i'm shaun ley. the headlines... as russia continues to mass troops on the ukraine border, the pentagon has said 8,500 us—based troops are at a heightened readiness to deploy. president biden has spoken with european leaders to discuss a common response to the standoff. downing street admits that staff gathered inside number ten during the first lockdown in june 2020 to wish borisjohnson a happy birthday. the rules at the time banned most indoor gatherings of more than two people. the army in burkina faso has announced on television that it's removed the country's president from office and suspended the constitution. the governing party said the president and a government minister had survived assassination attempts. bob dylan has sold the master recordings to his entire back catalogue to sony music. the musician had previously sold his publishing rights to universal music for a reported $400 million.

hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are polly mackenzie, chief executive of demos, and claire cohen, women's editor at the telegraph. tomorrow's front pages, before we hear from them. the front page of the i focusses on the reports of another party in downing street during the first coronavirus lockdown — this one, a surprise birthday party for borisjohnson. the guardian also features the news of downing street lockdown parties, saying the prime minister is facing renewed anger from mps and bereaved families over the allegations. the metro's front page reports that nato has ordered warplanes and battleshops to eastern europe — as borisjohnson accuses russia of planning a "lightning war" on ukraine. it says battle shops, but i think it means battleships. the financial times also focusses

on tensions with russia reporting the prime minister's words that any invasion is "going to a painful, violent, and bloody business". and the telegraph looks at the us' plans for a deterrent, asjoe biden puts 8,500 soldiers on high alert. would you like to kick us off this evening? good evening to you — kick us off with the guardian, and it's a very nice picture but i don't think that's the birthday cake that his wife arranged for him? he i that's the birthday cake that his wife arranged for him? no i don't think so. wife arranged for him? no i don't think s0- i'm _ wife arranged for him? no i don't think so. i'm sure _ wife arranged for him? no i don't think so. i'm sure claire - wife arranged for him? no i don't think so. i'm sure claire is - wife arranged for him? no i don't think so. i'm sure claire is the . think so. i'm sure claire is the same, i do this paper review every couple weeks or so, but i feel like i'm trapped in groundhog day because every time, it's the same! there is a new revelation about a new party — i honestly think borisjohnson held more parties and lockdown that i've held my entire life. this is a new one — so about 30 people gathered in the cabinet room on his birthday in

june. the rules at that time had actually been changed — in some ways, they were tighter than the rules for 20 may previous party which was in the garden. because lockdown was easing, the weight was easing meant there were very tight restrictions on indoor gatherings. nevertheless they admit that 30 people were in the room, they admit the prime minister was there for ten minutes, they admit there was cake, and it appears that lulu little, who was decorating the prime minister's flat at the time — whole other scandal about that but let's not get sidetracked — popped down to speak to the prime minister about the interior decorating crisis. i was thinking about this because i worked with nick clegg before herfor the best part of a decade, and when he was deputy prime minister for five years, there'sjust was deputy prime minister for five years, there's just no way he would've interrupted his working day in the middle of the day to celebrate his birthday and discuss

the decorating of his flat! there was a pandemic on — honestly this just makes me really angry. what was a pandemic on - honestly this just makes me really angry. what do ou make just makes me really angry. what do you make of — just makes me really angry. what do you make of it. _ just makes me really angry. what do you make of it, claire? _ just makes me really angry. what do you make of it, claire? the - just makes me really angry. what do you make of it, claire? the detail. you make of it, claire? the detail in the guardian is quite intriguing, isn't it, some of this came out from itv news earlier, the fact that it was a surprise by mrsjohnson, then the further claim that downing street is disputing that people gathered in the downstairs flat in the evening when restrictions were subject to the rule of six at the time. , . . , ., , time. they certainly were, and they have denied — time. they certainly were, and they have denied that _ time. they certainly were, and they have denied that element _ time. they certainly were, and they have denied that element of - time. they certainly were, and they have denied that element of the - have denied that element of the allegations. but this is groundhog day because so many of the details are so_ day because so many of the details are so similarto day because so many of the details are so similar to that of the garden party— are so similar to that of the garden party on _ are so similar to that of the garden party on the — are so similar to that of the garden party on the 20th of may that we all know so _ party on the 20th of may that we all know so well about now, the e—mails were sent _ know so well about now, the e—mails were sent out in advance, the prime minister's _ were sent out in advance, the prime minister's principal prime secretary was there — minister's principal prime secretary was there. the language of it being a surprise _ was there. the language of it being a surprise party will be interesting and ._ a surprise party will be interesting and i should think that the word surprise — and i should think that the word surprise will be something downing

