As it happened: Johnson defends inquiry at PMQs

1. Prime Minister's Questions has taken place in the Commons
2. It was the first time Boris Johnson faced MPs after rows over lobbying erupted
3. Former PM David Cameron has been criticised for contacting ministers on behalf of Greensill Capital
4. It has also been revealed a civil servant joined the finance firm before quitting Whitehall
5. The PM defended the inquiry it had launched, but faced accusations of "Tory sleaze" from Sir Keir
6. Labour used its opposition day debate in the Commons to call for a full parliamentary inquiry into lobbying

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BBC Politics

We are bringing the live page to a close for today.

But don't worry, we will be keeping across this lobbying row and the inquiry.

Be sure to follow all the news on the BBC Politics Twitter and check out the website for news and analysis.

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PM 'concerned' over civil servant's Greensill job

Reuters

Boris Johnson promises a probe into cronyism claims, but Labour says his government is beset by "sleaze".

Read our story from PMQs here.

Tories reject Labour plan for MP-led lobbying probe

Boris Johnson clashes with Sir Keir Starmer over the best way to investigate allegations.

Read more

Tories reject Labour plan for MP-led lobbying probe

Highlights from PMQs

As expected, the lobbying row dominated most of PMQs, but in case you missed it, here are the highlights from today's session:

• Boris Johnson said he shares "widespread concern" about the lobbying stories in the press
• He added that it was not clear that the "boundaries" between the civil service and the private sector "have been properly understood"
• Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Greensill was "the tip of the iceberg" and described it as a return to "Tory sleaze"
• The PM did not say if he knew of other incidents of public servants working for private companies while still in post.
• He also said he could not remember the last time he spoke to David Cameron
• The SNP's Ian Blackford said the UK government was "morally repugnant" for trying to strike down a law aimed at protecting children's rights
• Labour's Vicky Foxcroft criticised the PM for failing to provide sign language interpreters at government Covid press briefings
• Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley praised the roll out of the vaccination programme.
• Labour MP Kim Johnson urged the government to withdraw the race report.
• And finally the PM urged people to "tick off" litterbugs.

Reality Check

Did Labour want to get rid of the lobbying laws?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed Labour “campaigned” at the last general election to get rid of the rules on lobbying.

In 2019, Labour’s manifesto did say: “We will free the voices of civil society by repealing the Lobbying Act 2014 and overhauling the rules that govern corporate lobbying.”

But that came in a section about tackling vested interests, that also pledged to:

• Introduce a lobbying register covering contacts with all senior government employees, not just ministers
• Stop MPs taking paid second jobs, except if they need to maintain professional registrations - such as for nurses
• Replace the business appointments committee ACOBA with a better-funded and more powerful body

Watch: MP signs her question at PMQs

Why aren't the government press briefings signed?

BBC Politics Live

BBC2's lunchtime political programme

On BBC Two's Politics Live, the conversation moves to the lack of sign language interpreters at UK government coronavirus press briefings.

Asked why this is the case, Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom says she is a "big fan" of sign language interpretation at these press conferences and has "no idea" why that isn't being done.

Labour MP Chris Bryant says the government in Wales has been doing it in every briefing since the start of the pandemic and calls for it to be introduced in Downing Street.

Watch: Return of 'Tory sleaze'

Watch: Open door for lobbyists?

Watch: Are lobbying rules fit for purpose?

No surprise from Starmer attack lines

Damian Grammaticas

Political correspondent

It was no surprise that Sir Keir Starmer focussed on what he called “the return of Tory sleaze”.

Labour feels this is a fruitful line of attack against the government and the review its set up isn’t fit for purpose.

The prime minister’s response relied on a two-pronged strategy.

First, what you might call the quick sidestep - to say he’s concerned about lobbying and then say Sir Keir should forward any concerns he has to the review itself.

Second was the swift segue, when Sir Keir said the prime minister’s arguments reminded him of his time as a prosecutor in court and what he called "the shoplifter’s defence".

Boris Johnson recalled his own time as Mayor of London cutting crime and murder rates, adding he was now busy rolling out vaccines.

The lobbying debate continues...

Shortly MPs will begin a debate on a Labour motion, which calls for a broader inquiry into lobbying by a cross-party panel of MPs.

Speaking to the BBC, Labour's Rachel Reeves argued the remit of the inquiry launched by the government was "too narrow" just focusing on Greensill "when we know the issues around lobbying and access go much wider than that".

She also accused the government of hand-picking "a close friend of the Conservative party" to lead the inquiry.

