London politics latest news: Sajid Javid backs Boris Johnson after David Davis calls for PM to resign

Sajid Javid backed Boris Johnson at a press conference after senior Tory MP David Davis called on the prime minister to resign.

Mr Javid taking the media briefing to confirm plan B was being scrapped allowed Mr Johnson to avoid further questions on another bruising day for the PM amid the Partygate scandal.

Former Brexit secretary Mr Davis earlier called on him to resign in a dramatic intervention that will heap pressure on the Conservative Party leader.

Speaking at PMQs in the Commons, Mr Davis said: “ I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take.

“Yesterday he did the opposite. I will remind him of a quotation from Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain in 1940: ‘You have sat there too long for the good you are doing… in the name of god, go.’”

It comes as more Tory MPs have submitted no confidence letters in Boris Johnson this morning, according to reports.

Government sources told Sky News that 12 new letters had been given to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, amid growing anger over Mr Johnson’s explanation of the “partygate” scandal.

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who was elected in 2019, crossed the Commons floor to join Labour. He cited Boris Johnson’s “disgraceful” conduct as a reason for leaving the Tories.

21:11 , Matt Watts

That ends our politics live coverage for today. Please check in again tomorrow.

Boris Johnson says his Government got the ‘big things right’ amid Partygate row

18:47 , Barney Davis

The Prime Minister said in a long Twitter thread: “ We were the first nation in the world to administer a vaccine, and one of the fastest in Europe to roll it out. This was because we made the big call to pursue our own vaccine procurement, outside of the EMA.

“We made the tough decision to open up last summer when others said that we shouldn’t, and kept open this winter while others locked down. As a result, we have the most open economy and society in Europe, and the fastest growing economy in the G7.

“We’re the first to emerge from the Omicron wave, because we focused our NHS on delivering the fastest booster campaign in Europe.

“And it is because of the extraordinary booster campaign – together with the way the public have responded to the Plan B measures – that we can return to Plan A in England and allow Plan B regulations to expire.

“Confronted by the nation’s biggest challenge since the Second World War and the worst pandemic since 1918, any government would get some things wrong. But this government got the big things right. “

Sajid Javid confirms dropping of Plan B measures in England

17:52 , Barney Davis

Sajid Javid outlines plan to remove almost all restrictions

17:44 , Barney Davis

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said that testing, vaccines and antivirals will be the “cornerstone of our future defences” as “almost all” restrictions end.

Discussing his future plan to “live with Covid”, he told a Downing Street press conference: “The way we are going to do this is we’re going to have to find a way to remove almost all of these restrictions and get life completely back to normal but with one or two really big things that I think will be there for a while.

“That is I think probably the need to vaccinate, I can’t tell you how often that will be, but I think vaccinations will remain hugely important just as we have to have annual vaccinations protecting older people against flu.

“I think antivirals and treatments will continue to play a big role, especially for those that might be more exposed, and I think testing, it’s great where we are today with testing and I think it will improve over time.

“These pharmaceutical defences of the vaccines, antivirals, monoclonal antibodies, and testing, I think they will be the cornerstone of our future defences.”

Sajid Javid refuses to rule himself out of potential Tory leadership contest

17:42 , Barney Davis

Sajid Javid says 40 per cent of people in hospital with Covid have “incidental infections”.

PA’s David Hughes asks whether the PM is “living on borrowed time” and if Sajid Javid would throw his hat into the ring in a Tory leadership contest.

The Health Secretary doesn’t directly rule himself out.He says: “We have a leader, we have a prime minister he is busy delivering for this country... I’ve got a job and that’s a very important job.“My job is to make sure health and social care is the very best for this country.”

Sajid Javid says he ‘fully supports’ PM as he confirms self-isolation remains for now

17:33 , Barney Davis

Mr Javid said he does “fully support” Boris Johnson.

He said it was important that the PM came into the House of Commons to apologise and he was waiting for the outcome of Sue Gray’s report.

He adds with “full confidence that I absolutely observed the COVID-19 rules at all times”.

He says like “million of others it hasn’t been easy” as he couldn’t see his mother who lives alone and had to miss a close friend’s funeral.

At risk U-12s will be vaccinated

17:30 , Barney Davis

At-risk children under the age of 12 will be vaccinated, the Health Secretary told a Downing Street press conference.

