Question Time audience reveal if they thought Boris Johnson was telling MPs the truth
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Boris Johnson is already preparing for a “worst case” scenario in which he has to fight a by-election he is expected to lose, allies have said.
MPs investigating whether the former prime minister intentionally misled parliament over his understanding of parties in Downing Street during the pandemic could recommend a suspension of more than 10 days, triggering a contest for his Uxbridge constituency.
“He is planning for the worst case, there’s no point in waiting until they’ve delivered their verdict,” an ally told The Times.
Tory pollster Lord Hayward told The Independent there was “no question” Mr Johnson would lose to Labour in a by-election.
Meanwhile, a senior Tory MP told The Independent the Partygate inquiry and a failed rebellion on Brexit were the “death throes of the Boris cult”, saying the “dying rump” of around 20 to 30 loyalists left would not be able to rebuild support for Mr Johnson in the parliamentary party.
Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal for Northern Ireland was formally signed-off by James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, and the European Commission’s Maros Sefcovic at a meeting in London.
Boris Johnson to ‘step up’ campaigning as he ‘braces for worst-case scenario by-election’
Boris Johnson will step up campaigning in his constituency as concerns grow that he will face a by-election within months if he is found to have deliberately misled Parliament over Downing Street lockdown parties (Thomas Kingsley writes).
It comes after Tory polling guru Lord Hayward warned the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip seat if he is punished severely by the cross-party committee and forced to fight for his seat.
According to The Times, Mr Johnson is planning for the “worst-case scenario”– that the committee imposes a 10-day suspension from the Commons, which could trigger a by-election.
A Tory polling guru said the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip in a by-election
Liam James24 March 2023 10:10
Led By Donkeys undercover investigation reveals MPs charge 10k a day for consultancy
Led By Donkeys undercover investigation reveals MPs charge 10k a day for consultancy
Martha Mchardy26 March 2023 08:35
ICYMI: Rishi Sunak pledges ‘quick and visible’ justice to crackdown on anti-social behaviour ‘once and for all’
Rishi Sunak will unveil plans for “immediate and visible” punishments for anti-social behaviour this week as he pledges to crack down on the problem “once and for all”.
His long-awaited strategy will include measures to force vandals and those daubing graffiti to clean up their own messes within 48 hours, while wearing jumpsuits or high-visibility jackets.
Offenders could also wash police cars and do unpaid work in shops, while the prime minister will pledge that communities will get a say in what type of consequences are meted out.
Pilots will see offenders in hi-vis jackets clean up graffiti within 48 hours
Maroosha Muzaffar26 March 2023 07:30
Covid victims’ families react to Boris Johnson’s Partygate probe: ‘I missed mother’s last moments’
Having missed her last moments due to Covid restrictions, Mick Yates stood two metres apart from his brothers as his mother’s coffin was lowered into her grave on 26 June 2020. A week before, Boris Johnson had been photographed in a room full of at least 30 people celebrating his birthday at a time of strict lockdown rules.
Throughout the pandemic, countless people were in Mr Yates’ position, unable to be with loved ones when they died, and banned from hugging family and friends at funerals – if they were even able to attend. Meanwhile, the then-prime minister attended gatherings at Downing Street, flouting the very rules he was supposed to be enforcing as part of attempts to curb the virus’ spread and reduce pressure on the NHS.
Boris Johnson endured a tense showdown with MPs over Partygate this week
Maroosha Muzaffar26 March 2023 06:45
ICYMI: New poll finds vast majority of Britons think Boris Johnson is dishonest
The YouGov poll found that 72 per cent of Britons think Mr Johnson is dishonest, while 51 per cent of Conservative voters and 59 per cent of pro-Brexit voters polled believe the same.
It comes after the former prime minister faced a tense showdown at the Commons Privileges Committee on Wednesday over whether he lied to MPs with his denials of lockdown-busting parties held in Downing Street.
Poll finds 72% of Britons think former PM is dishonest after committee showdown on Partygate
Maroosha Muzaffar26 March 2023 06:00
ICYMI: Boris Johnson to ‘step up’ campaigning as he ‘braces for worst-case scenario by-election’
Boris Johnson will step up campaigning in his constituency as concerns grow that he will face a by-election within months if he is found to have deliberately misled Parliament over Downing Street lockdown parties.
According to The Times, Mr Johnson is planning for the “worst-case scenario”– that the committee imposes a 10-day suspension from the Commons, which could trigger a by-election.
A Tory polling guru said the former prime minister would lose his Uxbridge and Ruislip in a by-election
Maroosha Muzaffar26 March 2023 05:15
Labour ‘overconfident’ on election win as middle-class voters coming back to Tories, says poll guru
Britain’s middle-class voters are beginning to return to the Conservatives because they like Rishi Sunak, according to a top polling guru.
Labour has become “overconfident” in recent months, said elections expert Lord Hayward – describing the large poll leads enjoyed by Sir Keir Starmer’s party as “overestimated”.
The influential Conservative peer said: “Rishi is seriously outrating the Tory party. It has the potential – as long as Rishi doesn’t screw it up – for Rishi to drag the party up to his level.”
Signs of Rishi Sunak-inspired revival in Tory fortunes in affluent ‘blue wall’ territory, says Lord Hayward
Maroosha Muzaffar26 March 2023 04:35
Thanks for following along with our political news coverage. We are pausing reporting for the night but here is the latest from Political correspondent Adam Forrest on the 2024 election prospects.
Signs of Rishi Sunak-inspired revival in Tory fortunes in affluent ‘blue wall’ territory, says Lord Hayward
Holly Bancroft25 March 2023 23:44
Pictures of the week: Boris Johnson fends of partygate allegations
Boris Johnson has had a busy week. Here are some of the pictures from an eventful seven days.
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
(PA Media)
(PA)
(PA)
(YouGov)
William Mata25 March 2023 23:00
Boris Johnson on Twitter
The man himself has not tweeted about partygate all week and has kept a low profile on social media.
He did, on Friday, speak at the CEO Club of Ukraine, which made his only tweet of the week.
Mr Johnson has kept up good relations with Ukraine since leaving No 10.
William Mata25 March 2023 22:00
postbrexitcompliance.com 