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Kamis, 07 Juli 2022

Live news updates: Brandon Lewis becomes latest cabinet minister to resign over Johnson's leadership - Financial Times

Robert Buckland: ‘The prime minister . . . has no choice but to leave office’ © Getty Images

The UK’s former justice secretary said the Conservative party must “end this farce” as more than 40 government ministers resigned in a bid to oust Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“If the writing wasn’t on the wall last night, I’m afraid it’s very clearly written on the wall this morning,” Sir Robert Buckland told Sky News on Thursday. “The prime minister . . . has no choice but to leave office.

“This is now an unreal situation,” he said. “It’s just absurd and we need to end this farce now.”

Buckland’s comments came as the ministerial resignations continued on Thursday, with Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis becoming the latest high profile departure.

Others to resign on Thursday included Treasury minister Helen Whately, security minister Damian Hines, science minister George Freeman, pensions minister Guy Opperman, courts minister James Cartlidge, and Chris Philp, minister for technology and the digital economy.

“There’s one word I’m afraid that [Johnson] needs to listen to which is ‘go’,” said Buckland.

The former justice secretary said a new prime minister could be in office within “a period of six weeks or so”.

“I think the parliamentary votes could be held before the end of this term, and then if there needs to be a membership ballot that could be done in August and we could have a new leader in September,” he said.

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2022-07-07 07:24:50Z
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Chris Pincher: Fresh sex assault claims about suspended Tamworth MP - BBC

Further allegations of sexual assault have been made against former deputy chief whip and MP Chris Pincher.

Conservative councillor Daniel Cook told Channel 4 News that Mr Pincher, who has been suspended as a Tory MP, groped him in 2005 and 2006.

Mr Cook, deputy mayor at Tamworth Council in Staffordshire, where Mr Pincher is an MP, said he had lodged a complaint with the Conservative Party.

Channel 4 reported that Mr Pincher denies the latest allegations.

He has been contacted by the BBC for a response.

Mr Cook, who waived his anonymity for his interview, said he felt angry at what had happened and wanted Mr Pincher expelled from the Tory party.

Allegations emerged last week that Mr Pincher was alleged to have groped two men in a private members' club which led to his suspension.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson then faced questions from within his own party about what he knew and his handling of the allegations.

He apologised on Tuesday for appointing Mr Pincher to the government role, admitting he had been told about a complaint in 2019 and saying he had made a "bad mistake".

That triggered a swathe of resignations in government including former health minister Sajid Javid and chancellor Rishi Sunak minutes after the prime minister's statement.

Mr Pincher is facing six new claims of inappropriate behaviour stretching back several years, which he has denied.

Two police forces also investigated two allegations of sexual assault by a man believed to be Mr Pincher - one in London between 2010 and 2012, and another in Staffordshire in May 2019.

'Under his wing'

Neither investigation resulted in any action and Mr Pincher denies the allegations, saying to Channel 4 News that the first he heard of them was when he was contacted by the broadcaster.

Mr Cook said he met Mr Pincher when he first started in politics as a council candidate in Tamworth for the 2004 elections aged about 28, and campaigned with Mr Pincher among others.

He told Channel 4 Mr Pincher, who "took him under his wing" as he stood to be an MP for the area, was drunk on both occasions.

Mr Cook said in 2005, while his wife was at work, Mr Pincher came to his house with a council colleague and "the next thing he knew.. cupped his hand around my genitals" and asked if he had any "good porn".

A year later, he came round "stinking drunk" and cupped him again and grabbed him from behind and made reference to him being "a rising star" of politics in Tamworth.

Mr Cook said he reacted the first time by laughing it off and pushing him away, but the second time he threw him against his fridge and physically threw him out of his house and saw him stagger down his drive.

He said he felt angry about what happened and had come forward after other allegations had been made.

