London politics news LIVE: Boris Johnson says it’s ‘untrue’ that partygate has damaged UK’s reputation abroad

Boris Johnson said it is “demonstrably untrue” that partygate has damaged the UK’s reputation on the international stage.

It follows claims by former prime minister Sir John Major that reports of parties held in Downing Street during lockdown had “shredded” Britain’s diplomatic reputation.

Asked by reporters in Poland what he made of Sir John’s criticism, Mr Johnson said: “That is demonstrably untrue.”

Pressed on whether he had broken lockdown rules, the Tory Party leader said: “I’m going to have plenty to say on that in due course.”

In a scathing attack on the prime minister on Thursday, Sir John said that Mr Johnson had broken lockdown laws and that trust in politics had hit a “low ebb, eroded by foolish behaviour”. He said that “too often, ministers have been evasive, and the truth has been optional”.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is expected to be among some 50 people set to receive an email and questionnaire from detectives working on Operation Hillman – the Met’s investigation into at least 12 parties and gatherings in Downing Street between May 2020 and April 2021.

22:14 , Matt Watts

That ends our politics live coverage for the day. Please check in again tomorrow for more!

Met Police commissioner to step down

19:55 , Daniel Keane

Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick will step down from her role after saying Mayor of London Sadiq Khan “no longer had sufficient confidence” in her leadership.

In a statement, Dame Cressida said she would move on from the role leading the force after a “short period” to ensure the “stability” of the Met.

It follows a series of scandals involving the force, including the murder of Sarah Everard by former Met officer Wayne Couzens and the publication of racist and misogynistic messages sent by officers working at a branch in Charing Cross.

Dame Cressida wrote: “Undertaking this role as a servant of the people of London and the UK has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life.

“Throughout my career I have sought to protect the people of this wonderful thriving and diverse city.”

Sinn Fein leader congratulates Queen on ‘lifetime of service’

18:42 , Daniel Keane

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has passed on her congratulations to the Queen on a “lifetime of service” on her Platinum Jubilee.

Mrs McDonald was reacting to the news that a tree is to be planted in the grounds of Parliament Buildings at Stormont to mark the jubilee.

The republican party leader said: “I think it is important that we are respectful of the identity of our citizens who are British.

“I think that is entirely appropriate and I welcome that decision.

“For those who will celebrate the jubilee, I wish them well and a good jubilee and for those of us that don’t I believe we are now big enough, bold enough, generous enough to acknowledge the identity of others.”

She added: “Can I also extend to the British Queen a word of congratulations because 70 years is quite some record.

“That is what you call a lifetime of service.”

Watch: Lavrov mocks Truss following Ukraine talks

18:22 , Daniel Keane

Here is the clip of Sergei Lavrov dismissing talks with Ms Truss earlier this afternoon.

Russian minister mocks ‘deaf’ Truss as Ukraine talks stall in Moscow

17:54 , Daniel Keane

Russia’s foreign minister claimed speaking to British foreign secretary Liz Truss is like “the deaf talking to the blind” as talks over the Ukraine crisis stalled in Moscow.

Sergei Lavrov said he was “disappointed” with the lack of progress in the negotiations as Ms Truss urged Russia to de-escalate amid growing fears it could invade Ukraine.

Ms Truss’ trip to Moscow was the first such visit by a foreign secretary in more than four years and comes as the UK government seeks a “path of diplomacy” to help defuse tensions on the Ukrainian border.

The latest estimates suggest Moscow has 130,000 troops massed in the border region and in neighbouring Belarus, close to the strength some analysts believe would be needed to mount a full-scale invasion.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Mr Lavrov claimed the UK continued to be dismissive of Russia’s security concerns.

“I’m rather disappointed that it was a bit like talking to a deaf person,” he said. “It’s like they’re listening to us but not hearing.”

Senior British diplomats meet Taliban to discuss humanitarian situation

17:34 , Daniel Keane

Senior British diplomats have met leading Taliban figures to discuss the “dire” humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

The UK does not recognise the Taliban regime which swept to power in 2020 amid chaotic scenes as Western forces pulled out of Kabul.

