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| Boris Johnson leads Tory leadership race with 114 votes; Leadsom, McVey and Harper out – live | Boris Johnson leads Tory leadership race with 114 votes; Leadsom, McVey and Harper out – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Here are two tweets on the Tory leadership and privilege. | |
| From Sky’s Lewis Goodall | |
| It now seems very likely we'll have our *20th* Old Etonian as prime minister.In our entire parliamentary history, we've been governed by an Old Etonian as PM for 101 years out of 298. So 34% of the time. Whatever their individual merits... this country is absurd. https://t.co/TQHB74ynBB | |
| From the Times’ Esther Webber | |
| If somehow it ended up being Rory Stewart vs Boris Johnson - not only did they both go to Eton, but they both went to Balliol College, Oxford | |
| Sir John Major, the former Conservative prime minister, was speaking at a Chatham House event this morning, and he was scathing about the suggestion that a new PM might prorogue parliament to prevent it blocking a no-deal Brexit. These Brexiters contemplating this idea was guilty of “hypocrisy on a gold-plated stand”, he said. He seemed to be referring in particular to Dominic Raab and Boris Johnson, and to Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was the first Brexiter to float a version of this idea. | |
| Major told the audience: | |
| When you get people suggesting that we prorogue parliament because parliament may take a different view from a particular faction in the House of Commons, then you are heading in a very dangerous territory. | |
| If I look back through British history, then I cannot imagine Mr Disraeli, Mr Gladstone, Mr Churchill or Mrs Thatcher, even on their most difficult moments, saying, ‘Let us put parliament aside while I carry through this difficult policy that part of my party disagrees with.’ | |
| It is fundamentally unconstitutional. | |
| And to hear that argument come from people who in the Brexit debate talked about the sovereignty of parliament being at stake, it is not only fundamentally distasteful, it is hypocrisy on a gold-plated stand. | |
| I don’t think that that could possibly be allowed to stand. I don’t think the House of Commons will allow it to stand. And, to be absolutely frank, I don’t think anybody who proposes that, or even lets it flit through their mind for a second, has any understanding of what parliament is about, what sovereignty is about, what leadership is about or what the United Kingdom is about. And the sooner the House of Commons stamp on this idea, absolutely, comprehensively and forever, the better. | |
| “I don’t think anybody who proposes that has any understanding of what parliament is about, what sovereignty is about, or what the UK is about."Former Conservative Prime Minister John Major says the idea of suspending parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit is “hypocrisy". pic.twitter.com/TH8Miccb9x | |
| The Tory MP Ken Clarke also said he agreed with Rory Stewart’s comment about how, if Boris Johnson were to suspend parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit, MPs would “bring him down”. (See 2.32pm.) Clarke said: | The Tory MP Ken Clarke also said he agreed with Rory Stewart’s comment about how, if Boris Johnson were to suspend parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit, MPs would “bring him down”. (See 2.32pm.) Clarke said: |
| I agree with that … There would be absolute outrage if a new prime minister suddenly decided because he didn’t get a majority in parliament for a policy that he would close parliament down and use dictatorial powers … It’s a bizarre suggestion. | I agree with that … There would be absolute outrage if a new prime minister suddenly decided because he didn’t get a majority in parliament for a policy that he would close parliament down and use dictatorial powers … It’s a bizarre suggestion. |
| Clarke said that although we have an uncodified constitution, it is nonetheless clear that governments should only pursue policies for which they have parliament’s approval. | Clarke said that although we have an uncodified constitution, it is nonetheless clear that governments should only pursue policies for which they have parliament’s approval. |
| Just four of the 11 members of the foreign affairs select committee went on its road trip to Northern Ireland today. | Just four of the 11 members of the foreign affairs select committee went on its road trip to Northern Ireland today. |
| Four of the five Conservative MPs and three of the five Labour MPs did not turn up in Armagh, where the first of two outreach events with local communities are taking place. | Four of the five Conservative MPs and three of the five Labour MPs did not turn up in Armagh, where the first of two outreach events with local communities are taking place. |
| It is not clear why so few turned up, but the Conservative leadership vote was not a barrier, as the Tory committee chair, Tom Tugendhat, was able to attend and take part in the ballot by arranging a proxy vote. | It is not clear why so few turned up, but the Conservative leadership vote was not a barrier, as the Tory committee chair, Tom Tugendhat, was able to attend and take part in the ballot by arranging a proxy vote. |
