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| Steve Baker declines role in Boris Johnson government – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Steve Baker is giving little away here. Except, perhaps, in the phrasing of his very first response. “I will not be serving in the cabinet,” he says. | |
| NEW @SteveBakerHW leaves Downing Street having just turned down a ministerial job pic.twitter.com/3460iekFMD | |
| There has been speculation in Westminster that Baker was upset that he wasn’t offered a more senior role – perhaps including a seat at the cabinet table. Baker has himself indicated he felt the position he was offered would leave him powerless. | |
| It’s not clear, of course, how the question he was answering was phrased. | |
| The new home secretary, Priti Patel, holds a £1,000-an hour contract with a global communications firm that supplies products and services to the UK government, the Guardian can reveal. | |
| Patel, who was appointed on Wednesday by the new prime minister, Boris Johnson, as a part of a wholesale gutting of the cabinet, has been working for Viasat for the past three months as a strategic adviser earning £5,000 for five hours’ work a month. | |
| She recorded the role on the MPs’ register of interests, and the contract is due to expire on 31 July. | |
| Viasat, a Californian company with a UK base in Farnborough, supplies services and products to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD works in collaboration with the Home Office on numerous projects, including the Innovation and Research Insights (IRIS) Unit, which sets up technology-based contracts for both departments. | |
| Patel, who was forced to resign from government two years ago for failing to disclose secret meetings with Israeli ministers, is understood to have been advising Viasat on a matter relating to India. | |
| Priti Patel earning £1,000 an hour as adviser to firm supplying MoD | |
| Downing Street has announced that Chris Pincher has been appointed as a junior Foreign Office minister. | |
| Pincher stood down from a role in the whips office in November 2017, at the height of the Westminster sexual harassment scandal. He was subsequently cleared over allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour by an independent panel and went on to serve as deputy chief whip. | |
| Mark Lancaster remains a junior MoD minister, No 10 has added. | |
| Both men consistently voted for May’s deal. | |
| The former junior Brexit minister and deputy chair of the hard Brexit-supporting ERG, Steve Baker, says he’s declined a ministerial position this evening: | The former junior Brexit minister and deputy chair of the hard Brexit-supporting ERG, Steve Baker, says he’s declined a ministerial position this evening: |
| With regret, I have turned down a ministerial job. I cannot repeat my experience of powerlessness as a junior @DExEUgov minister with the work done in @cabinetofficeuk. I have total confidence in @BorisJohnson to take us out of the EU by 31 Oct. Disaster awaits otherwise. | With regret, I have turned down a ministerial job. I cannot repeat my experience of powerlessness as a junior @DExEUgov minister with the work done in @cabinetofficeuk. I have total confidence in @BorisJohnson to take us out of the EU by 31 Oct. Disaster awaits otherwise. |
| And two more junior ministerial appointments now confirmed by No 10: George Eustice and Thérèse Coffey, both consistent supporters of May’s deal, go to Defra. | And two more junior ministerial appointments now confirmed by No 10: George Eustice and Thérèse Coffey, both consistent supporters of May’s deal, go to Defra. |
| Eustice served as agriculture minister until February, when he resigned, saying May’s decision to allow a vote on delaying article 50 would be “the final humiliation of our country”. | Eustice served as agriculture minister until February, when he resigned, saying May’s decision to allow a vote on delaying article 50 would be “the final humiliation of our country”. |
| Junior minister George Eustice resigns over article 50 vote | Junior minister George Eustice resigns over article 50 vote |
| At the time, Johnson praised him, saying: | At the time, Johnson praised him, saying: |
| George Eustice is brave and right - and his superb letter to the PM shows that no deal may yet be the best option for the U.K. | George Eustice is brave and right - and his superb letter to the PM shows that no deal may yet be the best option for the U.K. |
| Downing Street has now officially announced the following appointments: | Downing Street has now officially announced the following appointments: |
| Kit Malthouse as a Home Office minister | Kit Malthouse as a Home Office minister |
| Conor Burns as a junior minister at the Department for International Trade | Conor Burns as a junior minister at the Department for International Trade |
| Nick Gibb remains a junior education minister | Nick Gibb remains a junior education minister |
| Burns, like the new prime minister, voted against May’s deal the first two times it came before the Commons, before supporting it the third time. Malthouse and Gibb both voted for it on each occasion. | Burns, like the new prime minister, voted against May’s deal the first two times it came before the Commons, before supporting it the third time. Malthouse and Gibb both voted for it on each occasion. |
| There seems to be some intrigue in the case of the hard Brexit-supporting Steve Baker, however. He was thought to be on the cusp of an important government job, having headed into No 10. He even seemed to be indulging in some jocular back-and-forth with journalists while inside. | There seems to be some intrigue in the case of the hard Brexit-supporting Steve Baker, however. He was thought to be on the cusp of an important government job, having headed into No 10. He even seemed to be indulging in some jocular back-and-forth with journalists while inside. |
| Now, it seems there may have been a snag: | Now, it seems there may have been a snag: |
