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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jul/19/owen-smith-angela-eagle-theresa-may-brexit-trident-politics-live
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Owen Smith and Angela Eagle under pressure to choose 'unity candidate' – politics live | Owen Smith and Angela Eagle under pressure to choose 'unity candidate' – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.36am BST | |
| 08:36 | |
| Andrew Sparrow | |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Claire. | |
| If you want to know how your MP voted in the Trident debate last night, we have a full set of party-by-party voting lists here. | |
| Related: Trident: how your MP voted | |
| 8.22am BST | |
| 08:22 | |
| Hilary Benn: Labour 'will not split' | |
| Hilary Benn says he has no leadership ambitions himself: | |
| I am supporting Angela [Eagle] … it’s about time for Labour to have a woman leader. | |
| But he says more important is her experience, integrity and courage. | |
| There is a strong view … that there should be only one challenger. | |
| I think that would be preferable, it’s the view of most MPs. | |
| He says Owen Smith and Eagle met yesterday to discuss “how to get out of this situation”: | |
| Jeremy has made a huge contribution and will continue to do so. | |
| The problem is most MPs don’t think he has what it takes to be a leader, Benn says. | |
| He says he will give his full support to anyone who is elected as long as the membership does not choose Corbyn in September. But regardless, he says: | |
| The Labour party is not going to split … It doesn’t belong to one particular group or any one individual. | |
| I trust Labour party members … will realise, for all Jeremy’s qualities … how can he credibly turn to the people of Britain and say elect me as your prime minister? | |
| 8.16am BST | |
| 08:16 | |
| Hilary Benn, formerly the shadow foreign secretary until his middle-of-the-night sacking sent Corbyn’s shadow cabinet spiralling, is now speaking on the Today programme about last night’s Trident vote. | |
| The longstanding policy of the Labour party has been to support the maintenance of our nuclear deterrent. | |
| He says most MPs voted yesterday in line with party policy. The leader, Jeremy Corbyn, did not, but Benn points out: | |
| No one for a second thought that Jeremy would do anything other than stand up and express his long-held view … but it’s not the view of the Labour party. | |
| He says all Labour MPs want to see a world free of nuclear weapons, but: | |
| Britain giving it up would not persuade any of the other nuclear states to follow our example. | |
| Benn says most people would not feel safe if the only country in possession of nuclear weapons was North Korea. | |
| 8.05am BST | |
| 08:05 | |
| After apparently crashing shortly after opening the window for registering as a supporter – which, in exchange for £25, gets you a vote in the Labour leadership election – the Labour website now seems to be functioning without problems. | |
| Until 5pm UK time on Wednesday, those who fancy it – and can promise they’re on board with the “aims and values of the Labour party and … not a supporter of any organisation opposed to it” – can sign up here. | |
| 7.55am BST | 7.55am BST |
| 07:55 | 07:55 |
| Sarah Wollaston, who chairs that health select committee, is on the Today programme. | Sarah Wollaston, who chairs that health select committee, is on the Today programme. |
| She says MPs on the committee accept that health spending is going up, but that money has been shifted out of budgets for public health and training, as well as what she calls the “ongoing squeeze” on social care. | She says MPs on the committee accept that health spending is going up, but that money has been shifted out of budgets for public health and training, as well as what she calls the “ongoing squeeze” on social care. |
| She says the government ought to consider a sugar tax, among other measures, in order to reduce future demand on the NHS. | She says the government ought to consider a sugar tax, among other measures, in order to reduce future demand on the NHS. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.09am BST | |
| 7.46am BST | 7.46am BST |
| 07:46 | 07:46 |
| The other item on the agenda when the Commons health select committee meets is, of course, its very critical report about pledges made by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, on NHS funding. | The other item on the agenda when the Commons health select committee meets is, of course, its very critical report about pledges made by the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, on NHS funding. |
| As the Guardian’s health policy editor, Denis Campbell, reports: | As the Guardian’s health policy editor, Denis Campbell, reports: |
