Jacob Rees-Mogg says Ukraine war shows Partygate scandal was just ‘fluff’ – as it happened

Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg speaking during the Conservative spring conference. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

5.31pm GMT

Afternoon summary

• The Conservative chairman has announced Boris Johnson is kicking off a two-year election campaign from this May, in a speech that hit out at “net zero dogma” and sought to pitch Labour as still linked to Jeremy Corbyn.

• Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Brexit minister, has claimed that the Ukraine war has illustrated how the Partygate scandal was just “disproportionate fluff”. (See 12.49pm.)

• Boris Johnson has used a speech to the Scottish Conservative party’s spring conference to repair relations with the Scottish party leader, Douglas Ross. Ross called for Johnson’s resignation over Partygate, but last week withdrew his letter demanding a no confidence vote, saying the war in Ukraine meant changing leader would not be appropopriate. In his speech Johnson paid tribute to Ross, saying that he had stopped Nicola Sturgeon winning an outright majority in the Holyrood elections last year. In what came across as a laboured joke about Ross’s call for a leadership election, Johnson also said that Ross deserved credit for saying “loud and clear” what was obvious to everyone - that now was not the time for another independence referendum. (See 5.03pm.)

• Unions and the Labour party have demanded immediate action over the sacking of 800 British crew by P&O Ferries, including suspending the licences of its parent company, DP World, as it emerged the government was made aware of the move the previous night.

• A resurgence of Covid cases is under way across the UK, with infections in the over-70s at a record high and school leaders fearing that preparations for A-levels and GCSEs are being disrupted by outbreaks among staff and students.

Boris Johnson shaking hands with Douglas Ross (right) before his speech at the Scottish Conservative party’s spring conference in Aberdeen. Photograph: Robert Perry/EPA

5.05pm GMT

Johnson ends by attacking the SNP for wanting to get rid of the nuclear deterrent, and by insisting that the country is stronger united.

And that’s it.

(I was right earlier. Zhenia Jenny Dove’s speech was far better.)