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John Johnston

John Johnston

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

Almost Half Of School Leaders Are Considering Staff Cuts Due To Budget Constraints, New Poll Finds
Education
By John Johnston
Almost Half Of School Leaders Are Considering Staff Cuts Due To Budget Constraints, New Poll Finds
A significant number of school leaders are considering the possibility of making cuts to staff as a result of inflation, energy costs and pay rises for staff placing unsustainable pressure on school budgets, a new survey has shown.
Ukrainian Refugees In The UK Could Face Homelessness When Six Months With Hosts Ends
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Ukrainian Refugees In The UK Could Face Homelessness When Six Months With Hosts Ends
Exclusive: Local leaders have issued an urgent call to government to provide further support for Ukrainian refugees living in the UK as early arrivals near the end of the six month period in which their hosts were required to support them under the government's Homes for Ukraine scheme.
Ukraine Refugee Matching Groups Warn Pool Of UK Hosts Has Plummeted
Communities
By John Johnston
Ukraine Refugee Matching Groups Warn Pool Of UK Hosts Has Plummeted
A number of large groups responsible for matching UK hosts with Ukrainian refugees have closed applications as they warned the pool of available hosts was almost depleted.
Majority Of Tory Voters Back Rishi Sunak Plan To Increase Corporation Tax On Business Profits
Economy
By John Johnston
Majority Of Tory Voters Back Rishi Sunak Plan To Increase Corporation Tax On Business Profits
Exclusive: A majority of Conservative voters surveyed for a new poll have indicated they are in favour of a proposed hike in the rate of corporation tax.
Struggling Government Staff Are Using Food Banks Due To Real Terms Pay Cuts
Environment
By John Johnston
Struggling Government Staff Are Using Food Banks Due To Real Terms Pay Cuts
The chief executive of the Environment Agency has said that government staff have been forced to turn to food banks after stagnating wages have left them unable to afford groceries.
Rishi Sunak Accused Of Being 'Extremely Aggressive' During Tory Leadership Debate
Economy
By John Johnston
Rishi Sunak Accused Of Being "Extremely Aggressive" During Tory Leadership Debate
Conservative leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak has been accused of being "extremely aggressive" and "mansplaining" during a fiery TV debate with fellow contender Liz Truss.
Scale Of Energy Bill Debts Threatening Millions Will 'Eclipse' Support Measures, MPs Warn
Economy
By John Johnston
Scale Of Energy Bill Debts Threatening Millions Will "Eclipse" Support Measures, MPs Warn
Millions of people could be left with "unmanageable debt" as a result of major forecasted rises in the cost of energy, a new report from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has warned.
Jeremy Hunt Says Brexit May Have Had 'Marginal Impact' On NHS Staffing
Health
By John Johnston
Jeremy Hunt Says Brexit May Have Had "Marginal Impact" On NHS Staffing
Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has said Brexit may have had some impact on staffing following a new report exposing major shortages in the NHS.
Civil war: Inside the crumbling relationship between ministers and the civil service
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Civil war: Inside the crumbling relationship between ministers and the civil service
With relations between civil servants and ministers at breaking point, John Johnston reports on the mood in Whitehall, and the big choice facing the next prime minister on their first day in Downing Street.
Government's Rwanda Plan Failing To Deter Migrant Crossings, MPs Say
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Government's Rwanda Plan Failing To Deter Migrant Crossings, MPs Say
A new report has warned that the government's efforts to curb Channel crossings using the threat of deportation to Rwanda are "unrealistic" and will "not succeed".
Penny Mordaunt Calls For End To 'Toxic Politics' Amid Tory Leadership Attacks
Brexit
By John Johnston
Penny Mordaunt Calls For End To "Toxic Politics" Amid Tory Leadership Attacks
Tory leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt has accused rivals of launching a wave of "smears" against her.
