Boris Johnson news: Tory polls dive as police watchdog to decide on No 10 party probe before Christmas

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is due to decide before the end of the week whether it will investigate a Green peer’s complaint about the Metropolitan Police’s handling of an alleged Downing Street party.

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb suggested the force’s “refusal to investigate” allegations about an event held at No 10 on 18 December last year – during lockdown – could amount to “aiding and abetting a criminal offence”.

In her complaint, Lady Jones also claimed commissioner Dame Cressida Dick’s refusal to look into the potentially illegal Christmas do could amount to “a conflict of interest and a potential cover-up”, arguing that police “must” have known of any such event due to their “extensive presence” at the PM’s residence.

The Tories have dipped to their lowest approval rating since Boris Johnson prorogued parliament in 2019 – a move ultimately deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court. Labour is enjoying a six-point lead, on 36 per cent, according to the YouGov survey, conducted forThe Times, while the Tories are down at 30 per cent.

Key points

• Police watchdog to decide on Met’s handling of No 10 party probe ‘in days’

• Tory polls at lowest since PM prorogued parliament – report

• Met Police refers itself to watchdog over No 10 party claims

• Seven-day isolation should help ‘keep economy going,’ says minister

• Tory MP unable to give ‘date’ for report on No 10 parties

• Cabinet secretary accused of withholding details of ‘illegal’ gatherings

Good morning

07:57 , Sam Hancock

Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s rolling politics coverage. Stay tuned as bring you the latest from inside Westminster and beyond.

Tory polls at lowest since PM prorogued parliament – report

08:06 , Sam Hancock

Boris Johnson’s party and personal ratings have slumped to some of their lowest since he took office, a new poll shows.

For the Tories, the figures are as low now as they were when the PM prorogued parliament at the height of the Brexit crisis in Autumn 2019.

Meanwhile, the PM’s personal approval ratings are now similar to those faced by Theresa May in the week before she was forced to resign, the YouGov poll, conducted for The Times, found.

Labour has opened up a six-point lead after “a bruising couple of weeks” for the PM, the newspaper reports, including ongoing reports of alleged Covid rule breaking at various government parties last year.

The YouGov poll puts Labour on 36 per cent, down one point, ahead of the Tories on 30 per cent, down two. The Liberal Democrats have enjoyed a small bounce following their upset in North Shropshire and are up two points on 12 per cent — their highest rating since 2019.

Tory insiders told The Times the poor polling was merely a midterm blip, and blamed the party’s recent struggles on public fatigue with the coronavirus pandemic, however various polls over the last few weeks have come to similar conclusions. One such survey on Tuesday found that, of almost 2,000 British adults surveyed, 71 per cent believed Mr Johnson was doing “badly” in his job – just 23 per cent thought he was doing “well”.

Met Police refers itself to watchdog over No 10 party claims

08:12 , Sam Hancock

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over a complaint suggesting its handling of allegations of a party at Downing Street last Christmas could amount to “aiding and abetting a criminal offence”.

In her letter, sent the day before leaked footage showed No 10 staff joking about potential media questions about an alleged event on 18 December last year, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb criticised Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick’s “refusal” to investigate the allegations, reports Andy Gregory. The Green Party peer also argued that there is a “case to answer” for the force “aiding and abetting a criminal offence or deliberately failing to enforce the law”.

In a letter to the Green Party on Tuesday, Scotland Yard said her complaint had been split into two parts – one of which it had referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and the other to the London Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (MOPAC).

Metropolitan Police refers itself to watchdog after complaint over No 10 party claims

Seven-day isolation should help ‘keep economy going,’ says minister

08:36 , Sam Hancock

Health minister Gillian Keegan said various elements made up “the equation” that led the government to decide to reduce self-isolation from 10 days to seven days

“Keeping the economy going, keeping supply chains going, keeping the NHS going ... that is part of the equation,” the Tory MP told Sky News.

Tory MP unable to give ‘date’ for report on No 10 parties

08:42 , Sam Hancock

More from Gillian Keegan now, who was unable to say this morning when a report into alleged parties in No 10 will be published.

Asked on LBC when the incoming report by senior civil servant Sue Gray will be made public, the health minister said: “I don’t know when. Very soon. So, she’s doing it very quickly, I don’t have dates.”

Asked if it will be this side of Christmas, Ms Keegan said: “I don’t have a date but I know she’s aware that you’re very keen to see it.”

The MP added she is sure the PM is keen to see it and, pressed if it will be this year, Ms Keegan said: “As I say, I don’t have a date. But I know she is doing it very quickly.”

