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| Brexit: Jo Johnson, brother of Boris Johnson, to stand down – live news | Brexit: Jo Johnson, brother of Boris Johnson, to stand down – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Here is Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, on Jo Johnson’s decision to stand down. | |
| The centre of gravity in the Conservative party is shifting rapidly. https://t.co/upOYLwb4Xq | |
| Dame Caroline Spelman, the Conservative former environment secretary, has said she is standing down at the next election. Along with Labour’s Jack Dromey (they are both West Midlands MPs with many constituents working in the car industry), she tabled amendments earlier this year that led to the Commons voting against a no-deal Brexit. (The votes were not binding.) She also rebelled yesterday to back the Benn bill designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit. | Dame Caroline Spelman, the Conservative former environment secretary, has said she is standing down at the next election. Along with Labour’s Jack Dromey (they are both West Midlands MPs with many constituents working in the car industry), she tabled amendments earlier this year that led to the Commons voting against a no-deal Brexit. (The votes were not binding.) She also rebelled yesterday to back the Benn bill designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit. |
| I am retiring as an MP at the next General Election. It has been a privilege to serve the constituency over the last 22 years, but the time has come for a new person to represent the interests of Meriden in a new Parliament which will be dominated by the consequences of Brexit | I am retiring as an MP at the next General Election. It has been a privilege to serve the constituency over the last 22 years, but the time has come for a new person to represent the interests of Meriden in a new Parliament which will be dominated by the consequences of Brexit |
| Downing Street has rejected the claim attributed to Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, that talks with the UK are in “a state of paralysis”. (See 10.33am.) The prime minister’s spokesman said: | Downing Street has rejected the claim attributed to Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, that talks with the UK are in “a state of paralysis”. (See 10.33am.) The prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| I haven’t seen anything from Michel Barnier on the record but in any event I would completely reject that assessment. | I haven’t seen anything from Michel Barnier on the record but in any event I would completely reject that assessment. |
| Both sides agree to continue talks tomorrow after constructive discussions yesterday and we have seen from EU leaders that there is a willingness to find and agree solutions to the problems we have with the old deal. | Both sides agree to continue talks tomorrow after constructive discussions yesterday and we have seen from EU leaders that there is a willingness to find and agree solutions to the problems we have with the old deal. |
| Boris Johnson has told the US vice-president, Mike Pence, that the NHS would not be for sale in any post-Brexit trade deal and that Britain is “not keen on that chlorinated chicken”. At a meeting in Downing Street, Johnson said: | |
| The National Health Service is not on the table as far as our negotiations go. We are not keen on that chlorinated chicken. | The National Health Service is not on the table as far as our negotiations go. We are not keen on that chlorinated chicken. |
| More on Jo Johnson. This is from Robert Hutton’s report for Bloomberg. | More on Jo Johnson. This is from Robert Hutton’s report for Bloomberg. |
| When [Jo Johnson’s] older brother ran for the leadership in the summer, he joined the campaign, apparently having accepted that Britain had to leave the European Union. He took the view that own electoral district of Orpington, on the edge of southeast London, would be likely to fall to the Brexit party unless Britain left, according to a person familiar with his thinking. | When [Jo Johnson’s] older brother ran for the leadership in the summer, he joined the campaign, apparently having accepted that Britain had to leave the European Union. He took the view that own electoral district of Orpington, on the edge of southeast London, would be likely to fall to the Brexit party unless Britain left, according to a person familiar with his thinking. |
| Privately, he also took the view that Boris Johnson had no interest in a no-deal Brexit, and would seek a deal with the EU and then force hard-line Brexiteers in the party to vote for it. His resignation suggests that view has changed. | Privately, he also took the view that Boris Johnson had no interest in a no-deal Brexit, and would seek a deal with the EU and then force hard-line Brexiteers in the party to vote for it. His resignation suggests that view has changed. |
