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Boris Johnson news – live: PM denies he is ‘habitual liar’ in Mumsnet interview

Boris Johnson today denied he was a “habitual liar” when asked why the public should believe anything he says.

In an interview with the prime minister, Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said users of the online forum asked about his “trust and integrity”.

One user asked: “Why should we believe anything you say when it’s been proven you’re a habitual liar?”

Mr Johnson said he did not accept the description or the premise of the question. “People throw all sorts of accusations at me about all sorts of things ... you’ve just got to look at the record of what I deliver,” he said.

The prime minister went on to be asked if he would resign over the Partygate scandal. “I cannot see how it would be responsible right now, with everything that’s going on, simply to abandon … the project on which I embarked,” he said.

Earlier, Dominic Raab dismissed the idea that his boss could face a confidence vote as early as next week – describing the speculation as “Westminster froth”.

Key points

  • Mumsnet asks PM why public should believe a ‘habitual liar’

  • Quitting would be irresponsible, claims PM

  • Johnson will not face confidence vote, Raab insists

  • PM has ‘legitimate question’ to answer on whether he broke ministerial code

  • Quarter of Britain convinced by Sunak’s cost of living splurge

‘Brexit could spark potato shortage in Ireland’

Wednesday 1 June 2022 06:29 , Namita Singh

Brexit could lead to a significant shortage of potatoes for Irish consumers by 2023, experts have warned.

Prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, the majority of potato seed used by Irish farmers for varieties such as Kerr Pinks, Golden Wonders and British Queens had been imported from Scotland.

But under post-Brexit rules and following the UK’s departure from the single market, exports of seed potatoes – those not consumed but used to plant other potatoes – from Scotland to Ireland are no longer allowed.

Andy Gregory reports:

Brexit could spark potato shortage in Ireland, experts warn

Starmer and Rayner receive police questionnaire over Beergate

Wednesday 1 June 2022 06:45 , Namita Singh

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner have both received police questionnaires about the so-called “Beergate” event at a party office in Durham last year.

The party confirmed that both senior figures had been asked by Durham Constabulary to explain their attendance at the 30 April gathering, at which beer and curry was consumed.

The Durham force announced earlier this month that it would investigate potential breaches of Covid laws by Starmer and his staff, despite initially deciding against action when images of the meeting first appeared.

My colleague Adam Forrest reporting the detail:

Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner receive police questionnaire about Beergate

Minister unable to convert ‘universally understood’ imperial measurements

Wednesday 1 June 2022 06:56 , Namita Singh

A government minister on Tuesday struggled to convert from metric measures into what Downing Street has called “universally understood” imperial units.

Lord Parkinson appeared perplexed when quizzed on the conversions amid reports the government will open a consultation on reviving imperial measures.

Appearing on Sky News, the arts minister was first asked how many ounces are in a pound - to which he incorrectly said 14.Host Kay Burley continued: “If you are ordering a pound of sausages, approximately how many grams of sausages are you getting? 250, 350, 450, or 550?”

Cambridge University-educated Lord Parkinson hesitantly chose the first answer - again, incorrect.

The moment came amid reports that the UK may switch back to imperial units, reports Zaina Alibhai:

Minister unable to convert ‘universally understood’ imperial measurements

Raab on Lord Geidt

Wednesday 1 June 2022 07:28 , Zoe Tidman

Dominic Raab has said he was “not privy to the conversation” following reports that Lord Geidt was about to resign.

“He’s made clear a number of concerns but the prime minister has addressed them in his response and in particular made clear the explanation that he didn’t believe he’d broken the ministerial code,” he told Times Radio.

“In relation to the single fixed penalty notice, it had been an unintentional breach of the law and inadvertent in the sense that he turned up to the gathering without having realised it would be in breach of the relevant regulations.

“Of course, more broadly... No 10 have been working with Lord Geidt over a number of months now to strengthen and reinforce the independent office and I’m glad that those changes have been agreed. It’s an important role.”

PA

‘She hasn’t put a letter in as far as I understand,’ Raab on Leadsom

Wednesday 1 June 2022 07:40 , Zoe Tidman

Dominic Raab has said he does not believe former Cabinet minister Dame Andrea Leadsom has submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee.

Outlining his thoughts on her letter to her constituents shared on social media, which criticised prime minister Boris Johnson following the Sue Gray report, the deputy PM told Times Radio: “I’ve known Andrea a long time, we came in as MPs, I hold her in high esteem.

