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Tue, 15 July 2025
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John Johnston

John Johnston

@johnjohnstonmi

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

Conservative MP Jamie Wallis Charged Over Car Crash
Political parties
By John Johnston
Conservative MP Jamie Wallis Charged Over Car Crash
Conservative MP for Bridgend Jamie Wallis has been charged with four driving offences following a car crash in November.
Labour MP Liam Byrne Faces Two Day Commons Suspension For Bullying
Political parties
By John Johnston
Labour MP Liam Byrne Faces Two Day Commons Suspension For Bullying
The former cabinet minister Liam Byrne has been found by an independent panel to have bullied a former member of his constituency staff.
Boris Johnson Says There Is 'No Place' For Sexism In Parliament After Misogyny Complaints
Communities
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Says There Is "No Place" For Sexism In Parliament After Misogyny Complaints
Boris Johnson has said MPs should treat each other with "respect" after a row over a culture of sexism and misogyny in Parliament.
Commons Speaker Demands Meeting With Mail On Sunday Editor Over 'Misogynistic' Angela Rayner Story
Political parties
By John Johnston
Commons Speaker Demands Meeting With Mail On Sunday Editor Over "Misogynistic" Angela Rayner Story
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has criticised comments made to the Mail on Sunday about deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner for being "demeaning" and "offensive" to women, and demanded a meeting with the newspaper's editor.
Senior Tory MP Says It's 'When, Not If' Boris Johnson Will Face A Confidence Vote
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Senior Tory MP Says It's "When, Not If" Boris Johnson Will Face A Confidence Vote
Tobias Ellwood has said the Prime Minister is causing "long term damage" to the Conservative party's "brand" and has urged him to resign.
Boris Johnson To Face Commons Probe Over Partygate After 'Humiliating' Government U-turn
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson To Face Commons Probe Over Partygate After "Humiliating" Government U-turn
The Prime Minister will face an inquiry into whether he misled Parliament over his denials he had broken lockdown rules.
Minister Urges Tory MPs To Vote Against Labour 'Shenanigans' Over Partygate Probe
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Minister Urges Tory MPs To Vote Against Labour "Shenanigans" Over Partygate Probe
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has said the Commons should wait for the police to finish their investigation before launching their own Partygate probe.
Boris Johnson Denies 'Slandering' The Archbishop of Canterbury Over Rwanda Deportation Scheme
Coronavirus
Boris Johnson Denies "Slandering" The Archbishop of Canterbury Over Rwanda Deportation Scheme
Boris Johnson has said he was "taken aback" by the Archbishop of Canterbury's criticism of the government's plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, but denied "slandering" the church leader after Labour called for an apology.
Minister Says 'Frustrating' Partygate Fallout Could Have Been Handled 'A Lot Better'
Political parties
Minister Says "Frustrating" Partygate Fallout Could Have Been Handled "A Lot Better"
Business minister Paul Scully has defended the Prime Minister over a police fine he received for attending a gathering in Downing Street during lockdown, but admitted there was "palpable anger" among the public.
Government Accused Of 'Unworkable, Unethical And Extortionate' Rwanda Asylum Seeker Relocation
Foreign affairs
Government Accused Of "Unworkable, Unethical And Extortionate" Rwanda Asylum Seeker Relocation
The Home Secretary has defended her plans to "relocate" asylum seekers to Rwanda after a wave of criticism over a new scheme to deport people who have illegally entered the UK to the African country.
UK Refugee Sponsors Accuse Home Office Of 'Hiding' From Delayed Ukraine Visa Applications
Foreign affairs
UK Refugee Sponsors Accuse Home Office Of "Hiding" From Delayed Ukraine Visa Applications
The Home Office has been accused of "hiding" from criticism of its Ukrainian refugee scheme after a group of UK sponsors attempted to deliver a letter setting out their frustrations over delayed applications.
Minister Says A Lawmaker Can Be A Lawbreaker But Insists PM Didn't Lie To Parliament Over Partygate
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Minister Says A Lawmaker Can Be A Lawbreaker But Insists PM Didn't Lie To Parliament Over Partygate
Brandon Lewis has claimed Boris Johnson said "what he believed to be the truth" over Downing Street parties after the Prime Minister received a fine from police over a gathering held during lockdown.
