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EU referendum: Pro-Brexit MEP admits free movement of labour may not end – live EU referendum: Sturgeon seeking immediate talks in Brussels to protect Scotland's EU membership – live
(35 minutes later)
11.49am BST
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Sturgeon - legislation for a second independence referendum to be put in place
Steps will not be taken to ensure that the necessary legislation will be put in place for a second Scottish independence referendum, Scotland’s First Minister has said.
[We’re just breaking away from the Corbyn speech as Sturgeon has emerged from the cabinet meeting of the Scottish government in Edinburgh].
The meeting formally agreed that this work should proceed, Sturgeon tells the press outside Bute House.
One thing she doesn’t do in the short address is guarantee that the second referendum will now take place, but there’s more.
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Corbyn makes the one and only mention of his leadership - he’s certainly not resigning now by the looks of it - saying he was elected to be leader on a platform which included a mandate to campaign on the “issue of our times,” the gap between the richest and the poorest.
Those expectations of a resignations are off the mark by the looks of it.
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It was clear that Thursday’s vote was a backlash against the free movement of people, Corbyn says, but there was no single offer from the leave side.
“In fact, there was no manifesto of what a post-Brexit UK Britain would look like.”
The whole country has to come together to discuss issues “calmly and rationally” and Labour should lead it. He mentions Andy Burnham’s role in this and how the Labour MP Keir Starmer is currently travelling around the UK taking soundings from members of the party.
But it’s also important to talk about much more – employment and human rights, the UK’s economic relationship with Europe among them.
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The Labour leader moves on to speak specifically about the issue of immigration – saying it is one “we can’t duck”.
“We have to start an open and honest debate,” he says, adding that it is clear from discussions he and others have had on the streets is that immigration played a central role in the campaign.
He says that he is certainly not afraid to talk about immigration and believes it has enriched the country (applause from supporters present) but he understands that rapid changes can place strains on communities.
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Corbyn says that the referendum revealed a very divided Britain – between London, Scotland and and other areas who voted to remain and those areas who voted to leave.
But there is another divide – “between thriving multicultural cities and often post-industrial communities who voted to leave”.
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Many former industrial heartlands voted to leave the European Union, he says. These are communities who have been hit hard by deregulation and the shifting economic landscape.
“A Sports Direct factory on a site of a former mine says it all about what has happened to Britain,” he says, going on to hit out at the “nasty form of divisive” form of politics that have emerged.
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Corbyn says that it will be necessary to forge new international alliances after the vote.
He spent much time after the referendum vote speaking to contacts in other states, including leaders of socialist parties.
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11:21
Jeremy Corbyn begins speech in central London
Corbyn has taken the podium now and begins by thanking Malhotra for what she said about the need for bringing cohesion to British society. Many people have told the party how frightened they are and it’s important to ensure cohesion.
After Thursday’s referendum, he says we are now in a world where there will be at least two years of discussions about the UK’s membership of the EU.
It’s important to ensure that the Conservatives do not run roughshod over regulations and laws designed to protect the environment, among other issues.
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The Labour frontbencher, Seema Malhotra, is speaking just ahead of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech in central London today.
The unshared prosperity, she adds, has been an important driver for how people felt about membership of the EU. But there are other concerns too around community cohesion.
She reads out a message from a teacher in her constituency who spoke of an incident that occurred after the referendum result. The teacher was escorting a group of young children when they were racially abused by members of the public.
They shouted: “Why are there only 10 white faces in this class? Why are you not educating the English?
Children aged six were crying and saying that they were going to have to leave the country, according to the teacher. Malhotra says that people are in need of reassurance.
Daniel Boffey, policy editor at the Observer, says that the room hosting Corbyn’s speech at the Maxwell library on London’s embankment is packed.
Corbyn arrived giving a thumbs-up to the crowd who offer a few whoops in response.
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11.12am BST11.12am BST
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We’re also waiting for Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to emerge from a cabinet meeting by the Scottish government in Edinburgh.We’re also waiting for Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, to emerge from a cabinet meeting by the Scottish government in Edinburgh.
It comes after she said she believed a second referendum on independence was highly likely after Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain within the EU.It comes after she said she believed a second referendum on independence was highly likely after Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain within the EU.
The emergency session at Sturgeon’s official residence in Bute House had been expected to agree plans to put forward referendum legislation in September’s programme for government.The emergency session at Sturgeon’s official residence in Bute House had been expected to agree plans to put forward referendum legislation in September’s programme for government.
