British politics live: Raab admits there is no evidence to justify Johnson’s smear against anti-Starmer politics

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good morning. Boris Johnson reminded Tory MPs last night that Covid nearly killed him, but his behavior led to him suffering a series of near-death political experiences and another one yesterday. By the end of the day, he was in a better position than he was at the end of his statement to the House of Representatives—he belatedly promised that Sue Gray’s full report would eventually be published one day, after he had refused to make that commitment earlier. His speech to Tory MPs at a private meeting in the evening was far better than his arrogant and deaf performance in the House of Commons – but nothing was resolved. Once again, Westminster is waiting for Gray’s full report before finding out how this scandal will turn out.

Here’s our nightly story, by Rowena Mason and Jessica Elgot, about yesterday’s drama in the House of Commons.

Dominic Raab, Deputy Prime Minister, and Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labor Party, gave interviews this morning. Starmer’s comments are in line with his much-lauded speech that shamed Johnson in the House of Commons yesterday, and reiterated his call for the prime minister to resign. Raab urged viewers and listeners mostly to wait for the police investigation into Partigate to be over.

But Raab, the Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister, found himself unable to repeat or prove Johnson’s smear in the House of Commons yesterday. In response to Starmer, Johnson said the Labor leader was a “former Director of Public Prosecutions – though he spent most of his time prosecuting journalists and failing to prosecute Jimmy Savile, as far as I can”. As this Reuters report makes clear, the claim that Starmer was responsible for Savile’s failure to prosecute is false.

On the Today programme, Rapp described the statement as part of a “cut and advance parliamentary debate and exchange”. But he admitted he was not willing to repeat the observation himself, and added: “I don’t have the facts to justify it.”

When asked if Johnson had the facts to justify his allegations, Raab said it was up to the prime minister to say it.

I will be posting more rap and starmer interviews soon.

Here is today’s agenda.

Morning: Boris Johnson chairs the Cabinet.

11:30 a.m.: Downing Street holds a briefing in the lobby.

11.30 am: Rishi Sunak, chancellor, asks questions in the House of Commons.

After 12:30 pm: MPs begin discussion on Labour’s proposal criticizing the government to write off the £4.3 billion lost to Covid fraud.

Afternoon: Johnson is in Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two leaders are expected to hold a press conference.

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