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Boris Johnson chairs first cabinet as critics say party now 'fully taken over by hard right' - live news
Boris Johnson says EU nationals will have an absolute right to remain after Brexit – live news
(about 2 hours later)
From Sky’s Tamara Cohen
Labour has listed 10 questions that it says Boris Johnson did not answer when he was responding to Jeremy Corbyn.
Exclusive Boris Johnson to announce he’ll enshrine rights of EU citizens in law in preparation for no dealSky news understands it will be one of the first bills the new PM will introduce to Parliament in autumn - after clearing it with his cabinet
10 questions Boris Johnson refused to answer in Parliament https://t.co/ryi1o1bVMJ
Theresa May did promise last autumn to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the EU, even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, but her government did not legislate for this. At an earlier point in the process she refused to give that assurance, on the grounds that it would give away negotiating leverage, even though Labour was saying the UK should guarantee these rights unconditionally.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, asks if Johnson will honour his promise to lie in front of bulldozers to stop the Heathrow extension.
Jacob Rees-Mogg is replying to Valerie Vaz.
Johnson says he is watching the court cases taking place with lively interest.
He says Labour can consult Erskine May online for free. Even he could do that, he says. He says Labour is meant to be modern. But Labour could buy a paper copy, he says. It would be a good investment.
Anna Soubry, the Independent Group for Change leader, asks Johnson to bring the matter back to the Commons if he fails to get a new Brexit deal.
On the possibility of parliament being prorogued for Brexit, Rees-Mogg says Boris Johnson has said that he views this as an arcane mechanism, and that he does not want to use arcane mechanisms. Rees-Mogg says, as he is now bound by cabinet collective responsibility, that is his view too.
Johnson says MPs have already voted for Brexit.
On Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Rees-Mogg says he will take this issue up, and will do so every week. He says the first duty of the government is to look after its citizens. The way she has been treated is shameful, he says.
Johnson refuses to commit to giving MPs a vote on what happens next if he fails to negotiate a new Brexit deal.
Valerie Vaz is still responding to Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Labour’s Pat McFadden asks if Johnson accepts the commitment on the backstop made in the joint agreement between the UK and the EU in the joint report of December 2017.
She says that Rees-Mogg has staff, so he will not need to bring his nanny.
Johnson says that is the trap from which the UK is trying to escape.
She asks if Labour can get a complimentary copy of Erskine May. It is available online, but she says it would be useful to have a hard copy. (Buying one costs £300.)
Johnson suggests UK no longer feels bound by December 2017 joint report with EU on Brexit.
She asks Rees-Mogg to confirm that Dominic Cummings, who has just been hired as a policy adviser by Boris Johnson, will not be given a Commons pass because he was found in contempt of parliament.
Julian Lewis, the Tory chair of the defence committee, asks Johnson if he agrees defence spending needs to go up.
She asks about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, saying she has promised to raise it every week until Nazanin is free. Will Boris Johnson agree to meet her husband?
Johnson says he has a strong desire to increase spending, particularly on ship building.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new leader of the Commons, is taking business questions now.
Labour’s Liz Kendall says, if optimism was all it took, today people would be wandering across the garden bridge (the Johnson project that failed) and taking off on holiday from the Boris island airport (another Johnson scheme that never got off the drawing board). He asks Johnson what he will do about social care.
He reads out the Commons business for the week starting Tuesday 3 September, when the recess ends. It’s all routine stuff.
Johnson says he wants a cross-party solution to this.
Valerie Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, is now responding. She says it is not a very “energised” list. (See 10.03am.)
"If optimism was all it took to get things done, thousands of people would be spending this blisteringly hot sunny day waltzing across his garden or jetting off on holiday from Boris island, as it is people need real solutions to their problems," - Liz Kendell
Penny Mordaunt, who was sacked as defence secretary by Boris Johnson yesterday, was doorstepped by Sky News this morning. She said the cabinet had her full support. But she refused to answer when asked what Johnson said to her yesterday.
Sir Oliver Letwin, a Tory, says he does not agree with Johnson on Brexit, but he says he thinks there is a possible majority in the Commons for a deal.
Here is a Guardian panel with views on the new cabinet, with contributions from Aditya Chakrabortty, Sonia Sodha, Katy Balls, Paul Mason and Martha Gill.
Johnson welcomes what he says.
Our writers give their verdict on Boris Johnson’s new cabinet | The panel
Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts asks what is Johnson’s priority: delivering Brexit, or maintaining the union? He will have to pick one, do or die, she says.
During the Tory leadership campaign, Boris Johnson made repeated play of the claim that his team as London mayor was “basically a feminocracy”, saying he would promote women to top jobs.
Johnson says the people of the UK voted to leave the EU, and the people of Wales voted emphatically to do so.
