to the united states, and former national security adviser. and also with me is lord digby jones, who was a trade minister between 2007 and 2008. tomorrow's front pages. starting with: an apology from boris johnson on the front page of the metro, with the paper reporting on his statement to mp5. a message to tory mps in the mirror, urging them to vote for an investigation into whether the prime minister misled parliament over lockdown parties. the i quotes conservative mp mark harper, who called for the prime minister to resign after that apology in the house of commons, saying mrjohnson is "no longer worthy of the great office he holds."

and the guardian has the words of the labour leader as its headline, with keir starmer calling borisjohnson "a man without shame". the financial times leads with the international monetary fund predicting that the uk will see the slowest growth in the g7 next year, with the cost of living crisis and tax rises hitting the economy. borisjohnson there again in the telegraph, but the main headline focuses on ukraine. the paper covers the decision by germany not to send heavy weaponry to kyiv as announced by chancellor 0laf scholz yesterday. let us begin our chat. thank you very much forjoining me this evening. you are going to kick herself with the front page of the mirror. a big headline. it herself with the front page of the mirror. a big headline.— mirror. a big headline. it was a brutal, brutal— mirror. a big headline. it was a brutal, brutal afternoon - mirror. a big headline. it was a brutal, brutal afternoon for - mirror. a big headline. it was a brutal, brutal afternoon for the i brutal, brutal afternoon for the prime minister in the house of

commons. starting with a profuse apology that he made for the party in numberten, apology that he made for the party in number ten, the birthday cake and she changed the subject to what he had been doing on ukraine over the past week and then pretty much everyone piled in starting with an extraordinarily strikingly angry and very personal speech by the leader of the opposition, kier starmer, using what i don't think he had used by the prime minister before so much so that at one point the speaker rebuked him. and then the opposition benches all piling in. a few tories coming to the prime minister's support but of course the one who has made the headlines was the

former chief whip mark harper who said that he thought the prime minster was no longer worthy of the highest office which is again an extraordinarily savage thing to say to the prime minister in the house of commons, to his face, what the mayor has done is the tone of all of this, there is going to be a vote tomorrow because opposition put down a motion saying that the parliamentary committee on privileges should look at and report on the prime minister's conduct and that voters tomorrow and there are saying to conservative mps, that is the audience the messages directed at, choose between your conscience and supporting this now to discredited prime minister. and the payments are scheduled to go to india tomorrow and they are saying

the visit will still go ahead which suggest the whips are confident that the tories will support the prime minister and head of this attempt at a parliamentary inquiry but we will see how things look tomorrow morning. see how things look tomorrow morninu. , , see how things look tomorrow morninu, , ., see how things look tomorrow morninu. , ., . ., , ., see how things look tomorrow mornin. , ., . ., , ., ., morning. just to clarify, that fate will be taking _ morning. just to clarify, that fate will be taking place _ morning. just to clarify, that fate will be taking place on _ morning. just to clarify, that fate will be taking place on thursday. | will be taking place on thursday. the front page obviously saying, wednesday's front page. just to remind you of what kier starmer had said, you know better, don't follow in the slipstream of an out of touch pm and remove him from office and regain the respect of the public. what did you make of what you heard earlier today? a what did you make of what you heard earlier today? _ earlier today? a well, i listened to a live, watched _ earlier today? a well, i listened to a live, watched it _ earlier today? a well, i listened to a live, watched it live _ earlier today? a well, i listened to a live, watched it live and - earlier today? a well, i listened to a live, watched it live and thought| a live, watched it live and thought kier starmer's speech was quite frankly— kier starmer's speech was quite frankly excellent. he really did put the boot_ frankly excellent. he really did put the boot in and that is what we pay, we are _ the boot in and that is what we pay, we are the _ the boot in and that is what we pay, we are the only democracy formally pay someone to oppose her majesty's

government and he did the job really well today _ government and he did the job really well today. i thought it was interesting, when he called the prime — interesting, when he called the prime minister's colleague sitting either_ prime minister's colleague sitting either side of him nodding dogs. and when _ either side of him nodding dogs. and when boris _ either side of him nodding dogs. and when borisjohnson stood up to answer— when borisjohnson stood up to answer he _ when borisjohnson stood up to answer he said you call my cabinet colleagues — answer he said you call my cabinet colleagues nodding dogs i would remind — colleagues nodding dogs i would remind the house that you sat in the shadow— remind the house that you sat in the shadow cabinet of the honourable member_ shadow cabinet of the honourable member for islington north, jeremy corbyn. _ member for islington north, jeremy corbyn, and what mess with this country— corbyn, and what mess with this country have been in if he was prime minisier— country have been in if he was prime minister and — country have been in if he was prime minister and you supported him. so, it was— minister and you supported him. so, it was a _ minister and you supported him. so, it was a real— minister and you supported him. so, it was a real fee for all and this is a paper— it was a real fee for all and this is a paper review and the front page of the _ is a paper review and the front page of the matter, frankly, it is a labour— of the matter, frankly, it is a labour party fly ship, isn't it, a propaganda machine from the labour party and _ propaganda machine from the labour party and i_ propaganda machine from the labour party and i think they have shot the

