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Brexit: Britain's most senior EU official resigns after UK vote to leave – live Brexit: Britain's most senior EU official resigns after UK vote to leave – live
(35 minutes later)
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Justine Greening, the Secretary of State for International Development, might have been on the losing side in the referendum campaign but has been receiving congratulations today after telling Twitter followers that she is in a same-sex relationship.
Today's a good day to say I'm in a happy same sex relationship, I campaigned for Stronger In but sometimes you're better off out! #Pride2016
The Conservative MP sent out her tweet as Pride 2016 was celebrated across the UK.
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Lisa O'Carroll
Jeremy Corbyn continues to enjoy support from young voters in particular, if a straw poll of under-25s at Glastonbury by Lisa O’Carroll is anything to go by:
The mere mention of his name in the The Left Field tent, home of political discussions at the festival, raised an enormous cheer on Saturday lunchtime.
Another enormous cheer rang out when Clive Lewis, MP for Norfolk South, who was one of the first to support Corbyn, took a shot at the Blairites in the party.
“I’m not going to stand back and hand my party back to the neoliberals who got us here in the first place.
“They are not the future of the party, you are the future of the party,” he told the crowd urging them to join the party and ensure a “progressive Brexit”.
“I do not want to take my party back. I want to take it forward,” he added.
Green party MEP Molly Scott Cato went further, calling for both the Labour party and Conservative party to “split” into the opposing sides exposed during the referendum.
She warned that the Tories had “no domestic mandate” as those supporting the left and the right had voted for Brexit.
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A number of Labour frontbenchers will threaten to quit next week in a bid to topple Jeremy Corbyn as party leader, according to a report by PoliticsHome.
Two backbench MPs – Margaret Hodge and Ann Coffey – tabled a vote of no confidence in Corbyn on Friday in the aftermath of the shock referendum result, blaming what they saw as his lacklustre campaigning for a remain vote.
However, it appears he may be facing a more concerted heave to unseat him than initial reports suggested.
PoliticsHome says that a number of frontbench MPs - including members of the shadow cabinet - will threaten to resign unless he agrees to step down within days:
One senior MP told PoliticsHome: “It will be bloody and messy, but has to be done. The alternative is that we slowly bleed to death.”
The Labour rebels fear that the new Tory leader will call a snap election - and that a Corbyn-led Labour party would suffer a “meltdown”.
One backbencher said: “The groundswell now is that he’s got to go. If we go into a general election in the autumn with him in charge we are screwed.
“What’s got to happen now is that the shadow cabinet has got to have some balls and go to him and say ‘you’ve got to go’.”
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Sadiq Khan has told the one million Europeans who live in London that they remain welcome despite Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
The mayor, speaking at the capital’s Pride festival on Saturday afternoon, said the city was grateful for the enormous contribution made by Europeans and said that would not change despite the referendum result.
Khan said he was “exploring every avenue” to ensure London could remain in the single market following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, in order to protect jobs and investment.
“London needs to be represented at the negotiating table when it comes to any deal with the EU,” he said.
The Labour mayor urged his party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to recognise that the country had been left divided in the wake of the EU vote and that he must help “heal those rifts”.
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David Cameron is sorry that Britain’s most senior EU officials, Jonathan Hill, has decided to step down, a Downing Street spokesman said.
The spokesman added:
He is extremely grateful to Lord Hill for his service at the European commission in the crucial portfolio of financial stability, financial services and capital markets union.
He has done an excellent job as a commissioner - helping to focus the European commission on measures to promote growth and jobs, in particular his proposals to increase the flow of affordable investment capital across the EU and for giving the UK a strong voice in the European commission. The prime minister wishes Lord Hill well for the future.
Meanwhile, analysis from Twitter has shown that David Cameron’s resignation was the most tweeted-about event surrounding the EU referendum.
Approximately 13,300 tweets were sent per minute as the PM made his speech following the historic decision to leave, according to the social network.
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A huge petition calling for a new EU referendum has no chance of reversing this week’s historic vote to leave, according to one of Britain’s foremost elections expert. A petition calling for a new EU referendum has no chance of reversing this week’s historic vote to leave, according to one of Britain’s foremost elections expert.
