Inside Politics: Boris Johnson ‘personally concerned’ by latest lobbying scandal development

What you see isn’t always what you get. A woman in India has attempted to file a lawsuit against Prince Harry – claiming the royal had contacted her on social media and promised to marry her. Tossing the case, the judge politely suggested she’d been duped by some sneaky, behind-the-scenes online behaviour. Boris Johnson’s government has been hit by more allegations of sneaky, behind-the-scenes behaviour. Labour has attacked the “shocking” lack of transparency in Whitehall – after it emerged one of David Cameron’s top civil servants was able to join Greensill while working for government.

Inside the bubble

Political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for today:

Labour will keep up the pressure over the David Cameron-Greensill affair by forcing a vote in opposition time on a full-scale parliamentary inquiry. But Tory MPs are less likely to join Labour now Boris Johnson has ordered an investigation. A less tribal than usual session of PMQs is likely today because of the Duke of Edinburgh’s upcoming funeral.

Daily briefing

PRIVATE LIVES IN PUBLIC PLACES: Boris Johnson may have thought he’d tidied up the David Cameron lobbying scandal with a small-scale inquiry. But more “extraordinary” details have emerged. Top civil servant Bill Crothers joined finance firm Greensill as an adviser while still working for the government, a lobbying watchdog revealed. Eric Pickles, chair of the Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, criticised the “lack of transparency” – although he was told a loophole allowed the Cabinet Office to agree to Crothers working for both the public and private sector. While the PM is said to be “personally concerned” at the revelation, Labour called it “extraordinary and shocking”. Rachel Reeves said: “The Conservatives have weakened the rules so much they may as well rip them up and start again.” Johnson claimed inquiry chief Nigel Boardman would be given “pretty much carte blanche to ask anybody whatever he needs”. But No 10 confirmed Boardman would have no legal powers and would not suggest any changes to lobbying rules.

FROSTY RECEPTION? David Frost is thought to be off to Brussels tomorrow to discuss tensions in Northern Ireland and possible solutions to protocol problems with his opposite number Moros Sefcovic. The Brexit minister and EU Commission official will have dinner together, according to The Telegraph, following “positive” discussions on flexible implementation of trade rules. It comes as Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis acknowledged the protocol had helped fuel tensions among loyalists – although he added that recent rioting was “multi-faceted”. Older loyalists have told The Independent they fear “much worse” violence is coming in the months ahead, saying a new generation of young leaders had supplanted them. Meanwhile, Tory agriculture secretary George Eustice has told Stormont’s agriculture minister – the DUP MP Edwin Poots – that border control posts being built at NI ports because of Brexit must be progressed “without delay”.

ENDLESS WAVES: Time for people aged 45 or over in England to get their Covid jab, Matt Hancock has confirmed. The health secretary said the UK was still “on track” to vaccinate all adults by the end of July. But there appears to be a new mood of gloom over the likelihood of a third wave. Boris Johnson warned that hospitalisations and deaths will “inevitably” rise as lockdown is lifted. “People have just got to understand that,” he said. Government adviser Prof Jeremy Brown warned the next wave could be more significant than people realise. “A big third wave could still end up with 30,000 to 50,000 deaths, potentially,” said the member of the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). It comes as a new trial in the UK will look at whether different Covid vaccines can be mixed for the first and second doses. Scientists hope that combining vaccines could give longer-lasting immunity.

MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNER: Nicola Sturgeon faced down her rivals during STV’s live election debate last night. Most pundits agree it was another good performance by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. He positioned himself as the middle man between the extremes of Sturgeon and Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross – questioning their endless obsession with the independence question. “Covid did not choose between yes [or] no, leave or remain,” said Sarwar. “And the aftermath is not going to choose between yes, no, leave or remain. I want us to focus on a recovery.” The SNP boss told the Tories to “butt out” of Scotland’s decision-making. It follows the UK government’s move to seek court review of two bills passed by the Scottish parliament, including one on the protection of children’s rights. Sturgeon challenged Ross: “Why can’t you just say to the UK government – butt out?” 

MALADY OF ERRORS: Downing Street is under pressure to come up with a new advisory group, after deciding to disband its current LGBT+ panel. It follows the resignation of three members, who quit over the failure to stamp out conversion therapy. One leading Tory backbencher accused ministers of a series of “unforced errors”. Crispin Blunt, who leads the all-party parliamentary group on global LGBT+ rights, said inaction over conversion therapy meant the PM was is “in breach of promise on causes he supports”. A government spokesman promised a new body “will be set out in due course”. Ministers have also been accused of a “disrespectful” attitude towards students. They have been told they won’t get to return to university in England until 17 May, at the earliest. Professor Charlie Jeffery, vice chancellor of the York University, said the announcement was “very late … It makes it extraordinarily difficult for our students to know where they are going to be”.

YOU GOT FAIL: A top Tory MP has said spies at GCHQ informed him that parliament’s email system was less safe than using Google’s Gmail. Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, said: “Frankly, that tells you the level of security and the priority we are giving to democracy in the United Kingdom.” It comes as the government faces a grilling on cuts to the military today. Labour will use an opposition day motion to question Boris Johnson’s 2019 election pledge – the one in which the PM claimed he would “not be cutting the armed services in any form”. (personnel in the Armed Forces has been cut from 82,000 to 72,500). Meanwhile, it is understood that the UK is set to pull remaining troops out of Afghanistan, after Joe Biden announced last night that US forces would leave by 11 September. There are still about 750 British soldiers in the country.

On the record

“As we unlock, the result will inevitably be that we will see more infection, that sadly we will see more hospitalisations and deaths.”

Boris Johnson warns of a third wave.

From the Twitterati

“Downing Street announce the Boardman review will also now look at the Bill Crothers affair … No10 sources say the PM is ‘concerned’ about the revelation.”

Tom Newton-Dunn on the expanded inquiry…

“Boris Johnson holding an inquiry into David Cameron’s improper conduct is like Al Capone investigating corruption in the Chicago police force.”

…but Andrew Adonis is not convinced.

Essential reading

John Rentoul, The Independent: Keir Starmer can see opportunity in Tory lobbying ‘sleaze’

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: Shirley Williams was the patron saint of lost causes

Kate Andrews, The Spectator: Why is Boris Johnson talking down Britain’s vaccine success?

David Frum, The Atlantic: Republican voter suppression efforts may backfire

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