Afternoon summary
Planning for a no-deal Brexit from 2018 “crowded out” government efforts to prepare for a pandemic and contributed to leaving the country unready, the first evidence session of the Covid public inquiry has heard.
The Commons privileges committee has revealed that it received a letter from Boris Johnson at 11.57pm last night. It had been expected to publish its report into claims he misled MPs about Partygate tomorrow, but now it is not expected until Thursday. A report in the Times says it will find that Johnson had deliberately misled MPs. (See 4.25pm.) This is from my colleague Aubrey Allegretti.
Privileges committee says:
— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) June 13, 2023
"A letter enclosing further representations from Mr Johnson was received by the Committee at 11:57pm last night. The Committee is dealing with these and will report promptly."
So looks like report not coming tomorrow
UK government borrowing costs have risen above the levels hit during Liz Truss’s disastrous premiership, after stronger than expected jobs and pay figures reinforced expectations that the Bank of England would raise interest rates next week.
Labour has ruled out offering universal free childcare for children over nine months old but is considering a means-tested offer, sources have told the Guardian, as the party strives to prove its fiscal credibility.
Rami Ranger, a prominent Conservative peer and donor, bullied and harassed a female journalist after she publicly criticised him and an organisation he runs, the Lords standards commissioner has ruled.
Updated
Outgoing prime ministers should not be allowed to nominate people for peerages in resignation honours lists, the former Tory leader William Hague suggests. He has made the proposal in his Times column today. He says:
Good repairs can be quite small. Take prime ministers’ resignation honours, a tradition since 1895 already damaged by Harold Wilson taking it too far in 1976. Wouldn’t it be better to agree that such honours should only be for the unsung heroes behind the scenes, the staff who toil loyally night and day, for whom an OBE would be lifelong recognition, rather than a list of peerages that undermines the whole tradition?
That would be one tiny brick put back in the wall, building back respect for the system of government and its standards. We will need leaders who will find such bricks, and who will repair, not scorn, our institutions.