Professor John Curtice, whose exit poll was the only one to predict the Conservatives would win last year’s general election and who has earned a sort of sage-like reputation among journalists, said the subject was so divisive within mainstream political parties and their supporters that it would be unlikely to form a campaigning issue for some time, let alone spark another public vote. Professor John Curtice, whose exit poll was the only one to predict the Conservatives would win last year’s general election and who has earned a near sage-like reputation among journalists, said the subject was so divisive within mainstream political parties and their supporters that it would be unlikely to form a campaigning issue for some time, let alone spark another public vote.
Thursday’s referendum saw 17.4 million (51.9%) votes cast to leave the EU, compared with 16.1 million (48.1%) for remaining part of the bloc, with a turnout of 72.2%, according to the Electoral Commission.Thursday’s referendum saw 17.4 million (51.9%) votes cast to leave the EU, compared with 16.1 million (48.1%) for remaining part of the bloc, with a turnout of 72.2%, according to the Electoral Commission.
In response, nearly 1.5 million people have signed an online petition calling for the government to implement a rule that “if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum”.In response, nearly 1.5 million people have signed an online petition calling for the government to implement a rule that “if the Remain or Leave vote is less than 60% based on a turnout less than 75%, there should be another referendum”.
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If you’re wondering why article 50 of the Lisbon treaty seems to be on the lips of every politician then you may want to take a look at this piece by the Guardian’s Jennifer Rankin, Julian Borger and Mark Rice-Oxley.If you’re wondering why article 50 of the Lisbon treaty seems to be on the lips of every politician then you may want to take a look at this piece by the Guardian’s Jennifer Rankin, Julian Borger and Mark Rice-Oxley.
The clause sets out how an EU country might voluntarily leave the union. The wording is vague, almost as if the drafters thought it unlikely it would ever come into play.The clause sets out how an EU country might voluntarily leave the union. The wording is vague, almost as if the drafters thought it unlikely it would ever come into play.
Now, it is the subject of a dispute between EU leaders desperate for certainty in the wake of the Brexit vote, and Brexiters in the UK playing for time.Now, it is the subject of a dispute between EU leaders desperate for certainty in the wake of the Brexit vote, and Brexiters in the UK playing for time.
Article 50 says: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.”Article 50 says: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.”
It specifies that a leaver should notify the European council of its intention, negotiate a deal on its withdrawal and establish legal grounds for a future relationship with the EU. On the European side, the agreement needs a qualified majority of member states and consent of the European parliament.It specifies that a leaver should notify the European council of its intention, negotiate a deal on its withdrawal and establish legal grounds for a future relationship with the EU. On the European side, the agreement needs a qualified majority of member states and consent of the European parliament.
The only real quantifiable detail in the article is a provision that gives negotiators two years from the date of article 50 notification to conclude new arrangements. Failure to do so results in the exiting state falling out of the EU with no new provisions in place, unless every one of the remaining EU states agrees to extend the negotiations.The only real quantifiable detail in the article is a provision that gives negotiators two years from the date of article 50 notification to conclude new arrangements. Failure to do so results in the exiting state falling out of the EU with no new provisions in place, unless every one of the remaining EU states agrees to extend the negotiations.
No country has ever invoked article 50 – yet.No country has ever invoked article 50 – yet.
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Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
The Irish Times has pulled no punches in its editorial on Brexit today, calling it a “Bewildering act of self harm.”The Irish Times has pulled no punches in its editorial on Brexit today, calling it a “Bewildering act of self harm.”
The paper believes there will be an “inevitable” return to “lamentable border controls”.The paper believes there will be an “inevitable” return to “lamentable border controls”.
Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist grandee and former MP Lord Kilclooney (aka John Taylor) has some advice for the Irish Republic.Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist grandee and former MP Lord Kilclooney (aka John Taylor) has some advice for the Irish Republic.
