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Sat, 4 January 2025

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Alain Tolhurst

Alain Tolhurst

Alain Tolhurst is Chief Reporter at PoliticsHome and host of The Rundown podcast each week.

Boris Johnson Asks Countries To Join International Coalition Giving 'Unwavering Assistance' To Ukraine
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Asks Countries To Join International Coalition Giving "Unwavering Assistance" To Ukraine
Boris Johnson announced the UK is joining a new International Ukraine Support Group to support the country against Russia’s invasion.
Boris Johnson Avoids Committing To A Humanitarian Route For Ukrainian Refugees Coming To The UK
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Avoids Committing To A Humanitarian Route For Ukrainian Refugees Coming To The UK
Boris Johnson has refused to commit to opening a third, more open, humanitarian route for Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK just hours after home secretary Priti Patel appeared to suggest the option.
Minister Defends UK Support For Ukrainian Refugees Despite Only 50 Out Of 13,500 Visas Granted So Far
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Minister Defends UK Support For Ukrainian Refugees Despite Only 50 Out Of 13,500 Visas Granted So Far
A foreign office minister has defended the UK’s support for Ukrainians refugees despite only 50 visas so far being granted to those fleeing the Russian invasion.
Boris Johnson Does Not Support Call For Russians To Assassinate Their Own President Vladimir Putin
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Does Not Support Call For Russians To Assassinate Their Own President Vladimir Putin
The Prime Minister has rejected a call from a senior American politician for the Russian people to assassinate their own president Vladimir Putin.
Senior Tory Says UK's Ukrainian Refugee Policy “Doesn’t Cut It” As Crisis Escalates
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Senior Tory Says UK's Ukrainian Refugee Policy “Doesn’t Cut It” As Crisis Escalates
Exclusive: Priti Patel needs to publish plans to allow Ukrainians without family ties in the UK to come here now as the existing policy “doesn't cut it”, former deputy Prime Minister Damian Green has told PoliticsHome.
Chelsea Could Keep Playing Football Games Even If Roman Abramovich Is Sanctioned, Say UK Officials
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Chelsea Could Keep Playing Football Games Even If Roman Abramovich Is Sanctioned, Say UK Officials
Even if Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has his assets frozen as part of sanctions against Russian oligarchs then the club could still be able to play football matches, UK officials have suggested.
Boris Johnson Says We Are Seeing 'Unfolding Disaster' In Ukraine And UK 'Stands Ready To Take Refugees'
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Says We Are Seeing "Unfolding Disaster" In Ukraine And UK 'Stands Ready To Take Refugees'
Boris Johnson has called the situation in Ukraine an “unfolding disaster” as it is clear Vladimir Putin “is prepared to use barbaric and indiscriminate tactics against civilians”.
Downing Street Says “Nothing Is Off The Table” To Support Ukraine Against Russian Invasion
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Downing Street Says “Nothing Is Off The Table” To Support Ukraine Against Russian Invasion
The UK government has said “nothing is off the table” when it comes to supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion as Putin's troops surround Kyiv.
Boris Johnson Says UK Will Send Further Military Support To Ukraine After Russian Invasion
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Says UK Will Send Further Military Support To Ukraine After Russian Invasion
Boris Johnson has announced that the UK will send a “further package of military support to Ukraine” after Russia’s invasion.
Russian Ambassador Summoned To Foreign Office As 'Full Scale' Ukraine Invasion Is Feared
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Russian Ambassador Summoned To Foreign Office As "Full Scale" Ukraine Invasion Is Feared
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has summoned Russia’s ambassador to the Foreign Office after Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine last night.
Government Calls For Russia To Be Stripped Of Hosting Champions League Final After Ukraine Invasion
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Government Calls For Russia To Be Stripped Of Hosting Champions League Final After Ukraine Invasion
The government is calling on Uefa to strip Russia of the right to host the Champions League final after "a flagrant breach of its international commitments" following military advances into Ukraine.
Boris Johnson Announces End To Free Covid Tests For General Public From April
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Announces End To Free Covid Tests For General Public From April
The government is scrapping all legal coronavirus restrictions in England from Thursday and free tests won’t be available to the general public after the end of March.
