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| Tory leadership: Sajid Javid dismisses Boris Johnson as 'yesterday's news' as he launches campaign – live news | Tory leadership: Sajid Javid dismisses Boris Johnson as 'yesterday's news' as he launches campaign – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sajid Javid, the home secretary, has depicted himself as the change candidate in the Conservative leadership election, dismissing Boris Johnson, the favourite, as “yesterday’s news”. At a launch event where he stressed his upbringing as the son of immigrant parents, and the contrast with his more privileged rivals, he said the Tories needed a “new kind of leadership from new kind of leader”. Asked how he differed from Johnson, Javid said: | |
| I’m a change candidate. Boris Johnson is yesterday’s news. | |
| He’s been around in politics for a while, he’s achieved a lot, he’s still got a big role to play, but I think if we are trying to connect with the next generation and move forward as a country then I think it’s time for the next generation with a bold new agenda. | |
| What I can do in terms of the policies, I think being able to articulate the policies, it’s not just about articulating that core message – I think the messenger makes a real difference as well. | |
| Javid claimed his background as a leading international banker gave him the experience needed to deliver a Brexit deal. Asked how he would be able to agree a deal, he said: | |
| When I look at my own experience of doing deals – big international deals in the 19, 20-year career I had before I came into politics – I started at the bottom of the finance industry and finished towards the top, and that was because I built a reputation of doing many multibillion-dollar deals, including some of the largest financing and bond transactions the world had ever seen. And they weren’t easy. They weren’t straightforward. They were all involving negotiation, involving competition to win the deals. | |
| So, while I think no one has got perfect experience to deliver Brexit because no one has done anything like it before, I think with that experience that I’ve got outside government and the experience I’ve got in government … I think I’m in a very good position to get a good Brexit deal for the United Kingdom. | |
| Conservative leadership candidates including Boris Johnson hoping to force through a “deal or no deal” Brexit in October have been handed a boost after MPs defeated a Labour-led attempt to begin legislation to stop the UK leaving the EU without an agreement. | |
| Boris Johnson has launched his Tory leadership campaign by insisting he does not wish to pursue a no-deal Brexit, but would prepare “vigorously and seriously” to leave the EU without an agreement in October, saying the survival of the Conservative party depended on it. | |
| Boris Johnson’s Brexit plan is impossible as the UK will not be able to leave the EU with a deal or without a deal by the end of October, the chancellor, Philip Hammond, has said. | |
| The Conservative leadership hopeful Esther McVey has spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money claiming for a personal photographer on expenses. | |
| That’s all from me for tonight. | |
| Thanks for the comments. | |
| Turning away from the debate, the Electoral Commission has said that Nigel Farage’s Brexit party is at a “high and ongoing risk” of accepting impermissible donations. As the Press Association reports, the commission said the party’s system of using its online platform for donors to contribute small sums created “additional risk” in relation to compliance with the laws on political funding. In a statement it said: | Turning away from the debate, the Electoral Commission has said that Nigel Farage’s Brexit party is at a “high and ongoing risk” of accepting impermissible donations. As the Press Association reports, the commission said the party’s system of using its online platform for donors to contribute small sums created “additional risk” in relation to compliance with the laws on political funding. In a statement it said: |
| The Electoral Commission visited the Brexit party on Tuesday 21 May to review the systems it has in place to receive funds. We have concluded that the fundraising structure adopted by the party leaves it open to a high and ongoing risk of receiving and accepting impermissible donations. We have made recommendations that will, if implemented by the party, achieve and maintain robust procedures for receiving funds and help it comply with its legal requirements. | The Electoral Commission visited the Brexit party on Tuesday 21 May to review the systems it has in place to receive funds. We have concluded that the fundraising structure adopted by the party leaves it open to a high and ongoing risk of receiving and accepting impermissible donations. We have made recommendations that will, if implemented by the party, achieve and maintain robust procedures for receiving funds and help it comply with its legal requirements. |
| In response, the Brexit party said the commission had confirmed its method of fundraising was legitimate and had been adopted by other political parties and campaigners. It went on: | In response, the Brexit party said the commission had confirmed its method of fundraising was legitimate and had been adopted by other political parties and campaigners. It went on: |
