The government’s been responding to an urgent question from Labour in the Commons about who knew what and when regarding Chris Pincher - the former minister and deputy chief whip who is accused of inappropriate behaviour.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Ellis took the question, and has told MPs that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was made aware of a formal complaint against Pincher in late 2019 - but he “did not immediately recall this conversation… about the minister” when he was asked about it last week.
“As soon as he was reminded, the No 10 press office corrected their public lines,” Ellis said.
Boris Johnson acted with probity at all times, he added.
Ellis also said that it was possible that a police investigation into Pincher’s conduct may follow - which prevented him from saying more about the allegations.
Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said there was an “ethical vacuum” in Downing Street and the PM was personally informed about these allegations – so he was either negligent or complicit, she said.
The house of cards is falling, Johnson will have to resign imo, trouble is it plays right into the hands of remainers, wheres the opposition when you want one, flip flopping over brexit.
We now have a bit more from Sajid Javid’s letter of resignation as a member of Boris Johnson’s government.
He starts saying: “It was a privilege to have been asked to come back into government to serve as Secretary of State for Health & Social Care at such a critical time for our country.”
But, he adds: "We [Conservative party] may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest. Sadly, in the current circumstances, the public are concluding that we are now neither.
"The vote of confidence last month showed that a large number of our colleagues agree.
“I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership and you have therefore lost my confidence too.”
Rishi Sunak has just resigned from the cabinet.
In his letter he says “the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”.
He adds: “I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning”.
Sunak says “our country is facing immense challenges”.
"I publicly believe the public are ready to hear that truth. Our people know that if something is too good to be true then it’s not true. They need to know that whilst there is a path to a better future, it is not an easy one.
“In preparation for our proposed joint speech on the economy next week, it has become clear to me that our approaches are fundamentally too different.”
“I am sad to be leaving government but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we cannot continue like this”, he adds.
Gosh - Johnson may be gone by the time I get back to Blighty
With those Senior cabinet members resigning, I’m sensing there may be a bit of Cabinet manoeuvring going on to get rid of Johnson and line up one of the others to take his place before Johnson causes any more damage - they must know that all their jobs would be on the line if they let the Joker carry on.
all our elected ministers in parliament who go around chatting away with each other ; having drinks at the bars and groping away and if complained about and often get away with it whilst
the rest of us in private life - working as bank managers down to the lowly dock workers are not allowed to drink alcohol at work and not allowed to go around groping each other?
and
She up there who must be obeyed doesn’t not whether she is martha or arthur or head of the church of not and can drink when she bloody well feels like? and can have a scratch when she wants?
can some check my spelling I would hate to mislead you all?
I think this will be the finish of Boris, to be honest.
