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Labour to review the expulsion of Alastair Campbell – live news Trump says he could meet Farage and Johnson next week – as it happened
(over 1 year later)
Tory leadership hopeful Esther McVey has backed parents who want to take their children out of lessons about same sex relationships. We’re going to close down this live blog now. Thanks for reading and for all the comments.
Speaking to Sky News, she said: “The final say is with the parents and if parents want to take their young children out of certain forms of relationship education then that is down to them.” Trump’s last visit to the UK was somewhat overshadowed by his enthusiasm for Boris Johnson.
Asked about the row in Birmingham over lessons about LGBT relationships, McVey urged parents not to protest outside primary schools. Last year he hailed Johnson, who had just resigned a foreign secretary as a future prime minister, a day before he was due to have bilateral talks with Theresa May.
“People shouldn’t be protesting outside primary schools. Everybody has to be a little bit more adult in what they do outside primary schools.” Trump described Johnson as “a very talented guy” for whom he had “a lot of respect”. He claimed he was not trying to pit Johnson against his host, but added: “I am just saying I think he would be a great prime minister. I think he’s got what it takes.”
But she added: “I believe parents know best for their children. Whilst they are still children the parents need to have the final say in what they want their children to know.” At the time he added Johnson “obviously likes me, and says very good things about me. I was very saddened to see he was leaving government and I hope he goes back in at some point. I think he is a great representative for your country.”
The former work and pension secretary also reiterated her insistence that the UK should leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal. Last year a leaked recording of Johnson revealed that the former foreign secretary was “increasingly admiring of Donald Trump”. The Conservative MP said that Trump would negotiate Brexit “bloody hard”, adding: “There’d be all sorts of breakdowns, all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he’d gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere. It’s a very, very good thought.”
“There will be absolutely no extension, that will be the date,” she said. At an awkward press conference at Chequers, Trump still insisted Johnson would make a good prime minister, as Theresa May stood beside him stony-faced.
Asked about threats by the chancellor and others to vote down the government to block a no deal, McVey said: “I said he’ll be a great prime minister. He’s been very nice to me, he’s been saying very good things about me as president,” he said.
That isn’t how parliament works. The only thing that parliament has voted for is article 50 and the default position is we are coming out without a deal and that date is the 31 October. Here’s a summary of how what’s happened so far today:
"There will be absolutely no extensions."Former work and pensions secretary, @EstherMcVey1, is adamant the UK must stick to the agreed #Brexit deadline, at whatever cost. Find more politics news here: https://t.co/ShMllf3Qgq pic.twitter.com/Mhww5utlw3 Donald Trump has said he might meet Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson during his state visit to the UK next week. Asked about a potential meeting the president told reporters: “Well I may. Nigel Farage is a friend of mine, Boris is a friend of mine.”
ITV claims Cherie Blair is poised to join the I-am-Spartacus campaign of Labour members declaring they voted for the Lib Dems in solidarity with Campbell. Jeremy Corbyn has said a second referendum is “some way off” and that Labour still wants to negotiate a better Brexit deal. He also appeared appeared to reject and in/out referendum saying: “We don’t back a rerun of 2016. That happened. That is gone. What I do say is that if parliament comes to an agreement, then it’s reasonable, and if parliament wishes it, there should be a public vote on it but that is some way off.”
NEW: I understand from a source close to Cherie Blair, the wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, that she voted for the Lib Dems in the European Elections, and is “happy for it to be known.” Dominic Raab has launched a personal video attack against Labour’s failure to tackle allegations of antisemitism. Drawing on the experience of his Jewish ancestors, Raab said: “You’d be surprised how many British people take this personally.”
Earlier this week Tony Blair said he voted Labour “without any enthusiasm”. Donations to the Conservative party have fallen sharply, according to figures from the Electoral Commission. The party accepted £3.68m between 1 January and 31 March from 220 separate donors, compared with £7.447m from 230 donors in the final quarter of 2018.