Elections Watchdog Warns New Legislation Threatens Its Independence And Allows Ministers To Shape Rules
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Elections Watchdog Warns New Legislation Threatens Its Independence And Allows Ministers To Shape Rules
The UK’s elections watchdog has warned that the government’s new electoral reform proposals threaten its independence and could knock public confidence in the whole system.
Court Finds Matt Hancock Broke Equality Rules During Pandemic By Hiring Dido Harding
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Court Finds Matt Hancock Broke Equality Rules During Pandemic By Hiring Dido Harding
Two judges have found that Matt Hancock broke public appointment rules when he appointed Dido Harding to a senior role as part of the government’s early pandemic response.
Boris Johnson To Chair Cobra Meeting As Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Feared “Immediately”
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson To Chair Cobra Meeting As Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Feared “Immediately”
The foreign secretary has warned Vladimir Putin could launch an invasion of Ukraine "almost immediately” as she repeated calls for Brits to leave the country.
Boris Johnson Warns World Is “On The Edge Of A Precipice” Over Fears Russia Will Invade Ukraine
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Warns World Is “On The Edge Of A Precipice” Over Fears Russia Will Invade Ukraine
The Prime Minister said “we are on the edge of a precipice” as the "evidence is pretty clear" that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine.
Jerking delicious: What makes Parliament's jerk chicken so tasty?
Parliament
By Alain Tolhurst
Jerking delicious: What makes Parliament's jerk chicken so tasty?
It is beloved by all those working in Westminster and even has its own Twitter handle. But just what makes Parliament’s jerk chicken so tasty? Alain Tolhurst reports.
Minister Defends Decision To Scrap Covid Testing For Fully Vaccinated Travellers
Transport
Minister Defends Decision To Scrap Covid Testing For Fully Vaccinated Travellers
The aviation minister Robert Courts has rejected suggestions the decision to scrap all Covid testing for fully vaccinated travellers was a political one rather than being based on the science.
Boris Johnson Has Not Yet Been Contacted By Met Police Over Partygate Allegations
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Has Not Yet Been Contacted By Met Police Over Partygate Allegations
Number 10 has confirmed the prime minister is yet to be contacted by the Metropolitan Police as part of their investigation into alleged gatherings in Downing Street during the coronavirus lockdown.
Boris Johnson Warns Europe Faces “Most Dangerous Moment In Decades” As Russian Forces Amass On Ukraine Border
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Warns Europe Faces “Most Dangerous Moment In Decades” As Russian Forces Amass On Ukraine Border
The prime minister has said that the next few days are the “most dangerous moment” in Europe’s biggest security crisis in decades as Russia continues to amass forces on the Ukrainian border.
Defence Secretary Warns Russia It Would Be “Lose-Lose” To Invade Ukraine
Foreign affairs
By Alain Tolhurst
Defence Secretary Warns Russia It Would Be “Lose-Lose” To Invade Ukraine
The defence secretary Ben Wallace has warned Russia against invading Ukraine insisting that “no one is going to win”.
Minister Insists Boris Johnson Still Won’t Apologise For False Savile Claim
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Minister Insists Boris Johnson Still Won’t Apologise For False Savile Claim
A minister has insisted once again that Boris Johnson will not apologise for making the false claim that Labour leader Keir Starmer had failed to prosecute the paedophile Jimmy Savile when he was the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Health Minister Has Apologised For Attending Meeting After Positive Covid Test
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Health Minister Has Apologised For Attending Meeting After Positive Covid Test
Health minister Gillian Keegan has apologised for continuing an in-person meeting despite knowing she had returned a positive for Covid-19 with a lateral flow test.
Jacob Rees-Mogg Moved To New Brexit Role In Boris Johnson’s Post-Partygate Cabinet Reshuffle
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Jacob Rees-Mogg Moved To New Brexit Role In Boris Johnson’s Post-Partygate Cabinet Reshuffle
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been moved to a new Brexit role as part of Boris Johnson's mini Cabinet reshuffle as he continues with attempts to repair the damage to his administration caused by the partygate row.
Minister Claims Boris Johnson’s False Savile Claim Is “Not To Blame” For Keir Starmer Harassment
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Minister Claims Boris Johnson’s False Savile Claim Is “Not To Blame” For Keir Starmer Harassment
A minister has said Boris Johnson is not to blame for the harassment of Keir Starmer by a mob of protesters, despite the fact they repeated the Prime Minister's discredited claim that Starmer failed to prosecute Jimmy Savile.