Metro Bank fined more than £5m over reporting issues

08:56 , Sam Hancock

A banking update now. The Bank of England has fined Metro Bank almost £5.4m over the quality of its reporting and governance failures.

The central bank’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) watchdog confirmed it imposed the penalty on the challenger bank over failings between May 2016 and January 2019.

On 23 January 2019, Metro Bank saw its shares plunge after confirming to investors that it had been forced to make corrections to the risk weightings of certain commercial loan portfolios on its balance sheet.

Sam Woods, deputy governor for prudential regulation at the Bank of England and chief executive officer of the PRA, said: “We expect firms to invest appropriate and adequate resources to ensure that they submit accurate regulatory returns. In this case, Metro Bank failed to meet the standards of governance and controls expected of it, resulting in today’s enforcement action.”

The PRA said the bank adjusted its reporting of risk weighted assets for December 2018 by around £900m after applying incorrect weighting to some loans.

It added that the bank failed to “take sufficient care to ensure that it complied with its obligations to make accurate reports to the PRA”.

In a statement, Metro Bank said: “Metro Bank has co-operated fully with the PRA’s investigation and agreed the resolution of this matter with the PRA.”

Watch: Javid announced self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven

08:57 , Sam Hancock

ICYMI: Cabinet secretary accused of withholding details of ‘illegal’ parties

09:08 , Sam Hancock

It emerged on Tuesday that Simon Case – the cabinet secretary formerly put in charge of investigating alleged government parties held during lockdown last year – may have misled officials about Christmas gatherings in his own office.

Mr Case stepped down last week as head of the inquiry amid anger over a Christmas quiz, hosted in the Cabinet Office on 17 December 2020, as well as a drinks event in the same month which he is said to have been seen walking around at, holding a glass in his hand.

While Britain’s top civil servant provided the necessary people with assurances he had not participated in and had no knowledge of any social gatherings, he was later forced to admit he was aware of at least one such event, as reported by our economics editor Anna Isaac.

Top civil servant accused of misleading officials over Christmas party knowledge

Lack of sick pay a ‘monstrous failing’ for Tories, Ashowrth says

09:39 , Sam Hancock

The shadow work and pensions secretary has described the government’s failure to enact substantial sick pay over the pandemic as a “monstrous failing”.

“I’ve been making this point since February 2020 and still nothing’s been done,” Jonathan Ashworth said.

He added that in the run up to Christmas, when people are worried about the cost of presents and looking after their families, it was likely workers had decided to forgo getting tested on the “off chance” they test positive, have to isolate and so lose money.

“And that’s because they don’t get enough sick pay,” the Labour MP said.

People should ‘think about’ New Year’s plans

09:52 , Sam Hancock

A health minister has suggested people should “think about” their New Year’s plans if they can’t be changed quickly amid continuing uncertainty over post-Christmas Covid restrictions.

The remarks from Gillian Keegan came after Boris Johnson confirmed no additional rules would be introduced ahead of 25 December, but warned: “Naturally we can’t rule out further measures after Christmas”.

Mr Johnson stressed the situation remained “finely balanced” as his government awaits crucial data on the extent to which rising Omicron infections will trigger a level of hospitalisation that could place considerable pressure on the NHS, writes our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn.

Minister says ‘think about’ New Year’s plans if they can’t be changed ‘quickly’

Watch: Minister says ‘think about’ NY plans if they can’t be ‘changed quickly’

09:55 , Sam Hancock

Opinion: ‘Schools are closing, aren’t they? Tell us the truth’

10:22 , Sam Hancock

Writer and teacher Lauren Crosby Medlicott writes about the government’s refusal to be frank about the impact of Covid on schools.

Just days before the end of the school term, we had a letter from my children’s primary school telling us that children should come back to school two days later than initially expected, to accommodate for teachers who will need additional planning time in case of another lockdown.

Every parent I spoke to had assumed the same thing: at some point very soon into the new year, schools will close again. As cases of Covid rise and the NHS continues to beg for relief from escalating numbers of patients, why don’t we bite the bullet and accept schools will be closed following the Christmas holidays?

Announce it now and give children, parents, and professionals a chance to wrap their heads around the idea.

Read her thinking in full here:

Opinion: Schools are closing, aren’t they? Just tell us the truth

Home Office stays quiet on Channel crossing court ruling

10:26 , Sam Hancock

As our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:

Scottish government delays new complaints procedures

10:46 , Sam Hancock

Over to Scotland, where the government has admitted it will miss a deadline to publish new procedures to deal with complaints by civil servants about ministers’ behaviour.

