Boris Johnson news – Part-time MPs lining pockets with big-paying 2nd jobs at voters' expense MUST be punished, PM says
PART-time MPs lining their pockets with lucrative second jobs at the expense of voters must be punished, Boris Johnson warned last night.
After a week-long sleaze row from hell the PM finally came down hard on colleagues making money on the side while neglecting their "primary" day jobs.
At a press conference he blazed: "Those who are not putting the interests of their constituents first, which is all of our duty as MPs, they should face appropriate sanctions and punishment."
It's a veiled slap-down of Tory bigwig Sir Geoffrey Cox who raked in £400,000 as a barrister but barely turned up to Parliament.
The former Attorney General insists he's not broken any rules and cleared his work for the British Virgin Isles government with Chief Whip Mark Spencer.
Read our politics live blog below for the latest news & updates…
- Joseph Gamp
Geoffrey Cox claims thousands for second home while renting out London flat
Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Cox is claiming £22,000 a year in taxpayer funding to rent a London home while collecting thousands of pounds in rent letting out another property he owns in the capital.
The former attorney general has been under fire following the disclosure that he stands to make more than £1 million, on top of his annual MP's salary of £81,000, representing the British Virgin Islands in a corruption inquiry .
Labour has lodged a formal complaint with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards after a video emerged showing him apparently taking part in one of the hearings remotely from his Commons office.
Under Westminster rules MPs are barred from using their parliamentary offices for outside business, although Sir Geoffrey has said he is confident that he has not done anything wrong.
However, the claims have led to a renewed focus on the expenses of the MP for Torridge and West Devon.
- Joseph Gamp
PM pays tribute to South Africa's last white president
Boris Johnson on Thursday paid tribute to South Africa's last white president FW de Klerk, praising him for his pivotal role in transforming the country.
"I am saddened by the death of FW de Klerk, a leader who changed the course of history by freeing Nelson Mandela and working alongside him to end apartheid and bring democracy to South Africa," he said in a statement.
"De Klerk will be remembered for his steely courage and realism in doing what was manifestly right and leaving South Africa a better country," he added.
- Joseph Gamp
Negotiators 'not there yet' on securing agreement at COP26 says Sharma
There is still a lot more work to be done to secure agreement at the Cop26 climate summit, its president, Alok Sharma, has told delegates.
The penultimate day of the talks "must represent another gearshift" in negotiations, Mr Sharma has said, as countries try to resolve political differences in a number of areas that still need to be hammered out.
"I want to be clear, we are not there yet, there's still a lot more work to be done.
"I know how hard you are all working, but today must represent another gearshift where negotiators finalise outstanding technical work and ministers dial up their engagement," he said.
Overnight, new draft texts were published for negotiations that are going on in a number of areas, including on providing future finance for poorer countries to develop cleanly and cope with the impacts of climate change – where Mr Sharma said he was concerned about progress.
- Louis Allwood
Lest We Forget
The two-minute silence was marked at the Scottish Parliament and by Cop26 President Alok Sharma at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and others also stood in silence at the UK pavilion at Cop26 this morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Charles used their social media accounts to pay tribute to Britain's war heroes.
A post on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's account read: "Today at 11am the nation will pause to remember. Armistice Day. Lest We Forget."
- Louis Allwood
Care home job losses
THOUSANDS of care home staff will lose their jobs today for not having their Covid jabs.
Even those who have had one dose will not be allowed shifts until they have had both.
NHS figures show 34,000 employees are set to be pulled off the front line because of the rule.
Only a few thousand have medical reasons not to get vaccinated, and thousands who have had only a single dose will be unable to work until they have had their second.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This is all about patient safety. We know that people, whether they are in care homes or they are in a hospital bed, are particularly vulnerable to this virus and it could be fatal.
“It’s our duty to do everything we can to protect them.”
- Louis Allwood
Sir Geoffrey Cox outside earnings stacking up
SIR Geoffrey Cox is reportedly raking in a fortune renting out his taxpayer-funded London home – and has made at least £5.5million in his second job.
The embattled Tory MP, 61, who has already been accused of using his Commons office for his job as a barrister, even claimed £3,800 for a second London pad while working overseas.
On top of earning £900,000 in the last year from his legal work, the ex-attorney general is adding to his wealth by renting out his plush London home, the Mirror reports.
The Torridge and West Devon MP has also come under fire after it was revealed he is using taxpayer cash to rent a second property in the capital.
