Boris Johnson news: PM referred to police regulator over claims of potential misconduct
Downing Street sources accuse City Hall of political move after Greater London Authority decision
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Your support makes all the difference.The prime minister has been referred to the independent police watchdog over claims of potential “misconduct” while he was London mayor.
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct to assess whether Boris Johnson should be formally investigated over his relationship with the US tech entrepreneur and former model.
It wants the probe to explore whether Ms Arcuri was allowed to join trade missions, and received large grants, “when she and her companies could not have expected otherwise to receive those benefits”.
The referral does not mean or imply he is guilty, but is a request for an investigation. While London mayor, he was also a police and crime commissioner, which is why the police regulator is now involved.
The prime minister denies any impropriety but the announcement comes at the end of a tumultuous week for Mr Johnson.
His right-hand man Dominic Cummings has continued No 10’s ‘people versus parliament’ rhetoric by saying the anger of Leave voters was “not surprising”.
The controversial aide told Labour MP Karl Turner to “get Brexit done”, after the MP said he had received death threats overnight.
Elsewhere in Westminster the SNP said it could support Jeremy Corbyn’s bid for prime minister, in order to stop a no-deal Brexit.
“Nothing is risk free but leaving Johnson in post to force through no deal – or even a bad deal – seems like a terrible idea to me,” party leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter.
An SNP spokesperson said the party was committed to stopping a no-deal Brexit and removing “this dangerous and undemocratic prime minister as soon as possible”.
If you would like to see how the days events unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below
Deputy speaker Rosie Winterton has today written to MPs asking for their support in the election of the new Speaker of the House of Commons.
Ms Winterton said she would seek to be a stabilising, unifying Speaker who could help resolve the tensions that have built up in recent times by working with all colleagues in a low profile, consensus building way.
She added: “We must learn to disagree better."
John Bercow, the current speaker, has vowed to stand down after 31 October.
Boris Johnson's former flame has condemned the prime minister for his bullish Commons performance.
Petronella Wyatt, a journalist, had a four-year relationship with Mr Johnson, while he was editing the Spectator magazine - and still married to his second wife Marina Wheeler.
Michel Barnier has stressed to Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay that the withdrawal agreement must include a solution to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
After the pair met in Brussels on Friday, a EU Commission statement said: "Michel Barnier stressed that it is essential that there is a fully operational solution in the withdrawal agreement to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, protect the all-island economy and the integrity of the Single Market.
"The EU remains open and willing to examine any workable and legally operative proposals that meet all these objectives."
What does Brussels really think of Boris Johnson’s bluster? Our Europe Correspondent Jon Stone reckons goodwill towards the new prime minister has faded.
Read his analysis here:
A 36-year-old man has been charged with a Section 5 public order offence after a disturbance outside Jess Phillips' constituency office, West Midlands Police have said.
The Birmingham Yardley MP's office is closed today following yesterday's incident.
"My constituents can still ring & email for help," Ms Phillips said on Twitter.
"I want to thank those who sent lovely messages, today we have had lots of leave voters and conservative voters contacting with love as well as obviously those with other views."
Michael Roby, of Vimy Road, Billesley, Birmingham, was arrested after police officers were called to Ms Phillips' constituency office on Yardley Road in Acocks Green, Birmingham on Thursday afternoon.
West Midlands Police said he was charged on Friday and released on conditional bail.
He is due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 10 October.
Stephen Barclay, the government's Brexit minister, has said there is still a long way to go before the UK and the European Union agree a Brexit deal and that proceedings were coming to a moment of truth.
"I think there is still a long way to go. We are now approaching the moment of truth in these negotiations," the minister said.
Mr Barclay added that the backstop had to go but a deal could be struck, with good will on both sides.
59 per cent of British people say most MPs don't have the country's best interests at heart, according to a new YouGov poll.
More from Stephen Barclay, who has just emerged after talks in Brussels with the EU's chief negotiator Michael Barnier.
"We are committed to securing a deal," he said. "We are committed to leaving on October 31, but that deal has to be without the backstop.
"Parliament has rejected the backstop three times. I have been very clear with Michel Barnier in the negotiations, the backstop has to go. But with good will on both sides a deal can be done."
Police could be called in to investigate how companies operated by Jennifer Arcuri came to be awarded £100,000 of public money during a time when she was close friends with Boris Johnson, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson has suggested.
Read more here:
"It has been a shameful week in Westminster," argues our columnist Luisa Porritt.
"Not only was the prime minister found to have broken the law, but he continues to use deliberately divisive language in order to try and force through Brexit at any cost—even if that cost is abuse against parliamentarians that could result in political violence.
"In this context, millions of British pro-Europeans will be left feeling dismayed by the apparent determination of EU leaders to work with Boris Johnson to secure a botched Brexit deal, potentially leaving our MPs faced with a Hobson’s choice between his deal and no deal."
Read more here:
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