Thursday evening UK news briefing: Boris Johnson calls Afghanistan animal evacuation claims 'total rhubarb'

Chris Price
·7-min read
Your evening briefing from The Telegraph
Your evening briefing from The Telegraph

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Maida Vale stabbing | A driver arrested on suspicion of running over and killing a knife-wielding murderer has called for police to treat him as a witness, claiming it was never his intention to harm anyone. The 26-year-old, who has not been named, has been released on bail by police, but has issued a statement through his solicitor setting out his side of the story and asking for the force to release him with no further action.

The big story: PM calls animal claims 'total rhubarb'

The wait goes on.... and on.

Boris Johnson has pledged he will "of course" publish Sue Gray's report into alleged Covid rule-breaking parties at Downing Street in full.

On a visit to north Wales, Mr Johnson told reporters he was "absolutely not" seeking to delay the publication of the report.

It comes after Mark Harper, the Tory backbencher, warned: "The report must be published in full. Any attempt to conceal or suppress crucial details would be wrong."

Ms Gray's report continues to remain in limbo as legal checks delay publication, which looks increasingly unlikely to be today with Mr Johnson currently hundreds of miles away in Wales and no statements expected in the Commons.

Here are the six moves the Prime Minister could make after the report's publication.

On his trip, Mr Johnson dismissed the accusations he authorised the controversial evacuation of animals from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of Kabul as "total rhubarb".

The Prime Minister sought to distance himself from the claims, which appear to contradict his previous denials that he instructed staff and animals at Pen Farthing's Nowzad charity to be brought back to Britain during last year's Operation Pitting evacuation.

New allegations about Mr Johnson arise fairly frequently, and perhaps the Gray report in particular will expose some serious wrongdoing that means he will have to go.

Yet Andrew Lilico sets out the arguments for why the Prime Minister should stay.

Care homes to allow unlimited visitors from next week

The lifting of Covid measures today has brought relief for many - and anxiety for others - but few groups have been hit harder during the pandemic than those living in care homes.

Today it was announced that limits on visitors to care homes in England will be scrapped from next week as the country moves towards living with coronavirus.

From January 31, those living in care homes will be able to have unlimited visits from family and friends, while self-isolation periods will also be cut, the Department for Health and Social Care has said.

Many of you will also be preparing for your first post-Covid getaway but Greg Dickinson reveals the flaw in the NHS app that could still ruin your holiday.

Barry Cryer dies - and bows out with one final joke

Comedy fans across Britain will have been saddened to hear that Barry Cryer, the veteran joke writer and star of the radio panel show I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue, has died at the age of 86.

In a statement, Cryer's family said he "died peacefully, in good spirits and with his family around him" at Northwick Park Hospital, north-west London, on Tuesday.

Anita Singh and Max Stephens reveal how he bowed out with one final joke.

One of Britain's most talented comedy scriptwriters, writing for the likes of the Two Ronnies, Morecambe and Wise and Les Dawson, he became the elder statesman of British comedy.

Harry Mount writes that he had a gag for every occasion – even his death. Read his Telegraph obituary.

Comment and analysis

Around the world: Diplomacy hopes in Russia standoff

Financial markets around the world have shown signs of recovery today after Russia said "even the thought" of a war with Ukraine was unacceptable, soothing investor fears of an imminent escalation of tensions. A US response has not met Russian "security" demands, but Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, hailed some initiatives it laid out. Our liveblog will keep you up to speed with developments while Con Coughlin analyses why, in what is effectively a high-stakes game of poker, Russian president Vladimir Putin is about to make a fatal mistake.

Thursday interview

'When's the baby coming? No one's asking Rafa Nadal that'

Johanna Konta reflects on sexism, Emma Raducanu and her career - Helen McCardle
Johanna Konta reflects on sexism, Emma Raducanu and her career - Helen McCardle

In a first interview since retiring, former British No 1 Johanna Konta talks to Molly McElwee about sexism, Emma Raducanu and a career that revitalised women's tennis

Read the full interview

Sport briefing: Chiefs replace logo - Luiz bid rejected

Exeter Chiefs will drop their Native American-themed imagery at the end of this season, with the club announcing a rebrand that they hope to herald a "new era". After a review by Exeter's board, which followed criticism of cultural appropriation, the club will launch a "new visual identity" in July 2022. See the club's new logo here. In football, Aston Villa have rejected a bid of £30million for midfielder Douglas Luiz from a Premier League club and are opening contract talks in a bid to keep him out of the hands of their rivals. Meanwhile, Marcell Jacobs, Italy's shock 100m Olympic champion, insisted he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs and that his success was down to "extreme hard work".

Editor's choice

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  2. Another fraud scandal | Have German carmakers really cleaned up their act?

  3. Corny crew | The man behind the Spice Girls has a TikTok 'supergroup' – and it's doomed

Business briefing: London retains financial crown

London has retained its crown as the world's top destination for financial and professional services in terms of its overall offering in another boost for the City. The Square Mile outperformed other major financial hubs, including New York, Singapore and Paris, as firms quickly adapted to Brexit, according to a new report by the City of London Corporation. It comes as one of the most senior Tory backbenchers has called on Rishi Sunak to postpone April's rise in National Insurance to tackle mounting pressure on living standards. Mel Stride, chairman of the Treasury select committee, said "the stars have aligned" to give the Chancellor the financial breathing room needed to cancel the tax increase.

Tonight starts now

Nish Kumar, review | Across 75 sharply written minutes, Nish Kumar barely draws breath in this verbal typhoon of a show. It is exhilarating, excoriating, and exhausting. At one point, he explains why he has never tried cocaine: "I don't need a drug to talk quickly about myself." As with so many of the jokes in this set, the 36-year-old comic himself is the target. Read Tristram Fane Saunders' four star review of his new show Your Power, Your Control which is touring the country until May 17.

Three things for you

And finally... for this evening's downtime

Why Morrissey and Johnny Marr hate each other | Another day, another spat in the music world. On Monday, it was Taylor Swift and Damon Albarn who had a very public contretemps. On Tuesday, it was Neil Young and Spotify (the streaming platform has since announced it is removing Young's music). And yesterday it was Morrissey and Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths. James Hall looks at why perhaps only one of them should stop talking.

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here . For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.

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