Sajid Javid said the JCVI advises “that we should vaccinate under-12s that are at risk and that is exactly what we plan to do, and we will start that this month, but they are keeping that under review to see if we should expand that more broadly to everyone in that cohort”.

Sajid Javid understands ‘pain and anger’ surrounding partygate

17:29 , Barney Davis

The Health Secretary said: “I was with the PM today when he set out our response to Covid there was a huge amount of support.“What we have seen over the past few weeks on the BBC and in the papers is a lot of pain and anger.”

He said the PM has asked for the “time and space” for Sue Gray’s inquiry to get to the facts of Partygate before he returns to the Commons to be “happily scrutinised”.

UKHSA chief says ‘Amazing progress’ made on vaccine rollout

17:24 , Barney Davis

Dr Susan Hopkins says there are only 703 patients in mechanical ventilator beds which is “much, much lower” than the wave last January.

She says 36.6million people have had booster - two thirds of eligible population.

She says only 10 per cent of individuals in England are unvaccinated, but people are “disproportionately” being admitted to ICU.

“The greatest thing you can do to protect yourself from ICU and hospital admission is to get vaccinated”, she said.

Sajid Javid claims ‘we are not at the finishing line’ on Covid

17:17 , Barney Davis

The Health Secretary said we are at a major milestone but not at the end of the road in the pandemic.

He said: “We cannot eradicate this virus and its future variants instead we must learn to live with Covid the same way we learned to live with flu.”

The Government will set out a long-term plan for “living with Covid” this Spring.

A pandemic is a marathon “not a sprint” he said.

Sajid Javid says today ‘marks the start of the next chapter of the country’s fight againt Covid-19’

17:08 , Barney Davis

The Health Secretary opened the Downing Street briefing by saying that “today marks the start of the next chapter” in the UK’s fight against Covid.

Flanked by Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser for the UK Health Security Agency, he said the UK would be returning to the original Plan A.

He said: “This is a moment we can all be proud of - the culmination of a brilliant national mission that helped us withstand the Omicron wave and restore more freedom to this country.”

He added as a result, the nation is currently “the most open country in Europe” and the plans will now go even further.

He said data shows “Omicron is in retreat”. He points to falls in cases and hospitalisations adding the number of people in critical care beds has returned to levels last seen in July.

Mr Javid will be prepared to answer tough questions about the timing of the return to Plan A which could see a boost to Boris Johnson’s popularity.

Sajid Javid to lead Downing Street press briefing from 5pm

17:03 , Barney Davis

Health Secretary Sajid Javid will hold a press conference imminently.

It comes after the Prime Minister announced that Plan B measures aimed at tackling the spread of Covid-19 are to be dropped across England.

Daily Covid cases surpass 100,000

16:16 , Daniel Keane

A further 108,069 Covid cases have been recorded in the UK as of 9am on Wednesday, the Government said.

The Government also said a further 359 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid, bringing the total to 152,872.

Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 177,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

How would a no confidence vote work?

16:00 , Daniel Keane

Though he wields a commanding majority of over 80 seats, Boris Johnson’s future rests in the hands of just 54 Conservative MPs.

The figure represents 15 per cent of the party’s MPs. There are 360 currently sitting in parliament.

Should 54 MPs choose to hand a letter of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, a vote would be triggered.

A ballot would then be held quickly – likely the same day that the threshold is met or the day after. Only Sir Graham knows how many letters have been submitted and will make an announcement should the number reach 54.

A confidence vote on the prime minister will be held in secret.

If more than 50 per cent of MPs vote against the prime minister, he will be removed from his post.

Mr Johnson will also no longer be allowed to stand in subsequent leadership contests. He would be expected to offer his resignation immediately but would remain in the post until a successor is appointed.

Watch: Plan B measures to be dropped across England, Johnson says

15:50 , Daniel Keane

Yvette Cooper brands PM’s performance at PMQs ‘chaotic’

15:34 , Daniel Keane

Yvette Cooper described Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s appearance at PMQs as “chaotic”.

The shadow home secretary said: “I think he’s just chaotic.

“I think he’s not taking this seriously. He’s not taking it seriously.

“I don’t think he’s taking seriously how angry people are about what’s happened. You just can’t behave like that.”

Lateral flow tests ‘won’t remain free’, says No10

15:20 , Daniel Keane

Lateral flow tests will not remain free in the UK, Downing Street has confirmed.

