Boris Johnson news – live: Police asked to probe No 10 Christmas party claims as Tories win by-election

The Metropolitan Police have been asked to launch an investigation into claims that more than 50 people attended a Christmas party at Downing Street during last year's lockdown.

In a letter to the force's commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, Labour MP Barry Gardiner said officers “should investigate the matter further to establish the facts and see if any laws might have been broken”.

The calls for an investigation came as Boris Johnson’s party celebrated holding onto their safe seat in the closely-watched Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election, despite the count showing a 10 per cent swing to Labour amid low voter turnout in the constituency previously held by former minister James Brokenshire, who died in October of lung cancer aged 53.

Labour’s Ellie Reeves also claimed it was a “remarkable result for us in a Tory stronghold” that if replicated at a general election would see Keir Starmer’s party “within reach of forming a majority government”, while Richard Tice of Reform UK – which came third – claimed the result showed his was now the only party “on the upward march”.

Read More

Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election result: Three parties claim ‘massive’ result as Conservatives hold safe seat

Government failing to ‘take back control’ of borders post-Brexit, say voters as Channel crossings surge

Don’t block steel tariff deal because of Northern Ireland Brexit dispute, No 10 warns US

Key Points

• Police asked to probe No 10 Christmas party claims

• Minister ‘really not terribly worried about Labour'

• Tories hold Old Bexley and Sidcup seat in by-election

07:44 , Andy Gregory

Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of UK politics.

Tories win Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election

08:01 , Andy Gregory

The major political news this morning is the result of the closely watched by-election in the late James Brokenshire’s Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency.

The Conservatives have held onto their safe seat, but with a majority slashed by more than half amid low voter turnout, my colleague Shweta Sharma reports.

Conservative councillor Louie French won 11,189 votes to become the country’s newest MP, in a victory that was hailed as “almost unheard of” for a sitting government by the Conservatives.

The closest challenger was Labour’s Daniel Francis, who secured 6,711 as the Tory majority was slashed from nearly 19,000 to 4,478, the equivalent of a vote share swing of 10 per cent to Labour.

Reform leader Richard Tice came in third, claiming his party was now “on the upward march”, while the Greens in fourth and Liberal Democrats in fifth both lost their deposits.

Three parties claim ‘massive’ result as Tory majority slashed in Bexley by-election

Louie French says by-election fought with ‘dignity and respect’ in victory speech

08:27 , Andy Gregory

Louie French used his acceptance speech to pay tribute to his “good friend” James Brokenshire.

“This has been a tough contest, which has been fought with dignity and respect,” he said.

“My focus will now be delivering on those promises that I made during the campaign – get our fair share of London’s police officers, securing more investment for local schools and hospitals, protecting our precious green spaces.”

Three parties seek to hail results of by-election as positive

08:36 , Andy Gregory

The Tories, Labour and Reform UK have all sought to claim the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election as a good result for their party.

Despite the 10 per cent swing to Labour, Tory deputy chairman Justin Tomlinson said the Conservatives were “absolutely thrilled”, adding: “For a Government to get over 50 per cent of the vote in a parliamentary by-election is almost unheard of, and with a majority of over 20 per cent.”

He added that the result was an “absolute disaster” for the Labour Party, saying: “They do not look like a government in waiting.”

But Labour’s shadow solicitor general Ellie Reeves described it as a “remarkable result for us in a Tory stronghold”, which if replicated in a general election would see Labour “within reach of forming a majority government”, adding: “I think it’s clear that we’re winning back the trust of people.”

And Richard Tice of Reform UK hailed it as a “massive” result after his party came third “with almost as many votes as the Lib Dems and Greens combined”. He claimed there are “now only five parties to choose from in British politics and Reform UK is the only one on the upward march”. The Lib Dems had chosen not to target the seat in an unofficial agreement with Labour.

Turnout in the contest was just 34 per cent, down from the almost 70 per cent who voted in the 2019 general election.

Inside Politics: Looming North Shropshire by-election is ‘one to watch’

08:43 , Andy Gregory

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more insight on the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election in The Independent’s free daily Inside Politics newsletter this morning.

He reports that attention will soon focus on the upcoming by-election in North Shropshire, which was announced after the resignation of the Conservative MP Owen Paterson amid a row over sleaze.

With Tories appearing more nervous over this vote, it's certainly one to watch, he suggests.

