Politics LIVE: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson as poll finds 54% say Partygate scandal has 'hurt Union' | Scots back Sturgeon over Omicron response
In an exclusive poll from The Scotsman, the majority of Scots believed that Boris Johnson should resign over Partygate, and that his actions had damaged the Union.
Almost four in five Scots believe the Prime Minister should resign over the allegations that Downing Street officials held multiple parties during lockdown, including on the eve of the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral, at least one of which was attended by Mr Johnson.
Another poll from The Scotsman also found two-thirds of Scots backed Nicola Sturgeon in bringing in stricter measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19 before Christmas was the right decision.
Politics LIVE: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson as poll finds 54% say Partygate scandal has ‘hurt Union’ | Scots back Sturgeon over Omicron response
Mark Drakeford said the Prime Minister will “never escape the damage to his reputation” caused by partygate.
Speaking to Sky News, the First Minister said: “Conservative MPs have been fighting each other like ferrets in a sack this week, and it’s very hard to see how the Prime Minister survives.
“Even if he were to survive, he will just limp on because he’s never going to escape the damage that this week has done to his reputation.”
Mr Drakeford said that as Mr Johnson battles to save his career, his Government is paralysed by indecision.
“From my point of view, the thing that worries me the most is the fact that the UK Government is frozen by the impact of what has happened to them
A Cabinet minister has suggested an investigation will be carried out into a former Tory MP’s “very serious” allegation he was threatened over school funding if he defied Boris Johnson.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng conceded he could not rule out the claim from Christian Wakeford, but alleged it could be an attempt to “discredit” the Government after he defected to Labour.
The Bury South MP, who switched allegiances amid fury over partying allegations in No 10, said he was threatened with funding for a new school in his constituency being withheld if he did not vote with the Government over free school meals.
His allegation came shortly after senior Tory MP William Wragg said critics considering triggering a no confidence vote in the Prime Minister were receiving threats to “withdraw investments” from constituencies, as well as “intimidation” from No 10 staff.
Thousands of needy families will receive goods ranging from toiletries to clothing in a project involving Amazon and charities including one supported by former prime minister, Gordon Brown.
Amazon has so far donated about 10,000 items to the Cottage Family Centre for the Big House Fife Project which is being run in association with other Fife charities.
Donated items range from toilet roll, nappies, wipes and toiletries to clothing, backpacks, home furnishings, lightings and electrical products.
Boris Johnson has urged teachers who insist masks are still worn in lessons to follow the rules that no longer require their use in classrooms.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Children have been one of the hardest hit as a result of the disruption throughout the pandemic and we recognise the impact it has had on their education.
“The Prime Minister believes it is vital that children are receiving face-to-face education and can enjoy a normal experience in the classroom and the Prime Minister also thinks that the schools should follow the latest guidance.
“We’ve been clear that we removed the requirement for face masks to be worn in classrooms and we will remove advice for face masks to be worn in communal areas from January 27.”
Downing Street was resisting opening an investigation into allegations of Tory MPs being blackmailed into supporting Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he faces a threat to his leadership, despite a Cabinet minister saying they needed to be looked at.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng disputed the allegation first made by a senior Conservative, but said if true it would be “completely unacceptable” and ministers “need to get to the bottom of the matter”.
But No 10 suggested on Friday that an investigation would only be launched “if there was any evidence” to support the claims, despite calls from Labour and Tory MPs.
David Dimbleby has suggested that the BBC licence fee should be linked to council tax to make it fairer as the Government questions future funding of the broadcaster.
The former Question Time host told BBC Radio 4’s the World At One programme: “The licence fee is something that I absolutely believe in, I don’t think you can have public service broadcasting without paying for it through the public purse in that way.
“But what I do think is the BBC should acknowledge that £159 paid by the poorest as well the richest is just unfair, it’s inequitable.
“And there’s a simple way in which the BBC can get on the front foot, which is by suggesting the licence fee figure, the gross figure of £159, should not be paid flat rate by everybody but the richest should pay more and the poorest less. And the simple way of doing it would be to attach an element of the licence fee to the council tax band.”