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| Tory leadership: deputy prime minister backs Rory Stewart - live | Tory leadership: deputy prime minister backs Rory Stewart - live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| We’re going to close down this live blog now. Thanks for reading and commenting. Here’s a summary of the days’ events. | |
| The Tory leadership candidates – with the exception of Boris Johnson – faced lobby journalists at a hustings. You can read a comprehensive summary of that here. | |
| Rory Stewart secured the backing of the de facto deputy prime minister, David Lidington. The move was a major boost to Stewart’s campaign and suggests he may remain in the running beyond the next vote. | |
| The other leadership candidates were warned that they risk squandering the Tories reputation for fiscal responsibility. The chancellor, Philip Hammond, said he was disappointed that only Rory Stewart had signed his pledge to commit to keeping the national debt falling every year if they become prime minister. David Gauke, who is backing Rory Stewart, also said some of the policy promises made by Boris Johnson could cause public borrowing to soar. | |
| Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, accused his party of being afraid to make the case for remaining in the EU. “We talk about the evils of no-deal till we’re blue in the face, because we’re still scared to tell the truth about Europe,” he said. | |
| If you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Rowena Mason and Jessica Elgot have the full story: | |
| Boris Johnson accused of making MPs contradictory Brexit promises | |
| Alyn Smith, the Scottish National party MEP, has apologised unreservedly to the chairman of the Brexit party and donated an undisclosed sum to the military charity, Help for Heroes, after claiming the Brexit party was “a shell company that’s a money laundering front”. | Alyn Smith, the Scottish National party MEP, has apologised unreservedly to the chairman of the Brexit party and donated an undisclosed sum to the military charity, Help for Heroes, after claiming the Brexit party was “a shell company that’s a money laundering front”. |
| Richard Tice, the chairman and co-founder of the Brexit party, demanded a retraction after Smith made the remarks live on Sky News following the European election earlier this month, in which the Brexit party won a Scottish regional seat. | Richard Tice, the chairman and co-founder of the Brexit party, demanded a retraction after Smith made the remarks live on Sky News following the European election earlier this month, in which the Brexit party won a Scottish regional seat. |
| Smith initially refused to back down, leading Tice to threaten libel action. Smith has now withdrawn his remarks and paid “significantly” towards Tice’s legal costs, according to the Brexit party. | Smith initially refused to back down, leading Tice to threaten libel action. Smith has now withdrawn his remarks and paid “significantly” towards Tice’s legal costs, according to the Brexit party. |
| Our Chairman @TiceRichard has received a full apology, legal costs and a donation to charity from SNP's @AlynSmith for unfounded allegations.Read our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/RBUsUG9cZk | Our Chairman @TiceRichard has received a full apology, legal costs and a donation to charity from SNP's @AlynSmith for unfounded allegations.Read our full statement below. pic.twitter.com/RBUsUG9cZk |
| In a statement issued by his solicitors, Smith said: | In a statement issued by his solicitors, Smith said: |
| On 27 May 2019, I was interviewed by Sky News. In that interview, I stated in the context of political donations that the Brexit party is a ‘shell company that’s a money laundering front’. | On 27 May 2019, I was interviewed by Sky News. In that interview, I stated in the context of political donations that the Brexit party is a ‘shell company that’s a money laundering front’. |
| Its chairman, Richard Tice, is concerned by implication this allegation related to him, although that was not my intention. Having reflected upon this following a complaint from Mr Tice, I apologise unreservedly to him and withdraw my allegation. | Its chairman, Richard Tice, is concerned by implication this allegation related to him, although that was not my intention. Having reflected upon this following a complaint from Mr Tice, I apologise unreservedly to him and withdraw my allegation. |
| I am happy to state clearly that I do not have any evidence to support such an allegation. I spoke in the heat of the moment and I am happy to set the record straight. I have agreed to pay a sum in damages to the Help for Heroes charity and I have agreed to pay legal costs. | I am happy to state clearly that I do not have any evidence to support such an allegation. I spoke in the heat of the moment and I am happy to set the record straight. I have agreed to pay a sum in damages to the Help for Heroes charity and I have agreed to pay legal costs. |
