France elections: Political uncertainty as Macron party slumps - BBC

Reuters

France's centrist government is desperately trying to avoid political paralysis after it lost its majority in the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has spoken of an unprecedented situation and commentators have warned of France becoming ungovernable.

President Emmanuel Macron's team now face two powerful opposition groups.

And neither Jean-Luc Mélenchon's left-green alliance nor Marine Le Pen's far right are keen to work with him.

Mr Macron will also have to replace three ministers who lost their seats in Sunday's vote, and the prime minister's future looks increasingly under threat.

The president's allies came out in force after Sunday's election setback, widely described by commentators as a slap in the face from voters. The aim is to find a "working majority", either a coalition or by forging alliances with other MPs on a case-by-case basis.

"We are going to form a majority very quickly so it becomes absolute in the National Assembly," promised Olivier Véran, the minister in charge of parliamentary relations. Government spokeswoman Olivia Grégoire extended a hand to "all those who want us to move the country forward".

Minority governments are a rarity in France, and even when there was one in 1988 under President François Mitterrand, he was only 11 seats short of an outright majority. The ruling Ensemble alliance is 44 seats shy of the working majority so it will need to find support from mainstream MPs from both the left and right.

Mr Véran believes the government will be able to attract support from other political groups to get important reforms passed, particularly when it comes to the cost of living: "I can't for a second imagine that a majority cannot emerge in the coming weeks on the spending power law."

President Macron has laid out a series of plans to tackle the spiralling cost of living, including food vouchers and enhanced benefits. Another big reform is gradually raising the retirement age from 62-65, which has proved unpopular with much of the electorate.

• ANALYSIS: What now for Macron after poll setback?

Public Service Minister Stanislas Guerini said there should be talks with the Republicans on the mainstream right but also with anyone else "who sees an interest in moving forward with reforms that are good for the country". Louis Aliot, from Marine Le Pen's National Rally, said if the government included measures his party wanted, such as a cut in sales tax (VAT) then his parliamentary colleagues would "make the effort to vote for those measures".

However, the initial response from the right-wing Republicans to an alliance was not good. Party chairman Christian Jacob said: "We've campaigned in opposition, we are in opposition, we'll stay in opposition." Another MP, Aurélien Pradié, said he did not have same vision of society as President Macron and did not accept "forced marriages".

There are Republicans who might consider some sort of alliance. Former minister Jean-François Copé said he thought a pact with Mr Macron was vital to "confront the rise of the extremes".

But they would demand a high price from the government. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne looks increasingly under threat, barely a month after she was appointed by Mr Macron.

Publicly, the government says her position is secure but there is mounting pressure for her to resign, particularly from the left.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon is planning a motion of no confidence against her in the coming weeks, and his colleague Manuel Bompard said the government "cannot just continue as if nothing has happened".

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2022-06-20 11:35:20Z
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Macron faces five years of gridlock after stunning parliamentary defeat - POLITICO Europe

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PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron is set to face a potentially tumultuous five years of deadlock after his centrist alliance fell short of an absolute majority in a parliamentary runoff on Sunday, just weeks after he was reelected to the Elysée.

Voters massively came out in support of the far-right National Rally and the left-wing coalition NUPES, depriving Macron of a ruling majority.

With almost all votes counted, Macron’s Ensemble coalition is on track to win 238 seats, down from 345 in the outgoing chamber. NUPES, led by the far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon is set to win 141 seats, while Marine Le Pen’s National Rally will likely walk away with 89 seats.

The runoff vote determines the composition of the National Assembly, the parliament’s lower chamber. In the first round of voting last Sunday, Macron’s coalition of parties was neck and neck with the NUPES alliance, sparking concern among some in Macron’s camp that the French president’s popularity was sharply in decline.

On Sunday, Macron’s supporters were left reeling after several party big guns, including the speaker of the National Assembly Richard Ferrand and Christophe Castaner, Macron’s party whip in the outgoing chamber, lost their seats. Health Minister Brigitte Bourguignon and Environment Minister Amélie de Montchalin also lost their seats — which will likely force their resignations, as has been convention since the Sarkozy era.

The newly appointed Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who won her seat in Normandy with a slim majority, said Ensemble would work to broaden its support in parliament and build a “majority of action.”