Meanwhile back in Westminster, parliament’s Friday sitting appears set to be dedicated to private members’ bills, notably with the Labour MP Kevin Brennan putting forward proposals to update legislation for streaming music.

Tories’ majority reduced in Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election contest

Margaret Hodge to stand down at next general election after 27 years in role

08:45 , Andy Gregory

In case you missed it last night, veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge has announced she will not stand at the next general election, calling the decision a “tough” one to make.

In a video message, sent to her local Labour Party in Barking, the former cabinet minister said she had “loved the job” but that after 27 years, she will be “standing down from Parliament”.

My colleague Sam Hancock has the details here:

Labour MP Margaret Hodge announces she will stand down at next election

Tory minister ‘really not terribly worried about Labour’ after by-election

08:48 , Andy Gregory

Tory Party chairman Oliver Dowden has kicked off the morning media rounds with a healthy post-victory dig at the Labour Party, while fielding questions about how allegations of Conservative sleaze and “corruption” may have impacted the by-election result.

“This is a good result for a governing party mid-term,” Mr Dowden told Sky News. “As you well know, governing parties shouldn't expect to do well mid-term. We actually secured over 50 per cent of the vote in Bexley. I pay tribute to our excellent candidate and the campaign team there that secured that result.

“This idea that Labour have made some surge ahead is really for the birds. They've actually got about the same vote share as they secured under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017. Keir Starmer couldn't even be bothered to turn up to the by-election, so I am really not terribly worried about Labour.”

Asked about how allegations of sleaze may have affected the Tories' performance, Mr Dowden said: “Of course people have concerns mid-term with any government's performance. And, of course, people have been concerned about what's happened over the past couple of months.

“I actually think it's tribute, contrary to a lot of expectations, to the campaign that has been fought by Louie French, by the excellent team down there, that we secured 50 per cent of the vote. Now, what I take from that is that the Government has to focus and get on with delivery.”

Boris Johnson could lose his seat if by-election vote replicated nationwide, Labour claims

08:53 , Andy Gregory

Were the 10 per cent swing to Labour in the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election replicated in Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, the prime minister could be at risk of losing his seat, Labour sources were quoted as saying last night.

Cabinet struggling to define ‘levelling up’, report suggests

09:07 , Andy Gregory

Anyone confused about what “levelling up” is actually supposed to mean may be able to find solace in the fact that it seems that members of the Cabinet still can’t quite decide either.

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul flags an apparent insight into top-level discussions about Boris Johnson’s key policy, gleaned by The Times, which reports that “at a recent Cabinet awayday, Michael Gove asked everyone to say what levelling up must, or must not, mean in a sentence”.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke is reported to have said it must involve bringing devolution to more places, only for Jacob Rees-Mogg to respond that levelling up mustn't mean what Clarke had just said.

Boris Johnson ‘should be worried’, Labour campaign coordinator claims

09:27 , Andy Gregory

Boris Johnson “should be worried” by the result in Old Bexley and Sidcup, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator has claimed.

Shabana Mahmood said: “The prime minister should be worried because, even by by-election standards, a 10.3 per cent swing towards the Labour Party in such a strong Tory area, if that was replicated at a general election, that would put us within touching distance of a majority Labour government. So I take a lot of heart from that result.”

She added: “For us it means, certainly those conversations that I had, that more and more people are taking a second look at the Labour Party and more and more people are concluding that Keir Starmer would make a better prime minister of this country.

“So, as I say, I take great heart from that, this was true blue Tory heartlands, and a 10.3 per cent swing is an excellent result for us.”

Boris Johnson hasn’t ‘lost any of his star quality’, Oliver Dowden insists

09:38 , Andy Gregory

Quizzed on Times Radio whether the shine was coming off Mr Johnson after the by-election in a safe Tory seat saw a 10 per cent swing to Labour, Oliver Dowden replied: “When I was up there with Boris he still had the same traffic stopping ability — literally.

“He tried to enter the campaign HQ at which point a load of teenage boys on the top of a red bus started shouting and screaming out of the window, people charged out from everywhere. I don’t think Boris has lost any of his star quality. But of course the government has to continue to improve its game.”

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details here:

PM hasn’t ‘lost star quality’ after reduced majority at by-election, Dowden insists

Keir Starmer says Margaret Hodge will be ‘sorely missed’

09:45 , Andy Gregory

Responding to Margaret Hodge’s announcement that she intends not to stand at the next election, Sir Keir Starmer praised the veteran Labour MP’s “exemplary” dedication to the party, describing her as “a champion of unity and hope over division”.

