Winter Olympics: Johnson confirms no UK ministers or officials will attend

• Boris Johnson says decision is effectively a diplomatic boycott'
• Prime minister does not think sporting boycotts are sensible'

Boris Johnson has said there will effectively be a diplomatic boycott" of the Winter Olympics in Beijing given that no UK ministers or officials will be attending.

The former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith begged the prime minister to ensure the UK follows the lead of the United States by having a full diplomatic boycott of the Games in February.