Met police begin interviewing key witnesses about Partygate – as it happened

A police officer at the door of Downing Street. Photograph: Vickie Flores/EPA

6.06pm GMT

Early evening summary

• Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has said she should have been released from detention in Iran six years ago and challenged the British government to explain why it had not paid the $400m (£303m) debt to Iran that Tehran said would bring her release earlier than last week.

• The Metropolitan police has revealed that it is widening its investigation into Partygate. It said that more than 100 people have now been sent questionnaires about the No 10 parties that are thought to have breached lockdown rules, but that so far no fines have been issued - implying no one has yet voluntarily admitted to having broken the law. (See 4.51pm.)

• The Russian state was responsible for hoax calls to Ben Wallace and Priti Patel, pretending to be the Ukrainian prime minister, Downing Street has said.

• A second whistleblower has gone public to say it was “widespread knowledge” in government that Boris Johnson ordered the prioritisation of an animal charity based in Afghanistan for evacuation during the Taliban takeover last summer.

• Labour has described the government’s approach to refugees as “deeply shameful” after ministers confirmed they are to stick with a planned law change that could potentially see Ukrainians who arrive in the UK without the correct visa jailed for four years.

That’s all from me for today. But our Ukraine coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.

5.54pm GMT

In response to Louise Haigh in the Commons, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said he had not seen the memo that she quoted. (See 5.41pm.) He said he first heard about the P&O Ferries plan at 8.30pm the night before it was announced.

He said the company could face criminal prosecution. He told MPs:

It’s been quite clear that it’s been handled by the company absolutely disastrously, which is why we’ve asked the Insolvency Service to look at the notification requirements and consider if further action is appropriate - especially if, as we’re concerned, the relevant notice periods weren’t given, the relative consultation didn’t take place, and I can inform the house that that would be a matter for criminal prosecution and unlimited fines as well.

For our part we’re reviewing all government contracts with P&O Ferries as a matter of urgency and with DP World and, where possible, we’re looking to use other providers if indeed there are any contracts where the UK government is involved; I believe at this point that they have been historic in nature rather than current.

He also said, if the company is replacing British workers with cheaper foreigners, as unions have said it is, it should giving its vessels British names. He said:

To have a ship called the Pride Of Britain or Pride Of Kent or any other names which seem to attach themselves to this country, without having British workers, I think would be completely wrong, and I’ll be calling on P&O to change the name of the ships. I think it’d be completely inappropriate.