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Corbyn even more popular with Labour members after no confidence motion, poll suggests – politics live
Corbyn even more popular with Labour members after no confidence motion, poll suggests – politics live
(35 minutes later)
12.35pm BST
12:35
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has got a press conference with Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, this afternoon. But he went into Downing Street first.
Unfortunately for US-UK relations, he appeared to get the door shut in his face.
OUCH - When the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, faceplants the famous black door at No10 Downing Street pic.twitter.com/VqfoesaD8B
12.27pm BST
12:27
In Treasury questions Philip Hammond, the new chancellor, told MPs that he did not believe in “the money tree”.
New Chancellor @PHammondMP in the Commons: "I do not believe in the money tree. We have to pay our way in the world" https://t.co/CUhQRf6b37
12.24pm BST
12:24
Jeremy Corbyn is asking a court to allow him to personally fight a legal action launched in a bid to overturn the Labour Party’s decision to guarantee him a place on the leadership ballot, the Press Association reports.
A High Court claim brought by Labour donor Michael Foster, a former parliamentary candidate, is currently against one named defendant - the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol, who is being sued in a representative capacity.
But Corbyn wishes to be added as a party to the proceedings as second defendant.
His application was heard by Master Victoria McCloud at a preliminary hearing at the High Court in London.
Written argument in support of his application states: “His personal interest in the subject matter of this litigation is pressing and obvious and distinguishes him from the general body of members represented by Mr McNicol.”
The case, which is expected to be aired fully on July 26, follows the decision of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) that the leader should automatically be included in the contest.
NEC members wrestled with legal advice for six hours over whether Corbyn would need to secure 51 nominations to make it on to the ballot paper after both sides insisted the party rulebook backed their case.
The written document before the court also says that Foster’s legal action “seeks, in effect, to reverse this decision so that Mr Corbyn will not be eligible to stand as a candidate in the forthcoming leadership election unless he secures the requisite number of nominations in the time limited by the rules”.
Corbyn was not present for Tuesday’s hearing. The court heard he had wished to attend but had a number of “pressing engagements”.
Judgment will be given at 10.30am on Wednesday.
12.00pm BST
12.00pm BST
12:00
12:00
The full tables from the YouGov poll of Labour members are now on the YouGov website, here (pdf).
The full tables from the YouGov poll of Labour members are now on the YouGov website, here (pdf).
And here is the politics professor Rob Ford commenting on the figures.
And here is the politics professor Rob Ford commenting on the figures.
Big message frm YouGov members' poll: Corbyn wld lose 2nd ldership elec with last yr's membship, winning due to loyalists who joined since
Big message frm YouGov members' poll: Corbyn wld lose 2nd ldership elec with last yr's membship, winning due to loyalists who joined since
That leaves me rather more pessimistic about chances of anyone beating Corbyn - joiners since 2015 are super-loyal. 1/2
That leaves me rather more pessimistic about chances of anyone beating Corbyn - joiners since 2015 are super-loyal. 1/2
2/2 Wld require a massive vote against Corbyn from pre Sept 2015 membership and/or major anti-Corbyn supporter influx. Both look unlikely.
2/2 Wld require a massive vote against Corbyn from pre Sept 2015 membership and/or major anti-Corbyn supporter influx. Both look unlikely.
Ford is referring to these figures.
Ford is referring to these figures.
YouGov poll shows the division between pre- and post-Corbyn members. Really rather worrying in terms of party unity. pic.twitter.com/iMqnnyp507
YouGov poll shows the division between pre- and post-Corbyn members. Really rather worrying in terms of party unity. pic.twitter.com/iMqnnyp507
11.56am BST
11.56am BST
11:56
11:56
In the Commons John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, asks Philip Hammond for an assurance that the government will compensate councils for any money they lose when EU structural funds disappear.
In the Commons John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, asks Philip Hammond for an assurance that the government will compensate councils for any money they lose when EU structural funds disappear.
David Gauke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, says this is an issue that the government will address in due course.
David Gauke, the chief secretary to the Treasury, says this is an issue that the government will address in due course.
11.40am BST
11.40am BST
11:40
11:40
Philip Hammond is taking his first Treasury questions as chancellor.
Philip Hammond is taking his first Treasury questions as chancellor.
