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John Johnston

John Johnston

John Johnston is a political reporter for PoliticsHome, with a focus on foreign affairs and defence.

MP Warns That Online Hate Could Lead To More Real World Attacks On Parliamentarians
Home affairs
By John Johnston
MP Warns That Online Hate Could Lead To More Real World Attacks On Parliamentarians
Conservative MP Vicky Ford has said that the UK has become an outlier for its number of "real world" violent attacks against politicians.
What's going to be in the Budget?
Economy
By John Johnston
What's going to be in the Budget?
Don’t expect any major surprises in next week’s Budget, writes PoliticsHome reporter John Johnston – but expect a scrap over tax.
Chief Partygate Investigator Sue Gray Appointed As Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff
Political parties
By John Johnston
Chief Partygate Investigator Sue Gray Appointed As Keir Starmer's Chief of Staff
Veteran civil servant Sue Gray, who led last year's 'partygate' investigation, has left her government position to take up a senior role in Labour as leader Keir Starmer's chief of staff.
Boris Johnson Will Find It 'Very Difficult' To Vote For Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland Deal
Brexit
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Will Find It "Very Difficult" To Vote For Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland Deal
Boris Johnson has said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Windsor Framework deal is "not about the UK taking back control" and that he would struggle to support it in his first public comments on the agreement.
More Labour Than Tory Voters Want To See Tax Cuts In Jeremy Hunt's Budget
Economy
By John Johnston
More Labour Than Tory Voters Want To See Tax Cuts In Jeremy Hunt's Budget
A new poll has found Conservative voters would prefer Chancellor Jeremy Hunt prioritise debt reduction over tax cuts if the UK economy improves, while a significant number of Labour voters are keen to see taxes reduced.
Betty Boothroyd, First Woman House Of Commons Speaker, Has Died Aged 93
Political parties
By John Johnston
Betty Boothroyd, First Woman House Of Commons Speaker, Has Died Aged 93
Baroness Betty Boothroyd, the first woman to hold the role of House of Commons Speaker, has died aged 93, prompting tributes to her "no nonsense" style in the role.
Most People Support Junior Doctors And Ambulance Staff Going On Strike
Health
By John Johnston
Most People Support Junior Doctors And Ambulance Staff Going On Strike
A new poll for PoliticsHome has found that a majority of the public are supportive of strikes by junior doctors and ambulance workers ahead of a further wave of industrial action.
Reporting on Homes for Ukraine has been uplifting and heart-breaking – and the story is far from over
Communities
By John Johnston
Reporting on Homes for Ukraine has been uplifting and heart-breaking – and the story is far from over
Reporting on the most unique refugee system implemented in the United Kingdom since the kindertransport has been fascinating, uplifting and heart-breaking in equal measures.
Top Stories: Rishi Sunak Urges G7 Leaders To 'Move Faster' In Arming Ukraine, Boris Johnson Increases Pressure To Send British Jets
Defence
Top Stories: Rishi Sunak Urges G7 Leaders To "Move Faster" In Arming Ukraine, Boris Johnson Increases Pressure To Send British Jets
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will use the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to pressure other world leaders to "move faster" in arming its military.
Keir Starmer Promises 'Mission Driven' Government As He Sets Out Labour Priorities
Economy
By John Johnston
Keir Starmer Promises "Mission Driven" Government As He Sets Out Labour Priorities
Labour leader Keir Starmer has said he wants an end to "sticking plaster politics" as he set out the foundation of his party's policies in a set piece speech.
Top Stories: Keir Starmer Sets Out Five 'Missions', Independent Football Regulator To Be Launched
Culture
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Keir Starmer Sets Out Five "Missions", Independent Football Regulator To Be Launched
Labour leader Keir Starmer is preparing to set out his five "missions" which will form key pledges in the party's next general election manifesto as he promised to restore "pride and purpose" in the UK.
Ukrainian Refugees Have Struggled With Work And Housing Since Arriving In the UK
Communities
By John Johnston
Ukrainian Refugees Have Struggled With Work And Housing Since Arriving In the UK
A new survey has found growing concerns among Ukrainian refugees about their future lives in Britain as housing and employment barriers continue to mount.
