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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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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)
5.14pm BST
17:14
Afternoon Summary
5.08pm BST
17:08
Gove has told the BBC he only made his decision to run last night.
He said:
There were a number of people that said to me during the week: ‘It should be you.’
Gove repeats his assertion that he did not think Johnson was up to the job and claims he will be a unifying candidate. He claims people from both sides (leave and remain) have commended his decision to stand, so affirming it
He wants to lead a government with “wise heads and generous hearts”.
There are far too many people who feel left behind ...I want to heal and unite.
5.03pm BST
17:03
It never rains, it pours:
Jeremy Corbyn has just released a statement. In which he spells his own name wrong. https://t.co/ZPy1H1A6Ej pic.twitter.com/UnlDGdH1QJ
4.45pm BST
16:45
Severin Carrell
Three senior and influential Labour MSPs on the left of the Scottish parliamentary party have attacked critics of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, accusing them of “exploiting” the membership and treating it as an electoral plaything.
Alex Rowley, the party’s deputy leader at Holyrood, Neil Findlay, a previous Scottish leadership contender, and Richard Leonard, a senior GMB Scotland official who joined Holyrood in May’s election, issued a joint statement saying the current feud has “broken the hearts” of party members across the UK.
In a riposte to the unified position taken against Corbyn by Scottish party leader Kezia Dugdale and her ally Ian Murray, Scotland’s only Labour MP, who resigned as shadow Scottish secretary in the first stages of the shadow cabinet rebellion on Sunday, the trio said:
Labour party members are not passive onlookers to be used and exploited at election time, only to be ignored thereafter – they are the lifeblood of our party, we are nothing without them.
Democracy wherever it is found is a precious thing – we therefore want to make it clear that we wish to uphold the democratic rights of Labour party members and support the democratically elected leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn.
4.43pm BST
16:43
Haroon Siddique
Barack Obama has suggested Brexit may not actually happen:
Updated
at 4.44pm BST
4.42pm BST
16:42
Haroon Siddique
Shami Chakrabarti, the chair of Labour’s antisemitism inquiry, has accused the media of spinning his comments at today’s event, which have seen him accused of comparing Israel with Islamic State.
The former Liberty chair told LBC radio:
I’m sorry that there are a few things that have been spun in the media...have kind of cast a shadow over two months’ really hard, open-hearted work...
I learned something today.
I’ll take my chances in the broadcast media...if things get spun in print, whether in the old-fashioned papers or online. Trust your ears or your eyes...it’s harder to spin in broadcast than it is in words.
“I read the leader’s speech five minutes before we went into the main room...I listened very carefully to what he said.
He reflected my report.”
His point was: when you have Jewish neighbours or friends, or Muslim neighbours or friends and something bad happens in the world, don’t ask them to be the first to explain or defend or condemn.
She also said that he had no editorial control over his speech.
The chief rabbi has joined in the criticism of Corbyn. Ephraim Mirvis said:
The comments by the Leader of the Labour Party at the launch, however they were intended, are themselves offensive, and rather than rebuilding trust among the Jewish community, are likely to cause even greater concern. Full and unhesitating implementation of the report’s findings must now follow. I call upon the Labour Party to guarantee that there will be zero tolerance of antisemitism.
Updated
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4.27pm BST4.27pm BST
16:2716:27
Jeremy Corbyn has struck a defiant tone in an email to Labour party members, which includes a plea for unity.Jeremy Corbyn has struck a defiant tone in an email to Labour party members, which includes a plea for unity.
He writes:He writes:
United we stand, divided we fall is one of the oldest and truest slogans of the Labour movement.United we stand, divided we fall is one of the oldest and truest slogans of the Labour movement.
After last week’s referendum, our country faces major challenges. Risks to the economy and living standards are growing. The public is split.After last week’s referendum, our country faces major challenges. Risks to the economy and living standards are growing. The public is split.
The government is in disarray. Ministers have made it clear they have no exit plan, but are determined to make working people pay with a new round of cuts and tax rises.The government is in disarray. Ministers have made it clear they have no exit plan, but are determined to make working people pay with a new round of cuts and tax rises.
Labour has the responsibility to give a lead where the government will not. We need to bring people together, hold the government to account, oppose austerity and set out a path to exit that will protect jobs and incomes.Labour has the responsibility to give a lead where the government will not. We need to bring people together, hold the government to account, oppose austerity and set out a path to exit that will protect jobs and incomes.
To do that we need to stand together. Since I was elected leader of our party nine months ago, we have repeatedly defeated the government over its attacks on living standards. Last month, Labour become the largest party in the local elections. In Thursday’s referendum, a narrow majority voted to leave, but two thirds of Labour supporters backed our call for a Remain vote.To do that we need to stand together. Since I was elected leader of our party nine months ago, we have repeatedly defeated the government over its attacks on living standards. Last month, Labour become the largest party in the local elections. In Thursday’s referendum, a narrow majority voted to leave, but two thirds of Labour supporters backed our call for a Remain vote.
I was elected leader of our party, for a new kind of politics, by 60% of Labour members and supporters. The need for that different approach now is greater than ever.I was elected leader of our party, for a new kind of politics, by 60% of Labour members and supporters. The need for that different approach now is greater than ever.
Our people need Labour party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite. As leader it is my continued commitment to dedicate our party’s activity to that goal.Our people need Labour party members, trade unionists and MPs to unite. As leader it is my continued commitment to dedicate our party’s activity to that goal.
4.16pm BST4.16pm BST
16:1616:16
The Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, has signalled possible interest rate cuts following the Brexit vote, saying some monetary policy easing will likely be required over the summer. You can follow Carney’s speech on our business live blog.The Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, has signalled possible interest rate cuts following the Brexit vote, saying some monetary policy easing will likely be required over the summer. You can follow Carney’s speech on our business live blog.