Nick Dyer, the UK’s special envoy for famine prevention, Hugo Shorter, the charge d’affaires ad interim of the UK mission to Afghanistan and Hester Waddams, the deputy head of mission held talks with senior Taliban officials.

“UK representatives returned to Afghanistan today for talks on how to respond to the country’s deepening humanitarian crisis,” a Government spokesman said.

They met Taliban figures including foreign affairs chief Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and intelligence director Abdul Haq Wasiq.

Starmer attacks Stop The War coalition

17:10 , Daniel Keane

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the Stop the War coalition are “naive” and “give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies”.

In an opinion article for the Guardian, Sir Keir said Russian President Vladimir Putin would see the campaign group as “virtue signallers”.

He wrote: “At best they are naive, at worst they actively give succour to authoritarian leaders who directly threaten democracies.

“There is nothing progressive in showing solidarity with the aggressor when our allies need our solidarity and – crucially – our practical assistance now more than ever.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is deputy leader of the group, which will hold an online rally on Thursday evening titled ‘No War in Ukraine: Stop Nato Expansion’. Mr Corbyn will speak at the event.

Scotland to ditch face masks in schools

16:45 , Daniel Keane

Students and teachers in Scotland’s secondary schools will no longer need to wear face masks in the classroom from the end of this month, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

She said the change - from February 28 when all schools have returned from the half-term break - is a “further step in allowing children and young people a return to a more normal experience in school after many, many months of sacrifice”.

Face coverings will still be required in other communal, indoor areas within high schools, the First Minister added, but this will be kept under “regular review”.

The announcement came 24 hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the last domestic restrictions in England - including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive - are likely to be lifted later this month, “a full month early”.

Downing St wishes Prince Charles ‘swift recovery’ from Covid

16:16 , Daniel Keane

Downing Street said Boris Johnson hopes the Prince of Wales will make a swift recovery after he tested positive for Covid-19.

A No 10 spokesman said: “The Prime Minister would like to wish the Prince of Wales a speedy recovery.”

UK ‘won’t intervene militarily if Ukraine is attacked’, says PM

15:54 , Daniel Keane

Boris Johnson has said Britain is sending military support to Ukraine but made clear it could not intervene militarily if it was attacked.

“Both Poland and the UK are offering direct military support to our Ukrainian friends. We both believe in a sovereign independent Ukraine,” he said in a pooled clip for broadcasters.

“The UK has been supplying some defensive weaponry in the form of anti-tank missiles, we have been training Ukrainian troops. That is as far as we can go at the moment,” he said.

“Ukraine is not part of Nato. What we are sticking up for is the right of Ukraine like any other sovereign independent country to aspire to that.”

PM: ‘Demonstrably untrue’ partygate has damaged UK’s reputation

15:25 , Elly Blake

Boris Johnson said it was “demonstrably untrue” that partygate had damaged the UK’s reputation on the international stage, following criticism levelled by former prime minister Sir John Major.

Ben Wallace: Defensive equipment being sent to Ukraine

14:35 , Elly Blake

Body armour, helmets and combat boots are among the latest equipment Britain has sent to Ukraine, the Defence Secretary has said.

Ben Wallace, in a written statement to MPs, said: “I can today announce that, in response to a request from the Ukrainian government, we are providing additional defensive equipment including body armour, helmets and combat boots.

“The first shipments arrived in Kyiv this week. They are a purely defensive capability and pose no threat to Russia.

“This package, requested by the Ukrainians, complements the training and capabilities that Ukraine already has and those that are also being provided by the UK and other allies in Europe and the United States.”

PM: ‘We won’t accept a world in which a powerful neighbour can bully or attack their neighbours’

14:00 , Elly Blake

Prime minister Boris Johnson is speaking in Warsw with his Polish counterpart, Mateusz Morawiecki.

He told a news conference that the UK won’t accept a world in which a “powerful neighbour can bully or attack” their neighbours, in reference to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia crisis.

