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| Tory leadership: Hunt backtracks on foxhunting and says ban will not be repealed - live news | Tory leadership: Hunt backtracks on foxhunting and says ban will not be repealed - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| In an interview with Sky News Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, admitted that a no-deal Brexit could lead to a recession. Asked if he could rule it out, he replied: | |
| Well, no. As a former Treasury minister no one can ever rule out what could happen in the future. | |
| But Barclay stressed that that the government did not want a no-deal Brexit. | |
| And he said that some claims about what might happen in the event of no-deal were exaggerated. As an example, he cited claims that food prices might rise by 10%. When it was put to him that this figure came from a leaked letter written by Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, Barclay replied: | |
| Firstly, the figure that was initially put out from the Bank of England [about the impact on food prices] said 5 to 10% on some food. Only 30% of our food, it’s worth remembering comes from the EU; 70% doesn’t. [The figure] was put out before the trade flows improved. It was put out before we announced what our tariff schedules would be. | |
| So my point is, you get a figure like that put out saying it would be 10% when it was some food, it was [5 to 10%], it was before a number of things changed and people worry about a 10% figure which is quite a misleading figure for what the expectation really is. | |
| In his Today interview Jeremy Hunt, who is combining being a Tory leadership candidate at the moment with his day job of being foreign secretary, said there was “no reason” why Britain could continue to have good relations with China despite the dispute over Hong Kong. He said: | In his Today interview Jeremy Hunt, who is combining being a Tory leadership candidate at the moment with his day job of being foreign secretary, said there was “no reason” why Britain could continue to have good relations with China despite the dispute over Hong Kong. He said: |
| We have good relations with China ... there’s no reason why that can’t continue. But, for us, it is very important that the ‘one country, two systems’ approach is honoured. | We have good relations with China ... there’s no reason why that can’t continue. But, for us, it is very important that the ‘one country, two systems’ approach is honoured. |
| He also refused to say what he meant when he warned that there could be be “serious consequences” if China failed to honour the terms of the 1984 joint declaration signed with the UK on Hong Kong. Asked if these serious consequences could include sanctions, he replied: | He also refused to say what he meant when he warned that there could be be “serious consequences” if China failed to honour the terms of the 1984 joint declaration signed with the UK on Hong Kong. Asked if these serious consequences could include sanctions, he replied: |
| I’m not saying anything about what those consequences might be - that would not be the right thing for me to do as foreign secretary, because, of course, you keep your options open. But I am making the point that the United Kingdom views this situation very, very seriously. | I’m not saying anything about what those consequences might be - that would not be the right thing for me to do as foreign secretary, because, of course, you keep your options open. But I am making the point that the United Kingdom views this situation very, very seriously. |
| Sue Hayman, the shadow environment secretary, has criticised Jeremy Hunt for refusing to accept that foxhunting is cruel in his Today interview this morning. (See 9.08am.) She said: | Sue Hayman, the shadow environment secretary, has criticised Jeremy Hunt for refusing to accept that foxhunting is cruel in his Today interview this morning. (See 9.08am.) She said: |
| It is incredible and shocking that Jeremy Hunt, who aspires to be the next prime minister, can not bring himself to even acknowledge the barbaric cruelty of fox hunting. | It is incredible and shocking that Jeremy Hunt, who aspires to be the next prime minister, can not bring himself to even acknowledge the barbaric cruelty of fox hunting. |
| Once again it shows this Tory government’s lack of understanding and sincerity on issues of animal welfare. | Once again it shows this Tory government’s lack of understanding and sincerity on issues of animal welfare. |
| There is overwhelming support in both rural and urban areas for keeping the ban on fox hunting that Labour was proud to bring in and will strengthen in government. | There is overwhelming support in both rural and urban areas for keeping the ban on fox hunting that Labour was proud to bring in and will strengthen in government. |
| In the inteview Hunt was asked three times whether fox hunting is cruel, but he sidestepped the question each time. He said: | In the inteview Hunt was asked three times whether fox hunting is cruel, but he sidestepped the question each time. He said: |
| My view is a matter of public record ... I’m here to talk about the things I want to change as prime minister - that is not something that’s going to change. | My view is a matter of public record ... I’m here to talk about the things I want to change as prime minister - that is not something that’s going to change. |
| Hunt had not been elected as an MP when the hunting bill was passed in 2004, but he has said he opposes the ban. But he also told the Today programme he had never hunted himself, adding: “It’s not my thing.” | Hunt had not been elected as an MP when the hunting bill was passed in 2004, but he has said he opposes the ban. But he also told the Today programme he had never hunted himself, adding: “It’s not my thing.” |
