Boris Johnson news - live: PM ‘misled public’, says Starmer as ethics chief apologises for Partygate fine

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says prime minister presided over ‘widespread criminality’

Jacob Rees-Mogg defends calling Partygate row 'fluff'

A former government ethics chief has said she is “sorry for the error of judgement I have shown” after being fined as part of a police investigation into No 10 parties.

Helen MacNamara said she has paid the fine she was handed reportedly in connection with a leaving do held in the Cabinet Office on June 18 2020 to mark the departure of a private secretary.

Downing Street has confirmed that Boris Johnson has not yet been informed whether he is to be fined over lockdown-breaking parties he allegedly attended.

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said Boris Johnson has “misled the public” and presided over “widespread criminality” at No 10 – saying again that PM is “unfit for office”.

He also called for the names of all senior officials fined for Downing Street parties to be made public.

However, Downing Street continues to refuse to accept the law had been broken, despite the Met issuing 20 FPNs.

KEY POINTS

• Former government ethics chief apologies after being fined over partygate
• Prime Minister has not yet received a fine
• Jacob Rees-Mogg defends his description of partygate as “fluff”
• PM presides over ‘widespread criminality,’ says Labour leader

[4 April 2022 13:10 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Government acted ‘to save both lives and livelihood’ during the pandemic

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think at all times the Government took action to save both lives and livelihoods and that was always a balanced judgment that sought to be informed by the latest evidence we had.

“We have established an inquiry to take a proper view and learn lessons about what happened and there will be more to say then. But certainly at all times the Government sought to act in the best interests of the United Kingdom.”

[4 April 2022 13:25 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

ICYMI-Welsh secretary said world has ‘moved on’ from Partygate saga

In case you missed it, MP Simon Hart told Sky News this morning that he thinks the world “has moved on a considerable distance” from Partygate.

Mr Hart said his 65,000 constituents in west Wales want “contrition” and an apology but “they don’t want a resignation”.

#NotMovingOn has been trending on Twitter in response to the minister’s comments.

My colleague Adam Forrest has more:

[4 April 2022 13:40 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Sunak’s popularity plummets in new Cabinet survey

As the cost of living crisis gets tougher by the day, the chancellor’s popularity takes a hit according to a survey charting the views of the Tory grassroots.

My colleague Adam Forrest reports.

[4 April 2022 13:50 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Energy supplier gives out free electric blankets to customers as heating bills soar

As British households struggle with rising electricity and gas bills, Octopus Energy has been praised for handing out 5,000 free electric blankets to its customers to help them keep warm.

My colleague Joe Sommerlad has more:

[4 April 2022 14:05 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Average nursery place cost soars by nearly £1,500 in five years – Labour says

The average annual cost of a nursery place for children under two has risen by nearly £1,500 in five years, putting a strain on working families, Labour has claimed.

The Independent has more here:

[4 April 2022 14:20 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Putin’s ‘barbaric’ actions leave UK ‘in no doubt’ further sanctions needed, No 10 says

No 10 has said Russia’s “barbaric” actions and the killing of civilians in the town of Bucha leaves the government in “no doubt” further sanctions are needed against the Kremlin.

Our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn reports:

[4 April 2022 14:38 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Sir Keir Starmer says the country needs an ‘energy strategy’- not ‘energy rationing'

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK needs a proper energy strategy from the Government rather than going “cap in hand” to dictators.

Asked by broadcasters whether his shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was right to agree over the weekend that the country needed to prepare for energy rationing, Sir Keir said: “We don’t need energy rationing. We do need an energy strategy.

“And going from one dictator in Russia for your oil and gas, cap in hand to another dictator in Saudi Arabia is not an energy strategy.

“We need a strategy that is fast-forwarding on renewables and on nuclear, retrofitting so that we can actually keep our houses and our homes warmer.

“That is the strategy, the security strategy, that we need for this country and we don’t have it from this Government.”

[4 April 2022 14:53 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

‘Who cares if wind farms are an ‘eyesore’, Mr Shapps?’

“After business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced a significant push for renewable and nuclear energy, Grant Shapps sounded a note of caution that wind farms are an ‘eyesore’.”

Jude Wilkinson has more:

[4 April 2022 15:05 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

UK should drill ‘every last drop’ of North Sea oil and gas, says Jacob Rees-Mogg

Boris Johnson’s government wants “every last drop” of oil and gas to be extracted from the North Sea, cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested.

My colleague Adam Forrest reports.

[4 April 2022 15:17 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer talks non-disclosure agreements and sexual harassment

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said “nobody” in the party would be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement after making an accusation of sexual harassment.

When asked about reports of the practice within Labour, Sir Keir said: “I cannot comment on the individual cases. What I can say is nobody in the Labour Party is asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement in relation to sexual harassment.

“That is against our policy.”