He even claimed £3,800 for the two months he was reported to be working from a Caribbean tax haven.
However, it is within the rules of the House of Commons.
Sir Geoffrey reportedly rakes in around £1,000 a week for the home he lets out in Battersea, South London.
- Louis Allwood
Mp's that have the top outside earnings
Top earner Sir Geoffrey Cox unveiled a new £400,000 a year gig with a law firm, while Health Secretary Sajid Javid raked in £366,000 during a brief spell on the backbenches.
Ex-PM Theresa May has earned £760,000 from after-dinner speeches since quitting No10.
The Sun probe revealed 11 of the dirty dozen are Tories, with Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey in 12th spot.
MPs’ outside earnings have been thrust into the spotlight after Boris’s attempt to save Mr Paterson from a 30-day suspension after he lobbied for private companies that paid him more than £100,000.
Raging Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the PM of leading his party “through the sewers and the stench lingers”.
He added: “Enough is enough. We will not stand by while he trashes our democracy.”
Read more here.
- Louis Allwood
The new ‘fully vaccinated’
The health secretary said the waning effectiveness of the vaccine over time means the change may be needed “in due course”.
His remarks raise the likelihood over 50s will need to have had the top up shot if they want to travel abroad next summer.
He said: “In due course we will have to look at what constitutes vaccination. It’s something we have to keep under review.
“I can’t rule that out and we know now that the vaccines do wane and it’s important that where necessary people get a top up.”
But he added: “We’re not looking at that yet. We are very focussed on our booster programme.”
His remarks come after it emerged Brits who fail to get the third Covid jab will face renewed travel restrictions.
- Louis Allwood
‘Smash her car for free pints’
THIS is the moment Israel’s UK ambassador was mobbed by pro-Palestine students as she was forced to flee from a university.
Tzipi Hotovely was evacuated by bodyguards from the London School of Economics (LSE) campus as a crowd of hard-left activists swarmed towards her.
Dozens of protesters tried to storm the building, where the diplomat had been invited to take part in a debate.
A baying mob are heard booing and jeering as one protester yells “aren’t you ashamed” while a line of police officers holds them back.
Ms Hotovely, clutching bouquets of flowers, was bundled into a Jaguar and whisked away moments before a protester who surged towards her car tried to break through police lines.
A Land Rover carrying the ambassador’s security guards was forced to drive through the crowd of protesters.
- Louis Allwood
Warning for holidaymakers as new Covid vaccine passport rules introduced for France
BRITS planning a holiday to France will face another rule change in regards to travelling when vaccinated.
The country has updated the latest travel restrictions for anyone entering France who is yet to have their booster jabs.
President Macron has announced that anyone who is over 65-years-old must have their third jab by December 15.
If they don't then their vaccine passport – which is required to enter attractions, cafes and bars – will be invalid.
The only other alternative is to have a negative test, if you are yet to have a booster test, which must be taken every three days.
Macron said: "If you have been vaccinated more than six months ago, I encourage you to book an appointment now."
- Louis Allwood
Moment Russian jet ‘chases off Brit spy plane’
RUSSIA today claimed to have chased off a British spy plane as it approached Crimea.
Earlier the Kremlin had warned that the West was “playing with fire” by deploying warships in the Black Sea and warned of the “risks of a clash”.
The RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft "tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation in southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula,” said Russia's defence ministry.
Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov claimed an Su-30 fighter was scrambled to intercept the RAF aircraft.
“About 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the Russian Federation state border, the Su-30 approached the reconnaissance aircraft, after which the British plane changed course away from the Russian border," he said.
Footage released by the Russians shows incident over the Black Sea south of the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2014.
- Louis Allwood
Carer sobbed after job loss
A CARER who sobbed as she finished her final shift when she lost her job after refusing the Covid vaccine has defended her decision.
Louise Akester, 36, had worked in the care sector for 14 years but was fired from her three-year role at Alderson House care home in Hull last month.
According to new government rules, all care workers in adult care homes who do not have medical exemptions must be double jabbed against the virus from November 11.
In a clip filmed on Friday afternoon, Ms Akester is seen in tears minutes after finishing her very last shift.
Now she has defended her decision because she “doesn’t trust the vaccine yet.”
She told Good Morning Britain: “I feel lost. I don’t know what to do with myself. I’ve done it for such a long time. I don’t know what I’m going to do now.
