Boris Johnson latest news: PM ‘spoke at lockdown leaving do’ and ‘was in No 10 flat’ on Cummings exit night

White House press secretary on Tuesday confirmed that President Joe Biden has never been “ambushed by a cake” while she was responding to a question about the Partygate controversy impacting the ability of the US and UK to press Russia over the stand off in Ukraine.

She, however, added she has not yet spoken with Joe Biden “specifically” about the controversy with the president.

“But what I can tell you is that he is confident in the important partnership we have with the United Kingdom, the role they play as an important partner in making clear to Russia the unacceptable nature of the buildup of troops and their bellicose rhetoric as it relates to Ukraine.

“And that certainly has not changed, despite cakes in anyone’s faces.”

White House press secretary on Tuesday confirmed that President Joe Biden has never been “ambushed by a cake” while she was responding to a question about the Partygate controversy impacting the ability of the US and UK to press Russia over the stand off in Ukraine.

She, however, added she has not yet spoken with Joe Biden “specifically” about the controversy with the president.

“But what I can tell you is that he is confident in the important partnership we have with the United Kingdom, the role they play as an important partner in making clear to Russia the unacceptable nature of the buildup of troops and their bellicose rhetoric as it relates to Ukraine.

“And that certainly has not changed, despite cakes in anyone’s faces.”

Boris Johnson gave a speech during “prosecco-fuelled” do held during a post-Christmas lockdown and is now under police investigation, reported the Telegraph and the Guardian, marking a fresh Partygate claim against the prime minister.

The report came hours after Mr Cummings claimed on his blog that “there are photos of the PM at parties under investigation”, adding: “I’ve spoken to people who say they’ve seen photos of parties in the flat.”

The Government’s levelling up department has ignored Treasury guidance on how to ensure its policies are working before committing £11bn to spend in communities across the country, a new report has warned.

Officials and ministers have “wasted opportunities” to learn lessons from past investments, and relies on EU-funded research for many of its assessments, the National Audit Office said.

Despite committing £11bn to try to regenerate towns and communities, the Government has “limited understanding” of what has worked well.

Antonia Romeo, one of the UK’s most senior female civil servants, has ruled herself out of the running for the role of permanent secretary at Number 10, reported the Telegraph and the Times.

This comes in the wake of “partygate” findings as the prime minister attempts to regain political ground. Ms Romeo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice, reportedly sought the role and was seen entering Downing Street last month. She would however, be continuing with the current role, reported the Times.

So far, Mr Johnson has not announced changes in his inner circle, even as Sue Gray’s report concluded “failures of leadership and judgment”.

Struggling to regain the political initiative after the ‘partygate’, Boris Johnson is promising to break the link between “geography and destiny” as the Government publishes its long-awaited blueprint for “leveling up” the country.

The White Paper will set out a series of wide-ranging national “missions” – from improving public transport to ensuring access to 5G broadband – to be enshrined in law.

At the same time, ministers are promising to provide more power to the regions in a “devolution revolution” with the offer of a London-style deal for any area of England that wants one.

Labour however dismissed the plan as “more slogans” with “few new ideas”.

A slide presentation that convinced prime minister Boris Johnson on climate change has been released for the first time, following a freedom of information request filed by UK climate website Carbon Brief, reported BBC News.

The “teach in” was organised on 28 January 2020 by the office of Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. Consisting of 11 slides showing the impact of climate change, the presentation took place in the Cabinet Room of Number 10 Downing Street and was led by Prof Stephen Belcher.

The presentation showed the increase in global temperature since 1850, along with graphs showing rise in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and rising sea levels.

Billions of pounds spent on “leveling up” may be wasted because ministers are picking projects too small to revive poorer areas and failing to analyse “what works”, a damning report warns.

The study – released as a long-delayed blueprint for Boris Johnson’s flagship policy is unveiled – sharply criticises grants from the £4.8bn Leveling Up Fund and £3.2bn Towns Fund for not being “based on evidence”.

Read the report by Rob Merrick:

The Boris Johnson government on Wednesday will set out its plan to “level up” up the country, as it attempts to move away from the scandal of lockdown parties in Downing Street and focus on one of the big policy pledges which got Mr Johnson elected in 2019.

The White Paper is expected to be published on Wednesday in which communities secretary Michael Gove is expected to detail plans for creating better opportunities out the South East of England.

The plan to establish more equal education and employment chances was a key tenet of the prime minister’s offer at the 2019 general election, at which voters handed him a landslide majority.

The representatives of Border Force officers and a charity are bringing in a legal challenge in order to prevent the Home Office from acting on a controversial measure to “push back” migrants crossing the English Channel.

The Public and Commercial Services Union and Care4Calais have sought a High Court injunction against the government over moves to push vessels carrying migrants back to France.

In the argument on Wednesday, they would be seeking an injunction to block the use of this measure till the court decides on it.