“This unprecedented situation is a risk for our country, with the situations that we face at home and abroad,” she said, recognizing the fragmented vote and the challenges ahead. “But this vote, we have to respect it. As [the biggest group] in parliament, we have a particular responsibility.”

In characteristically combative remarks to supporters, Mélenchon, whose leftwing coalition was created less than two months ago, said the results were a sign of “a drubbing of the presidential party.”

“We have succeeded in our political objective … to overthrow [the president] who so arrogantly twists the country’s arm, who has been elected for who knows what,” he said.

In April, Macron won a second term with 59 percent of the vote, compared with 41 percent for Le Pen. Mélenchon, who finished third, accused Macron of having been elected by default and vowed to challenge him in the parliamentary elections.

From dominant force to relative majority

In a situation that hasn’t occurred since the 1980s, a sitting French president will have a relative majority, meaning that with his likely 238 seats, he will have the biggest group in parliament — but is far below the threshold of 289 seats needed for a ruling majority.

If confirmed, the results effectively mean parliament will be paralyzed and Macron will find it difficult to pass any legislation, including his controversial plans to reform France’s costly pension system.

The results are likely to lead to weeks of negotiations as Macron seeks allies from rival parties. The conservative Les Républicains, who won 78 seats, are potential allies and may become a linchpin in Macron’s second term.

On Sunday, divisions were already appearing within the conservative camp over whether to seal a deal with Macron’s Ensemble coalition. Conservative former minister Jean-François Copé on Sunday called for “a government pact” between Les Républicains and Macron’s coalition, to “beat the rise of the extremes” in France, but President Christian Jacob said the party “would stay in the opposition.”

With such divisions, it’s more likely collaboration will work on an ad-hoc basis, meaning lengthy negotiations over legislation, and unstable agreements. The government will also be able to use a controversial tool allowing it to pass legislation by decrees.

However, Macron would need dozens of conservative MPs to come on board to pass any of his reforms, raising speculation on Sunday that he might call an early election within a year or so. The French president emerged greatly weakened on Sunday, though he retains foreign policy as his guarded remit.

A victory for the extremes

The results of the parliamentary election confirmed a reshaping of French politics, with voters backing candidates from the far left and far right.

The NUPES, composed of the far-left The France Unbowed, the Greens, the Communists and the Socialist Party, becomes the parliament’s largest opposition party. It is led by Mélenchon, who wants to exit NATO’s integrated command and disobey the parts of EU treaties he disagrees with.

On Sunday, Mélenchon vowed NUPES would become a “combat tool” against the Macron coalition because their “visions” were totally opposed. Macron’s ambition to push back the retirement age to 64 could well be the first flashpoint.

PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON APPROVAL RATING

For more polling data from across Europe visit POLITICO Poll of Polls.

However, the right and far right performed much better than expected, contradicting the idea that France was swinging to the left.

Le Pen’s National Rally emerges greatly strengthened from the vote, taking 89 seats, up from six. The outcome means the far-right party, which unlike NUPES is fairly homogenous and disciplined, stands to gain significant influence and more financial support. It will be able to obtain key National Assembly posts, propose legislation and challenge government bills.

The results also laid to rest speculation that Le Pen’s ascendancy on the far right was on wane following her third failed presidential bid.

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2022-06-19 22:41:15Z
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Fina bars transgender swimmers from women's elite events if they went through male puberty - BBC

Fina, swimming's world governing body, has voted to stop transgender athletes from competing in women's elite races if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty.

Fina will also aim to establish an 'open' category at competitions for swimmers whose gender identity is different than their birth sex.

The new policy, which was passed with 71% of the vote from 152 Fina members, was described as "only a first step towards full inclusion" for transgender athletes.

The 34-page policy document says that male-to-female transgender athletes are still eligible to compete in the women's category "provided they have not experienced any part of male puberty beyond Tanner Stage 2 [which marks the start of physical development], or before age 12, whichever is later".

The decision was made during an extraordinary general congress at the ongoing World Championships in Budapest.

It means that transgender American college swimmer Lia Thomas, who has expressed a desire to compete for a place at the Olympics, would be blocked from participating in the female category.

