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The Story

Boris, Rishi and the party line

The Story

The Times

Daily News Podcast, Exclusive Interviews, Daily News, Current Affairs, Global News, News, Investigative Reporting, Long-form Audio, In-depth Journalism, Audio Storytelling, News Analysis, Politics, Uk News

3.91.6K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2022

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today, MPs will vote on whether to hold an investigation to look into the Prime Minister's alleged misleading of the Commons during the Partygate saga. Last week, Johnson and - unexpectedly - Chancellor Rishi Sunak were both fined for violating their own lockdown rules. Boris Johnson's critics say this makes him a 'lawmaker lawbreaker'. So how serious is this for the PM's future?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Henry Zeffman, Associate Political Editor, The Times.

Host: Manveen Rana.

Clips: Parliament TV, Sky News, Daily Mail, Office for Budget Responsibility, BBC News, 5 News, WION

This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

It's a big day in Westminster. MPs will vote this afternoon on whether the Prime Minister

0:16.0

should be investigated for misleading Parliament.

0:20.0

The country has already concluded that he's either a liar or an idiot.

0:28.0

After months of a drip, drip of revelations about parties that were held in number 10 during lockdown,

0:38.0

last week came the first of the police fines.

0:42.0

I paid the fine immediately and I offered the British people a full apology.

0:50.0

There wasn't much surprise when the Prime Minister and his wife, Carrie Johnson, were fined for breaking lockdown rules.

0:58.0

But one announcement from the police did turn heads in Westminster.

1:02.0

I can confirm that the Chancellor has received notification that the Metropolitan Police in turn to issue them with fixed penalty notices.

1:15.0

After a week that almost brought down the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, the man who'd been widely touted as his replacement,

1:24.0

where do things stand now?

1:26.0

In a funny way, Soonach's weakness, in the very short term, has strengthened his boss Boris Johnson.

1:33.0

You're listening to stories of our times from the Times and the Sunday Times. I'm Manvin Rana.

1:39.0

Today, Boris, Rishi and the party line.

1:57.0

Hello.

1:58.0

Hi, Henry.

1:59.0

Hi, Manvin. How's it going?

2:01.0

Hello. How are you?

2:02.0

I'm all right. Thank you. I'm all right.

2:04.0

That's Henry Zethman, Associate Political Editor for the Times.

2:08.0

Feel somewhere in Parliament.

2:10.0

I am indeed.

...

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