UK and EU chief negotiators to discuss Northern Ireland protocol

10:10 , Andy Gregory

In the latest news on Brexit, chief negotiators from London and Brussels are set to meet virtually today as they seek a resolution to issues with the Northern Ireland protocol.

While Brexit minister Lord Frost had previously said both the UK and the EU wanted the dispute “settled one way or the other” before the winter, Ireland’s foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney warned this week that an agreement on the protocol before Christmas was “unrealistic”.

In the meantime, the threat to the protocol continues to cast a shadow over the UK’s transatlantic relations, with No 10 warning the White House on Thursday not to shelve a deal to remove tariffs on UK steel and aluminium as a result of the uncertainty.

It is wrong to “conflate” the two issues, Boris Johnson’s spokesman said – after a US official said tariff talks were on hold because of British threats to suspend Article 16 of the Brexit deal.

Don’t block steel deal because of Northern Ireland Brexit row, No 10 warns US

UK offer to patrol French beaches ‘remains on the table’ despite formal rejection

10:35 , Andy Gregory

Hours after France’s prime minister Jean Castex said the country “cannot accept” the presence of UK troops on French beaches, the government’s Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O'Mahoney said the offer of help with stopping people trying to cross to British shores “remains on the table”.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Mr O’Mahoney said: “My number one priority, and my team's, is to save lives …The news last week that 27 men, women and children had died in the Channel hit us really hard. We carry a huge weight of responsibility.”

France formally rejected the suggestion – included in Boris Johnson’s ill-received letter to Emmanuel Macron – on Thursday, saying that joint patrols on French beaches would “compromise the nation's sovereignty”. Mr Castex suggested the UK should do more to offer “legal immigration paths”.

10:44 , Andy Gregory

The Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election result “tells us almost nothing”, a polling expert has suggested.

“You don't have to read too much into a low turnout race in one 650th of the country which has unique local dynamics,” said Chris Curtis, a senior research manager at Opinium, pointing instead to weekly polling of political sentiment nationwide.

Met has not yet received complaint over Downing Street Christmas party, Cressida Dick says

10:54 , Andy Gregory

The Metropolitan Police have not received any complaints related to a Downing Street party alleged to have taken place last Christmas, its Commissioner has said.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner has asked the country's most senior civil servant if he is planning to call in the police over allegations that gatherings were held in Downing Street while Covid restrictions were in place.

But asked whether her force is investigating one of the reported events during a phone-in on LBC, Dame Cressida Dick said: “The answer to that is no. And, as far as I'm aware, we have had no complaints and therefore I really can't comment on what did or didn't happen there.”

Asked what would happen if she received a letter, she said: “If I get a letter, I'll read a letter.”

Pressed further, she said: “This is the Met. We are professional. We are impartial. We act without fear or favour. We follow evidence. That's what we do.”

Tory Party chair ‘not speaking to colleagues' about alleged Christmas party at No 10

11:07 , Andy Gregory

According to the Tory Party chairman, he has made no efforts to speak to anyone who may have information about a Christmas party alleged to have taken place in Downing Street last year.

“I have not been having conversations about what may or may not have happened over a year ago,” Oliver Dowden told BBC Breakfast.

He added: “My focus has not been on having conversations about what may or may not have happened over a year ago in Downing Street. I have, however, been assured by what the prime minister has said, which is that the rules at all times were obeyed in Downing Street.”

Boris Johnson has said any events held at Number 10 were “in accordance with the rules”.

Government urged to appoint minister for youth employment as school-leavers face jobs ‘crisis’

11:27 , Andy Gregory

The government must appoint a minister for youth employment because the situation for school-leavers is so dire, the head of a major academy chain has said.

Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis chain of schools, said so many young people are struggling to find jobs that it is has reached crisis point, adding: “We need someone senior in government who gets up every morning to look at this.”

Anna Davis has the details here:

Government urged to appoint minister for youth employment to tackle ‘crisis’

New music streaming proposals would not cause ‘anarchy in UK’ industry, MP says

11:45 , Andy Gregory

In the Commons, MPs have heard that proposals to give musicians a greater share of streaming revenue would not lead to “anarchy in the UK” music industry.