Jeremy Corbyn has further muddied the waters on Labour’s line on a second referendum by suggesting such a vote may not include the option to remain. Philip Hammond has become the most senior Conservative to signal he might be prepared to back a second referendum and left the door open to a surprise run to become the next prime minister. The chancellor said the only way of breaking the Brexit deadlock might be to put the decision back to the people, either through a general election or another referendum.
Challenged in Dublin on whether Labour envisioned an in-out referendum, he said: “It would be on the basis of whatever we have succeeded in negotiating.” Brexit was caused partly by “nostalgia for the past” that serves no purpose in politics, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said. He also warned Tory leadership hopefuls that Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement was “the only option” for leaving the EU.
The Irish Times has more: Theresa May has thrown down the gauntlet to the Tory leadership candidates to slash tuition fees and reinstate maintenance grants for the poorest students. In a speech in London, the prime minister said: “I’ve seen how young graduates starting out in their adult lives feel weighed down by the burden of student debt.”
Asked if a second referendum was now the only way forward for the UK, Mr Corbyn said: “The referendum would be on a negotiated deal or alternatives to that. It’s not a re-run of 2016.” Labour is to review its expulsion of Alastair Campbell after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, the party has said. The shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, said it would be re-examined and called for a swift process.
Labour said the decision to expel Alastair Campbell from the Labour party after he voted for the Liberal Democrats will be reviewed. Tory leadership hopeful Esther McVey has backed parents who want to take their children out of lessons about same-sex relationships. She said: “If parents want to take their young children out of certain forms of relationship education then that is down to them.” Her comments were criticised by Justine Greening, the first openly gay woman to serve in a Conservative cabinet.
Shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “Now there will be a review, which is appropriate. I don’t want to cut across this review, I’m not part of that process. I would not like to see this drag on.” The defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, and the former international development secretary, Priti Patel, have both suggested they want to enter the crowded Tory leadership race.In separate articles they called for a different approach to leadership, but stopped short of saying they will be standing.
She added: “Political parties have rules about people who support other parties, but I hope this case will be reviewed.” Here’s more on Jeremy Corbyn resisting pressure from shadow cabinet ministers to commit to campaigning immediately for a public vote.
Asked if Campbell’s expulsion was “spiteful” as deputy Labour leader Tom Watson claimed, Chakrabarti said: “I don’t believe that was the intention. Both main parties have these automatic exclusionary rules for people who express public support for other parties. They are a bit automatic, but now there will be a review which is appropriate.” Corbyn backs soft Brexit and says second referendum 'some way off'
And she denied that the party had displayed double standards. Trump’s favourite channel, Fox News, thinks Farage could be “the next prime minister of Great Britain”.
She said: “Merely voting for another party is not in itself a grounds for exclusion or expulsion. I want the the large numbers of people who did that last week for heart felt reasons to be rest assured.” I promise that if we do not leave the EU on October 31st, I will lead The Brexit Party into the next general election and sweep away parties that have dominated British politics for over 100 years. pic.twitter.com/27ige4MISf
There will be a review of @campbellclaret being expelled from the Labour Party, shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti tells #r4today. "Merely voting for another party is not grounds for expulsion" https://t.co/ZjduCUaWHD pic.twitter.com/ul0BUKLP0l Donald Trump has said he might meet with Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson during his trip to the UK next week.
Shadow attorney general Shami Chakrabarti has said Labour could still back leaving the EU in a second referendum. “Well I may,” Trump said when asked about a potential summit.
In an interview with the Today programme she added to confusion about Labour evolving policy on Brexit by saying it was for the party to decide whether it would back leave or remain. “Nigel Farage is a friend of mine, Boris is a friend of mine. They’re two very good guys, very interesting people. Nigel’s had a big victory, he’s picked up 32% of the vote, starting from nothing and I think they’re big powers over there I think they’ve done a good job.”
