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| Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe branded 'offensive' after likening EU membership to slavery - live news | Brexit party MEP Ann Widdecombe branded 'offensive' after likening EU membership to slavery - live news |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Local Government Association, the cross-party body which represents councils in England and Wales, has challenged the government to publish its green paper on adult social care within the next 10 weeks. Responding to the report from the Lords economic affairs committee report for an NHS-style system of free personal care, funded by the taxpayer, the LGA also offered to host cross-party talks on finding a solution to the funding crisis. | |
| In a statement Ian Hudspeth, the Conservative leader of Oxfordshire council council and chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: | |
| Councils are having to make incredibly difficult decisions within tightening budgets and cannot be expected to continue relying on one-off funding injections to keep services going. What is needed is funding certainty for both the immediate and long-term. | |
| That is why the government needs to commit to meeting our 10-week deadline, before the party conferences start, to finally publish its much-delayed and long-awaited green paper outlining what the future funding options and possible solutions to this crisis are. | |
| Local government stands ready to host cross-party talks to kick-start this process and make sure we get the answers and certainty we need, so that people can continue to receive essential care and support. | |
| Jeremy Corbyn has joined those criticising the prospect of George Osborne replacing Christine Lagarde as head of the International Monetary Fund. | |
| George Osborne, architect of UK austerity, and the IMF, leading global enforcer of austerity, would be a dangerous combination. We need to build a new global economic order for the many, not continue imposing destructive policies on behalf of the few.https://t.co/Li4nuPNiV8 | |
| David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and Theresa May’s de facto deputy, has told the World at One that a no-deal Brexit would make the break-up of the United Kingdom more likely. Asked if the UK could survive as one country in the event of no-deal, he replied: | |
| I think the UK would be under much greater strain in the event of a no-deal. | |
| Lidington also said the union was under greater strain than at any point in his lifetime. He went on: | |
| The threat to the union, in my view, comes not just from Scottish nationalism, or pressure for Irish unification, it comes from indifference amongst English opinion to the value of the union. | |
| I think there is a sense in which we take the union for granted. | |
| And sometimes I think there are too many people in England, including in my party, who assume that you can be dismissive of the contribution that Scotland or Northern Ireland makes. | |
| Lidington was speaking ahead of May’s speech in Scotland on devolution, which is due at about 5pm. | |
| Ann Widdecombe, the Brexit party MEP and former Tory minister, has been branded “offensive” and a “clown” after likening EU membership to slavery. | Ann Widdecombe, the Brexit party MEP and former Tory minister, has been branded “offensive” and a “clown” after likening EU membership to slavery. |
| Jeremy Hunt, the underdog in the Tory leadership contest, has said the ban on foxhunting will not be repealed. He had to clarify his position after he provoked anger with an interview implying the ban might by lifted under his premiership if the Tories won a majority at the next election. (See 9.08am.) | Jeremy Hunt, the underdog in the Tory leadership contest, has said the ban on foxhunting will not be repealed. He had to clarify his position after he provoked anger with an interview implying the ban might by lifted under his premiership if the Tories won a majority at the next election. (See 9.08am.) |
| Hunt’s plan to end the funding crisis in adult social care has been described as unworkable by Michael Forsyth, the Tory peer who chairs a Lords committee that has just published a report on the topic. (See 12.05pm.) | Hunt’s plan to end the funding crisis in adult social care has been described as unworkable by Michael Forsyth, the Tory peer who chairs a Lords committee that has just published a report on the topic. (See 12.05pm.) |
| Germany will stand fully in “solidarity” with Ireland over Brexit, the country’s president has said, and look to “underpin rather than undermine” the peace process that has kept the border with Northern Ireland invisible in the past 20 years. | Germany will stand fully in “solidarity” with Ireland over Brexit, the country’s president has said, and look to “underpin rather than undermine” the peace process that has kept the border with Northern Ireland invisible in the past 20 years. |
| Hunt has refused to rule out imposing sanctions on China and expelling its diplomats in an escalating row over Hong Kong. | Hunt has refused to rule out imposing sanctions on China and expelling its diplomats in an escalating row over Hong Kong. |