Speaking in support of his Copyright (Rights and Remuneration of Musicians) Bill, Labour MP Kevin Brennan said: “Some with vested interests to protect would almost have us believe that this well-researched proposal, based on a ground-breaking parliamentary select committee report, agreed unanimously cross-party, would lead to some sort of anarchy in the UK music industry.

“I am afraid there is an element of hyperbole and panic, I think, in their response."

He added: “Much as I love that seminal British punk record of rebellion, this Bill is not about anarchy in the UK. This Bill is about equity in the UK music industry. I ask the House to support its second reading so that we can get on and scrutinise it in the detail such a serious proposal deserves.”

The MP has previously written for The Independent outlining his plans to help musicians make a living from original music.

Boris Johnson down four points to Keir Starmer, YouGov polling indicates

11:55 , Andy Gregory

Keir Starmer has pulled out four points in front of Boris Johnson on the question of who voters believe would make the best prime minister, YouGov polling suggests.

While the PM’s static results mirror those of his party in the pollster’s survey on voting intentions when compared with the previous week, Sir Keir’s buoyant numbers are in contrast with those of his party – which is down two points on last week, putting the Tories back three points ahead.

Government failing to ‘take back control’ of borders post-Brexit, say voters as Channel crossings surge

12:10 , Andy Gregory

Two in three voters believe Boris Johnson’s government is failing in its aim to “take back control” of Britain’s borders after Brexit, polling suggests.

After he forged an exit deal with the EU at the end of 2020, the prime minister claimed the government had fulfilled the Leave campaign slogan and “taken back control” of the UK’s borders.

But amid the ongoing surge in small boats crossings in the Channel, only 27 per cent of voters say the government have done “well” to take control of the borders, according to a Savanta ComRes survey.

My colleague Adam Forrest has more details here:

Patel tries to dampen backing for Borders Bill rebellions

12:42 , Jane Dalton

Home secretary Priti Patel has privately messaged Tory MPs amid fears of large rebellions on the Nationality and Borders Bill, which is due to return to Parliament next week, it’s being reported.

Backbench Conservatives have pledged to support two amendments to the the bill, both of which would make it easier for Hong Kong nationals to live and work in the UK, according to PoliticsHome.

But Ms Patel has directly messaged MPs saying one amendment is unviable and expressing concern that the proposed change would allow people around the world to claim settlement rights regardless of where they live.

So far 46 MPs from all the main parties have backed an amendment tabled by former cabinet minister Damian Green seeking to expand the scope of Hongkongers eligible for the government’s British National Overseas Visa Scheme, the report says.

Feeling is reportedly growing within the party that the government should take a tougher stance against the Chinese communist party.

'Vaccine inequality should be a higher priority than the snogging debate’

12:54 , Jane Dalton

Ministers would be better off addressing global vaccine inequality and nationalism than tying themselves up in knots with mixed messages on what we should and should not be doing this Christmas - such as whether to snog others, argues Andrew Grice:

Therese Coffey gets her tongue in a twist over snogging guidelines | Andrew Grice

PM’s jokes aren’t funny any more for Tory voters, says Starmer

13:04 , Jane Dalton

Keir Starmer has hailed the by-election result in Old Bexley and Sidcup, saying: “Even for Tory heartland voters, Boris Johnson’s jokes aren’t funny any more.”

Civil servant ‘tried to take own life after racial bullying at work'

13:09 , Jane Dalton

A civil servant tried to take their own life after “prolonged racial bullying” in a government department, it has been alleged.

The Cabinet Office has launched a review of “respect and inclusion” amid accusations of racism as well as unfairness towards disabled staff.

And the PA news agency reports that concerns have been raised over a number of years around how black members of staff are treated, with examples given of one black worker being called “boy” in a meeting and the use of the N-word.

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said the Prime Minister felt “racism has no role whatsoever in our society”.

The PCS union, which represents civil servants, called the accusations “utterly shocking”.

PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka wrote to Mr Chisholm last December raising concerns about bullying following the Civil Service People Survey.

At that time, he said that “large numbers” of black and ethnic minority staff had complained to the union about prejudice.

The union earlier this year said it was considering taking the issue to the Equality and Human Rights Commission after more than 80 staff members had complained about being racially bullied.

The Cabinet Office said improvements had been made, and this was reflected in the most recent staff survey.

A spokesperson said: “The Cabinet Office does not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination in any form. We sought out these experiences precisely to help make our workspace more inclusive.