“I don’t trust the vaccine yet. I think I want to wait until we’ve got long term data and evidence coming back .”
- Louis Allwood
Christmas chaos
COMMUTERS and shoppers could face Christmas chaos in the capital as a UK rail union consider striking over the festive period.
Almost 99 per cent of Tube drivers voted in favour of taking industrial action as they rise up against plans to change pensions and working conditions.
Members of Aslef are backing a walkout during the busiest time of the year as they rally against the proposals by Transport for London (TfL).
They said “slashing” their pension pots is a ploy by the Government and TfL to “plug” a funding deficit brought on by the pandemic and the subsequent reduced number of passengers.
A staggering number of members voted to strike if the plans are pushed through without negotiation as the union said they would be “tearing up our agreed working conditions”.
No specific dates have yet been pinned down for the potential industrial action, but it is reported that Aslef may be considering the Christmas period in a bid to ramp up the pressure on TfL.
- Louis Allwood
Trade war
GERMANY has promised No 10 it will prevent a trade war erupting between Britain and the EU.
Berlin has given “assurances” the bloc won’t bin the Brexit deal over rows on fishing and Northern Ireland.
Poland and Greece are also said to have ruled out tit-for-tat tariffs, according to sources in Brussels.
Negotiations on NI border red tape are going “extremely badly” according to a diplomatic note seen by The Sun.
The bloc is split with one camp favouring a “proportionate” response if the UK unilaterally scraps checks. But others, including Ireland and France, want to see the entire trade deal canned in that scenario.
- Louis Allwood
Vaping row
BRITAIN has sparked a fresh row with nannying bosses at the World Health Organisation – who are trying to ban VAPING.
Anti-smoking charities have taken aim at the controversial global health chiefs for trying to outlaw the safer alternative to smoking – after the WHO said they consider them as harmful as cigarettes.
Action on Smoking and Health UK chief Clive Bates said the WHO will “protect the cigarette trade from competition.”
Britain will be able to stand up to the health officials for the first time thanks to Brexit at a crunch smoking summit on health next week.
- Louis Allwood
Horrific new videos show inside Putin’s ‘torture conveyor belt’ prisons as inmates are ‘raped and mutilated’
HORRIFIC new footage shows inside Russia’s ‘torture conveyor belt’ jails where inmates are raped and mutilated.
The new video was leaked to campaigners and shows prisoners being terrorised and subject to degrading treatment in Vladimir Putin’s jails.
The videos show at least five inmates being urinated on, raped and violated with blunt objects.
They are the latest in a series taken by a Belarussian man jailed in Saratov and leaked to campaigners Gulagu.net.
According to the group, the abuse took place in OTB-1, a prison the Saratov region, close to the border with Kazakhstan.
Vladimir Osechkin, who runs the group, wrote on its website: “We continue our independent investigation against the conveyor belt of torture in the institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service.”
- Louis Allwood
What is Sir Geoffrey Cox's net worth? (Continued…)
Sir Geoffrey reportedly rakes in around £1,000 a week for the home he lets out in Battersea, South London.
He bought it with his wife as a second home for £535,000 in 2004 and claimed £82,298 in mortgage interest payments in four years under the old MP expenses system.
Meanwhile he is under fire for raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds for legal advice dished out to the British Virgin Islands.
He took advantage of lockdown rules to vote remotely so he could stay in the overseas territory dishing out lucrative advice to the government in an inquiry over allegations of criminal activity.
The shocking revelations has seen the knives come out for multi-millionaire Sir Geoffrey back home.
While he has clocked up the hours advising the British overseas territory, Sir Geoffrey, a former Attorney General, has only spoken in Parliament once this entire year.
- Louis Allwood
What is Sir Geoffrey Cox's net worth?
Sir Geoffry Cox is one of the highest earning MPs.
Between January 2020 and 31 August 2021 he earned a whopping £1million.
On top of earning £900,000 in the last year from his legal work, the ex-attorney general is adding to his wealth by renting out his plush London home, the Mirror reports.
The Torridge and West Devon MP has also come under fire after it was revealed he is using taxpayer cash to rent a second property in the capital.
He even claimed £3,800 for the two months he was reported to be working from a Caribbean tax haven.
However, it is within the rules of the House of Commons.
- Louis Allwood
Who is Sir Geoffrey Cox?