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Here’s the poster that would have been used to promote Jeremy Corbyn’s (now cancelled) appearance at GlastonburyHere’s the poster that would have been used to promote Jeremy Corbyn’s (now cancelled) appearance at Glastonbury
Check out poster that would have gone out if @jeremycorbyn had made it to Glasto pic.twitter.com/KV0UzKR8FXCheck out poster that would have gone out if @jeremycorbyn had made it to Glasto pic.twitter.com/KV0UzKR8FX
We’re waiting for a speech by the Labour leader to get underway shortly in central London. The Guardian’s Heather Stewart is currently there for us. We’re waiting for a speech by the Labour leader to get under way shortly in central London. The Guardian’s Heather Stewart is there for us.
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Petition for second referendum reaches one million signaturesPetition for second referendum reaches one million signatures
A parliamentary petition calling for a second referendum has now attracted more than a million signatures A parliamentary petition calling for a second referendum has attracted more than 1m signatures. The figure is 10 times the number needed for the issue to be raised in parliament.
The figure is 10 times the number needed for the issue to be raised in parliament. Set up by William Oliver Healey, it states: “We the undersigned call upon HM 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.” Set up by William Oliver Healey, it states: “We the undersigned call upon HM 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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10.48am BST10.48am BST
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Referendum voters divided on age, wealth and education lines - surveyReferendum voters divided on age, wealth and education lines - survey
Sharp divisions along the lines of age, wealth and education among those who voted in Thursday’s referendum have been revealed in polling by the Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft.Sharp divisions along the lines of age, wealth and education among those who voted in Thursday’s referendum have been revealed in polling by the Conservative peer Michael Ashcroft.
The deep differences between the pro and anti-Brexit camps include:The deep differences between the pro and anti-Brexit camps include:
The full results, based on a survey of 12,369 people on referendum day, are here.The full results, based on a survey of 12,369 people on referendum day, are here.
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Homebuyers spooked by the UK’s decision to leave the EU are pulling out of deals or attempting to renegotiate prices, according to property professionals, as the housing market suffers Brexit vote aftershocks.Homebuyers spooked by the UK’s decision to leave the EU are pulling out of deals or attempting to renegotiate prices, according to property professionals, as the housing market suffers Brexit vote aftershocks.
One property developer in central London, which had offered a “Brexit clause” allowing nervous buyers to pull out of deals in the event of a leave vote said it was allowing buyers to withdraw and keep their deposits. One property developer in central London, which had offered a “Brexit clause” allowing nervous buyers to pull out of deals in the event of a leave vote, said it was allowing buyers to withdraw and keep their deposits.
David Humbles, managing director of the luxury Two Fifty One development, said: David Humbles, the managing director of the luxury Two Fifty One development, said:
We can confirm that a few purchasers have decided not to proceed given the uncertainty of the market. We can confirm that a few purchasers have decided not to proceed given the uncertainty of the market. However, the majority are continuing with their purchase and the marketing strategy to offer the pledge at the launch was a worthwhile exercise.
However, the majority are continuing with their purchase and the marketing strategy to offer the pledge at the launch was a worthwhile exercise.
We have a story on it developments hereWe have a story on it developments here
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Hopefully, those European diplomats taking part in today’s crucial talks about the future of the EU and Britain’s relationship with hit are operating with out a hangover. We missed this tweet last night from the German Foreign Office Hopefully, those European diplomats taking part in today’s crucial talks about the future of the EU and Britain’s relationship with hit are operating without a hangover. We missed this tweet last night from the German foreign office
We are off now to an Irish pub to get decently drunk. And from tomorrow on we will again work for a better #Europe! Promised! #EURef 🇪🇺We are off now to an Irish pub to get decently drunk. And from tomorrow on we will again work for a better #Europe! Promised! #EURef 🇪🇺
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Ben QuinnBen Quinn
Leading leave campaigners are coming under fire after appearing to row back on key pledges made during the EU referendum campaign, less than 24 hours after the UK voted for Brexit.Leading leave campaigners are coming under fire after appearing to row back on key pledges made during the EU referendum campaign, less than 24 hours after the UK voted for Brexit.
The latest focus is on immigration after the Tory MEP Daniel Hannan told the BBC: “Frankly, if people watching think that they have voted and there is now going to be zero immigration from the EU, they are going to be disappointed.”The latest focus is on immigration after the Tory MEP Daniel Hannan told the BBC: “Frankly, if people watching think that they have voted and there is now going to be zero immigration from the EU, they are going to be disappointed.”