| George Osborne’s interest in running the International Monetary Fund has met immediate criticism because of the former Chancellor’s austerity policies and Brexit-related question marks over the UK’s international standing. | George Osborne’s interest in running the International Monetary Fund has met immediate criticism because of the former Chancellor’s austerity policies and Brexit-related question marks over the UK’s international standing. |
| Conservative donors have spent lavish sums on hunting trips and champagne parties at a fundraising auction attended by the prime minister, Theresa May, and her potential successors, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. | Conservative donors have spent lavish sums on hunting trips and champagne parties at a fundraising auction attended by the prime minister, Theresa May, and her potential successors, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt. |
| Policing is under huge strain, struggling to meet rising demand and radical reform is needed, Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of constabulary, has said. | Policing is under huge strain, struggling to meet rising demand and radical reform is needed, Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of constabulary, has said. |
| And here is the Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan on Ann Widdecombe. | And here is the Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan on Ann Widdecombe. |
| It is disgusting that Ann Widdecombe would reference slavery and colonisation to describe our relationship with the EU. Her and Farage are bankrolled by elites - she's part of the establishment which has created such a divide in this country. https://t.co/UoncdzeDXA | It is disgusting that Ann Widdecombe would reference slavery and colonisation to describe our relationship with the EU. Her and Farage are bankrolled by elites - she's part of the establishment which has created such a divide in this country. https://t.co/UoncdzeDXA |
| This is from Nick Boles, the former Conservative MP now sitting as an independent, who says some of those praising Boris Johnson in the media have been scathing about him in private. | This is from Nick Boles, the former Conservative MP now sitting as an independent, who says some of those praising Boris Johnson in the media have been scathing about him in private. |
| If I was paid a quid for each of the scathing things said to me about Boris Johnson by people now promoting him in the media, I’d be a very wealthy man. I just wonder how they can live with themselves. | If I was paid a quid for each of the scathing things said to me about Boris Johnson by people now promoting him in the media, I’d be a very wealthy man. I just wonder how they can live with themselves. |
| Here is Labour’s David Lammy on the Ann Widdecombe speech. | Here is Labour’s David Lammy on the Ann Widdecombe speech. |
| Anne Widdecombe just compared Britain leaving the EU to "slaves" rising up "against their owners".It is impossible to explain how offensive and ahistorical it is for you to equate my ancestors tearing off their chains with your small-minded nationalist project. Shame on you. https://t.co/wZVCziXWVM | Anne Widdecombe just compared Britain leaving the EU to "slaves" rising up "against their owners".It is impossible to explain how offensive and ahistorical it is for you to equate my ancestors tearing off their chains with your small-minded nationalist project. Shame on you. https://t.co/wZVCziXWVM |
| Here is video of the Ann Widdecombe speech. (See 1.19pm.) | Here is video of the Ann Widdecombe speech. (See 1.19pm.) |
| Ann Widdecombe MEP: Britain was right to vote to leave, we're off!Widdecombe is on fire! pic.twitter.com/6bI01YHWAc | Ann Widdecombe MEP: Britain was right to vote to leave, we're off!Widdecombe is on fire! pic.twitter.com/6bI01YHWAc |
| Here is a transcript. | Here is a transcript. |
| And here’s the full transcript from Anne #Widdecombe’s theatrical debut, comparing British membership to the EU, to #slavery “Nous allons, wir gehen, we’re off” she says. #annewiddecombe #Brexit pic.twitter.com/PLrvbEQKAk | And here’s the full transcript from Anne #Widdecombe’s theatrical debut, comparing British membership to the EU, to #slavery “Nous allons, wir gehen, we’re off” she says. #annewiddecombe #Brexit pic.twitter.com/PLrvbEQKAk |
| Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian MEP and former prime minister who is the European parliament’s lead Brexit spokesman, has described Widdecombe as a “clown”. | Guy Verhofstadt, the Belgian MEP and former prime minister who is the European parliament’s lead Brexit spokesman, has described Widdecombe as a “clown”. |
| Nigel Farage facing some stiff competition as chief clown of the Brexit Party in the @Europarl_EN. By the way, when Widdecombe talks about “colonies liberating themselves from their empires”, is she really referring to the American Revolution of 1776? https://t.co/KNtQ7GjaY3 | Nigel Farage facing some stiff competition as chief clown of the Brexit Party in the @Europarl_EN. By the way, when Widdecombe talks about “colonies liberating themselves from their empires”, is she really referring to the American Revolution of 1776? https://t.co/KNtQ7GjaY3 |