belt far— party and i think they have shot the belt far too— party and i think they have shot the belt far too early because i think the comment about the prime minister knows _ the comment about the prime minister knows the _ the comment about the prime minister knows the voters in the bag, that is exactly _ knows the voters in the bag, that is exactly why— knows the voters in the bag, that is exactly why tomorrow all the other thursday _ exactly why tomorrow all the other thursday doesn't actually matter that much in terms of practical politics— that much in terms of practical politics and i think a lot of the country— politics and i think a lot of the country are in the position of saying — country are in the position of saying he _ country are in the position of saying he has done wrong. i don't saying he has done wrong. idon't think— saying he has done wrong. idon't think they— saying he has done wrong. i don't think they fall for that i didn't know— think they fall for that i didn't know this was unlawful. i don't know this was unlawful. idon't think— know this was unlawful. idon't think they— know this was unlawful. i don't think they full for that and i think the prime — think they full for that and i think the prime minister is expecting people — the prime minister is expecting people to believe, a bit like dominic— people to believe, a bit like dominic cummings testing your eyes if you _ dominic cummings testing your eyes if you drive _ dominic cummings testing your eyes if you drive 35 miles. but i do think— if you drive 35 miles. but i do think the _ if you drive 35 miles. but i do think the bulk of the country think at the _ think the bulk of the country think at the moment the world is in a pretty— at the moment the world is in a pretty sorry state. britain has definitely been the most enormous help to _ definitely been the most enormous help to ukraine were trying to stop evil happening and to let the man -et evil happening and to let the man get on _ evil happening and to let the man get on with the job and there will be an—

get on with the job and there will be an awful lot of people who would vote in _ be an awful lot of people who would vote in an _ be an awful lot of people who would vote in an opinion poll saying they don't _ vote in an opinion poll saying they don't give — vote in an opinion poll saying they don't give proof of what has gone on but would _ don't give proof of what has gone on but would actually say, get on with the bigger— but would actually say, get on with the bigger stuff and get on with running — the bigger stuff and get on with running the country and there are more _ running the country and there are more fixed — running the country and there are more fixed penalty notices coming down _ more fixed penalty notices coming down the — more fixed penalty notices coming down the line. this is the first of maybe _ down the line. this is the first of maybe five. _ down the line. this is the first of maybe five, and if that is the case and they— maybe five, and if that is the case and they should all the belts out i’ilht and they should all the belts out right now, which the labour party says today, — right now, which the labour party says today, then what are they going to say? _ says today, then what are they going to say? they cheapen the currency every _ to say? they cheapen the currency every time — to say? they cheapen the currency every time and perhaps this would be a much _ every time and perhaps this would be a much more effective one if it had been _ a much more effective one if it had been done — a much more effective one if it had been done at the end of this rather than at _ been done at the end of this rather than at the — been done at the end of this rather than at the beginning? as been done at the end of this rather than at the beginning?— been done at the end of this rather than at the beginning? as we turn to this, than at the beginning? as we turn to this. obviously _ than at the beginning? as we turn to this, obviously they _ than at the beginning? as we turn to this, obviously they are _ than at the beginning? as we turn to this, obviously they are going - than at the beginning? as we turn to this, obviously they are going with i this, obviously they are going with what mark harper had to say in the commons and in his letter and you spoke to me earlier today on bbc news. with this time the prime minister, do you think? someone

coming out so publicly? i minister, do you think? someone coming out so publicly?— coming out so publicly? i think it will. he coming out so publicly? i think it will- he is _ coming out so publicly? i think it will- he is a _ coming out so publicly? i think it will. he is a former— coming out so publicly? i think it will. he is a former chief- coming out so publicly? i think it will. he is a former chief whip i coming out so publicly? i think it will. he is a former chief whip in the senior member of the conservative party. a senior backbencher. in saying this, he follows two other former cabinet members, david davies and andrew mitchell who were both called on the prime minister to resign in previous debates about party gait so that the prime minister might have had the numbers in terms of people supporting him from backbenchers earlier today i think people will remember what mark harper said that will be the one that sticks in peoples minds. the other point i would make here, i agree, the prime minister has a problem if he gets a second and third in the fourth fine. his excuse today was partly about the nature of the event that he walked into the cabinet office and the cabinet room and suddenly there were a crowd of singing happy birthday and presenting him with a

