Boris has done a long interview with Wilfred Frost on Sky News. Apart from pointing out that the public ‘craved’ lockdown rules, Boris had a few words about his old chum Sue Gray:

“I appointed Sue Gray, who then turned out to be the Chief of Staff leader of the Labour Party – RIP… “

Boris issued his analysis of the current Downing Street implosion:

“At the time that I asked her to do that particular job, she had presented to me as a model of political impartiality and propriety, and I’m not certain about either of those things…. I thought it was always looking a bit dodgy – her position was probably going to be untenable ever since it emerged that her son had taken money from Waheed Alli, and that she’d then given Waheed Alli a pass to No 10. I thought that was probably going to end in the way that it has.”

Cronies gonna crony…

Yvette Cooper has got no better at defending Angela Rayner since she was last hauled out to do so. She said on Good Morning Britain in defence of Rayner’s refusal to publish her exonerating “expert” tax advice: “We don’t routinely publish personal finance information in this country.” That’s despite hypocrite Rayner insisting that a Tory candidate publish their full tax return and Starmer pledging last year to publish Rayner’s on an annual basis…

Cooper was very quick to say that she hadn’t seen Rayner’s “expert” advice as Richard Madeley asked: “Is Keir Starmer frightened to look at it because of what he might see?” Labour politicians are too smart to look at it because they know it will not adequately support the facts…

The defence was floated last week that a kitchen renovation in Rayner’s Vicarage Road house (which would have to be worth £23,000) offset the capital gains tax liability. The reason that hasn’t appeared again is that, if Rayner were to use the defence, it would contradict her version of reality – that she was living at Vicarage Road while her family lived at her husband’s house – because you don’t pay any capital gains tax on your primary residence so “improvements” are irrelevant. To say that the renovation offset tax is to admit primarily living elsewhere…

A neighbour over on Lowndes Lane is this week insisting that Rayner lived full time at her husband’s property. This isn’t going away…

Boris has told broadcasters today he was “very concerned” by the images from Friday’s Sarah Everard vigil, and that an investigation into the Met’s conduct has been opened by Tom Winsor – the chief inspector of constabulary. Boris also made it clear that he fully supports Cressida Dick in her role as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. Guido is sure Sir Ed Davey’s call for her resignation has Cressida worried nevertheless…

In the Guy Newsroom we’re celebrating with some fizz and Exmoor Caviar, from England’s first British caviar farm. Guido’s off to share it with fellow partying Brexiteers tonight. Enjoy your celebrations wherever you are!