| Scotland’s most senior judge, Lord Carloway, has said confidential Downing Street memos showing Boris Johnson agreed to prorogue parliament 12 days before he asked the Queen might be published. | Scotland’s most senior judge, Lord Carloway, has said confidential Downing Street memos showing Boris Johnson agreed to prorogue parliament 12 days before he asked the Queen might be published. |
| The BBC and News UK, the publisher of the Times and Sun, applied to the court of session on Thursday morning to release three papers written by Nikki da Costa and the prime minister where they secretly agreed the prorogation strategy on 15 August. | The BBC and News UK, the publisher of the Times and Sun, applied to the court of session on Thursday morning to release three papers written by Nikki da Costa and the prime minister where they secretly agreed the prorogation strategy on 15 August. |
| Three Scottish judges – Lord Carloway, the lord president, and Lord Drummond-Young and Lord Brodie – are hearing an appeal by lawyers for 75 MPs and peers against a decision by Lord Doherty yesterday to reject their claims Johnson has illegally prorogued parliament. | Three Scottish judges – Lord Carloway, the lord president, and Lord Drummond-Young and Lord Brodie – are hearing an appeal by lawyers for 75 MPs and peers against a decision by Lord Doherty yesterday to reject their claims Johnson has illegally prorogued parliament. |
| Carloway said on Thursday morning the court could both order them to be published and released in unredacted form, at the end of the hearing, if he felt they were central to the appeal and it was also in the public interest to do so. | Carloway said on Thursday morning the court could both order them to be published and released in unredacted form, at the end of the hearing, if he felt they were central to the appeal and it was also in the public interest to do so. |
| The MPs’ lawyer, Aidan O’Neill, revealed earlier this week he had been given three heavily-redacted memos marked “Official sensitive Number 10 only” hours before their court hearing on Tuesday, in breach of a court deadline. All three were circulated inside Number 10, including to Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s chief strategist, and Ed Lister, his chief of staff, but no cabinet minister other than Johnson. | The MPs’ lawyer, Aidan O’Neill, revealed earlier this week he had been given three heavily-redacted memos marked “Official sensitive Number 10 only” hours before their court hearing on Tuesday, in breach of a court deadline. All three were circulated inside Number 10, including to Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s chief strategist, and Ed Lister, his chief of staff, but no cabinet minister other than Johnson. |
| The first on 15 August from Da Costa setting out their prorogation strategy was ticked by Johnson, with his scribbled note “yes”. He replied the next day with a handwritten note which said: “whole September session [at Westminster] is a rigmarole introduced to show the public that MPs are earning their crust. I don’t see anything especially shocking about this prorogation.” | The first on 15 August from Da Costa setting out their prorogation strategy was ticked by Johnson, with his scribbled note “yes”. He replied the next day with a handwritten note which said: “whole September session [at Westminster] is a rigmarole introduced to show the public that MPs are earning their crust. I don’t see anything especially shocking about this prorogation.” |
| The UK government said they were blacked out because the censored parts were not relevant or protected by “legal professional privilege”. Andrew Webster QC, for the UK government, told the court it was essential to keep them confidential to preserve cabinet confidentiality. | The UK government said they were blacked out because the censored parts were not relevant or protected by “legal professional privilege”. Andrew Webster QC, for the UK government, told the court it was essential to keep them confidential to preserve cabinet confidentiality. |
| In what O’Neill described as a snub to the Scottish courts, they were not given to the court of session as primary pieces of evidence backed up as affidavits, but were released only because they were being submitted as evidence to the parallel Gina Miller case in London, which started today. | In what O’Neill described as a snub to the Scottish courts, they were not given to the court of session as primary pieces of evidence backed up as affidavits, but were released only because they were being submitted as evidence to the parallel Gina Miller case in London, which started today. |
| Kenny McBrearty QC, appearing for the BBC and News UK, said it was in the public interest and in the interests of open justice for those memos to be published in full. If Number 10 had decided it was appropriate it was to give them to the court, where they were read out in part by O’Neill on Tuesday, then clearly they were not totally confidential. | Kenny McBrearty QC, appearing for the BBC and News UK, said it was in the public interest and in the interests of open justice for those memos to be published in full. If Number 10 had decided it was appropriate it was to give them to the court, where they were read out in part by O’Neill on Tuesday, then clearly they were not totally confidential. |
