Inside Politics: Short respite

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations get underway today as millions of people across the country mark the monarch’s 70 year reign. But is the party over for Boris Johnson? There is likely to be some respite for the prime minister over the bank holiday weekend but questions about his premiership are likely to intensify next week.

Parliament is in recess.

Today marks the first day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and the weather has held up, in London at least, where the sun is cracking the flags this morning. Best wishes to everyone who is celebrating the Queen’s 70 year milestone. And to everyone still working – hope you get there soon.

As you might expect, most of the news websites and front pages focus their coverage on the celebrations and the monarch’s message, in which she thanks the public for its goodwill towards her as the two day bank holiday kicks off.

The short holiday will provide some respite for Boris Johnson, but questions about his premiership are still dominating the political agenda domestically. After the number of MPs publicly declaring that they no longer have confidence in the Johnson grew and an awkward interview the PM gave to Mumsnet in which he was accused of being a habitual liar was published, Johnson ultra-loyalists have begun to hit out at the rebels calling for his head.

The Times carries a report quoting allies of the PM describing the plotters as “self-indulgent, narcissistic and contemptuous” amid growing concern in Downing Street that a vote could take place as early next week, although the paper said the whips’ office believes it could take longer.

Priti Patel, meanwhile, joined cabinet colleagues Nadine Dorries, the culture secretary, and Dominic Raab, the justice secretary and deputy PM, in rowing in behind the Big Dog. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the home secretary tells her colleagues pushing for a confidence vote to “forget it”, adding the party should be focused on “real challenges that we have to find solutions to”.

That cabinet ministers are out giving interviews to the papers and defending Johnson is perhaps indicative of growing concern inside No 10 that a leadership ballot is in fact imminent, despite the protestations yesterday by Raab, who claimed the idea is nothing but “Westminster froth”.

Only time will tell whether or not he is right and any relief the PM gets this weekend is likely to be short lived as MPs begin preparing to head back to Westminster following the half-term recess.

open image in gallery

Following on from a big intervention in the Ukraine war by the US, which has vowed to send mid-range missiles to Kyiv in a move that sparked anger in the Kremlin – which accused the Biden administration of “adding fuel to the fire” of the conflict – a British MP has warned that the UK Royal Navy could get drawn into battle against Russian warships in the Black Sea.

Alec Shelbrooke, the Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell who leads the UK’s parliamentary delegation to Nato, said that British warships could have to use “lethal defensive force” against Vladimir Putin’s soldiers as part of a mission to escort vital grain supplies out of Ukrainian ports, at the “high risk” of deaths of UK personnel and the escalation of war in Europe.

Fierce fighting continues in Ukraine’s Donbas region, where Russian forces have taken control of most of Sieverodonetsk – a city that has drawn some comparisons with Mariupol due to the brutal bombing campaign taking place.

The UK Ministry of Defence said in its latest update that the Russian advance is coming at a high cost, with losses suffered in the fighting. “It is likely Russia will need at least a short tactical pause to re-set for opposed river crossings and subsequent attacks further into Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian armed forces have prepared defensive positions,” the MoD said earlier this morning. “To do so risks losing some of the momentum they have built over the last week.”

open image in gallery

See all of The Independent’s daily cartoons here

“That sounds to me like a journalist hitting the jubilee sherry a little early. I have already been selected to represent Bournemouth West at the next election.”

Conor Burns, the Tory MP, Northern Ireland minister and Johnson loyalist responds to a report that he is willing to give up his seat for the PM should he lose it at the next election, as recent polls have suggested. A classic non-denial denial?

“Ever since Thatcher was ousted, Conservatives have been hooked on the sugar rush of regicide.It may work in the short term but masks deeper issues that often lead to defeat (think Major in 97).”

i chief politics commentator Paul Waugh on Tory leadership battles.

Sign up here to receive this free briefing in your email inbox each weekday