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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jun/30/brexit-live-theresa-may-and-boris-johnson-set-to-announce-leadership-bids
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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
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| Boris Johnson says he is out of Tory party leadership race after Gove challenge – live | Boris Johnson says he is out of Tory party leadership race after Gove challenge – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.54pm BST | |
| 14:54 | |
| Haroon Siddique | |
| Labour MP Ruth Smeeth has urged Jeremy Corbyn to resign immediately, accusing him of a “catastrophic failure of leadership”, after he failed to defend her when she was abused at the launch of a report into antisemitism in the party. In a statement she said: | |
| I was verbally attacked by a Momentum activist and Jeremy Corbyn supporter who used traditional antisemitic slurs to attack me for being part of a ‘media conspiracy’. It is beyond belief that someone could come to the launch of a report on antisemitism in the Labour Party and espouse such vile conspiracy theories about Jewish people, which were ironically highlighted as such in Ms [Shami] Chakrabarti’s report, while the leader of my own party stood by and did absolutely nothing. | |
| People like this have no place in our party or our movement and must be opposed. Until today I had made no public comment about Jeremy’s ability to lead our party, but the fact that he failed to intervene is final proof for me that he is unfit to lead, and that a Labour Party under his stewardship cannot be a safe space for British Jews. | |
| Smeeth said that she has written to the general secretary of the Labour Party and the chair of the parliamentary Labour party to complain about the events. She continued: | |
| No-one from the Leader’s office has contacted me since the event, which is itself a catastrophic failure of leadership. I call on Jeremy Corbyn to resign immediately and make way for someone with the backbone to confront racism and antisemitism in our party and in the country.. | |
| Smeeth resigned as parliamentary private secretary the shadow Northern Ireland and Scotland teams on Monday. | |
| 2.44pm BST | |
| 14:44 | |
| Philip Oltermann | |
| The former German chancellor Helmut Kohl has warned European leaders against applying too much pressure on Britain, in the wake of the vote for Brexit. | |
| In an account of an interview for the tabloid newspaper Bild by its editor-in-chief, Kai Diekmann, Kohl, 86, is indirectly quoted as warning against “unnecessary severity and haste” in the post-referendum negotiations. | |
| The man who was one of the driving forces behind European integration in the 1990s believes that slamming the door on Britain would be an “enormous mistake” and that the country needs time to decide what it wants to do next, Diekmann writes. | |
| Kohl, who oversaw the reunification of Germany and the introduction of the euro, is calling for Europe to “take a breather” and take “one step back before taking two steps forward”, at a pace that is manageable for all member states, the article says. | |
| 2.40pm BST | |
| 14:40 | |
| Anushka Asthana | |
| I’m hearing strong rumours that some of the “core loyal” Corbyn supporters are planning to tell him that they think it’s time to go. | |
| 2.36pm BST | |
| 14:36 | |
| Haroon Siddique | |
| Emma Reynolds, chair of the parliamentary Labour party’s (PLP’s) health committee, has written to the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol to complain about John McDonnell in response to an article in the Guardian about the shadow chancellor setting up a secret group of advisers to help shape Labour’s stance on the NHS. | |
| She writes: | |
| It has been reported in today’s Guardian that John McDonnell has set up a parallel organisation to formulate health policy. As you can see from the article, members of other political parties, including somebody who stood in competition with one of our party’s parliamentary candidates, are members of this organisation: | |
| I would like to formally complain against John McDonnell. I would also like to seek your advice as to whether, in setting up this parallel organisation and working with members of other political parties, he is breaking any of the party rules or the PLP code of conduct. | |
| 2.28pm BST | |
| 14:28 | |
| Haroon Siddique | |
| This is a video of Jeremy Corbyn at Labour’s anti-semitism event earlier today, when he was accused of comparing Israel with Islamic State: | |
| At least one person thinks his future is secure for the forseeable future: | |
| Dan Hodges just tweeted that Corbyn is about to resign, so presumably he'll be leader until 2025. | |