| The former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe likened the UK’s departure from the EU to the emancipation of slaves, as she became the first Brexit party MEP to speak in the new European parliament, my colleague Daniel Boffey reports. | The former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe likened the UK’s departure from the EU to the emancipation of slaves, as she became the first Brexit party MEP to speak in the new European parliament, my colleague Daniel Boffey reports. |
| Ann Widdecombe likens Brexit to emancipation of slaves | Ann Widdecombe likens Brexit to emancipation of slaves |
| Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of policing, has suggested that Boris Johnson’s plan to hire an extra 20,000 police officers may not be the most efficient use of money. Johnson is proposing to spend an extra £1.1bn funding the pledge, which would see 20,000 extra officer in place by 2022. Presenting his annual state of policing report, Winsor welcomed the proposal, but suggested the money could be better spent. Asked if he welcomed the proposal, he replied: | Sir Tom Winsor, the chief inspector of policing, has suggested that Boris Johnson’s plan to hire an extra 20,000 police officers may not be the most efficient use of money. Johnson is proposing to spend an extra £1.1bn funding the pledge, which would see 20,000 extra officer in place by 2022. Presenting his annual state of policing report, Winsor welcomed the proposal, but suggested the money could be better spent. Asked if he welcomed the proposal, he replied: |
| Yes. High-risk, high-harm crimes are on the increase. Street violence is a very significant problem. Police are having to cope with new patterns of crime and complexity. | Yes. High-risk, high-harm crimes are on the increase. Street violence is a very significant problem. Police are having to cope with new patterns of crime and complexity. |
| But when asked if it was too simplistic proposal Winsor said: | But when asked if it was too simplistic proposal Winsor said: |
| It’s certainly simple but it may not be the most effective way of spending on policing. | It’s certainly simple but it may not be the most effective way of spending on policing. |
| I’m not for a moment saying we don’t need more cops and police staff. | I’m not for a moment saying we don’t need more cops and police staff. |
| I’m sure Boris Johnson doesn’t expect people to believe there will be 20,000 police officers on the streets by Christmas. That just would be the case. | I’m sure Boris Johnson doesn’t expect people to believe there will be 20,000 police officers on the streets by Christmas. That just would be the case. |
| A good rule of polling is that, if a poll result looks sufficiently unusual to be newsworthy, it is probably wrong. That’s why today’s YouGov poll, which puts Labour in fourth place, on 18%, behind the Tories, the Brexit party and the Lib Dems, might not be quite as disastrous for the party as it looks. The Times, which has splashed on the figures, says since the 1940s Labour has only one before sunk this low, in May 2009, at the height of the banking crisis. | A good rule of polling is that, if a poll result looks sufficiently unusual to be newsworthy, it is probably wrong. That’s why today’s YouGov poll, which puts Labour in fourth place, on 18%, behind the Tories, the Brexit party and the Lib Dems, might not be quite as disastrous for the party as it looks. The Times, which has splashed on the figures, says since the 1940s Labour has only one before sunk this low, in May 2009, at the height of the banking crisis. |
| But another rule of polling is that it is, if you look at trends over a series of polls, they are a reliable guide to shifts in opinion. This confirms what almost all polling has implied since the European election, that Britain is becoming a four-way marginal. As YouGov explains in its write-up: | But another rule of polling is that it is, if you look at trends over a series of polls, they are a reliable guide to shifts in opinion. This confirms what almost all polling has implied since the European election, that Britain is becoming a four-way marginal. As YouGov explains in its write-up: |
| Broadly speaking, this is a continuation of the trend we have seen over the past few months of a movement away from two-party politics and towards a fairly even four-way split between Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems and the Brexit Party. | Broadly speaking, this is a continuation of the trend we have seen over the past few months of a movement away from two-party politics and towards a fairly even four-way split between Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems and the Brexit Party. |
| In the most recent poll 57% of Labour 2017 voters now say they would vote for another party, with 28% going to the Lib Dems, 15% moving to the Greens and 10% moving to the Brexit party. | In the most recent poll 57% of Labour 2017 voters now say they would vote for another party, with 28% going to the Lib Dems, 15% moving to the Greens and 10% moving to the Brexit party. |
