This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jul/08/theresa-may-next-prime-minister-andrea-leadsom-politics-live

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Theresa May clear favourite to be next prime minister – politics live Theresa May clear favourite to be next prime minister – politics live
(35 minutes later)
7.39am BST
07:39
Jeremy Corbyn’s column in the Guardian today addresses what he sees to be the reasons behind the vote to leave the EU:
To bring the country back together, we have to understand what lay behind the narrow majority to leave. Part of it was clearly about the impact of immigration on a deregulated jobs market and investment-starved housing and public services.
But leave voters were also concentrated in former industrial areas hit hardest by low pay, job insecurity and economic stagnation. In fact, Labour-supporting cities that voted remain, such as London, Bristol and Manchester, have far higher migrant populations than many that backed leave.
The difference is that the latter are areas that have benefited least from a lopsided economic recovery. This was a vote by the people of left-behind Britain against a political establishment that has failed them.
He says he will meet this week with “fellow European socialist leaders” in Paris “to discuss the refugee crisis and Europe’s future after Britain’s vote to leave”.
7.23am BST
07:23
Rowena Mason
During the Nato summit in Warsaw today, David Cameron will announce that hundreds more British troops are to be deployed to eastern Europe as part of a show of strength by Nato in the face of an increasingly assertive Russia.
The UK will send a 500-member battalion to Estonia, with a further company of 150 troops to be stationed in Poland “on an enduring basis”.
Ahead of the trip, Cameron said:
This summit is a chance for us to reiterate our strong support for Ukraine and our other Eastern allies to deter Russian aggression.
Actions speak louder than words and the UK is proud to be taking the lead role, deploying troops across eastern Europe. It is yet another example of the UK leading in Nato, as underlined by our pledge to spend 2% of GDP on defence for the rest of this decade.
With a battalion commitment to Estonia as part of Nato’s enhanced forward presence, a company group in Poland and UK command of the very high readiness taskforce – which will involve committing 3,000 British troops – as well as our continued commitment to Baltic air patrols throughout 2017, Britain is clearly demonstrating its crucial contribution to Nato.
6.59am BST6.59am BST
06:5906:59
MorningMorning
Claire PhippsClaire Phipps
Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog. I’m kicking things off with the morning briefing to set you up for the day ahead and steering the live blog until Jessica Elgot steps in. Do come and chat in the comments below or find me on Twitter @Claire_Phipps.Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog. I’m kicking things off with the morning briefing to set you up for the day ahead and steering the live blog until Jessica Elgot steps in. Do come and chat in the comments below or find me on Twitter @Claire_Phipps.
The big pictureThe big picture
So, it’s Theresa May v Andrea Leadsom in the fight to be the next prime minister, and as a result the talk today is all about Margaret Thatcher. Because – stay with me – she was a woman. And May and Leadsom are also women.So, it’s Theresa May v Andrea Leadsom in the fight to be the next prime minister, and as a result the talk today is all about Margaret Thatcher. Because – stay with me – she was a woman. And May and Leadsom are also women.
It’s not nothing, of course, that the UK will have its second female prime minister. As Tim Loughton, Leadsom’s campaign manager, put it:It’s not nothing, of course, that the UK will have its second female prime minister. As Tim Loughton, Leadsom’s campaign manager, put it:
We can now give the party a real choice. A remain woman; a leave woman. They both happened to go to state schools. They are both women.We can now give the party a real choice. A remain woman; a leave woman. They both happened to go to state schools. They are both women.
(He also added that this was “pretty quirky for the Tory party”, which is a shame, really, given that female + state-educated = the majority of the population.)(He also added that this was “pretty quirky for the Tory party”, which is a shame, really, given that female + state-educated = the majority of the population.)
But is it obligatory for either of them to be the new Thatcher? Have a look at their track records – I was going to say CVs but that’s a whole different question – instead. Maybe there’s more to it than a chromosome and a blouse.But is it obligatory for either of them to be the new Thatcher? Have a look at their track records – I was going to say CVs but that’s a whole different question – instead. Maybe there’s more to it than a chromosome and a blouse.