And while the proportion of women in the four great jobs of state is still the same as at the end of Theresa May’s time in No 10 – 25%, with May as PM replaced by Priti Patel as home secretary – the proportion of women attending cabinet has actually fallen.
John Baron, a Tory Brexiter, congratulates Johnson on his “cracking” policies so far. He says it says a lot that the four great offices of state are held by the descendants of immigrants. He asks if Johnson will maintain a cancer treatment initiative.
May had 29 people in her final cabinet meetings, eight of whom were women, or 27.6%. Under the official list of Johnson’s team sent round by No 10 earlier today (see 9.30am), he also has eight women, but among an expanded group of 33, so 24.2%.
Johnson says he will carry on with that scheme.
Defenders of Johnson might point out that he has two more full cabinet members than May – seven out of 23 against her final tally of five from 23.
Labour’s Hilary Benn says Leo Varadkar, the Irish PM, said yesterday trying to negotiate a new deal by October was “not in the real world”. What will Johnson do if MPs vote against no deal?
Either way it is, as best, no real progression.
Johnson says Benn’s question is redolent of the defeatism he deplores. Why does not Benn think the EU might think again? All parties know what will happen if they do not honour the referendum result.
Grant Shapps, the new transport secretary, was on message as he left cabinet. Asked how it went, and what the mood was like, he replied: “Very good, energised.” Energise is, of course, the word Boris Johnson used himself in his victory speech on Tuesday to describe his mission.
Labour’s Yvette Cooper asks if Johnson can say what the technology will be for alternatives to the backstop in Ireland. She asked the chancellor 17 times, but he could not say, she says.
According to the Press Association, Boris Johnson told his new cabinet it was “wonderful to see this new team assembled here” which respects the “depth and breadth of talent in our extraordinary party”. He went on:
Johnson says abundant options are available, including trusted trader schemes.
As you all know we have a momentous task ahead of us, at a pivotal moment in our country’s history.
Owen Paterson, the Brexiter former environment secretary, asks for an assurance that the UK will take back “total sovereignty” over fishing after Brexit.
We are now committed, all of us, to leaving the European Union on October 31 or indeed earlier - no ifs, no buts.
Johnson says that is exactly what he will do.
But we are not going to wait until October 31 to get on with a fantastic new agenda for our country, and that means delivering the priorities of the people.
Here is the Press Association’s first take on Boris Johnson’s statement.
This is from James Cleverly, the new Conservative party chairman.
Boris Johnson has urged Brussels to rethink its opposition to negotiating a new agreement on the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
Just finished my first Cabinet meeting, looking at my colleagues around the cabinet table when this tweet popped back into my memory. Seeing a lot of “unlocked talent” in the room. https://t.co/XVvWIkzupC
In his first statement to MPs as prime minister, Johnson reaffirmed his determination to deliver Brexit by the October 31 deadline, warning of a “catastrophic” loss of confidence in the UK’s democracy if they failed.
There are four BME ministers in the full cabinet (out of 23), and another two in the “attending cabinet” category (out of 10).
Johnson, who entered the Commons chamber to cheers from Tory MPs, insisted that he wanted to take Britain out of the EU with a deal.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
But he said Theresa May’s deal had been rejected three times by the House and could not be brought back again.
Jo Swinson has a put a confidence motion down ... challenge from her to Corbyn on whether he’d back it https://t.co/JjXld1fY9P
“I would prefer us to leave the EU with a deal - I would much prefer it,” he said.
From Sky’s Sam Coates
“I believe that it is possible even at this late stage and I will work flat out to make it happen.
Boris Johnson’s PPS will be Alex Burghart - who did the role for Geoffrey Cox - and was in the back of the Cabinet shots. A Leave supporting lawyer....
“But certain things need to be clear. The withdrawal agreement negotiated by my predecessor has been three times rejected by this House.
Sky News has just broadcast some footage from the opening of the cabinet meeting. Boris Johnson could be heard saying “no ifs, but we’re going to ....” The rest was inaudible, but the cabinet seemed to like it, because we then saw them banging the table enthusiastically.
“Its terms are unacceptable to this parliament and this country,” he said.
Here is another picture of the new cabinet.
He said that his new government was ready to negotiate with Brussels in good faith.
Downing Street has just sent out the full cabinet list. For the record, here it is.
“We will throw ourselves into these negotiations with the greatest energy and determination and in a spirit of friendship,” he said.
The order in which ministers appear is important, because there is a hierarchy in cabinet and ministers are listed in order of seniority.
But at the same time he promise to “turbocharge” preparations for a no-deal Brexit in the event that they were unable to come to an agreement with the EU.
It is a good cabinet for Old Etonians. Including those allowed to attend, there are are four of them on the list: Boris Johnson, his brother Jo, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Kwasi Kwarteng.
Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader at Westminster, welcomes Johnson’s positivity and optimism. He says the UK must be prepared for no deal if necessary.
