Andrew Bridgen on the “red meat” strategy: “I find it a little bit patronising. It’s a bit like offering sweets to placate children that you already had in your pocket and you’ve already promised. Most of this was in our manifesto and should have been doing anyway.” #newsnight
Bridgen says Sue Gray should interview Dominic Cummings about his claims.
Peter Bone says that he went canvassing in his constituency at the weekend: “I thought my goodness me I’m going to have a terrible reception on the doorstep. But no, they were wholly supportive of the Prime Minister.” #Newsnight
Peter Bone: “There was anger with the 25 year olds who were dancing in the basement and that sort of thing but that didn’t translate to the Prime Minister because they support what he’s doing...so I was, really pleased.”
Email from Birmingham Northfield MP (a 2019er) @GarySambrook89 to a constituent about the PM. Says he “would expect anyone who is found to have broken the law to seriously consider their position in the Government and that includes the Prime Minister.”
Another email to a constituent, this time from @kevinhollinrake. Says “There is a requirement within the [ministerial code] that any significant breach would necessitate the rendering of a resignation, and this of course applies to the Prime Minister.”
Constituent letter from Levelling Up minister @NeilDotObrien not exactly a ringing endorsement of BJ: “I would like to assure you I have read the emails on this and understand the strength of feeling here and will be paying close attention to the report and response of the PM.”
1) Still some ambiguity. PM repeatedly says he wasn’t warned that it was against the rules/wasn’t work event. Does that mean he wasn’t warned/advised against it at all, in any sense? 2) Q PM will have to answer is why he had to be warned, wasn’t it obvious?
2 continued) not least because PM was the man proselytising those rules to the nation at the time and his staff, also at this event, were those supporting his doing so.
as I say, PM says specifically that no-one warned him it was against the rules/was non work event (or some variation thereof) repeatedly. Beth asks if there was ever a more general warning (or some variation thereof) and PM says the same thing.
NEW: PM denies he was warned about May 20th party- "No, nobody told me that what we were doing was against the rules, the event in question was something that wasn't a work event...When I went out into that garden I thought I was attending a work event."
@BethRigby: "To be clear you're saying Cummings is lying and his version of events is untrue?"
PM:"I can tell you categorically that nobody told me and nobody said that this was sthing that was against the rules or a breach of covid rules or something that wasn't a work event.."
PM:.."because frankly I can't imagine why it would have gone ahead or been allowed to go ahead. My memory, as I've said is going out into the garden for 25 minutes for what I implicitly thought was a work event and talking to staff, thanking staff..."
The obvious striking thing about the polls recently is the size of Labour’s leads. The other less immediately obvious thing is how big the Lab+Green share now is: in this latest poll together they’re at 50%.
The Venn diagram between Labour and Green isn’t entirely shaded. There are some southern areas the Greens attract some votes from the Tories, especially on planning etc. But generally they’re more Labour inclined or non-Conservative if push comes to shove.
Worth noting Conservatives had already suffered in polls before the party story. They’ve in fact been slowly declining since last summer, with especially sharp drop offs in December and since the turn of the year.
Labour lead largest lead for any party with R&W since May 2020
NEW: I’ve seen the email invite for this. Over 40 were invited- including No10 political aides and civil servants. Invitees include the PM’s Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfeld and Comms Chief Jack Doyle.
When asked to confirm or deny actual attendance Downing St didn’t reply tonight.
Reminder, on that date London was in T3. This wasn't an event which is outside but in one room in the Cab Office. The title of the event is "Farewell" and was held in the early evening.
Fact PM's staff were at least invited (plus no denial) takes story back to Downing St.
We contacted No 10 repeatedly for a comment tonight and a confirmation or denial apropos specific members of staff, as I say, we've heard nothing.
NEW: On a huge day for Boris Johnson things just got that bit worse.
High court rules govt’s use of “VIP lane” to award PPE contracts to two companies during pandemic first wave was unlawful.
Judge said “there is evidence that opportunities were treated as high priority even where there were no objectively justifiable grounds for expediting the offer.”