| They haven’t found any examples of infringement of Electoral Commission rules | They haven’t found any examples of infringement of Electoral Commission rules |
| However, we are grateful that they have made some helpful suggestions to reduce future risk as we fundraise and we will be working to embrace those recommendations as soon as practicable and possible and in the time frame set out. | However, we are grateful that they have made some helpful suggestions to reduce future risk as we fundraise and we will be working to embrace those recommendations as soon as practicable and possible and in the time frame set out. |
| We trust that the Electoral Commission have been applying the same oversight and rigour to the other political parties and their fund-raising. | We trust that the Electoral Commission have been applying the same oversight and rigour to the other political parties and their fund-raising. |
| This is what political journalists and commentators are saying on Twitter about the Sajid Javid campaign launch. | This is what political journalists and commentators are saying on Twitter about the Sajid Javid campaign launch. |
| From the Financial Times’ Robert Shrimsley | From the Financial Times’ Robert Shrimsley |
| As these things go, Javid was pretty good. He had a story and he told it pretty well. | As these things go, Javid was pretty good. He had a story and he told it pretty well. |
| From the Guardian’s Peter Walker | From the Guardian’s Peter Walker |
| Javid is carefully but very definitely adopting the language of populism in this speech - talks about being on the side of the "people", versus the "Westminster elite", and the "cartels". It's quite fluffy populism, but still populism. | Javid is carefully but very definitely adopting the language of populism in this speech - talks about being on the side of the "people", versus the "Westminster elite", and the "cartels". It's quite fluffy populism, but still populism. |
| From the FT’s Sebastian Payne | From the FT’s Sebastian Payne |
| That was @sajidjavid’s best speech to date: impassioned, funny yet serious at times, telling his backstory and his (broad) plans for the future too. Some of Ruth Davidson has clearly rubbed off on him, delivery improved from the robotic stiffness in the past. | That was @sajidjavid’s best speech to date: impassioned, funny yet serious at times, telling his backstory and his (broad) plans for the future too. Some of Ruth Davidson has clearly rubbed off on him, delivery improved from the robotic stiffness in the past. |
| From the BBC’s Norman Smith | From the BBC’s Norman Smith |
| Cd @sajidjavid be the big upset in this Tory contest ? A desperately slow start but big gear change with powerful launch. Best so far. Oh....and he's got a mad looking dog. | Cd @sajidjavid be the big upset in this Tory contest ? A desperately slow start but big gear change with powerful launch. Best so far. Oh....and he's got a mad looking dog. |
| From my colleague Gaby Hinsliff | From my colleague Gaby Hinsliff |
| If Javid had governed half as well as he tells a story on the campaign trail, can't help feeling this leadership contest might have been different. | If Javid had governed half as well as he tells a story on the campaign trail, can't help feeling this leadership contest might have been different. |
| From Sky’s Beth Rigby | From Sky’s Beth Rigby |
| Javid making his own ‘populist’ pitch as the political outsider from an immigrant background and on the side of ordinary people. “It wasn’t birthright that got me where I am today. It was hard work, public services and family” | Javid making his own ‘populist’ pitch as the political outsider from an immigrant background and on the side of ordinary people. “It wasn’t birthright that got me where I am today. It was hard work, public services and family” |
| From the Independent’s Jane Merrick | From the Independent’s Jane Merrick |
| This is an amazing leadership speech by Sajid Javid. Has the contest saved the best til last? Promises “a leader not just for Christmas, not just for Brexit” | This is an amazing leadership speech by Sajid Javid. Has the contest saved the best til last? Promises “a leader not just for Christmas, not just for Brexit” |
| Back to the no-deal vote earlier, and here is the Commons division list showing the MPs who backed the cross-party motion. They included 10 Conservatives who were defying the government whip: Guto Bebb (Aberconwy), Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe), Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon), Justine Greening (Putney), Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield), Sam Gyimah (East Surrey), Phillip Lee (Bracknell), Oliver Letwin (West Dorset), Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury), Caroline Spelman (Meriden). | Back to the no-deal vote earlier, and here is the Commons division list showing the MPs who backed the cross-party motion. They included 10 Conservatives who were defying the government whip: Guto Bebb (Aberconwy), Kenneth Clarke (Rushcliffe), Jonathan Djanogly (Huntingdon), Justine Greening (Putney), Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield), Sam Gyimah (East Surrey), Phillip Lee (Bracknell), Oliver Letwin (West Dorset), Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury), Caroline Spelman (Meriden). |