The peer writes: “The exit of the UK from the EU will damage the Republic more than any of the other 26 EU nations. In order to secure Irish beef, lamb and dairy exports into the UK, as well as ensure there will be no barriers along the border, it would be helpful for the Republic to hold a referendum about its future with the EU.”The peer writes: “The exit of the UK from the EU will damage the Republic more than any of the other 26 EU nations. In order to secure Irish beef, lamb and dairy exports into the UK, as well as ensure there will be no barriers along the border, it would be helpful for the Republic to hold a referendum about its future with the EU.”
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David Cameron was greeted with muted applause when he made an appearance at an armed forces event in Lincolnshire earlier, and was shouted at by at least one person in the crowd, according to the Guardian’s Rowena Mason.David Cameron was greeted with muted applause when he made an appearance at an armed forces event in Lincolnshire earlier, and was shouted at by at least one person in the crowd, according to the Guardian’s Rowena Mason.
Appearing alongside military chiefs and the Duke of Kent, the prime minister was smiling but did not make any public statement.Appearing alongside military chiefs and the Duke of Kent, the prime minister was smiling but did not make any public statement.
Earlier he released a video in support of Pride celebrations, saying Britain was a great country where people of all backgrounds live and work together in harmony.Earlier he released a video in support of Pride celebrations, saying Britain was a great country where people of all backgrounds live and work together in harmony.
He also spoke of the Orlando atrocity that was a “direct attack on the LGBT community”.He also spoke of the Orlando atrocity that was a “direct attack on the LGBT community”.
Cameron did not mention the EU referendum, but added: “Our values - of openness, tolerance, equality and solidarity - is what makes Britain so special.”Cameron did not mention the EU referendum, but added: “Our values - of openness, tolerance, equality and solidarity - is what makes Britain so special.”
PM: Pride says to Londoners, Britain and the world: be yourself. #NoFilter #Pride2016https://t.co/65Bk4IAAVkPM: Pride says to Londoners, Britain and the world: be yourself. #NoFilter #Pride2016https://t.co/65Bk4IAAVk
Ciaran Jenkins meanwhile picks up on one of the tunes which may not entirely have been to Cameron’s liking at the Armed Forces event:Ciaran Jenkins meanwhile picks up on one of the tunes which may not entirely have been to Cameron’s liking at the Armed Forces event:
Scotland the Brave. That's just rubbing it in. pic.twitter.com/89bVOcbeygScotland the Brave. That's just rubbing it in. pic.twitter.com/89bVOcbeyg
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Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
Ireland’s parliament, the Dáil, is to be recalled on Monday to discuss the implications of Brexit on the Republic, the Irish prime minister has announced.Ireland’s parliament, the Dáil, is to be recalled on Monday to discuss the implications of Brexit on the Republic, the Irish prime minister has announced.
Enda Kenny also assured the Irish people that the government in Dublin has laid down plans to cope with the UK leaving the EU and to lessen its impact on Ireland.Enda Kenny also assured the Irish people that the government in Dublin has laid down plans to cope with the UK leaving the EU and to lessen its impact on Ireland.
The taoiseach told RTÉ on Saturday: “There will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands.”The taoiseach told RTÉ on Saturday: “There will be no immediate change to the free flow of people, goods and services between our islands.”
Kenny said the government had a contingency plan for Brexit in placeand revealed that he had had a telephone conversation with David Cameron in which the prime minister thanked his Irish counterpart for his support during the referendum campaign.Kenny said the government had a contingency plan for Brexit in placeand revealed that he had had a telephone conversation with David Cameron in which the prime minister thanked his Irish counterpart for his support during the referendum campaign.
While Ireland remained solidly neutral during the Scottish Independence referendum of 2014, a number of Irish ministers – includingKenny – actively encouraged Irish citizens living in the UK to vote to temain.While Ireland remained solidly neutral during the Scottish Independence referendum of 2014, a number of Irish ministers – includingKenny – actively encouraged Irish citizens living in the UK to vote to temain.
Cameron and Kenny agreed that work must continue between Irish and UK ministers to maintain the stability of the Northern Ireland peace process and power-sharing settlement.Cameron and Kenny agreed that work must continue between Irish and UK ministers to maintain the stability of the Northern Ireland peace process and power-sharing settlement.