| The committee is meeting community groups, representatives from local businesses and elected public representatives. | The committee is meeting community groups, representatives from local businesses and elected public representatives. |
| Among those not attending are the Brexiter Priti Patel and Andrew Rosindell, who has said the stalemate over the border is a “red herring from day one” and the only way to resolve it is through bilateral talks between the UK and Ireland. Rosindell made the comments in Ireland last month, when he attended a session of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which he co-chairs. | Among those not attending are the Brexiter Priti Patel and Andrew Rosindell, who has said the stalemate over the border is a “red herring from day one” and the only way to resolve it is through bilateral talks between the UK and Ireland. Rosindell made the comments in Ireland last month, when he attended a session of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which he co-chairs. |
| The Conservative former chancellor and veteran pro-European Ken Clarke has accused Boris Johnson of not knowing what he wants, and said some Conservatives fear the idea of him being prime minister. In an interview, he said: | The Conservative former chancellor and veteran pro-European Ken Clarke has accused Boris Johnson of not knowing what he wants, and said some Conservatives fear the idea of him being prime minister. In an interview, he said: |
| Some are extremely fearful about the idea that he becomes prime minister. This isn’t some TV reality show … We’re not choosing the winner of the Great [British] Bake Off – we’re talking about government and policies. | Some are extremely fearful about the idea that he becomes prime minister. This isn’t some TV reality show … We’re not choosing the winner of the Great [British] Bake Off – we’re talking about government and policies. |
| The father of the house, who supported Rory Stewart in the leadership vote today, said Johnson muddles through, often forgetting what he believes in from one day to the next. | The father of the house, who supported Rory Stewart in the leadership vote today, said Johnson muddles through, often forgetting what he believes in from one day to the next. |
| He doesn’t have any policies, certainly none that are consistent from day to day in the way he puts them. I don’t actually think he knows what he would do to get us out of the Brexit crisis. | He doesn’t have any policies, certainly none that are consistent from day to day in the way he puts them. I don’t actually think he knows what he would do to get us out of the Brexit crisis. |
| He doesn’t always say the same thing, partly because he doesn’t always remember what he said the day before. | He doesn’t always say the same thing, partly because he doesn’t always remember what he said the day before. |
| He tends to work day to day and just get his way through it – he’s not a man who’s interested in detail. | He tends to work day to day and just get his way through it – he’s not a man who’s interested in detail. |
| Here is more from the Rory Stewart interview with Sky News quoted earlier. See 1.42pm.) | Here is more from the Rory Stewart interview with Sky News quoted earlier. See 1.42pm.) |
| Stewart said Boris Johnson would be acting like Charles I if he prorogued parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit. King Charles’s confrontations with parliament led to the civil war. | Stewart said Boris Johnson would be acting like Charles I if he prorogued parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit. King Charles’s confrontations with parliament led to the civil war. |
| Somebody who attempted to subvert our constitution, our liberties, our parliament, this place, who dared to stand as prime minister and claim that they could lock the doors on parliament, would not deserve to be prime minister. And this parliament would meet, whether he locked the doors or not, and we would bring him down. | Somebody who attempted to subvert our constitution, our liberties, our parliament, this place, who dared to stand as prime minister and claim that they could lock the doors on parliament, would not deserve to be prime minister. And this parliament would meet, whether he locked the doors or not, and we would bring him down. |
| If he locked the doors of parliament, he would be doing it because he knew that parliament was entirely and completely against the central plank of his policy. And he would try to stop parliament from bringing him down by not allowing parliament to sit. That’s what Charles I did. That led to very, very disturbing things in this country. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. I’m sure, like his taxation policy and his employer national insurance policy, he just hasn’t thought it through. So please think it through. | If he locked the doors of parliament, he would be doing it because he knew that parliament was entirely and completely against the central plank of his policy. And he would try to stop parliament from bringing him down by not allowing parliament to sit. That’s what Charles I did. That led to very, very disturbing things in this country. I’m sure he doesn’t mean it. I’m sure, like his taxation policy and his employer national insurance policy, he just hasn’t thought it through. So please think it through. |