He added that if he had spoken out at the time, the matter could have been dealt with sooner.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: "Mr Pincher's membership of the Conservative party has been suspended pending investigation."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

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2022-07-07 05:31:36Z
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Rabu, 06 Juli 2022

Live updates as firefighters rush to 'serious house fire' - Lincolnshire Live

Firefighters are currently in attendance at a 'serious house fire'. Residents near Treswell, Retford, are being urged to shut their windows and doors as crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue tackle the blaze alongside Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue.

The fire was first reported by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue early this afternoon. Little further information is currently known about the incident.

In a statement, the service said: "Crews, assisted by Lincs Fire and Rescue, are currently dealing with a serious house fire in Treswell, Retford. We ask people to avoid the area and close windows and doors if they see or smell smoke.

The fire, on Cocking Lane, has been described as "serious" by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue. Residents are being urged to keep their windows and doors shut, should the see or smell any smoke.

Little further information is currently known about this incident. We will continue to update on this via our live blog below.

This is a live event. Please check back regularly for further updates.

Louth & Horncastle MP Victoria Atkins quits as minister telling Boris Johnson "we must do better"

First of 2,500 new homes in Lincolnshire town submitted for approval

People in Skegness make their feelings on Boris Johnson clear as Lincolnshire MP resigns as a minister

A46 Lincoln Bypass crash involving cyclist left road closed for more than seven hours

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2022-07-06 11:43:27Z
1489093621

Danny Humble killing: Parents left 'destroyed' by loss - BBC

The parents of a man who was kicked and stamped to death in a gang attack said their once fun-loving family has been "destroyed" by his murder.

Danny Humble, 35, was "swarmed" as he lay on the ground during an altercation in Cramlington, Northumberland, in May last year.

Alistair Dickson, 18, was convicted of his murder and four other teenagers of manslaughter.

Mr Humble's mother Deborah said her son's death had "destroyed us".

"For me, he was my first born, my son, my friend a piece of my heart," she added.

His father Vaughan said: "We are a family incomplete, we are in the dark.

"One of the mainstays of our family and a guiding light has been cruelly snatched from us in dreadful circumstances from which we will never ever recover.

"He was one of the good guys, there is a void in our lives and an emptiness that continually aches and tortures us."

Ethan Scott, of Chester Grove, Blyth; Kyros Robinson, of Woodside Avenue, Seaton Delaval; Bailey Wilson, of Mitford Avenue, Blyth, who are all aged 18, and a 17-year-old boy who cannot be named, were all convicted of manslaughter at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday.

They will be sentenced at a later date.

Speaking after the hearing Mrs Humble said she got "no pleasure" from the convictions and would rather have her son back.

However, she added: "That's not possible so these young people need to live with the consequences of their actions.

"We feel it sends the message out how their behaviour and how Danny suffered cannot be tolerated."

The court heard how Mr Humble and his partner, Adele Stubbs, had just enjoyed a meal and drinks after lockdown restrictions were eased when they came across the 17-year-old near an underpass.

The 17-year-old had joked about Mr Humble looking like one of the TV presenters Ant and Dec.

At first, the couple took it in good humour, but then an altercation ensued with Mr Humble being knocked to the ground and others joining in kicking and stamping on him, the court heard.

Kyros Robinson, Bailey Wilson and Ethan Scott

One of the stamps, inflicted by ex-junior soldier Dickson, fatally ruptured an artery in Mr Humble's neck.

Recalling the day of her son's death, his mother, said: "On 29 May 2021 my life turned black.

"Danny had dropped his children - then seven and five years old - off for a sleepover, he and his partner were going on their first date since lockdown restrictions had eased.

"Danny and the children were laughing, singing, and joking together. They were talking about the plans for the next week, half-term.

"He kissed and hugged us all and gave a wave and left, then jokingly came back for another wave and smile.

"Hours later police were at the door and my memory just turns to black after that."

She said Mr Humble's children were heartbroken.

She also said the family had to live with "dreadful images" of his last moments when he was "defenceless" before the attack.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk.

Selasa, 05 Juli 2022

Huge blow for Boris Johnson as two senior UK government ministers resign - CNN

London (CNN)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was dealt a huge blow on Tuesday when two of his top ministers announced their resignations, saying they could no longer work for a government mired in scandal.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid both announced they were quitting in letters posted to Twitter within minutes of each other on Tuesday evening.