She said: “As to whether we would take one line or another in a referendum that would depend on what the deal was. Trump was giving a typically freewheeling press conference after arriving back in Washington DC from his trip to Japan. It was hard to hear reporters’s questions over the sound of the presidential helicopter, but someone appeared to ask Trump if he was thinking about supporting either Farage or Johnson.
“Was it going to be a Labour deal with the closest possible relationship with Europe, or was it going to be a deal we thought less than satisfactory.” “I like them, they’re friends of mine, but I haven’t thought about supporting them. Maybe it’s not my business to support people but I have a lot of respect for both of those men.”
Asked about a claim in the Guardian by Labour’s chair, Ian Lavery, that some were remainers were sneering at ordinary people, she said: Former education secretary Justine Greening, the first openly gay woman to serve in a Conservative cabinet, has criticised leadership candidate Esther McVey for backing parents who want to take their children out of lessons about same-sex relationships (see earlier).
He is voicing a significant feeling in the country and the country includes some Labour voters. Some people present a second referendum as a means of stoping Brexit. For Labour it would be reluctant means of breaking a deadlock that has been in Parliament for the last three years. .@esthermcvey1 You can’t pick & choose on human rights & equality. Children should understand a modern & diverse Britain they’re growing up in. Matters for social mobility too - you can’t be your best if you can’t be yourself. 🏳‍🌈 pic.twitter.com/iaAAWmf2VA https://t.co/z8kiVEzjLw
Chancellor Philip Hammond has said he could not serve in a no-deal Brexit cabinet. Labour MPs, Stephen Doughty and Stella Creasy also criticised McVey’s comments.
He told Sky News: “I couldn’t support a government policy stance that said as a matter of choice we are going to pursue a no-deal exit.” Tory leadership race unsurprisingly descending into who can be most right-wing on #LGBT+ rights today. My comments for @PinkNews on the latest dog-whistling from @EstherMcVey1 @DominicRaab https://t.co/cxa582ZCye
Ahead of a speech on Thursday, where he will warn Tory leadership hopefuls against “reckless” solutions offered by “populists,” Hammond again did not rule out voting against a Conservative government in an attempt to block no deal. A child is most likely to be molested in the home. Most likely to see domestic violence and normalise it at the hand of a parent. Most likely to learn to hate. You can safeguard every child or you can pander to prejudice - your call tory leadership candidates.... https://t.co/IPZkEEC2WY
He said: “The national interest trumps party interest. If I am presented with a difficult choice, I will act with what I believe will be the best interests of the country.” One more for the Saj.
Welcome to Politics Live. I am supporting @sajidjavid to be next leader of our party & our country. We need a #OneNation leader who can deliver a Brexit deal, defend the union & champion issues that matter in places like #Worcester https://t.co/U7p3iE3Qrk
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has warned Tory leadership hopefuls that Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation. In an interview for the New York Review of Books he said: Meanwhile, Rory Stewart continues to get high-profile praise from outside the party.
If the UK wants to leave in an orderly manner, this treaty is the only option. If the choice is to leave without a deal—fine. If the choice is to stay in the EU—also fine. But if the choice is still to leave the EU in an orderly manner, this treaty is the only option. This is all that our legal constraints allow. Thank you @GaryLineker - that has got to be my best endorsement so far. Apart from the opium. That is. https://t.co/NoT9vHMBgi
Barnier, who is a possible successor to Jean Claude Junker as president of the European Commission, also blamed the Brexit vote on British nostalgia and austerity cuts. He said: Thank you - and yes - the key is to think ahead to how you unite the UK behind a government in an election - and that has to be about listening and solving problems much more quickly and effectively... https://t.co/3TI6aHvswh
Looking at the causes of Brexit, we also find typically British reasons: the hope for a return to a powerful global Britain, nostalgia for the past—nostalgia serves no purpose in politics. In my country, too, some politicians still prefer to live in the past. But there were, also, people voting for Brexit who simply don’t want to accept rules. Some based in the City of London voted to leave, as they don’t want to accept the Union’s regulations on their trading; they want to speculate freely and the Union doesn’t allow them to do so. But so far only three Tory MPs have said they will back Stewart for leader, according to Conservative Home. We know that both Victoria Prentis and Nicholas Soames, have backed Stewart. The identity of the third supporter is still something of a mystery.