| Tice said he was pleased Smith had withdrawn his “wholly unfounded and damaging allegations”, adding: | Tice said he was pleased Smith had withdrawn his “wholly unfounded and damaging allegations”, adding: |
| People are entitled to take a different view of Brexit and I respect their right to do so. But I will not hesitate to take action against those who make false claims about the Brexit party and, by implication, those of us who run it. | People are entitled to take a different view of Brexit and I respect their right to do so. But I will not hesitate to take action against those who make false claims about the Brexit party and, by implication, those of us who run it. |
| Writing for the Guardian this evening, the Labour MP Stella Creasy has launched a vehement attack on the Parliamentary authorities, saying they are forcing her to choose between being an MP and being a mother. | Writing for the Guardian this evening, the Labour MP Stella Creasy has launched a vehement attack on the Parliamentary authorities, saying they are forcing her to choose between being an MP and being a mother. |
| I’m pregnant and forced to choose between being an MP and a mum | Stella Creasy | I’m pregnant and forced to choose between being an MP and a mum | Stella Creasy |
| Stewart ends on a question about prison reform. He calls prisons “one of the great hidden scars on our country”. He says that, compared to other state institutions – such as schools and hospitals, relatively few people have any experience of prisons. | Stewart ends on a question about prison reform. He calls prisons “one of the great hidden scars on our country”. He says that, compared to other state institutions – such as schools and hospitals, relatively few people have any experience of prisons. |
| He says you “protect the public by running a decent, safe and humane prison” in which people can receive the necessary education and mental health treatment they need to prevent recidivism. | He says you “protect the public by running a decent, safe and humane prison” in which people can receive the necessary education and mental health treatment they need to prevent recidivism. |
| Asked about a citizens’ assembly, Stewart says Parliament is sovereign. But, if it gets stuck again, a “grand jury of citizens” could be given three weeks to look at the task and bring back recommendations to Parliament. | Asked about a citizens’ assembly, Stewart says Parliament is sovereign. But, if it gets stuck again, a “grand jury of citizens” could be given three weeks to look at the task and bring back recommendations to Parliament. |
| Addressing a question about potentially changing the constitution of the Tory party, Stewart says the membership is its lifeblood and declares himself jealous of Jeremy Corbyn because he has increased the Labour party’s membership. | Addressing a question about potentially changing the constitution of the Tory party, Stewart says the membership is its lifeblood and declares himself jealous of Jeremy Corbyn because he has increased the Labour party’s membership. |
| He says there was an assumption the major parties were in a managed decline but that Corbyn “turned it all around” by talking about things he believed in. He says he wants to rebuild the Tory party by being “proud to be Conservatives”. | He says there was an assumption the major parties were in a managed decline but that Corbyn “turned it all around” by talking about things he believed in. He says he wants to rebuild the Tory party by being “proud to be Conservatives”. |
| Stewart is asked to condemn the exclusion of Sajid Javid from the state dinner with Donald Trump, as well as Jeremy Hunt for his support for the US president’s racially charged criticism of Sadiq Khan. | Stewart is asked to condemn the exclusion of Sajid Javid from the state dinner with Donald Trump, as well as Jeremy Hunt for his support for the US president’s racially charged criticism of Sadiq Khan. |
| He refers to a previous question from a young man who had said he didn’t feel Stewart was able to engage with him in a meaningful way. Stewart says he needs to get better at connecting with people who do not speak the same way he does. | He refers to a previous question from a young man who had said he didn’t feel Stewart was able to engage with him in a meaningful way. Stewart says he needs to get better at connecting with people who do not speak the same way he does. |
| Earlier, Stewart had tweeted about the tweet at the heart of the Hunt issue: | Earlier, Stewart had tweeted about the tweet at the heart of the Hunt issue: |
| I 100% disagree with both the language and the sentiment of the last sentence of this tweet. Can all candidates please confirm the same https://t.co/cx6gapQExQ | I 100% disagree with both the language and the sentiment of the last sentence of this tweet. Can all candidates please confirm the same https://t.co/cx6gapQExQ |
| Stewart is asked about calling a second Brexit referendum on the basis that the first was run in a fundamentally dishonest fashion. | Stewart is asked about calling a second Brexit referendum on the basis that the first was run in a fundamentally dishonest fashion. |