"The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously," Sunak said in his resignation letter. "I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning."

"In preparation for our proposed joint speech on the economy next week, it has become clear to me that our approaches are fundamentally too different," Sunak added in the letter. "I am sad to be leaving Government but I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we cannot continue like this."

Javid wrote that "it has been an enormous privilege to serve in this role, but I regret that I can no longer continue in good conscience." Javid added that the vote of confidence in the prime minister last month "was a moment for humility, grip and new direction."

"I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership -- and you have therefore lost my confidence too," Javid wrote.

Scandal after scandal

The most immediate controversy facing Johnson is Downing Street's handling of last week's resignation of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, who stepped down from his post last Thursday amid allegations he had groped two guests at a private dinner the night before.

While he did not admit the allegations directly, Pincher said in a letter to Johnson that "last night I drank far too much" and "embarrassed myself and other people."

Downing Street has struggled to explain why Pincher was in government in the first place, amid a wave of revelations about his previous alleged conduct, denying Johnson knew anything specific about the allegations.

On Tuesday, it emerged that a complaint had been made against Pincher in the Foreign Office about three years ago and that Johnson was briefed on what happened.

Minutes before Sunak and Javid announced their resignations, Johnson acknowledged it "was a mistake" to appoint Pincher to his government.

"I got this complaint. It was something that was only raised with me very cursory, but I wish that we had acted on it and that he had not continued in government because he then went on, I'm afraid, to behave, as far as we can see -- according to the allegations that we have -- very, very badly," Johnson said in a broadcast interview.

UK opposition leader Keir Starmer said it was "clear" that the government was "collapsing."

"Tory cabinet ministers have known all along who this Prime Minister is. They have been his cheerleaders throughout this sorry saga. Backing him when he broke the law. Backing him when he lied repeatedly. Backing him when he mocked the sacrifices of the British people," the Labour Party leader said in a statement released after the two resignations.

For months Johnson has been facing a barrage of criticism over his conduct and that of his government, including illegal, lockdown-breaking parties thrown in his Downing Street offices for which he and others were fined.

Johnson has faced numerous other scandals that have hit his standing in the polls -- despite his 80-seat landslide victory just two-and-a-half years ago. These include accusations of using donor money inappropriately to pay for a refurbishment of his Downing Street home and whipping MPs to protect a colleague who had breached lobbying rules.

Last month, he survived a confidence vote, but the final count of his lawmakers who rebelled against him was higher than his supporters expected: 41% of his own parliamentary party refused to back him.

But while he managed to win the confidence vote, he suffered a further blow late last month when his party lost two parliamentary by-elections in a single night, raising new questions about his leadership.

According to an Ipsos UK survey conducted between 22-29th June, Johnson's Conservative Party is at its lowest level recorded in more than a decade when it comes to being seen as "fit to govern". Just 21% of respondents said it is fit to govern -- the lowest number for either the Conservatives or Labour since Ipsos started tracking this metric in 2011.

The chaos in Westminster had ripple effects in the financial markets, pushing the value of the British pound against the dollar to its lowest in more than two years.

More resignations

Downing Street did not hesitate filling the vacant roles. Nadhim Zahawi, who was previously the Secretary of State for Education, was appointed as the Chancellor, while Downing Street Chief of Staff Steve Barclay became the new Health Secretary on Tuesday evening.

Michelle Donelan replaced Zahawi as the Education Secretary.

Javid and Sunak were not the only ones to go on Tuesday. Shortly after the two quit their jobs, Conservative party vice chair Bim Afolami announced live on television that he too was resigning. During an interview with The News Desk's Tom Newton Dunn, Afolami said: "I just don't think the Prime Minister any longer has my support... the support of the party or indeed the country anymore."

Afolami called for Johnson to step down and then said he would also give his own resignation. "I think you have to resign because I can't serve under the Prime Minister."