Earlier Fina members heard a report from a transgender task force made up of leading figures from the world of medicine, law and sport.

"Fina's approach in drafting this policy was comprehensive, science-based and inclusive, and, importantly, Fina's approach emphasised competitive fairness," said Brent Nowicki, the governing body's executive director.

Fina president Husain Al-Musallam said the organisation was trying to "protect the rights of our athletes to compete" but also "protect competitive fairness".

He said: "Fina will always welcome every athlete. The creation of an open category will mean that everybody has the opportunity to compete at an elite level. This has not been done before, so Fina will need to lead the way. I want all athletes to feel included in being able to develop ideas during this process."

Former Great Britain swimmer Sharron Davies, who has argued against transgender participation in women's elite swimming, told BBC Sport she was "really proud of Fina".

"Four years ago, along with 60 other Olympic medallists, I wrote to the IOC and said 'Please just do the science first' and no governing body has done the science until now," she said.

"That is what Fina has done. They've done the science, they've got the right people on board, they've spoken to the athletes, and coaches.

"Swimming is a very inclusive sport, we love everyone to come and swim and be involved. But the cornerstone of sport is that it has to be fair and it has to be fair for both sexes.

Asked whether Fina's policy left trans athletes "in limbo" while they waited for an open category to be created, Davies praised Fina for having conversations around trans inclusion that should have "happened five years ago".

"Sport by definition is exclusionary - we don't have 15-year-old boys racing in the under-12s, we don't have heavyweight boxers in with the bantamweights, the whole reason we have lots of different classes in the Paralympics is so that we can create fair opportunities for everybody," she said.

"So that is the whole point of having classifications in sports and the only people who were going to be losing out were females - they were losing their right to fair sport."

However, 'Athlete Ally' - an LGBT advocacy group which organised a letter of support for Thomas in February, called the new policy "discriminatory, harmful, unscientific and not in line with the 2021 IOC principles".

"The eligibility criteria for the women's category as it is laid out in the policy polices the bodies of all women, and will not be enforceable without seriously violating the privacy and human rights of any athlete looking to compete in the women's category," said Anne Lieberman, the group's director of policy and programmes.

Swimming follows cycling in rule change

Fina's decision follows a move on Thursday by the UCI, cycling's governing body, to double the period of time before a rider transitioning from male to female can compete in women's races.

The issue in swimming has been catapulted into the spotlight by the experiences of American Thomas.

In March, Thomas became the first known transgender swimmer to win the highest US national college title with victory in the women's 500-yard freestyle.

Thomas swam for the Pennsylvanian men's team for three seasons before starting hormone replacement therapy in spring 2019.

She has since broken records for her university swimming team.

More than 300 college, Team USA and Olympic swimmers signed an open letter in support of Thomas and all transgender and non-binary swimmers, but other athletes and organisations have raised concerns about trans inclusion.

Some of Thomas' team-mates and their parents wrote anonymous letters supporting her right to transition, but added it was unfair for her to compete as a woman.

USA Swimming updated its policy for elite swimmers in February to allow transgender athletes to swim in elite events, alongside criteria that aim to reduce any unfair advantage, including testosterone tests for 36 months before competitions.

Last year, weightlifter Laurel Hubbard from New Zealand became the the first openly transgender athlete to compete at an Olympics in a different sex category to that in which they were born.

What did the panel of experts say?

Dr Michael Joyner, a physiologist and leading expert in human performance

"Testosterone in male puberty alters the physiological determinants of human performance and explains the sex-based differences in human performance, considered clearly evident by age 12.

"Even if testosterone is suppressed, its performance enhancing effects will be retained."

Dr Adrian Jjuuko, an activist, researcher and lawyer

"The policy emphasises that no athlete is excluded from Fina competition or setting Fina records based on their legal gender, gender identity or gender expression.

"[The proposed open category] should not become a category that adds to the already existing levels of discrimination and marginalisation against these groups.

"I see this policy as only the first step towards full inclusion and support for the participation of transgender and gender-diverse athletes in aquatic sports, and there is a lot more to be done."