| Understand Corbyn on edge of resigning. | |
| Eagle launch definitely pulled. Want to give Corbyn space do decent thing. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.31pm BST | |
| 2.21pm BST | |
| 14:21 | |
| Timetable for Tory leadership ballots | |
| Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench, has announced that the first vote in the Conservative leadership contest will take place on Tuesday next week, 5 July. | |
| In theory the voting will go like this. | |
| Tuesday 5 July: Ballot with 5 candidates. The one who comes last drops out. | |
| Thursday 7 July: Ballot with 4 candidates. The one who comes last drops out. | |
| Tuesday 12 July: Ballot with 3 candidates. The one who comes last drops out, and then the final two go to a ballot of the entire membership. The result of that vote will be announced on Friday 9 September. | |
| So we will know who the final two candidates are by Tuesday week at the latest. | |
| But, although it is only the candidate who comes bottom who has to drop out, it is not unusual for other candidates to drop out if they realise they have no hope of winning. If Theresa May and Michael Gove are far ahead of the other three candidates on Tuesday (which is very possible), it is possible that Stephen Crabb, Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom could all drop out then, | |
| 2.07pm BST | 2.07pm BST |
| 14:07 | 14:07 |
| Angela Eagle postpones Labour leadership challenge launch | Angela Eagle postpones Labour leadership challenge launch |
| Angela Eagle is definitely not launching her Labour leadership challenge today, it has been confirmed. | Angela Eagle is definitely not launching her Labour leadership challenge today, it has been confirmed. |
| Source close to Angela Eagle confirms no launch today but she is DEFINITELY running. "Today's a day for the Tories. But she will stand" | Source close to Angela Eagle confirms no launch today but she is DEFINITELY running. "Today's a day for the Tories. But she will stand" |
| The jokes are coming thick and fast. | The jokes are coming thick and fast. |
| The Eagle hasn't landed, but may take off next week. #labour | The Eagle hasn't landed, but may take off next week. #labour |
| The Eagle is stranded https://t.co/FamItPThtN | The Eagle is stranded https://t.co/FamItPThtN |
| And the Corbynistas are briefing against her. | And the Corbynistas are briefing against her. |
| Corbynista source on Eagle: "She's already the disunity candidate. Some of these people are just confirming why we lost two elections." | Corbynista source on Eagle: "She's already the disunity candidate. Some of these people are just confirming why we lost two elections." |
| Pro-JC Lab source: "Where Eagles Daren't...that's the movie title. Even she's not sure if she should run. Shes's a second rung Brownite" | Pro-JC Lab source: "Where Eagles Daren't...that's the movie title. Even she's not sure if she should run. Shes's a second rung Brownite" |
| 1.56pm BST | 1.56pm BST |
| 13:56 | 13:56 |
| Discussions on transitional arrangements for an independent Scotland to remain in the European Union (EU) after the UK leaves are taking place in Brussels, a former senior adviser to the European Commission (EC) has disclosed. | Discussions on transitional arrangements for an independent Scotland to remain in the European Union (EU) after the UK leaves are taking place in Brussels, a former senior adviser to the European Commission (EC) has disclosed. |
| As the Press Association reports, Dr Kirsty Hughes told MSPs discussions are taking place about putting Scotland in a “transitional holding pen” after Brexit to avoid “an absurd out and then in process”. | As the Press Association reports, Dr Kirsty Hughes told MSPs discussions are taking place about putting Scotland in a “transitional holding pen” after Brexit to avoid “an absurd out and then in process”. |
| She urged MSPs to hold a second independence referendum by summer 2017 at the latest, if it is judged to be in the best interests of Scotland, to allow the EU to start work on these transitional arrangements. | She urged MSPs to hold a second independence referendum by summer 2017 at the latest, if it is judged to be in the best interests of Scotland, to allow the EU to start work on these transitional arrangements. |
| However, she warned the EU “does not want a mini-UK” and said Scotland is unlikely to keep the UK’s “awkward squad” opt-outs of the euro, justice and home affairs and the UK budget rebate. | However, she warned the EU “does not want a mini-UK” and said Scotland is unlikely to keep the UK’s “awkward squad” opt-outs of the euro, justice and home affairs and the UK budget rebate. |