“I think it’s clear that she’s expressing her frustration, she hasn’t put a letter in as far as I understand, she hasn’t said that.

“The most important thing is the fact that the Prime Minister has addressed all of these points [and] overhauled the No 10 operation.”

PA

Sir Graham Brady letters ‘pretty far off’ threshold, Raab says

Wednesday 1 June 2022 08:04 , Zoe Tidman

The deputy prime minister has said he believes the number of letters which have been submitted to Sir Graham Brady is “pretty far off” the required amount needed to trigger a confidence vote.

Dominic Raab told Times Radio: “First of all, you said that there were 30 MPs who have been public [in their criticism of the prime minister]. There’s of course well over 350-odd Conservative MPs.”

Presenter Aasmah Mir responded: “Well you need to get to 54, so it’s not that far off, is it?”

Mr Raab said: “Well, if you’re at 30, which is what you’ve just said, I think you’re pretty far off, but my point is even then, in terms of the support for the PM, the overwhelming majority have not been public about these kind of criticisms.

“Although in fairness, I want to say I understand the frustrations and the concerns.”

MPs being publicly vocal in their criticism of Boris Johnson does not mean they have submitted a letter.

PA

Boris Johnson will not face any leadership vote, Dominic Raab says

Wednesday 1 June 2022 08:32 , Zoe Tidman

Dominic Raab has dismissed the idea that Boris Johnson could face a confidence vote as early as next week – dismissing the speculation as “Westminster froth”.

The deputy prime minister said the mood at the top of government was “fine” despite a growing number of Conservative MPs calling on the PM to resign, Adam Forrest reports:

‘Westminster froth’ – Boris Johnson won’t face leadership vote, insists Dominic Raab

Tories need to consider which ‘crimes’ PM has committed, says 1922 committee treasurer

Wednesday 1 June 2022 08:42 , Zoe Tidman

The treasurer of the 1922 Committee has warned Tory MPs that ousting Mr Johnson would mean a leadership vacuum during a “really serious situation”.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown claimed a leadership contest would take at least eight weeks because of the lack of an obvious successor.“

I think at the moment for me, we should leave matters as they are,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He also said Conservative MPs need to consider which “crimes” Mr Johnson has “actually committed” before launching a leadership coup.

‘It’s not that simple'

Wednesday 1 June 2022 09:00 , Matt Mathers

Dominic Raab has been out defending Boris Johson this morning after the prime minister was criticised by his own ethics advisor over Partyagte.

In his annual report published yesterday, Lord Geidt said that the fact Boris Johnson had been fined by the police could constitute a breach of the ministerial code in itself.

But Raab, the justice secretary and deputy PM, said he thinks it is “not that simple”.

"There have been examples in the past where similarly, I think Baroness Scotland, I think in 2009, she was a minister (and was fined),” he told Sky News.

"The point was, she hadn't acted deliberately or intentionally, and therefore Gordon Brown took the view that the code hadn't been broken.”

He added: "So I'm just saying there are precedents for this... I think it's clear from the circumstances of this particular gathering, where he turned up, was there for 10 minutes, was unaware that it was a surprise birthday cake for him, that wasn't a deliberate breach of the rules, and that's the key point."

He also claimed there won’t be a no confidence vote in Johnson next week. More comments from Raab below:

‘The numbers are definitely rising’

Wednesday 1 June 2022 09:22 , Matt Mathers

The number of no confidence letters going in to the 1922 Committee is "definitely rising", a Tory peer has said.

Lord Hayward said he knew of at least one MP who had been in touch with Sir Graham Brady, chair of the Committee, but had not gone public.

He suggested a vote would take place but said it was hard to say when the line would be crossed.

Starmer doesn't think he has broken rules, Labour says

Wednesday 1 June 2022 09:40 , Matt Mathers

Keir Starmer doesn't think he has broken any Covid laws, Labour has said.

The comments by Ian Murray, shadow Scotland secretary, came after Durham Police confirmed it had issued the Labour leader and deputy leader, Angela Rayner, with questionnaires regarding an event in the city last year.

Beer and curry were consumed at the gathering and Starmer was pictured at the event with a bottle in his hand.

Dominic Raab says food poverty ‘breaks his heart’ – but rules out expansion of free school meals

Wednesday 1 June 2022 10:02 , Matt Mathers

Dominic Raab said the story of a mother skipping meals to feed her son “breaks your heart” – but rejected calls to expand free school meals ahead of the summer holidays.

Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more below:

Dominic Raab says food poverty ‘breaks his heart’

Expand free school meals in time for summer holidays, Boris Johnson told as cost of living crisis deepens

Wednesday 1 June 2022 10:23 , Matt Mathers

Boris Johnson is under pressure to extend the free school meals programme before the summer holidays amid warnings more than a million children face going hungry because of the cost of living crisis.

Former education secretaries from both Labour and the Conservatives, as well as the mayor of London, unions and charities have urged the government to act as it did during the Covid pandemic.

My colleagues Kate Devlin and Zoe Tidman report:

Expand free school meals in time for summer holidays, PM told

ICYMI: Rees-Mogg hails chance to abolish EU restriction on vacuum cleaners as one of top ‘Brexit opportunities’

Wednesday 1 June 2022 10:47 , Matt Mathers

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s office has listed scrapping EU regulations on vacuum cleaners as one of the “most interesting” ideas it has received for how to capitalise on the UK’s newfound Brexit freedom.

My colleague Andy Gregory reports:

Rees-Mogg hails chance to scrap EU vacuum cleaner law one of top Brexit opportunities

Johnson loyalist dismisses claim he could sacrifice his seat for PM

Wednesday 1 June 2022 11:24 , Matt Mathers

A staunch ally of Boris Johnson has dismissed reports that he could give up his seat for the prime minister in the event that he loses it at the next general election.

Multiple polls have shown Mr Johnson could be at risk from losing in his Uxbridge and Ruislip constituency as anger grows over the Partygate scandal.

The New European reported that Conor Burns, the Bournemouth West MP and Northern Ireland minister, could make the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his own seat to the PM.

Mr Burns denied the claim in comments to his local newspaper, the Bournemouth Echo. He said: “That sounds to me like a journalist hitting the jubilee sherry a little early.”

Tory MP not submitting confidence letter

Wednesday 1 June 2022 11:47 , Matt Mathers

Conservative MP Huw Merriman confirmed he would not be submitting a no confidence letter against Boris Johnson and appealed for colleagues to focus on delivering policies rather than regime change.

The transport select committee chairman, who in February suggested Mr Johnson needed to improve or leave Downing Street, told Sky News: "Wrong has occurred, he's apologised, put his hands up, I judge people for what they do to turn things around and I feel he needs to be given that time to do so."

Mr Merriman added: "I have definitely not put a letter in and I will not be putting a letter in because if I do that I'm then responsible for the very policy recommendations I've been making through my committee not being delivered."

He said he did not know how many letters have been submitted, adding: "My point, perhaps my appeal to colleagues is that our constituents need us right now and they need the Government to deliver and Parliament to deliver.

"We're not going to be able to do that if we are going through a protracted leadership contest, it just changes all the focus, all the direction, all of the chances we have of making better changes in policy that will help people through difficult times. You can't have both.

"People can either focus on the theatre and want to change direction and I respect their position if they do want that, but you can't then expect Government to be able to get on and govern and deliver policy, which is ultimately the most important thing for me."

ICYMI: Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Johnson

Wednesday 1 June 2022 12:44 , Jane Dalton

In case you missed it earlier:

“Waitrose woman” is reported to be the voter demographic Downing Street believes is crucial if Boris Johnson is to survive in post.

But does “Waitrose woman” actually back him? Colin Drury finds out:

‘Waitrose woman’: Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Boris Johnson

Opinion: Vote of no confidence inevitable

Wednesday 1 June 2022 13:05 , Jane Dalton

Boris Johnson is alienating his party’s left and right factions at the same time, and many Tory MPs want to take matters into their own hands.

Even if the PM survived a vote of no confidence, he would be weakened but would soldier on because he has no shame, writes Andrew Grice:

A confidence vote on Boris Johnson as party leader is now inevitable | Andrew Grice

Johnson: Quitting would be irresponsible

Wednesday 1 June 2022 13:18 , Jane Dalton

The prime minister says it would be irresponsible for him to stand down, admitting the Partygate scandal had upset No 10 staff.

“I cannot see how it would be responsible right now, with everything that’s going on, simply to abandon … the project on which I embarked,” he said.

“I’m not going to deny the whole thing hasn’t been a totally miserable experience for people in government, and we’ve got learn from it and move forward.”

He told Mumsnet: “I can totally see how infuriating it is that people like me were not fulfilling the letter of the rules ourselves. I totally understand that ... What I thought was doing was right for a leader in any circumstances and that was to thank people for their service.”

Mr Johnson added: “I was very, very surprised and taken aback to get an FPN, but of course I paid it.”