This is how the pound has reacted to Carney's announcement of the possibility of more QE. https://t.co/yTCnQEghTL pic.twitter.com/EBh2yPchXIThis is how the pound has reacted to Carney's announcement of the possibility of more QE. https://t.co/yTCnQEghTL pic.twitter.com/EBh2yPchXI
4.03pm BST4.03pm BST
16:0316:03
You might see this replayed quite a lot in the coming weeks:You might see this replayed quite a lot in the coming weeks:
ICYMI here's Mr Gove telling us he wouldn't make a very good PM and wd happily confirm in blood he doesn't want it..https://t.co/4jNF0YPzFwICYMI here's Mr Gove telling us he wouldn't make a very good PM and wd happily confirm in blood he doesn't want it..https://t.co/4jNF0YPzFw
3.56pm BST3.56pm BST
15:5615:56
Israel’s former foreign minister has joined in the criticism of Corbyn over his choice of words at the launch of Labour’s antisemitism report earlier today.Israel’s former foreign minister has joined in the criticism of Corbyn over his choice of words at the launch of Labour’s antisemitism report earlier today.
Corbyn's words imply a serious lack of moral judgement. Just as all Muslims are not to blame for ISIS, not all Brits are to blame for CorbynCorbyn's words imply a serious lack of moral judgement. Just as all Muslims are not to blame for ISIS, not all Brits are to blame for Corbyn
3.41pm BST3.41pm BST
15:4115:41
Haroon SiddiqueHaroon Siddique
There’s been another resignation by a shadow minister, accompanied by a call for Jeremy Corbyn to go.There’s been another resignation by a shadow minister, accompanied by a call for Jeremy Corbyn to go.
This time it’s Rob Marris, who was appointed shadow financial secretary to the Treasury in September.This time it’s Rob Marris, who was appointed shadow financial secretary to the Treasury in September.
Rob Marris resigns as shadow treasury minister and calls on Jeremy Corbyn to resign. The pressure continues...Rob Marris resigns as shadow treasury minister and calls on Jeremy Corbyn to resign. The pressure continues...
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.42pm BSTat 3.42pm BST
3.34pm BST
15:34
Andrew Sparrow
And the Labour resignations are continuing. This is from the Sun’s Craig Woodhouse.
Labour resignations have started again: Rob Marris as Treasury frontbencher, during Finance Bill committee
I’ve got to finish for the day now. But my colleague Haroon Siddique is still here and will be blogging for the rest of the day.
3.30pm BST
15:30
Here is more on the Johnson/Gove fall out.
From Sky’s Sophy Ridge
Tory MP & former Boris backer: "Michael has behaved badly towards Boris.I'm not sure people will feel they can trust him after this morning"
From the BBC’s Ross Hawkins
View from small unscientific sample of Cons MPs - much distrust of Gove after morning's events, he needs to be handshaking & reassuring
From ITV’s Chris Ship
Boris was trying to get @andrealeadsom on his team (they did @ITV & @bbc debates together). But she pulled out overnight & made her own bid
From the FT’s Sebastian Payne
Jacob Rees-Mogg has switched his support from Boris Johnson to Michael Gove
3.27pm BST
15:27
Haroon Siddique
Tory grandee Michael Heseltine has really put the boot into Boris Johnson for pulling out of the leadership race, accusing him of ripping the party apart and creating “the greatest constitutional crisis in peacetime in my life”.
Here's what Lord Heseltine had to say about Boris Johnson pulling out of leadership race pic.twitter.com/pffxChI00k
3.26pm BST
15:26
Theresa May will be pleased with this.
Our colleagues in Germany are seeing parallels between Theresa May and the German chancellor pic.twitter.com/BGkak6y4jH
3.19pm BST
15:19
Here is an extract from George Parker’s account of the Gove/Johnson fall out for the Financial Times.
Stories circulated that Mr Johnson had failed to attend a meeting with about 50 pro-Remain Conservative MPs. Key people, including the prominent pro-Brexit minister Andrea Leadsom, had failed to commit to his campaign. “Michael tried to make Boris’s campaign work but it was becoming clear it wasn’t going to work,” the ally said. “He wasn’t giving people the love or attention or making the offers to people that were required.”
Mr Gove’s friends say that a convoluted Daily Telegraph article written by Mr Johnson on Monday had added to a sense of concern among Conservative MPs about his leadership qualities, but allies of the former London mayor said the piece was “sub-edited by Michael”. Mr Johnson’s backers also deny he was responsible for chaos in the leadership bid, saying that Mr Gove was in charge of the campaign, including arranging meetings with MPs and signing up new backers.
3.07pm BST
15:07
Haroon Siddique
Boris Johnson’s father has likened Michael Gove to the assassins who murdered Julius Caesar.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, when asked about Gove’s intervention, Stanley Johnson quoted Caesar’s supposed last words after he was stabbed by his former friend Brutus.
’Et tu Brute’ is my comment on that. I don’t think he is called Brutus, but you never know.
Johnson senior said his son had been taken by surprise by Gove’s disparaging assessment of his ability to lead the country.
This has obviously been a very, very stressful time. I think he was probably very surprised by Michael Gove’s sudden move as indeed many people are.
He backed the remain campaign but maintained that his son had made a brilliant “career move” in putting himself at the head of the leave campaign.
Boris’s career move I think was in a sense an absolutely brilliant move in one way because it did put on the table crucial issues for the British electorate.
It put on the table the immigration issue, the direction of travel issue, the sovereignty issue - all those things.
Updated
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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.