This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/jul/10/tory-leadership-latest-news-john-major-threatens-to-take-boris-johnson-to-court-to-stop-him-proroguing-parliament-for-no-deal-brexit-live-news

The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn in PMQs after Kim Darroch resigns as UK ambassador – live news PMQs: Theresa May implicitly criticises Boris Johnson for failing to back Kim Darroch – live news
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson has said he regrets the resignation of Kim Darroch. Describing Darroch as “a superb diplomat”, he went on:
I think whoever leaked his diptels (diplomatic telegrams) really has done a grave disservice to our civil servants, to people who give impartial advice to ministers.
I hope that whoever it is, is run down, caught and eviscerated, quite frankly, because it is not right that advice to ministers that civil servants must be able to make in a spirit of freedom should be leaked.
It is not right that civil servants’ careers and prospects should be dragged into the political agenda.
In PMQs Sir Vince Cable says Theresa May’s last job will be to recommend to the Queen who her successor should be. How will she be sure that that person can command a majority in the Commons?
May says, whoever wins the Tory leadership contest, they will make an excellent PM.
From my colleague Jennifer Rankin
2017: Ivan Rogers resigns after hostile briefing, with no protection from a PM pursuing fantasy Brexit.2019: Kim Darroch resigns after hostile leak, with no backing from a PM candidate pursuing fantasy Brexit.
This is from Peter Ricketts, a former head of the Foreign Office.
Kim has been an outstanding public servant with a distinguished career in the highest-profile jobs. It should not have ended like this. He has been taken out by an act of political sabotage. What does this say about the state of our country? https://t.co/ybgU1QaNSL
Another senior Tory has criticised Boris Johnson for refusing to stand up for Sir Kim Darroch, This is from Patrick McLoughlin, the former Tory chief whip, who is supporting Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership.
It is unedifying to see someone who wants to be prime minister failing to stand up for hard working civil servants, who have done nothing wrong, under attack from foreign governments. Leadership involves standing up for your team. If we don’t call out those who want a witch-hunt through the civil service we are complicit in creating divisions that may never heal.
Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has put out this statement about Sir Kim Darroch’s resignation.
I am deeply saddened by Sir Kim Darroch’s decision to resign as Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Washington. For 42 years, Sir Kim served his country with the utmost dedication and distinction.
He brought dispassionate insight and directness to his reporting to ministers in London. Whenever I visited Washington as foreign secretary, I was struck by Sir Kim’s professionalism and intellect. I am outraged that a selection of his reports should have been leaked.
I am sure that our ambassadors worldwide will continue to provide the objective and rigorous reporting that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has always prized. I profoundly regret how this episode has led Sir Kim to decide to resign. He deserves to look back upon his career as a servant of Britain with the greatest satisfaction and pride.
Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office minister, has told the BBC that Boris Johnson’s treatment of Kim Darroch was “contemptible”.
Darroch resignation is explosiveSir Alan Duncan, a foreign office minister and Hunt backer, tells BBC:‘Boris Johnson has basically thrown our ambassador under a bus’He says the way Boris treated Sir Kim , by refusing to guarantee his future, is ‘contemptible’
Last night Duncan, who is backing Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership, described Johnson as an “utter wimp”. (See 11.07am.)
This is from Dave Penman, the head of the FDA, the union which represents senior civil servants, on Kim Darroch’s decision to resign.
Sir Kim Darroch has been placed in an impossible situation, firstly by the leaking of confidential communiques and then by the failure of Boris Johnson and his supporters to provide unequivocal support.
As a loyal public servant he has, as he always did, put his country first. Can we honestly say that about those who took to the airways and equivocated? Johnson and his allies have sent the clearest signal possible to Sir Kim, the diplomatic corp, the wider civil service and unfortunately to foreign governments: that their professional, impartial advice is needed, but they are ultimately expendable if it proves politically expedient.
And this is from my colleague Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor.
In effect, sacked by Johnson on the orders of Trump. https://t.co/lzXNObl2yk
This is from the Daily Mail’s Jason Groves.
Friends of Sir Kim Darroch say he decided the game was up last night after watching Boris Johnson refuse to back him during live TV debate
This is from Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, on the resignation of Kim Darroch.
It is shameful that Kim Darroch has effectively been forced out for doing the job that diplomats are appointed to do. Boris Johnson’s failure last night to stand up for him - and stand up to the behaviour of Donald Trump - spoke volumes. https://t.co/Cd3Emwmysn
The SNP leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, says every time Theresa May speaks in Scotland, the SNP vote goes up.
He says today is the Srebrenica memorial day.
He says it is a pity that Boris Johnson did not stand up for Kim Darroch yesterday.
Mark Carney says the UK economy is not growing. And Danny Blanchlower says the economy is already in recession, Blackford says. (It sounds like he’s been reading Aditya Chakrabortty’s Guardian column today.)
May says the economy is doing well, but would have been doing even better if the SNP had voted for a Brexit deal.