| O’Neill has made a separate submission to the three judges, arguing the documents could only be redacted by the court. Downing Street could not unilaterally decide which sections to release, without proper scrutiny. Downing Street had also chosen not to apply for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate – an orthodox route to keep key documents secret. | O’Neill has made a separate submission to the three judges, arguing the documents could only be redacted by the court. Downing Street could not unilaterally decide which sections to release, without proper scrutiny. Downing Street had also chosen not to apply for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate – an orthodox route to keep key documents secret. |
| Asked about Jo Johnson’s resignation at business questions, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, said MPs were used to the idea that people within families might disagree on policy. He pointed out that his own sister, Annunziata, had jointed the Brexit party and got elected as an MEP. | Asked about Jo Johnson’s resignation at business questions, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, said MPs were used to the idea that people within families might disagree on policy. He pointed out that his own sister, Annunziata, had jointed the Brexit party and got elected as an MEP. |
| In the Commons the Tory MP Sir David Amess has just asked Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, if he agrees that the party conferences could be shortened, to allow the Commons to sit for longer in the autumn. Rees-Mogg did not agree, but John Bercow, the Speaker, enthusiastically backed the idea, saying that it was “bizarre” that so much time was set aside for the meeting of private organisations. | In the Commons the Tory MP Sir David Amess has just asked Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, if he agrees that the party conferences could be shortened, to allow the Commons to sit for longer in the autumn. Rees-Mogg did not agree, but John Bercow, the Speaker, enthusiastically backed the idea, saying that it was “bizarre” that so much time was set aside for the meeting of private organisations. |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has just told MPs that on Monday the government will hold a second vote on having an early general election. | Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, has just told MPs that on Monday the government will hold a second vote on having an early general election. |
| There was a vote last night that was passed, but without the two-thirds majority needed for the vote to lead to an early general election (two thirds of all MPs would have to vote for one, not just two thirds of MPs participating in the division). | There was a vote last night that was passed, but without the two-thirds majority needed for the vote to lead to an early general election (two thirds of all MPs would have to vote for one, not just two thirds of MPs participating in the division). |
| Under Commons rules the government is not meant to put motions to a vote if they have already been defeated. But government sources say that this would not apply next week because Labour abstained last night on the grounds that the Benn bill, designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, was not yet law. But by Monday next week that bill should be law, so the circumstances will have changed, justifying a second vote. | Under Commons rules the government is not meant to put motions to a vote if they have already been defeated. But government sources say that this would not apply next week because Labour abstained last night on the grounds that the Benn bill, designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, was not yet law. But by Monday next week that bill should be law, so the circumstances will have changed, justifying a second vote. |
| Before MPs debate an early election on Monday, Rees-Mogg said they would also consider the remaining stages of the Benn bill, following its return from the Lords, as well as hold a debate required under the Northern Ireland (executive formation) bill. | Before MPs debate an early election on Monday, Rees-Mogg said they would also consider the remaining stages of the Benn bill, following its return from the Lords, as well as hold a debate required under the Northern Ireland (executive formation) bill. |
| Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, issued this statement welcoming Luciana Berger to her party. (See 11.14am.) Swinson said: | Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, issued this statement welcoming Luciana Berger to her party. (See 11.14am.) Swinson said: |