He said: “We need to work together now to achieve de-escalation, to persuade Vladimir Putin to de-escalate and to disengage.

“We won’t accept, Poland and the UK, won’t accept a world in which a powerful neighbour can bully or attack their neighbours.”

It comes as 30,000 Russian troops have been undertaking military exercises with Belarus.

British politicans are stepping up diplomacy efforts as Liz Truss met with her Russian counterpart in Moscow.

Wales’s First Minister Mark Drakeford tests positive for Covid-19

13:36 , Elly Blake

Wales’s First Minister Mark Drakeford has tested positive for Covid-19, a spokesperson has confirmed.

A statement issued on Thursday said: “The First Minister of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus after taking a PCR test.

“He is self-isolating and working remotely”.

The country’s economy minister Vaughan Gething will host the three-weekly coronavirus regulations review due to take place at midday on Friday in Mr Drakeford’s place.

House of Lords committee to probe BBC future funding

13:21 , Josh Salisbury

A House of Lords committee will explore how the BBC should be funded after the Government suggested a shift away from the licence fee from 2027.

The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee inquiry will explore how new technologies and consumer habits has affected the BBC, said Baroness Stowell of Beeston, chair of the committee.

The BBC licence fee is being frozen for the next two years and the Government has said it wants to find a new funding model for the broadcaster after the current licence fee funding deal expires in 2027.

BBC bosses have warned that the licence fee freeze will leave them with an annual £285 million shortfall by 2027-28.

"Our inquiry will look at this changing media landscape and examine how the BBC should be funded in the future to deliver what is needed from a national public service broadcaster,” said Baroness Beeston.

Law for tougher sanctions against Russia ‘in force this afternoon’ - minister

12:43 , Josh Salisbury

Powers which will allow the Government to toughen sanctions on Russia will come into force this afternoon, a minister has said.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly told the Commons that the new law would be in place by the end of Thursday as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visits Moscow.

Ms Truss had promised MPs that a new sanctions law would be in place by Thursday, but Labour questioned why MPs had not been given a chance to scrutinise the proposals as the deadline rolled around.

Foreign Office minister, James Cleverly, told the Commons: “We are toughening and expanding our sanctions regime in response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

“This legislation will significantly broaden the range of people, businesses and other entities that we can sanction in response to any further Russian aggression."

John Major: Ministers not telling Boris Johnson he can’t behave like he does

12:36 , Josh Salisbury

Sir John Major said previous prime ministers would not have been allowed by their senior ministers and officials to behave in the way Boris Johnson does.

Speaking during a question and answer session at the Institute for Government, the former prime minister said the apparent unwillingness to confront Mr Johnson was a "weakness" in No 10.

"If Mrs Thatcher in her time had been seen to behave in the way the present Prime Minister has, I can tell you what would have happened," he said.

"The cabinet secretary would have been around straight away to tell her she couldn't do it and so would Mr (William) Whitelaw, Lord Carrington, Sir Geoffrey Howe and many other senior and weighty member of the cabinet.

"If I had done it I would have had Douglas Hurd, Ken Clarke, Michael Heseltine, never mind others in No 10, telling me, 'You just cannot do that'.

"Nobody in Cabinet, nor indeed the Cabinet Secretary, seems to be saying that to the present Prime Minister and that is a weakness in No 10."

PM has not been contacted by the Met Police, says No 10

12:13 , Elly Blake

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Boris Johnson has not been contacted by Metropolitan Police officers investigating partygate allegations.

“We would look to confirm contact of this sort as relates to the Prime Minister given the significant public interest,” he added.

Responding to John Major’s allegation that Boris Johnson and No 10 staff had broken lockdown laws, No 10 said: “There’s a Met investigation under way on these events, I simply wouldn’t seek to comment.”

Breaking: Prince of Wales tests positive for Covid-19

12:05 , Elly Blake

The Prince of Wales has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating, Clarence House has said on Twitter.