Here’s some reaction to that:Here’s some reaction to that:
Daniel Hannan has the most bare faced cheek I've seen in a politician: he knew before Thursday how his imigration promise was being heardDaniel Hannan has the most bare faced cheek I've seen in a politician: he knew before Thursday how his imigration promise was being heard
With Nigel Farage dismissing Leave's NHS pledge and Dan Hannan saying immigration won't fall, Britain realises it's voted for bendy bananas.With Nigel Farage dismissing Leave's NHS pledge and Dan Hannan saying immigration won't fall, Britain realises it's voted for bendy bananas.
With hours of the result on Friday morning, the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, had distanced himself from the claim that £350m of EU contributions could instead be spent on the NHS. Within hours of the result on Friday morning, the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, had distanced himself from the claim that £350m of EU contributions could instead be spent on the NHS.
On another front, Liam Fox has cast doubt on the necessity of triggering the article 50 clause of the Lisbon treaty that sets out the legal process for a country’s EU withdrawal.On another front, Liam Fox has cast doubt on the necessity of triggering the article 50 clause of the Lisbon treaty that sets out the legal process for a country’s EU withdrawal.
“A lot of things were said in advance of this referendum that we might want to think about again and that [invoking article 50] is one of them,” said the Conservative MP.“A lot of things were said in advance of this referendum that we might want to think about again and that [invoking article 50] is one of them,” said the Conservative MP.
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Aides close to Jeremy Corbyn deny that he is on the verge of resigning in a speech which the Labour Party leader is due to give in just under an hour.
But not everyone is convinced. Isabel Hardman of the Spectator says in a blog that rumours have been sweeping the party overnight that Corbyn will use the event to step down and hand over the reins to John McDonnell, “who has been on manoeuvres for months.”
She adds:
There must be recognition in the Corbyn team that the situation is pretty precarious.
The lengthy Shadow Cabinet meeting yesterday wasn’t as furious as some other parts of the parliamentary Labour party might have hoped, but some members are discussing resigning en masse to trigger a change at the top of the party.
‘The trouble is, we’re all a bit worried that just one of us will go, look over our shoulder and then see that no-one is charging with us,’ says one Shadow Secretary of State.
George Eaton of the New Statesman tweets:
Labour MPs tell me of rumours that Corbyn will announce that he's standing down in speech. But ally says "utter bollocks".
The pressure continues on the Labour leader however. Ann Coffey, a Labour MP who is backing a no confidence motion in him, told the BBC a little earlier:
The result of the referendum was a disastrous result for us and the leadership must bear a share of the responsibility for that.
It was a lacklustre campaign, it didn’t contain a strong enough message and the leader himself appeared half-hearted about it.
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Don’t adjust your screen now. Here’s Ian Paisley Junior, son of the founder of the Democratic Unionist Party, advising his constituents and others to take up the opportunity of securing an Irish passport.
My advice is if you are entitled to second passport then take one. I sign off lots of applications for constituents https://t.co/oWoiVIFF8A
Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast Agreement – sometimes known as the Good Friday Agreement – anyone born in Northern Ireland has the right to be citizens of both the United Kingdom and Ireland.
In the wake of the Brexit vote, which was supported by a minority of Northern Ireland voters, there have been reports of a small surge in the number of people there applying for Irish passports, including in areas with a high number of unionist voters.
What would Ian Paisley senior, who died in September 2014, make of the post referendum landscape?
You can read more here about the uncertainty in Northern Ireland following the result:
Related: Northern Ireland secretary rejects Sinn Féin call for border poll
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EU diplomat meets for emergency talks over Brexit
Diplomats from the European Union’s six founding member states are meeting for emergency talks in Berlin as Europe’s governments and institutions scrambled to respond to Britain’s momentous decision to leave the bloc.
The foreign ministers of France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg were convened by their German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who warned it was vital that the bloc see the shock Brexit vote, by 52%-48%, as a wakeup call.
EU politicians must listen “to the expectations of the European governments, but also to the expectations of the people”, Steinmeier said, but cautioned against rash decisions.
“It’s totally clear that in times like these one should neither be hysterical, nor fall into paralysis,” he said as the talks began.
Read on here:
Related: EU meets for emergency talks over Brexit
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09:29
The vote to leave the European Union has “destroyed” five years of work by the coalition government, according to the wife of former deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg.
Miriam Gonzalez Durante said she was frustrated by the referendum result, which she believes will have far-reaching consequences for the economy and legal system.
Gonzalez Durantez, a partner at the law firm Dechert, told the BBC:
It’s a decision that has made me deeply sad really, I feel deeply sad that this country is no more part of the European Union family. Very worried, worried about the economic consequences of it that we have already started to see.
Worried about the enormous legal instability and uncertainty that it creates towards the future and at a personal level also quite a lot of frustration to see that all the work that had gone into the country for the last five years and the personal effort, and political cost also, has gone overnight - in almost 12 months all destroyed.
