Author: News Desk

Boris Johnson facing formal reprimand for misleading parliament The Guardian says Boris Johnson faces being formally reprimanded for recklessly misleading parliament after MPs investigating the Partygate scandal denounced his “flimsy” explanations and suggested he had wrongly interpreted Covid guidance. The former prime minister was left fighting for his political career after a tetchy three-and-a-half-hour evidence session in which he repeatedly claimed No 10 parties, with alcohol and little social distancing, had been “necessary” for work purposes. Harriet Harman, the chair of the privileges committee investigating whether Johnson deliberately misled MPs over lockdown gatherings, expressed dismay at the “flimsy nature” of…

Boris Johnson claimed No 10 drinks party was for official who didn’t leave until month later The Independent says Boris Johnson has been urged to correct his Partygate inquiry testimony after he was found to have claimed a No 10 party marked the exit of the top civil servant who did not resign until a month later. The former Tory prime minister claimed the notorious “bring your own booze” garden party on 20 May 2020 had been aimed at motivating staff because cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill had quit. But Mr Sedwill did not resign until 29 June 2020 – more…

‘It’s a very different court here, very bouncy…’

Boris snaps at people who ‘don’t know what they’re talking about’ in heated grilling The Metro says Boris Johnson lost his temper and barked at the head of the committee grilling him over the Partygate scandal and said ‘people who say that we were partying in lockdown simply do not know what they are talking about.’ The former PM has sat through several hours of questioning by the Privileges Committee in parliament. Mr Johnson admits misleading MPs, but said he ‘didn’t mean to.’ He is battling to save his political career and in a 52-page document submitted on Monday he…

Ben will find himself in a dangerous situation.

Boris Johnson declares ‘hand on my heart, I didn’t lie to the House’ during grilling over Partygate The Sun says BORIS Johnson yesterday tore into claims he misled the Commons as his Partygate hearing began, declaring: “Hand on my heart, I didn’t lie to the House.” The former PM, who was fighting for his political career, insisted he was not trying to deceive MPs when he claimed no rules had been broken at No10 during lockdown. Under fire for attending boozy parties while shutting down the country, Mr Johnson said it was “staggeringly implausible” that he would have allowed the…

‘They are trying to erase the entire existence of any LGBTQ+ Ugandan.’

UK interest rates: Another Bank of England rise expected as prices soar Following an unexpected jump in the rate of inflation, the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates for the 11th consecutive time. Analysts predict that the Bank rate will increase from 4% to 4.25% at the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting, as policymakers strive to balance inflation control with financial stability. While savers may benefit from an improved rate of return, variable and tracker mortgage holders and other borrowers could face higher interest rates. The rate of inflation rose to 10.4% in the year to February,…

Mosque fire suspect charged with attempted murders Mohammed Abbkr, 28, from Edgbaston in Birmingham, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder in relation to separate incidents outside mosques in London and Birmingham. The victims, two elderly men, were sprayed with a substance and set alight. One victim, named locally as Mr Hashi, received severe burns to his face and arms and was treated in hospital before being released. The other victim, Mohammed Rayaz, remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition following a skin graft operation. The incidents have been described by members of the mosques as…

Hundreds of thousands of French workers on Thursday rallied in a new show of rage against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, with protests turning violent in Paris and other cities in a battle that shows no sign of abating. More than 149 police and gendarmes have been injured during the day’s protests and 172 people have been arrested, French Interior Minister G?rald Darmanin said Thursday evening. Read our live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).