| Hughes, now an associate fellow of the Friends of Europe, told Holyrood’s European and External Relations Committee: | Hughes, now an associate fellow of the Friends of Europe, told Holyrood’s European and External Relations Committee: |
| I talk to people in Brussels, off the record, who are talking about Scotland being in some sort of transitional holding pen. | I talk to people in Brussels, off the record, who are talking about Scotland being in some sort of transitional holding pen. |
| It wouldn’t have a seat in the council of ministers until ratification of the treaties, but it wouldn’t have to go through an absurd out and then in process. | It wouldn’t have a seat in the council of ministers until ratification of the treaties, but it wouldn’t have to go through an absurd out and then in process. |
| I go through all that for now because I think there is a timing issue. | I go through all that for now because I think there is a timing issue. |
| If Scotland waits until nearly the end of the two years to say, ‘This isn’t okay and now we’re having an independence referendum’, you might not have had that and had time to have the negotiations with the rest of the UK on dissolving the union before the whole of the UK has left. | If Scotland waits until nearly the end of the two years to say, ‘This isn’t okay and now we’re having an independence referendum’, you might not have had that and had time to have the negotiations with the rest of the UK on dissolving the union before the whole of the UK has left. |
| So, it’s obviously a very big political judgement about whether and when to call an independence referendum. | So, it’s obviously a very big political judgement about whether and when to call an independence referendum. |
| If it was only a question of logic, you would call it as soon as possible in my view. | If it was only a question of logic, you would call it as soon as possible in my view. |
| You would call it, anyway, let’s say, by next summer because then you would have actually had the dissolution talks - if it was successful - with the UK before the UK left. | You would call it, anyway, let’s say, by next summer because then you would have actually had the dissolution talks - if it was successful - with the UK before the UK left. |
| That would make it much easier for the EU to get into some of these transitional holding pen arrangements than otherwise. | That would make it much easier for the EU to get into some of these transitional holding pen arrangements than otherwise. |
| 1.45pm BST | 1.45pm BST |
| 13:45 | 13:45 |
| For what it’s worth, here’s a snapshot from what’s going on in the Labour party. A source (who is not well disposed towards Jeremy Corbyn) says that Holborn and St Pancras Labour party debated a motion supporting Corbyn last night and that it was defeated by 44 votes to 35. Apparently soft left members who have supported Corbyn in the past swung against him because of his performance in the EU referendum. Sir Keir Starmer, the MP, criticised Corbyn not just for being lacklustre during the campaign, but also for saying on Friday morning that the government should trigger article 50 (starting the withdrawal process) immediately. That would limit the government’s room for manoeuvre, Starmer said. The Momentum organiser James Schneider was there and apparently was none too pleased ... | For what it’s worth, here’s a snapshot from what’s going on in the Labour party. A source (who is not well disposed towards Jeremy Corbyn) says that Holborn and St Pancras Labour party debated a motion supporting Corbyn last night and that it was defeated by 44 votes to 35. Apparently soft left members who have supported Corbyn in the past swung against him because of his performance in the EU referendum. Sir Keir Starmer, the MP, criticised Corbyn not just for being lacklustre during the campaign, but also for saying on Friday morning that the government should trigger article 50 (starting the withdrawal process) immediately. That would limit the government’s room for manoeuvre, Starmer said. The Momentum organiser James Schneider was there and apparently was none too pleased ... |
| 1.38pm BST | 1.38pm BST |
| 13:38 | 13:38 |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| 1.34pm BST | 1.34pm BST |
| 13:34 | 13:34 |
| Here is the Guardian’s panel - Jonathan Freedland, Zoe Williams, Mary Dejevsky and Mark Wallace - on how Boris Johnson’s departure will affect the Conservative leadership contest. | Here is the Guardian’s panel - Jonathan Freedland, Zoe Williams, Mary Dejevsky and Mark Wallace - on how Boris Johnson’s departure will affect the Conservative leadership contest. |
| Related: How will Boris Johnson’s departure change the Tory leadership contest? | The panel | Related: How will Boris Johnson’s departure change the Tory leadership contest? | The panel |