Stormont justice minister calls for forum to tackle online abuse of politicians

Wednesday 1 June 2022 13:35 , Matt Mathers

The Stormont justice minister has called for a forum to tackle the online abuse of politicians.

Naomi Long highlighted the targeting of female politicians as a problem which needs to be specifically addressed.

Ms Long made the proposals in a letter to the other Stormont parties.

She said: "I know from my own experience that having spoken to women who may have considered standing in the election, they were deterred from doing so because of the aggressive nature of politics, particularly the level of online abuse to which they see other women being subjected," she told the BBC.

"That deterred them from putting their names forward and I think that that is affecting our democratic process in a really negative way.

"So I think it's important that we sit down, we look at the incidents that happened, we understand how those are being taken forward and hear from those who had those experiences as to how they feel they were treated by the justice system and by others at the time, but also look to see what the law already can do for people and what maybe the law ought to be able to do to offered additional protection for people who are standing in elections because it is an important part of our democratic process."

UK faces prospect of naval conflict with Russia, Tory MP claims

Wednesday 1 June 2022 13:48 , Matt Mathers

A Tory MP has claimed that the UK faces the prospect of a naval confrontation with Russia over the Ukraine war.

Alec Shelbrooke, the MP for Elmet & Rothwell who is head of the UK’s delegation to Nato, made the comments in a statement on his website on Wednesday.

He warned that there was a “high risk of death to British service personnel”. For these reasons, he argued it is not the right time for the UK to change PM.

Our politics editor Andrew Woodcock reports:

UK’s Nato envoy warns Royal Navy may have to battle Russia

Lord Geidt intervention a 'damning indictment' of PM's integrity - Labour

Wednesday 1 June 2022 14:14 , Matt Mathers

Lord Geidt's intervention in the Partygate scandal is a damning indictment of Boris Johnson's "integrity", Labour has said.

Lisa Nandy, the shadow levelling up secretary, said: "Lord Geidt has got to make his own decision about whether he resigns or not.

"What is clear to the whole country is that this is a prime minister who lacks integrity, who lacks the decency and honesty that it takes to lead this country.

"If you can't trust him on whether he can follow his own rules, whether he'll rewrite those rules or tear up those rules, because he thinks he doesn't apply to them, how can you trust him when he says that he'll tackle the cost-of-living crisis engulfing families and businesses across this country?"

Speaking in Wakefield, Ms Nandy added: "This is just a damning indictment of the Prime Minister's leadership that successive ethics advisers just feel that they can't trust the integrity of the prime minister.

"This is a government that is rotten to the core, that the rot starts from the top."

She said: "If you can't trust a single word that prime minister says then the problems go much deeper than one ethics adviser."

Johnson - more ‘pragmatism’ and less ‘theology’ needed on Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol

Wednesday 1 June 2022 14:37 , Matt Mathers

More comments now from Boris Johnson’s interview with Mumsnet.

He said that more “pragmatism” and less “theology” is needed to fix Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol.

He said: "I think that the protocol is certainly not functioning well. And the last thing we want to have is a border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and that is simply not going to happen.

"All that we're trying to do is to get rid of some pretty pointless and bureaucratic checks on stuff that's going from GB to Northern Ireland.

Boris Johnson speaks to Mumsnet (Mumsnet / YouTube)
Boris Johnson speaks to Mumsnet (Mumsnet / YouTube)

"Now, I did the protocol, I negotiated it. The problem is that I thought that it would be implemented with common sense and pragmatism - because the ultimate arbiter of how to make it work, unfortunately, is the EU.

"And I just think what is needed is more pragmatism and less theology, because at the moment what you've got is one community in Northern Ireland - the unionist/loyalist community - feeling that there's a border down the Irish Sea, an east-west border, and that is inflaming their sentiment. They won't go back into government in Northern Ireland unless we fix it.

"So for me, the priority is to fix the protocol and get the Good Friday Agreement institutions up and running again. That's what needs to happen."

Nadine Dorries: MPs moving against Johnson motivated by ‘personal ambition’

Wednesday 1 June 2022 15:06 , Matt Mathers

Boris Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries claims efforts to topple the prime minister are being co-ordinated by a handful of ambitious individuals.

Culture secretary Nadine Dorries said a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson would be an “indulgence” and attempts to remove him were doing the opposition’s work for them.

Her comments, on the BBC’s World At One programme, came as speculation continued to mount that enough Conservative MPs had written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee to trigger a confidence vote.

