Boris Johnson to give ‘his version of events’ in Commons this week – live

Shadow policing minister Sarah Jones has said it is “madness” to expect migrants to stay in Rwanda after they try to reach the UK.

The Labour MP claimed the government is merely “moving” the people smuggling problem, rather than “fixing” it.

Speaking to Times Radio, she said: “The Government hasn’t even said how much this is going to cost – the £120 million is just an upfront payment to the Rwandan government. The actual admin of the scheme, they don’t even know how much that’s going to cost.

“Sending people 4,000 miles before they’ve made a claim and expecting them to stay in a country they don’t want to be in is madness.

“We are just moving the people smuggling problem, we are not fixing it, which is what the Government claims to try and do.”

The collapse of the chancellor’s standing means that the prime minister is first among unequals, writes John Rentoul.

Greg Hands said he shares the “frustration” over the wait for the Sue Gray report into the Partygate saga.

Put to him that the senior civil servant is “a little cross” about the delay to the publication of her full report while the police conduct their enquiries, Mr Hands told LBC: “Well, I share the frustration, but I think it’s right that we wait for the police investigation to reach its conclusion.

“Then Sue Gray will have a look at what’s come out of the police investigation before doing her final report.”

Energy minister Greg Hands said Boris Johnson will “have his say” on partygate in Parliament this week.

He told Sky News: “The Prime Minister will be speaking to Parliament … this week.

“Parliament returns tomorrow and the Prime Minister will have his say in Parliament, and will outline his version of events and face questions from MPs.”

Put to him that this was “not exactly a full-throated backing” of Mr Johnson, and asked if it would be right for the PM to resign if pictures of him “pouring drinks” at a party were to emerge in the coming days, Mr Hands said: “I do strongly back the Prime Minister.

“I think the Prime Minister is getting on with the job, he’s delivered, and the Government has delivered, in anything from the vaccination programme through (to) the strong support for Ukraine.

“There is a police investigation going on and we’ll have to see what develops, but as I say the Prime Minister will be in Parliament this week, explaining and facing questions from MPs about what has happened.”

Energy minister Greg Hands has denied that the UK is outsourcing its responsibilities by sending migrants to Rwanda, after religious leaders criticised the move.

Put to him that this is the case, he told Sky News: “No, we’re not. This is an agreement between two sovereign countries: the UK and Rwanda.”

Mr Hands also echoed home secretary Priti Patel’s challenge for critics of the plan to come up with a better idea to tackle small boat crossings.

Asked if the Archbishop of Canterbury was wrong to call the plan “ungodly”, he said: “I think what others, the critics of this plan, need to do is to show what their solution would be.”

A new poll commissioned by The Times has revealed what the public think about Boris Johnson, amid the partygate scandal.

Researchers asked 2,000 people to give their views on the beleagured prime minister and the results will not make happy reading in No10.

Comments from 72 per cent of people were negative, with only 16 per cent positive. The most commonly used word to describe the prime minister was “liar”.

The survey was undertaken by J L Partners, co-founded by James Johnson, Theresa May’s former pollster.

In a tweet, Mr Johnson concluded: “Overall, partygate dominates views of Boris over Ukraine. Fury has not receded. Many negative comments are by people who liked him previously but have now changed their minds.

“When Johnson first took power, only Labour voters would call him a liar. It is now widespread.”

Brexit has “brought problems” for the Falkland Islands’ fishing industry, a Labour former defence minister has warned.

Derek Twigg, chairman of the Falkland Islands All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), said there had “been a lot of concern” over the impact of the UK’s exit from the EU on Falkland Islands fishing exports, such as squid.

Speaking to PA as parliamentarians mark 40 years since the Falklands War, the MP for Halton said: “Brexit has brought problems for the islands in terms of the fisheries, because their fishery… is a very much large part of their economy, particularly squid, particularly the type of squid they have which is exported to Europe.

“Work is going on with the Falklands government and countries like Spain and the EU to try and ease those challenges around that because it’s such a big exporter.”

His comments were echoed by Falkland Islands government representative to the United Kingdom and Europe Richard Hyslop, who said: “When it comes to Brexit, as things stand, there are no obvious benefits to the Falkland Islands. There are however a number of challenges.”

Mr Hyslop said the EU is the main market for the Falkland Islands’ fishery exports, with exports accounting for “more than 50% of our GDP”, and “was an important market for meat exports”.

However since the end of the transition period in January 2021 the Falkland Islands’ exports to the EU have been subject to tariffs, he added, with an average of 42% for meat and between 6% and 18% for fisheries exports.

The “very high tariff” on meat exports has “resulted in the loss of the market as it is just not viable to export to the EU any more” while exports of fishery products to the EU are “now less profitable”.

Mr Hyslop said the Falkland Islands government was “exploring a wide range of options” looking at “how we have these tariffs removed”.

Those orphaned by the 1994 Rwandan genocide have reportedly been told to leave a hostel they lived in for years to make way for asylum seekers in the UK to stay.

Some said that they don’t know where next they will go after being issued eviction notices.

One woman who has lived at the shelter for eight years told the Sunday Mirror: “I barely know any other home. I was only told about moving out a few days ago. I have not figured out where I will go.”

Home secretary Priti Patel could face a mutiny from Home Office civil servants protesting plans to send asylum seekers thousands of miles away to Rwanda.

Home Office staff who oppose the policy on legal or ethical grounds could stage mass walk-outs, request transfers, or leave the civil service entirely, a union has warned.Ms Patel had to issue a ministerial direction – a formal instruction from ministers to proceed with a spending proposal, despite facing opposition.

The Rwandan government will be paid an initial cost of £120m as part of the deal, with reports suggesting each person sent to Rwanda is expected to cost British taxpayers between £20,000 to £30,000.