'Unutterable b*****ks'

The Independent's Morning Headlines email [View online]( March 22, 2023 [Morning Headlines]( 1 / [Boris]([Johnson’s ‘bombshell’ Partygate defence branded weak by Tory MPs ahead of TV grilling]( [Boris Johnson]( faces a “torrid time” at Wednesday’s showdown grilling on whether he lied over [Partygate](, according to [Conservatives]( MPs who branded his defence dossier weak and predicted that he would be found guilty and punished. The former prime minister lashed out at the committee of MPs investigating whether he lied to parliament – accusing the cross-party group of “absurd, illogical and partisan” claims in his 52-page dossier. Battling to save his career, Mr Johnson admitted that he had misled parliament about [Covid]( rule-breaking – but insisted his denials were made “in good faith” based on what he “honestly” knew at the time. But senior Tory MP [David Davis]( was scathing about the former Tory PM’s dependence on assurances from his communications director Jack Doyle that a December 2020 party was “within the rules”. The former cabinet minister told The Independent: “The idea of ministers just saying whatever special advisers write for them is unutterable b*****ks. If that’s the strength of the argument he is sinking without trace. If that’s it, then he’s in for a torrid time.”   2 / [Ofsted report was ‘deeply harmful’ to late headteacher, family says]( Ruth Perry, who was head at Caversham Primary School in Reading, killed herself in January 3 / [Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘reckless’ skiing caused severe brain injuries, US court hears]( Oscar-winning actor is being sued by a retired optometrist over a 2016 collision in Utah 4 / [Predatory officers are problem nationwide not just in Metropolitan Police, Priti Patel says]( Labour leader Keir Starmer says police leaders outside London who think findings don’t apply should ‘wake up’ 5 /[Vladimir]([Putin’s claim Britain is sending nuclear arms to Ukraine is ‘bonkers’ says expert]( ‘There is no way that you could create a nuclear explosion with depleted uranium’   The Big Question Stormy Daniels may soon seal Donald Trump’s fate. How did a porn star become one of the most powerful people in US politics? One busy weekday night in May 2018, a Pittsburgh strip club dancer named Scarlet went to the bar for fries and ran into something unusual: a young man carrying a political non-fiction book conspicuously under his arm. The book was Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff, about the first year of [Donald Trump’s presidency](, and the man – Isaac – was hoping that one of the other strippers would sign it for him. “I’m not much of a strip club guy, but I had to come see this,” Isaac told [The Pitt News]( as he waited in line behind a man carrying several bright red Trump hats. These men were among the hundreds drawn to see porn performer [Stormy Daniels]( as she danced across the country on her “Make America Horny Again” tour, closely followed by a political tempest over her alleged history with the serving president of the United States. Just 10 minutes after the start of Ms Daniels’ first show in Pittsburgh, Mr Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani appeared to admit on Fox News that the mercurial tycoon had indeed authorised a hush money payment of $130,000 to his alleged ex-lover, contradicting previous denials. Now Ms Daniels is again at the centre of a national firestorm as [New York state prosecutors are reportedly preparing to bring charges against Mr Trump](, which would be the first criminal prosecution against a former president in US history. [For the full story click here >]( £99 £20 for 1 year ✓ Full access to Premium news analysis ✓ Advert-free reading across web and app ✓ The Independent Daily Edition newspaper ✓ Puzzles, virtual event tickets and more [SUBSCRIBE NOW](   Watch/ [Underwater footage shows ship that sunk carrying 800,000 litres of oil](   NUMBER OF THE DAY 6.8 – A huge earthquake of 6.8 hit [Afghanistan]( on Tuesday, with [tremors]( felt as far as [Pakistan]( and [India](. [Read more here](   QUOTE OF THE DAY “And then sort of dabbling. And then it just turns into a habit that you do once a week and then once a day and then, like, twice a day and then, like, without booze. It just became bad vibes.” – [Ed Sheeran]( has spoken candidly about his former drug habit and the circumstances that caused him to quit, along with the moment he also chose to limit his consumption of alcohol. [Read more here](     Other stories you might like   [Gary Lineker in pointed ‘fibs’ tweets as Boris Johnson’s Partygate defence published](   [Last-known CCTV released of missing woman who police fear has been murdered](   Opinion: ERG hardliners have no choice but to live in their own fantasyland](       Articles available exclusively to subscribers Sean O’Grady [Why the DUP rebellion on the Brexit bill is simply bluster](   Other newsletters you might like [The Race Report]( The Race Report Fortnightly, 6pm (UK time) Written by Nadine White [Join now]( [The View from Westminster ]( The View from Westminster Every weekday, 6pm (UK time) Written by John Rentoul [Join now](   If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. [The Independent]( Join the conversation or follow us [Facebook]( [Twitter]( Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Morning Headlines newsletter. 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