Sir Geoffrey Cox, 61, is a Conservative politician and barrister.
He has been a Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon since 2005.
He has recently been slammed for reportedly raking in a fortune renting out his taxpayer-funded London home – and for siding with “those accused of corruption” after it emerged he skipped Parliament to work for a Caribbean government being probed for a slew of crimes.
The embattled Tory MP, 61, who has already been accused of using his Commons office for his job as a barrister, even claimed £3,800 for a second London pad while working overseas.
- Louis Allwood
New vaccines could tackle all coronaviruses
NEW vaccines could tackle all respiratory viruses including Covid-19 variants and common colds, experts have claimed.
Researchers have said that a new combination could mean that these viruses could be eliminated at the start – helping to stop a rapid spread as we have seen with Delta and Beta Covid variants.
As part of the study, published in Nature, they found that past exposure to other coronaviruses may speed up the clearance of Covid-19.
In order to prevent viruses spreading amongst the population, experts say future vaccines should aim to induce an immune response against specific proteins that are essential for the earliest stages of the viral cycle.
Jabs that activate immune memory cells, known as T cells could help eliminate viruses at the start as they would attack infected cells from the offset.
This development could complement Covid-19 vaccines currently being rolled out across the UK.
- Louis Allwood
Britain falls silent as nation remembers
BRITAIN fell silent this morning to remember the nation's war dead on Remembrance Day.
Commemorations are taking place across the UK with thousands of wreaths laid at war memorials to honour the fallen.
In London, the Duchess of Cornwall, patron of the Poppy Factory, is attending Westminster Abbey for the 93rd Field of Remembrance.
Camilla laid a cross as she paid a solemn tribute to Britain's war heroes as she joined veterans at Westminster Abbey.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid a wreath at Euston Station in his Camden constituency.
The Queen is set to lead the Royal Family tributes at the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Sunday.
- Louis Allwood
Last president of Apartheid South Africa who freed Nelson Mandela dies aged 85
THE former president of South Africa and its last white leader FW De Klerk has died at the age of 85.
De Klerk was a key figure in the nation's transition to democracy and instrumental in the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.
De Klerk died on Thursday morning at his home in Cape Town, the FW de Klerk Foundation said in a statement.
"Former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer," the statement said.
- Louis Allwood
Kim Jong-un’s longest absence in seven years
KIM Jong-un has not been seen for more than a month amid fresh speculation about his health.
The North Korean despot has not been seen since a huge missile exhibition 30 days ago — his longest absence for seven years.
North Korean observers said his absence is the longest period of absence since 2011.
It follows reports about his health which were made earlier this year.
His last appearance on state media is believed to have taken place on October 12
This was during coverage of a huge missile exhibition in Pyongyang the day before.
But since then NK News reports he has not been seen on state channels — yet satellite imagery has shown increased activity at his east coast beach house and a lakeside mansion near the capital.
Observers claim this is his longest absence for seven years amid speculation in recent months.
- Louis Allwood
PM will want to draw a line under the furore
Mr Johnson yesterday warned part-time MPs who rake in cash on the side at the expense of their voters should be "punished".
In the jaws of the row the PM binned off a planned Cabinet away-day at his Chequers country retreat.
He will instead gather his senior ministers in Downing Street today for a lesson in levelling up as he tries to draw a line under the furore.
But more revelations about Geoffrey Cox are emerging, including that he rented out his London flat while claiming another to live in on expenses.
- Louis Allwood
Rishi Sunak admits government ‘needs to do better’
HUMBLED Rishi Sunak today admitted the Government "must do better" to stamp out sleaze – as embattled Boris Johnson summoned his top team after the week from hell.
The Chancellor said it was "fair to say" ministers need to up their game to stop another cash for access row blowing up in their faces.
Tory MPs are licking their wounds after mounting a botched bid to save sleaze-mired Owen Paterson and getting engulfed in a second jobs storm.
Conservative grandee Sir Geoffrey Cox is fighting fury for pocketing £400,000 for legal work while barely turning up to Parliament.
Grilled on the messy row, Mr Sunak said today: "People will have different motivations for doing what they do, the pay is set by an independent body, that's absolutely right.
"And with regard to second jobs, there's an independent process that we have that's set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And it's absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.
"Now look, on the broader point – and just reflecting over recent events – I think for us as a Government, it's fair to say that we need to do better than we did last week, and we know that."
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