Boris Johnson resisting calls to quit after party apology

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( January 13, 2022 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Boris Johnson facing revolt in Tory ranks after apology fails to quell anger]( Boris Johnson was yesterday facing open revolt from within his own party, after his apology for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown failed to quell backbench anger. The prime minister’s claim that he thought the garden drinks in May 2020 was a work event was greeted with derision from the opposition benches in the House of Commons, with Sir Keir Starmer branding it “ridiculous” and calling on Johnson to resign. The chair of the Commons Standards Committee, Chris Bryant, accused the PM of treating voters as “stupid”. The Labour leader’s demand was echoed by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, who led a phalanx of at least 14 Holyrood Tories calling on Johnson to go. 2 / [Virginia Giuffre is not interested in purely financial settlement with Prince Andrew, lawyer says]( ‘Vindication’ is sought in this case, says David Boise 3 / [Novak Djokovic included in Australian Open draw as top seed despite ongoing visa uncertainty]( Djokovic, who was out practising in Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, is now expected to play on Monday or Tuesday for his opening match 4 / [‘Remarkable’ Roman wooden figurine discovered in ditch during HS2 digging]( Rare find brings us ‘face to face with our past’, says expert 5 / [Labour opens up 10-point lead over Tories as pressure mounts on Johnson over lockdown party]( PM falls further out of favour after party apology The Big Question Who is Martin Reynolds, the private secretary at the heart of the lockdown-busting No 10 party row? Martin Reynolds is one of the most senior officials in Downing Street but had largely avoided the limelight until the emergence of his email inviting colleagues to “socially-distanced drinks” during England’s first coronavirus lockdown. As Boris Johnson’s principal private secretary, he plays a key role advising the prime minister on a wide range of issues. Here’s everything you need to know. [Read the full story >]( Watch / [‘The party’s over’: Keir Starmer goads Boris Johnson as he demands resignation from PM]( NUMBER OF THE DAY 73,000 The government has previously predicted the NHS could lose up to 73,000 staff following the deadline for all staff to be vaccinated against Covid QUOTE OF THE DAY “Should the PM be found to have actively misled parliament or if he faces criminal sanction – or both – then his position would be untenable.” – Former minister Dan Poulter on Boris Johnson after the prime minster's apology for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown Other stories you might like [NHS leaders call for delay to mandatory Covid vaccine law]( [Elvis Costello isn’t erasing ‘Oliver’s Army’ over an offensive lyric – he’s safeguarding it]( [Trade secretary tries to kick-start post-Brexit deal with India on Delhi trip]( Articles available exclusively to subscribers John Rentoul, The Independent: [Boris Johnson’s defence was ‘ridiculous’ but enough for him to survive – until next week]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.