Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Calls for the prime minister to explain how his partygate fines didn’t break the ministerial code lead on a number of Wednesday’s front pages. The calls for an explanation come amid Tory rebels submitting letters of no confidence.
The Times says the prime minister’s ethics adviser, Lord Geidt, has threatened to resign after raising what he called a “legitimate question” about whether Boris Johnson broke the ministerial code. The paper reports Lord Geidt told the PM he will quit unless he “issued a public explanation about his conduct”. The PM responded with a public letter, claiming that his Covid rule-breaking was “unwitting” – but a source tells the paper Lord Geidt is still in favour of stepping down.
The Metro says the PM “may be toast” suggesting he could face a confidence vote as early as Tuesday – amid speculation that Conservative rebels are close to reaching the 54 letters required to trigger such a motion. The i quotes a senior Tory source who believes a vote is “imminent”.
According to the Guardian, the PM and his allies have “launched an emergency effort to lobby wavering Tory MPs”. The paper says at least 44 of them gave publicly questioned his fitness to hold office. But the Daily Mail says they are being warned by the PM’s allies that they risk destroying the Tory party’s chance of winning the next election.
The Daily Telegraph says Downing Street is putting together a plan to “stabilise” the PM’s position. The plan includes bringing back regular press conferences, similar to the ones held over the pandemic, but with a focus on the economy.
Several papers report on the royal family as the Jubilee approaches.
“Forgive Andrew” is the headline of the Mirror which reports on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s comments that Prince Andrew should be “forgiven”.
The Sun says the Queen had a “bumpy plane trip back to London” after bad weather forced her jet to abort its landing upon arrival in Aberdeen.