Politics

Nearly every Tory MP I have spoken to this morning has used the word ‘exhausted’ to describe their mood. They are tired of this scandal and worried about how long it may have to run. Their general view on yesterday was that Boris Johnson did ‘enough to get through’. But there are, as Katy notes, increasing nerves about tomorrow’s vote on whether to refer Johnson to the privileges committee over his Commons statements that no rules were broken in Downing Street. They know how Labour will use the vote against them and they worry that Starmer might bring this motion again once the Sue Gray report is out. One senior

Boris Johnson last night addressed the 1922 committee, ahead of Thursday’s crunch vote on whether to conduct a parliamentary investigation into his handling of partygate. The Prime Minister received a warm reception from Tory MPs but many are still refusing him to back him publicly. Of the 357 Conservative MPs in the House, fewer than a third have spoken out in support of Johnson.  Nine MPs calling for him to go: 1. Nigel Mills: ‘He’s been fined, I don’t think his position is tenable.’ 2. Anthony Mangnall: ‘Horrified by the conduct of the PM.’ 3.Caroline Nokes: ‘I have not withdrawn the letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson that I wrote

All bets were off at the Hippodrome casino last night as London’s nerdiest politicos piled into Leicester Square to watch the first For the Many live recording. For those unfamiliar with this Westminster institution, it is nothing but an hour of smut and innuendo masquerading as a political podcast. Carry On Up The Commons, if you will. And hosts Iain Dale and Jacqui Smith were on fine form as they welcomed a rising star into their midst: Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The stage, we were informed, was where the muscled lotharios of the popular Magic Mike strip show usually gyrate, titillate and stimulate heaving hordes of female admirers. And it was Streeting’s turn to excite and

Boris Johnson will face his party today for the first time since he was issued with a fixed penalty notice by the police for breaching Covid rules during lockdown. As MPs return to parliament following the Easter recess, the Prime Minister is due to give a statement this afternoon updating the House in which he will acknowledge the fine he has received. Those around Johnson say that he will make a ‘plea for perspective’ in his address – referencing the fact he spoke to President Biden the same day he received a fine and emphasising his positive relationship with President Zelensky in relation to Ukraine. Those around Johnson say that

We have yet to see the first sample papers for the new GCSE in natural history to be announced by education secretary Nadhim Zahawi this week, but the fact that it has come about after lobbying by Caroline Lucas, Chris Packham and other green activists is a pretty good guide as to what might be in store: yet another fashionable, soft subject which is designed to indoctrinate rather than educate. It is a fair guess where it will lead: to children, especially from state comprehensives, being diverted from the more academically-rigorous subjects which would gain them access to the best universities. Conservatives have been far too sleepy about the use

The blessed Nicola has been out on the campaign trail in recent days, spreading the good news and decrying that wicked Boris Johnson’s non-believing band of heretic Tories. The bad king’s woes down in London have proved a godsend to Saint Nicola the nationalist, ever eager to lead her people to that land of milk and honey otherwise known as an independent Scotland. Naturally the sinless Sturgeon was among the first to call for Johnson to quit over partygate, preaching how ‘basic decency’ meant he should go for breaking lockdown rules. ‘But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!’ For just four days after demanding the heathen Johnson go, it seems the good