Former No10 Chief Of Staff Says It's Impossible For Boris Johnson's New Aide To Perform The Role In Full
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Former No10 Chief Of Staff Says It's Impossible For Boris Johnson's New Aide To Perform The Role In Full
A former Number 10 chief of staff has said Steve Barclay will not be able to perform his new role fully, after he ducked his first Commons appearance since being appointed.
Carrie Johnson Ally Henry Newman Moved Out Of No.10 In Boris Johnson Shake-Up
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Carrie Johnson Ally Henry Newman Moved Out Of No.10 In Boris Johnson Shake-Up
Senior Downing Street aide Henry Newman, a close ally of the prime minister's wife Carrie Johnson, is leaving his position as Boris Johnson continues to recast his Number 10 team.
Brand Boris Permanently Damaged With Voters, Say Pollsters, As Johnson Fights To Stave Off Confidence Vote
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Brand Boris Permanently Damaged With Voters, Say Pollsters, As Johnson Fights To Stave Off Confidence Vote
The Prime Minister’s fightback against the "partygate” fiasco has further damaged his brand with voters, say pollsters, as he tries to stave off a no confidence vote.
Treasury And Downing Street At War Over Who Is To Blame For Failing To Tackle Pandemic Fraud
Economy
By Alain Tolhurst
Treasury And Downing Street At War Over Who Is To Blame For Failing To Tackle Pandemic Fraud
Rishi Sunak mounted a fightback in the row over who is to blame for billions in taxpayer cash being wasted after fraudulent claims by businesses during the pandemic.
Is the Cabinet Office Inquiry Team Where Government Sends Difficult Issues To Disappear?
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Is the Cabinet Office Inquiry Team Where Government Sends Difficult Issues To Disappear?
The current investigation by Sue Gray into Downing Street parties is the latest in an increasing number of thorny issues sent to the Cabinet Office’s inscrutable inquiries team, where difficult questions are sent, and many are still to be answered.
Boris Johnson Didn't Tell Cabinet About Downing Street Police Inquiry As It Launched
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Boris Johnson Didn't Tell Cabinet About Downing Street Police Inquiry As It Launched
Number 10 has confirmed that Boris Johnson was aware police were about to open an investigation into alleged Downing Street parties during lockdown, but did not tell Cabinet ministers he was meeting with as it launched.
Met Police Will Now Investigate Alleged Downing Street Parties During Lockdown
Coronavirus
By Alain Tolhurst
Met Police Will Now Investigate Alleged Downing Street Parties During Lockdown
Police will now investigate allegations a number of parties were held in Downing Street during lockdown in breach of coronavirus rules, the Metropolitan Police commissioner has confirmed.
Treasury Minister Dramatically Resigns At Despatch Box Over Government's Failure To Tackle Covid Fraud
Economy
By Alain Tolhurst
Treasury Minister Dramatically Resigns At Despatch Box Over Government's Failure To Tackle Covid Fraud
A Treasury minister has dramatically resigned from his role in protest at how the government has failed to tackle fraud related to pandemic financial schemes.
Rishi Sunak Accused Of “Riding Two Horses” As He Defends Boris Johnson With One Eye On Succeeding Him
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
Rishi Sunak Accused Of “Riding Two Horses” As He Defends Boris Johnson With One Eye On Succeeding Him
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been accused of “trying to ride two horses” by offering the requisite support for the flailing Prime Minister while simultaneously jockeying for position ahead of his colleagues in what seems an increasingly inevitable Tory leadership contest.
“Pork Pie” Plot Tory MPs Accused Of “Self-Indulgence” And “Student Politics”
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
“Pork Pie” Plot Tory MPs Accused Of “Self-Indulgence” And “Student Politics”
The group of 2019-intake Tory MPs said to have instigated a plot to try and remove Boris Johnson have been accused of disloyalty and “self-indulgence”.
David Davis Tells Boris Johnson “In The Name Of God Go” Over Partygate Allegations
Political parties
By Alain Tolhurst
David Davis Tells Boris Johnson “In The Name Of God Go” Over Partygate Allegations
The Prime Minister was told to resign by one of the most senior Conservative backbenchers in a bruising Commons encounter after one of his own MPs defected to Labour.