Zahawi: People ‘rightly angry’ over partygate

12:01 , Elly Blake

Nadhim Zahawi said people are “rightly angry” about allegations of lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street.

“There is no doubt that the stories around parties have cut through – people were rightly angry to see that those who were making the rules have allegations put against them that they’re not obeying the rules,” he told Sky News.

“I think the police are looking at all those allegations that Sue Gray has given them, I think they’ve got a ream-and-a-half of hundreds of pages of reports and pictures,” he said, adding it was only right they should do so.

Dame Cressida Dick: Some of 50 people contacted over Downing Street parties ‘may very well’ be fined

11:59 , Elly Blake

Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said some of the 50 people being contacted about Downing Street lockdown parties “may very well” be handed fixed penalty notices.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, she said she recognised the scandal of parties at No 10 has “hugely disgusted” members of the public.

Dame Cressida said: “You may be aware that we are currently investigating, and I announced that a couple of weeks ago at the Police and Crime Committee.

“And you will also, perhaps, be aware that although I said we wouldn’t be giving a running commentary we would at significant moments update the public and yesterday, my investigators did put out an update to say that we will be writing with a questionnaire to over 50 people as as part of that investigation to ask them to account for what they were doing. And clearly, some, but probably not all, of those people may very well end up with a ticket.”

Sir John Mayor on PM as a journalist: His reporting was often widely mistaken and short of fact

11:46 , Elly Blake

Boris Johnson’s reporting “was often widely mistaken and short of fact,” Sir John Major told a Q&A session.

Mr Johnson was a journalist prior to entering the world of politics.

Sir John was asked about Brexit by the BBC journalist Nick Watt.

Answering whether the prime minister’s claim the UK would be £350m better off a week if it left the EU, he responded that he had not seen evidence of that.

He also said the Northern Ireland protocol was “arguably one of the worst pieces of negotiating in recent history”.

Sir John Mayor: Those surrounding the PM should be held accountable if lockdown rules broken

11:41 , Elly Blake

During a Q&A after his speech at the Institute for Government, Sir John Major has said those surrounding the prime minister must be culpable.

But, shying away from saying whether Boris Johnson should resign if fined by the Metropolitan Police, he said: “I’m not here to pronounce on the fate of any individual this morning”.

He repeatedly refued to answer questions about Mr Johnson’s fate if he were to be found to have broken lockdown rules.

Sir John Mayor: PMQs ‘like a circus'

11:38 , Elly Blake

Sir John Major has said he thinks reforms to Parliament are necessary.

He said he sometimes tunes in to prime ministers’ questions every Wednesday at 12pm and thinks it is “like a circus”.

The former prime minister refused to make any comment on if the voting system should be changed.

Dame Cressida Dick has ‘no intention’ of resigning over Charing Cross incident

11:35 , Elly Blake

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she has “no intention of going” when asked if she should step down following the revelation that officers sent racist and sexist messages to each other.

Speaking on BBC Radio London, she said: “I have absolutely no intention of going and I believe that I am and have been, actually for the last five years, leading a real transformation in the Met.

“We have a service now which is, I’m absolutely certain, more professional, fairer, more transparent, more accountable and closer to its communities and more effective in, for example, reducing violent crime, which has been going down year on year on year in almost every category, bucking the national trends.”

John Major launches scathing attack on the PM

11:29 , Elly Blake

Sir John Major has accused Boris Johnson of undermining trust in government and politics.

The former Conservative leader, who was prime minister for seven years from 1990 to 1997, warned that attempts to excuse the breaking of lockdown laws by No 10 is undermining trust in government and politics.

He said: “The Prime Minister and our present Government not only challenge the law, but also seem to believe that they – and they alone – need not obey the rules, traditions, conventions – call them what you will – of public life.

“The charge that there is one law for the Government and one for everyone else is politically deadly – and it has struck home.”

Sir John Major gives stark warning about trust in politics

11:05 , Elly Blake

Former prime minister Sir John Major is using a speech at the Institute for Government to issue a stark warning about trust in politics.