Blackford says May is driving the UK economy over the cliff. He urges her to take a no-deal Brexit off the table.
May repeats her point about how the SNP could have taken no-deal off the table by voting for her deal. She says forecasts show the Scottish economy is expected to grow more slowly than the economy in the rest of the UK under the SNP.
Here is the full quote from Theresa May earlier on Kim Darroch.Here is the full quote from Theresa May earlier on Kim Darroch.
This morning I have spoken to Sir Kim Darroch.This morning I have spoken to Sir Kim Darroch.
I have told him that it is a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position as ambassador in Washington.I have told him that it is a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position as ambassador in Washington.
The whole cabinet rightly gave its full support to Sir Kim on Tuesday. Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.The whole cabinet rightly gave its full support to Sir Kim on Tuesday. Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the United Kingdom and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.
Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice.Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice.
I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that and I hope the House will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure.I want all our public servants to have the confidence to be able to do that and I hope the House will reflect on the importance of defending our values and principles, particularly when they are under pressure.
Corbyn says he is totally committed to tackling racism in any form in the Labour party. Shouldn’t May address Islamophobia in the Conservative party. He says May should listen to what the UN said about the government’s disregard for the rights of disabled people. And he turns to Windrush. Does May agree that that scandal would not have happened if legal aid had not been cut?Corbyn says he is totally committed to tackling racism in any form in the Labour party. Shouldn’t May address Islamophobia in the Conservative party. He says May should listen to what the UN said about the government’s disregard for the rights of disabled people. And he turns to Windrush. Does May agree that that scandal would not have happened if legal aid had not been cut?
May says Corbyn needs to consider his arguments. She has apologised for what happened to the Windrush generation. She says a review found 18 people wrongly deported, but some of those cases happened under Labour. She says Labour claims to back whistleblowers, and yet it uses NDAs. He used to back leave, but now backs remains. He lives up to the words of Marx, not Karl but Groucho - “Those are my prinicples. If you don’t like them, I’ve got others.”May says Corbyn needs to consider his arguments. She has apologised for what happened to the Windrush generation. She says a review found 18 people wrongly deported, but some of those cases happened under Labour. She says Labour claims to back whistleblowers, and yet it uses NDAs. He used to back leave, but now backs remains. He lives up to the words of Marx, not Karl but Groucho - “Those are my prinicples. If you don’t like them, I’ve got others.”
Corbyn says he will not take lectures from May. Her party consorts with racists in the European parliaments. He says legal aid cuts have disproportionately affected the poor and the disabled. Millions are denied access to justice because they are poor. Isn’t that a burning injustice?Corbyn says he will not take lectures from May. Her party consorts with racists in the European parliaments. He says legal aid cuts have disproportionately affected the poor and the disabled. Millions are denied access to justice because they are poor. Isn’t that a burning injustice?
May says Corbyn can try to avoid the antisemitism issue. She quotes the former Labour general secretary saying that one day Labour may be anti-racist, but not today. She attacks Labour for wanting to to tax more. Labour used to have a slogan, “Education, education, education.” Now it is just, “Tax, tax, tax.”May says Corbyn can try to avoid the antisemitism issue. She quotes the former Labour general secretary saying that one day Labour may be anti-racist, but not today. She attacks Labour for wanting to to tax more. Labour used to have a slogan, “Education, education, education.” Now it is just, “Tax, tax, tax.”
Corbyn says the coalition cut legal aid, and introduced fees for tribunals. But his union, Unison, took the government to court and won. He quotes a leaseholder who is being threatened with eviction who cannot get legal aid. He has been working until 2am every night collecting evidence. Doesn’t he deserve legal aid?
May says a quarter of the ministry of justice’s budget is spent on legal aid. He says the government is reviewing legal aid schemes.
Corbyn says Labour is committed to restoring legal aid for family law, housing, judicial review preparation and real action on immigration cases. He says the government should restore the cuts affecting disabled people.
May says spending on disabled people is at a record high. If Corbyn is interested in tackling injustice, he should deal with antisemitism, she says.
Jeremy Corbyn says he also regrets the resignation of Kim Darroch. He says the comments made about him are beyond unfair and wrong.
He says many people welcomed the points Theresa May made when she was first appointed about burning injustices when she became PM. Does she agree that access to justice is vital?
May says there are many aspects to this. She says the racial disparities audit she commissioned highlighted an important aspect of what needed to be done.
Corbyn says the coalition slashed legal aid. The results are unfair, he says. There are legal aid deserts across the country. Has that helped or hindered the fight against burning injustices.
May says tackling burning injustice is not just a matter of access to the legal system. If Labour cared about this, they would have done more when they were in power.
Theresa May starts by saying she spoke to Sir Kim Darroch this morning and told him it was a matter of great regret that he felt the need to resign. The whole cabinet supported him on Tuesday, she said. She said good public servants should be able to offer honest advice. And she says MPs should reflect on the importance of standing up for principles when they are under threat.
