✕CloseRishi Sunak says he has not read Partygate report in detail
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Rishi Sunak has admitted he has not read the Partygate report in full, despite being reminded it was only four and a half pages.
The report which came out last week criticised seven Tory MPs and three peers for interfering with a “probe” into whether Boris Johnson misled government over Partygate.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith quit as a minister after Mr Sunak asked him to apologise after being named in the report.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve read the findings of the report, I haven’t read the report yet cover to cover.”
Asked if the Tory MPs named in the report should apologise, Mr Sunak said there was a difference because of Lord Goldsmith’s position as a minister.
The prime minister answered questions on cost-of-living pressures and the state of public services as he came under scrutiny from senior MPs.
Commenting on mortgages, the PM said he acknowledged the difficulty faced by homeowners as the five-year fixed-rate deal for mortgages passed six per cent for the first time since November.
Sunak also responded to queries about the conflict in Ukraine as he pledged “long-term support” for the country.
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Sunak insists ‘Stop the Boats’ plan isn’t on hold
Rishi Sunak has declined to say when he will fulfil his promise of stopping small boat crossings but denied it is on hold while the Rwanda policy is grounded by court challenges.
The Prime Minister also said on Tuesday he is “throwing everything at” tackling inflation, as he struggles to achieve the five priorities on the six-month anniversary of setting them.
Facing questions from senior MPs, Mr Sunak denied he has no plan B if the Supreme Court does not overturn the ruling blocking the forceful removal of asylum seekers to Kigali.
He told the Liaison Committee ministers will challenge the appeals court judgment “confidently and vigorously”.
Home Affairs chairwoman Dame Diana Johnson asked: “So you’re betting everything on the Rwanda policy being upheld in the Supreme Court?”
Mr Sunak replied: “No, that’s not a fair characterisation of what we’re doing.”
Asked if his pledge to “stop the boats” is on hold, he said: “No, and a good example of why it’s not on hold is our deal with Albania.”
But pressed on when he will achieve it, Mr Sunak said: “The court will have to determine its own ruling and that’s outside the Government’s hands.
“But in the meantime we can get on with a range of other things.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 16:201688482743
Watch: Rishi Sunak asked whether he has backup plan if Rwanda scheme fails
Rwanda: Rishi Sunak asked whether he has backup plan if scheme failsMaryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:591688481986
Privileges Committee report: What did Johnson allies say about partygate probe?
Remarks from eight separate Conservative politicians were named in the Privileges Committee report, which highlighted comments by allies of Boris Johnson said to have put “improper pressure” on MPs investigating the former prime minister.
The committee cited comments by senior MPs including Nadine Dorries, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Dame Priti Patel along with peers including Lord Goldsmith – a serving minister – claiming it was part of a co-ordinated attempt to undermine the panel’s work.
The committee said MPs should consider whether their actions could be considered a contempt of Parliament and what further action to take.
Privileges Committee report: What did Johnson allies say about partygate probe?
Remarks from eight separate Conservative politicians were named in the panel’s report.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:461688481895
Rwanda: Rishi Sunak avoids answering if he has backup plan if scheme fails
Rishi Sunak was avoided a question at the Liaison Committee on whether the government has a “plan B” if the government’s appeal against a High Court judgement ruling plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda are unlawful is unsuccessful.
The prime minister has previously stated that the government will seek permission to appeal against the decision at the Supreme Court as he insisted that Rwanda was a safe country and said that the court had agreed with this.
Appearing before parliament’s Liaison Committe on Tuesday, 4 July, the prime minister did not say whether the government has alternative plans if the scheme is not upheld in the Supreme Court.
Rwanda: Rishi Sunak avoids answering if he has backup plan if scheme fails
Rishi Sunak was avoided a question at the Liaison Committee on whether the government has a “plan B” if the government’s appeal against a High Court judgement ruling plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda are unlawful is unsuccessful. The prime minister has previously stated that the government will seek permission to appeal against the decision at the Supreme Court as he insisted that Rwanda was a safe country and said that the court had agreed with this. Appearing before parliament’s Liaison Committe on Tuesday, 4 July, the prime minister did not say whether the government has alternative plans if the scheme is not upheld in the Supreme Court.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:441688480852
Sunak defends absence from Boris Johnson vote
Rishi Sunak defended his absence from the vote on whether Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.
The Prime Minister was challenged about his decision to miss the vote to attend a Jewish Care dinner, even though other MPs at the event managed to make it back to the Commons to take part.
He told the Liaison Committee: “I chose to fulfil my obligation to an incredible charity, for whom that is one of their significant fundraising moments of the year.”
Mr Sunak also said he had not fully read a Privileges Committee report on allies of Mr Johnson seeking to undermine the work of the panel during its investigation into the former prime minister.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith quit as a minister after Mr Sunak asked him to apologise after being named in the report.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve read the findings of the report, I haven’t read the report yet cover to cover.”
Asked if the Tory MPs named in the report should apologise, Mr Sunak said there was a difference because of Lord Goldsmith’s position as a minister.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:271688479951
Sunak says he has not read Privileges Committee report in detail
Rishi Sunak has admitted he has not read the Privileges Committee report in full, despite being reminded it was only “three pages”.
The confession came as he was challenged for missing a vote on damning conclusions that Boris Johnson repeatedly lied to Parliament over parties in Downing Street.
Tory peer Lord Goldsmith quit as a minister after Mr Sunak asked him to apologise after being named in the report.
The Prime Minister said: “I’ve read the findings of the report, I haven’t read the report yet cover to cover.”
Asked if the Tory MPs named in the report should apologise, Mr Sunak said there was a difference because of Lord Goldsmith’s position as a minister.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:121688479674
Sunak criticised for missing PMQs
The prime minister has been criticised for missing PMQs at a “critical point” in parliament.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 15:071688479158
PM had ‘no active involvement’ in Boris Johnson’s honours list
Rishi Sunak says he had no “active” involvement in Boris Johnson’s resignations honours list.
On him putting forward a resignation list, he said: “It is not something I am focused on or have given any thought to.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 14:591688478568
PM acknowledges difficulty of rising mortgage rates
Rishi Sunak told MPs: “Of course I acknowledge the difficulty that rising mortgage rates pose”.
The prime minister also suggested the high number of fixed-rate mortgages was making the fight against inflation more difficult as the “transmission method (of interest rates) is slower than in the past”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 14:491688477689
Government ‘committed to bringing inflation down'
Sunak has said the government “remains committed to bringing inflation down”.
It comes as the average five-year fixed mortgage risen above six per cent for the first time since November.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain4 July 2023 14:34
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