He accused the prime minister of dreaming up “brazen excuses” for alleged rule-breaking over the pandemic.

He said: “At No10, the Prime Minister and officials broke lockdown laws.

“Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible – making themselves look gullible or foolish.

“Collectively, this has made the Government look distinctly shifty, which has consequences that go far beyond political unpopularity.

“No Government can function properly if its every word is treated with suspicion.”

Read the full story by deputy political editor David Ellis here.

‘Future peace and stability’ of Europe at stake, says Liz Truss

10:31 , Elly Blake

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, at a joint press conference with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, said the “future peace and stability” of Europe was at stake.

“There is still time for Russia to end its aggression towards Ukraine and pursue the path of diplomacy,” she said.

“But Nato is very clear that if that path is not chosen there will be severe consequences for Russia, Ukraine and the whole of Europe.”

PM refuses to say whether he will resign if fined over ‘partygate’

10:25 , Elly Blake

Boris Johnson has refused to say whether he will resign if he is fined for breaching lockdown restrictions.

Asked at a press conference with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels, the Prime Minister said: “On your point about what’s going on at home, that process must be completed and I’m looking forward to it being completed, and that’s the time to say more on that.”

Nato secretary-general writes to Russian foreign minister

10:16 , Elly Blake

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said he has written to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to offer more talks.

At a joint press conference with Boris Johnson at Nato HQ in Brussels, Mr Stoltenberg said: “This morning I have sent a letter to foreign minister Lavrov reiterating my invitation to Russia to continue our dialogue in a series of meetings in the Nato-Russia council to find a diplomatic way forward.

“We are prepared to listen to Russia’s concerns and ready to discuss ways to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security that we all have signed up to.”

But he added: “Nato will not compromise on core principles – the right of each nation to choose its own path and Nato’s ability to protect and defend all allies.”

Hospital waiting times at record high

09:48 , Elly Blake

The number of people in England waiting to start routine hospital treatment has risen to a new record high.

A total of 6.1 million people were waiting to start treatment at the end of December 2021, NHS England said.

This is the highest number since records began in August 2007.

The number of people having to wait more than 52 weeks to start treatment stood at 310,813 in December 2021, up from 306,996 in the previous month and 39% higher than the number in December 2020.

The Government and NHS England have set the ambition of eliminating all waits of more than a year by March 2025.

Nadhim Zahawi: If I didn’t have the vaccine I would have been in big trouble when I had Covid

09:14 , Elly Blake

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said he would have been “in big trouble” if he had not had the Covid-19 vaccine when he contracted the virus.

Mr Zahawi opened up about his experience of having Covid-19 on Sky News.

He told how he was struggling to breathe and saw his temperature shoot up to 39.5 degrees.

“If I hadn’t had the vaccine I would have been in big trouble,” he said.

Zoe app lead: Totally wrong to say the UK has ‘beaten Covid'

09:05 , Elly Blake

Professor Tim Spector, who runs the Zoe app Covid study at King’s College London, said other countries will stick with four or five days of isolation.

“They won’t be saying to everyone ‘Don’t bother, just go and infect your workmates’, which seems crazy,” he told Times Radio.

Asked if Boris Johnson’s announcement was “an act of irresponsibility”, he said: “I think it is… giving the impression that Britain, that the UK, has beaten Covid, I think it’s totally the wrong way to do it.”

Liz Truss: I urge Russia to take the path of diplomacy

08:24 , Elly Blake

Foreign secretary Liz Truss has urged Russia to “take the path of diplomacy” during a meeting in Moscow with her counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

She also said a war in Ukraine would be “distastrous” for Russia, Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

Ms Lavrov responded saying the Kremlin is ready to normalise its relations with the UK but this must be based on the principle of “mutual respect”.

British troops being sent to Ukraine to prove Nato is ‘not flaky’, says Ben Wallace

08:14 , Elly Blake

Britain is sending 1,000 troops to eastern Europe to prove to Russia that Nato is “not flaky”, defence secretary Ben Wallace has said.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “What this is really about is saying to President Putin, ‘Nato is not flaky. Nato will stand by its members, big or small’.”

