what they said

Chancellors very rarely go easily or quietly . The question facing Boris Johnson on Tuesday was whether he is a Harold Macmillan, capable of withstanding a chancellor’s resignation and living to sack another, or a Margaret Thatcher, doomed by the loss of the number two. The chancellor-prime minister relationship is the most important in any administration, tending to define governments and control what they can achieve. If it is a friendly and ideologically aligned relationship, as was the case with David Cameron and George Osborne, a government can be truly radical. If it is tense and ideologically misaligned, as with Theresa May and Philip Hammond (now the Lord Hammond of Runnymede), it tends to lead to a chaotic administration that gets little done. The relationship also offers an easy measure of a leader’s power. In 1983, the omnipotent Thatcher could easily afford to ditch Sir Geoffrey Howe with little consequence. In 2019, the recently triumphant Mr Johnson could … [Read more...] about History shows that the bond between No 10 and No 11 can make or break any government

Finally, and dramatically, it is all falling apart . After waiting for months to see if any senior member of the Cabinet had a backbone, we now find that there are at least two vertebrates. Maybe more will show their spines today . Rishi Sunak stepped down as Chancellor possibly wishing he had gone a few weeks ago when he was handed a fine by the Metropolitan Police for unwittingly wandering in on one of No 10’s Bacchanalian lockdown parties. Since then he has been briefed against by allies of the Prime Minister over his wife’s tax status and his own personal wealth to undermine his credibility as a potential leader . It is hardly surprising that he has had enough. As he said in his letter , his beef with the Prime Minister is over policy and Mr Johnson’s misplaced optimism about the state of the economy . Basically, Mr Sunak accused him of lying about the grim future facing the country and what needs to be done. “Our people know that if something is too good to be true … [Read more...] about Even Boris Johnson cannot survive these dramatic Cabinet resignations