“In our autumn and winter plan which we published last year we were clear that at a later stage the government, as our response to the virus evolves, universal free provision of things like lateral flow tests will end and we will update once we are in that position,” a spokesman said.

“There’s been no decision made on when that will be, it will depend on what we see in terms of the epidemiology in this country and we will keep that under review.”

Rayner welcomes Wakeford to Labour

15:00 , Daniel Keane

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has said she “welcomes” Christian Wakeford joining the Labour Party.

Speaking to media as she left Parliament, she said: “I welcome it, I really welcome it.”

She did not answer any questions about his previous voting record.

PM ‘will fight any bid to oust him as leader’

14:46 , Daniel Keane

The prime minister’s press secretary has suggested Boris Johnson will fight any bid to oust him as leader, writes Rachael Burford.

When asked if the PM would fight a ‘no confidence’ vote brought by his MPs, his press secretary replied: “Yes”.

She added: “Our focus is very clear in terms of delivering the ambitious agenda that we have set out, that we were elected on in 2019 and we want to continue to work together as Conservatives to deliver this.”

On the defection of MP Christian Wakeford, she said the party was “obviously sorry to see a colleague who was elected by constituents who voted for a Boris Johnson-led government leave and attempt to put Keir Starmer into No 10, which will be a disaster for the country”.

WFH guidance dropped ‘immediately’, says No10

14:31 , Daniel Keane

Downing Street confirmed the guidance in England on working from home where possible was being dropped immediately.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Government is no longer asking people to work from home if they can... that is effective immediately.”

Pandemic not over for health service - NHS Providers

14:03 , Elly Blake

Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson has told the BBC that the pandemic is not finished for the health service.

Mr Hopson said NHS trusts are telling him they do not believe the peak in hospitalisations has yet been reached, which is likely to come later this week or early next.

“What we’ve got is 16,000 people in hospital with Covid, compared to 3,500 six months ago. So the NHS is still under very, very significant pressure,” he said

Mr Hopson added that while the case numbers have peaked and then dropped very fast, the numbers of people in hospital is likely to come down much more slowly.

PM urged to review mandatory vaccinations for frontline workers

13:51 , Elly Blake

The Prime Minister was urged to review mandatory vaccinations for all health and social care staff in England.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) said he “wholeheartedly” welcomed the announcement of Plan B measures being dropped, but added: “I would ask the Prime Minister to review again the need to sack domiciliary workers and NHS workers.”

Conservative former minister Esther McVey also said: “I too want to question on behalf of the 100,000 NHS workers the mandatory vaccinations. Given the chief medical officer told MPs that vaccination had a minimal impact on transmission, isn’t it the case now there is no reason at all for mandatory vaccinations for care workers and NHS staff?

“Over the last two years, these people have worked tirelessly on the front line, and we have clapped these key workers. Can the Prime Minister now make sure he doesn’t sack them? It is utterly unjustifiable.”

Boris Johnson said: “I think the evidence is clear that health care professionals should get vaccinated.”

‘Let’s see what Wakeford’s constituents think’, says minister

13:19 , Daniel Keane

Minister for London Paul Scully said Christian Wakeford has “made his decision” now following his departure from the Conservatives.

While leaving Parliament, he told media: “He’s made his decision and we’ll see what happens, and what his constituents think of him, now.”

Outlining his thoughts on how Mr Johnson handled PMQs, he added: “I couldn’t hear a lot of it from where I was standing but he sounded strong.

“We’re waiting for Sue Gray and we’ll see what happens.”

‘Wakeford entry into Labour is a sham’, says Momentum

13:15 , Daniel Keane

Momentum has also reacted to the defection of Christian Wakeford to the Labour party.

They say: “So let’s get this straight. Keir Starmer has just welcomed an anti-BLM, climate-change denying, pro-tax dodging Tory MP onto the Labour benches.

“But he still refuses to return the whip to a former Labour leader with a history of fighting inequality and injustice.

“An utter sham.”

Watch: Moment Davis calls on PM to resign

13:07 , Daniel Keane

PM confirms intention to end legal requirement to self-isolate

13:00 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson confirmed the intention to end the legal requirement to self-isolate in the coming weeks.

He told MPs: “As we return to Plan A, the House will know that some measures still remain, including those on self-isolation.

“In particular, it is still a legal requirement for those who have tested positive for Covid to self-isolate.

