PMQs: Johnson clashes with Starmer on James Dyson texts
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The Prime Minister was criticised by Sir Keir Starmer over the text exchange. The Labour Party has been demanding an independent inquiry into Government lobbying be set up since a “sleaze” scandal involving David Cameron erupted earlier this month.
The party argues the Prime Minister’s texts with Sir James add to the urgency of the inquiry.
Last March Sir James messaged Mr Johnson seeking assurances his employees would not be subject to extra tax if they travelled to the UK to help build ventilators for coronavirus patients.
The Conservative leader promised he would “fix” the tax issue and said the Government needed as much help as possible due to a shortage of the machines across the NHS.
Labour has described the assurances from the Prime Minister as “jaw-dropping”, with Sir Keir claiming in the Commons that Mr Johnson oversees a Government of “sleaze, sleaze, sleaze”.
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12.35pm update: PMQs draws to a close
PMQs has ended for another week.
Mr Johnson spent most of his time in the House answering questions on his texts to Sir James Dyson – something which he said he would not apologise for as it helped the with pandemic recovery.
12.33pm update: ‘Buy British!’ MP urges action from PM
Labour MP John Spellar urges the Prime Minister to tell ministers, civil servants and public bodies to “buy British first” when it comes to steel to help the struggling UK industry.
Mr Johnson lists the Government’s record in UK manufacturing since the pandemic broke out, referencing vaccines and PPE.
He says the Government will “help to drive jobs and prosperity in the long term across the whole of the UK”.
12.29pm update: Boris quizzed by SNP MP on Scottish independence
SNP’s Alan Brown said: “The Prime Minister will be well aware the opinion polls continue to show a majority in favour of Scottish independence. Does he agree that we have been lumbered with a Prime Minster thinks a pound spent in Croydon is of more value than a pound spent in South Clyde?”
Mr Johnson responds: “I think what the people of Scotland need is an administration that spends the taxpayers’ money in Scotland better and more wisely because the results of the SNP are dismal. They are failing on education, they are failing is on crime, they are failing on their taxation policies and no wonder all they can talk about is another irresponsible referendum and breaking up this country.”
12.27pm update: Sunday Express story brought up in Commons
Tory MP Andrew Rosindell draws attention to a story in the Sunday Express about a statue of Ronald Reagan.
The statue which used to stand in Grosvenor Square in central London outside the former US Embassy has disappeared from public view and been removed from its prominent place.
He asks for the statue to be moved to Parliament Square.
Mr Johnson says while he agrees with the MP, it is not up to him to move the statue but London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
He says Mr Rosindell should make representations to him, “although let’s hope we have a new Mayor soon”.
12.21pm update: Blackford mocked as dog interrupts question
The SNP’s Westminster leader has claimed the Prime Minister had “all the time in the world” last spring to offer Government contracts to friends, but not to help ordinary people.
His question is marred by his dog barking in the background throughout.
Responding Mr Johnson dismisses the claims, joking: “I think his dog made a more sensible contribution than he did.”
12.17pm update: Ian Blackford attacks ‘Tory Government’
The SNP’s Westminster leader said: “This morning’s revelations surrounding the Prime Minister’s interference in Covid contracts are incredibly serious.
“Whether it’s cash for questions in the 90s or texts for contracts during this pandemic. People know this is the same old story…how the Tories do Government.
“The Prime Minister is at the very heart of this scandal. Will the Prime Minister reveal today how many more Covid contracts he personally fixed?
“If he has nothing to hide will he publish all personal exchanges on these contracts before the end of the day?”
The Prime Minister replied: “There is nothing to conceal about this and I happy to share all the details with the houses, immediately.
“It is thanks to that immediate action that we have been able to roll out, not just the ventilator challenge, but to help the people of the UK to get access in record times to get the vaccines on we depend.”
12.15pm update: PM criticises Labour ‘sniping from the sidelines’
The Labour leader says the Government is riddled by “sleaze, sleaze, sleaze” as he draws on the various controversies around Government lobbying which have made headlines in recent weeks.
The Prime Minister hits back: “The difference between us and the Labour Party is staringly obvious – we get on with taking the difficult decisions.”
He adds: “Captain Hindsight snipes continuously from the sidelines”.
12.13pm update: Boris defends his record on the pandemic
Sir Keir Starmer says there is “favours and privilege access, tax breaks for mates” of the Government.
He adds: “If that is not the case, if one of the three million self-employed people who have been excluded from Government support for a year and now face bankruptcy, if they text the Prime Minister for a tax break so they can survive, would he change the rules for them too?”
Mr Johnson replies: “This Government has supported the self-employed with more than £14billion throughout the pandemic as part of a vast package for jobs and livelihoods across the country.
“I think he should take back what he says about the ventilator challenge.
“In the same way, he opportunistically attacked the vaccine taskforce at a critical moment, which he will recall. We take the tough decisions that are necessary to protect the people of this country and get things done.”
12.11pm update: ‘One rule for them’ rages Starmer
Sir Keir claims Sir James Dyson was a “Conservative supporter” who got “preferential treatment”.
He claims it is “now quite literally one rule for those who’ve got the Prime Minister’s phone number, another rule for everyone else”.
Mr Johnson replies: “He calls it a scandal. He voted for the changes.
“He said the ventilator challenge an outstanding success and I think he was completely right.
“This is a Government that gets on and delivers for people in distress and delivers on people’s priorities.”
12.08pm update: Boris uses Starmer’s words against him
The Labour leader goes at it again and says there must be answers.
Mr Johnson says he stands by his actions and it was “entirely the right thing to do”.
He says: “I must remind everyone what we were facing in March last year.
“We had a new virus which was capable of killing people in ways we didn’t understand. The only way to help them was to put them on ventilation.
“We had 9,000 ventilators in this country, we secured 22,000. I think it was entirely the right thing to do to work with all potential makers of ventilators at that time. And so does the former leader of the Labour Party, a man I think he should listen to, Tony Blair.”
12.05pm update: Starmer demands answers on Dyson texts
Sir Keir Starmer has opened by asking Mr Johnson what he thinks should be done if a businessman texts the Prime Minister asking for text rules to be changed.
He says: “What does the Prime Minister think is the right thing to do if gets a text from a billionaire Conservative supporter, asking him to fix tax rules?”
The Prime Minister sharply replies: “If he is referring to the request from James Dyson. I make absolutely no apology at all for shifting heaven and Earth and doing anything I could…to secure ventilators for the people of this country and to save lives.”
12.01pm update: Boris is on his feat
The Prime Minister is on his feet and PMQs has begun.
Mr Johnson opens by wishing the Queen a happy birthday and welcomes the decision of the ‘Big Six’ Premier League football clubs not to participate in the European Super League.
11.36am update: Tony Blair defends Boris
Fromer labour leader Tony Blair has defended the Prime Minister from Labour Party criticism over his texts with Sir James Dyson.
“We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and after all, we were actually asking James Dyson to step forward and start making ventilators,” he told Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I find it hard to get worked up about this.”
Mr Johnson will be hoping the public feel the same way if he’s grilled on the issue at PMQs.
11.10am update: Under an hour to go
Less than an hour until the latest clash between Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister is likely to be eager to focus on the epic collapse of the European Super League after the Government pledged legislative action and fans protested in outrage.
However, the Labour leader won’t want to give Mr Johnson such an easy ride and is likely to focus on the ongoing lobbying scandal.
Polling shows the issue is cutting through with voters.
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