These are gravely serious allegations – intimidation, blackmail and using public money to do it. I would suggest that these accusations need to be fully and, crucially, independently investigated. With every day right now, Boris Johnson is tarnishing the office of prime minister and I think if he has concerns for the interests of the … Read more
6.13pm GMT 18:13 Q What is your response to people who feel the government has lost all credibility leading the country through the pandemic? Javid says it’s right that the PM has accepted there were mistakes and asked for a proper investigation to establish the facts and then come back to parliament. Q Will you … Read more
Anyone who thinks our battle with Covid is over is, I’m afraid, profoundly wrong. This is a moment for the utmost caution … We can keep our schools and our businesses open, and we can find a way to live with this virus. But the weeks ahead are going to be challenging, both here in … Read more
Good morning. Boris Johnson has set a target for the government to offer all adults a booster vaccine by the end of the month. Here is our overnight story reporting the announcement. This morning Sajid Javid, the health secretary, has been giving broadcast interviews, and he has admitted that, as GPs and hospitals in England … Read more
Apologies are one of the most under-rated devices in politics. It is convention to argue that apologising is a sign of weaknesss, but people don’t expect politicians to get everything right, they know we all make mistakes, and if used sincerely (a big if – we’ll come back to it in a moment) they can … Read more
Backbencher Christopher Chope has been named by multiple sources as the person who could be heard yelling ‘object’ as the Commons attempted to ratifying the findings about Owen Paterson’s behaviour. The government had tried to shunt the vote to the end of the day but put forward a motion that only one MP needed to … Read more
Latest updates: international development secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan says there is no need for Boris Johnson to attend sleaze debate Minister backs ban on MPs having lobbying-based second jobs MPs could be barred from consultancy roles in sleaze clampdown Tory backlash after minister calls Paterson row a ‘storm in a teacup’ 30 MPs who could be … Read more
A lot of families started receiving universal credit because of the pandemic. It is a massive hit to families’ incomes. We want to see immediate action to deal with the cost-of-living crisis facing families as we are entering a pretty tough winter for lots of people, but also businesses too. We have had a lot … Read more
Children and young people have had a tough time during this pandemic and I’ll be listening to them and their families as we accelerate our work to build back better and fairer. From my own experience, I know what a beacon of opportunity this country can be and I want all children, young people and … Read more
“People live by narrative,” Boris Johnson told the Atlantic’s Tom McTague, for a long and revealing profile this week that explains quite a lot about how Johnson views the secret of his political success. But the House of Commons is an arena where fact, argument and repartee tend to count more than narrative and that … Read more