Dr Sandra Hunter, an exercise physiologist specialising in sex and age differences in athletic performance

"By 14 years or older, the difference between boys and girls is substantial. That's due to the advantages experienced due to the physiological adaptations in testosterone and the possession of the Y chromosome.

"Some of these physical advantages are structural in origin such as height, limb length, heart size, lung size and they will be retained, even with the suppression or reduction of testosterone that occurs in the transition from male to female."

Summer Sanders, former Olympic and world champion in swimming

"This is not easy. There must be categories - women's, men's and of course a category for trans women and trans men.

"Fair competition is a stronghold and staple of our community - this approach safeguards the integrity of the existing sports process in which millions of girls and women participate annually."

One of sport's biggest debates

The conversation around the inclusion of transgender women in women's sport has divided opinion both inside and outside the sporting sphere.

Many argue transgender women should not compete in women's sport because of any advantages they may retain - but others argue sport should be more inclusive.

World Athletics president Lord Coe has said the "integrity" and "future" of women's sport would be "very fragile" if sporting organisations get regulations for transgender athletes wrong.

The heart of the debate on whether transgender women athletes should compete in women's sport involves the complex balance of inclusion, sporting fairness and safety - essentially, whether trans women can compete in female categories without giving them an unfair advantage or presenting a threat of injury to competitors.

Trans women have to adhere to a number of rules to compete in specific sports, including in many cases lowering their testosterone levels to a certain amount, for a set period of time, before competing.

There are concerns, however, as highlighted in Fina's decision, that athletes retain an advantage from going through male puberty that is not addressed by lowering testosterone.

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2022-06-19 19:29:49Z
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Kitesurfer is killed and eight are injured after sudden 'mini TORNADO' hits Normandy beach - Daily Mail

Kitesurfer is killed and eight are injured after sudden 'mini TORNADO' hits Normandy beach throwing 31-year-old into a restaurant window

• Five people have been hospitalised and one killed after strong winds in France 
• A Kite surfer died after gale threw him into a restaurant window on the seafront
• The Normandy coast in the town of Villers-sur-Mer received little warning of what French media called a 'mini tornado' coming from the English Channel

By Tom Brown For Mailonline

Published: 13:42 BST, 19 June 2022 | Updated: 20:08 BST, 19 June 2022

A thirty-one-year-old kite surfer died Saturday night in Villers-sur-Mer along the Normandy coast in France when he was thrown against the window of a restaurant by a sudden gust of wind.

The strong gales hospitalised five people along with the kite surfer who died upon impact of the building on the seafront.

On the Normandy coast, a massive blast of cold air from the English Channel led to three additional light injuries on June 18.

Another person, reported missing at sea, was later found. 

French media described the wind as a 'mini tornado', adding that meteorologists had not predicted the winds to be so strong.

Footage shows strong winds kicking up clouds of sand and forcing beach attendants to fold up towels and umbrellas.

Chairs and tables on terraces or in gardens were thrown as the sand whirled.

Thierry Granturco, the mayor of Villers-sur-Mer, called the winds a 'violence as we have never known on our coast'.

The winds lasted 20-25 minutes on the Côte Fleurie (Flowery Coast) between Ouistreham and Deauville.

This unexpected weather phenomenon and not announced by Météo-France, the organisation which monitors weather events. 

'It blew more and more violently and it ended with a mini tornado,' said Granturco on Sunday, speaking to franceinfo. 'We had a communication with Météo France who had informed us that they had not been able to anticipate this kind of mini tornado.'

He added: 'We knew we were going to have strong winds, they were announced at the very end of the evening, or even in the night, but we did not think that they would be of this violence.'

Read more:

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2022-06-19 12:42:23Z
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Ukraine war: We must 'steel ourselves' for a long conflict, PM warns, as NATO leader says it could last years - Sky News

Allies have been warned to brace for a years-long war in Ukraine.

Both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the world needed to dig in and be prepared to offer its support long term.

In a stark interview with Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper, the NATO chief said: "We must prepare for the fact that it could take years.

"We must not let up in supporting Ukraine. Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, but also because of rising energy and food prices."

And Mr Johnson, who visited Kyiv on Friday, made similar comments in a piece for The Sunday Times, writing: "I am afraid that we need to steel ourselves for a long war, as Putin resorts to a campaign of attrition, trying to grind down Ukraine by sheer brutality.