streei— surprise will be something downing street will be came to hang its hat on. street will be came to hang its hat orr~ the _ street will be came to hang its hat on. the detail is very interesting, this union — on. the detail is very interesting, this unionjet cake, blowing out candies, — this unionjet cake, blowing out candles, singing happy birthday — no word on_ candles, singing happy birthday — no word on whether they had to wear masks _ word on whether they had to wear masks when singing happy birthday... and so— masks when singing happy birthday... and so marry— masks when singing happy birthday... and so many other choirs were told they had _ and so many other choirs were told they had to — and so many other choirs were told they had to. i mean, at the time let's_ they had to. i mean, at the time let's not— they had to. i mean, at the time let's not forget that nonessential shops— let's not forget that nonessential shops were closed, hairdressers were closed, _ shops were closed, hairdressers were closed, restaurants and pubs were closed, _ closed, restaurants and pubs were closed, people's livelihoods were being _ closed, people's livelihoods were being hugely impacted. yet we've got this strange party going on in the middle _ this strange party going on in the middle of— this strange party going on in the middle of the day which, as polly quite _ middle of the day which, as polly quite rightly pulls out, is completely bizarre and wouldn't happen — completely bizarre and wouldn't happen in any workplace i've been in. happen in any workplace i've been in it's_ happen in any workplace i've been in it's a _ happen in any workplace i've been in. it's a deepening of the crisis for boris — in. it's a deepening of the crisis for borisjohnson in. it's a deepening of the crisis for boris johnson without question. you mentioned the choir, i'm right in saying at that stage, you couldn't sing in church either, i don't think people were allowed to sing hymns. i've been in the cabinet room, you both may have been in

there, as well— it's a decent sized room but it's not vast, it's not much wider than the big cough and shaped table that sits at the heart of it. it's quite long at the end but it's not that wide. people could've stood apart but there would've been more of them than six anyways, presumably. 3c} would've been more of them than six anyways, presumably.— anyways, presumably. 30 people to social distance _ anyways, presumably. 30 people to social distance in _ anyways, presumably. 30 people to social distance in there? _ anyways, presumably. 30 people to social distance in there? i _ anyways, presumably. 30 people to social distance in there? i don't - social distance in there? i don't know — social distance in there? i don't know the _ social distance in there? i don't know. the other point to make is the number— know. the other point to make is the number of— know. the other point to make is the number of people outraged on social media, _ number of people outraged on social media, saying their loved one had their— media, saying their loved one had their birthday at this time. my husband — their birthday at this time. my husband turned 40 a couple weeks after this— husband turned 40 a couple weeks after this party took place and we coutdnt— after this party took place and we couldn't do anything to celebrate it. couldn't do anything to celebrate it we _ couldn't do anything to celebrate it. we would've loved to have had his parents — it. we would've loved to have had his parents in the room for ten minutes— his parents in the room for ten minutes with cake and singing happy birthday _ minutes with cake and singing happy birthday. but people were abiding by the rules— birthday. but people were abiding by the rules and we just weren't doing it. the rules and we just weren't doing it so _ the rules and we just weren't doing it so anger— the rules and we just weren't doing it. so anger amongst the voters tonight — it. so anger amongst the voters toniaht. ., ., ~' ., ., it. so anger amongst the voters toniaht. ., ., ., tonight. looking at the front of the i. tonight. looking at the front of the i, this is tonight. looking at the front of the l this is really _ tonight. looking at the front of the i, this is really interesting - - tonight. looking at the front of the i, this is really interesting - one i

i, this is really interesting — one element, and as i was talking to someone from the covid families group earlier, she was saying one aspect of it is they aren't surprised, but she's not lost the power to be offended by this. her point was one that i think this is the difficulty for the government, almost everybody in the country was affected by the lockdown in some material way, some very small community link for others, the denial of contact with the people they love most — whatever it may be, this was something that affected everybody whether or not they got covid, and that innocence seems to me to be a lot of the prime minister's problem with this. —— in a sense. you can't offend everybody that's not offended. it’s a sense. you can't offend everybody that's not offended.— that's not offended. it's this feelin: that's not offended. it's this feeling of — that's not offended. it's this feeling of frivolity _ that's not offended. it's this feeling of frivolity that - that's not offended. it's this feeling of frivolity that was l that's not offended. it's this - feeling of frivolity that was going on behind closed doors when for many of us, _ on behind closed doors when for many of us, it— on behind closed doors when for many of us, it was— on behind closed doors when for many of us, it was the last thing on our