cake. and that is the basis that he did not realise this is all breaking the law. if he did, as he has alleged, attend this garden party, if he did, as alleged, over the weekend, pourthe if he did, as alleged, over the weekend, pour the drinks at his press spokesperson's leaving party, and have a party in a flat at number ten, it is much harder to say this was kind of accidental if you would like you are hosting or comparing the event. so it is going to be a difficult few weeks for him with more fines coming down the line and the defence are used today was pretty incredible today and i can possibly see how he could say the same thing about that famous party a number ten garden. you same thing about that famous party a number ten garden.— number ten garden. you were within the gordon brown _ number ten garden. you were within the gordon brown administration, i number ten garden. you were within l the gordon brown administration, am i right? so when we look at the

ministerial code, how closely adhered and respected was it in your time? we adhered and respected was it in your time? ~ , ., , , ., ., time? we were before, 'ust before or durin: the time? we were before, 'ust before or during the financial _ time? we were before, just before or during the financial crisis _ time? we were before, just before or during the financial crisis and - during the financial crisis and before — during the financial crisis and before all the problems with mps expenses and lord's expenses so we were at— expenses and lord's expenses so we were at a _ expenses and lord's expenses so we were at a time when the pressure wasn't _ were at a time when the pressure wasn't really on the spotlight was not on _ wasn't really on the spotlight was not on in — wasn't really on the spotlight was not on in the same way yet i was never— not on in the same way yet i was never aware. we had the code spelt out to— never aware. we had the code spelt out to us— never aware. we had the code spelt out to us in— never aware. we had the code spelt out to us in words of one syllable and interestingly, when i finally said. _ and interestingly, when i finally said. you — and interestingly, when i finally said, you know, ithinkl and interestingly, when i finally said, you know, ithink i really ought — said, you know, ithink i really ought to— said, you know, ithink i really ought to go before the general election— ought to go before the general election because i was the only minister— election because i was the only minister they had that still belonged to the party of government. i belonged to the party of government. i would _ belonged to the party of government. i would not _ belonged to the party of government. i would notjoin belonged to the party of government. i would not join the belonged to the party of government. i would notjoin the labour party belonged to the party of government. i would not join the labour party or tory party — i would not join the labour party or tory party. i— i would not join the labour party or tory party. i am an independent. the person— tory party. i am an independent. the person i_ tory party. i am an independent. the person i went — tory party. i am an independent. the person i went to see said what can i do and _ person i went to see said what can i do and what — person i went to see said what can i do and what can't i do and what rules— do and what can't i do and what rules do— do and what can't i do and what rules do my following can you help me was— rules do my following can you help me was sue gray, funnily enough, who

is the _ me was sue gray, funnily enough, who is the senior— me was sue gray, funnily enough, who is the senior civil servant who has been _ is the senior civil servant who has been doing — is the senior civil servant who has been doing the investigation on all of this _ been doing the investigation on all of this. and you put the fear of god into me _ of this. and you put the fear of god into me then so she is a formidable and excellent woman. but i think were _ and excellent woman. but i think were onto — and excellent woman. but i think were onto something here and i come back to _ were onto something here and i come back to the _ were onto something here and i come back to the point about what the papers _ back to the point about what the papers are doing today. are reporting factually what happened, fine. reporting factually what happened, fine if _ reporting factually what happened, fine. if they are getting the quote from _ fine. if they are getting the quote from mark harper, fine. if what they're — from mark harper, fine. if what they're doing is lobbying, basically, to get the resignation of the prime — basically, to get the resignation of the prime minister, it is too early because — the prime minister, it is too early because how on earth he is going to say, you _ because how on earth he is going to say, you know, my defences i didn't know— say, you know, my defences i didn't know this _ say, you know, my defences i didn't know this was against the rules, pouring — know this was against the rules, pouring the drinks at a drinks party is a bit _ pouring the drinks at a drinks party is a bit of— pouring the drinks at a drinks party is a bit of a — pouring the drinks at a drinks party is a bit of a problem, isn't it? interestingly, today, nobody had a p0p interestingly, today, nobody had a pop at— interestingly, today, nobody had a pop at kier— interestingly, today, nobody had a pop at kier starmer for having a beer— pop at kier starmer for having a beer and — pop at kier starmer for having a beer and pizza in pop at kier starmer for having a beerand pizza in a party and pop at kier starmer for having a beer and pizza in a party and some labour— beer and pizza in a party and some labour party headquarters in a constituency and no one mentioned that today — constituency and no one mentioned

