Public funding for Johnson’s partygate defence is an ‘insulting waste’, says Rayner

At cabinet office questions today, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner questioned the government on the £220,000 of public funding provided for Boris Johnson’s “partygate” defence.

Ms Rayner said: “The Guardian has today revealed that the National Audit Office is due to meet the cabinet office this week to obtain details of public money spent on the former Prime Minister’s legal fees. … Could he just put a stop to this insulting waste of public money altogether?”.

Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden responded: “It has always been the case that ministers receive support in respect of their conduct in office after they’ve left office”.