Top Stories: Nurses Hold 'Intensive' Strike Talks With Government, Tory Brexiteers Digging In, Supermarkets Ration Veg
Health
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Nurses Hold "Intensive" Strike Talks With Government, Tory Brexiteers Digging In, Supermarkets Ration Veg
Ministers are set to meet with members of the Royal College of Nursing to hammer out a potential deal which could bring major NHS strike action to an end.
Top Stories: Jeremy Hunt Resists Tax Cuts Despite Surplus, Kate Forbes Doubles Down Against Gay Marriage
Brexit
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Jeremy Hunt Resists Tax Cuts Despite Surplus, Kate Forbes Doubles Down Against Gay Marriage
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he would "stick with his plans" to reduce debt despite a surprise budget surplus of more than £5 billion in January.
Who's In And Who's Out In The Race To Replace Nicola Sturgeon As SNP Leader?
Political parties
By John Johnston
Who's In And Who's Out In The Race To Replace Nicola Sturgeon As SNP Leader?
Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf are among the top names who have formally declared their intention to run to become Scottish National Party leader and First Minister of Scotland after Nicola Sturgeon resigned from the job last week.
Top Stories: Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland Deal Hits Resistance, Ministers Blamed For NHS Walkouts
Health
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Rishi Sunak's Northern Ireland Deal Hits Resistance, Ministers Blamed For NHS Walkouts
Rishi Sunak is facing inevitable resistance over his plans to renegotiate the Northern Ireland Protocol after the DUP indicated it would not support a new deal.
Penny Mordaunt Insists Boris Johnson's Northern Ireland Protocol Intervention Is 'Helpful'
Brexit
By John Johnston
Penny Mordaunt Insists Boris Johnson's Northern Ireland Protocol Intervention Is "Helpful"
The senior cabinet minister has supported Boris Johnson's intervention as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak closes in on a deal with the European Union.
Ukrainian President Zelensky Thanks UK For Support In Historic Westminster Speech
Defence
By John Johnston
Ukrainian President Zelensky Thanks UK For Support In Historic Westminster Speech
In a historic speech in Westminster, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky gave his thanks to the UK for its support in its battle against Russia.
Rishi Sunak's Whitehall Reset Gives Fresh Focus But Leaves Limited Time To Deliver On His Promises
Economy
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak's Whitehall Reset Gives Fresh Focus But Leaves Limited Time To Deliver On His Promises
Rishi Sunak has undertaken a mini-reshuffle - the fifth in 20 months - as he seeks to set a new path for government following the damage of Nadhim Zahawi's sacking.
Top Stories: Dominic Raab Row Deepens, Liz Truss Plots Comeback, Childcare Pressure For PM
Education
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Dominic Raab Row Deepens, Liz Truss Plots Comeback, Childcare Pressure For PM
Pressure continues to mount on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to address what he knew about Dominic Raab bullying allegations after it was reported that top civil servant Simon Case was aware of complaints.
Frontline Worker Pay Is Struggling To Keep Up With Rising Rental Prices
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Frontline Worker Pay Is Struggling To Keep Up With Rising Rental Prices
New analysis from PoliticsHome has found that recently qualified nurses and police officers are seeing a significant chunk of their income eaten away by rented accommodation as the government faces pressure to increase public sector pay.
Top Stories: Sunak Under Pressure To Suspend Raab, Half Of Schools Impacted By Strikes
Education
By John Johnston
Top Stories: Sunak Under Pressure To Suspend Raab, Half Of Schools Impacted By Strikes
The Prime Minister is under pressure to reveal what he knew about bullying allegations made against Dominic Raab when he appointed him as his deputy.
What You Need To Know About Michael Gove's Post-Grenfell Cladding Crackdown
Communities
By John Johnston
What You Need To Know About Michael Gove's Post-Grenfell Cladding Crackdown
Housing Secretary Michael Gove has announced tough new plans to hold developers responsible for funding repair works to buildings with fire safety issues, and warned those who fail to comply could be blacklisted from the market.
Broken Britain: Cleaning up Cleveland, the UK's crime capital
Communities
By John Johnston
Broken Britain: Cleaning up Cleveland, the UK's crime capital
With some of the worst violent crime rates in the country, John Johnston reports on efforts to clean up Cleveland.
