Boris Johnson interview live: Ex-prime minister says he regrets apologising for Partygate in ITV grilling

Comes as Sir Keir Starmer faces backlash over Chagos Islands deal with protest planned

Boris Johnson explains why he thinks apologising for Partygate was mistake

Boris Johnson has said he regrets apologising for the so-called partygate scandal over lockdown-era gatherings in Downing Street in a new interview.

Facing a grilling on ITV tonight, the former prime minister claimed the move had “inadvertently validated the entire corpus” as accusations were also levelled at officials who were “working very hard”.

He went on to defend the revellers, insisting that he does not think officials involved in the Westminster scandal “thought they were setting out to break the rules”.

Meanwhile, Sky News’s political editor Beth Rigby announced she has pulled out of an interview with Mr Johnson at the Cheltenham Literature Festival after being told she could not make a recording or transcript of the talk, marking the second interview the former Tory MP has lost this week.

It comes as a group of indigenous Chagossians, Chagossian Voices, planned to stage a protest in Westminster, claiming they have been “consistently and deliberately ignored” by the UK government over discussions surrounding the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, The Independent understands.

Sir Keir Starmer has defended the government’s decision in the face of significant backlash, claiming that the UK-Mauritius deal ensures continued security of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base.

Key Points

• Boris Johnson says he regrets apologising for Partygate in ITV grilling
• Boris Johnson does not rule out return to politics
• Boris Johnson defends Partygate revellers
• Indigenous Chagossians plan protest after being ‘excluded’ from talks
• PM defends Chagos Islands handover after backlash
• Starmer dodges questions over future of Gibraltar
• Labour hails carbon capture ‘national renewal in action’

[4 October 2024 09:10 · Salma Ouaguira]

Minister condemns pay-for-access scheme, urges Labour to learn from misstep

The energy secretary has urged the Labour Party to refrain from offering private companies meetings with ministers in exchange for financial contributions.

Ed Miliband’s warning comes following revelations that Labour’s commercial team proposed a £30,000 package for business leaders to gain insights from business secretary Jonathan Reynolds.

Asked about his message to his party, Mr Miliband told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “Don’t do it again is my message.”

He also defended his cabinet colleague Mr Reynolds, claiming that the minister was “completely unaware of this invitation”, adding: “He is not attending this.”

Mr Miliband also said: “The answer is – whether it is me or Jonathan Reynolds – it is not about paying to have access. That is not what we are about, no.”

He also said Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to repay £6,000 worth of donations sends “a signal” and was a “prelude” to introducing new rules on gifts for ministers.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds (PA Wire)

[4 October 2024 09:00 · Salma Ouaguira]

EXCLUSIVE: Tory leader bids fail to inspire as poll shows support for Starmer

Keir Starmer’s lead in the polls has barely been dented after another week of criticism for the prime minister and his government over gifts and blanket coverage of the Tory leadership contest.

The latest weekly Techne UK tracker poll has revealed that Labour’s share of the vote dropped just one point to 31 per cent while the Tories gained one to 23 per cent.

Our political editor David Maddox has the full story below:

[4 October 2024 08:50 · Salma Ouaguira]

UK envoy rejects ‘hooey’ claims of Chinese base in Chagos

Jonathan Powell, the prime minister’s special envoy for negotiations with Mauritius, has dismissed concerns that China could establish a military base in the Chagos Islands.

In an interview with Times radio, he emphasised the close involvement of US officials in the negotiation process, claiming that “every single sentence and paragraph” of the agreement underwent scrutiny by various agencies in Washington.

Mr Powell added that the Chinese base is just “hooey”. “It can’t happen, won’t happen,” he declared.

However, Tom Tugnedhtat raised concerns that the UK’s decision to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands could inadvertently pave the way for China to establish a military base there.

The Tory leadership candidate claimed that while Britain retains power over Diego Garcia, the only inhabited island and home to a key US/UK airbase, Mauritius has not assured that it will refrain from leasing other islands to foreign powers - including China.

Responding to the claims, Mr Powell said: “The fact that some of the newspapers have suggested Mauritius is an ally of China – it could hardly be further from the truth. Mauritius is very, very close to India and the Indians also have welcomed this agreement because they see it as so important for security in the Indian Ocean.

“Mauritius is one of only two countries in Africa that’s not a member of China’s Belt and Road (Initiative). So this notion that we’ve somehow given the Chagos Islands to an ally of China is rubbish, and anyway, the negotiations were started by the previous Tory government.”

Jonathan Powell (Getty Images)

[4 October 2024 08:21 · Salma Ouaguira]

‘New era begins’: Ed Miliband hails Labour’s green investment plan

Energy secretary Ed Miliband has been doing the morning media round.

Speaking on Sky News, the minister declared that Labour’s plan to fund carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects will be a step for the UK’s green economy.

He has promised that it will revive jobs lost in industries like coal, adding: “Today a new era begins.”

Mr Miliband added: “A new era of a new industry, carbon capture and storage, as you describe, capturing the carbon and burying it underground rather than going up into the atmosphere.

“It’s about good jobs across the country, and it’s about a sign of where this government stands, which is we are going to invest in the future of this country.”

When pressed on how this investment will be financed, Mr Miliband was unequivocal: “Public investment. We believe in borrowing to invest. It’s absolutely the right thing to do for Britain.”

He also rejected claims that this move is merely an attempt to turn around the “doom and gloom” narrative that some suggest has undermined business confidence.

“I’m in politics for change and hope, not doom and gloom. And that’s what this is all about. And that’s what the prime minister is about,” he said.

[4 October 2024 08:02 · Salma Ouaguira]

Ministers pledge £22bn for carbon capture in net zero push

The government has committed nearly £22 billion to accelerate carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, a crucial part of its net zero strategy.

In a bid to meet stringent climate targets, ministers will invest up to £21.7 billion over 25 years, funding CCS projects in Teesside and Merseyside - two key industrial hubs.

Labour announced that subsidies will begin in 2028 aiming to drive private investment and create jobs in these regions.

The party has promised the initiative will generate £8 billion in private investment, create 4,000 direct jobs, and support 50,000 more, solidifying these regions as carbon capture “clusters”.

Sir Keir Starmer framed the announcement as a turning point for the UK’s industrial heartlands.

The prime minister said: “For the past 14 years, business has been second-guessing a dysfunctional government – which has set us back and caused an economic slump.

“Today’s announcement will give industry the certainty it needs – committing to 25 years of funding in this ground-breaking technology – to help deliver jobs, kickstart growth, and repair this country once and for all.”

(PA Archive)