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| Theresa May implicitly criticises Boris Johnson for failing to back Kim Darroch – live news | Theresa May implicitly criticises Boris Johnson for failing to back Kim Darroch – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The head of the civil service in Northern Ireland has warned against “complacency” over political limbo in the region as an official report predicts that 40,000 jobs are at risk in the region in the event of a no-deal Brexit. (See 2.07pm.) | |
| David Sterling was accused of engaging in “operation fear” in March by a Brexiter Conservative MP by warning of the “grave” consequences for the region. | |
| Today he said he had “developed a thick skin” in the face of such criticism but that those fears still hold. | |
| “Our assessment is that no-deal would have a profound and longlasting impact on Northern Ireland and society, a point I made back in March and it remains valid today,” said Sterling speaking at the Institute for Government in London. | |
| He said the uncertainty over Brexit was now impacting on investment with latest local purchasing managers index (PMI) data showing the “strongest reduction in output since September 2012”. | |
| He also warned that there would be an increase in smuggling on the border and the community relations in those areas could deteriorate. | |
| [No-deal] could change the attitude in communities which over time could have an impact in the culture of those areas. | |
| While tensions around parades has been in “decline” and there was “less street disorder”, there were “other societal tensions that are probably the result of the political impasse,” he said. | |
| We wouldn’t want to overstate it but at the same time I wouldn’t be complacent … it would wrong to be complacent and think this will be the same for evermore. | |
| He said the absence of Stormont has meant that Northern Ireland issues don’t get the airing they should in Westminster. | |
| “We have lacked that ministerial voice in Whitehall that has championed the cause of Northern Ireland,” he said adding he not want to see direct rule. | |
| Here are the main points from Sir Simon McDonald’s evidence about the Kim Darroch leak to the foreign affairs committee. | |
| McDonald, the head of the Foreign Office said he was bracing himself for more leaks of sensitive diplomatic memos. “I fear there may be more,” he said, when asked about the possibility of further leaks. | |
| He said that he could not think of another example in his 37-year diplomatic career of a head of state refusing to deal with a British ambassador, in the way President Trump said he would refuse to deal with Sir Kim Darroch. McDonald said he could not think of this happening even with governments hostile to the UK, although he could think of precedents for an ambassador resigning because of difficult relations with an unfriendly power. | |
| McDonald described the leak as the “worst breach of trust” he had seen in the diplomatic service in his career. | |
| He said Foreign Office staff were “shaken” by what had happened. | |
| He said that the police were involved in the leak investigation. | |
| He said he had had a “free and frank” exchange of views with the charge d’affaires at the American embassy about Trump’s comments about Darroch. | |
| A Labour source said Boris Johnson was behaving as Donald Trump’s “patsy” if his lack of support prompted Sir Kim Darroch’s resignation, the Press Association reports. The Labour source said: | A Labour source said Boris Johnson was behaving as Donald Trump’s “patsy” if his lack of support prompted Sir Kim Darroch’s resignation, the Press Association reports. The Labour source said: |
| If that’s the case I think it is clear that Boris Johnson is effectively behaving as Donald Trump’s patsy and he’s doing that clearly because he’s banking on a sweetheart trade deal and is putting himself in hock to the US president. | If that’s the case I think it is clear that Boris Johnson is effectively behaving as Donald Trump’s patsy and he’s doing that clearly because he’s banking on a sweetheart trade deal and is putting himself in hock to the US president. |
| It’s clear that he is not prepared and won’t stand up to Donald Trump and he won’t stand up for Britain and that’s clearly the result of a policy on Brexit that is putting the country at risk of a no-deal exit from the European Union. | It’s clear that he is not prepared and won’t stand up to Donald Trump and he won’t stand up for Britain and that’s clearly the result of a policy on Brexit that is putting the country at risk of a no-deal exit from the European Union. |
| This is from David Miliband, a Labour former foreign secretary. | This is from David Miliband, a Labour former foreign secretary. |
| While Kim Darroch has acted with dignity the failure of Boris Johnson to back him last night was utterly spineless. It signals a weakness inherent in the Brexit process: in today’s global villlage when you pull away from your neighbors everyone can take advantage. https://t.co/yIZtu1c1OQ | While Kim Darroch has acted with dignity the failure of Boris Johnson to back him last night was utterly spineless. It signals a weakness inherent in the Brexit process: in today’s global villlage when you pull away from your neighbors everyone can take advantage. https://t.co/yIZtu1c1OQ |
