Boris Johnson has said he will publish his text messages and “make absolutely no apology” for the exchanges with businessman James Dyson promising to “fix” the tax status for the firm to help build ventilators. As Jessica Elgot reports, Keir Starmer accused the government of “sleaze, sleaze, sleaze” after leaked texts from Johnson promised that the pro-Brexit billionaire’s employees would not have to pay extra tax if they came to the UK to make ventilators during the pandemic. Johnny Mercer, who was dismissed as veterans minister last night after letting it be known he intended to resign, has told Times Radio that he found government a “cesspit” where almost no one told the truth. Explaining how he wanted to leave because he felt the government was not honouring its commitment to veterans, he said: This is the most distrustful, awful environment I’ve ever worked in, in government. Almost nobody tells the truth is what I’ve worked out over the last 36 hours. And, you know, I don’t think anyone really can get on their high horse about trust and ethics and all the rest of it in politics, because as far as I’m concerned, most of it is a bit of a cesspit. He also said: I think it’s pretty clear that not everyone tells the truth up here, do they? I mean, I told people I was resigning as a courtesy to government. You know, three hours later it’s in the press. And an hour later there’s someone following me around London with a camera. And, of course, they all denied they ever leaked it. You know, it’s ridiculous. But you know that is politics. And it’s the silly games of politics I’m just not interested in. The archbishop of Canterbury has called on the government to start a public inquiry into the handling of the Covid pandemic in the UK, saying it should call out “reckless error” and have the power to compel witnesses to attend. Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has announced in a Commons written statement that aid to China will be slashed by 95% to less than £1m. That’s all from me for today. But our coronavirus coverage continues on our global live blog. It’s here.