Inside Politics: ‘Unworkable, unethical and extortionate’

Labour says government plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is ‘unworkable’, as justice minister quits in protest at No 10 response to Partygate fines, writes Matt Mathers

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Home Secretary Priti Patel (PA) (PA Archive)

Partygate is well and truly back. No, this is not an old version of Inside Politics sent out in error: the scandal features on several front pages again this morning, with reports that Boris Johnson could be hit with at least three more fines for lockdown-busting gatherings. Unconfirmed reports last night said the prime minister was “stunned” to learn that there had been anyone left on the government payroll with a shred of integrity following the resignation of Lord David Wolfson. A full-scale inquiry is now underway to root out any other officials displaying even the faintest signs of probity. 

Inside the bubble

Parliament is in recess.

Coming up:

– Welsh secretary Simon Hart on ITV GMB at 8.30am

– Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell on Times Radio Breakfast at 8.35am

Daily Briefing

• NO JUSTICE: There was no wave of MPs or ministers calling for Johnson to go yesterday after he was fined for breaking his own Covid laws. There was, however, a trickle that threatens to turn into a stream, perhaps a flood after the holidays. After Nigel Mills stuck his head above the parapet to become the first Tory MP to call for PM’s resignation, Lord David Wolfson quit in protest at the lawbreaking that took place at the heart of power and “the official response” to it. The peer is not exactly a household name, but the fact that he is a distinguished barrister on the government payroll as a justice minister is damaging for Johnson. His resignation also puts pressure on government law officers and others in Downing Street who have legal jobs. MPs still battling with their consciences and weighing up the consequences Partygate could have for them at the ballot box will be delighted with reports this morning that Johnson could be hit with at least three more fines. Happy Easter.

• ROLL UP, ROLL UP: The Independent is launching a new US news newsletter bringing the biggest stories, exclusives and explainers to your inbox. Details of how to sign up here.

• SMALL BOATS PLAN: One cabinet minister whose brief involves matters of the law but who you can bet your house on not resigning is Priti Patel. The home secretary, whose stints in government sociologists studied to coin the term “permacrisis”, is coming under fire from campaigners once again over plans to send some asylum seekers – single men – arriving in the UK by small boat to Rwanda to have their application processed. Patel, who it is rumoured could be axed in any future Johnson reshuffle over the painfully slow processing of visas for Ukrainians fleeing the war, will sign a deal with the African nation later, after the PM unveils the plan. Refugee organisations have slammed the proposals as cruel and urged a rethink. Labour, meanwhile, says the plan is “unworkable, unethical and extortionate” and is being used to distract from Partygate. Out on the broadcast round earlier, Lucy Powell, the Manchester Central MP and shadow culture secretary, told BBC Radio 4 Today: “I’m afraid this is quite obviously a pretty desperate attempt by the prime minister to distract from his own lawbreaking. I don’t think there would be many of your listeners that wouldn’t take it with a large dose of scepticism.” Johnson using “look over here” tactics to divert attention from a scandal? Surely not, she must have the wrong man.

• UKRAINE LATEST: Turning to the war in Ukraine, Russia’s ministry of defence has admitted that its flagship cruiser Moskva is “seriously damaged” and its crew has been evacuated after an explosion. Ukrainian officials had earlier said the enemy vessel had been hit by its rockets in the Black Sea. In other updates, the Kremlin says it is now in full control of the besieged port city of Mariupol in the southeast, after 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered – claims Kyiv says it has no information on. We’ll have all the latest updates on our liveblog.

• SANCTIONED: Liz Truss, who some bookies now have as the favourite to succeed Johnson as Tory leader amid Rishi Sunak’s recent woes, said yesterday that “we will continue to target all those who aid and abet Putin’s war,” after the UK and EU announced a fresh tranche of sanctions against 178 Russian separatists in the Donbas region who backed the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The government also announced a series of new sanctions targeting Russian oligarchs’ family members, associates and employees – including Putin’s own assistant.

• WHISTLEBLOWERS CLEARED: Immediate apologies to anyone who might be reading Inside Politics while eating their breakfast – because we’re about to talk about that Matt Hancock kiss again. Readers will remember the sensational scoop by The Sun, which got hold of CCTV footage of the former health secretary in a passionate clinch with then aide Gina Coladangelo, breaking his own social distancing guidelines. In the aftermath of the story, the Information Commissioner’s Office launched a criminal investigation after it received a report of a personal data breach from the department of health’s CCTV operator, EMCOR Group plc. That probe has now come to an end and concluded there is “insufficient evidence” to prosecute two people suspected of leaking the footage. The Sun splashes on the story this morning, describing the outcome as a win for press freedom.

The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page.

On the record

“It is not just a question of what happened in Downing Street, or your own conduct. It is also, and perhaps more so, the official response to what took place. As we obviously do not share that view of these matters, I must ask you to accept my resignation.”

Lord Wolfson’s resignation letter.

From the Twitterati

“British politics needs the likes of @edballs back.”

Conservative commentator Tim Montgomerie on the question of whether Ed Balls might reenter politics.

Essential reading

• Tom Peck, The Independent: Surely Tory MPs can’t go on defending the indefensible?
• Harry Lambert, The New Statesman: No 10 is at war with Rishi Sunak – and it’s not clear he knows
• Miranda Whelehan, The Guardian: I went on TV to explain Just Stop Oil – and it became a parody of Don’t Look Up
• Antonio Guterres, The Independent: The war in Ukraine is a silent assault on the developing world

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