| Meanwhile 47% of Conservative 2017 voters also now say they will vote for another party, with most of that (38%) going to the Brexit party and a further 6% moving to the Lib Dems. | Meanwhile 47% of Conservative 2017 voters also now say they will vote for another party, with most of that (38%) going to the Brexit party and a further 6% moving to the Lib Dems. |
| In a statement released by the People’s Vote campaign, which wants a second referendum on Brexit, the Labour MP Phil Wilson said: | In a statement released by the People’s Vote campaign, which wants a second referendum on Brexit, the Labour MP Phil Wilson said: |
| Day after day, poll after poll shows the dismay among voters over Labour’s failure to offer a clear and principled position backing a final say referendum. | Day after day, poll after poll shows the dismay among voters over Labour’s failure to offer a clear and principled position backing a final say referendum. |
| So long as the doubt and confusion continues over whether it will support a final say on any Brexit outcome - and on whether it will campaign to stay in the EU - Labour will continue to shed votes to parties like the Liberal Democrats. | So long as the doubt and confusion continues over whether it will support a final say on any Brexit outcome - and on whether it will campaign to stay in the EU - Labour will continue to shed votes to parties like the Liberal Democrats. |
| This is refreshing. In normal circumstances government ministers don’t criticise each other in public. But discipline was breaking down anyway during the Brexit crisis, the Tory leadership contest created even more discord - it is impossible to have an election without disagreement - and this morning Caroline Dinenage, a health minister, has raided the Lib Dem lexicon to let us know what she thinks of Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury. | This is refreshing. In normal circumstances government ministers don’t criticise each other in public. But discipline was breaking down anyway during the Brexit crisis, the Tory leadership contest created even more discord - it is impossible to have an election without disagreement - and this morning Caroline Dinenage, a health minister, has raided the Lib Dem lexicon to let us know what she thinks of Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury. |
| Bollocks https://t.co/OG75MahMLn | Bollocks https://t.co/OG75MahMLn |
| Dinenage was responding to this tweet from Truss, a libertarian ultra who is supporting Boris Johnson. | Dinenage was responding to this tweet from Truss, a libertarian ultra who is supporting Boris Johnson. |
| If Boris wants to help Britain's poorest, scrapping the sugar tax is the place to start https://t.co/dHAkQOw8tb via @Telegraph | If Boris wants to help Britain's poorest, scrapping the sugar tax is the place to start https://t.co/dHAkQOw8tb via @Telegraph |
| Dinenage explained her thinking her. | Dinenage explained her thinking her. |
| To clarify, sugar tax so far has raised 1/3 of predicted tax revenue ‘cos it’s prompted drink co’s to ⬇️ sugar in products, good news. To me this isn’t about ‘choice’, tiny kids have no choice over what they’re fed, it’s about incentivising food/drink co’s to use less sugar. https://t.co/Wsx3EyqzoJ | To clarify, sugar tax so far has raised 1/3 of predicted tax revenue ‘cos it’s prompted drink co’s to ⬇️ sugar in products, good news. To me this isn’t about ‘choice’, tiny kids have no choice over what they’re fed, it’s about incentivising food/drink co’s to use less sugar. https://t.co/Wsx3EyqzoJ |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies has stepped up its criticism of the two Tory leadership candidate over their failure to provide proper costings for their spending plans. Paul Johnson, the IFS director, told the Press Association: | The Institute for Fiscal Studies has stepped up its criticism of the two Tory leadership candidate over their failure to provide proper costings for their spending plans. Paul Johnson, the IFS director, told the Press Association: |
| While the two candidates have put forward tens of billions of pounds worth of proposals to increase spending and cut taxes, they have provided no sense at all of what their overall fiscal strategy would be, what level of deficit and debt they would be happy with, or how they would deal with the problems of long term fiscal sustainability as set out by the Office for Budget Responsibility. | While the two candidates have put forward tens of billions of pounds worth of proposals to increase spending and cut taxes, they have provided no sense at all of what their overall fiscal strategy would be, what level of deficit and debt they would be happy with, or how they would deal with the problems of long term fiscal sustainability as set out by the Office for Budget Responsibility. |
| This is not currently a grown up discussion or strategy, it is a little more than a random throwing of sweeties at the children. | This is not currently a grown up discussion or strategy, it is a little more than a random throwing of sweeties at the children. |