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| Theresa May stands by UK ambassador in wake of Trump criticism - Politics live | Theresa May stands by UK ambassador in wake of Trump criticism - Politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Proroguing the House of Commons to achieve a no-deal Brexit would be “the end of parliamentary democracy” in the UK, Dominic Grieve has said in defending his move to seek to remove the option. | |
| Grieve’s amendment, which has cross-party support including from a handful of fellow Conservative MPs, is to the Northern Ireland bill going through the Commons, and would require fortnightly reports on that country’s formation of an executive, which has been vacant since 2017. | |
| Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Grieve said the amendment calls for “regular motions before parliament in September and particularly October”. If passed, it would prevent the parliamentary session being prorogued, or abruptly ended, in the lead-up to the 31 October departure date. | |
| Catch up on the latest Guardian political stories of the day: | |
| Donald Trump: we will no longer deal with the British ambassador | |
| Can Kim Darroch continue as ambassador to US after Trump leak? | |
| Who could be prosecuted over leaked diplomatic emails? | |
| Abolish Eton: Labour groups aim to strip elite schools of privileges | |
| Unions agree Labour should back remain in referendum on Tory deal | |
| Whoever is behind the leak of sensitive diplomatic messages was intent on sabotaging the British ambassador to the US in order for them to be replaced by someone “more congenial”, a person who formerly held the role has claimed. Sir Christopher Meyer said there was a “possible range of villains” who could be responsible for the leaking of memos in which Sir Kim Darroch described the US administration under Donald Trump as “inept”. Sir Christopher told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Here there is a possible range of villains who come into the frame. But it was clearly somebody who set out, deliberately, to sabotage Sir Kim’s ambassadorship, to make his position untenable, and to have him replaced by somebody more congenial to the leaker.” There has been fierce criticism of the mystery leaker from government ministers. The person or people behind it should “regret the moment for the rest of their life”, Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan said, while defence minister Tobias Ellwood suggested the leaker put “self-interest above country”. A formal leak investigation has been launched by the Foreign Office, and in the Commons there were calls for a police investigation amid widespread anger at the diplomatic fall-out. Foreign Secretary and Conservative Party leadership contender Jeremy Hunt said “all avenues of inquiry” would be explored to find out how it happened. Hunt told The Sun: “Of course it would be massively concerning if it was the act of a foreign, hostile state. “I’ve seen no evidence that that’s the case, but we’ll look at the leak inquiry very carefully.” | |
| William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative party, has said that leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson should rule out dissolving parliament to get through a no-deal Brexit. | William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative party, has said that leadership hopefuls Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson should rule out dissolving parliament to get through a no-deal Brexit. |
| Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Hague said: “He should rule it out. For a Conservative government to go ahead with a no-deal Brexit, in defiance of the pleas of business and farming organisations, and increasing the risks to the union of the United Kingdom, and defying any attempts to have a vote in Parliament, would be an extraordinary combination of things to do, so yes I do think Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt should rule that out.”He supported former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, bringing the amendment against prorogation:“I think it’s very important that parliament is able to give its opinion. It ought to be unthinkable that we could leave the EU by a manoeuvre, by a procedural ruse of some kind.” | Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Hague said: “He should rule it out. For a Conservative government to go ahead with a no-deal Brexit, in defiance of the pleas of business and farming organisations, and increasing the risks to the union of the United Kingdom, and defying any attempts to have a vote in Parliament, would be an extraordinary combination of things to do, so yes I do think Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt should rule that out.”He supported former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, bringing the amendment against prorogation:“I think it’s very important that parliament is able to give its opinion. It ought to be unthinkable that we could leave the EU by a manoeuvre, by a procedural ruse of some kind.” |
| He added: “While I don’t agree with everything Dominic has said or tried to do, I sympathise with attempts to ensure that Parliament can have its say.” | He added: “While I don’t agree with everything Dominic has said or tried to do, I sympathise with attempts to ensure that Parliament can have its say.” |
| Trump has criticised the UK ambassador, following a leak in which he described the US president as “inept” and “dysfunctional”. | Trump has criticised the UK ambassador, following a leak in which he described the US president as “inept” and “dysfunctional”. |