“This is a vital part of our commitment to set a new standard for diversity and inclusion, as set out in the Declaration on Government Reform. While our latest data shows a decline in reported incidents of discrimination, there is always more we can do.”

No 10 refuses to give details of any planned ‘private’ Christmas parties

13:17 , Andy Gregory

Any staff parties held at Downing Street over Christmas would be “private events” that would not be publicly announced, No 10 has said.

Speaking amid allegations that Downing Street breached its own Covid rules with a party last Christmas, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister has said that there will continue to be festive events in the run-up to Christmas. You’ll have seen earlier this week the prime minister do the switching on of the No 10 Christmas tree lights.”

Asked if he would therefore inform reporters if there were plans for a No 10 Christmas party for staff, he clarified: “Obviously, events that happen in No 10 that are private events, we wouldn’t inform you … We obviously wouldn’t set out details of private functions in No 10.”

‘No plans’ to make jabs mandatory, says No 10

13:35 , Andy Gregory

Downing Street has said the government has “no plans” to make vaccinations mandatory, my colleague Adam Forrest reports.

Asked if jabs could ever be made compulsory – or curbs enforced on the unvaccinated, as Germany is now doing – Boris Johnson’s spokesman told reporters: “It’s not something that we would look to introduce.

“You’re aware of the changes we made in terms of social care settings and for NHS workers, given the importance of protecting the most vulnerable in our society. But there’s no plans above and beyond that in that regard.”

Tory chair Oliver Dowden had earlier appeared unable to explicitly rule out the prospect of such a move when asked by TalkRadio, saying: “It’s not something that we want to do or plan to do in the United Kingdom. And the reason why we don’t want to and hopefully won’t have to do any of that is because of the booster – people are taking that booster, that is building up the wall again.”

‘I have waited 20 years to get a bill like this’: MP hails music streaming proposals

13:57 , Andy Gregory

MPs have been discussing a new bill from Labour’s Kevin Brennan aimed at making streaming more equitable for musicians.

Pete Wishart, a former keyboard player in Runrig and Big Country and now the SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire, said he had “waited 20 years to get a bill like this”.

“I have been in the music industry, I have seen exactly what it is. It is a field of dreams. If you make it big, you can escape your background, you can go on to have huge success and huge riches. It is an amazing industry. It is great to be part of,” Mr Wishart told MPs.

He added: “We have an opportunity to resolve a really serious situation here today and I really hope the government take advantage of that."

14:05 , Andy Gregory

A Labour MP has suggested that Tory MPs appear determined to “filibuster” or “talk out” Kevin Brennan’s private members bill on music streaming to stop it from progressing through Parliament.

Old Bexley and Sidcup was a ‘move on, nothing to see here’ by-election, polling expert suggests

14:13 , Andy Gregory

By-elections are a “rubbish” barometer of wider political sentiment, a polling chief at YouGov has suggested, describing the Old Bexley and Sidcup vote as a “move on, nothing to see here” poll.

Anthony Wells suggested that the by-election could have had political significance if there had been a larger shift to Labour, or if Reform UK had performed better – but neither of these things happened to a sufficient extent to represent a threat to Boris Johnson or his party.

Ofgem removes compensation limit for energy customers left without power for a week

14:26 , Andy Gregory

The energy regulator Ofgem has lifted a £700 cap to allow customers still without power a week after Storm Arwen first struck to be able to claim £70 for each 12-hour period without power.

Exclusive: NHS leaders left in the dark over government’s booster rollout plan

14:43 , Andy Gregory

NHS leaders have still not been told how the government expects them to manage a huge expansion of the booster vaccine campaign, nearly a week after the government indicated the move to jab tens of millions of people.

One senior NHS director in the West Midlands told The Independent: “It’s a bit of an issue really, saying they’re going to ratchet up the programme. There’s quite a lot toing and froing and we don’t know quite where it is going to land really in terms of the vaccination programme and how it’s going to be delivered.

“As with every stage of this we’ll find a solution about how to get the vaccine to people, but the way the government has been doing it has been ham fisted.”

Our health correspondent Rebecca Thomas and deputy political editor Rob Merrick have the full story here:

NHS leaders in the dark over government’s booster rollout plan

Mark Francois self-publishes book, attacks ‘Remain orthodoxy’ within publishing industry

14:59 , Andy Gregory

Arch-Brexiteer Mark Francois has claimed “that the orthodoxy within the publishing industry is very much Remain”, while discussing his decision to self-publish his Brexit memoirs after they were rejected by a number of publishers.

