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No 10 launches inquiry into leak of PM’s text messages to Dyson that triggered sleaze row – politics live No 10 launches inquiry into leak of PM’s text messages to Dyson that triggered sleaze row – politics live
(about 1 hour later)
Latest updates: Downing Street U-turns and will now hold inquiry into leak of prime minister’s text messages to Sir James DysonLatest updates: Downing Street U-turns and will now hold inquiry into leak of prime minister’s text messages to Sir James Dyson
A total of 37,238,073 Covid-19 vaccinations took place in England between December 8 and April 21, according to NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 432,476 on the previous day.
A PA Media reports, NHS England said 27,891,208 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 92,703 on the previous day, while 9,346,865 were a second dose, an increase of 339,773.
In an article for the Spectator Lee Cain, who was Boris Johnson’s director of communications until he left last year after losing out in a No 10 power struggle, says “class-based bias” is still prevalent in Westminster. Cain, who grew up in Ormskirk in Lancashire in a family where no one had been to university, praises Boris Johnson for his commitment to a levelling up agenda, but suggests others in government made him feel unwelcome. He says:
Asked about Cain’s comments, the PM’s spokesman told journalists at the lobby briefing:
It has emerged today that Sir James Dyson has moved his primary residency back to the UK from Singapore.It has emerged today that Sir James Dyson has moved his primary residency back to the UK from Singapore.
The Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy has a theory as to why.The Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy has a theory as to why.
Here are some more lines from the Downing Street lobby briefings.Here are some more lines from the Downing Street lobby briefings.
The prime minister’s spokesman refused to deny reports saying Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, advised Boris Johnson to change his mobile phone number. (See 9.25am.) After the Telegraph and the Times reported this last night, some No 10 sources were insisting that this was not true. (See here, or here.) But No 10 is obviously not confident denying these stories formally and on the record. Asked about the story, the spokesman just said: “As you know, we don’t get into the details of the advice provided between a cabinet secretary and a prime minister, and so I’m not going to do that in this instance.”The prime minister’s spokesman refused to deny reports saying Simon Case, the cabinet secretary, advised Boris Johnson to change his mobile phone number. (See 9.25am.) After the Telegraph and the Times reported this last night, some No 10 sources were insisting that this was not true. (See here, or here.) But No 10 is obviously not confident denying these stories formally and on the record. Asked about the story, the spokesman just said: “As you know, we don’t get into the details of the advice provided between a cabinet secretary and a prime minister, and so I’m not going to do that in this instance.”
The spokesman said No 10 would “very shortly” follow up on the PM’s promise yesterday to release details of his text messages relating to Covid contracts. The spokesman said Johnson “stands by what he said in the house”. But he would not say exactly what would be published. In PMQs, in response to a question about whether he would “publish all personal exchanges on these contracts before the end of the day”, Johnson said that he had “nothing to conceal” and that he was “happy to share all the details with the house”.The spokesman said No 10 would “very shortly” follow up on the PM’s promise yesterday to release details of his text messages relating to Covid contracts. The spokesman said Johnson “stands by what he said in the house”. But he would not say exactly what would be published. In PMQs, in response to a question about whether he would “publish all personal exchanges on these contracts before the end of the day”, Johnson said that he had “nothing to conceal” and that he was “happy to share all the details with the house”.
The spokesman said the inquiry into the leak of Johnson’s text messages with James Dyson would not cover the separate leak of the PM’s text exchanges with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. But the spokesman would not explain why that leak, which showed that Johnson asked an aide to look into a complaint from the prince about a Saudi bid to buy Newcastle United being held up, was not being investigated.The spokesman said the inquiry into the leak of Johnson’s text messages with James Dyson would not cover the separate leak of the PM’s text exchanges with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. But the spokesman would not explain why that leak, which showed that Johnson asked an aide to look into a complaint from the prince about a Saudi bid to buy Newcastle United being held up, was not being investigated.
Downing Street has announced that it is holding an inquiry into the leak of the prime minister’s text messages to Sir James Dyson. Yesterday No 10 said there were no plans for an inquiry. But at today’s lobby briefing, which has just ended, the PM’s spokesman said that the Cabinet Office would now be holding an inquiry. It is understood that the police are not involved.Downing Street has announced that it is holding an inquiry into the leak of the prime minister’s text messages to Sir James Dyson. Yesterday No 10 said there were no plans for an inquiry. But at today’s lobby briefing, which has just ended, the PM’s spokesman said that the Cabinet Office would now be holding an inquiry. It is understood that the police are not involved.
