Keir Starmer news latest: Labour leader should probe Beergate media leaks, McDonnell says

The first group of migrants will this week be informed of plans to deport them to Rwanda, the Home Office has confirmed.

The UK government’s controversial new policy will see asylum seekers – who arrived via illegal routes from January this year – be sent to the east African nation while their immigration applications are processed.

First flights are expected to take place in the coming months, the Home Office said on Monday night, adding that the government “has the power to detain individuals pending their removal from the UK”.

A £1.3 million south London townhouse owned by Boris Johnson was hit by a car in the early hours.

A black Vauxhall Astra crashed into the Camberwell property’s front garden at around 1am on Monday, which neighbours described as sounding like “thunder”.

The car, which was finally towed away at around 5pm, damaged hedges and a tree, and knocked down a small pillar in front of the house.

Unlike the Conservatives, there plenty of figures on the front bench who’d be excellent replacements, writes Sean O’Grady.

Former Tory MP Rory Stewart said that Sir Keir Starmer deserves “admiration and respect” following his statement on Beergate today.

Mr Stewart said that if the Labour leader had to resign it would be a “real loss to British politics” and that whatever the outcome he will “emerge with dignity either way.”

It is surprising how many people who take a passing interest in politics think they’re making some kind of interesting point by pointing out that politics is politically motivated, writes Tom Peck.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Sir Keir Starmer needs to investigate if people are leaking Beergate revelations to the media.

A new poll has tested the salience of recent political scandals in the minds of the electorate, with one in five adults claiming to have heard a lot about “Hikegate” – a fictional scandal involving Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.

The “completely fictional” lockdown breach by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed, saw him travelling 75 miles to go for a walk in the Cotswolds during the first national lockdown.

The survey of 2,161 UK adults conducted from May 6 to May 8 2022 by Savanta ComRes also found half (49%) of those questioned said that the Labour leader broke Covid-19 rules in relation to Beergate but, compared with Partygate, only 17% said that the one involving Sir Keir was worse.

On the other hand, a majority (65%) of adults said Partygate was the worse offence, including half (53%) of 2019 Conservative voters.

Testing the knowledge of the electorate on these events, the poll found two in five (41%) said that they had heard a lot about Beergate, compared with three quarters (74%) who had heard a lot about Partygate.

Twenty per cent said they had heard a lot about the fictional “Hikegate” scandal involving Sir Ed.

Moreover, 63% said that Boris Johnson should resign over his involvement in Partygate, compared with just 37% who said at this stage that Sir Keir should step down.

The European Union has urged Boris Johnson to be honest about his Brexit deal as a minister said part of it could be unilaterally scrapped to reassure voters in Northern Ireland.

European Commission vice president Maroš Šefčovič said the UK government should “dial down the rhetoric” and work to “find solutions within (the agreement’s) framework.”, writes Kate Devlin.

The row erupted as DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson warned the “long shadow” of the Northern Ireland protocol had to be removed before his party would re-enter power sharing government at Stormont.