A list of events relating to politics and government in the United Kingdom during 2022.
Events January 12 January The High Court rules that the government's use of a "VIP lane" to award contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) to two companies was unlawful. Partygate: At Prime Minister's Questions, Boris Johnson confirms he did attend a party in the No 10 garden during the first lockdown in May 2020 and offers his "heartfelt apology". Opposition MPs and the leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross call for his resignation. 19 January Conservative MP Christian Wakeford crosses the house to Labour, after submitting a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson in light of the "partygate" scandal. In Prime Minister's Questions Conservative MP David Davis invokes Oliver Cromwell in a question to Boris Johnson: "In the name of God, go". 20 January – Conservative MP William Wragg accuses whips of blackmail against Conservative MPs who are believed to support the ousting of Johnson. The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, tells the Commons that potentially criminal offences would be a matter for the police. A Downing Street spokesperson says: "We are not aware of any evidence to support what are clearly serious allegations." 24 January Johnson orders an inquiry into allegations by Conservative MP Nus Ghani that she was sacked as a minister after being told her "Muslim-ness” was "making colleagues uncomfortable". Conservative peer Lord Agnew publicly resigns in the House of Lords after criticising the government's handling of fraudulent Covid business loans. 31 January – The initial findings of a report by Sue Gray into Downing Street parties are published. She notes that, "At least some of the gatherings in question represent a serious failure to observe not just the high standards expected of those working at the heart of Government but also of the standards expected of the entire British population at the time," and concludes that "a number of these gatherings should not have been allowed to take place or to develop in the way that they did. There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government."
February 2 February – The government publishes a white paper on its "levelling up" strategy, which aims to reduce the gap between rich and poor parts of the country by 2030. This includes a 40% increase in research and development spending for the North, Midlands, South West, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. 3 February – Munira Mirza resigns as Director of the Number 10 Policy Unit, saying it was in protest at Johnson's comments about Keir Starmer being responsible for the failure to prosecute serial sex offender Jimmy Savile. Three other senior aides resign hours later – Director of Communications Jack Doyle, Chief of Staff Dan Rosenfield, and Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Martin Reynolds. Paul Givan resigns as First Minister of Northern Ireland in protest over Brexit checks in the Irish Sea, which are part of the Northern Ireland protocol. The Southend West by-election, following the murder of Sir David Amess, is won by the Conservative candidate, Anna Firth. The by-election is not contested by the major opposition parties out of respect for Amess. 4 February Policy adviser Elena Narozanski becomes the fifth of Johnson's aides to resign within 24 hours. Peer Nazir Ahmed is jailed for sexual offences against children. 8 February – Johnson implements a cabinet reshuffle, which includes Jacob Rees-Mogg becoming Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency, with Mark Spencer replacing him as Leader of the House. Health Secretary Sajid Javid sets out the government's plans to reduce the NHS backlog resulting from the pandemic, including new facilities paid for by an extra £8bn of investment over the next three years.
March 3 March – Paulette Hamilton wins the 2022 Birmingham Erdington by-election for Labour with 55.5% of the votes in a turnout of 27% of the electorate. 23 March – The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, delivers his Spring statement to the House, which includes a raising of the National Insurance threshold and a cut in fuel duty. 24 March – The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 is repealed after the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act receives royal assent, meaning that the Prime Minister will again be able to request the monarch to dissolve Parliament and call an early election, with 25 working days' notice. 30 March – Jamie Wallis comes out as the UK's first openly transgender MP.
April 7 April – The government's plan to introduce a photo ID requirement for elections is defeated in the House of Lords by 199 votes to 170. The government's new energy strategy is published, which includes a plan for eight new nuclear reactors and 95% of the UK's electricity coming from low-carbon sources by 2030. 12 April – Frances O'Grady confirms she will retire from the role of General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress at the end of the year. 21 April – MPs debate a motion calling for an inquiry into claims that Johnson misled Parliament over Partygate. 24 April – The Elections Act 2022 receives royal assent, The Act introduces voter photo identification for in-person voting to the United Kingdom for the first time. The requirement would apply to UK general elections, English local elections, and police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales. 27 April – In a statement, Conservative Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris says he is investigating reports that a Conservative MP watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons chamber, after complaints from female Tory MPs. The MP is later revealed to be Neil Parish, Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton (see 29 April). 29 April – Conservative MP Neil Parish is suspended from the Conservative Whip over allegations that he watched pornography on his phone in the House of Commons. 30 April – Neil Parish admits to watching pornography twice in the House of Commons and says that he will resign as an MP.