John Swinney said the government’s focus on the Omicron variant meant it could not submit the new procedure to Holyrood before the December recess.

The need for a new procedure was identified by a review into the mishandling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond, where he was awarded more than £500,000 after the Court of Session ruled the Scottish government’s handling of those complaints was “tainted by apparent bias”.

Under the new process, independent investigators and adjudicators would be appointed to deal with civil service complaints about ministers.

Mr Swinney, the country’s deputy FM, has written to Holyrood’s Public Administration Committee, saying work is “well advanced” but more time is needed to engage with staff and trade unions before the final plans are published.

“My apologies that the documents will follow in the new year rather than before recess,” he added.

Labour ahead six points in polls

10:59 , Sam Hancock

Following my earlier post (8.13am), here’s the YouGov poll conducted for The Times which shows Labour as being ahead by six points (36 per cent).

Meanwhile, the Tories are behind on 30 per cent.

Watch: A round-up of 2021’s politics

11:03 , Sam Hancock

In images: Another Covid Christmas in London

11:19 , Sam Hancock

Police watchdog to decide on Met’s handling of No 10 party probe ‘in days’

11:40 , Sam Hancock

An update on the Met Police complaint story. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is expected to decide before Christmas whether or not to investigate a complaint over the force’s handling of an alleged Downing Street party.

Scotland Yard referred itself to the watchdog after concerns were raised over its response to the event, thought to have been held on 18 December last year, and the lack of an investigation into it.

It is understood the IOPC will make a decision before the end of the week, according to the PA news agency.

Acting detective chief superintendent Tony O’Sullivan, directorate of professional standards, told Lady Jones this has been referred to the IOPC given “you effectively allege misconduct in public office by MPS police officers”. He added: “The IOPC will now make a determination as to whether the complaint needs to be investigated and, if so, how.”

On the second part, a Met inspector said it relates to Lady Jones’s complaint that Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has “refused to investigate allegations of an unlawful gathering on 18 December 2020”.

This has been referred to the Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime (Mopac), which sets the direction and budget for the Met. Both the IOPC and Mopac have confirmed they are assessing the complaints to decide if further action is required.

Sunak urged by 50 MPs and peers to increase statutory sick pay

11:54 , Sam Hancock

Over 50 cross-party MPs and peers have demanded Rishi Sunak urgently increase statutory sick pay, warning the current level forces workers to choose between “putting food on the table and self-isolating”.

In a letter to the chancellor — seen by The Independent — the parliamentarians accused the government of repeatedly failing to “properly” support workers, as the country faces a new wave of Covid.

They stressed that since the onset of the pandemic in 2020 it has been “clear” increasing sick pay levels would “significantly increase” the number of people who can afford to self-isolate after testing positive, reports our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn.

Rishi Sunak urged by over 50 MPs and peers to increase ‘unacceptable’ sick pay levels

Watch: Tony Blair brands unvaccinated people ‘idiots’

12:05 , Sam Hancock

Junk food tax to tackle obesity back on govt agenda – report

12:20 , Sam Hancock

A junk food tax to prevent the obesity crisis overwhelming the NHS budget is back on the government’s agenda, the author of a landmark report says.

Boris Johnson dismayed health campaigners by appearing to rule out the £3bn levy earlier this year, saying he is not “attracted to the idea of extra taxes on hardworking people”.

But Henry Dimbleby suggested the PM had misunderstood his recommendation – and said he believed the health secretary Sajid Javid is now ready to act. “I think Sajid Javid understands now that we need to intervene,” he added.

Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick reports:

Junk food tax to tackle obesity crisis ‘back on government’s agenda’

Wales to bring back rule of six for hospitality on Boxing Day

12:35 , Sam Hancock

Wales will introduce new Covid restrictions from Boxing Day, including the “rule of six” for hospitality venues, first minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Effective from 6am on 26 December, there will be a “general requirement of 2 metre social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces, where reasonable”.

All licences premises will also be required to re-introduce table service and mandatory face coverings apart from when customers are seated, reports our political correspondent Ashley Cowburn.

Wales to introduce rule of six for hospitality venues from Boxing Day

UK and EU agree fish catch limits for next year

13:10 , Jane Dalton

The UK and the EU have agreed catch limits for next year for around 70 fish species, after ending annual negotiations, the government says.

The deal involves around 140,000 tonnes of “fishing opportunities” for the UK fleet, estimated to be worth around £313m, based on historic landing prices, officials say.

The agreement also commits the UK and the EU to “rapidly develop multi-year strategies for non-quota species”.