minds _ of us, it was the last thing on our minds. i mentioned my husband's birthday— minds. i mentioned my husband's birthday there, it was sad we coutdnt— birthday there, it was sad we couldn't celebrate properly, but considering everything that was going _ considering everything that was going on— considering everything that was going on in the country at the time, it was— going on in the country at the time, it was small— going on in the country at the time, it was small fries. so to know that this trivialising what was going on behind _ this trivialising what was going on behind closed doors was happening his angry— behind closed doors was happening his angry stomach or angering, and one of— his angry stomach or angering, and one of the — his angry stomach or angering, and one of the details coming out tonight— one of the details coming out tonight around the story is that this birthday party was happening 'ust this birthday party was happening just before the latest covid strategy meeting —— angering. the rest of— strategy meeting —— angering. the rest of us — strategy meeting —— angering. the rest of us had much bigger things on our minds _ rest of us had much bigger things on our minds. the other thing to mention— our minds. the other thing to mention is— our minds. the other thing to mention is the timing of this because, _ mention is the timing of this because, as we all know, as we say night _ because, as we all know, as we say night after— because, as we all know, as we say night after night, sue gray's report is due _ night after night, sue gray's report is due probably this week, hopefully this week, _ is due probably this week, hopefully this week, and it's said she knew about— this week, and it's said she knew about this — this week, and it's said she knew about this birth date incident and will delay— about this birth date incident and will delay the report. but the question— will delay the report. but the question of how it's come out will be very— question of how it's come out will be very interesting, because number ten has _ be very interesting, because number ten has very— be very interesting, because number ten has very much been sticking to its line _ ten has very much been sticking to its line that — ten has very much been sticking to its line that no rules were broken, it's trying —

its line that no rules were broken, it's trying to — its line that no rules were broken, it's trying to own the narrative to -et it's trying to own the narrative to get ahead — it's trying to own the narrative to get ahead of the narrative. so is there _ get ahead of the narrative. so is there somebody leaking this story to try and _ there somebody leaking this story to try and wrong—footed to make sure it hasn't _ try and wrong—footed to make sure it hasn't got _ try and wrong—footed to make sure it hasn't got that 24 hours to come up with this _ hasn't got that 24 hours to come up with this response and get ahead of sue gray's— with this response and get ahead of sue gray's report? gne with this response and get ahead of sue gray's report?— sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me _ sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me from _ sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me from the _ sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me from the front - sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me from the front page i sue gray's report? one thing that strikes me from the front page is| strikes me from the front page is this last section and bullet points, which is further allegations expected as tory former ministers tell the i that dominic cummings has gone feral. you worked in government with dominic cummings — my recollection of him is that he was a formidable organiser and operator, and briefer, affect the think that's fair to say and you can't object to that definition. i wonder how you and your team remember his contribution, particularly in the department for education? you know, dominic always _ department for education? you know, dominic always had _ department for education? you know, dominic always had a _ department for education? you know, dominic always had a very _ department for education? you know, dominic always had a very clear - dominic always had a very clear agenda, and he was ruthless in

pursuing it. he would move staff out of the way if they were to leak information to the deputy prime minister's office, for example, and he ran a very tight ship in his view, there was actually a lot of good that was done by the department for education at that time— partly as a result of his intolerance of delay or compromise. but he doesn't take prisoners. and for the prime minister to have invited someone like that to work for him in downing street, giving him therefore access to extraordinary information — and then make an enemy of him and sack him speaks to the prime minister's lack ofjudgment. he has made a very deliberate, very angry enemy out of somebody who he knows to be a ferocious political operative. and i'm not suggesting that every single

leak has been coordinated by dominic cummings, i don't think that's the case. but the reality is even this party that's come out today, there were 30 people in that room — one of them the prime minister, one of them his wife. but that's 28 people who he just assumed would never tell, would never talk about it. the same person at every single one of these, a belief that he was untouchable. and the problem is that now, i think the culture in downing street is much more like a circularfiring squad. we've heard the briefings that the prime minister will allow junior civil servants or senior civil servants to take the fall to protect his position. that's a massive insensitive to trying get out and make a plan, massive insensitive to trying get outand make a plan, orto massive insensitive to trying get out and make a plan, or to leak information to benefit perhaps the prime minister there is absolutely no loyalty in number ten any more — i think that's what makes it hard for the premise minister to survive.

