UK politics live: Boris Johnson dismissed Barnard Castle row as ‘lefty journalists angry over Brexit’

Boris Johnson has revealed how he originally dismissed the Dominic Cummings’ Barnard Castle row as “lefty journalists angry over Brexit”, David Maddox reports.

In his new book ‘Unleashed’, the former prime minister explained why he refused to sack his then political adviser despite his infamous trip during the peak of the pandemic.

In his memoir, he claimed he had a “blazing row” with former colleague and friend Will Walden who urged him to sack Cummings.

But Johnson said he retorted: “The whole thing is a put up job. It’s just a load of lefty journalists who want payback for Brexit.”

The former New Labour leader has agreed with Kemi Badenoch’s remarks that “not all cultures are equally valid”.

The Tory leadership hopeful faced fierce criticism after claiming that some cultures are more valid when it comes to deciding who should be allowed into the UK.

Despite the backlash, Tony Blair agreed and insisted people should “assimilate into the common values”.

He told Politico: “Your cultural space is a space rich in diversity where you can pursue your own culture in what you do and the celebrations you have and the ceremonies you have and the faith you have.

“All of that’s absolutely fine. But when it comes to basic rules about democracy or, for example in our country now, rules about the role of women or people who are gay being entitled to equality, that’s not up for argument.

“You integrate with those things and it’s really important because otherwise you end up with the situation where people often say multiculturalism failed. No multiculturalism didn’t fail. There’s not a problem with most communities in the UK.”

The Greater Manchester mayor has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer overstepped the bounds of rules around hospitality.

He was pressed on whether the prime minister repaying £6,000 in tickets and clothes meant he had accepted too many gifts.

Mr Burnham told Sky News: “I think everyone’s got to use their own judgement, haven’t they?”

He added: “I think he’s absolutely right to say, clearer rules are needed for everybody, so everyone knows exactly what’s expected.

“So, I think we’ve got to the right place here. And I think it will help all members of parliament.”

When asked if he would have taken freebies he said: “I’m not going to say that I’m holier than thou.”

The BBC has cancelled an interview with Boris Johnson after presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former prime minister her briefing notes.

Ms Kuenssberg, presenter of the BBC’s flagship Sunday political interview show, said she sent Mr Johnson the notes “in a message meant for my team”.

The BBC’s political editor between 2015 and 2022 said it was “embarrassing and disappointing”, adding the error meant it was “not right for the interview to go ahead”.

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And now Sir Tony Blair himself has commented on the row.

The former prime minister has urged Sir Keir Starmer to “rise above” the backlash and “get used to” the attacks.

He told a Politico podcast: “Dealing with politics at this level when you come under attack, which is, you know, it’s just the way it is. You’re going to have to get used to it.

“It’s going to be like that. But the single most important thing is always to have a driving purpose as a government.

“That is constantly rising above that because it will be, it is just part of modern politics today… It doesn’t worry me in, in terms of whether it can displace the overall [mission] of the government. But I agree you’ve got to deal with it and they’re trying to deal with it so, let them deal with it.”

A former political secretary to Tony Blair was also on the morning media round discussing Sir Keir Starmer’s freebies row.

John McTernan said the problem was not rules being broken but the public perception.

The political strategist told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Politicians have to not only act by the rules, they have to act by community standards.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that voters are angry, the community’s angry, about what they see as double standards.

“The absolute fundamental rule of politics is the voters are never wrong. Rule one of politics is the votes are never wrong. Rule two, if you’re angry because you think the votes are wrong, please refer to rule number one.”

And voters’ anger has been noticeable in recent polls, with Sir Keir’s personal ratings dropping 45 points since July to -26, according to Opinium.

Minister Sarah Jones has insisted that the prime minister has not “broken any rules” despite paying back £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality.

She told Sky News: “I think under the last government, the issue was always about transparency, people not declaring things, people not going by the rules.”

The industry minister added that Labour is considering the rules on freebies but they have been “incredibly busy”.

However, she added: “[The PM] is looking again at the principles around gifts and hospitality.

“That’s the right thing to do.”

Angela Rayner’s trip to an Ibiza nightclub where she was spotted partying in a DJ booth over the summer was a freebie worth hundreds of pounds, it has emerged.

In the latest register of MPs’ financial interests revealed on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister declared she received £836 worth of hospitality for a “visit to (a) DJ booth” at nightclub Hi Ibiza.

It was paid for by Ayita LLC, which is the agent of DJ Fisher, who she was filmed dancing with in footage of the event on 29 August that was shared on social media.

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Business minister Sarah Jones has defended Lord Alli, claiming the Labour peer is “confident” he had done nothing wrong.

The fashion mogul is under investigation by the Lords’ commissioner over “alleged non-registration of interests” which could lead to a breach of the members’ code of conduct.

During the morning media round, she said: “He will completely cooperate with that investigation, of course, and he’s confident he’s registered everything in the way that he should have done.

“And that’s that, really. We need to let that investigation run its course.”

With Sir Keir Starmer facing questions over ethics and transparency for accepting generous gifts, the Tories have not lost time in calling for more ministers to repay freebies.

The Conservative party said in a statement: “Day after day more and more comes out about the scandal at the top of Keir Starmer’s government. This scandal has become a complete distraction from the job of governing.

“It appears Starmer will only be transparent when his backs against the wall. This announcement today poses more questions than it answers. Why did Starmer take these freebies in the first place? Why haven’t Angela Rayner and other senior party members not paid back donations?”

The Conservatives have a lot of experience of donation scandals. The party had previously faced scrutiny under Boris Johnson over Tory donors and their alleged links to corruption.