With more votes than her two rivals combined, May steps into the next couple of months – sorry, yes, months – of campaigning with the confidence of knowing the bulk of her parliamentary colleagues are behind her. For as we know, there’s often little to choose between the views of MPs and the views of party members…With more votes than her two rivals combined, May steps into the next couple of months – sorry, yes, months – of campaigning with the confidence of knowing the bulk of her parliamentary colleagues are behind her. For as we know, there’s often little to choose between the views of MPs and the views of party members…
What happens next? Here’s a guide to how the voting process works, but in a nutshell: the 150,000 members of the Conservative party each have a vote, and the winner is announced as prime minister on 9 September. Take that, unelected EU bureaucrats!What happens next? Here’s a guide to how the voting process works, but in a nutshell: the 150,000 members of the Conservative party each have a vote, and the winner is announced as prime minister on 9 September. Take that, unelected EU bureaucrats!
Boris Johnson, his dreams of traversing the country in support of his own No 10 bid now more tattered that than £350m NHS promise, is expected instead to tub-thump for his new favourite, Leadsom. He wasn’t, however, on hand yesterday for what could qualify as the least comfortable (and I don’t mean footwear: all mention of footwear in connection with the Tory leadership is banned on this blog) political march seen in a long while: the Rally for Leadsom.Boris Johnson, his dreams of traversing the country in support of his own No 10 bid now more tattered that than £350m NHS promise, is expected instead to tub-thump for his new favourite, Leadsom. He wasn’t, however, on hand yesterday for what could qualify as the least comfortable (and I don’t mean footwear: all mention of footwear in connection with the Tory leadership is banned on this blog) political march seen in a long while: the Rally for Leadsom.
Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers looked particularly thrilled to be there:Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers looked particularly thrilled to be there:
And what of Michael Gove, erstwhile scourge of teachers and longstanding friends? As Marina Hyde points out, he has at least scored his long professed goal of not being prime minister. Now we will never know if he truly was, as he told us, “constitutionally incapable of it”. Still, perhaps we’ve had our fill of constitutional upheavals this year.And what of Michael Gove, erstwhile scourge of teachers and longstanding friends? As Marina Hyde points out, he has at least scored his long professed goal of not being prime minister. Now we will never know if he truly was, as he told us, “constitutionally incapable of it”. Still, perhaps we’ve had our fill of constitutional upheavals this year.
Gove is “naturally disappointed” not to have made the cut, he told reporters. Although now she’s not busy campaigning for her husband, we might be blessed with more details in Sarah Vine’s next Daily Mail column.Gove is “naturally disappointed” not to have made the cut, he told reporters. Although now she’s not busy campaigning for her husband, we might be blessed with more details in Sarah Vine’s next Daily Mail column.
Which takes us seamlessly – in format, if not in content – to Jeremy Corbyn’s column in the Guardian this morning.Which takes us seamlessly – in format, if not in content – to Jeremy Corbyn’s column in the Guardian this morning.
The Labour leader writes about the 100,000-strong surge in members signing up to join the party since the vote to leave the EU – taking membership to more than 500,000, the largest number in modern party history. As political editor Heather Stewart reports, we can’t know (and won’t until if/when there is ever that rumoured challenge) whether the boost has come from Corbyn-keepers or would-be ousters:The Labour leader writes about the 100,000-strong surge in members signing up to join the party since the vote to leave the EU – taking membership to more than 500,000, the largest number in modern party history. As political editor Heather Stewart reports, we can’t know (and won’t until if/when there is ever that rumoured challenge) whether the boost has come from Corbyn-keepers or would-be ousters:
The Keep Corbyn campaign, coordinated by the grassroots group Momentum, believes the bulk of new members would back Corbyn in a challenge; but a rival Saving Labour campaign has been signing up members of the public who want him to stand down.The Keep Corbyn campaign, coordinated by the grassroots group Momentum, believes the bulk of new members would back Corbyn in a challenge; but a rival Saving Labour campaign has been signing up members of the public who want him to stand down.
