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Tory leadership: Johnson, Hunt, Gove, Stewart, Javid through, as Raab eliminated – live news | Tory leadership: Johnson, Hunt, Gove, Stewart, Javid through, as Raab eliminated – live news |
(32 minutes later) | |
Here is more on Nicola Sturgeon from my colleague Severin Carrell. | |
@NicolaSturgeon says @BorisJohnson asked her recently (paraphrasing) “So Nicola: full fiscal autonomy. Does that buy you guys off?” “I’m going to make that the starting point of our negotiations should he become prime minister” @reformscotland #devo20 | |
Nicola Sturgeon has said that Boris Johnson’s “almost certain” election as the next Conservative leader has proven how sharply Scotland is now diverging from the rest of the UK, increasing the case for independence. | |
In a speech to mark 20 years since devolution, the first minister said Johnson’s apparent relish for a no-deal Brexit, and his “gratuitously offensive” opinions about women and minorities are in stark contrast to Scotland’s open, diverse and tolerant politics. | |
Many Scottish National party politicians and strategists, and some Tories, believe Johnson’s victory will turbo-charge Sturgeon’s quest for a fresh Scottish independence referendum, doubly so if he successfully leads the UK out of the EU. | |
Speaking to Reform Scotland, a centre right think tank, Sturgeon reminded the audience her government is tabling referendum legislation to pave the way for a new vote at some point in future. She said: | |
It is surely deeply concerning that the Conservative party is even contemplating putting into the office of prime minister someone whose tenure as foreign secretary was risible, lacking in any seriousness of purpose or basic competence and who, over the years, has gratuitously offended so many, from gay people, to Africans, Muslim women and many others. | |
But while that, for now, is a matter for the Tories it does further illustrate the different political trajectories of Scotland and other parts of the UK. And it raises the more fundamental question of whether the UK and therefore devolution, in its current form is capable of accommodating those differences. | |
I have to be candid and admit I’m not a neutral observer of these matters but it does seem to me that these days, the unionist offer to Scotland amounts to not much more than ‘your views don’t matter, do as you’re told and, if you don’t like it, tough, we’ll do it anyway.’ | |
Brexit starkly illustrates the point. The votes of people here have been ignored. The Scottish government’s attempt at compromise was rejected. And voters in the Scottish parliament opposing Brexit and a subsequent power grab were disregarded. | |
Next up in the @reformscotland Devolution at 20 conversations is First Minister @NicolaSturgeon pic.twitter.com/SulPJWrabM | |
And this is from Boris Johnson. | |
Thank you to those who supported me in the second ballot. Very much look forward to taking part in tonight’s BBC debate #BackBoris pic.twitter.com/YJc9lYehtF | |
This is from Rory Stewart. | |
And thank you for all the support - we seem to have almost doubled our vote again...more to come...#walkon | |
In an article for Guardian Opinion, Tom Kibasi, the head of the IPPR thinktank, argues that, even though Boris Johnson looks unstoppable, Rory Stewart has reshaped the race. Here’s an extract: | |
Even though Stewart has little chance of winning, he has still reshaped the race. By relentlessly exposing the deceit of his fellow candidates, Stewart’s campaign leaves Johnson weakened as he heads towards the realisation of his only guiding principle: the ambition to be prime minister. Stewart has been very effective at exposing the lie that the withdrawal agreement can be renegotiated through force of personality. He has made plain that a plan predicated on renegotiating it is in truth a plan for a no-deal exit at the end of October. As the Institute for Public Policy Research progressive thinktank has pointed out today, there are still 10 major questions that no-deal advocates have been unable to answer, from fishing to trading agreements. | |
And here is the whole article. | |
Johnson might be a dead cert for Tory leader but Stewart has reshaped the race | Tom Kibasi | |
Here is the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush’s blogpost on the results. Among other things, he says Rory Stewart is the big winner, but that he may now have hit his ceiling. | |
The big winner is Rory Stewart, however. He now gets a shot at that big televised debate, where he could yet transform the whole contest. His candidacy may well be reaching its ceiling of support and Johnson’s big lead among MPs means he will be well-placed to choose his preferred opponent, who will not be Stewart. | |
But even should he fall short at the next hurdle, he ends this contest as the de facto leader of the Conservative opponents of no deal: and as someone who, albeit from the backbenches, will be a major voice in the Brexit debates. | |
From the Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman | |
Widespread suspicion that Williamson helped prop up Javid. Out of 50 votes up for grabs we are invited to believe that Boris only secured 12 of them. Hacks currently gathered in central lobby staring at lists of numbers and muttering “jiggery pokery” | |
These are from Sajid Javid. | |
I pay tribute to @DominicRaab for fighting hard in this campaign with professionalism, drive & fresh ideas. He has a major role to play with any new PM helping Britain’s young people get a fair shot | |
Thank you for your support! Looking forward to tonight’s debate with my colleagues and @maitlis. I can lead a Conservative Party which connects with new audiences and creates opportunities for all. #TeamSaj | |
This is from Michael Gove. | |
Very pleased to have made it through and closed the gap to second! Looking forward to making my case at the BBC debate shortly. The final two should be Brexiteers who are able to take on Corbyn, unite the party and deliver Brexit #ReadyToLead #Gove4PM pic.twitter.com/3h3kbQOLPV | |
Gillian Keegan, the Chichester MP and a supporter of Rory Stewart, told reporters after the result was announced the momentum was with his campaign. She said: | Gillian Keegan, the Chichester MP and a supporter of Rory Stewart, told reporters after the result was announced the momentum was with his campaign. She said: |
They’re very close now. There’s a clear winner, and between the others there are not many votes | They’re very close now. There’s a clear winner, and between the others there are not many votes |
It’s very rewarding. Rory’s campaign is basically honest about where we are as a country. He’s basically telling people the uncomfortable truth in some cases, but he’s being honest. And who knew there was a market for honesty in politics? I’d always hoped that there was. | |
Mark Francois, the strongly Brexit-minded MP who supports Boris Johnson rather than Dominic Raab, said it was sad that Raab had been eliminated. He went on: | Mark Francois, the strongly Brexit-minded MP who supports Boris Johnson rather than Dominic Raab, said it was sad that Raab had been eliminated. He went on: |
Whoever wins, and I hope it’s Boris, I hope they find a good place for Dom in their cabinet, because I think he deserves it. | Whoever wins, and I hope it’s Boris, I hope they find a good place for Dom in their cabinet, because I think he deserves it. |
This is from a spokesman for Jeremy Hunt’s campaign. | This is from a spokesman for Jeremy Hunt’s campaign. |
This is a solid result. It shows a steady step forward, which is exactly what we were expecting. It confirms that Jeremy is the best placed candidate to take on Boris. He’s the only candidate who can unite the country and the party by delivering Brexit. | This is a solid result. It shows a steady step forward, which is exactly what we were expecting. It confirms that Jeremy is the best placed candidate to take on Boris. He’s the only candidate who can unite the country and the party by delivering Brexit. |
A source in the Sajid Javid campaign says Javid will not be withdrawing from the contest before the next ballot, which is tomorrow. He put on 10 votes, the same as Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab combined, the source says. “We are fighting tomorrow’s ballot.” | A source in the Sajid Javid campaign says Javid will not be withdrawing from the contest before the next ballot, which is tomorrow. He put on 10 votes, the same as Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab combined, the source says. “We are fighting tomorrow’s ballot.” |