“On Monday we reduced the isolation period to five full days with two negative tests, and there will soon come a time when we can remove the legal requirement to self-isolate altogether, just as we don’t place legal obligations on people to isolate if they have flu.

“As Covid becomes endemic, we will need to replace legal requirements with advice and guidance, urging people with the virus to be careful and considerate of others.

“The self-isolation regulations expire on March 24, at which point I very much expect not to renew them. Indeed, were the data to allow, I’d like to seek a vote in this House to bring that date forward.”

Sir Keir responds to lifting of Plan B

12:53 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir says: “The 438 deaths recorded yesteday are a solemn reminder that this pandemic is not over... We must remain vigilant and learn from mistakes made by this government.

“With new variants likely we must have a robust plan to deal with Covid.

“He’s too distracted to do his job.”

He asks why ministers are not unveiling plans for “living with Covid”, such as ramping up NHS capacity or plans to vaccinate the world.

Sir Keir adds: “They are all too busy plotting their leadership campaigns to do the job.”

He says Labour would produce a “roadmap” for dealing with the future of the pandemic.

Breaking: Plan B restrictions dropped

12:48 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson has announced the end of Plan B restrictions and face masks in England.

The prime minister said face coverings would no longer be required in indoor settings and vaccine certification would not be mandatory.

Britons will no longer be asked to work from home.

The changes will come into effect from January 26.

David Davis: PM ‘must take responsibility and go'

12:43 , Daniel Keane

A dramatic intervention here from Tory MP and former Brexit secretary David Davis.

He tells the PM: “ I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take.

“Yesterday he did the opposite. I will remind him of a quotation from Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain in 1940: ‘You have sat there too long for the good you are doing… in the name of god, go.’”

The PM responds that is unsure of which quotation Mr Davis is referring to and says he must wait for the Sue Gray inquiry.

Dorries says ‘union jack is not welcome on the Labour benches'

12:39 , Daniel Keane

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, reacting to the defection of Red Wall MP Christian Wakeford to Labour, said: “Sadly, Christian4BuryS has yet to realise that the Union Jack mask he is wearing to cross the floor to Labour, is not welcome on that side of the house.”

It comes after Mr Wakeford was pictured wearing a mask on the Labour benches.

Young Labour opposes Wakeford’s entry to Labour Party

12:32 , Daniel Keane

Moving away from prime minister’s questions for a moment, there appears to be signs that some in Labour are unhappy about Christian Wakeford’s defection.

Young Labour tweeted: “Christian Wakeford MP should not be admitted to the Labour Party.

“He has consistently voted against the interests of working-class people; for the £20 universal credit cut, for the Nationality and Borders Bill and for the Police and Crime Bill.

“Young Labour does not welcome him.”

Pictured: Former Tory MP Christian Wakeford on the Labour benches

12:26 , Daniel Keane

Blackford: 'Operation Save Big Dog is Operation Dogs Dinner’

12:24 , Daniel Keane

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford has begun his questions.

He says: “This week was supposed to be Operation Save Big Dog... it’s more like Operation Dogs Dinner.

“There is now more evidence that parliament has been misled, and an even longer list of ludicrous excuses from the prime minister.

“The latest sorry excuse is the most pathetic of them all - nobody told me. Nobody told the prime minister he was breaking his own rules.”

He points to Mr Johnson who appears to be laughing on the frontbenches, saying: “The prime minister is laughing at the British public. He is taking the public for fools.”

Starmer: Government is ‘out of touch and soon to be out of office'

12:21 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir says the Johnson government is “out of touch, out of control, out of ideas and soon to be out of office”.

He continues: The government is offering nothing on the cost of living crisis... they are distracted by their own chaos.”

PM declines to comment on whether he will resign after inquiry

12:16 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson mentions the photo of Sir Keir Starmer drinking a beer while inside a property in April 2021 and asks him to explain whether he broke lockdown rules.

Sir Keir responds: “If the PM thinks the only accusation is drinking a beer with a takeaway then Operation Save Big Gog is in trouble than I thought.

“If a prime minister misleads parliament should they resign?”

Mr Johnson declines to answer directly, saying the matter will be “fully addressed in the inquiry” and claims Sir Keir is “wasting time”.

PM’s partygate defence is ‘absurd’, says Starmer

12:11 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir goes on: “Last week he said he didn’t realise he was at the May 20 party - no one believed him.

