BBC calls licence decision ‘disappointing’ after Nadine Dorries confirms two-year fee freeze – as it happened

Nadine Dorries has frozen the BBC licence fee for two years. Photograph: PRU/AFP/Getty Images

6.19pm GMT

Early evening summary

• Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, has signalled the government does not have an alternative funding model for the BBC in mind as it commits to a review of the licence fee. (See 4.59pm.) In a statement to MPs, she also hinted she may have gone further than intended when she said yesterday the licence fee was definitely being abandoned. Today she just said she could not see the review allowing it to continue. (See 5.23pm.) The BBC has described the parallel announcement that the licence fee will be frozen for two years as “disappointing”. (See 5.17pm.)

• Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former chief adviser, says he is prepared to give evidence on oath proving Boris Johnson has been lying about the party held in Downing Street on 20 May 2020. (See 6.08pm.)

• There is “massive anger” among grassroots Conservative party supporters over the Downing Street parties scandal, the head of a leading group has said as its survey found 40% thought Boris Johnson should resign.

• Downing Street has said Boris and Carrie Johnson followed Covid guidance when the prime minister was “commuting” from Chequers to No 10 during the first lockdown in 2020 – but declined to answer further questions, including whether the pair held social events.

• Nadhim Zahawi has denied the government is rushing out a series of policy ideas in an attempt to save Boris Johnson, arguing that the prime minister is safe in his job despite a string of Downing Street parties during lockdowns.

Updated at 6.26pm GMT

6.08pm GMT

Cummings says he is willing to give evidence 'under oath' PM has lied about 20 May drinks party

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former chief adviser, was the first person to publicly reveal the fact that a drinks party took place at Downing Street on 20 May 2020. Boris Johnson attended and it was this that propelled partygate - already deeply damaging - into territory where it seems quite likely to be career-ending.

In an update this afternoon to a post on his Substack blog, Cummings says that he personally was one of the people who warned Johnson that the proposed party was a mistake. This is what he says, writing about 20 May 2020, which he says was a “pivotal day” at No 10 because big arguments were taking place about how it was run.

Amid discussion over the future of the cabinet secretary and PPS himself, which had been going on for days, I said to the PM something like: Martin’s [Martin Reynolds, Boris Johnson’s PPS] invited the building to a drinks party, this is what I’m talking about, you’ve got to grip this madhouse.

The PM waved it aside. I had told him repeatedly the PPS should be replaced, as had other competent officials who knew the whole structure needed a huge upgrade in personnel and management. ‘He’s MY guy, I don’t want you replacing him with YOUR person.’ (Yes, this says a lot.)

No 10 again denied this morning that Johnson did receive any warnings of this nature. (See 1.13pm.) Cummings says he and other witnesses would “swear under oath” Johnson is lying. He writes:

The events of 20 May alone, never mind the string of other events, mean the PM lied to parliament about parties.

Not only me but other eyewitnesses who discussed this at the time would swear under oath this is what happened.

Updated at 6.10pm GMT