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Footage has emerged of Jeremy Corbyn being confronted at Pride in London by two men who accused him of failing to mobilise the Labour vote to remain in the EU.
One man, and another who appeared to be a friend, filmed himself telling the Labour leader: “It’s your fault Jeremy. I had a Polish friend in tears because you couldn’t get the vote out in Wales, the north, and the midlands.”
Corbyn, walking with some Labour activists, appears to hear the heckles but doesn’t respond.
I get so angry when politicians use the lgbtq+ community to protect their weak leadership pic.twitter.com/9YRVbbce2e
Update: The Press Association (PA) reports that Corbyn replies : “I did all I could.”
Tom Mauchline, who was said to be a Labour Party member, later told the PA: “I didn’t come here intending to do this.”
“I didn’t know he was going to be there. We were given 15 minutes’ notice that he was coming and it made me so angry. It just seemed like a cynical attempt to use the LGBT community to shore up his weak leadership.”
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Sadiq Khan will tell the 1 million Europeans who live in London that they remain welcome in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union when he addresses the capital’s Pride event.
The London mayor is expected to say: “We are grateful for the enormous contribution you make, and that will not change as a consequence of yesterday’s referendum result.”
Khan will say that Pride underlines London’s reputation as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world: “In light of yesterday’s result and in the spirit of inclusiveness that binds the LGBT+ community, we all have a responsibility to now seek to heal the divisions that emerged throughout the last weeks and months of the referendum campaign and to focus on what unites us, rather than that which divides us.”
You can read more about today’s Pride in London festivities here.
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Britain’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has denied the UK government is a rudderless ship after David Cameron’s post-Brexit resignation.
Speaking at an Armed Forces Day event in Cleethorpes, where he is with the prime minister, Fallon told the Press Association:
The prime minister goes on, the government goes on until the autumn, until there is a new leader and a new government.
We’ll remain at our posts and we have a big agenda. We were elected only a year ago and we’ve set out fresh legislation, which we’re taking through parliament at the moment.
Cabinet is meeting on Monday. We were all elected just a year ago on a big programme of continuing to move the economy forward, creating more jobs, a programme of social reform, and investment in defence which you can see today.
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This sign is on disaplay at the main post office in Belfast:
So here's where we're at. This is the central post office in Belfast #brexit #EURefResults pic.twitter.com/YiZsSID3kU
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Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis will take over the EU’s financial services portfolio following the resignation of Britain’s Jonathan Hill.
Dombrovskis, a former Latvian prime minister, is responsible for the single currency in the 28-member college of commissioners – one from each EU member state. He is also the commission’s vice-president.
The UK will be entitled to nominate a new commissioner for its remaining time in the EU. The UK’s portfolio will be determined by commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in consultation with the UK government.
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Britain should begin informal negotiations on a full settlement governing its post-exit relationship with the EU before invoking article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, according to the chief executive of the Vote Leave campaign.
“We don’t think there is a need to swiftly invoke article 50,” Matthew Elliott, the chief executive of Vote Leave, told Reuters in an interview. “It’s best for the dust to settle over the summer and during that time for there to be informal negotiations with other states,” he said.
Elliott said the full settlement on Britain’s exit would include all aspects of the relationship, including the British contribution to the EU, access to the single market, extradition agreements and so-called “passporting” for financial services.
“There is no reason why a sensible arrangement couldn’t be put in place for passporting to continue,” he said.
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Lunchtime summary
Ben Quinn
• European Union governments have piled pressure on the UK to leave the bloc quickly, saying talks on the UK’s exit must begin soon and and urging a new British prime minister to take office quickly.As Europe scrambled on Saturday to respond to the momentous Brexit vote, foreign ministers from the EU’s six founding members states meeting in emergency session in Berlin demanded the earliest possible start to the Brexit process.
• Britain’s most senior EU official, Jonathan Hill, is resigning his position following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.Lord Hill, who was sent to Brussels by David Cameron and took the highly-prized portfolio of financial services, said he didn’t believe it was right for him to carry on in the post. He was standing down in line with what he had discussed with the president of the European Commission some weeks ago, he added.