| The cross-party group of MPs refutes the health secretary’s persistent claim the government will have given the NHS in England an extra £8.4bn by 2020-21 compared with 2015-16. That was one of the Conservatives’ key pledges in last year’s general election campaign, and was repeated many times after that by David Cameron and George Osborne while they were still the prime minister and the chancellor. | The cross-party group of MPs refutes the health secretary’s persistent claim the government will have given the NHS in England an extra £8.4bn by 2020-21 compared with 2015-16. That was one of the Conservatives’ key pledges in last year’s general election campaign, and was repeated many times after that by David Cameron and George Osborne while they were still the prime minister and the chancellor. |
| It claims ministers have in effect performed a sleight of hand by cutting other parts of the Department of Health’s budget, such as public health and NHS staffing, in order to give NHS England itself a big increase in its budget. Critics have previously likened the strategy to “robbing Peter to pay Paul”. | It claims ministers have in effect performed a sleight of hand by cutting other parts of the Department of Health’s budget, such as public health and NHS staffing, in order to give NHS England itself a big increase in its budget. Critics have previously likened the strategy to “robbing Peter to pay Paul”. |
| 7.33am BST | 7.33am BST |
| 07:33 | 07:33 |
| Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, appears before MPs on the health select committee later on Tuesday. And a column by Stevens in the Telegraph today gives a strong hint of what he’ll be saying: | Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, appears before MPs on the health select committee later on Tuesday. And a column by Stevens in the Telegraph today gives a strong hint of what he’ll be saying: |
| The NHS wasn’t on the Brexit ballot. But it often felt as if it was. Emblazoned on the Battlebus, both Leave and Remain wrapped themselves in the mantle of a strong and better funded health service. | The NHS wasn’t on the Brexit ballot. But it often felt as if it was. Emblazoned on the Battlebus, both Leave and Remain wrapped themselves in the mantle of a strong and better funded health service. |
| Stevens sets out several priorities for the health service – not all of them Brexit-related. But on that point, he argues: | Stevens sets out several priorities for the health service – not all of them Brexit-related. But on that point, he argues: |
| We’re still going to need committed professionals from abroad. Australian-style immigration points systems all admit nurses, doctors and other skilled experts. | We’re still going to need committed professionals from abroad. Australian-style immigration points systems all admit nurses, doctors and other skilled experts. |
| It should be completely uncontroversial to provide early reassurance to international NHS employees about their continued welcome in this country. | It should be completely uncontroversial to provide early reassurance to international NHS employees about their continued welcome in this country. |
| 7.00am BST | 7.00am BST |
| 07:00 | 07:00 |
| Morning briefing | Morning briefing |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog. | Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog. |
| Here’s a rattle-through all you need to know to set you up for Tuesday, before the live blog takes you along the way. | Here’s a rattle-through all you need to know to set you up for Tuesday, before the live blog takes you along the way. |
| The big picture | The big picture |
| It’s Theresa May’s first cabinet meeting this morning, and her freshly minted foreign secretary is talking Syria with his US and European counterparts, but – as frequently tends to be the case these days – much attention will be on Labour, nursing a post-Trident vote hangover as it decides who to put forward as the “unity candidate” against Jeremy Corbyn. | It’s Theresa May’s first cabinet meeting this morning, and her freshly minted foreign secretary is talking Syria with his US and European counterparts, but – as frequently tends to be the case these days – much attention will be on Labour, nursing a post-Trident vote hangover as it decides who to put forward as the “unity candidate” against Jeremy Corbyn. |
| Labour MPs have until 5pm on Wednesday to nominate one of the three leadership candidates: Angela Eagle, Owen Smith or Corbyn (who, of course, doesn’t actually need any nominations to make the ballot paper, but probably wouldn’t mind at least a handful). Pressure is growing within the PLP for Eagle or Smith to make way for the other once we know which of them has mustered most support from colleagues – an indicative list of who’s backing whom this afternoon might be enough to give one of them a nudge. | Labour MPs have until 5pm on Wednesday to nominate one of the three leadership candidates: Angela Eagle, Owen Smith or Corbyn (who, of course, doesn’t actually need any nominations to make the ballot paper, but probably wouldn’t mind at least a handful). Pressure is growing within the PLP for Eagle or Smith to make way for the other once we know which of them has mustered most support from colleagues – an indicative list of who’s backing whom this afternoon might be enough to give one of them a nudge. |