May 5 May – 2022 United Kingdom local elections: The Conservatives suffer a net loss of 485 seats, which includes the London boroughs of Barnet, Wandsworth, and Westminster, formerly considered Tory strongholds. Labour gain than 108 seats, while the Liberal Democrats gain 240. The Green Party has one of its best ever results, with a net gain of 87 seats. In Scotland, the SNP gains 22 seats, while in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin receives the largest vote share. The 2022 Welsh local elections are contested under new boundaries. This is the first time Welsh councils can choose between the first-past-the-post system and a proportional single transferable vote (STV) system, but councils need to give advance notice of such a change. Overall, Welsh Labour gain control of one council and Plaid Cymru three, whilst the Welsh Conservatives lose one and Independents two. The 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly election is held. 8 May – Sinn Féin is declared the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, winning 27 seats, followed by the DUP winning 25. 9 May – Meghan Gallacher is appointed Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives. 10 May – 2022 State Opening of Parliament: Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge open the third session of the 2019 Parliament on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II with the traditional Queen's Speech, the first time an heir-apparent to the throne has opened Parliament since George IV did so on behalf of his father, George III. 17 May – Brexit: Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announces a plan to unilaterally abandon parts of the Northern Ireland protocol. 25 May – Partygate: The full version of the Gray Report is published. In the 37-page document, Sue Gray concludes that senior Downing Street officials, both political and non-political, "bear responsibility" for the culture of partying during COVID lockdowns. 26 May – Chancellor Rishi Sunak announces a £15 billion package of measures to address soaring energy costs, partly offset by a 25% windfall tax on oil and gas firms' profits. He tells the Commons that every UK household will get an energy bill discount of £400 in October, while the poorest households will also get a payment of £650 to ease living costs. 27 May – A new version of the Ministerial Code is published, removing the need for a minister to resign over breaches of its rules.
June 6 June – Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 committee of the Conservative Party, announces a vote of confidence in Boris Johnson's leadership of the party. A secret ballot is held from 6-8pm. The party's MPs decide that they have confidence in Johnson's leadership. However, more than 40% vote against him, with a result of 211 to 148. 23 June – By-elections take place in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton. Labour win in Wakefield, while the Liberal Democrats win in Tiverton and Honiton, overturning a substantial Conservative majority. 25 June – Following Conservative losses at the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton by-elections, it is reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he is "thinking actively" about fighting the next two general elections, which would make him the UK's longest serving post-war prime minister. 27 June – The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and Liability of Trade Unions in Proceedings in Tort (Increase of Limits on Damages) Order 2022 are brought before Parliament. 28 June – Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announces the publication of the Scottish Government's Scottish Independence Referendum Bill, and proposes 19 October 2023 as the date for a second Scottish independence referendum. 30 June – Tamworth MP Chris Pincher resigns as Conservative Party deputy chief whip, saying he "embarrassed myself and other people" and "drank far too much" following an incident at a party at the Carlton Club the previous evening.
July 1 July – Chris Pincher has the Conservative Party Whip withdrawn and will sit in the House of Commons as an independent MP. A formal complaint about the conduct of Chris Pincher is lodged with the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS). 3 July – A further six allegations against Chris Pincher emerge, involving behaviour over a decade. Three complaints are that Pincher made unwanted advances against other male MPs, one in a bar at the House of Commons and one in Pincher's parliamentary office. One complainant is reported to have given 10 Downing Street details in February 2022 and expressed concerns over Pincher becoming a whip in charge of other MPs' welfare. Pincher maintains he has no intention of resigning as an MP. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey tells the BBC Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not aware of "specific allegations" against Pincher at the time of his appointment as Deputy Chief Whip in February 2022. 5 July – Downing Street concedes that Johnson was aware of some allegations against Chris Pincher when he was appointed as Deputy Chief Whip in February 2022. In an interview with the BBC's Chris Mason, Johnson says he had been told about a misconduct complaint against Pincher before appointing him to the role of Deputy Chief Whip in February 2022. Johnson describes his decision as a "bad mistake". Sajid Javid resigns as health secretary, saying he "can no longer, in good conscience, continue serving in this government." Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, also resigns, saying the public expect government to be conducted "properly, competently and seriously." Andrew Murrison resigns as Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Morocco, commenting "Others must square their continuing enjoyment of your patronage with their personal sense of decency, honour and integrity but I no longer can".