Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK PM Boris Johnson insists leaving with 'head held high'

Johnson’s premiership began to crumble when he was found to have broken coronavirus regulations amid a series of parties at his Downing Street office.

UK PM Boris Johnson insists leaving with 'head held high'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday told a febrile UK parliament that he would leave office with his "head held high" despite the downfall of his scandal-hit leadership.

Labour leader Keir Starmer took aim at his outgoing foe during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session, calling him "totally deluded to the bitter end", raising cheers from the opposition benches.

In a sign of things to come, Starmer also set his sights on those Tory MPs battling to become prime minister, including on the complicated tax affairs of wealthy frontrunner Rishi Sunak.

The session began with a furious Speaker throwing out Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, both from the Scottish pro-independence party Alba, after they launched a protest.

It was expected to be Johnson's penultimate appearance at the session of questions before parliament breaks for the summer, and the Tory party elects its new leader.

But Johnson suggested that leader may be elected "by acclamation" before next week, and that it could be his final appearance at the weekly ritual, if the remaining two candidates agree a deal between them.

The contenders have already ruled that out, and Johnson's press secretary told reporters that he was merely noting "uncertainty" about the race.

Johnson's premiership began to crumble when he was found to have broken coronavirus regulations amid a series of parties at his Downing Street office.

Starmer said sarcastically his rival could "forget about following the rules".

"I am going to miss this weekly nonsense from him," the Labour leader joked, before turning to attack Sunak and current finance minister Nadhim Zahawi, a rival leadership contender, who is reportedly under investigation over his own tax affairs.

Johnson responded by saying that any of the eight candidates in the running to replace him would "wipe the floor with Captain Crasharooney Snooze Fest", a jibe at Starmer's lawyerly style of rhetoric.

The prime minister then touted his government's achievements on Brexit, vaccines and Ukraine, signing off by saying "I am also proud of the leadership that I have given and... I will be leaving with my head held high".

The first round of voting to whittle down the shortlist of candidates begins on Wednesday, with results expected around 1600 GMT.

(AFP)

More For You

british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools
Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper in 'Adolescence'
Netflix

Netflix drama Adolescence to be screened in UK schools

THE NETFLIX drama Adolescence will be shown in UK secondary schools as part of efforts to address harmful online influences on young boys, officials announced on Monday.

The show has sparked debate over the impact of toxic and misogynistic content on the internet. Prime minister Keir Starmer met the show's creators, charities, and young people at Downing Street, calling the initiative an important step in starting discussions about the content teenagers are exposed to online.

Keep ReadingShow less