there will always be another piece of information that can keep the story going on. of information that can keep the story going on-_ story going on. take us to the telegraph. — story going on. take us to the telegraph. if— story going on. take us to the telegraph, if you _ story going on. take us to the telegraph, if you would, - story going on. take us to the telegraph, if you would, "tori| story going on. take us to the . telegraph, if you would, "tori mp resigns over schoolboy handling of fraud." this would've been a bigger story had it not been for the downing street party.- story had it not been for the downing street party. lord agnew, former nonexecutive _ downing street party. lord agnew, former nonexecutive director - downing street party. lord agnew, former nonexecutive director of. former nonexecutive director of several apartments and now a ministerjointly between the cabinet office in the treasury, shocked everyone by standing up in the house of lords and dramatically resigning. the government recently wrote off more than 4 billion of covid fraud from the loan scheme, but actually across the board, i can't think how many figures tens of billions is. it's a lot of knots.—

many figures tens of billions is. it's a lot of knots. and he's right to be angry _ it's a lot of knots. and he's right to be angry about _ it's a lot of knots. and he's right to be angry about that. - it's a lot of knots. and he's right to be angry about that. he - it's a lot of knots. and he's rightj to be angry about that. he takes it's a lot of knots. and he's right l to be angry about that. he takes a tax—cutting perspective that there is a penny on income tax that could be cut if the government were to take fraud seriously. but for me, it's also just the recognition that if you tolerate fraud, you are putting economic power into the hands of criminals. and that's basically seed capital for drug trafficking, for people trafficking, for further fraud and crypto scams. everywhere, financial fraud for further fraud and crypto scams. everywhere, financialfraud is the thing that supports organised crime globally — and to just turn a blind eye to it because it's difficult to chase down, chase that money across borders is it for lowes strikes me as extremely serious. dust flows. it's the kind of thing that the government would take more seriously if it wasn't spending all of its

time firefighting about parties and cake. ., ., , , ., time firefighting about parties and cake. ., , cake. clear, it was your paper, "schoolboy _ cake. clear, it was your paper, "schoolboy handling _ cake. clear, it was your paper, "schoolboy handling of- cake. clear, it was your paper, "schoolboy handling of covid i cake. clear, it was your paper, i "schoolboy handling of covid loan fraud." he effectively is saying of the treasury, describing it as an arrogant ignorance which has it resulted in 1000 companies that weren't even trading when we went in covid restrictions getting loans anyway. covid restrictions getting loans an a . h covid restrictions getting loans an a . �*, . , , covid restrictions getting loans an a. �*, . _ , ., anyway. it's incredibly strong language. — anyway. it's incredibly strong language. but _ anyway. it's incredibly strong language, but polly - anyway. it's incredibly strong language, but polly is - anyway. it's incredibly strong language, but polly is right, | anyway. it's incredibly strong - language, but polly is right, he's right— language, but polly is right, he's right to _ language, but polly is right, he's right to be — language, but polly is right, he's right to be angry and correct to use this sort— right to be angry and correct to use this sort of— right to be angry and correct to use this sort of language even about the treasury. _ this sort of language even about the treasury, the story says £5 billion is thought— treasury, the story says £5 billion is thought to have been lost to the fraudulent — is thought to have been lost to the fraudulent applications for these emergency business loans. that's an incredibly— emergency business loans. that's an incredibly high amount of money at a time when _ incredibly high amount of money at a time when our purse strings are tighter— time when our purse strings are tighter than ever. i think this story— tighter than ever. i think this story would have a lot more prominence were they not constantly firefighting these stories, because with the _ firefighting these stories, because with the cost of living rising,

inflation _ with the cost of living rising, inflation at a 30 year high, the surge — inflation at a 30 year high, the surge energy bills coming — the prime _ surge energy bills coming — the prime minister this week refusing to rule out _ prime minister this week refusing to rule out national insurance hiked, he was _ rule out national insurance hiked, he was asked eight times and has not ruled that _ he was asked eight times and has not ruled that out even though it said there's— ruled that out even though it said there's wriggle room that could be postponed, the chancellor under pressure — postponed, the chancellor under pressure to cut taxes or at least not raise _ pressure to cut taxes or at least not raise them — this is all looking increasingly— not raise them — this is all looking increasingly difficult to justify, and again it's looking like this sense — and again it's looking like this sense of— and again it's looking like this sense of turning a blind eye, turning — sense of turning a blind eye, turning the other cheek, one rule for them, — turning the other cheek, one rule for them, another for the others, turning the other cheek, one rule forthem, anotherforthe others, if you like. _ forthem, anotherforthe others, if you like. this — forthem, anotherforthe others, if you like, this would be a much bigger— you like, this would be a much bigger story if the front pages were not taken _ bigger story if the front pages were not taken up by party ambitions. hes— not taken up by party ambitions. he's part — not taken up by party ambitions. he's part of this network of people, like your good self, who have been involved in the think tank world. people don't always understand how it connects, but quite often these are the people who come up with the interesting political ideas in the first place. then they get draughted into government. perhaps idealistically thinking they connection to promote things, then they find out that actually they are

at number two