Iain Duncan Smith Says Liz Truss Has 'Done The Most To Deliver Benefits Of Brexit'
Brexit
By John Johnston
Iain Duncan Smith Says Liz Truss Has "Done The Most To Deliver Benefits Of Brexit"
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has said he was backing the Foreign Secretary in the Conservative leadership race because he believes she has the strongest record over Brexit.
Calls For Water Company Bosses To Face Prison Over Sewage Pollution
Environment
By John Johnston
Calls For Water Company Bosses To Face Prison Over Sewage Pollution
A scathing report from the Environmental Agency has called for tougher action against water companies responsible for pollution – including prison sentences.
Senior Tory Refuses To Say If UK Plans To Pull Out of European Convention On Human Rights
Brexit
By John Johnston
Senior Tory Refuses To Say If UK Plans To Pull Out of European Convention On Human Rights
Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey has refused to confirm whether she was in favour of the UK leaving the European Convention On Human Rights after the government's plans to send migrants to Rwanda were blocked.
Transport Secretary Is 'Very Concerned' About Airport Delays Ahead Of Peak Summer Travel
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Transport Secretary Is "Very Concerned" About Airport Delays Ahead Of Peak Summer Travel
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said he has already changed some laws to help reduce long delays and cancelled flights ahead of the summer holidays.
Kemi Badenoch Plays To The Tory Right With Social Justice Attack In Leadership Launch
Political parties
By John Johnston
Kemi Badenoch Plays To The Tory Right With Social Justice Attack In Leadership Launch
Conservative leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has said her party has "lost its confidence" and vowed to "discard the priorities" of Twitter as she launched her bid to become the next Prime Minister in Westminster on Tuesday.
Tory MP Denies Rishi Sunak Plotted Leadership Bid Before Resigning As Chancellor
Political parties
By John Johnston
Tory MP Denies Rishi Sunak Plotted Leadership Bid Before Resigning As Chancellor
Conservative MP Andrew Bowie has said there is "nothing wrong" with planning ahead, but denied Sunak had discussed his plans before resigning.
Conservative MP Jamie Wallis Found Guilty Of Three Traffic Offences After Crash
Political parties
By John Johnston
Conservative MP Jamie Wallis Found Guilty Of Three Traffic Offences After Crash
Bridgen MP Jamie Wallis has been found guilty of failing to stop, failing to report an accident and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position following a crash near Cowbridge in South Wales in November 2021.
Conservative Leadership Candidate Nadhim Zahawi Says He's Unsure How Wealthy He Is
Economy
By John Johnston
Conservative Leadership Candidate Nadhim Zahawi Says He's Unsure How Wealthy He Is
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has admitted he is "wealthy" but doesn't want to get into specifics because he would "probably get it wrong".
Benefit Delays For Ukrainian Refugees Leave British Families Turning To Crowdfunding
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Benefit Delays For Ukrainian Refugees Leave British Families Turning To Crowdfunding
A Labour MP has branded delays "unacceptable and dangerous" after the wait for benefits payments to Ukrainian refugees has put financial strain on families.
Boris Johnson Vows To 'Keep Going' After Wave Of Resignations
Political parties
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Vows To "Keep Going" After Wave Of Resignations
Boris Johnson has vowed to "keep going" during a turbulent Prime Minister's Questions which saw him repeatedly urged to resign from Downing Street.
The Nadhim Zahawi Interview: 'Teachers know the damage strikes will have on children'
Education
By John Johnston
The Nadhim Zahawi Interview: 'Teachers know the damage strikes will have on children'
Nadhim Zahawi faces an uphill battle to get the education system back on track post-Covid. He talks about his approach to recovery – and how he hopes it will boost his party’s fortunes. Photography by Michael Garnett.
Senior Conservative Women MPs Call For 'Zero Tolerance Policy' After Chris Pincher Allegations
Political parties
By John Johnston
Senior Conservative Women MPs Call For "Zero Tolerance Policy" After Chris Pincher Allegations
Two senior Tory women MPs have written to the Chief Whip calling for a "zero tolerance" policy when it comes to those accused of sexual misconduct.
