Boris Johnson news - live: Fresh Partygate fines ‘issued’ as PM warned no-confidence vote ‘inevitable’

Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls has ruled himself out of running as the Labour candidate in the Wakefield by-election.

The Strictly Come Dancing star denied he was considering a political comeback by tweeting that he had "no intention of putting myself forward" for the contest.

The West Yorkshire constituency is due to elect a new MP after incumbent Imran Ahmad Khan was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

Khan, who was thrown out of the Conservative Party after the verdict at Southwark Crown Court last week, announced he would be standing down to contest the jury's decision.

A date for the by-election has yet to be set.

Former education secretary Mr Balls had been heavily tipped to be the Labour contender for the poll but he told social media followers he would not be putting himself forward for consideration.

Mr Balls, who is married to shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, tweeted: "Back from New York to find Wakefield speculation still running.

"I appreciate all the messages but, for removal of any doubt, no-one's spoken to me about it and I've no intention of putting myself forward when the current MP finally resigns!"

Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has reportedly left a note on the desks of civil servants who are not in the office.

It comes after reports that Mr Rees-Mogg ordered all secretaries of state to send a “clear message” to civil servants to bring about a “rapid return” of face-to-face work.

The note, posted on Twitter by former BBC journalist Dino Sofos read: “Sorry you were out when I visited. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.

“With every good wish, Rt Hon. Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.”

The TUV leader has warned that it is "long past the point" at which Westminster should have taken action over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Jim Allister addressed a rally against the protocol in north Belfast on Friday.

Referring to claims contained in a report by the Financial Times that ministers are preparing legislation giving them sweeping powers to tear up the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement, he said: "It will take more than a story to solve the protocol issue.

"For months the government have been suggesting that they will move on the border which shamefully divides the United Kingdom but there has been no delivery.

"Now, on the verge of an election, there is yet another suggestion that something may be done.

"It's long past the point when action should have been taken to restore Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.

"Article 6 of the Acts of Union which guarantees freedom of trade within and between the constituent parts of the United Kingdom must be fully restored, not left subjugated by the protocol.

"The test of any deal will be is Northern Ireland still subject to a foreign single market for goods, foreign customs code, a foreign VAT regime, all overseen by foreign laws and a foreign court?

"Such oppressive subjugation is not something anyone who cares about basic democratic accountability could ever contemplate.”

Boris Johnson is set to use the Queen's Speech to pick a Brexit fight in the European Union over the deal he signed with Brussels.

After prolonged absence from the news agenda in Westminster, UK-EU relations will soon make a major comeback – as the prime minister seeks to move on from the Partygate scandal and energise his base.

The government's legislative programme is reportedly to include powers for ministers to scrap the Northern Ireland protocol, a key part of the agreement Mr Johnson negotiated with Brussels.

Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has the full story below:

Since it was revealed that the prime minister had turned Downing Street into a frat house during the pandemic, he and his loyal foot soldiers have jumped from one excuse to the next to deflect blame, Labour MP Jess Phillips writes.

According to them, we must wait for Sue Gray’s report, the Metropolitan Police or an invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin to suddenly see the error of his ways before we can fully judge the situation.

This is no coincidence: every time Boris Johnson has kicked the can down the road, he has bought himself more time in office.

Read the full Voices piece below:

Boris Johnson has been accused of breaking a pledge to do everything possible to ensure “Putin fails” in Ukraine, in his desire for a post-Brexit trade deal with India.

Opposition parties hit out after the prime minister admitted he did not try to persuade India to drop its neutral stance towards Russia – as he pressed the accelerator on an agreement.

Last month, No 10 insisted it was putting pressure on “all world leaders” to join a global push to ensure Ukraine’s misery “cannot continue and that Putin fails in what he’s trying to do”.

Our deputy political editor, Rob Merrick, has the full story below:

A P&O ferry that was being held for reinspection has been cleared to sail, while another has been found to have a “small number of deficiencies” that need to be addressed before it can resume service.

It comes as the company attempts to return to normal operations after sacking nearly 800 seafarers.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said a vessel called the Spirit of Britain “has been released from detention and can commence operations when P&O Ferries are ready”.

“The inspection of the European Highlander is now complete; there are a small number of deficiencies and the MCA requires confirmation that these have been rectified before the vessel is free to resume service,” an MCA spokesperson added.

Read the full story below:

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