James Comey accuses the White House of lying

Moments of high drama here today as the former FBI director James Comey accused the Trump administration of lying – the man abruptly fired by the President last month has been testifying to the Senate intelligence committee – and it has been explosive stuff.

Mr Comey revealed he had leaked one of his memos about the “disturbing” conversations with Mr Trump – asked whether he thought the President had taped their encounters he quipped “Lordy, I hope there are tapes”.

All prompting an extraordinary rejoinder from the White House spokesman tonight: “The President is not a liar”.