| From my colleague Peter Walker | From my colleague Peter Walker |
| Does anyone else think it's politically a bit odd that Boris Johnson is supping pints with Leave-mad pub tycoon Tim Martin, just a couple of weeks after Martin was the star turn at the Brexit Party's biggest rally? pic.twitter.com/YDHBcqtNOq | Does anyone else think it's politically a bit odd that Boris Johnson is supping pints with Leave-mad pub tycoon Tim Martin, just a couple of weeks after Martin was the star turn at the Brexit Party's biggest rally? pic.twitter.com/YDHBcqtNOq |
| These are from Nick Boles, who used to be a Conservative MP but who now sits as an independent. | These are from Nick Boles, who used to be a Conservative MP but who now sits as an independent. |
| Boris Johnson isn’t even PM yet and he is already responsible for a grievous blow to the UK’s international reputation. By refusing to back Kim Darroch in the face of bullying by President Trump, he made his resignation inevitable. | Boris Johnson isn’t even PM yet and he is already responsible for a grievous blow to the UK’s international reputation. By refusing to back Kim Darroch in the face of bullying by President Trump, he made his resignation inevitable. |
| The British people can now see that Boris Johnson will be Donald Trump’s poodle, that his response to any command from the White House will be: “How high, Mr President?” | The British people can now see that Boris Johnson will be Donald Trump’s poodle, that his response to any command from the White House will be: “How high, Mr President?” |
| Boris Johnson sold Brexit to the British people as the way to regain our independence and to restore our national pride. Instead he is ushering in a craven subjugation to the narcissistic whims of a right wing nationalist US President. | Boris Johnson sold Brexit to the British people as the way to regain our independence and to restore our national pride. Instead he is ushering in a craven subjugation to the narcissistic whims of a right wing nationalist US President. |
| A no-deal Brexit could cost 40,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, an updated report from the region’s department of economy has said. It said: | A no-deal Brexit could cost 40,000 jobs in Northern Ireland, an updated report from the region’s department of economy has said. It said: |
| A no deal would have a profound and long-lasting impact on NI’s economy and society. | A no deal would have a profound and long-lasting impact on NI’s economy and society. |
| No-deal could lead to a sharp increase in unemployment with at least 40,000 jobs at risk. | No-deal could lead to a sharp increase in unemployment with at least 40,000 jobs at risk. |
| It said the impact of EU tariffs and non-tariff barriers will mean that whatever the Irish government and the EU do “many businesses will no longer be able to export to the Irish market, leading to a major reduction in NI’s exports to Ireland,” it said. | It said the impact of EU tariffs and non-tariff barriers will mean that whatever the Irish government and the EU do “many businesses will no longer be able to export to the Irish market, leading to a major reduction in NI’s exports to Ireland,” it said. |
| It predicted the impact of EU tariffs could reduce NI’s exports to Ireland by 11% to £100m to £180m. | It predicted the impact of EU tariffs could reduce NI’s exports to Ireland by 11% to £100m to £180m. |
| Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Irish Retail Consortium, said the report made for “stark reading” but “no surprise” as business had been warning of the consequences of no deal for more than a year. | Aodhán Connolly, director of the Northern Irish Retail Consortium, said the report made for “stark reading” but “no surprise” as business had been warning of the consequences of no deal for more than a year. |
| Downing Street said Theresa May spoke to Sir Kim Darroch for around five minutes shortly before PMQs today. | Downing Street said Theresa May spoke to Sir Kim Darroch for around five minutes shortly before PMQs today. |
| This is from the Labour peer Andrew Adonis on the removal of Kim Darroch. | This is from the Labour peer Andrew Adonis on the removal of Kim Darroch. |
| Kim Darroch’s removal, at the effective direction of Trump, is a testament to Brexit BritainIt’s how we used to treat China & India in times past | Kim Darroch’s removal, at the effective direction of Trump, is a testament to Brexit BritainIt’s how we used to treat China & India in times past |
| Back in the foreign affairs committee Sir Simon McDonald, head of the Foreign Office, says he has served as an ambassador twice. He says diplomats use ‘diptels” (diplomatic telegrams) when they want information circulated quite widely in the system. They are not used for information that is particularly sensitive. But they are there if an ambassador wants to pass on information not being picked up by the media. | Back in the foreign affairs committee Sir Simon McDonald, head of the Foreign Office, says he has served as an ambassador twice. He says diplomats use ‘diptels” (diplomatic telegrams) when they want information circulated quite widely in the system. They are not used for information that is particularly sensitive. But they are there if an ambassador wants to pass on information not being picked up by the media. |