that today. it was really... you don't _ that today. it was really... you don't blame the opposition for it. this is— don't blame the opposition for it. this is one — don't blame the opposition for it. this is one of the hummus of mature democracy _ this is one of the hummus of mature democracy. but when you think that boris _ democracy. but when you think that borisjohnson is personified with going _ borisjohnson is personified with going to — borisjohnson is personified with going to keep, britain is personified within one of ukraine's best friends and everybody said that, _ best friends and everybody said that, a — best friends and everybody said that, a lot of it is personified in him _ that, a lot of it is personified in him and — that, a lot of it is personified in him and at _ that, a lot of it is personified in him and at the moment i'm not too sure it _ him and at the moment i'm not too sure it serves the country's best interest — sure it serves the country's best interest for— sure it serves the country's best interest for him to go right now but, _ interest for him to go right now but. of— interest for him to go right now but, of course, we have two big unknowns _ but, of course, we have two big unknowns. 0ne but, of course, we have two big unknowns. one is the local party elections. — unknowns. one is the local party elections, the local government elections — elections, the local government elections happening the first thursday of may. that will be quite a good _ thursday of may. that will be quite a good indicator of what the country really _ a good indicator of what the country really thinks and the other one is that when— really thinks and the other one is that when or how or if ukraine is sorted _ that when or how or if ukraine is sorted to— that when or how or if ukraine is sorted to a — that when or how or if ukraine is sorted to a certain extent the most ruthless _ sorted to a certain extent the most ruthless and most successful political _ ruthless and most successful political party in our democracies in the _ political party in our democracies in the world as the british

conservative party because they do sense _ conservative party because they do sense it _ conservative party because they do sense it and theyjust change if they— sense it and theyjust change if they think they're going to lose and ithink— they think they're going to lose and i think that — they think they're going to lose and i think that will be the test. whether— i think that will be the test. whether the tories justified the next election with boris johnson as prime _ next election with boris johnson as prime minister because whilst the people _ prime minister because whilst the people might say he has been a bad lad but— people might say he has been a bad lad but we _ people might say he has been a bad lad but we wanted to carry on the country— lad but we wanted to carry on the country at — lad but we wanted to carry on the country at the moment that is an entirely— country at the moment that is an entirely different issue two would i vote for— entirely different issue two would i vote for him at another general election— vote for him at another general election and that will be the test and it— election and that will be the test and it is— election and that will be the test and it is not yet.— election and that will be the test and it is not yet. glows turn to the front page — and it is not yet. glows turn to the front page of _ and it is not yet. glows turn to the front page of the _ and it is not yet. glows turn to the front page of the financial - and it is not yet. glows turn to the front page of the financial times. | front page of the financial times. not the best headline, particularly for the chance level to put in place for the chance level to put in place for the chance level to put in place for the slowest growth among g7 nations so says the imf. if for the slowest growth among g7 nations so says the imf.- for the slowest growth among g7 nations so says the imf. if you, as i do, nations so says the imf. if you, as i do. listen — nations so says the imf. if you, as i do. listen to _ nations so says the imf. if you, as i do, listen to prime _ nations so says the imf. if you, as i do, listen to prime minister's - i do, listen to prime minister's questions regularly then you will have heard the prime minister say many many times in recent weeks that the uk has the strongest growth rate

in the g7 and that has been a really important claim about the success of the government's economic management. what happens when they have already had enough bad news coming, the imfforecast have already had enough bad news coming, the imf forecast has have already had enough bad news coming, the imfforecast has bitten as going from the top of the league table this year to the bottom of the g7 league table next year with growth estimated at i.2%, lower than italy, lower than france, lower than germany, lowerthan italy, lower than france, lower than germany, lower than america, japan and canada. so that is quite a crush and canada. so that is quite a crush and the contributing factors will affect everyone but the inflation rate is one of the highest if not the highest of the g7 at the moment and the imf is estimating that interest rates would have to rise to get inflation under control. we are hit hard as everyone is by rising energy prices. we have got some tax

rises coming in the pipeline. and the economy is bound to slow and it looks like it is going to slow rather more fiercely than all of our leading competitors so in a day which is for the bad news for the prime minister, this is really gloomy prognosis for next year, for the future. the imf is not always right. it has made mistakes. it has got estimates wrong. it famously teams an estimate once during david cameron's time, upgrading them a few times after it being critical of the cover�*s economic management so it is not a certainty but it carries a lot of credibility because it is the imf. ~ , , imf. 0k. when energy bosses themselves — imf. 0k. when energy bosses themselves saying _ imf. 0k. when energy bosses themselves saying the - imf. 0k. when energy bosses| themselves saying the surging imf. 0k. when energy bosses - themselves saying the surging bills of up to 40% is truly horrific you

are going