Asked about deficit reduction, he says the government has abandoned its plan to bring the budget into surplus by 2019-20. But the government will still have to address the deficit, he says. He says he will give more details in the autumn statement.
Asked about deficit reduction, he says the government has abandoned its plan to bring the budget into surplus by 2019-20. But the government will still have to address the deficit, he says. He says he will give more details in the autumn statement.
11.24am BST
11.24am BST
11:24
11:24
Here is a Guardian video of Theresa May addressing her first cabinet meeting.
Here is a Guardian video of Theresa May addressing her first cabinet meeting.
11.00am BST
11.00am BST
11:00
11:00
Eagle and Smith said to be 'neck and neck' in terms of getting leadership nominations from Labour MPs
Eagle and Smith said to be 'neck and neck' in terms of getting leadership nominations from Labour MPs
Labour MPs have until 5pm tomorrow to nominate candidates in the leadership contest. The contest is taking place because Angela Eagle secured the 51 nominations from MPs and MEPs needed to trigger a contest, but those names were never published and effectively she and Owen Smith (who entered the contest after Eagle) have to start from scratch collecting new numbers. The party is expected to publish an update saying how many nominations candidates have received after 5pm today.
Labour MPs have until 5pm tomorrow to nominate candidates in the leadership contest. The contest is taking place because Angela Eagle secured the 51 nominations from MPs and MEPs needed to trigger a contest, but those names were never published and effectively she and Owen Smith (who entered the contest after Eagle) have to start from scratch collecting new numbers. The party is expected to publish an update saying how many nominations candidates have received after 5pm today.
There have been claims that Smith is ahead of Eagle, but Eagle’s allies insist this is wrong. They say they have had tellers outside the PLP office today and that Smith and Eagle are neck and neck in terms of nominations. They believe that Eagle’s strong performance at the PLP hustings yesterday has made an impact.
There have been claims that Smith is ahead of Eagle, but Eagle’s allies insist this is wrong. They say they have had tellers outside the PLP office today and that Smith and Eagle are neck and neck in terms of nominations. They believe that Eagle’s strong performance at the PLP hustings yesterday has made an impact.
Sources are also confirming that Eagle and Smith have done a deal to ensure that only one of them goes forward to challenge Corbyn. Eagle and Smith spoke twice about this by phone yesterday, and they both accept that the PLP only wants one candidate to challenge Corbyn. There has been speculation that they could end up running on a joint ticket, with the candidate who drops out being lined up for the shadow chancellor role, but this has not been confirmed.
Sources are also confirming that Eagle and Smith have done a deal to ensure that only one of them goes forward to challenge Corbyn. Eagle and Smith spoke twice about this by phone yesterday, and they both accept that the PLP only wants one candidate to challenge Corbyn. There has been speculation that they could end up running on a joint ticket, with the candidate who drops out being lined up for the shadow chancellor role, but this has not been confirmed.
But we are not expected to learn which candidate will drop out until nominations close tomorrow.
But we are not expected to learn which candidate will drop out until nominations close tomorrow.
10.49am BST
10.49am BST
10:49
10:49
Here is Jeremy Corbyn being doorstepped as he left home this morning.
Here is Jeremy Corbyn being doorstepped as he left home this morning.
Jeremy Corbyn. The Morning after the night before...........#Trident #notbothered https://t.co/NkmYzdsZZ6
Jeremy Corbyn. The Morning after the night before...........#Trident #notbothered https://t.co/NkmYzdsZZ6
10.15am BST
10.15am BST
10:15
10:15
Libby Brooks
Libby Brooks
After yesterday’s Trident debate, the SNP argued that the result underlined how Scotland’s democratic deficit was only getting worse post-EU referendum, with 58 out of 59 MPs north of the border voting to scrap the programme.
After yesterday’s Trident debate, the SNP argued that the result underlined how Scotland’s democratic deficit was only getting worse post-EU referendum, with 58 out of 59 MPs north of the border voting to scrap the programme.
Today, Scotland’s politicians are returning their attention to how they might settle that EU democratic deficit, with a cross-party committee of MSPs meeting diplomats from Iceland, Norway, Ireland and elsewhere in Brussels.
