Summary of the day
Today might come to be seen as something of a lull in the storm as Westminster quietened down following a tumultuous week, and geared up for the anticipated publication of civil servant Sue Gray’s investigation into the Downing Street parties next week.
Here’s what happened:
- In the morning, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told broadcasters that he expected an investigation would take place “if it’s not being so already”. He said said blackmail and intimidation “has no place in British politics”.
- However No 10 said it would only launch an investigation if evidence was found.
- Overnight in Australia, foreign secretary Liz Truss affirmed that the prime minister had her “100% support”.
- Wales’ first minister Mark Drakeford launched a volley of accusations at Boris Johnson, who he said would “never escape the damage to his reputation”.
- Meanwhile polling in Scotland suggested that most Scots, including half of Scottish Tory voters, think Johnson should resign.
- Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve told Sky News the government “should not be handing out money for projects in constituencies because they happen to be held by a Conservative member of parliament”.
- Former Tory MP Ben Howlett said he received threats by a then-whip that funds would be withheld from his constituency if he did not support the government in Brexit votes.
- Downing Street intervened in the row over mask-wearing classrooms, urging teachers to follow government guidance and end their use.
- The Telegraph published new details of the Downing Street parties based on eyewitness reports. There’s not much that’s new, but we did learn that there was lots of music, drinking, pizza and enjoyment of Wilf’s slide.
- Conservative ministers and whips began spreading rumours about Christian Wakeford’s personal life minutes after the MP defecting to Labour, it has been alleged
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Conservative ministers and whips began spreading rumours about Christian Wakeford’s personal life minutes after the MP defecting to Labour, it has been alleged amid growing concerns over dirty tactics in politics. Rowena Mason, Aubrey Allegretti and Heather Stewart report:
The Guardian has been told that the rumours were spread in parliament by senior members of the government after the MP for Bury South crossed the floor on Wednesday.
It comes after the senior Tory MP William Wragg urged MPs to report government ministers, whips and advisers to the Speaker – and even the Metropolitan police – for what he claimed was attempted blackmail of some colleagues suspected of opposing Boris Johnson. Johnson said he had “seen no evidence” of such threats.
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