“This week he has a new defence: ‘Nobody told me it was against the rules.’

“Since the PM wrote the rules, why does he think the new rules will work for him?”

Boris evades the question, claiming if Labour were in power the UK would have been in lockdown restrictions.

Sir Keir welcomes Wakeford to Labour party

12:08 , Daniel Keane

Sir Keir has taken to the despatch box.

He says: “Can I start by warmly welcoming Christian Wakeford to the Labour party.

“Like so many people up and down the country he has concluded that the prime minister has shown himself incapable of offering the leadership this country deserves.

“The Labour party has changed and so has the Conservative party.

“He who wants to build a new Britain build on decency, security and respect is welcome in my Labour party.”

After being heckled by Tory MPs, he quips: “I’m sure the chief whip has told them to bring their own booze.”

PMQs begins

12:04 , Daniel Keane

Prime minister’s questions has begun.

Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, says: “Last week we heard the rules at Downing Street may have been broken but the PM said it may have been a work event... now he says he was not told what the rules were.

“There is no excuse for taking the British public for fools... Will he do the decent thing and resign.”

Mr Johnson replies: “No. As I said to the house last week I apologise for any misjudgments that were made but she must wait for the Sue Gray inquiry next week.”

Breaking: Tory MP defects to Labour

11:52 , Daniel Keane

Conservative “Red Wall” MP has defected to Labour as the “Partygate” storm rocked Westminster, writes Rachael Burford.

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who was elected in 2019, crossed the Commons floor.

Mr Wakeford, who won his seat with a majority of 402, has been a strong critic of the way the prime minister has handled allegations of boozy bashes in Downing Street during lockdown.

The Standard understands he had been in talks with the Labour party to defect since the Partygate scandal broke.

More on that here.

UK inflation jumps to 30 year high

11:47 , Daniel Keane

Inflation jumped again in December, a headache for the Bank of England, the Chancellor and millions of hard-pressed families, writes Simon English.

It is at its highest for 30 years - and is likely to be a talking point at prime minister’s questions.

Prices were rising at 5.4%, up from 5.1% in November. Inflation was at 0.6% just two years ago.

City economists now expect it could go as high as 7% once energy price hikes kick in. It was last at that level back in March 1992 when it was 7.1%.

Read our full report from Simon English here.

Liz Truss jets off to Australia

11:26 , Daniel Keane

As Boris Johnson’s premiership teeters on the brink of collapse, foreign secretary Liz Truss is heading for a sunnier climate.

The Cabinet minister is jetting off to Australia, the Foreign Office has announced. It means she is likely to be there when Sue Gray’s report arrives next week.

Ms Truss is widely tipped as a Tory leadership contender, with allies briefing in recent weeks that she has been hosting “Biz for Liz” events with donors and drinks with MPs.

Rebels ‘don’t want vote of no confidence on Friday’

11:12 , Daniel Keane

One of the most difficult choices for Tory MPs looking to unseat the prime minister is the question of when to strike.

A government source tells ITV’s Paul Brand that MPs “don’t want a vote of no confidence” on Friday when there is only a one-line whip.

They think it would mean MPs have “to cast votes on behalf of colleagues who aren’t in Westminster that day, making the whole anonymous ballot a bit of a farce”.

It could also possibly deter rebellion.

However, should they strike today a no confidence vote could be held tomorrow.

Poll suggests red-wall collapse at next election

10:51 , Daniel Keane

Polling by JL Partners found the Tory vote has plummeted in Red Wall seats over the course of one month, with the Prime Minister’s approval rating dropping from net -9 in December 2021 to net -35.

The pollster said if repeated at a general election, the Conservatives would hold only Dudley North, Bassetlaw and Great Grimsby out of the 45 seats gained from Labour in the North, Midlands and Wales.

The Conservatives would currently lose all but three of 45 so-called Red Wall seats if a poll conducted for Channel 4 news was repeated at a general election, a survey has shown.

More Tory MPs 'submit no confidence letters’

10:22 , Daniel Keane

As many as twelve Tory MPs have submitted no confidence letters in Boris Johnson this morning, according to reports.

Government sources told Sky News that a raft of new letters had been given to Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, amid growing pressure on the prime minister.

The group of MPs - said to have been elected in 2019 - reportedly met last night to discuss whether to move to unseat Mr Johnson.