| But this morning, people have come out in defence of Sir Kim Darroch, the UK’s ambassador to Washington. Tory former foreign secretary Lord William Hague told the BBC: “You can’t change an ambassador at the demand of a host country. | But this morning, people have come out in defence of Sir Kim Darroch, the UK’s ambassador to Washington. Tory former foreign secretary Lord William Hague told the BBC: “You can’t change an ambassador at the demand of a host country. |
| “It is their job to give an honest assessment of what is happening in that country.” | “It is their job to give an honest assessment of what is happening in that country.” |
| A former British ambassador to the US , Sir Christopher Meyer, branded Trump “insecure”. | A former British ambassador to the US , Sir Christopher Meyer, branded Trump “insecure”. |
| He said: “It just shows President Trump’s sensitivity. | He said: “It just shows President Trump’s sensitivity. |
| The House of Commons sits from 11.30am with an hour of justice questions. It could be one of the last times the secretary of state for Justice, David Gauke, appears in this role, after the Tory MP said he will quit the cabinet if Johnson becomes prime minister. He made this announcement as he would want to fight a no-deal Brexit. | The House of Commons sits from 11.30am with an hour of justice questions. It could be one of the last times the secretary of state for Justice, David Gauke, appears in this role, after the Tory MP said he will quit the cabinet if Johnson becomes prime minister. He made this announcement as he would want to fight a no-deal Brexit. |
| If he was to leave by the end of the month it would mean that the government would need to appoint their seventh justice secretary in just seven years. | If he was to leave by the end of the month it would mean that the government would need to appoint their seventh justice secretary in just seven years. |
| Elsewhere, Parliament will host broadcasting legend David Attenborough today. He will be giving evidence on climate change to the Commons business committee at 10 am. | Elsewhere, Parliament will host broadcasting legend David Attenborough today. He will be giving evidence on climate change to the Commons business committee at 10 am. |
| On Tuesday, student climate network activists will also meet political leaders including Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford. | On Tuesday, student climate network activists will also meet political leaders including Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable and SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford. |
| From 10.30am, the department for culture, media and sport committee will question senior Channel 4 executives. | From 10.30am, the department for culture, media and sport committee will question senior Channel 4 executives. |
| The health secretary Matt Hancock is giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Committee from 2.30pm. | The health secretary Matt Hancock is giving evidence to the Commons Health and Social Care Committee from 2.30pm. |
| Outside of Westminster, in Brussels, the Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will meet Michel Barnier this afternoon. | Outside of Westminster, in Brussels, the Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay will meet Michel Barnier this afternoon. |
| A Labour group is campaigning to abolish Eton, and other elite private schools in England. | A Labour group is campaigning to abolish Eton, and other elite private schools in England. |
| Activists are aiming to capitalise on Boris Johnson’s likely election as Conservative leader and are circulating a motion for the party’s conference in September that would commit a Labour government to stripping fee-paying schools of their privileges and integrating them into the state system. | Activists are aiming to capitalise on Boris Johnson’s likely election as Conservative leader and are circulating a motion for the party’s conference in September that would commit a Labour government to stripping fee-paying schools of their privileges and integrating them into the state system. |
| The group, Labour Against Private Schools, launched the campaign on Tuesday using the @AbolishEtonTwitter handle. It is backed by a number of Labour MPs including the former party leader Ed Miliband. | The group, Labour Against Private Schools, launched the campaign on Tuesday using the @AbolishEtonTwitter handle. It is backed by a number of Labour MPs including the former party leader Ed Miliband. |
| MPs prepare to vote on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill at 7pm this evening. | MPs prepare to vote on the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill at 7pm this evening. |
| Much attention is on the speaker John Bercow who will announce at mid-morning which amendments have been selected for votes, and there are three which could have a seismic impact. | Much attention is on the speaker John Bercow who will announce at mid-morning which amendments have been selected for votes, and there are three which could have a seismic impact. |
| Labour MP Conor McGinn’s “new clause 1”, which would legalize gay marriage in Northern Ireland. | Labour MP Conor McGinn’s “new clause 1”, which would legalize gay marriage in Northern Ireland. |
| Labour colleague Diana Johnson’s “new clause 9” which would force ministers to review abortion rights in the province. | Labour colleague Diana Johnson’s “new clause 9” which would force ministers to review abortion rights in the province. |