Ms Dorries said: “I can assure you that the overwhelming number of Conservative MPs are fully behind the prime minister, absolutely back him.

“There is obviously, I think probably led by one or two individuals, a campaign behind the scenes to try, attempt to remove the prime minister for individual reasons to do with personal ambition or other reasons.”

Tory MP condemns ‘failure of leadership’ – but no sign of no-confidence letter

Wednesday 1 June 2022 15:20 , Matt Mathers

In a letter to a constituent, Tory MP Simon Fell said he was left “angry and disappointed” by the Sue Gray report – saying a “corrosive culture and failure of leadership” during Partygate, our politics reporter, Adam Forrest, writes.

In scathing remarks, he said: “As Ms Gray details, a corrosive culture and a failure in leadership allowed this to happen and apologising after the fact is insufficient ... Trust matters.

And standards in public life go to the heart of maintaining it – once trust is lost, the whole house of cards is at risk of collapse.”

Despite questioning the PM’s leadership, the MP for Barrow & Furness said the saga had been a “very sorry distraction” to the government’s agenda, with no suggestion that he had sent a letter of no-confidence.

Sharp fall in number who think government not doing enough on cost of living

Wednesday 1 June 2022 15:50 , Liam James

Half the population still think the government needs to do more to combat the cost of living crisis, a poll has found – but that figure has dropped from 76 per cent one month ago.

Rishi Sunak announced £15bn in new cost of living support last week and has himself enjoyed a boost in the polls taken by Ipsos, though it was much more modest, going from 37 per cent of people thinking he was doing a bad job to 32 per cent.

Keiran Pedley, research director at Ipsos, said: “There are some encouraging signs for the Conservatives in these numbers, with a sharp fall in the number of Britons that think the government is not doing enough on the cost of living.”

Labour continued to lead the Tories on both managing Britain’s taxes and public spending and reducing the cost of living.

Watch: Mumsnet asks Boris Johnson why public should believe a ‘habitual liar'

Wednesday 1 June 2022 16:08 , Liam James

A Mumsnet question and answer session with Boris Johnson opened with a user calling the prime minister a ‘habitual liar’.

The user asked the prime minister why the public should believe anything he says.

“People throw all sorts of accusations at me about all sorts of things... you’ve just got to look at the record of what I deliver,” Mr Johnson responded.

Mumsnet CEO Justine Roberts said one-half of the questions they received for Mr Johnson were about “trust and integrity.”

Wakefield by-election ‘could spell end’ of Boris Johnson

Wednesday 1 June 2022 16:36 , Liam James

Labour has launched its campaign for the Wakefield by-election, saying regaining the West Yorkshire seat for the party “could spell the end of Boris Johnson”.

Candidate Simon Lightwood was joined at Ossett Cricket and Athletic Club by shadow levelling up, housing and communities secretary Lisa Nandy, who said the vote on 23 June could mean a “fresh start for the country”.

Mr Lightwood told supporters: “Wakefield has the power to send a message to the Conservative Party. We know that the eyes of the country are upon us.

“After repeated lies and law-breaking, a defeat for the Conservatives here could spell the end of Boris Johnson.”

Labour lost to the Conservatives in Wakefield in 2019 on a 6.1 per cent swing. Voters are deciding who will replace convicted sex offender Imran Ahmad Khan, who resigned the seat earlier this year.

The Wakefield poll is being held on the same day as the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in Devon, which was called after Tory MP Neil Parish resigned for having watched pornography in the Commons.

Lightwood (centre) with Nandy (left) and Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council (PA)
Lightwood (centre) with Nandy (left) and Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council (PA)

Boris Johnson says he didn’t eat cake at law-breaking birthday party

Wednesday 1 June 2022 16:55 , Liam James

Boris Johnson said “no cake was consumed” by him at the birthday party in Downing Street during lockdown he was fined by police for attending.

Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns famously described the prime minister as having been “ambushed with a cake” at the event.

In an interview with Mumsnet today, Mr Johnson was asked to name his favourite biscuit, and if he “preferred cake” now.

He responded: “If you’re talking satirically about that miserable event whose picture appeared on the front pages, no cake was consumed by me. I can tell you that much.”

The prime minister said his favourite biscuit was a chocolate digestive.

19 June 2020: A gathering in Downing Street for the prime minister’s birthday [photo featured in Sue Gray report] (UK Government)
19 June 2020: A gathering in Downing Street for the prime minister’s birthday [photo featured in Sue Gray report] (UK Government)

Wednesday 1 June 2022 17:46 , Liam James

We’re pausing The Independent’s live coverage of politics for the evening. Thanks for following.