| Johnson's close allies Conor Burns, Kit Malthouse and Nigel Adams all given ministerial roles - at DIT, Home Office and DCMS. Malthouse will have been hoping for cabinet.But what's the hold up with Steve Baker? | Johnson's close allies Conor Burns, Kit Malthouse and Nigel Adams all given ministerial roles - at DIT, Home Office and DCMS. Malthouse will have been hoping for cabinet.But what's the hold up with Steve Baker? |
| BREAKING: Seems we may have the first reshuffle kerfuffle. Some kind of hold up with Steve Baker who doesn’t appear to have left in a good mood. | BREAKING: Seems we may have the first reshuffle kerfuffle. Some kind of hold up with Steve Baker who doesn’t appear to have left in a good mood. |
| Fact they are now announcing appointments of people who went in AFTER Steve Baker would suggest something has indeed gone wrong | Fact they are now announcing appointments of people who went in AFTER Steve Baker would suggest something has indeed gone wrong |
| In its account of the discussions between Johnson told Juncker, Downing Street has stressed the prime minister made clear that he required the “abolition of the backstop”. | In its account of the discussions between Johnson told Juncker, Downing Street has stressed the prime minister made clear that he required the “abolition of the backstop”. |
| The prime minister today received a call of congratulation from European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker. The PM thanked the president for his message. | The prime minister today received a call of congratulation from European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker. The PM thanked the president for his message. |
| On Brexit, the PM reiterated that he wants a deal, and will be energetic in pursuit of finding a way forward, but said the withdrawal agreement has been rejected three times by the UK Parliament and will not pass in its current form. | On Brexit, the PM reiterated that he wants a deal, and will be energetic in pursuit of finding a way forward, but said the withdrawal agreement has been rejected three times by the UK Parliament and will not pass in its current form. |
| The PM said that, if an agreement is to be reached, it must be understood that the way to a deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop. The PM and the president agreed to stay in contact. | The PM said that, if an agreement is to be reached, it must be understood that the way to a deal goes by way of the abolition of the backstop. The PM and the president agreed to stay in contact. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has not said when he will make a move in the Commons to potentially trigger a general election. Outside Parliament this evening, however, he’s attending a rally to demand one. He’s expected to say: | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has not said when he will make a move in the Commons to potentially trigger a general election. Outside Parliament this evening, however, he’s attending a rally to demand one. He’s expected to say: |
| Never mind the bluster and arm-waving, [Boris Johnson] has got no plan for this country. No plan on Brexit, no plan to rebuild our public services, and no plan to tackle the climate emergency. | Never mind the bluster and arm-waving, [Boris Johnson] has got no plan for this country. No plan on Brexit, no plan to rebuild our public services, and no plan to tackle the climate emergency. |
| He spent his leadership campaign promising tax giveaways to the richest and the big corporations. And he’s threatening a no-deal Brexit, staking all of our futures on a sweetheart trade deal with Donald Trump that would risk the takeover of our NHS by US corporations. | He spent his leadership campaign promising tax giveaways to the richest and the big corporations. And he’s threatening a no-deal Brexit, staking all of our futures on a sweetheart trade deal with Donald Trump that would risk the takeover of our NHS by US corporations. |
| He’s expected to highlight Johnson’s appointment of what Labour see as a hard-right cabinet: | He’s expected to highlight Johnson’s appointment of what Labour see as a hard-right cabinet: |
| This prime minister wasn’t chosen by the people, he was chosen by fewer than 100,000 unrepresentative Tory party members. | This prime minister wasn’t chosen by the people, he was chosen by fewer than 100,000 unrepresentative Tory party members. |
| You deserve your say. Whether that’s in a public vote on Brexit or in a general election, so everyone has the chance to decide the future of our country. | You deserve your say. Whether that’s in a public vote on Brexit or in a general election, so everyone has the chance to decide the future of our country. |
| The choice will be between Johnson’s divisive government for the wealthy few – and a radical Labour government that will bring the country together and deliver for the many. | The choice will be between Johnson’s divisive government for the wealthy few – and a radical Labour government that will bring the country together and deliver for the many. |
| Downing Street has now confirmed that Jesse Norman will remain as financial secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Adams will become the minister of state at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Lucy Frazer will become a minister of state at the Ministry of Justice. | Downing Street has now confirmed that Jesse Norman will remain as financial secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Adams will become the minister of state at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Lucy Frazer will become a minister of state at the Ministry of Justice. |
| Adams quit May’s government in April over her decision to hold talks on Brexit with Jeremy Corbyn. All three voted for May’s withdrawal agreement on each of the occasions it came before the Commons. | Adams quit May’s government in April over her decision to hold talks on Brexit with Jeremy Corbyn. All three voted for May’s withdrawal agreement on each of the occasions it came before the Commons. |
| Delighted to have been reappointed as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and made a Privy Councillor. A huge job of work to do in the months ahead. | Delighted to have been reappointed as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and made a Privy Councillor. A huge job of work to do in the months ahead. |