Corbyn, for one, sounds confident:Corbyn, for one, sounds confident:
MPs also need to respect the democracy of our party and the views of Labour’s membership, which has increased by more than 100,000 to over half a million in the past fortnight alone – by far the largest it has ever been in modern times.MPs also need to respect the democracy of our party and the views of Labour’s membership, which has increased by more than 100,000 to over half a million in the past fortnight alone – by far the largest it has ever been in modern times.
Our priority must now be to mobilise this astonishing new force in politics, and ensure people in Britain have a real political alternative. Those who want to challenge my leadership are free to do so in a democratic contest, in which I will be a candidate.Our priority must now be to mobilise this astonishing new force in politics, and ensure people in Britain have a real political alternative. Those who want to challenge my leadership are free to do so in a democratic contest, in which I will be a candidate.
But the responsibility of our whole party is to stand up in united opposition to the Tory government. If we come together, we can take them on and win.But the responsibility of our whole party is to stand up in united opposition to the Tory government. If we come together, we can take them on and win.
Perhaps we are now due a quieter spell: Corbyn’s off on holiday, David Cameron’s off to the Nato summit, and the Tory leadership contenders are off to win over the members. Presumably somebody is minding the country.Perhaps we are now due a quieter spell: Corbyn’s off on holiday, David Cameron’s off to the Nato summit, and the Tory leadership contenders are off to win over the members. Presumably somebody is minding the country.
Does anyone have a Brexit plan yet?Does anyone have a Brexit plan yet?
Oh yes, that. Oona King, in a short debate in the House of Lords yesterday, thinks there ought to be a re-run of the referendum, arguing:Oh yes, that. Oona King, in a short debate in the House of Lords yesterday, thinks there ought to be a re-run of the referendum, arguing:
Many British people, possibility the majority, were unaware of the far-reaching consequences of the EU referendum … After the dust has settled in the immediate aftermath of the referendum vote, we don’t actually know what we voted for.Many British people, possibility the majority, were unaware of the far-reaching consequences of the EU referendum … After the dust has settled in the immediate aftermath of the referendum vote, we don’t actually know what we voted for.
Nato leaders meeting Cameron in Warsaw today might also have a few questions along those lines, with Brexit likely to be a matter for concern, according to one official:Nato leaders meeting Cameron in Warsaw today might also have a few questions along those lines, with Brexit likely to be a matter for concern, according to one official:
How can it not affect western cohesion? How can trillions being wiped out in market value not affect perceptions of western strength?How can it not affect western cohesion? How can trillions being wiped out in market value not affect perceptions of western strength?
You should also know:You should also know:
DiaryDiary
Read theseRead these
In the Times, Philip Collins argues that May’s victory in the vote “was so overwhelming that the contest should be stopped”:In the Times, Philip Collins argues that May’s victory in the vote “was so overwhelming that the contest should be stopped”:
There are 84 Conservative MPs, people actually paid out of public funds to conduct politics, who believe that Andrea Leadsom should be prime minister. Somebody as smart as former leader Michael Howard should be ashamed of himself …There are 84 Conservative MPs, people actually paid out of public funds to conduct politics, who believe that Andrea Leadsom should be prime minister. Somebody as smart as former leader Michael Howard should be ashamed of himself …
It is, in any case, a democratic outrage that the next prime minister will be chosen by the 0.3% of the electorate who happen to be odd enough to be members of the Conservative party. Can any of them, I wonder, see the irony of their regular sermons about the lack of ‘democracy’ in the EU? Probably not. These are people who have taken hold of the wrong end of the stick in order to beat the country with it. The candidate of their looking-glass world is the wholly ill-prepared Mrs Leadsom.It is, in any case, a democratic outrage that the next prime minister will be chosen by the 0.3% of the electorate who happen to be odd enough to be members of the Conservative party. Can any of them, I wonder, see the irony of their regular sermons about the lack of ‘democracy’ in the EU? Probably not. These are people who have taken hold of the wrong end of the stick in order to beat the country with it. The candidate of their looking-glass world is the wholly ill-prepared Mrs Leadsom.
