Boris Johnson latest news: Ministerial code at risk of ‘ridicule’ over
Partygate: Boris Johnson’s repeated denials and excuses
Boris Johnson‘s conduct over Partygate risks leaving the concept of the ministerial code open to “ridicule”, according to his own ethics adviser.
In a public rebuke, Christopher Geidt said there were “legitimate” questions over whether the fixed penalty notice, issued for a June 2020 birthday party thrown in Mr Johnson’s honour in the Cabinet Room, might have constituted a breach of the “overarching duty within the Ministerial Code of complying with the law”.
He also questioned the prime minister’s willingness to “take responsibility for his own conduct” in relation to the ministerial rules.
Mr Johnson, in a letter released on Tuesday evening, responded by claiming the FPN “did not breach” the Ministerial Code as there was “no intent to break the law”, adding that he had taken “full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch”.
Meanwhile, former Tory MP and education secretary Justine Greening has joined a call for an expansion of the free school meal programme, amid warnings that more than a million children face going hungry because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Minister unable to convert ‘universally understood’ imperial measurements
A government minister on Tuesday struggled to convert from metric measures into what Downing Street has called “universally understood” imperial units.
Appearing on Sky News, the arts minister was first asked how many ounces are in a pound – to which he incorrectly said 14.
Host Kay Burley continued: “If you are ordering a pound of sausages, approximately how many grams of sausages are you getting? 250, 350, 450, or 550?”
Cambridge University-educated Lord Parkinson hesitantly chose the first answer – again, incorrect.
The moment came amid reports that the UK may switch back to imperial units, reports Zaina Alibhai:
Namita Singh1 June 2022 06:56
Starmer and Rayner receive police questionnaire over Beergate
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner have both received police questionnaires about the so-called “Beergate” event at a party office in Durham last year.
The party confirmed that both senior figures had been asked by Durham Constabulary to explain their attendance at the 30 April gathering, at which beer and curry was consumed.
The Durham force announced earlier this month that it would investigate potential breaches of Covid laws by Starmer and his staff, despite initially deciding against action when images of the meeting first appeared.
My colleague Adam Forrest reporting the detail:
Namita Singh1 June 2022 06:45
‘Brexit could spark potato shortage in Ireland’
Brexit could lead to a significant shortage of potatoes for Irish consumers by 2023, experts have warned.
Prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, the majority of potato seed used by Irish farmers for varieties such as Kerr Pinks, Golden Wonders and British Queens had been imported from Scotland.
But under post-Brexit rules and following the UK’s departure from the single market, exports of seed potatoes – those not consumed but used to plant other…
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