Prime Minster Boris Johnson has been urged by Labour to appoint a fully "independent" figure to oversee ministers' conduct, including his own. A new standards adviser, crossbench peer Lord Geidt, was put in post yesterday and will look into the funding of the recent Downing Street flat renovations. It comes after a heated debate during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday over how they were funded – namely who had paid for them in the first place. Mr Johnson has maintained he's paid the costs himself.
As well as carrying out his own inquiry, Lord Geidt will "advise the prime minister on any further registration of interests that may be needed", but as Mr Johnson remains "the ultimate arbiter" of the ministerial code he will decide whether to accept or reject any findings. Before carrying out this and other inquiries, Lord Geidt will need to get the prime minister’s permission, which Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said was wrong. However, "successive" advisers have been taken on under these terms, No 10 said. Lord Geidt's appointment was made as the Electoral Commission - the watchdog overseeing political finances - launched an investigation, saying there were "reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence or offences may have occurred". The government insists the prime minister "acted in accordance with the appropriate codes of conduct and electoral law".

US President Joe Biden has promised a "once in a generation investment in America itself”, as he laid out his proposals for jobs, education and social care on the eve of his 100th day in office. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, the Democrat pitched plans involving some $4 trillion (£2.9tn) in spending - the largest overhaul of US benefits since the 1960s, analysts say. Mr Biden said he’d inherited "a nation in crisis" but “America is on the move again”, referencing the success of the vaccine rollout. He described the American Jobs Plan as "a blue-collar blueprint to build America”, adding it will invest in public transport, high-speed broadband, and roads and bridges.
The proposals face strong opposition from the Republican Party with the Republican Senator Tim Scott calling Biden's agenda a "liberal wish list of big government waste" while senior Republican official Ronna McDaniel said Mr Biden's first 100 days had been an "unqualified failure". Despite slim Democratic control of both houses, the plans face a battle in Congress before they can become law.

Removing Arlene Foster as Democratic Unionist Party leader is a "total mess" that could lead to a Northern Ireland Assembly election this year, a senior source told us. Mrs Foster resigned as leader yesterday and will step down from that role on 28 May and then as first minister at the end of June. The fallout from Brexit over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which imposed a border down the Irish Sea, caused friction both internally and between the party and some of its core voters. A letter of no-confidence emerged on Tuesday and there was also pressure from councillors, with concerns including the protocol, abortion legislation and same-sex marriage.
Mrs Foster faced a revolt with about 80% of the party's Stormont and Westminster ranks backing a change of leadership. A new leader is likely to be elected before the end of May but a senior source says Sinn Féin may demand concessions on the Irish language or LGBT rights before agreeing to the election of a new first minister. "I don't think any of them have gamed out what is likely to happen now," the source said. The election for the power-sharing Assembly isn't due to take place until May next year.

"Interior resign" headlines the Metro as it reports the "fiercest Commons clash yet" between Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over questions about how the Downing Street flat renovations were funded. According to the Daily Mail, Mr Johnson’s "painted into a corner" and says he and fiancée Carrie Symonds "may have to hand over personal emails and phone messages" to an official inquiry. Mr Johnson is dominating many of the other front pages too following Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday. Arlene Foster’s resignation as DUP leader and pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their 10th wedding anniversary also feature in the papers this morning. You can read them here.

How do you make a trip to the supermarket interesting? You could try to get your shopping done in record time, buy nothing but special offers or have a look through second-hand clothes. Asda has revealed it will start selling pre-loved clothes in some stores to "give a new lease of life" to pre-worn garments.
You could also challenge yourself to park in every car parking space at your supermarket of choice. That’s what Gareth Wild, from London, spent six years doing. He’s parked in all 211 spaces, documenting the best and worst spots. He says he’s completed his “magnum opus" - great work.

Every voter in Great Britain will have the chance to take part in at least one of six elections on 6 May.

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