| We told you earlier that the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, had told Johnson the EU would not give in to his demand to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement. | We told you earlier that the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, had told Johnson the EU would not give in to his demand to renegotiate the withdrawal agreement. |
| The EU will not renegotiate Brexit deal, Juncker tells Johnson | The EU will not renegotiate Brexit deal, Juncker tells Johnson |
| My colleague, Jennifer Rankin, has a succinct assessment of the discussions between Johnson and Juncker | My colleague, Jennifer Rankin, has a succinct assessment of the discussions between Johnson and Juncker |
| Jean-Claude Juncker and Boris Johnson have swapped mobile phone numbers, but doesn’t sound as if they agreed anything else. JCJ told Johnson WDA “best and only agreement possible” according to EC readout. | Jean-Claude Juncker and Boris Johnson have swapped mobile phone numbers, but doesn’t sound as if they agreed anything else. JCJ told Johnson WDA “best and only agreement possible” according to EC readout. |
| And the sting in the tail: Juncker remains available should the UK wish to hold talks “and clarify its position in more detail”. | And the sting in the tail: Juncker remains available should the UK wish to hold talks “and clarify its position in more detail”. |
| There are multiple unconfirmed reports from Westminster correspondents of more ministerial movement, as Boris Johnson continues to build his government this evening | There are multiple unconfirmed reports from Westminster correspondents of more ministerial movement, as Boris Johnson continues to build his government this evening |
| BREAKING: @nadams, who has been one of Boris Johnson's most loyal supporters, even opening his car door for him repeatedly during the campaign, is appointed Culture Minister. | BREAKING: @nadams, who has been one of Boris Johnson's most loyal supporters, even opening his car door for him repeatedly during the campaign, is appointed Culture Minister. |
| Nigel Adams on way out says he's DCMS minister including sport | Nigel Adams on way out says he's DCMS minister including sport |
| Harriet Baldwin also gone, I'm told | Harriet Baldwin also gone, I'm told |
| Jesse Norman staying as Financial Secretary to the Treasury | Jesse Norman staying as Financial Secretary to the Treasury |
| Yet more MPs have been seen heading into No 10, including the hardline Brexiter, Steve Baker: | Yet more MPs have been seen heading into No 10, including the hardline Brexiter, Steve Baker: |
| Steve Baker, Kit Malthouse and Conor Burns, Nick Gibb in Lucy Frazer all inside now | Steve Baker, Kit Malthouse and Conor Burns, Nick Gibb in Lucy Frazer all inside now |
| George Eustice into No 10 | George Eustice into No 10 |
| Therese Coffey goes into No10 | Therese Coffey goes into No10 |
| Boris Johnson is still reshuffling his government. These are from Stephen Hammond, one of the most pro-European Conservatives, who has quit as a health minister. | Boris Johnson is still reshuffling his government. These are from Stephen Hammond, one of the most pro-European Conservatives, who has quit as a health minister. |
| It has been a privilege to serve as Minister for Health. I'm proud to have contributed to the NHS long term plan. I'd like to thank the team at @DHSCgovuk for all their support, and all the staff at the NHS who do a fantastic job everyday. | It has been a privilege to serve as Minister for Health. I'm proud to have contributed to the NHS long term plan. I'd like to thank the team at @DHSCgovuk for all their support, and all the staff at the NHS who do a fantastic job everyday. |
| I will support any Government efforts to secure a good deal with the EU, and I remain absolutely opposed to No Deal. | I will support any Government efforts to secure a good deal with the EU, and I remain absolutely opposed to No Deal. |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. |
| This is from Reuters. | This is from Reuters. |
| EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has told Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson, that the bloc’s member nations will not give in to his demand to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal treaty. | EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has told Britain’s new prime minister, Boris Johnson, that the bloc’s member nations will not give in to his demand to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal treaty. |
| Juncker called the existing deal “the best and only agreement possible.” | Juncker called the existing deal “the best and only agreement possible.” |
| Juncker and Johnson had their first phone conversation late Thursday since Johnson took over from Theresa May as Britain’s leader. | Juncker and Johnson had their first phone conversation late Thursday since Johnson took over from Theresa May as Britain’s leader. |
| Johnson has insisted that the current agreement to leave the EU and arrangements regarding the Irish border were not good enough and had to be renegotiated. | Johnson has insisted that the current agreement to leave the EU and arrangements regarding the Irish border were not good enough and had to be renegotiated. |
| An EU official with knowledge of the exchange said that despite Juncker’s refusal to reopen the legal 585-page legal agreement, Juncker said he “remains at the disposal of the United Kingdom to add language” to a political text on future relations and “to analyze any ideas put forward by the United Kingdom, providing they are compatible with the withdrawal agreement.” | An EU official with knowledge of the exchange said that despite Juncker’s refusal to reopen the legal 585-page legal agreement, Juncker said he “remains at the disposal of the United Kingdom to add language” to a political text on future relations and “to analyze any ideas put forward by the United Kingdom, providing they are compatible with the withdrawal agreement.” |