Boris Johnson newest information: PM mulls ‘revenge reshuffle’ if he survives Partygate

The Mayor of London has been criticised for his determination to return the congestion cost to pre-pandemic hours, permitting motorists to drive into central London after 6pm with out having to pay.

Congestion cost hours have been quickly prolonged to 7am to 10pm on weekdays in June 2020 as an emergency measure to encourage extra strolling and biking and clear roads for key staff.

On Monday the hours reverted to 7am to 6pm, although the price will stay the identical at £15 slightly than returning to £11.50 – a call Mr Khan hopes will stop visitors from increase excessively.

My colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain has extra particulars right here:

Restoring the Palace of Westminster with out discovering a brand new residence for MPs might take as much as 76 years, with a repairs invoice reaching £22bn, a brand new report exhibits.

The staggering value to restore the Unesco World Heritage website seems in an preliminary evaluation by the Home of Parliament Restoration & Renewal Programme for motion required to avoid wasting the palace — which highlights a spread of doable eventualities for finishing up the work.

The most affordable choice would contain a “full decant” of the palace for between 12 and 20 years, with the work costing within the area of £7bn to £13bn. On this situation, the report estimated the restoration would take between 19 and 28 years.

If MPs have been to keep up a “continued presence” within the palace, however the place “all important and extremely fascinating capabilities might be accommodated however in additional condensed area”, it discovered that the work would value extra and take longer.

Have been enterprise to initially stay within the Commons Chamber earlier than finally transferring to a different area inside Westminster, presumed to be the Home of Lords Chamber, the restoration value might hit £18.5bn and take 26 to 43 years.

And in a 3rd doable situation, during which MPs would sit within the Commons as typical, it’s estimated the work would value between £11bn and £22bn and would take within the area of 46 to 76 years.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn has the total story right here:

Labour’s shadow well being secretary has apologised for a comment referring to Harold Shipman which he shouted from the Commons benches.

After Boris Johnson mentioned he had requested the general public to indicate private accountability in coping with coronavirus, the Guido Fawkes web site claimed Wes Streeting had shouted: “Private accountability? What subsequent? Harold Shipman on the entrance bench?”

However Mr Streeting tweeted: “I did NOT say that. What I mentioned was: ‘lectures from you [Johnson] on private accountability? What subsequent? Harold Shipman on medical ethics?!’

“I settle for this wasn’t in good style, so I’m sorry about that.”

The federal government could have “no credibility” on tackling Russia’s aggression in Ukraine till the Conservative Occasion not accepts Russian-linked donations, a Labour MP has claimed.

As MPs debated tackling illicit finance linked to the Russian state, Dame Margaret Hodge referred to as for the federal government to present donations from Russian-backed donors to organisations like Transparency Worldwide.

“Till the Conservative Occasion does that, they are going to haven’t any credibility in any respect within the argument on preventing corruption,” she mentioned.

Earlier, Downing Road rebuffed criticism of donations made to the Tories by folks of Russian origin, saying it’s “mistaken and discriminatory to tar them with the identical brush” when many are vital of the Putin regime.

Boris Johnson has dodged a query about stories that objections from Cupboard ministers have seen the federal government shelve plans for an import ban on fur and foie gras as a part of the federal government’s Animals Overseas Invoice.

Newly-appointed Brexit alternatives minister Jacob Rees-Mogg is alleged to be in opposition to limiting the merchandise, on the grounds of non-public selection, whereas defence secretary Ben Wallace is alleged to consider that it will make it tough to supply bear-skin hats for Guardsmen troopers.

Within the Home of Commons on Wednesday Labour MP Kerry McCarthy linked the coverage change on the 2 luxurious items to the price of residing disaster, asking Mr Johnson:

Labour’s Kerry McCarthy requested the PM within the Commons earlier how he thought it seemed “once we’re in a price of residing disaster with our constituents struggling to place meals on the desk” for Cupboard ministers to “have thrown their toys out of the pram as a result of they wish to eat foie gras or put on fur”.

However Mr Johnson prevented straight answering the query, replying on a approach that prevented mentioning the insurance policies. Our coverage correspondent Jon Stone has the total story right here:

Boris Johnson has been accused of dragging his ft on sanctions over Ukraine, after he rejected a Labour provide of help for emergency laws to crack down on illicit Russian cash within the UK.

Keir Starmer used PMQs in the present day to name for the fast escalation of sanctions to hit the Russian economic system, comparable to exclusion from the worldwide Swift cash switch system and halting commerce in Moscow’s sovereign debt. He additionally provided Labour’s assist to hurry by way of the financial crimes invoice, which was promised in final yr’s Queen’s Speech.

However the prime minister dismissed the provide, telling MPs that “no nation is doing greater than the UK to deal with this subject”. And he mentioned the laws wouldn’t come into play till the following parliamentary session.

Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has extra:

In different information, UK universities have seen a 40 per cent drop within the variety of functions from EU college students since Brexit, in response to official figures.

The admissions physique Ucas cited the “uncertainty” sparked by Britain’s exit from the bloc as a purpose for the stoop within the variety of college students coming from Europe final yr, Adam Forrest stories.

EU candidates have been right down to 31,670 in 2021 – falling by 40 per cent because the earlier yr, in response to the most recent annual Ucas report. The variety of EU college students who gained locations at British universities dropped right down to 16,025 – a 50 per cent decline.

Over to Scotland, the place FM Nicola Sturgeon has branded it “unthinkable” that Alex Salmond nonetheless has a present on a Kremlin-backed broadcaster.

Mr Salmond, who the FM himself, launched his self-titled present on Russia In the present day (RT) in 2017, drawing the ire of many throughout Scottish political life – together with his successor Ms Sturgeon.

However aggressions by Russia in the direction of Ukraine, with 200,000 troops massing on the border between the 2 nations, has led to renewed criticism of the Alba Occasion chief.

Talking to STV Information on Wednesday, Ms Sturgeon backed requires Ofcom to revoke the licence of RT to broadcast within the UK. And when requested about Mr Salmond’s present being broadcast on the community, Ms Sturgeon defined:

“I’m appalled at Alex Salmond’s continued involvement with RT, I don’t suppose it’s any secret now that I don’t suppose he ought to ever have had a tv present on RT, however it’s much more unthinkable now that that ought to proceed.”

She added elected officers mustn’t seem on the broadcaster.