• France’s foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said Britain “must trigger” article 50 – the procedure for leaving the EU, adding that it was urgent Cameron step aside for a new leader to manage the transition out of the union: “A new prime minister must be designated, that will take a few days.”It would “not be respectful” for Britain to delay the process, Ayrault said. “It’s a question of respect.” On Friday, Cameron said he would delay the start of Brexit negotiations until his successor as prime minister is in place in the autumn.• The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, says it “shouldn’t take forever” for the UK to deliver formal notification that it wants to leave the European Union but is making clear that the matter is in London’s hands.Merkel said she is seeking a “objective, good” climate in talks on Britain’s exit from the EU and that there’s no need to make deterrence a priority.
• Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is to directly lobby European Union member states for support in ensuring that Scotland can remain part of the EU, after Scots voted emphatically against Brexit on Thursday.The first minister has disclosed that she is to invite all EU diplomats based in Scotland to a summit at her official residence in Edinburgh within the next two weeks, in a bid to sidestep the UK government.
• Jeremy Corbyn , the leader of Britain’s Labour party, has said that areas that voted most strongly to leave in the EU referendum are “communities that have effectively been abandoned” by economic change and the austerity policies of Britain’s Conservative government.Corbyn, who is under pressure from MPs in his party to step down and faces a motion of no confidence in his leadership, said “I am here” when asked if he would take part in any new leadership contest.
You can watch the full video of Corbyn’s address here.
• The European Central Bank has fanned fears that London could lose its status as Europe’s financial capital after warning that the Brexit vote might sever the City’s trade relationship with the EU.A top ECB official said banks in the City of London risked being stripped of their lucrative EU “passports” that allow them to sell services to the rest of the union. François Villeroy de Galhau said keeping the so-called “passport” would not be possible if the UK leaves the single market.
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Merkel wants 'good, objective' climate for Brexit talks
Angela Merkel says she is seeking a “good, objective” climate for talks about Britain’s departure from the European Union, and that there was no need to be nasty.
The Guardian’s Chris Johnston listened to her speech and reports that the German chancellor said that the EU must work with member countries that are unsure about the benefits of union membership.
Merkel said the bloc could “help them with external borders”, for example, in a bid to allay fears that politicians are not taking the concerns of citizens seriously.
She added that the EU needed to work out “how to make people feel good in a fast-changing world”.
Merkel also said that the “Christian framework is the basis of what we do”.
The Wall Street Journal’s Berlin correspondent tweets:
Merkel says ball is in UK's court now but Germany plans to keep the relationship close #brexit #euref pic.twitter.com/JeChUT7JKX
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In his resignation, Hill added:
Like many people here and in the UK, I am obviously very disappointed about the result of the referendum.
I wanted it to end differently and had hoped that Britain would want to play a role in arguing for an outward-looking, flexible, competitive, free trade Europe. But the British people took a different decision, and that is the way that democracy works.
As the UK enters “a new phase”, he didn’t believe that it was right for him to carry on as the British Commissioner “as if nothing had happened”.
In line with what I discussed with the President of the Commission some weeks ago, I have therefore told him that I shall stand down. At the same time, there needs to be an orderly handover, so I have said that I will work with him to make sure that happens in the weeks ahead.
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12:32
Britain's most senior EU official resigns
Britain’s most senior EU official, Jonathan Hill, is resigning following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.
The Guardian’s Jennifer Rankin reports that Lord Hill was sent to Brussels by David Cameron and took the highly-prized portfolio of financial services.
But his departure after Brexit was a foregone conclusion, as many European politicians oppose a Briton presiding over EU financial stability, when the UK is on the way out. Several MEPs have already called on Hill to go.
Hill, said he didn’t think it was right to carry on as commissioner as if nothing had happened.
I came to Brussels as someone who had campaigned against Britain joining the euro and who was sceptical about Europe.
I will leave it certain that, despite its frustrations, our membership was good for our place in the world and good for our economy. But what is done cannot be undone and now we have to get on with making our new relationship with Europe work as well as possible.
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