Boris Johnson news – live: Labour denies Sue Gray appointment a ‘distraction’ from Partygate inquiry

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Artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT could play a role in Whitehall, the new science secretary has suggested.

Michelle Donelan, recently appointed Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, told the Sunday Telegraph that ChatGPT represented a “massive opportunity” more broadly.

Ms Donelan, who took over the new role following Rishi Sunak’s departmental reshuffle last month, said the civil service should rely on its own experts but did not rule out a role for artificial intelligence in the future.

ChatGPT, which has made headlines in recent weeks, is a form of generative AI which came to prominence after a version of it was released to the public last year.

It can respond to questions in a human-like manner and understand the context of follow-up queries much like in human conversations, as well as being able to compose longform pieces of writing if asked.

“I think these types of technology are going to create a whole new section of jobs and in areas that we haven’t even thought of, and where this leads us is limitless. We need to tap into that,” Ms Donelan said.

“Of course we need regulation in place, we need safeguards. But we should never be afraid of these technologies. We should be embracing them and utilising them so that they can lead to job creation here in the UK.”

Asked about the use in the civil service, she said: “We need to think about what is the use for ChatGPT, just like any other organisation would as well.

“I think these are things we need to look at - I think that when we look at all forms of technology, what we should be thinking about is not how does this replace somebody’s job or how does this replace the functions of an individual.”

The leaked WhatsApp messages published by the Daily Telegraph show Mr Hancock’s former aide, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, lashing out at Mr Cummings, on the same day he had used a parliamentary committee hearing to describe the Department of Health and Social Care as reduced to a “smoking ruin” by the pandemic.

Mr Hancock messaged: “How would you deal with this Cummings crap?”

His former adviser responded: “I was about to message. What a f-ing piece of s-. You went out and backed him over Barnard castle, and he responds by briefing against you relentlessly, in private and now in public. He’s a psychotherapist.”

He swiftly corrects himself: “Psychopath.”

Sue Gray could face a longer wait than usual before she is allowed to take up a job as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), the body in charge of vetting the jobs taken by ex-civil servants and politicians, is considering whether Ms Gray taking the job would damage perceptions of civil service impartiality, according to reporting by The Times.

Acoba could suggest she take up to two years gardening leave before starting the job.

Ms Gray's decision to work for Labour has unleashed a firestorm of controversy about whether this undermines the credibility of her report on Partygate, which contributed to the fall of Boris Johnson.

Ministers also worry that they will find it harder to trust civil servants after Ms Gray's decision.

Some have also suggested Ms Gray had broken rules by having unauthorised meetings with Labour about the job.

Sir Simon Case is thought to have not known about Ms Gray’s decision until Sky News broke the story on Wednesday. However, Ms Gray reportedly had unsuccessfully sought a meeting with Mr Case last week.

Dominic Cummings’ time in Downing Street was a “nightmare”, Rishi Sunak appeared to tell Matt Hancock, according to the latest set of leaked WhatsApp messages.

The remarks, made on the day that the former No 10 aide used an appearance in front of MPs to claim that thousands of people died needlessly during the pandemic, show the then-Chancellor and Mr Hancock complaining about Mr Cummings.

Mr Hancock messaged Mr Sunak: “Of all the bonkersness about Dom’s circus, the one I enjoy most is that he’s doing this to secure his place at the heart of the future Sunak administration.”

Mr Sunak, who in 2021 was seen as ambitious for the top job, said: “Ha! Ironic given I haven’t spoken to him since he left!”

“It’s just awful & a stark reminder of how hard governing was,” Mr Hancock replies.

Mr Sunak agrees: “It was such a difficult time for all of us. A nightmare I hope we never ever have to repeat.”

The latest tranche of leaked WhatsApp messages show that Matt Hancock was hopeful that the pandemic might raise his political profile and improve his political standing.

In one message Hancock shared some thoughts apparently sent to him by a “wise friend”. “A well- handled crisis of this scale could propel you into the next league, and break you through in terms of public perception.”

Hancock also showed a close interest in managing social media exchanging more than 22,000 messages about editing or approving posts, according to reporting by The Telegraph.

This included a debate about whether releasing a topless image of him surfing would be good for his image or not. He suggested they consult Gina Coladangelo, his aide who he had an affair with.

The Labour Party chairwoman, Anneliese Dodds, said that voters should not foot the bill for Boris Johnson’s legal fees coming out of enquiries into Partygate.

Friday’s dramatic report on whether Mr Johnson lied to parliament over lockdown breaking parties at No 10 has put the spotlight back on the issue. Previous reports suggest the government could end up paying £220,000 as the inquiry covers Mr Johnson’s time in office, leaving him entited to having his legal fees covered.

In an interview with Sky News Ms Dodds said: “Ultimately, Rishi Sunak should not be supporting Boris Johnson in that way and I think that there should be political repercussions for Boris Johnson if he’s found to have misled parliament.”

“The ability to impose that kind of sanction on Boris Johnson is in the hands of Rishi Sunak of course as the leader of the Conservative party. I just hope he has the backbone to ensure that action is taken.”

“The evidence strongly suggests that breaches of guidance would have been obvious to Mr Johnson at the time he was at the gatherings,” according to a report on whether Boris Johnson misled parliament.

According to the report Mr Johnson even remarked a mid-pandemic leaving party in No 10 was “probably the most unsocially distanced gathering in the UK right now.”

Boris Johnson suggested on Friday that the Priviliges Committee probe into whether he lied to Parliament may be compromised since it will be using evidence gathered by Sue Gray, the former civil servant who is now set to become Keir Starmer’s chief of staff.

In a statement, Mr Johnson said: “It is surreal to discover that the committee proposes to rely on evidence culled and orchestrated by Sue Gray, who has just been appointed chief of staff to the leader of the Labour Party.

“This is particularly concerning given that the committee says it is proposing to rely on ‘the findings in the second permanent secretary’s report’ as ‘relevant facts which the committee will take into account’.

“I leave it to others to decide how much confidence may now be placed in her inquiry and in the reports that she produced.”

However, a spokesperson for the committee rejected this criticism saying the findings in its report were “not based on the Sue Gray report” but on witness accounts and evidence supplied by the government including witnesses, WhatsApps, emails and images from a Downing Street photographer.