Round-The-Clock: Keeping Big Ben ticking
Culture
By John Johnston
Round-The-Clock: Keeping Big Ben ticking
As years of restoration work on Big Ben come to a close, one of Parliament’s clock keepers explains what makes him tick.
Babies Should Continue To Be Banned From Commons Chamber, MPs Say
Parliament
By John Johnston
Babies Should Continue To Be Banned From Commons Chamber, MPs Say
The Commons Procedure Committee has backed current rules which ban MPs from taking babies into the chamber during debates.
How one former soldier transitioned from the military frontline to the trenches of politics
Defence
By John Johnston
How one former soldier transitioned from the military frontline to the trenches of politics
During 21 years in the army, Scott Awad never expected he would find himself working at the heart of politics.
Rachel Reeves and Labour's shadow Treasury team: 'We behave like we’re in government'
Economy
By John Johnston
Rachel Reeves and Labour's shadow Treasury team: "We behave like we’re in government"
As Labour’s Treasury team scores wins in the Commons, John Johnston speaks to Rachel Reeves and her troops about the economic plans they hope will put them into government.
Two-Thirds Of Tory Voters Believe Financial Situation Will Worsen Over Next Year
Economy
By John Johnston
Two-Thirds Of Tory Voters Believe Financial Situation Will Worsen Over Next Year
New polling has found nearly a quarter of Tory voters believe excessive government spending was "significantly" to blame for rising inflation.
Asda Chair And Tory Peer Calls For More Government Borrowing To Ease Cost Of Living Crisis
Economy
By John Johnston
Asda Chair And Tory Peer Calls For More Government Borrowing To Ease Cost Of Living Crisis
Lord Rose, a Tory peer and chair of Asda supermarket, has said there is "no time to be wasted" and he called on ministers to consider further borrowing to provide financial support to struggling households.
Jacob Rees-Mogg Accused Of 'Blind Ideology' After Previously Backing Civil Service Working From Home
Political parties
By John Johnston
Jacob Rees-Mogg Accused Of "Blind Ideology" After Previously Backing Civil Service Working From Home
Jacob Rees-Mogg has been accused of chasing "cheap headlines" with his push for civil servants to return to the office having previously supported flexible working as part of government efforts to minimise the need for office space used by civil servants.
Ministers Accused Of “Failing” Afghan Refugees After Major Delays To Resettlement Scheme
Defence
By John Johnston
Ministers Accused Of “Failing” Afghan Refugees After Major Delays To Resettlement Scheme
Exclusive: Just one in four applications for the government’s resettlement scheme have been processed in the last six months despite risk of Taliban reprisals.
Jacob Rees-Mogg Insists Cutting 90,000 Civil Servant Jobs Isn't A Return To Austerity
Economy
By John Johnston
Jacob Rees-Mogg Insists Cutting 90,000 Civil Servant Jobs Isn't A Return To Austerity
The Prime Minister has asked ministers to draw up plans for cutting more than 90,000 civil servant jobs to free up billions in government spending.
Where Are They Now? John Leech
Political parties
By John Johnston
Where Are They Now? John Leech
Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, 2005 - 2015
Keir Starmer Urges Government To 'Look Again' At Defence Spending After Ukraine Invasion
Defence
By John Johnston
Keir Starmer Urges Government To "Look Again" At Defence Spending After Ukraine Invasion
Keir Starmer has told the government it should put forward new proposals for defence spending in the wake of Russian invasion.
Kwasi Kwarteng Says 'Bad Apples' To Blame For Sexism In Westminster
Political parties
By John Johnston
Kwasi Kwarteng Says "Bad Apples" To Blame For Sexism In Westminster
Kwasi Kwarteng has insisted that Parliament is a safe place for women as he denied there was a widespread culture of sexism.
Labour Claims Boris Johnson Misled Parliament Over Asymptomatic Covid Claim
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Labour Claims Boris Johnson Misled Parliament Over Asymptomatic Covid Claim
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of misleading the Commons after he claimed ministers were not made aware of asymptomatic Covid transmission.