Alex Chalk, who served as the UK Solicitor General, a ministerial role in the Attorney General's Office, also resigned on Tuesday, saying in his resignation letter that it was time "for fresh leadership."

"To be in government is to accept the duty to argue for difficult or even unpopular policy positions where that serves the broader national interest. But it cannot extend to defending the indefensible," Chalk said.

The Prime Minister's trade envoy to Morocco, Andrew Murrison, also resigned, blasting the "rolling chaos of the last six months" and saying that Boris Johnson's "position has become unrecoverable."

At least half a dozen other junior-ranking government officials also announced resignations later on Tuesday.

CNN's Luke McGee, Sarah Dean, Luke Henderson, Lauren Kent, Dan Wright, Jorge Engels and Maija Ehlinger contributed reporting.

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2022-07-06 02:06:00Z
1492415847

Huge blow for Boris Johnson as two senior UK government ministers resign - CNN

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid both announced they were quitting in letters posted to Twitter within minutes of each other on Tuesday evening.

"I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership -- and you have therefore lost my confidence too," Javid wrote.

Scandal after scandal

While he did not admit the allegations directly, Pincher said in a letter to Johnson that "last night I drank far too much" and "embarrassed myself and other people."

On Tuesday, it emerged that a complaint had been made against Pincher in the Foreign Office about three years ago and that Johnson was briefed on what happened.

Minutes before Sunak and Javid announced their resignations, Johnson acknowledged it "was a mistake" to appoint Pincher to his government.

UK opposition leader Keir Starmer said it was "clear" that the government was "collapsing."

The chaos in Westminster had ripple effects in the financial markets, pushing the value of the British pound against the dollar to its lowest in more than two years.

More resignations

Michelle Donelan replaced Zahawi as the Education Secretary.

Afolami called for Johnson to step down and then said he would also give his own resignation. "I think you have to resign because I can't serve under the Prime Minister."

The Prime Minister's trade envoy to Morocco, Andrew Murrison, also resigned, blasting the "rolling chaos of the last six months" and saying that Boris Johnson's "position has become unrecoverable."

At least half a dozen other junior-ranking government officials also announced resignations later on Tuesday.

CNN's Luke McGee, Sarah Dean, Luke Henderson, Lauren Kent, Dan Wright, Jorge Engels and Maija Ehlinger contributed reporting.

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Boris Johnson told 'in person' of Chris Pincher allegation in 2019, claims former senior civil servant - Sky News

Boris Johnson was briefed "in person" about an allegation of inappropriate behaviour against disgraced MP Chris Pincher in 2019, a former senior civil servant has claimed.

Since the deputy chief whip resigned his post last week after allegations of groping two men, Number 10 has said the prime minister was not aware of specific allegations.

But Lord McDonald, who was the permanent secretary in the Foreign Office between 2015 and 2020, has written to parliament's standards commissioner saying Downing Street had made "inaccurate claims".

Politics Hub: Boris Johnson under mounting pressure for explanation

Tweeting the letter, he said: "This morning I have written to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards - because No 10 keep changing their story and are still not telling the truth."

In the letter, he wrote: "The original No 10 line is not true and the modification is still not accurate. Mr Johnson was
briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation.

"There was a 'formal complaint'. Allegations were 'resolved' only in the sense that the investigation was completed; Mr Pincher was not exonerated. To characterise the allegations as 'unsubstantiated' is therefore wrong."

Mr Johnson led a cabinet meeting this morning, letting cameras in for his opening remarks - but not allowing any questions from journalists.

Surrounded by his serious-faced ministers, the PM spoke about the cost of living crisis and his plans to tackle it, but there was no mention of Mr Pincher or Lord McDonald's letter.

Tory MP and critic of the PM John Penrose called the letter "dynamite", tweeting it showed "another serious breach" of the ministerial code and that Mr Johnson's "promised reset" after Partygate had "no credibility because their behaviour hasn't changed at all".

Shortly before the letter was published, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News' Kay Burley that he knew about the allegation when he was foreign secretary in 2019.

