Rishi Sunak news – live: Met Police open fresh inquiries into two more Partygate allegations
Police also announced they will take no further action against Boris Johnson
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Your support makes all the difference.Police have reopened an investigation into potential Covid breaches during a Tory party HQ Christmas Party and launched a fresh probe into a gathering in parliament.
But they will take no further action against Boris Johnson over gatherings at Downing Street and the then-prime minister’s country residence Chequers in 2020 and 2021.
Scotland Yard said that after assessing new evidence including a video, it was re-investigating a “Jingle and Mingle” party at the Conservative Party’s campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020.
The second probe will look into an event on 8 December 2020 – the date of an alleged drinks event attended by Tory grandee Sir Bernard Jenkin.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The Met is now re-opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event in Matthew Parker Street on 14 December 2020.
“Following assessment of material relating to a gathering in parliament, the Met is opening an investigation into potential breaches of the Regulations at an event on 8 December 2020.”
PM had ‘no active involvement’ in Boris Johnson’s honours list
Rishi Sunak says he had no “active” involvement in Boris Johnson’s resignations honours list.
On him putting forward a resignation list, he said: “It is not something I am focused on or have given any thought to.”
PM acknowledges difficulty of rising mortgage rates
Rishi Sunak told MPs: “Of course I acknowledge the difficulty that rising mortgage rates pose”.
The prime minister also suggested the high number of fixed-rate mortgages was making the fight against inflation more difficult as the “transmission method (of interest rates) is slower than in the past”.
Government ‘committed to bringing inflation down'
Sunak has said the government “remains committed to bringing inflation down”.
It comes as the average five-year fixed mortgage risen above six per cent for the first time since November.
Sunak on Ukraine joining Nato
Sunak also hinted he will lobby for Ukraine to join Nato at next week’s summit.
“I’ve previously said that Ukraine’s rightful place is in Nato, but the alliance work by consensus so we will have to work together with our allies,” he said.
China could be invited to AI summit
Rishi Sunak has suggested China could be invited to his flagship AI summit.
The PM said the technology did not recognise national borders.
However, he added it was “early thinking” and talked of bringing “like minded countries” together.
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