Boris Johnson news – live: PM denies he is ‘habitual liar’ in Mumsnet interview

‘People throw all sorts of accusations at me,’ Johnson says in his defence

Mumsnet user asks why public should believe 'habitual liar' Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson today denied he was a “habitual liar” when asked why the public should believe anything he says.

In an interview with the prime minister, Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said users of the online forum asked about his “trust and integrity”.

One user asked: “Why should we believe anything you say when it’s been proven you’re a habitual liar?”

Mr Johnson said he did not accept the description or the premise of the question. “People throw all sorts of accusations at me about all sorts of things ... you’ve just got to look at the record of what I deliver,” he said.

The prime minister went on to be asked if he would resign over the Partygate scandal. “I cannot see how it would be responsible right now, with everything that’s going on, simply to abandon … the project on which I embarked,” he said.

Earlier, Dominic Raab dismissed the idea that his boss could face a confidence vote as early as next week – describing the speculation as “Westminster froth”.

Key points

• Mumsnet asks PM why public should believe a ‘habitual liar’
• Quitting would be irresponsible, claims PM
• Johnson will not face confidence vote, Raab insists
• PM has ‘legitimate question’ to answer on whether he broke ministerial code
• Quarter of Britain convinced by Sunak’s cost of living splurge

[1 June 2022 09:40 · Matt Mathers]

Starmer doesn't think he has broken rules, Labour says

Keir Starmer doesn't think he has broken any Covid laws, Labour has said.

The comments by Ian Murray, shadow Scotland secretary, came after Durham Police confirmed it had issued the Labour leader and deputy leader, Angela Rayner, with questionnaires regarding an event in the city last year.

Beer and curry were consumed at the gathering and Starmer was pictured at the event with a bottle in his hand.

[1 June 2022 10:02 · Matt Mathers]

Dominic Raab says food poverty ‘breaks his heart’ – but rules out expansion of free school meals

Dominic Raab said the story of a mother skipping meals to feed her son “breaks your heart” – but rejected calls to expand free school meals ahead of the summer holidays.

Our politics reporter Adam Forrest has more below:

[1 June 2022 10:23 · Matt Mathers]

Expand free school meals in time for summer holidays, Boris Johnson told as cost of living crisis deepens

Boris Johnson is under pressure to extend the free school meals programme before the summer holidays amid warnings more than a million children face going hungry because of the cost of living crisis.

Former education secretaries from both Labour and the Conservatives, as well as the mayor of London, unions and charities have urged the government to act as it did during the Covid pandemic.

My colleagues Kate Devlin and Zoe Tidman report:

[1 June 2022 10:47 · Matt Mathers]

ICYMI: Rees-Mogg hails chance to abolish EU restriction on vacuum cleaners as one of top ‘Brexit opportunities’

Jacob Rees-Mogg’s office has listed scrapping EU regulations on vacuum cleaners as one of the “most interesting” ideas it has received for how to capitalise on the UK’s newfound Brexit freedom.

My colleague Andy Gregory reports:

[1 June 2022 11:24 · Matt Mathers]

Johnson loyalist dismisses claim he could sacrifice his seat for PM

A staunch ally of Boris Johnson has dismissed reports that he could give up his seat for the prime minister in the event that he loses it at the next general election.

Multiple polls have shown Mr Johnson could be at risk from losing in his Uxbridge and Ruislip constituency as anger grows over the Partygate scandal.

The New European reported that Conor Burns, the Bournemouth West MP and Northern Ireland minister, could make the ultimate sacrifice by giving up his own seat to the PM.

Mr Burns denied the claim in comments to his local newspaper, the Bournemouth Echo. He said: “That sounds to me like a journalist hitting the jubilee sherry a little early.”

[1 June 2022 11:47 · Matt Mathers]

Tory MP not submitting confidence letter

Conservative MP Huw Merriman confirmed he would not be submitting a no confidence letter against Boris Johnson and appealed for colleagues to focus on delivering policies rather than regime change.

The transport select committee chairman, who in February suggested Mr Johnson needed to improve or leave Downing Street, told Sky News: "Wrong has occurred, he's apologised, put his hands up, I judge people for what they do to turn things around and I feel he needs to be given that time to do so."

Mr Merriman added: "I have definitely not put a letter in and I will not be putting a letter in because if I do that I'm then responsible for the very policy recommendations I've been making through my committee not being delivered."

He said he did not know how many letters have been submitted, adding: "My point, perhaps my appeal to colleagues is that our constituents need us right now and they need the Government to deliver and Parliament to deliver.

"We're not going to be able to do that if we are going through a protracted leadership contest, it just changes all the focus, all the direction, all of the chances we have of making better changes in policy that will help people through difficult times. You can't have both.

"People can either focus on the theatre and want to change direction and I respect their position if they do want that, but you can't then expect Government to be able to get on and govern and deliver policy, which is ultimately the most important thing for me."

[1 June 2022 12:44 · Jane Dalton]

ICYMI: Tories’ newest target voters take aim at Johnson

In case you missed it earlier:

“Waitrose woman” is reported to be the voter demographic Downing Street believes is crucial if Boris Johnson is to survive in post.

But does “Waitrose woman” actually back him? Colin Drury finds out:

[1 June 2022 13:05 · Jane Dalton]

Opinion: Vote of no confidence inevitable

Boris Johnson is alienating his party’s left and right factions at the same time, and many Tory MPs want to take matters into their own hands.

Even if the PM survived a vote of no confidence, he would be weakened but would soldier on because he has no shame, writes Andrew Grice:

[1 June 2022 13:18 · Jane Dalton]

Johnson: Quitting would be irresponsible

The prime minister says it would be irresponsible for him to stand down, admitting the Partygate scandal had upset No 10 staff.

“I cannot see how it would be responsible right now, with everything that’s going on, simply to abandon … the project on which I embarked,” he said.

“I’m not going to deny the whole thing hasn’t been a totally miserable experience for people in government, and we’ve got learn from it and move forward.”

He told Mumsnet: “I can totally see how infuriating it is that people like me were not fulfilling the letter of the rules ourselves. I totally understand that ... What I thought was doing was right for a leader in any circumstances and that was to thank people for their service.”

Mr Johnson added: “I was very, very surprised and taken aback to get an FPN, but of course I paid it.”

[1 June 2022 13:35 · Matt Mathers]

Stormont justice minister calls for forum to tackle online abuse of politicians

The Stormont justice minister has called for a forum to tackle the online abuse of politicians.

Naomi Long highlighted the targeting of female politicians as a problem which needs to be specifically addressed.

Ms Long made the proposals in a letter to the other Stormont parties.

She said: "I know from my own experience that having spoken to women who may have considered standing in the election, they were deterred from doing so because of the aggressive nature of politics, particularly the level of online abuse to which they see other women being subjected," she told the BBC.

"That deterred them from putting their names forward and I think that that is affecting our democratic process in a really negative way.

"So I think it's important that we sit down, we look at the incidents that happened, we understand how those are being taken forward and hear from those who had those experiences as to how they feel they were treated by the justice system and by others at the time, but also look to see what the law already can do for people and what maybe the law ought to be able to do to offered additional protection for people who are standing in elections because it is an important part of our democratic process."