Pressed by The Telegraph on whether that was “really right” or was actually “just in your head”, Mr Francois said: “No, there was definitely an element of that.”

Asked what kind of comments he received from publishers, the European Research Group chairman said: “Well I was getting it all second-hand through an agent. He just said, ‘look, this industry has a particular view of the world and it’s not quite the same view that you’ve got’.

“So in the end, that’s why I decided to go down the self-publishing route.”

Sajid Javid reveals snogging his wife under mistletoe is ‘family tradition’

15:21 , Andy Gregory

The government will not be outlawing snogging under mistletoe this Christmas, Sajid Javid has said.

The health secretary went on to say that the kiss is a “Javid family tradition” for he and his wife.

Sajid Javid reveals snogging his wife under mistletoe is ‘family tradition’

Met police asked to investigate Downing Street lockdown Christmas party

15:36 , Andy Gregory

Labour’s Barry Gardiner has written to Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick asking the force to launch an investigation into Christmas parties held at Downing Street during last year's lockdown, in order to “establish the facts and see if any laws might have been broken”.

Mr Gardiner said he was “surprised to hear” Dame Cressida’s comments that that no investigation had yet been launched earlier in the day, adding: “It is alleged that over 50 people were in attendance at the event at that this may have been a breach of the then Covid rules.

“At the time such large gatherings were banned. It has also been alleged that there was a separate large event on 27 November 2020.”

The Independent’s policy correspondent Jon Stone has the full story here:

Met police asked to investigate Downing Street lockdown Christmas party

15:41 , Andy Gregory

Asked about the claims on Wednesday, a No 10 spokesperson refused to deny that parties took place at Downing Street last winter, saying only that “Covid rules have been followed at all times”.

In his report this afternoon on the request for a police probe into the matter, our policy correspondent Jon Stone notes that the government issued similar statements in relation to the affair of Matt Hancock, and Dominic Cummings' trip to Barnard Castle.

Tory peer denies being racist after alleged abusive message to man of Indian heritage

16:01 , Andy Gregory

Conservative peer Michelle Mone has denied being racist after she was accused of calling a man of Indian heritage a ‘waste of man’s white skin’ in a Whatsapp exchange following a fatal yacht crash off the coast in June 2019, my colleague Holly Bancroft reports.

A representative of the Conservative peer responded to the reports by saying: “Baroness Mone is 100 per cent not a racist. Baroness Mone and her husband have built over 15 schools in Africa in the past three years.”

Her lawyers said that Michelle Mone has no “detailed memory of them”. They added: “She is not prepared to comment on the messages unless and until their authenticity has been confirmed but Baroness Mone, in any event, very strongly denies that she is a racist, a sexist or that she has a lack of respect for those persons genuinely suffering with mental health difficulties.”

Read more details here:

Tory peer denies being racist after alleged abusive message to man of Indian heritage

‘Significant’ gaps still remain after latest UK-EU chief negotiator talks, Frost says

16:19 , Andy Gregory

Brexit minister Lord Frost has issued a familiar update after his virtual meeting today with the European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic.

He warned that “significant” gaps still remain between their two positions over the Northern Ireland protocol, and again claimed the UK is willing to unilaterally suspend parts of the Brexit deal if necessary.

“I made clear that the UK still wanted to find a negotiated solution if that was possible and was ready to keep working constructively and intensively to that end,” Lord Frost said in a statement.

“Nevertheless the gap between our positions is still significant and progress on many issues has been quite limited. Our position remains as before: that the threshold has been met to use Article 16 safeguards in order to protect the Belfast Agreement, if solutions cannot be found.”

The two chief negotiators will speak again next week, as their teams intensify talks in the coming days.

Whitehall Christmas parties going ahead – but No 10 refuses to share details of ‘private’ events

16:36 , Andy Gregory

No 10 has refused to share any details of staff parties set to be held at Downing Street in the run-up to Christmas this month, insisting that “private events” would not be publicly announced.

ButThe Independent understands that staff Christmas parties will go ahead across Whitehall departments during the festive period – despite growing concern about the spread of the Covid omicron variant.

The Home Office, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Education are among those in which individual teams will hold smaller parties – but there will be no departmental-wide events.

My colleague Adam Forrest has more details here:

Whitehall Christmas parties go ahead – but No 10 won’t share ‘private’ details