| He says he was one of the many who was surprised by the result and recognises that, since then, many people have come to support a second vote. This would not achieve what its proponents believe it would, he says. | He says he was one of the many who was surprised by the result and recognises that, since then, many people have come to support a second vote. This would not achieve what its proponents believe it would, he says. |
| Asked about honesty in the campaign, he says it’s important but this the “sea in which we swim” as politicians. Stewart says that, regardless of the information people are given, each of them has an equal right to choose how they vote. | Asked about honesty in the campaign, he says it’s important but this the “sea in which we swim” as politicians. Stewart says that, regardless of the information people are given, each of them has an equal right to choose how they vote. |
| Stewart says that means compromise is necessary – and such cannot be achieved by either the remain or hard Brexit camps. | Stewart says that means compromise is necessary – and such cannot be achieved by either the remain or hard Brexit camps. |
| Asked what he’d to do bring back into the fold those Tory supporters who have voted for the Brexit party. He says 70% of those people didn’t vote that way because they supported the party but because they wanted to signal that they wanted the Brexit process to be over with. | Asked what he’d to do bring back into the fold those Tory supporters who have voted for the Brexit party. He says 70% of those people didn’t vote that way because they supported the party but because they wanted to signal that they wanted the Brexit process to be over with. |
| The delays, he says, suit the pro-remain and pro-hard Brexit camps because they strengthen the possibility of one or the other coming about eventually. The Brexit deal on the table, he says, is the “only one out there”. | The delays, he says, suit the pro-remain and pro-hard Brexit camps because they strengthen the possibility of one or the other coming about eventually. The Brexit deal on the table, he says, is the “only one out there”. |
| He says the candidates who believe they’ll go back to the EU and get a better one will only bring about further delay. He also says it’s pointless to consider whether any route other than the parliamentary one would be legal or constitutional way of pushing through Brexit. | He says the candidates who believe they’ll go back to the EU and get a better one will only bring about further delay. He also says it’s pointless to consider whether any route other than the parliamentary one would be legal or constitutional way of pushing through Brexit. |
| Stewart is asked what he would do to restore the UK’s prestige on the world stage. He says, if the country wants it, it has to demonstrate it and that it has fallen into the trap of assuming that asserting greatness achieves it. | Stewart is asked what he would do to restore the UK’s prestige on the world stage. He says, if the country wants it, it has to demonstrate it and that it has fallen into the trap of assuming that asserting greatness achieves it. |
| We’ve got to be a serious country ... [that] means conducting yourself with realism, with humility and doing what you say. | We’ve got to be a serious country ... [that] means conducting yourself with realism, with humility and doing what you say. |
| Asked about his position on adult social care, Stewart tells the audience there are certain issues about which candidates are advised not to talk. One of those is adult social care, for which he has proposed greater funding. Every time he does so, he says, he gains more support. | Asked about his position on adult social care, Stewart tells the audience there are certain issues about which candidates are advised not to talk. One of those is adult social care, for which he has proposed greater funding. Every time he does so, he says, he gains more support. |
| Addressing the question directly, he says that how we look after the most vulnerable in society is the measure by which we will be judged. | Addressing the question directly, he says that how we look after the most vulnerable in society is the measure by which we will be judged. |
| Stewart is now taking questions from the audience. He’s asked if he’ll commit to gender-parity in his government. | Stewart is now taking questions from the audience. He’s asked if he’ll commit to gender-parity in his government. |
| “It’s a really good challenge,” he says, but adds he cannot totally agree. He says the cabinet should have more women but that they need to be the right people. First, he says, he needs to get more women elected as members of parliament so that he has the pool of talent from which to choose. | “It’s a really good challenge,” he says, but adds he cannot totally agree. He says the cabinet should have more women but that they need to be the right people. First, he says, he needs to get more women elected as members of parliament so that he has the pool of talent from which to choose. |