Hundreds Of Civil Servants Drafted To Home Office In A Scramble To Clear Ukraine Refugee Visa Backlog
Foreign affairs
Hundreds Of Civil Servants Drafted To Home Office In A Scramble To Clear Ukraine Refugee Visa Backlog
Hundreds of civil servants have been drafted to the Home Office from across government to help clear a backlog of Ukrainian refugee visa cases after criticism from UK sponsors that people’s lives were being put at risk by the delays.
Lord Norman Lamont: 'There is very little the Chancellor can do'
Economy
By John Johnston
Lord Norman Lamont: 'There is very little the Chancellor can do'
Lord Lamont knows better than most the challenges of navigating an economic crisis. With reports the government is being urged to appoint the ex-chancellor as part of a task force to tackle the current cost of living crunch, John Johnston gets the benefit of his experience
Brexit Has Left A £30m Funding Black Hole At Medicines Regulator
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Brexit Has Left A £30m Funding Black Hole At Medicines Regulator
The UK's medicines regulator has privately warned it has lost tens of millions in revenue as a result of Brexit changes.
Home Office Tells MPs To Stop 'Chasing' Urgent Ukrainian Refugee Visa Case Updates
Foreign affairs
Home Office Tells MPs To Stop "Chasing" Urgent Ukrainian Refugee Visa Case Updates
Exclusive: The Home Office has emailed MPs telling them they will no longer provide updates on Ukrainian refugee visa cases despite people being left stranded for weeks while they try to reach the UK.
Man Given Life Sentence For Murder Of Tory MP Sir David Amess
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Man Given Life Sentence For Murder Of Tory MP Sir David Amess
A 26 year old man has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.
Met Police Issue At Least 30 More Fines Over 'Partygate' Gatherings
Political parties
By John Johnston
Met Police Issue At Least 30 More Fines Over "Partygate" Gatherings
The Metropolitan Police have announced that at least 30 more Fixed Penalty Notices have been issued over breaches of Covid-19 rules in Downing Street and Whitehall.
Man Found Guilty Of Murdering MP Sir David Amess
Home affairs
By John Johnston
Man Found Guilty Of Murdering MP Sir David Amess
A 26-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, and of preparing acts of terrorism, following a trial at the Old Bailey.
Boris Johnson Announces £100m Of Further Military Aid To Ukraine
Defence
By John Johnston
Boris Johnson Announces £100m Of Further Military Aid To Ukraine
The UK will provide a new delivery of military aid to Ukraine, the Prime Minister has announced at a Downing Street press conference alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Priti Patel Has Apologised For 'Frustrating' Delays To Ukraine Refugee Visa Scheme
Defence
By John Johnston
Priti Patel Has Apologised For "Frustrating" Delays To Ukraine Refugee Visa Scheme
Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for delays to the Ukraine visa scheme as data reveals fewer than 3% of applicants have arrived in the UK.
UK Refugee Sponsors Have Been Targeted By Scammers After Offering Homes To Ukrainians
Communities
By John Johnston
UK Refugee Sponsors Have Been Targeted By Scammers After Offering Homes To Ukrainians
People in the UK offering to open their homes to Ukrainian refugees say they have been targeted by scammers seeking to steal money and personal information.
UK Toughens Russia Sanctions And Pledges More Until 'Every Single' Troop Leaves Ukraine
Defence
By John Johnston
UK Toughens Russia Sanctions And Pledges More Until "Every Single" Troop Leaves Ukraine
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has toughened sanctions on Russia further after Putin claimed economic measures amounted to "total war".
Mothers Fleeing Ukraine With Children Are Asked For Father's Consent In 'Nightmare' Home Office Visa Process
Communities
By John Johnston
Mothers Fleeing Ukraine With Children Are Asked For Father's Consent In "Nightmare" Home Office Visa Process
UK sponsors of Ukrainian refugees have criticised the Home Office over lengthy delays and a "ludicrous" online visa application process that has left people stranded in Ukraine as they wait for updates.
