Boris Johnson latest news: Government ‘expects’ police not to publish Partygate
Boris Johnson receives legal questionnaire over partygate from police
The Cabinet Office is trying to clarify with the Metropolitan Police whether or not it will publish more than 300 photos received as part of the inquiry into alleged pandemic parties.
It is thought that the force is not likely to disclose the names of any individuals hit with fines linked to the 12 gatherings which are now under investigation.
In other news, the UK government is refusing to disclose just how much it has spent on Covid tests during the coronavirus pandemic, as inflation in the UK has reached its highest level in 30 years.
Meanwhile, Downing Street staff have been told by the Metropolitan Police not to confer with each other when answering a questionnaire about parties which potentially broke Covid rules and have been warned that, should they do so, it could constitute a “separate offence”.
Elsewhere, former health secretary Matt Hancock did not comply with a public sector equality duty when appointing Conservative peer Baroness Dido Harding and Mike Coupe to posts in 2020.
Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Swift granted a declaration to the Runnymede Trust on Tuesday after considering arguments at a High Court hearing in December.
Campaign group the Good Law Project joined the trust in making complaints – arguing that the Government had not adopted an “open” process when making appointments to posts “critical to the pandemic response” – but their claim was dismissed.
Keir Starmer’s fondness for Union Jacks does not make him a nationalist, Labour frontbencher says
A Labour frontbencher has said Keir Starmer‘s fondness for appearing alongside British flags does not make him a “nationalist”.
Quizzed on the opposition leader’s apparent penchant for the Union Flag Jo Stevens said she did not like nationalism.
But pushed during the BBC Wales interview she said she believed her party leader was in fact a “patriot” rather than a nationalist.
Eleanor Sly16 February 2022 15:40
Government ‘expects’ Met Police not to publish 300 Partygate photos
Boris Johnson’s government has asked the Metropolitan Police to confirm whether or not it will publish more than 300 photos received as part of the investigation in alleged parties at No 10 and Whitehall.
The Cabinet Office has said it “expects” that Scotland Yard will not to publish the pictures once the probe concludes, according to a document leaked to ITV News.
The update document sent to civil servants by the Cabinet Office’s liaison unit said police been asked about photos of gatherings – given that they could potentially identify staff members involved.
Eleanor Sly16 February 2022 15:15
Inflation over the last three decades
This infographic, created by Statista for The Independent, shows inflation over the last three decades
(Statista/The Independent)
Eleanor Sly16 February 2022 14:54