May implicitly criticises Boris Johnson for refusing to back Kim Darroch.
And this is what Sir Simon McDonald, the head of the Foreign Office, said in his reply to Sir Kim Darroch.
On behalf of the diplomatic service, I accept your resignation with deep personal regret.
Over the last few difficult days you have behaved as you have always behaved over a long and distinguished career, with dignity, professionalism and class. The prime minister, foreign secretary and whole of the public service have stood with you: you were the target of a malicious leak; you were simply doing your job. I understand your wish to relieve the pressure on your family and your colleagues at the embassy; I admire the fact that you think more of others than yourself. You demonstrate the essence of the values of British public service
I want to stress my deep appreciation for all you have done over the last four decades. In a series of demanding roles - including national security adviser and permanent representative to the European Union - you have loyally served the government of the day without fear or favour. We have been lucky to have you as a friend and colleague. You are the best of us.
This is what Sir Kim Darroch said in his resignation letter.
Since the leak of official documents from this embassy there has been a great deal of speculation surrounding my position and the duration of my remaining term as ambassador. I want to put an end to that speculation. The current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.
Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador.
I am grateful to all those in the UK and the US, who have offered their support during this difficult few days. This has brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries. I have been deeply touched.
I am also grateful to all those with whom I have worked over the last four decades, particularly my team here in the US. The professionalism and integrity of the British civil service is the envy of the world. I will leave it full of confidence that its values remain in safe hands.
Kim Darroch has resigned as ambassador to Washington, my colleague Jessica Elgot reports.
BREAKING - US ambassador Kim Darroch resigns
Yesterday Labour announced that it would campaign for remain in any second referendum on a Tory Brexit deal. But Jeremy Corbyn refused to say that the party would propose in its manifesto if there were an early general election. At a meeting earlier this week union leaders said the party should go into an election promising to negotiate a Labour Brexit, with the outcome put to the public in a referendum, but the shadow cabinet has not agreed to this plan.
In an interview on the Today programme this morning Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said Labour’s election position would be decided at the time, and it would depend when an election was called. But he conceded that it would be hard for the party to remain committed to leave given what it is now saying about backing remain in a pre-election referendum.
Here is the key exchange with Today’s Justin Webb.
JW: There’s a thing called logic. You can’t be campaigning effectively for remain effectively before an election and then say afterwards you might change your mind.
KS: Well, I accept that. There is a logic in that. We will build on the policy position that we’ve got, as we always do ....
JW: What I’m suggesting to you is that ... the one thing that you’ve decided on commits you to the second. You could not have an election where you say, ‘Actually, you know what, we might leave anyway.’
KS: Look, having got a position by consensus, and a strong and clear position, obviously we build on that as we go into a manifesto. What I can’t do, Justin, is suggest that the shadow cabinet at this stage can decide what we will say in our manifesto ... Obviously a critical question is going to be when that election is.
Parliament has a new group, the Independents. These are not to be be confused the independent MPs, the ones sit without party affiliation (normally because they have resigned from or been suspended by the party they were representing when elected). There are currently five Independents.
Just to make things complicated, four of them - Heidi Allen, Luciana Berger, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith - used to be members of what started life as the Independent Group before it turned into Change UK. Change UK then split when six of its 11 MPs became independents.
Now four of those six are Independents. The other two were Chuka Umunna, who has joined the Lib Dems, and Sarah Wollaston, who is still an independent.
The fifth Independent is John Woodcock, who used to be Labour MP before resigning in protest against Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of antisemitism (although he was also suspended at the time over a harassment allegation that he strongly denied).
Hi. We're #TheIndependents – a co-op of politicians working together, and with you, to find a better way to do politics. https://t.co/xnftfO9TCg
We're collaborating across political divides to provide a real alternative at the next election. Our current MP members are @heidiallen75, @lucianaberger, @gavinshuker, @angelasmithmp and @JWoodcockMP. #TheIndependents
Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office minister who is backing Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership, has described Boris Johnson as an “utter wimp” because of his refusal to stand up to President Trump over the British ambassador, Kim Darroch.
Am severely disappointed that Boris Johnson appears unwilling to stand up for our Ambassador to the US, our PM or our country. What does that tell you? Utter wimp when the crunch comes when he should be making a stand. Err... next PM??? #ITVDebate #HastobeHunt
Matt Hancock, the health secretary who is supporting Boris Johnson for leader after his own bid failed, has been taking the Johnson line on Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the US, in interviews this morning. He refused to say that Darroch should stay in his post, and he argued that the relationship with the US needed a “reset”.
.@MattHancock says he agrees with @BorisJohnson's refusal to back the British ambassador to the US after leaked messages about President Trump and his administration.The health secretary says the relationship with the US needs to be "reset" - more here: https://t.co/gEfOQazpHw pic.twitter.com/oK6gL5S6Jd