| Luciana is a passionate advocate for women’s and LGBT+ rights, and she’s at the forefront of efforts to counter antisemitism and prevent discrimination. I’m delighted to welcome her to the Liberal Democrats, where we can work together to stop Brexit and build a fairer, more equal society for all. | Luciana is a passionate advocate for women’s and LGBT+ rights, and she’s at the forefront of efforts to counter antisemitism and prevent discrimination. I’m delighted to welcome her to the Liberal Democrats, where we can work together to stop Brexit and build a fairer, more equal society for all. |
| Luciana becomes the fourth MP in three months to cross the floor and join the Liberal Democrats. We’re thrilled to add her perspective, expertise and skills to our ever-growing parliamentary team. | Luciana becomes the fourth MP in three months to cross the floor and join the Liberal Democrats. We’re thrilled to add her perspective, expertise and skills to our ever-growing parliamentary team. |
| The Liberal Democrats are growing in strength as we lead the fight to stop Brexit altogether. We are fully behind a people’s vote, and we are the rallying point for remainers and the liberal centre ground. | The Liberal Democrats are growing in strength as we lead the fight to stop Brexit altogether. We are fully behind a people’s vote, and we are the rallying point for remainers and the liberal centre ground. |
| The other MPs who have joined the Lib Dems recently are Chuka Umunna, Sarah Wollaston and Phillip Lee. | The other MPs who have joined the Lib Dems recently are Chuka Umunna, Sarah Wollaston and Phillip Lee. |
| And this is what Berger said in a statement about her move. | And this is what Berger said in a statement about her move. |
| This is a moment of national crisis. The Liberal Democrats are unequivocal in wanting to stop Brexit and are committed to securing Britain’s future as a tolerant, open and inclusive society. | This is a moment of national crisis. The Liberal Democrats are unequivocal in wanting to stop Brexit and are committed to securing Britain’s future as a tolerant, open and inclusive society. |
| I am joining Jo Swinson and the Liberal Democrats today, in the national interest, to offer a vital, positive alternative to Johnson and Corbyn and help build a future that our country deserves. | I am joining Jo Swinson and the Liberal Democrats today, in the national interest, to offer a vital, positive alternative to Johnson and Corbyn and help build a future that our country deserves. |
| Rachel Johnson, sister of Boris and Jo, claims the family avoids discussing Brexit, especially over meals. | Rachel Johnson, sister of Boris and Jo, claims the family avoids discussing Brexit, especially over meals. |
| I’m afraid to say this is rubbish. I said last night at a charity do that the family avoids the topic of Brexit especially at meals as we don’t want to gang up on the PM! https://t.co/IDXB1DrEN0 | I’m afraid to say this is rubbish. I said last night at a charity do that the family avoids the topic of Brexit especially at meals as we don’t want to gang up on the PM! https://t.co/IDXB1DrEN0 |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, also raised Jo Johnson at first minister’s questions, the Sun’s Chris Musson reports. | Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, also raised Jo Johnson at first minister’s questions, the Sun’s Chris Musson reports. |
| Tap-in for @NicolaSturgeon at #FMQs: "Boris Johnson's own brother can't stomach the direction he's taking the country in. The question is why should the people of Scotland be forced to put up with it?" | Tap-in for @NicolaSturgeon at #FMQs: "Boris Johnson's own brother can't stomach the direction he's taking the country in. The question is why should the people of Scotland be forced to put up with it?" |
| Here is Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, on Jo Johnson’s resignation. | Here is Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, on Jo Johnson’s resignation. |
| Boris Johnson poses such a threat that even his own brother doesn’t trust him. | Boris Johnson poses such a threat that even his own brother doesn’t trust him. |
| We have now had four higher education ministers in two years - just the latest sign of the chaos that the Tories have caused to education and the threat that a disastrous no-deal Brexit poses to our colleges and universities. | We have now had four higher education ministers in two years - just the latest sign of the chaos that the Tories have caused to education and the threat that a disastrous no-deal Brexit poses to our colleges and universities. |
| We need a general election as soon as no-deal is off the table, so that a Labour government can transform our education system and society so they work for the many, not just a privileged few. | We need a general election as soon as no-deal is off the table, so that a Labour government can transform our education system and society so they work for the many, not just a privileged few. |