The cabinet minister added: “We want a dialogue, we want a way through this, but also Russia is now deploying over half its combat troops of a whole nation of Russia on the borders of Ukraine and in Belarus, and we’re not just going to let that happen without Nato having a response to defend its own members.”

Mr Wallace said the troops could end up in any Nato country where there are consequences of an invasion of Ukraine including the Baltic states, Poland, Romania and Nordic nations.

“Should Russia invade Ukraine I think we can expect very large movements of people as refugees and that in itself can be very destabilising to small and medium-sized states,” he said.

PM headed for Brussels where he will meet Nato secretary-general

07:59 , Elly Blake

The Prime Minister has boarded his flight to Brussels where he is due to meet with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg.

Boris Johnson is expected to reiterate an offer to strengthen the alliance’s defences should Russian aggression in eastern Europe increase.

Following the meeting, he is scheduled to fly to Warsaw in Poland for talks with the country’s leaders and to meet British troops stationed there, amid fears over a Russian invasion into neighbouring Ukraine.

Defence secretary: More photos of Downing Street parties could emerge

07:52 , Elly Blake

Ben Wallace has acknowledged more pictures of alleged rule-breaking events in Downing Street could emerge at any time.

He told Times Radio: “The constant leaking is clearly designed for a purpose.

“Yes, there could be a photograph tomorrow, the next day or the day after, that’s clearly what’s behind some of the people’s motives.

“How accurate they are, how much they are put in the right context, that’s what the police will find out.”

AstraZeneca records loss despite manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine

07:46 , Elly Blake

Covid-19 vaccine maker AstraZeneca has swung to a loss for 2021 despite making 4 billion dollars (£3 billion) in sales from its coronavirus jab.

The drugs giant, which is not making a profit from the vaccine, posted a pre-tax loss of 265 million dollars (£196 million) for last year, against profits of 3.92 billion dollars (£2.9 billion) in 2020.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, said: “AstraZeneca continued on its strong growth trajectory in 2021, with industry-leading R&D (research and development) productivity, five of our medicines crossing new blockbuster thresholds, and the acquisition and integration of Alexion.

“We also delivered on our promise of broad and equitable access to our Covid-19 vaccine with 2.5 billion doses released for supply around the world, and we made good progress on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”

He added: “After a landmark year in 2021, we are increasing the dividend for our shareholders.”

Human rights barrister: PM could be fined thousands of pounds for attending lockdown parties

07:39 , Elly Blake

A human rights barrister has said the Prime Minister could face thousands of pounds worth of fixed penalty notices for attending lockdown parties in No 10.

Adam Wagner, an expert on Covid-19 rules, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the most likely form of penalty to be issued by police investigating the gatherings is fixed penalty notices, “which can be issued when the police reasonably believe a person has committed a criminal offence”.

He said: “There were 12 gatherings being investigated; the person we know was probably at six was the Prime Minister. So if he was given a fixed penalty notice for each and every one those, I think that he would be given those sort of cumulative amounts until eventually the final one would be £6,400.

“So overall, and assuming there isn’t a big £10,000 one for hosting a gathering in the flat of over 30 people, he could still be in line for over £10,000 worth of fixed penalty notices if they accumulate”.

Liz Truss to meet her counterpart in Moscow

07:29 , Elly Blake

Foreign secretary Liz Truss is visiting Moscow today, where she will meet with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

She will ask the Kremlin to withdraw its troops from Ukraine’s border.

What’s happening today?

06:50 , Elly Blake

The prime minister is flying to Belgium and Poland today amid concerns the ongoing crisis in Ukraine turns into a full-scale war.

Defence minister Ben Wallace is doing the media rounds this morning, with Ukraine and ‘partygate’ no doubt dominating the conversation.

Former prime minister Sir John Major is due to deliver a speech to the Institute for Government later this morning.

Stay tuned, we will be bringing you live updates from the heart of Westminster and across the world.