| Smith has said he would concede if Eagle wins more support, but it’s not yet a reciprocal deal. Asked at a hustings on Monday by Yvette Cooper if the contender with fewest MPs would step aside, Eagle replied: | Smith has said he would concede if Eagle wins more support, but it’s not yet a reciprocal deal. Asked at a hustings on Monday by Yvette Cooper if the contender with fewest MPs would step aside, Eagle replied: |
| The person with the fewest nominations is Jeremy. | The person with the fewest nominations is Jeremy. |
| A YouGov poll of Labour members published in the Times today, though, says Corbyn would still thwack his rivals convincingly, with 44% saying they would definitely vote for him and another 13% saying they probably would. | A YouGov poll of Labour members published in the Times today, though, says Corbyn would still thwack his rivals convincingly, with 44% saying they would definitely vote for him and another 13% saying they probably would. |
| Against Eagle, the poll of 1,019 members found Corbyn would emerge with a 24-point advantage, 58% to her 34%. A battle with Smith would incite a little more wavering: 56% for Corbyn v 34% for Smith. | Against Eagle, the poll of 1,019 members found Corbyn would emerge with a 24-point advantage, 58% to her 34%. A battle with Smith would incite a little more wavering: 56% for Corbyn v 34% for Smith. |
| Corbyn is hitting back – and doing his bit for the survival of the print media – with a full-page ad on the back of the Guardian today, urging supporters to sign up in the short window – more of a cat-flap, really – open to new voters. | Corbyn is hitting back – and doing his bit for the survival of the print media – with a full-page ad on the back of the Guardian today, urging supporters to sign up in the short window – more of a cat-flap, really – open to new voters. |
| Written in the tone of a teacher who’s not angry so much as terribly disappointed, Corbyn’s ad says he’d “rather be fighting the Tories” than waging a leadership contest: “I want to get back to work.” | Written in the tone of a teacher who’s not angry so much as terribly disappointed, Corbyn’s ad says he’d “rather be fighting the Tories” than waging a leadership contest: “I want to get back to work.” |
| Ah, work, yes, that thing MPs do in between leadership tussles and reshuffles and battle bus-riding. There was a reminder of that last night as the Commons voted thumpingly in favour of renewing Trident, by 472 to 117, a majority of 355. Among the nays, one J. Corbyn, who answered criticism from his own MPs that this was in breach of the party’s own pro-Trident policy: | Ah, work, yes, that thing MPs do in between leadership tussles and reshuffles and battle bus-riding. There was a reminder of that last night as the Commons voted thumpingly in favour of renewing Trident, by 472 to 117, a majority of 355. Among the nays, one J. Corbyn, who answered criticism from his own MPs that this was in breach of the party’s own pro-Trident policy: |
| Party policy is also to review our policies. | Party policy is also to review our policies. |
| A retort that suggests there are no policies now, except perhaps for a policy that says policies can be changed, but then maybe you can change that policy, too, who knows? | A retort that suggests there are no policies now, except perhaps for a policy that says policies can be changed, but then maybe you can change that policy, too, who knows? |
| There were 140 Labour MPs who voted for renewal, 47 against, and one (Rupa Huq) who abstained by voting in both the aye and no lobbies. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis, having slammed the timing of the vote as “shameful game-playing”, were marked as absent, along with seven other members of the shadow cabinet, and presumably will need to bring in a note from a parent today. | There were 140 Labour MPs who voted for renewal, 47 against, and one (Rupa Huq) who abstained by voting in both the aye and no lobbies. Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry and shadow defence secretary Clive Lewis, having slammed the timing of the vote as “shameful game-playing”, were marked as absent, along with seven other members of the shadow cabinet, and presumably will need to bring in a note from a parent today. |
| Plus one Tory MP risks having his phone confiscated: | Plus one Tory MP risks having his phone confiscated: |
| Fifteen minutes into the PM's Trident speech, and backbench MP David Cameron gets bored and surreptitiously pulls out his iPhone. | Fifteen minutes into the PM's Trident speech, and backbench MP David Cameron gets bored and surreptitiously pulls out his iPhone. |
| See how MPs from all parties voted here. Some 58 of Scotland’s 59 MPs (there’s one Tory MP in Scotland, non-coincidentally) voted against the renewal of Trident, giving the SNP a fresh chance to dangle the prospect of a second independence referendum – a move that could potentially see submarines evicted from Faslane. | See how MPs from all parties voted here. Some 58 of Scotland’s 59 MPs (there’s one Tory MP in Scotland, non-coincidentally) voted against the renewal of Trident, giving the SNP a fresh chance to dangle the prospect of a second independence referendum – a move that could potentially see submarines evicted from Faslane. |