Rishi Sunak Says He Has 'Full Confidence' In Nadhim Zahawi As Tax Probe Launched
Political parties
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak Says He Has "Full Confidence" In Nadhim Zahawi As Tax Probe Launched
The Prime Minister has insisted he has "full confidence" in Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi after he ordered the government's ethics adviser to launch an investigation into Zahawi's tax affairs.
Rishi Sunak Has Ordered An Investigation Into Nadhim Zahawi's Tax Affairs
Political parties
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak Has Ordered An Investigation Into Nadhim Zahawi's Tax Affairs
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has requested that the government's independent ethics adviser launches an investigation into Nadhim Zahawi's tax affairs, noting there are "clearly questions that need answering".
James Cleverly Says Ministers' Tax Returns Should Be Confidential As Questions Pile Up Over Nadhim Zahawi
Economy
By John Johnston
James Cleverly Says Ministers' Tax Returns Should Be Confidential As Questions Pile Up Over Nadhim Zahawi
It is "right and proper" that the tax affairs of ministers are private, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said.
The Winners And Losers From The Latest Round Of Levelling Up Funding
Communities
By John Johnston
The Winners And Losers From The Latest Round Of Levelling Up Funding
The government has announced their second round of funding from the £4.8bn levelling up scheme aimed at reducing inequality across the UK but have faced criticism over regional disparity.
Growing Fear Cost Of Living Crisis Could Lead To Public Disorder
Economy
By John Johnston
Growing Fear Cost Of Living Crisis Could Lead To Public Disorder
People blame the government for the UK's economic troubles and predict riots on the streets as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, according to a new poll.

Government Accused Of 'Extreme Ministerial Power Grab' Over EU Law Repeal Process
Brexit
By John Johnston
Government Accused Of "Extreme Ministerial Power Grab" Over EU Law Repeal Process
Labour peer Baroness Hayter has claimed attempts by government to limit parliamentary scrutiny of the repeal of EU laws is "irresponsible and potentially dangerous", as the government prepares to review and scrap or recycle around 4,000 pieces of legislation by the end of this year.
Rishi Sunak's 'Unworkable' Anti-Strike Laws Face 'Quagmire' Of Legal Challenges And Lords Delays
Economy
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak's "Unworkable" Anti-Strike Laws Face "Quagmire" Of Legal Challenges And Lords Delays
The government has confirmed plans for controversial anti-strike laws despite warnings from peers that plans "simply won't work" due to the likelihood of significant delays in Parliament and legal challenges from unions.
How Ukrainian Refugees Are Celebrating Christmas In The UK – From Strictly To Orthodox Christmas Potluck
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
How Ukrainian Refugees Are Celebrating Christmas In The UK – From Strictly To Orthodox Christmas Potluck
Two Saturdays before Christmas, millions of families gathered around the TV to watch the final of this year's Strictly Come Dancing competition.
Oliver Dowden Claims Nurses’ Pay Rises Are 'Not Affordable' As Unions Warn Of Further Strikes
Health
By John Johnston
Oliver Dowden Claims Nurses’ Pay Rises Are "Not Affordable" As Unions Warn Of Further Strikes
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden has insisted the government's door is "always open" for union talks, but refused to budge over pay rises for nurses.
Red Wall Tory MPs Insist Green Jobs Are Vital To Levelling Up Success
Communities
By John Johnston
Red Wall Tory MPs Insist Green Jobs Are Vital To Levelling Up Success
Dozens of Tory MPs have backed a new report calling for the creation of green jobs in so-called 'Red Wall' areas to become the government's "core focus".
Homes For Ukraine Payments To Be Increased To £500 For Long-Term Hosts
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Homes For Ukraine Payments To Be Increased To £500 For Long-Term Hosts
Monthly government payments for households hosting refugees as part of the the Homes for Ukraine scheme will be increased, ministers have announced.
Most People Support Backing Ukraine Despite Impact On Cost Of Living Crisis
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Most People Support Backing Ukraine Despite Impact On Cost Of Living Crisis
Exclusive: A majority of respondents to a new poll want the UK to continue its support of Ukraine in opposing the war waged by Vladimir Putin even though they believe measures are worsening the cost of living crisis.