Inside Politics: Boris Johnson mulls over response to Priti Patel inquiry

A previously unpublished set of essays exploring Middle-earth by the author JRR Tolkien are expected to be released next summer, potentially answering long debated points among super-fans, including the nature of elves’ immortality. Away from the fictional world in which the late author’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is set, people in Westminster are also debating another unpublished work: the Cabinet Office investigation into bullying allegations against Priti Patel. Reports overnight suggest she (again) broke the ministerial code but many expect her to remain in the cabinet with a written warning. Not quite the tough law and order the home secretary advocates.

Inside the bubble

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone on what to look out for today:

Parliament isn't sitting today, but there's further pressure on the government not to cut international aid after 200 charities called on the prime minister to keep his commitment to the world's poorest. Familiar names included Save the Children, Greenpeace UK, UNICEF UK and Friends of the Earth. Health secretary Matt Hancock will also be touring the media studios.

Daily Briefing

NOT A PRITI DAY: A several months-long investigation into bullying allegations levelled against Priti Patel, the home secretary, concluded in the summer she broke the ministerial code, according to a draft of the report seen by the BBC. It follows the explosive resignation of the most senior civil servant at the Home Office Sir Philip Rutnam at the beginning of the year, alleging the cabinet minister “created fear” in the department and said he had reports her conduct included “shouting and swearing” and “belittling people”. Boris Johnson is yet to comment on the matter, but reports suggest the prime minister will offer leniency and issue his ally with a written warning, rather than demanding her resignation. Labour have called for the report by the Cabinet Office to be published in full and immediately, adding: “This has all the hallmarks of a cover up from the prime minister and raises fundamental questions about his judgement.”

PAY FREEZE: The popularity of Rishi Sunak, the politician who brought the country Eat Out to Help Out and paid workers’ salaries through the pandemic, is unlikely to last. Reports plastered on the front pages of newspapers this morning suggest the chancellor will attempt to plug the hole in the nation’s finances left by Covid-19 and freeze public sector pay next year. As a recognition of their work during the pandemic, NHS staff, including doctors and nurses, would be exempt from the freeze but it is likely to apply to workers such as police, civil servants, and teachers, many of whom of course also worked throughout the crisis. Channelling one of his predecessors at No 11 – George Osborne – Mr Sunak is expected to announce the highly controversial freeze at his mini-budget next week and argue that the measure is only fair since the private sector had been hit severely by the economic shock. It’ll be no surprise if those at the receiving end of the freeze start to question the £16.5 billion cash injection into the defence budget unveiled by the prime minister yesterday.

BREXIT SUSPENSION: Talks between negotiators in London and Brussels were suspended at a crucial moment yesterday after a member of the EU’s taskforce team tested positive for coronavirus. While some technical work is expected to continue, neither Michel Barnier nor his UK counterpart David Frost will attend face-to-face meetings until the situation is resolved. The UK government has assessed Belgian guidance and concluded there is no need for the negotiators to self-isolate with most of the team expected to return to London shortly. “With respect to the relevant public health guidance, the UK and EU teams have agreed to continue to negotiate remotely for the time being,” a government spokesperson said. “The talks will resume in person when it is judged safe to do so. The health and welfare of our staff are our priority.” Will they be able to get back up and running again in time to clinch a deal? We're hoping for more out of the EU capital today.

LABOUR LIMBO: The seemingly interminable civil war in the Labour Party showed no sign of abating yesterday as reports emerged that Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to ban Jeremy Corbyn from party’s parliamentary group may last as long as three months (with the possibility of review) – enraging the former leader’s allies. The BBC suggested that lawyers acting for Mr Corbyn, who had his suspension as a party member overturned this week, have written to Labour calling for the party to review its decision not to restore the parliamentary whip. Pouring petrol on the fire, former shadow cabinet minister and Corbyn ally Ian Lavery also told Huff Post there was the “opportunity of a leadership challenge”, but stressed he wanted the party to “settle down” and “unite” (probably not the best way of doing that). Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown also offered his views on the row during a media round, saying: “Jeremy has got to make a full apology. No ifs, not buts, no caveats, no qualifying sentences. He’s got to admit he got it wrong.”

FEELING 78: The president-elect Joe Biden is today celebrating his 78th birthday just weeks after defeating Donald Trump in the bitterly contested fight for the White House. It means Biden will be sworn in on 20 January as the oldest president in the nation’s history. The title of oldest president was previously held by the Republican Ronald Reagan, who left the White House in 1989 when he was 77 years and 349 days old. An early birthday present was presented to Mr Biden last night, as a recount in Georgia reaffirmed his victory in the state. He is the first Democrat to take the state since 1996 when Bill Clinton was running for president. Interestingly, the final tally of 306 electoral college votes for Mr Biden – well over the 270 needed to win – was also the same number of votes Mr Trump won in 2016 when he defeated Hillary Clinton.

On the record

"There’s always the opportunity of a leadership challenge and the rules allow that to happen. It just depends how Keir’s leadership develops."

Ian Lavery, a Corbyn ally and former shadow cabinet minister, warns Sir Keir Starmer in an interview with the Huff Post

From the Twitterati

“Priti Patel is going to be furious when she hears about this leniency."

... says Henry Mance at reports the home secretary will keep her role but issued with a warning

"Is Priti Patel the first British politician to break the ministerial code three times and still hold one of the great offices of state? World-beating."

… Helen Morgan adds

Essential reading

Ben Chu, The Independent: Will extra military spending really help the wider UK economy?

Micha Frazer-Carroll, The Independent: Is The Crown portrayal of Margaret Thatcher too sympathetic?

Mark Steel, The Independent: Want a multimillion PPE payout from the government? Apparently, all you have to do is befriend a Tory MP

Dani Worthington, The Guardian: In schools, we see the extra harm Covid is doing to Britain's homeless children

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