| And here is the list of MPs who voted against. They included eight Labour MPs who were defying the whip: Kevin Barron (Rother Valley), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse), Caroline Flint (Don Valley), Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), John Mann (Bassetlaw), Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton). | And here is the list of MPs who voted against. They included eight Labour MPs who were defying the whip: Kevin Barron (Rother Valley), Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley), Jim Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse), Caroline Flint (Don Valley), Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow), Kate Hoey (Vauxhall), John Mann (Bassetlaw), Graham Stringer (Blackley and Broughton). |
| People who give presentations for a living will tell you it is always best to be the first person to make a sales pitch to the customers or the last, because these are the ones that people tend to remember. Sajid Javid was the last of the 10 Tory leadership contenders on the ballot tomorrow to hold his formal campaign launch and it was definitely one of the best - and probably the one that the most surpassed expectations. It may be too late, but this did feel like an event that might persuade a sceptical selectorate (in terms of declared MP supporters, Javid is struggling) to think again. | People who give presentations for a living will tell you it is always best to be the first person to make a sales pitch to the customers or the last, because these are the ones that people tend to remember. Sajid Javid was the last of the 10 Tory leadership contenders on the ballot tomorrow to hold his formal campaign launch and it was definitely one of the best - and probably the one that the most surpassed expectations. It may be too late, but this did feel like an event that might persuade a sceptical selectorate (in terms of declared MP supporters, Javid is struggling) to think again. |
| Javid’s personal story is well known and he spoken many times before about how he was brought up by immigrant parents who were poor but who were hard-working and loving. In the past, particularly when he first got a cabinet job, he was seen as a wooden speaker devoid of charisma. You would not say that about him today and this speech, in terms of emotional reach, was probably the best he’s ever given. More importantly, he managed to connect his own experience to the plight of the Conservative party and its need to sound less privileged, and his argument - particularly the line about how the Scottish Tories are winning votes because they “threw out central casting and they elected someone totally different [Ruth Davidson]” - was a persuasive one. His policy offerings were routine and his Brexit solution sounded even more fanciful than most of the others’ in this contest. But in most elections it is easier being the change candidate than the status quo candidate, and Javid convincingly presented himself as the most changey person on the ticket. | Javid’s personal story is well known and he spoken many times before about how he was brought up by immigrant parents who were poor but who were hard-working and loving. In the past, particularly when he first got a cabinet job, he was seen as a wooden speaker devoid of charisma. You would not say that about him today and this speech, in terms of emotional reach, was probably the best he’s ever given. More importantly, he managed to connect his own experience to the plight of the Conservative party and its need to sound less privileged, and his argument - particularly the line about how the Scottish Tories are winning votes because they “threw out central casting and they elected someone totally different [Ruth Davidson]” - was a persuasive one. His policy offerings were routine and his Brexit solution sounded even more fanciful than most of the others’ in this contest. But in most elections it is easier being the change candidate than the status quo candidate, and Javid convincingly presented himself as the most changey person on the ticket. |
| Q: When did you decide that Theresa May had cut police numbers too far? | Q: When did you decide that Theresa May had cut police numbers too far? |
| Javid says that even before he became home secretary, he was concerned the cuts had gone too far. | Javid says that even before he became home secretary, he was concerned the cuts had gone too far. |
| But he was bound by collective responsibility, he says. He says that was right. | But he was bound by collective responsibility, he says. He says that was right. |
| But he is speaking out now because he is running for leader, and people need to know what he would and would not do, he says. | But he is speaking out now because he is running for leader, and people need to know what he would and would not do, he says. |
| And that’s it. The press conference is over. | And that’s it. The press conference is over. |
| Javid has now taken questions from all the journalists on the list he had of news organisations he was planning to call. He says he will take questions from others in the room. | Javid has now taken questions from all the journalists on the list he had of news organisations he was planning to call. He says he will take questions from others in the room. |
| Someone who is head of private wealth at a law firm asks what he would do to stop members of the armed forces being prosecuted for historical allegations. | Someone who is head of private wealth at a law firm asks what he would do to stop members of the armed forces being prosecuted for historical allegations. |