It comes just hours before Mr Johnson faces MPs and Sir Keir Starmer in the House of Commons.

Rebels will have enough letters this week for no confidence vote, claims Tory MP

10:04 , Daniel Keane

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen claims that rebels looking to unseat Boris Johnson will have enough letters this week to trigger a confidence vote.

Mr Bridgen, who has already called for the PM to resign, said he expects at least 20 more letters to go in today from MPs newly elected in 2019.

Under party rules, there will be a confidence vote if 54 Conservative MPs submit letters to Sir Graham.

Mr Bridgen said: “I heard first-hand last night that another 20 from the 2019 intake will be going in today.

“I would have thought that will encourage a considerable number of others who are wavering to put their letters in.

“I think will we get to threshold of 54 this week. Graham Brady will announce we are having a confidence vote next week, probably Tuesday or Wednesday.

“The Sue Gray report, I think, will be out Tuesday or Wednesday next week, and of course Dominic Cummings and those who have got information damaging to the Prime Minister will probably dump everything into the press this weekend to influence the vote next week.”

Labour 33 points ahead in London, according to exclusive poll

09:49 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson’s woes have escalated as a poll showed the Tories plunging a startling 32 points behind Labour in London over the “Partygate” scandal as frenzied talk grew of a no-confidence vote in the PM, writes Nicholas Cecil.

The yawning gap between Labour and the Conservatives is the biggest in a YouGov survey of the capital for at least 12 years.

If maintained at a General Election, it could see the Tories haemorrhage eight seats in the city, leaving them with just 13 London MPs.

In a series of other damning findings, it also showed that two thirds of Londoners believe the Prime Minister should resign.

Full report from our political editor Nicholas Cecil here.

Ministers warns of ‘tens of thousands’ of deaths if Russia invades Ukraine

09:39 , Daniel Keane

A minister has warned that “tens of thousands” of people could die if Russia invades Ukraine.

Armed Forces minister James Heappey said there is a “grave possibility” that Russia may launch military action.

His comments come ahead of a hastily-arranged meeting between the US and Moscow later this week in a bid to defuse tensions.

Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock met with her Russian counterpart on Monday, warning that any military action would be met with sanctions.

Mr Heappey said it is not “remotely realistic” that British troops would engage in combat with the Russian military, but he added the Ukrainians are “ready to fight for every inch of their country”.

He told Times Radio: “What stands in front of us, what could be weeks away, is the first peer-on-peer, industrialised, digitised, top-tier army against top-tier army war that’s been on this continent for generations.

“Tens of thousands of people could die.

“This is not something that people in Moscow should believe to be bloodless. This is not something that the rest of the world should stand by and ignore.”

Former adviser to Boris says he should not be forced out before Gray report

09:24 , Daniel Keane

A former adviser to Boris Johnson when he was mayor of London has said the Prime Minister should not be forced out before Sue Gray’s report.

Lord Moylan told Sky News: “I think we have to see what Sue Gray says about what the rules were in a work environment at that time.

“People who had to go to work, had to work in a work environment with social distancing, as far as possible, he (Prime Minister) walked into the garden, he shouldn’t have stayed in the garden, he’s apologised for that, and now we go forward from there.

“The question of the ‘pork pie plot’ is one that I think some MPs have been a bit giddy about, but I don’t think they should force the elected Prime Minister out on the strength of this.

“They need to reflect on the facts, they need see Sue Gray’s report, and they think need to think about the consequences and the follow through.”

PM ‘should resign if Gray report suggests he misled parliament’, says minister

09:09 , Daniel Keane

Armed forces minister James Heappey signalled he thinks that if Sue Gray’s report shows Boris Johnson misled Parliament he should resign.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “The Prime Minister has my trust, he has my confidence, he stood at the despatch box the other day and he gave an account of himself that I can understand and that I accept.

“If Sue Gray comes out and says something different then we’re in a different place and I’m happy to come back and reflect on my feelings then.”

He added: “The ministerial care code is clear: the highest responsibility that any minister has is to be accurate in what they say to the House of Commons. That is the very foundation of our parliamentary democracy.”

Cabinet ‘pushed back on scrappling licence fee'

08:59 , Daniel Keane

Some more interesting news concerning Ms Dorries this morning.

The Financial Times report that Chancellor Rishi Sunak spearheaded a Cabinet pushback against the culture secretary’s call to end the licence fee by 2027.