| Stewart is acknowledging the backing of both Lidington and Gauke and has described the positive effect the latter has had on his career in government. He also points out the MP for East Renfrewshire, Paul Masterton, who is present in the audience. | Stewart is acknowledging the backing of both Lidington and Gauke and has described the positive effect the latter has had on his career in government. He also points out the MP for East Renfrewshire, Paul Masterton, who is present in the audience. |
| Stewart tells the audience occupying the centre ground is nothing to be ashamed of and that the country needs a politician who’ll speak honestly to them about the difficulties ahead. And he tells them the Tory party needs to address issues such as the environment. | Stewart tells the audience occupying the centre ground is nothing to be ashamed of and that the country needs a politician who’ll speak honestly to them about the difficulties ahead. And he tells them the Tory party needs to address issues such as the environment. |
| Lidington says Stewart’s campaigning style has demonstrated there are “no no-go areas” for the Conservative party. | Lidington says Stewart’s campaigning style has demonstrated there are “no no-go areas” for the Conservative party. |
| Then he hands over to Stewart, who says he was beginning to get depressed about British politics. He says that, until recently, hefelt powerless and that nothing he tried to achieve in government ever got done. | Then he hands over to Stewart, who says he was beginning to get depressed about British politics. He says that, until recently, hefelt powerless and that nothing he tried to achieve in government ever got done. |
| David Lidington is on stage at Rory Stewart’s rally in London. He tells the audience he thinks there’s a “yearning in this country for political leaders who tell it straight to people” and who are honest about the difficulties ahead. | David Lidington is on stage at Rory Stewart’s rally in London. He tells the audience he thinks there’s a “yearning in this country for political leaders who tell it straight to people” and who are honest about the difficulties ahead. |
| David Lidington, the Cabinet Office secretary and Theresa May’s de facto deputy, has switched to backing Rory Stewart for the Conservative party leadership. He had previously supported Matt Hancock, who pulled out of the race last week. | David Lidington, the Cabinet Office secretary and Theresa May’s de facto deputy, has switched to backing Rory Stewart for the Conservative party leadership. He had previously supported Matt Hancock, who pulled out of the race last week. |
| New - David Lidington backs Rory Stewart's campaign to be PM. Big endorsement - other campaigns starting to get twitchy about the numbers switching. But even then.. is it enough tomorrow to keep him the race? He needs at least 33 backers and to avoid coming last. | New - David Lidington backs Rory Stewart's campaign to be PM. Big endorsement - other campaigns starting to get twitchy about the numbers switching. But even then.. is it enough tomorrow to keep him the race? He needs at least 33 backers and to avoid coming last. |
| Stewart’s spokesman says: | Stewart’s spokesman says: |
| Rory is incredibly proud to have the support of David Lidington – the deputy prime minister. A huge vote of confidence not just in Rory’s campaign, but in his ability to deliver as prime minister | Rory is incredibly proud to have the support of David Lidington – the deputy prime minister. A huge vote of confidence not just in Rory’s campaign, but in his ability to deliver as prime minister |
| Tom Watson’s Brexit speech this morning, which we previewed yesterday, was overshadowed by the Tory leadership hustings. But I’ve now had a chance to read the text, and here are three extracts. | Tom Watson’s Brexit speech this morning, which we previewed yesterday, was overshadowed by the Tory leadership hustings. But I’ve now had a chance to read the text, and here are three extracts. |
| Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, said his party had been afraid to make the case for remaining in the EU. He said: | Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, said his party had been afraid to make the case for remaining in the EU. He said: |
| We talk about the evils of no-deal till we’re blue in the face, because we’re still scared to tell the truth about Europe. | We talk about the evils of no-deal till we’re blue in the face, because we’re still scared to tell the truth about Europe. |
| We’re more comfortable warning of an ineffable catastrophe, because we’re hard-wired to be unable to say the words that I’ve come here this morning to say: | We’re more comfortable warning of an ineffable catastrophe, because we’re hard-wired to be unable to say the words that I’ve come here this morning to say: |
| The European Union is not something to apologise for. It is a good thing. It is Good with a capital G. | The European Union is not something to apologise for. It is a good thing. It is Good with a capital G. |
| An enduring, deep, benevolent collaboration between sovereign states unique in the history of the world. | An enduring, deep, benevolent collaboration between sovereign states unique in the history of the world. |