He said he had "made it clear in no uncertain terms" to Mr Pincher that the behaviour "must never be repeated", and he referred it to both the civil service and Cabinet Office for investigation.

But Mr Raab said the inquiries did not "trigger disciplinary action", and he had only told the PM about the incident "in recent days".

The deputy PM also described Mr Pincher as "an exceptional minister" and said it was right to allow the independent investigation to make its own conclusions.

Full text of the letter

Five days after Mr Pincher's resignation as deputy chief whip, there remains significant confusion surrounding complaints about his behaviour prior to the drunkenness he admits at the Carlton Club on 29 June.

Inaccurate claims by 10 Downing Street continue to be repeated in the media. On 3 July, the BBC website reported: "No official complaints against [Mr Pincher] were ever made."

This is not true. In the summer of 2019, shortly after he was appointed minister of state at the Foreign Office, a group of officials complained to me about Mr Pincher's behaviour. I discussed the matter with the relevant official at the Cabinet Office. (In substance, the allegations were similar to those made about his behaviour at the Carlton Cub.) An investigation upheld the complaint; Mr Pincher apologised and promised not to repeat the inappropriate behaviour. There was no repetition at the FCO before he left seven months later.

The same BBC website report continued: "Downing Street has said Boris Johnson was not aware of any specific allegations when he appointed Mr Pincher deputy chief whip in February." By 4 July, the BBC website reflected a change in No 10's line: "The prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Johnson knew of "allegations that were either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint", adding that 'it was deemed not appropriate to stop an appointment simply because of unsubstantiated allegations'."

The original No 10 line is not true and the modification is still not accurate. Mr Johnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation. There was a "formal complaint". Allegations were "resolved" only in the sense that the investigation was completed; Mr Pincher was not exonerated. To characterise the allegations as "unsubstantiated" is therefore wrong.

I am aware that is unusual to write to you and simultaneously publicise the letter. I am conscious of the duty owed to the target of an investigation but I act out of of my duty towards the victims. Mr Pincher deceived me and others in 2019. He cannot be allowed to use the confidentiality of the process three years ago to pursue his predatory behaviour in other contexts.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said it was "now clear that the prime minister knew about the seriousness of these complaints but decided to promote this man to a senior position in government anyway", adding: "He refused to act and then lied about what he knew.

"Boris Johnson is dragging British democracy through the muck. His appalling judgement has made Westminster a less safe place to work."

Mr Pincher resigned as the government's deputy chief whip on Thursday after allegations he drunkenly groped two men at a private members club in London earlier that week.

The party whip was only removed from him - leaving him sitting as an independent MP for his Tamworth constituency - on Friday afternoon after the PM bowed to pressure, and a formal complaint was made to parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

A number of ministers have since taken to the airwaves to reiterate Number 10's defence of Mr Johnson, including education minister Will Quince, who said he had been given "categorical assurance" the PM was not aware of any serious specific allegations.

But on Monday, Sky News revealed the PM's wife, Carrie Johnson, also questioned Mr Pincher's suitability as a government whip as far back as 2017.

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Labour's shadow attorney general, Emily Thornberry, said Downing Street "tells us different things on different days... and as time goes on, the truth starts to come out".

She told Sky News that Mr Johnson had been "turning a blind eye to any allegations because it suited the prime minister to turn a blind eye to it", adding: "We need a country that is led by a decent, honourable person."

The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, also said Lord McDonald had "shone a new light on this murky cover-up".

She added: "Boris Johnson needs to own up to his web of lies and finally come clean today. Every day this carries on our politics gets dragged further through the mud."

And the SNP's Brendan O'Hara called for an investigation into the PM, saying the letter "demolishes Boris Johnson's claims and raises serious questions over whether he has lied and broken the ministerial code".

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2022-07-05 10:18:45Z
1487432988

Kamis, 07 Juli 2022

'Under his wing'

Rabu, 06 Juli 2022

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Selasa, 05 Juli 2022

Scandal after scandal

More resignations

Scandal after scandal

More resignations

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Full text of the letter