| Javid says he is not happy with the current situation. He would ask his attorney general as a priority to stop these sorts of cases. | Javid says he is not happy with the current situation. He would ask his attorney general as a priority to stop these sorts of cases. |
| Q: Are you worried your campaign has started too slowly? | Q: Are you worried your campaign has started too slowly? |
| Javid says he is happy with the way it is going, although he is worried his dog Bailey (which features in Javid’s video) is becoming more popular than he is. | Javid says he is happy with the way it is going, although he is worried his dog Bailey (which features in Javid’s video) is becoming more popular than he is. |
| Q: Do the Tories have a problem with Islamophobia? | Q: Do the Tories have a problem with Islamophobia? |
| Javid says he thinks there is a growing problem with Islamophobia in society at large. | Javid says he thinks there is a growing problem with Islamophobia in society at large. |
| He does not think the Conservatives have a particular problem. But people should speak out if they hear something objectionable, he says. He says he would be happy for an organisation to come in and look at the party’s record. | He does not think the Conservatives have a particular problem. But people should speak out if they hear something objectionable, he says. He says he would be happy for an organisation to come in and look at the party’s record. |
| Q: Why do you think you could get the EU to offer a Brexit deal? | Q: Why do you think you could get the EU to offer a Brexit deal? |
| Javid says having a new team will make a difference. There have been reports that the EU will be more flexible. | Javid says having a new team will make a difference. There have been reports that the EU will be more flexible. |
| He says he started in the City at the bottom. He ended up near the top. He spent his career doing deals, doing some of the biggest bond trades in the world. | He says he started in the City at the bottom. He ended up near the top. He spent his career doing deals, doing some of the biggest bond trades in the world. |
| Q: Would you appoint someone who has taken class A drugs as home secretary? | Q: Would you appoint someone who has taken class A drugs as home secretary? |
| Javid says that is a reference to his good friend Michael Gove. He says Gove is big enough himself to defend his record. | Javid says that is a reference to his good friend Michael Gove. He says Gove is big enough himself to defend his record. |
| Q: Do you regret depriving Shamima Begum of her citizenship? | Q: Do you regret depriving Shamima Begum of her citizenship? |
| Javid says he cannot comment on individual cases such as this. | Javid says he cannot comment on individual cases such as this. |
| But he says as home secretary, his priority is to keep the country safe. And he says, when he receives advice from security officials, people would expect him to take it. | But he says as home secretary, his priority is to keep the country safe. And he says, when he receives advice from security officials, people would expect him to take it. |
| Javid says he would not push to change abortion laws. | Javid says he would not push to change abortion laws. |
| Q: What are the main differences between you and the favourite, Boris Johnson? | Q: What are the main differences between you and the favourite, Boris Johnson? |
| Javid says he is a change candidate. | Javid says he is a change candidate. |
| Boris Johnson is yesterday’s news. He’s been around in politics for a while. | Boris Johnson is yesterday’s news. He’s been around in politics for a while. |
| Javid says his life experience is different. He can connect with 90% of the country. | Javid says his life experience is different. He can connect with 90% of the country. |
| Javid starts by taking a question from Sky’s Beth Rigby. | Javid starts by taking a question from Sky’s Beth Rigby. |
| And he says she does not need to worry about anyone booing her for doing her job. | And he says she does not need to worry about anyone booing her for doing her job. |
| That is a reference to what MPs supporting Boris Johnson were doing at this morning’s event. Javid’s comment goes down very well with journalists. | That is a reference to what MPs supporting Boris Johnson were doing at this morning’s event. Javid’s comment goes down very well with journalists. |
| Q: Are you worried the Tories are turning into the ‘nasty party’? | Q: Are you worried the Tories are turning into the ‘nasty party’? |
| Javid says he is worried about politicians “around the world” promoting division. | Javid says he is worried about politicians “around the world” promoting division. |
| (That seems to be a reference to Donald Trump.) | (That seems to be a reference to Donald Trump.) |
| And he claims Jeremy Corbyn is already pursuing divisive politics. | And he claims Jeremy Corbyn is already pursuing divisive politics. |
| He wants to bring people together, he says. | He wants to bring people together, he says. |
| Q: Are you saying Boris Johnson is like Trump? | Q: Are you saying Boris Johnson is like Trump? |
| Javid says of course we need vigorous debate. But he wants to bring people together. | Javid says of course we need vigorous debate. But he wants to bring people together. |