| It produced a lasting peace from the ashes of war. | It produced a lasting peace from the ashes of war. |
| It produced prosperity where there had been deprivation. | It produced prosperity where there had been deprivation. |
| It produced transnational partnership where once there was suspicion and division. | It produced transnational partnership where once there was suspicion and division. |
| It’s not perfect, but what large institution is? | It’s not perfect, but what large institution is? |
| The core values of the EU are internationalism. Solidarity. Freedom. | The core values of the EU are internationalism. Solidarity. Freedom. |
| Those are British values. And they’re Labour values. | Those are British values. And they’re Labour values. |
| I’m a European democratic socialist. I don’t go along with the EU despite being a socialist, I embrace the EU because I am a socialist. | I’m a European democratic socialist. I don’t go along with the EU despite being a socialist, I embrace the EU because I am a socialist. |
| Democratic socialism is achieving common causes by the strength of collective endeavour. That’s what Europe is. | Democratic socialism is achieving common causes by the strength of collective endeavour. That’s what Europe is. |
| He cited Shakespeare as an example of someone who was profoundly English and European. | He cited Shakespeare as an example of someone who was profoundly English and European. |
| Probably the most important Englishman who ever lived was William Shakespeare. A man of the Midlands, like me, whose transcendent imagination was as broadly and deeply European as it was English ... | Probably the most important Englishman who ever lived was William Shakespeare. A man of the Midlands, like me, whose transcendent imagination was as broadly and deeply European as it was English ... |
| One only needs look at where the plays took place: Rome, Athens, Venice, Padua, Milan, Cyprus, Navarra, Messina, Vienna, Denmark, the Balkans, Sicily. And he wasn’t just using places he’d visited as handy material. He never left the UK. | One only needs look at where the plays took place: Rome, Athens, Venice, Padua, Milan, Cyprus, Navarra, Messina, Vienna, Denmark, the Balkans, Sicily. And he wasn’t just using places he’d visited as handy material. He never left the UK. |
| He conceived and realised these settings because being European was central to his sense of who he was, and what it meant to be English. | He conceived and realised these settings because being European was central to his sense of who he was, and what it meant to be English. |
| Erasmus and Plutarch loomed as large in his imagination as did Chaucer and Sidney. Mediaeval London was a bustling melting pot of migrants from all over the world. The greatest Englishman, 400 years ago, was wholly, deeply European. | Erasmus and Plutarch loomed as large in his imagination as did Chaucer and Sidney. Mediaeval London was a bustling melting pot of migrants from all over the world. The greatest Englishman, 400 years ago, was wholly, deeply European. |
| He said Labour should champion the idea of holding a second referendum. | He said Labour should champion the idea of holding a second referendum. |
| The notion that it’s in some way undemocractic to let the people put an end to this crisis because, after three years, parliament and government cannot, is absurd. | The notion that it’s in some way undemocractic to let the people put an end to this crisis because, after three years, parliament and government cannot, is absurd. |
| And if you want Brexit, and you believe there is still a majority for it in the UK, then a public vote will break the deadlock and deliver the Brexit you want. | And if you want Brexit, and you believe there is still a majority for it in the UK, then a public vote will break the deadlock and deliver the Brexit you want. |
| Whereas if many people have changed their minds and no longer want Brexit now that they have more information about what it means, how is it undemocratic to give them the chance to express that three years on and with the country in limbo? | Whereas if many people have changed their minds and no longer want Brexit now that they have more information about what it means, how is it undemocratic to give them the chance to express that three years on and with the country in limbo? |
| Labour is the party of democracy - so we must ask the people ... | Labour is the party of democracy - so we must ask the people ... |
| Only a public vote can break this deadlock, but we will only achieve this if Labour fights for it and champions it. We must do that – in Parliament and around the country. Labour must make the positive case. | Only a public vote can break this deadlock, but we will only achieve this if Labour fights for it and champions it. We must do that – in Parliament and around the country. Labour must make the positive case. |
| That’s all from me for tonight. | That’s all from me for tonight. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is taking over now. |