However, Boris Johnson defended the inquiry, arguing that Labour's plan would mean politicians "marking their own homework".

You can watch the debate on BBC Parliament.

Kuenssberg: Starmer embraces former life as lawyer

BBC Politics Live

BBC2's lunchtime political programme

Over to BBC Two's Politics Live, and our political editor Laura Kuenssberg speaks about the lobbying focus of the exchanges.

She says Keir Starmer was embracing his former life as a lawyer in this PMQs, and was trying to make himself out to be a "sleaze-buster" in the House of Commons.

She says the Labour Party wants to make this into a broad, and consistent attack on the government.

Labour are trying to make an impression that "this culture is endemic in government", which the Conservatives deny.

Right now, Boris Johnson has no appetite to have a wholesale inquiry, she adds.

Successive governments "have grappled with this for years and years and years", but the various organisations designed to look over lobbying don't have teeth.

One watchdog only has powers to send "polite, but strongly worded letters" to warn former ministers, she says.

Litterbug fines 'not draconian', says Johnson

BBC

The final question comes from Conservative Gareth Davies, who asks what is being done to tackle littering.

Boris Johnson says he shares the MP's "indignation" about littering and urges people meeting outdoors "to obey the basic laws of respect for other people".

He adds that his government is increasing on-the-spot fines for littering.

"Many may think that's draconian, personally I think it is the right thing to do," says the PM.

He also urges people to "tick off" litterers.

And that concludes today's PMQs.

Labour MP: Big Ben bongs replaced by bungs

BBC

Labour MP Matt Western uses an old Turkish proverb in his question to the PM, saying: "The fish rots from the head down."

He says since Boris Johnson became prime minister, "Big Ben bongs" have been replaced by "bungs".

He lists accusations made against the government of lobbying, including Greensill, contracts on PPE granted to Tory donors and friends of Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

But Boris Johnson says "he is wrong in this instance" and he doesn't believe Mr Western should have spoken in that way.

He says there is "one party which has brought in tough lobbying rules", accusing Labour of giving too much power to trade unions.

PM urged to withdraw race report

BBC

Labour's Kim Johnson says "contrary to the race report" released earlier this month, institutional racism still exists.

She asks the PM to answer allegations that Downing Street redrafted the report to change the narrative and urges him to withdraw it entirely.

Boris Johnson says the report has "interesting observations", but adds that the government "wouldn't necessarily agree" with everything in it.

He adds that his government will "do everything we can" to tackle inequality.

Praise for vaccination programme from Conservative MP

BBC

Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley says the successful roll out of the vaccination programme is based on the dedication of NHS staff, who make it "so easy for so many people".

Boris Johnson says this has been a "colossal team effort" with "GPs often doing the lion's share of the work" but supported by the army and other organisations.

When did the PM last speak to David Cameron?

Labour's Ruth Cadbury asks Boris Johnson when he last spoke to David Cameron.

"I cannot remember when I last spoke to Dave," the PM replies.

He adds that he has not had any contact with the former PM "about the matters that have been in the press".

Why aren't government press conferences shown with sign language?

BBC

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft asks a question in sign language.

She then says "if the prime minister doesn't understand, why does he still not have sign language at his press briefings?"

She asks what the point of the new £2m press briefing room is if it is not inclusive for disabled people.

Boris Johnson thanks her for the way she asked her question, and says he will write to her "as soon as I can".

'See you in court,' Blackford tells Johnson

The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford asks the PM why the government is trying to strike down a law passed in Scotland to embed the UN convention on the rights of the child into the country's law.

"How does protecting children's rights in Scotland threaten the Tory government in London," he asks.

Boris Johnson says the government ratified the UN convention 30 years ago.

"This is simply an attempt by the SNP to stir up constitutional chaos," he adds.

Mr Blackford asks the PM to withdraw the legal challenge "otherwise we'll see you in court".

But Mr Johnson says the SNP should "improve their shameful record on education".

Reality Check

What more is Labour calling for?

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for a wider inquiry into lobbying and the contact between the government and former prime minister David Cameron about the finance firm Greensill Capital.

Boris Johnson has asked Nigel Boardman, a government lawyer, to conduct a review by the end of June, looking into the development and use of so-called supply chain finance schemes (the things Greensill was involved with) in government, and especially the role of Greensill Capital and its founder.

The government says that Mr Boardman will have access to all the information he needs.

But the investigation has no power of sanction and no legal force.

Labour is calling instead for a committee of government and opposition MPs to be set up, which will take a broader look at the lobbying of ministers and will have the power to summon and question witnesses in public.

You can read more about the affair here.