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Prime Minister
Johnson thanks Dodds for his support, and for what he has done to protect the people of the UK from the “depredations of the party opposite”.
The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, says the 3 million EU nationals here are our family, our friends, our carers. But they have been kept in uncertainty. So will Johnson back the bill from the Lib Dem peer Lord Oates backing their rights.
The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and First Secretary of State
Johnson says he can guarantee their rights. He says 1 million people have already signed up to the settlement scheme.
The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for the Home Department
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, welcomes Johnson as the last PM of the United Kingdom.
The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
It is sometimes said Johnson lives in a parallel universe. Today he appears to have gone to outer space, Blackford says.
Robert Buckland, QC MP, Lord Chancellor, Secretary of State for Justice
He asks Johnson to accept Nicola Sturgeon’s request for a meeting.
The Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
A no-deal Brexit would cost Scotland 100,000 jobs, he says. He says Johnson has admitted he has done no analysis of the outcome of his plan. He says Johnson is deluded. If Johnson tries to take the UK out of the EU without a deal, Scotland will stop him and this parliament “will stop this madness in its tracks”.
The Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, Secretary of State for Defence
He says Johnson does not have a mandate to be PM.
The Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
He asks Johnson to rule out changing the Barnett formula.
The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
He says Sturgeon is now reviewing the timetable for a second independence referendum.
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade
Blackford says SNP government considering bringing forward its plans for a second independence referendum.
The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Minister for Women and Equalities
In response, Johnson says Nicola Sturgeon replaced Alex Salmond without a vote.
The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, Secretary of State for Education
He asks if the SNP would really campaign to rejoin the EU, and to hand back control of fisheries to the EU, after Brexit.
The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
He says he will govern for the whole of the UK.
Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, says the EU will have listened to what Johnson had to say. He asks the government to say every week what has been done to prepare for no deal, so that the EU knows when the UK is ready.
The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport
Johnson welcomes that idea. He says there will be a very active campaign to get the public ready.
The Rt Hon Julian Smith MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, Secretary of State for Wales
The Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, Leader of the House of Lords, Lord Privy Seal
The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Alok Sharma MP, Secretary of State for International Development
James Cleverly MP, Minister without Portfolio and Party Chair
Attending Cabinet
Rishi Sunak MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council
Mark Spencer MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Chief Whip
The Rt Hon Geoffrey Cox QC MP, Attorney General
Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Minister of State (for Energy), Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy
Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Jake Berry MP, Minister of State, Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Minister of State (Housing), Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State (Universities), Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Education
The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP, Minister of State (for Security), Home Office
Boris Johnson is chairing his first cabinet as I write. And later he will address the Commons for the first time as prime minister, in a statement that may reveal more about how he intends to deliver Brexit and how he would like to govern Britain.
But we learnt a huge amount about that yesterday, from the most wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle in modern times. On the plus side, as the former Downing Street adviser from the New Labour era, Theo Bertram, argues on Twitter this morning, you could describe it as remarkably successful.
One of the most effective reshuffles ever? - Quick- Thorough- Razor clear direction- Shows Boris can be serious,- & his ambition is not merely to be PM but actually to deliver BrexitI disagree with the direction but reshuffles are usually butchered, not executed so well.
But it’s a reshuffle that does not just involve a wholesale change in personnel; it is one that will fundamentally alter the way people perceive the Conservative party. At one stage during the referendum 2016 campaign, to the surprise of some observers, Vote Leave started acting like a shadow government, making “manifesto” pledges like this one on cutting VAT on fuel. Now that strategy looks more understandable, because the Vote Leave campaign has effectively become the government.
On the Today programme this morning Nick Boles, the former Conservative minister who now sits as an independent, said the reshuffle showed the hard right had taken over his old party. He explained:
It is very clarifying because what it establishes beyond all doubt is that the Conservative party has now been fully taken over, top to bottom, by the hard right, that they’re basically turning themselves into the Brexit party in order to hold off Nigel Farage.
And those few elements remaining of the one-nation, liberal conservative, Cameron-style Conservatives - they are neutered captives in this cabinet. They’ve had to sign up to the pledge to leave [the EU] at the end of October.
There are other assessments, of course. We will be covering them throughout the course of the day.
Here is our overnight lead on the reshuffle.
Boris Johnson: new PM takes his revenge and sacks over half the cabinet
Here is our guide to who is in the new cabinet.
Who’s who in Boris Johnson’s first cabinet
And here is our guide to the ministers who were sacked, or who chose to leave.
Boris Johnson's cabinet cull: the departures
Here is the agenda for the day.
8.30am: Boris Johnson chairs his first cabinet.
After 10.30am: Jacob Rees-Mogg, the new leader of the Commons, takes business questions in the Commons.
After 11.30am: Johnson makes a statement to MPs.
As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to publish a summary when I wrap up.
You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads.
If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
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