| Does anyone have a Brexit plan yet? | Does anyone have a Brexit plan yet? |
| On the subject of evictions … the high court today will hear a legal challenge over whether parliament – and not simply a nod from the prime minister – can set in motion article 50, the instrument that starts the two-year countdown to Britain’s actual, you-really-have-to-leave-now exit from the EU. | On the subject of evictions … the high court today will hear a legal challenge over whether parliament – and not simply a nod from the prime minister – can set in motion article 50, the instrument that starts the two-year countdown to Britain’s actual, you-really-have-to-leave-now exit from the EU. |
| Two senior judges, Sir Brian Leveson (remember him?) and Mr Justice Cranston, will hear the case brought by Deir Dos Santos, which claims the notification of withdrawal “can only be given with the prior authorisation of the UK parliament” and not, as the government argues, by royal prerogative. | Two senior judges, Sir Brian Leveson (remember him?) and Mr Justice Cranston, will hear the case brought by Deir Dos Santos, which claims the notification of withdrawal “can only be given with the prior authorisation of the UK parliament” and not, as the government argues, by royal prerogative. |
| Whichever side you’re on, don’t prepare the victory bunting just yet: this is a preliminary hearing. But the judges could allow a full hearing, perhaps in the autumn, and might ask that this case be combined with another challenge that is also underway. | Whichever side you’re on, don’t prepare the victory bunting just yet: this is a preliminary hearing. But the judges could allow a full hearing, perhaps in the autumn, and might ask that this case be combined with another challenge that is also underway. |
| Meanwhile, as May holds her first cabinet meeting this morning, she is keen to stress that her premiership won’t be all about Brexit, while making it sound all about Brexit: | Meanwhile, as May holds her first cabinet meeting this morning, she is keen to stress that her premiership won’t be all about Brexit, while making it sound all about Brexit: |
| It will be the responsibility of everyone sitting around the Cabinet table to make Brexit work for Britain … | It will be the responsibility of everyone sitting around the Cabinet table to make Brexit work for Britain … |
| We will not allow the country to be defined by Brexit; but instead build the education, skills and social mobility to allow everyone to prosper from the opportunities of leaving the EU. | We will not allow the country to be defined by Brexit; but instead build the education, skills and social mobility to allow everyone to prosper from the opportunities of leaving the EU. |
| But new cabinet squabbles have already begun, with the Times reporting a “my ministry’s bigger than your ministry” spat, as Brexit secretary David Davis seeks to lure foreign office staff over to his new digs, which he has labelled “the place to be”. Like Club Tropicana, all that’s missing is the E(U). | But new cabinet squabbles have already begun, with the Times reporting a “my ministry’s bigger than your ministry” spat, as Brexit secretary David Davis seeks to lure foreign office staff over to his new digs, which he has labelled “the place to be”. Like Club Tropicana, all that’s missing is the E(U). |
| You should also know: | You should also know: |
| Diary | Diary |
| To-the-point claim of the day | To-the-point claim of the day |
| During the Trident debate, SNP MP George Kerevan asked Theresa May: | During the Trident debate, SNP MP George Kerevan asked Theresa May: |
| Is she personally prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that can kill a hundred thousand innocent men, women and children? | Is she personally prepared to authorise a nuclear strike that can kill a hundred thousand innocent men, women and children? |
| May’s response: | May’s response: |
| Yes. | Yes. |
| Read these | Read these |
| In the Times, Lord Falconer, a former lord chancellor, says Liz Truss, the newly appointed lord chancellor, is not legally eligible for the role: | In the Times, Lord Falconer, a former lord chancellor, says Liz Truss, the newly appointed lord chancellor, is not legally eligible for the role: |
| The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 said that the prime minister could only appoint someone who appears to be qualified by experience. The lord chancellor is the only job in cabinet where there are personal conditions, laid down by statute, which have to be satisfied by the holder. | The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 said that the prime minister could only appoint someone who appears to be qualified by experience. The lord chancellor is the only job in cabinet where there are personal conditions, laid down by statute, which have to be satisfied by the holder. |