Education Secretary Pledges To Do 'Everything In My Power' To Keep Schools Open As Covid Cases Rise
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Education Secretary Pledges To Do "Everything In My Power" To Keep Schools Open As Covid Cases Rise
Nadhim Zahawi has said it was a "mistake" to close schools in response to Covid because of the impact on children's education and mental health.
Transport Secretary Calls For 'Brazen' P&O Boss To Quit After Mass Sackings
Economy
By John Johnston
Transport Secretary Calls For "Brazen" P&O Boss To Quit After Mass Sackings
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has urged the P&O boss Peter Hebblethwaite to consider his position as the scandal over the sacking of 800 workers continues to grow.
Tory MP Says Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement Will Have 'Negligible Impact' On Most Vulnerable
Economy
By John Johnston
Tory MP Says Rishi Sunak's Spring Statement Will Have "Negligible Impact" On Most Vulnerable
The warning comes as the UK's fiscal watchdog said standards of living are still set to plummet despite Rishi Sunak's latest measures.
Spring Statement: What The Measures Announced By Rishi Sunak Will Mean For Your Household Finances
Economy
By John Johnston
Spring Statement: What The Measures Announced By Rishi Sunak Will Mean For Your Household Finances
The Chancellor's Spring set piece came as the UK's fiscal watchdog warned living standards were set to fall at the fastest rate on record.
Home Office Accused Of Making It 'As Difficult As Possible' For Ukrainian Refugees To Secure Visas
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Home Office Accused Of Making It "As Difficult As Possible" For Ukrainian Refugees To Secure Visas
Ministers have been accused of "pretending to care" about refugees after sponsors warned the Home Office are being too slow to process visa applications.
Money Saving Expert Warns Energy Price Rises Are A 'Fiscal Punch In The Face' For Households
Economy
By John Johnston
Money Saving Expert Warns Energy Price Rises Are A "Fiscal Punch In The Face" For Households
Personal finance expert Martin Lewis has called for more "political will" to reduce household energy bills, warning that the current measures are "not enough".
Tories Want To 'Draw A Line' Under Partygate As Police Expand Investigation
Foreign affairs
Tories Want To "Draw A Line" Under Partygate As Police Expand Investigation
Small business minister Paul Scully has said he hopes the Met Police will reach a "speedy resolution" to the Downing Street investigation, so that the government can focus instead on the Ukraine conflict.
Former Maritime Minister Calls For 'Criminal Sanctions' Against P&O After Mass-Sackings
Economy
By John Johnston
Former Maritime Minister Calls For "Criminal Sanctions" Against P&O After Mass-Sackings
Nus Ghani, the Conservative former maritime minister has called for the "full weight of the law" to be used against ferry operator P&O after they sacked 800 staff last week.
Sajid Javid Says It's 'Not Possible' To Reach Zero-Covid In The UK As Cases Rise Dramatically
Coronavirus
By John Johnston
Sajid Javid Says It's "Not Possible" To Reach Zero-Covid In The UK As Cases Rise Dramatically
The Health Secretary has insisted the government's "defence" against Covid is working but said the UK would not be able to implement a "zero Covid" approach due to the emergence of a more infectious form of the Omicron variant.
Transport Minister Is 'Angry' Over 'Wholly Unacceptable' Sacking Of P&O Ferry Staff
Economy
By John Johnston
Transport Minister Is "Angry" Over "Wholly Unacceptable" Sacking Of P&O Ferry Staff
Transport minister Robert Courts has criticised the "insensitive" approach taken by P&O after the leading ferry operator made 800 staff redundant today.
Downing Street Claims Boris Johnson's Saudi Arabia Trip To Curb Energy Crisis Was Not About 'Quick Fixes'
Economy
By John Johnston
Downing Street Claims Boris Johnson's Saudi Arabia Trip To Curb Energy Crisis Was Not About "Quick Fixes"
Downing Street has defended the Prime Minister's trip to Saudia Arabia after he failed to secure an agreement from the Gulf state to increase oil production.
Polling Shows Huge Public Support For UK Granting Visas To At Least 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees
Foreign affairs
By John Johnston
Polling Shows Huge Public Support For UK Granting Visas To At Least 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees
A majority of people surveyed on the UK's response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis think the government should grant visas to at least 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.