Finally, and most importantly, there are many people who feel abandoned. They feel that the quality of public services, healthcare, transport, is worsening. We must listen to these fears and address them. Donations to the Conservative party have fallen sharply, according to figures from the Electoral Commission.
“If the UK’s choice is to leave without a deal—fine. If the choice is to stay in the EU—also fine. But if the choice is still to leave the EU in an orderly manner, this treaty is the only option.” @MichelBarnier on Brexit: https://t.co/kEJukX83pG via @nybooks The party accepted £3.68m between 1 January and 31 March from 220 separate donors, compared with £7.447m from 230 donors in the final quarter of 2018. In the first quarter of 2018, the Conservatives accepted nearly £5m from 234 donors.
Meanwhile, yet more Tory MPs have suggested they fancy entering the already very crowded race to become leader. Data shows the major UK parties accepted a total £6.8m in the first quarter of 2019. This was more than £3.7m less than the amount accepted in the previous quarter.
Defence secretary, Penny Mordaunt, is to call for a “different kind of leadership” in an article for Conservative Home to be published later today. The fall in Tory donations was largely responsible for the drop. Between 1 January and 31 March, Labour accepted more than £3.5m from 102 donors, compared with more than £3.7m from 90 donors in the final quarter of 2018.
And former international development secretary, Priti Patel, has called for “a fresh new leader”, in an article for the Telegraph. She has also been seen filming what looked like a possible campaign video. We have published details of millions of pounds of donations accepted by political parties and regulated donees in Great Britain in the first quarter of 2019. This now gives a complete picture of reportable political finance in Q1. Read our press release https://t.co/VnmQKluy9l pic.twitter.com/WhBk3eEp8p
NEW: Priti Patel (@patel4witham) is filming a video on Victoria Gardens in Westminster. Exactly where @DominicRaab filmed his leadership launch video.Is she 12th contender to launch a leadership bid? And will she do a Raab head-turn? pic.twitter.com/HQrbEpIZ60 Tory party donations down by millions of pounds, figures reveal
Also today, Ed Davey has launched his campaign to be the new leader of the LibDems. Jeremy Hunt is still leading the leadership race but Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are closing the gap according to Conservative Home’s running tally. With almost half of Tory MPs expressing a preference (149 out of 313) for one of the candidates in the race, Hunt has 29 supporters and Gove and Johnson 26 each. Raab is fourth on 22 supporters and Javid is now on 14.
Chancellor Philip Hammond will tell leadership hopefuls that they cannot hope to rebuild the party simply by cutting taxes and slashing red tape. The Guardian’s Martin Kettle reckons the winning candidate is likely to come from the centre ground of the parliamentary party.
And, Jeremy Corbyn has pledged that Labour will back a second referendum on any Brexit deal put to parliament. He said: The centrist contenders are fishing in a significantly bigger pool of votes. Their candidates have an advantage. It is even possible, though far from certain, that the final elimination could throw up two centrists – repeat, loosely defined – and no rightwinger.
“Faced with the threat of no deal and a prime minister with no mandate, the only way out of the Brexit crisis ripping our country apart is now to go back to the people.” This is not at all the impression you get from much of the media coverage. This depicts the contest as one in which the Tory centrist candidates are jockeying to appeal to the parliamentary party’s rightwing hard-Brexit minority, and to the millions of voters who flocked to Nigel Farage’s party last week. But this is a false and self-serving narrative of the right.