| Jeremy Hunt has until now been running a better-than-expected campaign for the Tory leadership - if any party members are changing their mind after watching hustings, they seem more likely to be switching to Hunt than to Boris Johnson - but yesterday he made a rare error when he told the Daily Telegraph that he would support a free vote on repealing the ban on foxhunting and that he personally would vote to bring it back. Hunt included the caveat that this would only happen when there was a probable majority for repealing the ban in the Commons, but he implied that this might happen if the Conservatives were to win a majority. “As soon as there was a majority of parliament that would be likely to repeal the foxhunting ban, then I would support a vote in parliament,” he said. | Jeremy Hunt has until now been running a better-than-expected campaign for the Tory leadership - if any party members are changing their mind after watching hustings, they seem more likely to be switching to Hunt than to Boris Johnson - but yesterday he made a rare error when he told the Daily Telegraph that he would support a free vote on repealing the ban on foxhunting and that he personally would vote to bring it back. Hunt included the caveat that this would only happen when there was a probable majority for repealing the ban in the Commons, but he implied that this might happen if the Conservatives were to win a majority. “As soon as there was a majority of parliament that would be likely to repeal the foxhunting ban, then I would support a vote in parliament,” he said. |
| Jeremy Hunt promises vote on repeal of foxhunting ban | Jeremy Hunt promises vote on repeal of foxhunting ban |
| Traditional Tories were horrified when Labour passed a foxhunting ban, and amongst party members repeal is almost certainly a popular cause. But amongst the public at large the prospect of the law being changed to legalise a sport that involves dogs tearing foxes to pieces is toxic. During the 2017 general election campaign the Conservatives were surprised when what they thought was a tame restatement of their 2015 election position (allowing a free vote on repeal) became a major issue of social media, mobilising many voters to support anti-Tory candidates. Hunt is pitching himself as the leadership candidate most able to win an election for the party by appealing to floating voters, and so having this around his neck was a problem. One Tory MP backing Hunt described it as “political suicide”. | Traditional Tories were horrified when Labour passed a foxhunting ban, and amongst party members repeal is almost certainly a popular cause. But amongst the public at large the prospect of the law being changed to legalise a sport that involves dogs tearing foxes to pieces is toxic. During the 2017 general election campaign the Conservatives were surprised when what they thought was a tame restatement of their 2015 election position (allowing a free vote on repeal) became a major issue of social media, mobilising many voters to support anti-Tory candidates. Hunt is pitching himself as the leadership candidate most able to win an election for the party by appealing to floating voters, and so having this around his neck was a problem. One Tory MP backing Hunt described it as “political suicide”. |
| And so this morning Hunt clarified his position. Without entirely retracting what he told the Telegraph, he said the law on foxhunting would not change because he could not envisage there ever being a majority in favour in the Commons. Asked about what he said to the Telegraph, he told the Today programme: | And so this morning Hunt clarified his position. Without entirely retracting what he told the Telegraph, he said the law on foxhunting would not change because he could not envisage there ever being a majority in favour in the Commons. Asked about what he said to the Telegraph, he told the Today programme: |
| Well, I think this is just because I was giving a straight answer to a straight question. But the law is not going to change on fox hunting. There isn’t a majority in the House of Commons, and I don’t see there ever being one. I was just restating the position in our manifesto from 2017 that there should be a free vote if it ever looked like that majority would change. But it would not be my priority as prime minister. | Well, I think this is just because I was giving a straight answer to a straight question. But the law is not going to change on fox hunting. There isn’t a majority in the House of Commons, and I don’t see there ever being one. I was just restating the position in our manifesto from 2017 that there should be a free vote if it ever looked like that majority would change. But it would not be my priority as prime minister. |
| Hunt’s analysis is probably correct. Almost all the MPs in the Commons who support foxhunting are Conservatives, but there are plenty of Tories who would vote against repeal of the ban and the working assumption amongst campaigners is that there would have to be a very large Conservative majority in the Commons for the restoration of foxhunting to have any chance of passing. | Hunt’s analysis is probably correct. Almost all the MPs in the Commons who support foxhunting are Conservatives, but there are plenty of Tories who would vote against repeal of the ban and the working assumption amongst campaigners is that there would have to be a very large Conservative majority in the Commons for the restoration of foxhunting to have any chance of passing. |
| The Today interview was awkward for Hunt. He repeatedly dodged a question about whether he viewed foxhunting as cruel, and instead he tried to switch the conversation to other things he might do for rural communities, like extend broadband. But he probably succeeded in defusing the hunting row. | The Today interview was awkward for Hunt. He repeatedly dodged a question about whether he viewed foxhunting as cruel, and instead he tried to switch the conversation to other things he might do for rural communities, like extend broadband. But he probably succeeded in defusing the hunting row. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| After 10.30am: Mel Stride, the leader of the Commons, makes a statement in the Commons on next week’s business. | After 10.30am: Mel Stride, the leader of the Commons, makes a statement in the Commons on next week’s business. |
| Afternoon: Theresa May gives a speech in Scotland on the importance of strengthening the union. | Afternoon: Theresa May gives a speech in Scotland on the importance of strengthening the union. |
| As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web, although I will be focusing mostly on the Tory leadership contest and Theresa May’s speech. I plan to publish a summary at lunchtime and then another when I finish. | As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web, although I will be focusing mostly on the Tory leadership contest and Theresa May’s speech. I plan to publish a summary at lunchtime and then another when I finish. |
| You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. | You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. |