But environmental law charity Client Earth accused the government of “ignoring the warning bells scientists have been sounding for years” for vulnerable stocks on the verge of collapse – like West of Scotland and Celtic Sea cod, and Irish Sea whiting.

The organisation said: “These stocks of cod and other species that are often taken as bycatch have been in a dire state for decades and the recurring scientific advice for zero catches has never been followed.

“Less than 3,000 tonnes of adult cod are left in the Celtic Sea and less than 3,500 tonnes in the West of Scotland, according to the latest scientific advice – compared to over 20,000 and 30,000 tonnes respectively at their peak in the 1980s.”

Nearly two-thirds of voters say Tories ‘untrustworthy'

13:32 , Jane Dalton

The proportion of people who see the Conservative Party as untrustworthy has risen by eight percentage points in two months, a new poll has found.

Some 64 per cent of UK voters, when asked whether they would use the term for the party, agreed, up from 56 per cent in mid-October, according to YouGov.

The percentage who considered the party trustworthy was down from 16 to 10.

Watch: Wales brings back rule of six and distancing from Boxing Day

13:52 , Sam Hancock

People who refuse Covid vaccine are ‘idiots’, Blair says

14:09 , Sam Hancock

People who are medically allowed to get a Covid vaccine but refuse to do so are “idiots”, Tony Blair has said as he backed Boris Johnson‘s “gamble” to continue with plan B restrictions in the run-up to Christmas Day amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

“If you’re not vaccinated and you’re eligible, you’re not just irresponsible, you’re an idiot,” the former PM said in an interview about Covid broadcast on Wednesday morning.

Mr Blair has made repeated interventions during the pandemic and his Institue for Global Change thinktank has been credited with devising policy proposals later adopted by government, writes Matt Mathers.

People who refuse to get Covid vaccine are ‘idiots’, Tony Blair says

Revealed: Social worker visits carried out over video call

14:39 , Sam Hancock

Vulnerable children and families are still being seen by social workers over video call rather than in-person long after the end of lockdown – raising fears that abuse could be slipping through the net.

During the first Covid wave, use of WhatsApp and other digital platforms for visits was widespread, though face-to-face encounters continued for high-risk cases.

Now, though it is understood the majority of visits are in-person, video calls are still taking place, with one London borough’s children and family social workers conducting one in six visits virtually this month, report our social affairs correspondent May Bulman and chief reporter Simon Murphy.

Revealed: Social worker visits carried out over video call

Starmer ahead of Johnson in ‘best PM’ rating

15:02 , Sam Hancock

Keir Starmer has overtaken Boris Johnson on polling company Savanta ComRes’ “best prime minister” rating for the first time since it launched its political tracker in May last year.

Watch: Ricky Gervais slams Tories for acting like ‘Charlie Sheen’ during Covid

15:18 , Sam Hancock

Government and AA agree on road signs for vaccine centres

15:40 , Sam Hancock

Thousands of new road signs are to be installed to guide people to coronavirus vaccination centres following an agreement between the AA and the government.

PA reports: “This follows requests from smaller centres which wanted to make it easier for road users to find them.

The AA believes that, while the locations of hospitals, pharmacies and GP surgeries are often well known to local residents, temporary vaccination sites in non-medical locations can be harder to find for many people.

The motoring services firm provided nearly 2,000 free signs to vaccination centres across the UK earlier this year when the widespread rollout of coronavirus jabs began.”

In images: Javid at the centre of booster programme

15:52 , Sam Hancock

Opinion: ‘I wonder how noisy backbenchers would cope in the hot seat’

16:04 , Sam Hancock

Sajid Javid’s former special adviser has written about Tory backbenchers and their part to play in the Covid Christmas drama.

Once we have shelter, running water and a consistent food supply, the thing we humans need most is certainty.

It’s one of the reasons cabinet indecision this week about further Christmas Covid restrictions is so infuriating. Many of us have been left to endlessly doom scroll on social media in order to regain a sense of control, despite it being completely counterproductive.

The government has rightly had its fair share of criticism in recent weeks. Self-inflicted incompetence is the worst kind, especially when it breaks the contract of trust between it and the public, but there is something that we need to understand about the current situation: no government can confidently make a definitive decision on anything. Action or indeed inaction, as is the case now, is all based on probability, which is imperfect and uncertain.

Read Salma Shah’s thinking in full:

I wonder how noisy backbenchers would cope in the hot seat | Salma Shah

ICYMI: PM announces no new Covid restrictions before Christmas

16:05 , Sam Hancock

That’s it for today

16:08 , Sam Hancock

Thanks for following along, be sure to check back tomorrow for all the latest political developments.