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"The UK and our friends must respond by ensuring that Ukraine has the strategic endurance to survive and eventually prevail."

Describing time as "the vital factor", Mr Johnson added: "Everything will depend on whether Ukraine can strengthen its ability to defend its soil faster than Russia can renew its capacity to attack.

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"Our task is to enlist time on Ukraine's side."

This, he wrote, meant ensuring "Ukraine receives weapons, equipment, ammunition and training more rapidly than the invader."

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Mr Johnson had stressed the need to avoid "Ukraine fatigue".

He warned: "The worry that we have is that a bit of Ukraine fatigue is starting to set in around the world.

"It is important we show we are with them for the long haul and provide the strategic resilience that they need."

Image: Boris Johnson met for a second time with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Twitter pic: @10DowningStreet

Other key Ukraine developments:
• Severodonetsk, a prime target in Moscow's offensive to seize full control of the eastern region of Luhansk, was again under heavy artillery and rocket fire
• Serhiy Gaidai, governor of Luhansk, spoke of "tough battles" in Metolkine, with Russia's TASS news agency claiming many Ukrainian fighters had surrendered there
• Several Russian missiles reportedly hit a gasworks in the eastern Izyum district, and Russian rockets rained down on a suburb of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city

The UK has also said it could send more troops to Estonia and lead a brigade there - further evidence of longer-term planning in the region.

The establishment of brigades - units with some 3,000 to 5,000 troops each - would significantly bolster NATO's presence in the Baltics - three ex-Soviet republics that are seen as more vulnerable to Russian attack after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Image: President Zelenskyy poses for a picture with Ukrainian service members on a surprise visit to the southern frontline

Meanwhile, in his nightly address to his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remained defiant. He said he had visited soldiers on the southern frontline in the Mykolaiv region, about 340 miles (550km) south of the capital Kyiv.

"I talked to our defenders - the military, the police, the National Guard," he said. "Their mood is assured: they all do not doubt our victory. We will not give the south to anyone, and all that is ours we will take back."

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2022-06-19 04:51:44Z
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Joe Biden falls while getting off his bike after getting his 'foot caught' following beach ride with wife Jill - Sky News

US President Joe Biden has fallen off his bike in Delaware as he celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary on a weekend away with wife Jill.

He took a tumble when he tried to get off his bike at the end of a ride on Saturday at Cape Henlopen State Park near his beach home in the US state, but insisted he was not hurt.

"I'm good," he told reporters after US Secret Service Agents quickly helped him up.

"I got my foot caught in the toe cages."

The 79-year-old leader and first lady Jill Biden were finishing a morning ride when the president decided to pedal over to a crowd of well-wishers standing by the bike trail.

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But he fell to the ground when trying to dismount, which was met with gasps by shocked onlookers.

Several security agents rushed to his aid after the fall, which took place on a trail at Gordons Pond.

Image: Joe Biden falls during a bike ride in Delaware

The president quickly collected himself and spent several minutes chatting with people who had gathered to watch him cycle.

Earlier, he had breezed past members of the press after setting off - unaccompanied by the first lady - and said "Good morning!" with a wave.

He and Jill have been spending a long weekend at their Rehoboth Beach home after marking their 45th wedding anniversary on Friday.

The couple are understood to be keen cyclists and often go for rides around Delaware.

Clad in a grey t-shirt, navy blue shorts, blue Nike training shoes and a cycling helmet, Mr Biden had set off 11 minutes earlier accompanied by his security team.

Following the tumble, he spoke to members of the public as well as the press.

He told reporters he would be talking to the Chinese leader Xi-Jinping soon.

When asked about trade tariffs, Mr Biden responded: "I'm in the process of making up my mind."

Back in March, Mr Biden fell up a flight of stairs as he boarded his presidential plane Air Force One.

The US president stumbled three times as he climbed the steps of the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

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2022-06-18 15:11:15Z
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Boris Johnson makes second surprise visit to Kyiv after pulling out of major red wall summit at the last minute - Sky News

Boris Johnson has made a second surprise visit to Kyiv for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after pulling out of a major red wall conference in Doncaster at the last minute.

