Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under more pressure to resign after Downing Street admitted he had a birthday celebration inside No 10 during the first lockdown.
Downing Street conceded staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room following a meeting after it was alleged 30 people attended and shared cake despite social mixing indoors being banned.
ITV News reported the Prime Minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, had organised the surprise get-together complete with a chorus of “happy birthday” on the afternoon of June 19, 2020.
Sue Gray was understood to have already been aware of the birthday party allegations and therefore their emergence will not further delay the publication of her inquiry, which is still expected this week.
The senior civil servant has been investigating a series of claims of rule-breaking parties in No 10 as Mr Johnson faces calls to resign, including from some of his own Conservative MPs.
Mr Johnson was earlier forced to launch a Cabinet Office investigation into Tory MP Nusrat Ghani’s allegation that a Government whip linked her “Muslimness” to her sacking as a minister in 2020.
The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Office to “establish the facts” regarding the claims of Islamophobia made by the Conservative MP.
She said when she raised the matter with Mr Johnson directly after losing her job in a February 2020 ministerial reshuffle, he told her he could not get involved.
Mr Johnson said: "We take these allegations extremely seriously, I took them very seriously when they were raised with me 18 months ago… very glad there’s an investigation taking place now. I can’t say more, really, about it."
Meanwhile, two men have been arrested following the death of a 39-year-old man in Norfolk.
Officers from Norfolk Constabulary were called to a house in Bulrush Avenue, Downham Market, shortly before 8pm on Sunday following reports of a disturbance, where a man with serious head injuries was pronounced dead at the scene.
Elsewhere, at least six people are reported to have died following a stampede before the Africa Cup of Nations game between tournament hosts Cameroon and Comoros.
The incident, which is also said to have left 40 injured, occurred before Monday’s round-of-16 tie in the Olembe area of the capital Yaounde.
These are just some of the national and international news stories making headlines this morning after breaking overnight.
Others include:
- World leaders warn Russia over Ukraine crisis
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Most wanted serial killer in Germany spotted on Caribbean island
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Damon Albarn apologises to Taylor Swift about songwriting claims
Read on to find out more.
Boris Johnson attended indoor birthday celebration during lockdown, No 10 admits
So when is a birthday party not a birthday party? Boris Johnson is facing fresh allegations of breaking coronavirus rules after Downing Street admitted he had a birthday celebration inside No 10 during the first lockdown.
Downing Street conceded staff “gathered briefly” in the Cabinet Room following a meeting after it was alleged 30 people attended and shared cake despite social mixing indoors being banned.
Interior designer Lulu Lytle admitted attending but insisted she was only present “briefly” while waiting to talk to Mr Johnson about the lavish refurbishments she was carrying out to the couple’s flat above No 11.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “A group of staff working in No 10 that day gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the Prime Minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than 10 minutes.”
PM says he takes Nusrat Ghani’s claims of Islamophobia ‘extremely seriously’
Mr Johnson insisted he was taking allegations from a Tory MP that her Muslim faith played a role in being sacked as a junior minister “extremely seriously”.
The Prime Minister has ordered a Cabinet Office investigation into Nusrat Ghani’s claim that she was told her ministerial exit was linked to her “Muslimness”.
Mr Johnson has asked the Cabinet Office to “establish the facts” regarding the claims of Islamophobia made by the Conservative MP.
She said when she raised the matter with Mr Johnson directly after losing her job in a February 2020 ministerial reshuffle, he told her he could not get involved.
Ms Ghani, the MP for Wealden in East Sussex, has welcomed the inquiry announcement and called for the scope of the probe to include what was said between her and “the whip” in Downing Street.
Six people dead after crush at Africa Nations Cup football match - reports
At least six people are reported to have died following a stampede before the Africa Cup of Nations game between tournament hosts Cameroon and Comoros.
The incident, which is also said to have left 40 injured, occurred before Monday’s round-of-16 tie in the Olembe area of the capital Yaounde.
Reports say fans were involved in a crush as they attempted to make their way into the Paul Biya Stadium, a 60,000 capacity arena named after Cameroon’s president.
A statement from the Confederation of African Football read: “"CAF is aware of the incident that took place at Olembe Stadium during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations fixture between hosts Cameroon and Comoros tonight, 24 January 2022.
"CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired."
Two men arrested on suspicion of murder after death of 39-year-old Norfolk man
Two men have been arrested following the death of a 39-year-old man in Norfolk.
Officers from Norfolk Constabulary were called to a house in Bulrush Avenue, Downham Market, shortly before 8pm on Sunday following reports of a disturbance.
They found a man with serious head injuries who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said a 47-year-old man was arrested at the scene and a 22-year-old man was detained at a property on Paradise Road several hours later.
Both men were arrested on suspicion of murder, while the 22-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. They were taken to King’s Lynn police investigation centre for questioning.
Local policing commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: “I can confirm all those involved are known to one another and we’re confident the wider public were not at risk.”
World leaders warn Russia of ‘unprecedented sanctions’ over Ukraine crisis
Russia has been warned it will be swiftly hit with an “unprecedented package of sanctions” in the event of a fresh incursion in Ukraine after Boris Johnson joined Joe Biden and world leaders to present a united front to combat a feared invasion.
The Prime Minister and the US president met virtually with the leaders of Nato, the EU, Italy, Poland, France and Germany yesterday (Monday) evening as they hoped to avert what Mr Johnson warned would be a bloody and protracted conflict for Moscow.
Downing Street said it stressed diplomatic discussions with Russia remain the first priority, but said the nation would be hit with "swift retributive responses" if a "further Russian incursion into Ukraine" takes place.
Most wanted serial killer in Germany spotted on Caribbean island
Germany's most wanted man – Norman Volker Franz – has reportedly been spotted on the Caribbean island of Curacao, having been on the run for 23 years, according to a Daily Mirror story.
Franz, 51, killed three security guards after making the first of two escapes from prison, having initially been handed a life sentence for murder in May 1995.
On both occasions, he sawed through the bars of his cell.
He was convicted of murder after he was part of a group of four men who lured some Polish men into an ambush and threw a hand grenade in their vehicle.
Damon Albarn apologises to Taylor Swift over 'clickbait' songwriting claims
Damon Albarn has apologised “unreservedly and unconditionally” to Taylor Swift after causing outrage by claiming she does not write her own songs.
The Blur frontman said discrediting the pop megastar’s songwriting was “the last thing I would want to do” during an exchange on social media.
British musician Albarn, 53, said in an interview with the LA Times that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs” and he is more attracted to Billie Eilish who is a “really interesting songwriter”.
Multi-award winning singer Swift, who topped the charts in November with the release of Red, said his claims are “completely false” and his “hot take” was damaging.
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