| Stewart said it was important for politicians to be straight with people. He said: | Stewart said it was important for politicians to be straight with people. He said: |
| I’m very worried if [Johnson] will not tell us what he stands for. Because in the end we have had too much politics where people don’t trust politicians, people have been afraid to speak about reality, to be straight with people. People said, when I began this campaign, that you are never going to get anywhere because you are being straight about parliament, about the problems in Europe. People said you are not going to get anywhere because you are not making tax and spending pledges. What I have discovered is it’s immensely popular to be straight with people, and that’s why I think we can win this. | I’m very worried if [Johnson] will not tell us what he stands for. Because in the end we have had too much politics where people don’t trust politicians, people have been afraid to speak about reality, to be straight with people. People said, when I began this campaign, that you are never going to get anywhere because you are being straight about parliament, about the problems in Europe. People said you are not going to get anywhere because you are not making tax and spending pledges. What I have discovered is it’s immensely popular to be straight with people, and that’s why I think we can win this. |
| Stewart said he was beginning to think he might just make it on to the final ballot of Tory members. | Stewart said he was beginning to think he might just make it on to the final ballot of Tory members. |
| Andrea Leadsom has tweeted this about her departure from the leadership race. | Andrea Leadsom has tweeted this about her departure from the leadership race. |
| What a ride! Loved being back on the leadership campaign trail. Great effort by colleagues @Mark_J_Harper and @EstherMcVey1 and best of luck to the remaining candidates. Thank you to the many #TeamLeadsom supporters. - AL @andrealeadsom pic.twitter.com/490vidbMnh | What a ride! Loved being back on the leadership campaign trail. Great effort by colleagues @Mark_J_Harper and @EstherMcVey1 and best of luck to the remaining candidates. Thank you to the many #TeamLeadsom supporters. - AL @andrealeadsom pic.twitter.com/490vidbMnh |
| My colleague Jessica Elgot has coined a new and very useful term for Tory MPs who back Rory Stewart – but are unwilling to come out and say so. | My colleague Jessica Elgot has coined a new and very useful term for Tory MPs who back Rory Stewart – but are unwilling to come out and say so. |
| Do we have a new phenomenon - the "shy Rories"? @DavidGauke says he believes @RoryStewartUK did better than expected because there is "hidden support" from MPs who didn't declare publicly. | Do we have a new phenomenon - the "shy Rories"? @DavidGauke says he believes @RoryStewartUK did better than expected because there is "hidden support" from MPs who didn't declare publicly. |
| Michael Gove, the environment secretary, who came third, says it’s “all to play for”. He is probably the best debater in the House of Commons, and seems to be looking forward to the Channel 4 hustings on Sunday. | Michael Gove, the environment secretary, who came third, says it’s “all to play for”. He is probably the best debater in the House of Commons, and seems to be looking forward to the Channel 4 hustings on Sunday. |
| It’s all to play for. Very much looking forward to the Channel 4 and BBC debates - hope to see all other candidates there! #ReadyToLead #Gove4PM pic.twitter.com/iwwsG6zx1H | It’s all to play for. Very much looking forward to the Channel 4 and BBC debates - hope to see all other candidates there! #ReadyToLead #Gove4PM pic.twitter.com/iwwsG6zx1H |
| And this is from Dominic Raab, who came fourth today. | And this is from Dominic Raab, who came fourth today. |
| I’m honoured to have the support of so many brilliant colleagues today. This campaign is just getting started, and we've got a good base to build on. I'm the change candidate who can be trusted to deliver Brexit by October, and has the vision and energy to take Britain forward. | I’m honoured to have the support of so many brilliant colleagues today. This campaign is just getting started, and we've got a good base to build on. I'm the change candidate who can be trusted to deliver Brexit by October, and has the vision and energy to take Britain forward. |
| These are from Mark Harper, who was eliminated from the contest today. | These are from Mark Harper, who was eliminated from the contest today. |
| Thank you to all of the people who supported me: colleagues in Parliament and the many voters who I met along the way. (1/3) | Thank you to all of the people who supported me: colleagues in Parliament and the many voters who I met along the way. (1/3) |
| I continue to believe we need a credible plan that delivers Brexit, keeps our promises and then takes our country forwards. (2/3) | I continue to believe we need a credible plan that delivers Brexit, keeps our promises and then takes our country forwards. (2/3) |
| Only then can we restore trust with the British people and beat Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party at the next General Election. (3/3) | Only then can we restore trust with the British people and beat Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party at the next General Election. (3/3) |