Explaining the U-turn, the spokesman said:Explaining the U-turn, the spokesman said:
You might have assumed that only Johnson and Dyson had access to these messages. But, according to Alex Wickham in his London Playbook briefing this morning, Johnson forwarded his text messages “to a small circle of senior aides serving in Downing Street last year”.You might have assumed that only Johnson and Dyson had access to these messages. But, according to Alex Wickham in his London Playbook briefing this morning, Johnson forwarded his text messages “to a small circle of senior aides serving in Downing Street last year”.
I will post more from the lobby briefing soon.I will post more from the lobby briefing soon.
An Australian MP from the governing Liberal party has blasted the British government’s “amateurish” tactics to influence trade talks between the two countries, suggesting post-Brexit negotiating inexperience could be behind the “megaphone” diplomacy, my colleague Daniel Hurst reports.An Australian MP from the governing Liberal party has blasted the British government’s “amateurish” tactics to influence trade talks between the two countries, suggesting post-Brexit negotiating inexperience could be behind the “megaphone” diplomacy, my colleague Daniel Hurst reports.
Robin Swann, health minister in the Northern Ireland executive, has voiced concern about the supply line of medicines to Northern Ireland as a result of a looming Brexit regulatory barrier, PA Media reports. PA says:Robin Swann, health minister in the Northern Ireland executive, has voiced concern about the supply line of medicines to Northern Ireland as a result of a looming Brexit regulatory barrier, PA Media reports. PA says:
Here is the full report (pdf) from the special committee set up by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission covering what it describes as “historical inequalities in commemoration”.Here is the full report (pdf) from the special committee set up by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission covering what it describes as “historical inequalities in commemoration”.
And here is an extract.And here is an extract.
Here are some of the passage from Ben Wallace’s opening statement about the failure of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to commemorate African, Asian and other soldiers from what was then the British empire who died in the first world war.Here are some of the passage from Ben Wallace’s opening statement about the failure of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to commemorate African, Asian and other soldiers from what was then the British empire who died in the first world war.
Wallace, the defence secretary, apologised for the failure to commemorate these soldiers properly. He said:Wallace, the defence secretary, apologised for the failure to commemorate these soldiers properly. He said:
He said there was “no doubt” prejudice played a part in the fact that more than 100,000 soldiers were not commemorated properly. (See 11.50am.) He said:He said there was “no doubt” prejudice played a part in the fact that more than 100,000 soldiers were not commemorated properly. (See 11.50am.) He said:
Wallace, a former soldier, said true soldiers were “agnostic to class, race or gender”. He said:Wallace, a former soldier, said true soldiers were “agnostic to class, race or gender”. He said:
Wallace said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will search out inequalities, and act on what it found.Wallace said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will search out inequalities, and act on what it found.
It will renew its commitment to equality in commemorations, he said.It will renew its commitment to equality in commemorations, he said.
And it would act to ensure the hidden history of former empire communities, and their contribution in the two world wars, is brought to life, he said.And it would act to ensure the hidden history of former empire communities, and their contribution in the two world wars, is brought to life, he said.
Wallace says when the Imperial War Graves Commission was set up, it was supposed to commemorate all soldiers equally.Wallace says when the Imperial War Graves Commission was set up, it was supposed to commemorate all soldiers equally.
But this did not happen, he says. He says there were cases where it deliberately overlooked evidence that might enable the discovery of names of the dead.But this did not happen, he says. He says there were cases where it deliberately overlooked evidence that might enable the discovery of names of the dead.
He says after the first world war in parts of Africa, the Middle East and India, the dead were not treated equally.He says after the first world war in parts of Africa, the Middle East and India, the dead were not treated equally.
He said the graves of up to 54,000 soldiers, who were mostly Indians, east Africans, west Africans, Egyptians and Somalis, were not marked by individual headstones.He said the graves of up to 54,000 soldiers, who were mostly Indians, east Africans, west Africans, Egyptians and Somalis, were not marked by individual headstones.
Some were only remembered in inscriptions or in registers, and another 116,000 personnel, mostly east Africans and Egyptians, were not named, or even commemorated at all, he says.Some were only remembered in inscriptions or in registers, and another 116,000 personnel, mostly east Africans and Egyptians, were not named, or even commemorated at all, he says.
He says there is no doubt that prejudice played a part in that.He says there is no doubt that prejudice played a part in that.
In the Commons Ben Wallace, the defence secretary is now making a statement about the failure of the Commonweath War Graves Commission to properly commemorate black and Asian solidiers.In the Commons Ben Wallace, the defence secretary is now making a statement about the failure of the Commonweath War Graves Commission to properly commemorate black and Asian solidiers.
Here is my colleague Rajeev Syal’s preview story about this announcement.Here is my colleague Rajeev Syal’s preview story about this announcement.
The section of the public accounts committee hearing devoted to Greensill is now over.The section of the public accounts committee hearing devoted to Greensill is now over.