Make sure to check back tomorrow for more updates. In the meantime, you can catch up on today’s events below or check out our politics news homepage for the latest coverage.

Johnson’s ministerial code shake-up will not restore public trust, says watchdog

Thursday 2 June 2022 05:19 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson has failed to counter the view that he and his ministers consider themselves above the rules, the leader of a powerful parliamentary ethics watchdog has said.

Jonathan Evans, the chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said Mr Johnson’s planned changes to the ministerial code were “highly unsatisfactory” and undermined the role of the prime minister’s ethics adviser.

Downing Street announced last week that the code would be updated to remove the expectation for ministers to resign over any breach of the code but would not allow the adviser, currently Lord Geidt, to launch his own investigation into potential breaches.

Read more:

Tory MP handed knighthood by Boris Johnson days after calling for him to quit

Thursday 2 June 2022 05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Boris Johnson has handed a knighthood to a senior Conservative MP who turned against his leadership and called for his resignation earlier this week.

Former cabinet minister Jeremy Wright, Tory MP for Kenilworth and Southam, has been given the gong as part of the Queen’s platinum jubilee birthday honours.

The timing of the announcement is awkward for the prime minister, coming only days after Mr Wright condemned Mr Johnson over Partygate and asked him to resign “for the good of this and future governments”.

Read more:

Tory MP who called on Boris Johnson to quit handed knighthood

Queen's Jubilee celebrations dominate the front pages

Thursday 2 June 2022 05:42 , Stuti Mishra

The Daily Express says “a grateful nation” salutes the Queen, while the Daily Mirror says a four-day party begins for “our Queen” and “our Britain”.

Here are some of the front pages of today's papers:

What the papers say – June 2

Which MPs have called for Boris Johnson to resign or face a vote?

Thursday 2 June 2022 06:00 , Stuti Mishra

Nearly 30 Tory MPs have now called for Boris Johnson to go, or publicly moved to trigger a confidence vote over his leadership, as he seeks to weather the fallout from the partygate scandal.

Here is a round-up of all of those MPs and what they have said on the matter:

Which MPs have called for Boris Johnson to resign or face a vote?

The Queen’s relationships with her 14 prime ministers

Thursday 2 June 2022 06:15 , Stuti Mishra

The Queen’s 70 years as sovereign has seen 14 prime ministers, from Second World War statesman Sir Winston Churchill to present premier Boris Johnson.

Political leaders have consistently paid tribute to the monarch for her sage advice and impressive knowledge on home and world affairs during her private weekly audiences with her PMs.

Read more:

The Queen’s relationships with her 14 prime ministers

How Johnson played Lord Geidt for a fool and left him in a difficult position

Thursday 2 June 2022 06:30 , Stuti Mishra

One of the most surprising revelations in Geidt’s annual review of his work was that he hasn’t met the prime minister to discuss the protracted period of lawlessness in Downing Street commonly known as Partygate. Unlike the Queen, Johnson appears to have had literally no time for his adviser, writes Sean O'Grady.

Apparently, there was a “failure of communication between our offices” according to Johnson, who adds that he was unaware of the of the importance Geidt had placed on him making explicit reference to the ministerial code over the Partygate fixed penalty notice.

Read more:

Analysis: Boris Johnson has left Lord Geidt in a difficult position

Johnson says it would be irresponsible to quit over ‘miserable’ partygate

Thursday 2 June 2022 06:46 , Stuti Mishra

#ICYMI

Boris Johnson claimed quitting as Prime Minister over the “miserable” partygate scandal would be irresponsible.

He cited “huge pressures” on the economy, the war in Ukraine and his “massive agenda which I was elected to deliver” as his reasons for remaining in post and not seeking to “abandon” ship.

But Mr Johnson is under increasing pressure from Tory MPs to consider his position in the wake of Sue Gray’s report on lockdown parties in Downing Street.

Read more:

Boris Johnson says it would be irresponsible to quit over ‘miserable’ partygate

Editorial: After Brexit, Covid and Boris Johnson, a dollop of platinum jubilee pudding is just what the country needs

Thursday 2 June 2022 07:10 , Stuti Mishra

“The Independent isn’t hostile to the notion of a rationalised, accountable, constitutional monarchy; one that commands the respect of the people, and is of use to the nation. Over the centuries, however, such traits have not always been evident.”

Read more:

Editorial: After Brexit, Covid and Boris Johnson, we deserve the platinum jubilee