In the Spectator, Ross Clark wonders why the all-female shortlist isn’t being lauded as a win for feminism (editorialising alert: feminism doesn’t in fact mean agreeing with anything any woman ever does. Though, hey: feel free to disagree with me):In the Spectator, Ross Clark wonders why the all-female shortlist isn’t being lauded as a win for feminism (editorialising alert: feminism doesn’t in fact mean agreeing with anything any woman ever does. Though, hey: feel free to disagree with me):
So now it is certain: the Conservatives will produce Britain’s second female prime minister … So why isn’t the left cheering this social advance? Instead, the bitching has already begun. Andrea Leadsom is being savaged for being less than 100% enthusiastic about gay marriage (bizarrely, she voted for and against in the same vote); while Theresa May is eviscerated for her proposal – since dropped – to withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights.So now it is certain: the Conservatives will produce Britain’s second female prime minister … So why isn’t the left cheering this social advance? Instead, the bitching has already begun. Andrea Leadsom is being savaged for being less than 100% enthusiastic about gay marriage (bizarrely, she voted for and against in the same vote); while Theresa May is eviscerated for her proposal – since dropped – to withdraw from the European Court of Human Rights.
Laurie Penny in the New Statesman says we ask the wrong questions about women in power:Laurie Penny in the New Statesman says we ask the wrong questions about women in power:
The truth is that women are not, in fact, magic. Women are, in fact, people, and people who happen to be female are no less complicated and unpredictable than those who happen to be male. Women have just as much capacity to be venal, petty and egomaniacal as men do, although they are less likely to be indulged in such behaviour …The truth is that women are not, in fact, magic. Women are, in fact, people, and people who happen to be female are no less complicated and unpredictable than those who happen to be male. Women have just as much capacity to be venal, petty and egomaniacal as men do, although they are less likely to be indulged in such behaviour …
It remains to be seen if the situation for women throughout the country will be made any better by women in Westminster. Poor and vulnerable men, after all, have not historically been guaranteed a good deal just because they shared a gender with their political leaders. Gender equality, like wealth, tends not to trickle down.It remains to be seen if the situation for women throughout the country will be made any better by women in Westminster. Poor and vulnerable men, after all, have not historically been guaranteed a good deal just because they shared a gender with their political leaders. Gender equality, like wealth, tends not to trickle down.
Baffling nickname of the dayBaffling nickname of the day
I’m going to make a wild guess here and assert that Theresa May has never gone by the name of “Tezza”:I’m going to make a wild guess here and assert that Theresa May has never gone by the name of “Tezza”:
Here is tomorrow's front page: Britain is guaranteed to have its second woman Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/LaOJIF997UHere is tomorrow's front page: Britain is guaranteed to have its second woman Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/LaOJIF997U
Celebrity endorsement of the dayCelebrity endorsement of the day
Does Nigel Farage count as a celebrity these days? He’ll need something to do once he’s replaced as Ukip leader and out of work as an MEP. Anyway, he’s terribly pleased that Andrea Leadsom could be in No 10.Does Nigel Farage count as a celebrity these days? He’ll need something to do once he’s replaced as Ukip leader and out of work as an MEP. Anyway, he’s terribly pleased that Andrea Leadsom could be in No 10.
Congratulations to @andrealeadsom. Important the next Prime Minister is a Brexiteer - she has my backing.Congratulations to @andrealeadsom. Important the next Prime Minister is a Brexiteer - she has my backing.
If today were a Beyoncé songIf today were a Beyoncé song
It would be Run the World (Girls). But only because there isn’t a song entitled Women Make Up Half the World’s Population, Stop Being Surprised When Some of Them are Allowed to be in Charge of Things.It would be Run the World (Girls). But only because there isn’t a song entitled Women Make Up Half the World’s Population, Stop Being Surprised When Some of Them are Allowed to be in Charge of Things.
And another thingAnd another thing
Would you like to wake up to this briefing in your inbox? Sign up here.Would you like to wake up to this briefing in your inbox? Sign up here.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.09am BSTat 7.09am BST