Today, Scotland’s politicians are returning their attention to how they might settle that EU democratic deficit, with a cross-party committee of MSPs meeting diplomats from Iceland, Norway, Ireland and elsewhere in Brussels.
Joan McAlpine, convenor of Holyrood’s European and External Relations Committee, describes the trip as an initial fact-finding exercise to investigate what the options are for preserving Scotland’s place in the EU after the UK Brexit vote, and to sound out other countries’ views.
Joan McAlpine, convenor of Holyrood’s European and External Relations Committee, describes the trip as an initial fact-finding exercise to investigate what the options are for preserving Scotland’s place in the EU after the UK Brexit vote, and to sound out other countries’ views.
It’s highly unusual for a committee to meet during the Holyrood recess, so this trip is a mark of the urgency felt amongst MSPs, who all (except Tory abstainers) voted at the end of June to support first minister Nicola Sturgeon in her efforts to try to secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU and its place in the single market.
It’s highly unusual for a committee to meet during the Holyrood recess, so this trip is a mark of the urgency felt amongst MSPs, who all (except Tory abstainers) voted at the end of June to support first minister Nicola Sturgeon in her efforts to try to secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU and its place in the single market.
10.05am BST
10.05am BST
10:05
10:05
May tells cabinet that government must be defined by social reform, not just Brexit
May tells cabinet that government must be defined by social reform, not just Brexit
Theresa May is chairing her first cabinet meeting this morning, and a TV camera crew was let in to film her opening words. May told her colleagues that politics “isn’t a game” and that she did not want the government to be defined just be Brexit. She said:
Theresa May is chairing her first cabinet meeting this morning, and a TV camera crew was let in to film her opening words. May told her colleagues that politics “isn’t a game” and that she did not want the government to be defined just be Brexit. She said:
Politics isn’t a game. The decisions that we take around the table affect people’s day to day lives in this country. And we have the challenge of Brexit, and Brexit does mean that, by forging a new role for the United Kingdom in the world. But we won’t be a government that is defined just by Brexit. We will also be a government defined by the social reform that we undertake.
Politics isn’t a game. The decisions that we take around the table affect people’s day to day lives in this country. And we have the challenge of Brexit, and Brexit does mean that, by forging a new role for the United Kingdom in the world. But we won’t be a government that is defined just by Brexit. We will also be a government defined by the social reform that we undertake.
After May’s opening words, cabinet ministers banged their table in approval.
After May’s opening words, cabinet ministers banged their table in approval.
9.49am BST
09:49
Theresa May is chairing her first cabinet meeting this morning at Number 10.
Here are some of the arrival photographs.
Here is Theresa May arriving at Number 10. (Downing Street said yesterday she and her husband had not moved into the prime minister’s flat yet.)
Here’s Boris Johnson, the new foreign secretary.
David Davis, the new Brexit secretary, looks pleased to be there.
And Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, looks quite exuberant too.
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, arrived with his jacket off.
While Priti Patel, the international development secretary, opted for shades.
9.09am BST
09:09
Corbyn even more popular with Labour members following no confidence motion, poll suggests
Claire has already mentioned the YouGov poll of Labour members in the Times (paywall) but it is worth looking at the figures in more detail. YouGov polled Labour members during the leadership contest last year and their findings turned out be be a reliable guide to the eventual outcome.
Here are the key points.
Exclusive Times / YouGov poll - Jeremy Corbyn's ratings go UP in last fortnight (from net +3 to +14) pic.twitter.com/av52WkggfY
Exclusive - Jeremy Corbyn beats BOTH Owen Smith and Angela Eagle in run-off ballots - with 57% saying they back JC pic.twitter.com/t69EGfNhx1
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
07:55
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 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
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.
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.
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
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:
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:
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.
7.00am BST
07:00
Morning briefing
Claire Phipps
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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?
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 …
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).
You should also know:
Diary
To-the-point claim of the day
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?
May’s response:
Yes.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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 …
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.
Celebrity non-endorsement of the day
I’m not sure Charlotte Church is pro-Trident:
Dunno about you guys but I feel sooo much safer with nukes.....phew......close one.😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
The day in a tweet
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
If today were a Spice Girls song
It would be 2 become 1 (unity candidate to stand against Corbyn), baby.
And another thing
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