| Dominic Grieve’s amendment to prevent the next prime minister from proroguing parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit. | Dominic Grieve’s amendment to prevent the next prime minister from proroguing parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit. |
| A former British ambassador to the US has branded president Donald Trump “insecure” over the diplomatic war of words raging between London and Washington DC. Referring to Trump’s declaration he would no longer deal with the UK’s ambassador Sir Kim Darroch, previous occupant of the post Sir Christopher Meyer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It just shows President Trump’s sensitivity. “His insecurity, which Sir Kim himself bore witness to.” Referring to whoever leaked diplomatic cables from Sir Kim, Sir Christopher said: “Here there is a possible range of villains who come into the frame. “But, it was clearly somebody who set out, deliberately, to sabotage Sir Kim’s ambassadorship, to make his position untenable, and to have him replaced by somebody more congenial to the leaker.” | A former British ambassador to the US has branded president Donald Trump “insecure” over the diplomatic war of words raging between London and Washington DC. Referring to Trump’s declaration he would no longer deal with the UK’s ambassador Sir Kim Darroch, previous occupant of the post Sir Christopher Meyer told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It just shows President Trump’s sensitivity. “His insecurity, which Sir Kim himself bore witness to.” Referring to whoever leaked diplomatic cables from Sir Kim, Sir Christopher said: “Here there is a possible range of villains who come into the frame. “But, it was clearly somebody who set out, deliberately, to sabotage Sir Kim’s ambassadorship, to make his position untenable, and to have him replaced by somebody more congenial to the leaker.” |
| Exactly a year ago today Boris Johnson quit as foreign secretary in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit plan. One year on, and the former mayor is making a play to be prime minister. | Exactly a year ago today Boris Johnson quit as foreign secretary in protest at Theresa May’s Brexit plan. One year on, and the former mayor is making a play to be prime minister. |
| The final two Tory leadership hopefuls – Jeremy Hunt and Johnson – will go head to head on a live TV debate this evening. Millions of viewers will tune in to ITV1 at 8 pm as they battle it out before a live audience in Salford, Greater Manchester. | The final two Tory leadership hopefuls – Jeremy Hunt and Johnson – will go head to head on a live TV debate this evening. Millions of viewers will tune in to ITV1 at 8 pm as they battle it out before a live audience in Salford, Greater Manchester. |
| The discussion will be hosted by TV newsreader and journalist ,Julie Etchingham, who will moderate the hour-long debate, with audience members asking questions pre-vetted by ITV. | The discussion will be hosted by TV newsreader and journalist ,Julie Etchingham, who will moderate the hour-long debate, with audience members asking questions pre-vetted by ITV. |
| Welcome to the live blog, where we will be running through the political news of the day. | Welcome to the live blog, where we will be running through the political news of the day. |
| On Tuesday, the main story is US president Donald Trump’s scathing attack on Theresa May and the British ambassador to Washington, Kim Darroch. The diplomat’s frank assessments of Trump as “inept” and “dysfunctional” were leaked to the Mail on Sunday, prompting the president to launch a tirade against Darroch. | On Tuesday, the main story is US president Donald Trump’s scathing attack on Theresa May and the British ambassador to Washington, Kim Darroch. The diplomat’s frank assessments of Trump as “inept” and “dysfunctional” were leaked to the Mail on Sunday, prompting the president to launch a tirade against Darroch. |
| He said: “I do not know the ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer deal with him. The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new prime minister. While I thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent state visit last month, it was the Queen who I was most impressed with!” | He said: “I do not know the ambassador, but he is not liked or well thought of within the US. We will no longer deal with him. The good news for the wonderful United Kingdom is that they will soon have a new prime minister. While I thoroughly enjoyed the magnificent state visit last month, it was the Queen who I was most impressed with!” |
| May last night vowed to stand by Darroch. In a statement issued at 10.19 p.m, a UK government spokesman said Darroch maintains the prime minister’s “full support”. | May last night vowed to stand by Darroch. In a statement issued at 10.19 p.m, a UK government spokesman said Darroch maintains the prime minister’s “full support”. |
| The US president also took aim against May and her representatives, saying they had made a “mess” over Brexit, contrary to his advice. Just weeks ago, he praised the prime minister in person on his state visit to the UK, saying she had done a “very good job”. | The US president also took aim against May and her representatives, saying they had made a “mess” over Brexit, contrary to his advice. Just weeks ago, he praised the prime minister in person on his state visit to the UK, saying she had done a “very good job”. |