| And here’s an extract from Jonathan’s article. | And here’s an extract from Jonathan’s article. |
| The choice now is between, in Gove, a true Brexit believer and, in May, a candidate who today declared “Brexit means Brexit”. Those who had hoped that the next prime minister might look for a fudge, a way out of the 23 June verdict, need to lower their expectations – and accept that out might really mean out. | The choice now is between, in Gove, a true Brexit believer and, in May, a candidate who today declared “Brexit means Brexit”. Those who had hoped that the next prime minister might look for a fudge, a way out of the 23 June verdict, need to lower their expectations – and accept that out might really mean out. |
| 1.30pm BST | 1.30pm BST |
| 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Turning to the Labour party for a moment, we were expecting an announcement this afternoon from Angela Eagle about challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. But, according to Sky’s Jon Craig, that may be delayed. | Turning to the Labour party for a moment, we were expecting an announcement this afternoon from Angela Eagle about challenging Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership. But, according to Sky’s Jon Craig, that may be delayed. |
| Shad Cab member tells me probably no Angela Eagle launch today. Expects hustings between Eagle & Owen Smith on Mon to decide who will run. | Shad Cab member tells me probably no Angela Eagle launch today. Expects hustings between Eagle & Owen Smith on Mon to decide who will run. |
| 1.22pm BST | 1.22pm BST |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| Dominic Raab on why Gove abandoned Johnson: 'we're picking a PM, not a school prefect' | Dominic Raab on why Gove abandoned Johnson: 'we're picking a PM, not a school prefect' |
| Dominic Raab, the justice minister, was on the Daily Politics earlier explaining why he and his boss, Michael Gove, the justice secretary, decided they could no longer support Boris Johnson’s bid for the Conservative leadership. Along with Gove and Johnson, Raab was a leading leave campaigner. | Dominic Raab, the justice minister, was on the Daily Politics earlier explaining why he and his boss, Michael Gove, the justice secretary, decided they could no longer support Boris Johnson’s bid for the Conservative leadership. Along with Gove and Johnson, Raab was a leading leave campaigner. |
| Raab told the programme: | Raab told the programme: |
| We were striving and struggling not just for a dream ticket, but a dream team ... We had certain reassurances about the team that were treated in a rather cavalier fashion - and you can see if you look at the runners and riders this morning the outcome of that ... Putting together a really strong unifying team was an absolute condition. When that fell away, I think that Michael felt things had changed ... | We were striving and struggling not just for a dream ticket, but a dream team ... We had certain reassurances about the team that were treated in a rather cavalier fashion - and you can see if you look at the runners and riders this morning the outcome of that ... Putting together a really strong unifying team was an absolute condition. When that fell away, I think that Michael felt things had changed ... |
| Boris was cavalier with assurances he made ... We’re picking a prime minister here to lead the country, not a school prefect. | Boris was cavalier with assurances he made ... We’re picking a prime minister here to lead the country, not a school prefect. |
| Raab also explained why he was now backing Gove. | Raab also explained why he was now backing Gove. |
| Michael Gove is the right leader for the country ... He can speak out to the aspirational underdog in our society, the kid from the council estate ... I also think when it comes to delivering on Brexit, we need someone with a passion but also the mastery of the detail. He combines both. | Michael Gove is the right leader for the country ... He can speak out to the aspirational underdog in our society, the kid from the council estate ... I also think when it comes to delivering on Brexit, we need someone with a passion but also the mastery of the detail. He combines both. |
| 1.11pm BST | 1.11pm BST |
| 13:11 | 13:11 |
| My colleague Sam Coates from the Times (standing on the right, behind Norman Smith) found it hard to conceal his surprise after Boris Johnson’s announcement. | My colleague Sam Coates from the Times (standing on the right, behind Norman Smith) found it hard to conceal his surprise after Boris Johnson’s announcement. |
| The lobby's reaction as expressed by @SamCoatesTimes pic.twitter.com/iOjhy1lhfa | The lobby's reaction as expressed by @SamCoatesTimes pic.twitter.com/iOjhy1lhfa |