| There is no one who could possibly suggest that Ms Truss met the bar set by that law. I wonder if the prime minister was even told about the statutory requirements before she appointed her. | There is no one who could possibly suggest that Ms Truss met the bar set by that law. I wonder if the prime minister was even told about the statutory requirements before she appointed her. |
| So the prime minister broke the law in appointing Ms Truss, but more importantly showed she did not regard protecting the rule of law as a priority at all in making her cabinet. | So the prime minister broke the law in appointing Ms Truss, but more importantly showed she did not regard protecting the rule of law as a priority at all in making her cabinet. |
| Rosemary Goring, in the Herald, says Labour contender Owen Smith is wrong to offer a second referendum on Brexit: | Rosemary Goring, in the Herald, says Labour contender Owen Smith is wrong to offer a second referendum on Brexit: |
| What Owen Smith and other Leave deniers clearly believe, however, is that millions of voters have taken an ill-informed and reckless decision, one that proper grown-ups should have the chance to revoke. But instead of trying to put the sand back into the egg-timer, perhaps they should consider that for many Brexiters, their choice will have been as considered and closely argued as that of EU champions and liberals. | What Owen Smith and other Leave deniers clearly believe, however, is that millions of voters have taken an ill-informed and reckless decision, one that proper grown-ups should have the chance to revoke. But instead of trying to put the sand back into the egg-timer, perhaps they should consider that for many Brexiters, their choice will have been as considered and closely argued as that of EU champions and liberals. |
| In terms of their own lives, leaving Europe and seeing an end to freedom of travel, or trade tariffs, or whatever else they object to, is obviously preferable. Who are Mr Smith and people like me to say that their view is less valid than ours, or that in their situation we might not feel the same? Are the majority of those 17.4 million far worse educated than the 16 million Remainers? It’s unlikely. | In terms of their own lives, leaving Europe and seeing an end to freedom of travel, or trade tariffs, or whatever else they object to, is obviously preferable. Who are Mr Smith and people like me to say that their view is less valid than ours, or that in their situation we might not feel the same? Are the majority of those 17.4 million far worse educated than the 16 million Remainers? It’s unlikely. |
| Maïa de la Baume, writing for Politico, says Britain’s new foreign secretary emerged from his first Brussels meeting unscathed: | Maïa de la Baume, writing for Politico, says Britain’s new foreign secretary emerged from his first Brussels meeting unscathed: |
| On Monday, [Boris] Johnson was gaffe-free and trying his best to be statesmanlike and switching between English and French. He told reporters the UK would maintain a ‘leading role’ in Europe and was not going to abandon it ‘in any way’ after leaving the EU … | On Monday, [Boris] Johnson was gaffe-free and trying his best to be statesmanlike and switching between English and French. He told reporters the UK would maintain a ‘leading role’ in Europe and was not going to abandon it ‘in any way’ after leaving the EU … |
| There was even praise for the way in which Johnson spoke about the events in Nice. ‘Johnson spoke without looking at his notes at all,’ said another European diplomat. ‘He spoke in good French, saying the British people would stand united behind the French.’ | There was even praise for the way in which Johnson spoke about the events in Nice. ‘Johnson spoke without looking at his notes at all,’ said another European diplomat. ‘He spoke in good French, saying the British people would stand united behind the French.’ |
| And the latest in the Guardian’s Europe after Brexit series: No EU exit for us, say Italy’s on-the-rise Eurosceptics. | And the latest in the Guardian’s Europe after Brexit series: No EU exit for us, say Italy’s on-the-rise Eurosceptics. |
| Celebrity non-endorsement of the day | Celebrity non-endorsement of the day |
| I’m not sure Charlotte Church is pro-Trident: | I’m not sure Charlotte Church is pro-Trident: |
| Dunno about you guys but I feel sooo much safer with nukes.....phew......close one.😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 | Dunno about you guys but I feel sooo much safer with nukes.....phew......close one.😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡 |
| The day in a tweet | The day in a tweet |
| A week is a long time etc etc: | A week is a long time etc etc: |
| Last Monday, he was the Prime Minister. This Monday, David Cameron watches from the back rows pic.twitter.com/etoTxMa3lF | Last Monday, he was the Prime Minister. This Monday, David Cameron watches from the back rows pic.twitter.com/etoTxMa3lF |
| If today were a Spice Girls song | If today were a Spice Girls song |
| It would be 2 become 1 (unity candidate to stand against Corbyn), baby. | It would be 2 become 1 (unity candidate to stand against Corbyn), baby. |
| And another thing | And 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. |