And above everything else very worried about the fact that this looks now like a country with very deep divisions with communities that do not seem to be able right now to dream of a common future so I think that for me is one of the first priorities.”
Gonzalez Durantez was a staunch remain supporter alongside her husband, who resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats after the party was soundly beaten at the general election last year.
9.19am BST
09:19
City of London may lose 'passport' - ECB council member
The City of London is at risk of losing its prized “EU passport”, according to a European Central Bank Governing Council member, who added that Brexit talks must be carried out quickly to limit uncertainties.
The City of London will not be able to keep that passport if Britain leaves the EU’s single market of trade in goods and services, Francois Villeroy de Galhau told France Inter radio.
“There is a precedent, it is the Norwegian model of European Economic Area, that would allow Britain to keep access to the single market but by committing to implement all EU rules,” he said.
“It would be a bit paradoxical to leave the EU and apply all EU rules but that is one solution if Britain wants to keep access to the single market.”
The passport system has helped give access to the EU’s vast market to non-EU banks working from the City of London. The UK accounts for more than 2m of the EU’s 11m financial services jobs, according to lobby group TheCityUK.
The financial sector is a significant part of Britain’s economy and big contributor to tax receipts. Financial services account for about 12% of GDP - more than manufacturing.
But there are fears big investment banks that have made London their European base could now re-locate to cities such as Dublin and Frankfurt.
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09:10
Claire Phipps
I’m handing over the live blog to my colleague Ben Quinn now. Stick with us: it’s a busy Saturday.
Thanks for reading and for all your comments so far.
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09:06
The petition calling on parliament to trigger a second referendum – arguing that the rules should be changed to require 60% of the vote for victory – has now topped 800,000 signatures.
The 100,000-signature mark ensured it would be considered for a debate in the Commons – although it’s not a foregone conclusion that it would be approved for debate, and is an even more remote prospect that it would win Commons support.
Not remotely coincidentally, the map of petition-signers shows a big concentration in London, where voters opted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.
Just out of interest, the gap between leave and remain in the referendum was 1,269,501 votes.
8.58am BST
08:58
Further to that mini round-up of Labour MPs writing about the aftermath of Brexit, here’s a column in the Guardian from John Mann, who backed leave. He says the result is a wake-up call for his party:
The Labour party in Westminster struggled to reflect the language and aspirations of our traditional working-class communities. These Labour voters, aware of the long-term neglect of their voice and their aspirations, decided the result of the referendum.
It should be no surprise to anyone that they chose to comfortably ignore the Labour call to vote remain.
The national campaign washed over their heads. Instead they discussed and decided their views in the workplace, in the community and at home. With an extraordinary consensus, working-class Britain voted to leave.
8.54am BST
08:54
The hurriedly convened meeting in Berlin today brings together the foreign ministers from the European Union’s original six founding nations: Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The meeting was called by German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said EU politicians needed to heed “the expectations of the European governments but also to the expectations of the people”.
On the issue of whether the UK ought to be working its way out of the EU swiftly, Steinmeier said:
It’s totally clear that in times like these one should neither be hysterical nor fall into paralysis.
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8.42am BST
08:42
As the Tory party scrambles to get its potential new leaders in place – see the frontrunners here – Labour is also doing some soul-searching about the Brexit result.
Jeremy Corbyn will make a speech later today; we’ll cover it on the live blog.
Yvette Cooper writes in the Mirror this morning that it’s time to “roll up our sleeves and pull our country together”:
Let’s be honest, Labour needs to get its act together too. We’ve always believed in international cooperation, but we didn’t convince people in our industrial towns or coalfield communities that there would be a better future staying in Europe, nor were Labour’s answers on immigration convincing. That’s why so many people voted out.
I’ve long called for sensible immigration reform. And that’s what we should be setting out in a calm and serious way. It’s not enough for Labour to be a party for the big cities – now, more than ever, the Labour leadership needs to speak for the whole country.
Chuka Umunna writes in the i that Labour leadership – he doesn’t mention Corbyn by name, but come on: he means Corbyn – “was sadly lacking” during the referendum campaign:
Our main striker often wasn’t on the pitch, and when he was, he failed to put the ball into the net.
And he says Labour has a responsibility to hold the Brexiters to the promises they made:
It will be the constitutional duty of the opposition to hold the new prime minister’s feet to the fire on all these commitments and hold them to account for their delivery. In truth, the manifesto of the winning candidate of the forthcoming Tory leadership contest has, in effect, already been written by the Vote Leave campaign. To some extent, it has been co-authored by Ukip, many of whose arguments Vote Leave ended up echoing.
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