Where's Boris?

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The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 was introduced iafter scandals during the premierships of John Major and Tony Blair. As colleagues are saying to one another and off the record, I sadly think that the prime minister’s position is untenable. He added: “I’m fully supportive of this prime minister and I’m sure he will continue for many years to come. Someone like Grant Shapps, my boss, I’ve seen him work at close quarters and I think he has done an outstanding job.

The culture secretary, Nadine Dorries, was the first out of the blocks to back her boss, saying an inquiry led by senior official Sue Gray must be allowed to go ahead.

Johnson told his cabinet the government would now focus on the agenda on which it was elected, and not seek to implement new policies or make major changes of direction.

Boris Johnson is considering running again to be UK prime minister after Liz Truss’s dramatic resignation, with rightwing Conservative MPs and party donors already backing his nascent campaign.

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Simon Hart, former secretary of state for Wales, has just resigned, bringing the number of cabinet members who have resigned up to three - alongside Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak.Junior ministers get a lot less attention than their cabinet bosses, but their work is vital to the normal functioning of government. Brady will not reveal how many he has received until the threshold of 54 is reached but one former minister suggested that based on conversations with colleagues, the number may currently be about 25. Yesterday, Hart made it made it clear to No 10 that it was "game over" but it shouldn’t have to come by ministerial resignations. But Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said that was overly optimistic. He opened by telling the assembled crowd of loyal MPs “this is it, folks”, before comparing himself to “one of those booster rockets that has fulfilled its function” and ends up crashing into the Pacific.

Robert Courts, the aviation minister, told Newsnight: “Because of the challenges the country has, because we’re still pulling out of the pandemic and cost of living issues, I think we need someone who has experience and someone able to campaign and deliver. Johnson’s spokesman said: “The PM is following guidance to do daily tests and limit contact with others. According to i, the Johnsons are planning on moving to a five-bedroom house on the outskirts of Dulwich Village near Herne Hill. He said his priority would now be to continue delivering on manifesto pledges and making sure the government is on the side of the public, on the cost of energy, transport and housing and all else that matters to them.On Friday, Johnson visited a Royal Air Force base and took a ride in a Typhoon fighter jet, with “Top Gun”-style footage later released by his office. Beyond this, Mr Johnson has kept a low profile as his successor’s premiership has plunged into chaos – but he is likely to have no shortage of offers, whatever path he chooses next. That lack of an overwhelming favourite is part of the reason a whole slew of candidates, from Grant Shapps to Jake Berry, have not ruled out a tilt at the top job (and, incidentally, helped Johnson to hang on for longer). The veteran Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said: “We need to remember that Mr Johnson is still under investigation by the privileges committee for potentially misleading the House.