It is claimed that the Cabinet were not properly consulted before the plan was announced. Ms Dorries announced a two-year freeze on the licence fee but also pledged to end the corporation’s funding model in the coming years.

Foreign secretary Liz Truss and work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey are also said to have opposed the plans.

Ms Truss reportedly noted that the plan could threaten the UK’s soft power, with 28 licence-fee BBC Language services likely to take a hit in Asia and Africa.

Dorries claims Tory MPs plotting to oust PM are ‘being disloyal to their country'

08:51 , Daniel Keane

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries has branded rebel Tory MPs plotting to oust Boris Johnson as “disloyal to their country”.

In comments likely to spark a further backlash among her Conservative colleagues, she told The Times that those calling for the PM to resign were “being disloyal to the prime minister, the party, their constituents and the wider country.”

In 2018, Ms Dorries called for former prime minister Theresa May to resign or be “replaced quickly”.

In an article for the Daily Mail, she branded Mrs May’s decision to impose the dementia tax as “a titanically awful idea” that resulted in the Tories losing seats at the 2017 election.

Starmer says Tories ‘too distracted’ to deal with cost of living crisis

08:42 , Daniel Keane

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “The Conservatives are too distracted by scandal and infighting to sort out the cost-of-living crisis.

“Labour’s plan would give security by keeping bills low - saving most households £200, with extra support for those who need it most.”

Recap: Where are we at on partygate?

08:32 , Daniel Keane

It is set to be another frenetic day in Westminster, with rumours swirling overnight of a plot to unseat the prime minister.

Here is everything we know this morning:

- A string of Tory MPs have either submitted or are poised to submit their letters to the chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, Sir Graham Brady. Just 54 would trigger a no confidence vote in the PM.

- MPs from the former so-called Red Wall were said to have met yesterday to discuss Mr Johnson’s future in a gathering nicknamed the “pork pie plot” or the “pork pie putsch”. One told the Daily Telegraph that the 54 letter threshold could be met today

- One of the 2019-intake of MPs has told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that half of those at yesterday’s meeting had already put letters in this morning. They were said to be “angered by arm twisting calls and what they see as insulting quotes from ministers last night”

- Cabinet ministers rallied to support the prime minister and issued a stinging counter-briefing against Red Wall MPs. One anonymous minister told The Times they were “f****** nobodies” and owed their political careers to Mr Johnson.

- An expected announcement that Plan B measures to stem the spread of coronavirus will be lifted next week is likely to please some backbenchers

‘I can understand Boris’ excuse for party’, says Heappy

07:58 , Daniel Keane

Mr Heappy said he could understand why Boris Johnson thought the May 20,2020 event was a work event and fell within the rules.

He went on: “I worked for the prime minister as his parliamentary private secretary and so I spent a lot of time in Downing Street and a lot of time with him, and I’ve seen the extraordinary life that is that of our nation’s Prime Minister.

“I can well believe that he was there working his way through an extraordinarily congested diary where dozens upon dozens of things happen in the day, and he may well have, for instance, bounced from a meeting on national security straight into a meeting with ministers on domestic policy straight into a meeting with advisers on Covid, and then been grabbed by somebody out of his study to be taken downstairs to the garden, which is a walk that takes all of about 30 seconds.

“The first time that what he was going into would have been brought into focus would have been in the pre-brief he had as he was going down the stairs.

“Believe me, I’ve discussed this with lots of constituents and there are plenty of them who are unwilling to give that the benefit of the doubt. But, you know, Sue Gray will have forensically gone through all of this and we just need to see what Sue Gray’s report comes back with.”

Heappy: I have received ‘well over’ 500 emails over partygate

07:43 , Daniel Keane

Cabinet minister James Heappey said he had received “well over” 500 emails about the partygate scandal and that the “overwhelming majority, maybe nine in 10 or even 19 in 20 are absolutely furious and cannot understand how all this has happened”.

The Armed Forces minister told Times Radio: “I am angry too. But I take very seriously the ministerial code that we all sign up to and our responsibility when we stand up at the despatch box to be accurate in what we say, and the Prime Minister has stood up at the despatch box and set out his version of events and apologised profusely to the British public.”

The minister said: “I choose to believe what the Prime Minister has said. But I know that that’s not good enough for many of my constituents.”