The prime minister was due to make a speech in front of Tory northern MPs, councillors and business leaders on Friday afternoon.

But he later confirmed he was absent from the Yorkshire conference to make his second visit to Ukraine since the start of the war, tweeting: "Mr President, Volodymyr, It is good to be in Kyiv again."

Ukraine news live: Russian troops 'poisoned by cherries they stole'

In a statement, the prime minister added that the UK will be with Ukraine until they "ultimately prevail".

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"My visit today, in the depths of this war, is to send a clear and simple message to the Ukrainian people: the UK is with you, and we will be with you until you ultimately prevail," he said.

"As Ukrainian soldiers fire UK missiles in defence of your nation's sovereignty, they do so also in defence of the very freedoms we take for granted.

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"That is why I have offered President Zelenskyy a major new military training programme that could change the equation of this war - harnessing that most powerful of forces, the Ukrainian determination to win.

"Two months on from my last visit, the Ukrainian grit, determination and resilience is stronger than ever, and I know that unbreakable resolve will long outlive the vain ambitions of President Putin."

A message on Mr Zelenskyy's Telegram account read: "Many days of this war have proved that Great Britain's support for Ukraine is firm and resolute.

"Glad to see our country's great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv again."

Sky News understands that one Conservative MP at the conference was furious the prime minister did not turn up to the event, adding they were told that Mr Johnson "was on the train to Doncaster" on Friday morning.

"This is the first test of outreach to his colleagues and he's failed it," the MP said.

But in a series of tweets, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace defended the PM's visit to Ukraine.

"As a Northern MP myself, I am not affronted by the fact he had to cancel speaking at the conference ... Helping Ukraine win and trying to help at home are linked," he said.

"Part of the inflation we see comes from gas and food prices which are partly driven upwards because of this conflict."

New scheme to train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days

Downing Street said Mr Johnson met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss Ukraine's fight against Russia and to offer a major training programme for Ukrainian forces "to help sustain their heroic defence".

The government said the programme, spearheaded by the UK, has the potential to train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days and will assist both new and existing Ukrainian soldiers.

The initiative will train and drill Ukraine's armed forces using battle-proven British Army expertise, allowing them to accelerate their deployment, rebuild their forces and scale up their resistance as they continue to defend their nation's sovereignty against Russian invaders, Downing Street added.

It is proposed that each soldier would spend three weeks on the training course, learning battle-winning skills for the frontline, as well as basic medical training, cyber security and counter-explosive tactics.

Video from the Ukrainian government showed Mr Zelenskyy warmly greeting the prime minister with a "hi, Boris" as he arrived at the presidential palace.

Mr Johnson's social media post included a picture of the prime minister alongside Mr Zelenskyy.

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4:18

Ukraine membership bid explained

PM's second visit to Kyiv

The prime minister is seen holding a diary which reads "Tuesday 5 April" - the day he made a direct appeal to the Russian people, speaking partly in their own language.

"The Russian people deserve the truth, you deserve the facts," he said in Russian.

Continuing in English, he added: "The atrocities committed by Russian troops in Bucha, Irpin and elsewhere in Ukraine have horrified the world."

Mr Johnson became the first leader of a G7 country to travel to Kyiv when he went in April.

The Ukrainian defence ministry said at the time: "We welcome Boris Johnson to Kyiv… Be brave, like Boris. Be brave, like Ukraine."

The latest trip came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italy's leader Mario Draghi met Mr Zelenskyy as Ukraine makes a bid to join the EU.

MPs 'mystified' by PM's absence at Doncaster summit

The prime minister's spokesperson earlier announced he would not be attending the summit in Doncaster on Friday afternoon, just hours before the Tory leader was expected to make a speech.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates reported earlier on Friday that organisers of the summit were "mystified" at the prime minister's no-show, but had been told there was a "good reason" and that it was of "sufficient significance".

There was speculation the prime minister may have faced a rough ride following the partygate scandal and a major revolt by his own MPs.

The inaugural Northern Research Group Conference had been titled Levelling Up The North.

The agenda included MPs hosting policy sessions on a range of subjects, including tax and the economy, defence, health and devolution.

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2022-06-17 15:39:12Z
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