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/sep/10/anger-abounds-after-parliament-suspended-in-night-of-high-drama-politics-live
The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: Boris Johnson's claim to represent people v parliament is absurd, says Corbyn – live news | Brexit: Boris Johnson's claim to represent people v parliament is absurd, says Corbyn – live news |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, has said it would be wrong to use the general election to try to resolve the Brexit crisis. A referendum was needed for that, he argued, because an election should be fought on wider issues. Speaking at an event at King’s College London, he said: | |
| It is wrong as a matter of principle to mix the general election up with the specific Brexit question. | |
| If the British people end up having a general election on Brexit you are going to mix up issues that should be kept separate. | |
| What Boris Johnson thinks is: if I fight a Brexit general election, I can say to people: ‘Look it’s no deal or you get Jeremy Corbyn.’ | |
| You could end up with the bizarre situation where, let’s just suppose the Conservatives manage to win a majority with 35% to 40% of the vote, they will claim a mandate for no-deal when, if you add the votes for all the parties opposed to no-deal together, they will come to more than 50% of the vote. It is a completely undemocratic way of deciding it. | |
| I’m just back from the Downing Street lobby briefing, much of which focused on what happened at cabinet. I’ll post the highlights shortly, but you are better off reading James Forsyth’s take in the Spectator, which is more interesting. Here’s an excerpt. | |
| At the start of the meeting, Boris Johnson took on the argument made by many of the Tory 21 that this is an extreme government, and that he is turning the Tories into a rightwing sect. He argued that most voters want the referendum result delivered, which is what he is trying to do, and that his domestic agenda is in the common ground of British politics. He pointed out that he was more trusted on the NHS than Jeremy Corbyn, which would hardly be the case if the critics’ charge was true. He told the cabinet that he was ‘the most liberal Conservative PM in decades’. At which point, Matt Hancock interjected: ‘Don’t tell Priti.’ | |
| And here is another YouGov poll of some interest. | And here is another YouGov poll of some interest. |
| 52% of Leave voters want Boris Johnson to break the law for Brexithttps://t.co/dKs3cTTHkT pic.twitter.com/oUk588wPA1 | 52% of Leave voters want Boris Johnson to break the law for Brexithttps://t.co/dKs3cTTHkT pic.twitter.com/oUk588wPA1 |
| I’m off to the No 10 lobby briefing now. I will post again after 12.30pm. | I’m off to the No 10 lobby briefing now. I will post again after 12.30pm. |
| Here is the text of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to the TUC. | Here is the text of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech to the TUC. |
| .@jeremycorbyn speech to TUC Congress today: "We’ll give workers a seat at the Cabinet table by establishing a new Ministry of Employment Rights."https://t.co/KHPXw8W8tr | .@jeremycorbyn speech to TUC Congress today: "We’ll give workers a seat at the Cabinet table by establishing a new Ministry of Employment Rights."https://t.co/KHPXw8W8tr |
| Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s powerful de facto chief of staff, was doorstepped by Sky News as he left home this morning. Asked what his next move would be, Cummings replied: | Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s powerful de facto chief of staff, was doorstepped by Sky News as he left home this morning. Asked what his next move would be, Cummings replied: |
| You guys should get out of London. Go and talk to people who are not rich remainers. | You guys should get out of London. Go and talk to people who are not rich remainers. |
| This seems to be a reference to the idea that London-based journalists do not realise how much support there is for Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy outside middle-class remain circles in the capital. | This seems to be a reference to the idea that London-based journalists do not realise how much support there is for Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy outside middle-class remain circles in the capital. |
| There is quite a lot of evidence to support this view. Here is some YouGov polling from earlier this week suggesting that, among voters in general, people are inclined to think Boris Johnson and his government are more in touch with the public mood on Brexit than MPs in parliament are. | There is quite a lot of evidence to support this view. Here is some YouGov polling from earlier this week suggesting that, among voters in general, people are inclined to think Boris Johnson and his government are more in touch with the public mood on Brexit than MPs in parliament are. |
| But Lord Heseltine, the pro-European former Conservative deputy prime minister, said it was a mistake for Cummings to claim it was the remain side who represented the views of the wealthy elite. He told Sky’s All Out Politics: | But Lord Heseltine, the pro-European former Conservative deputy prime minister, said it was a mistake for Cummings to claim it was the remain side who represented the views of the wealthy elite. He told Sky’s All Out Politics: |
| If you start talking about who are the richest influential people in this campaign – who owns the Telegraph? Who owns the Sun? Who owns the Daily Mail? People with riches, wealth, of untold millions. They are the ones who appoint the editors of newspapers that are frankly propaganda sheets for leave. And for Dominic Cummings to try to shove the blame on to individuals who want to remain because they are rich is a major slip of the tongue. | If you start talking about who are the richest influential people in this campaign – who owns the Telegraph? Who owns the Sun? Who owns the Daily Mail? People with riches, wealth, of untold millions. They are the ones who appoint the editors of newspapers that are frankly propaganda sheets for leave. And for Dominic Cummings to try to shove the blame on to individuals who want to remain because they are rich is a major slip of the tongue. |
| These are from Sky’s Sam Coates. | These are from Sky’s Sam Coates. |
| So one Tory MP tells me that Boris Johnson told them that he *did* now have concerns about no dealThe PM apparently said that he had looked in detailWhile he was confident that each individual measure could be mitigated, all together at once they present a very big challenge | So one Tory MP tells me that Boris Johnson told them that he *did* now have concerns about no dealThe PM apparently said that he had looked in detailWhile he was confident that each individual measure could be mitigated, all together at once they present a very big challenge |
| None of which amounts to a shift in position And this was a remain leaning MP so there may have been an element of tailoring the message to the audience But it’s the first time I’ve heard that kind of report | None of which amounts to a shift in position And this was a remain leaning MP so there may have been an element of tailoring the message to the audience But it’s the first time I’ve heard that kind of report |
| Amber Rudd, who quit as work and pensions secretary at the weekend, and also resigned the Tory whip, has written an open letter to her constituents explaining her decision. | Amber Rudd, who quit as work and pensions secretary at the weekend, and also resigned the Tory whip, has written an open letter to her constituents explaining her decision. |
| She now sits as an independent, but she says she hopes to continue as MP for Hastings and Rye “into the next general election”. | She now sits as an independent, but she says she hopes to continue as MP for Hastings and Rye “into the next general election”. |
| UPDATE: A spokesman for Amber Rudd has clarified that she will not stand in her Hastings and Rye constituency at the election. I have taken out the sentence in the paragraph above saying her letter seemed to imply otherwise. | UPDATE: A spokesman for Amber Rudd has clarified that she will not stand in her Hastings and Rye constituency at the election. I have taken out the sentence in the paragraph above saying her letter seemed to imply otherwise. |
| Last weekend I made the difficult decision to resign from cabinet and surrender the Conservative whip. I would like to reassure residents that I will continue to work hard as the MP for Hastings and Rye and thank you for the many good wishes I have received pic.twitter.com/vSEVuZlj0n | Last weekend I made the difficult decision to resign from cabinet and surrender the Conservative whip. I would like to reassure residents that I will continue to work hard as the MP for Hastings and Rye and thank you for the many good wishes I have received pic.twitter.com/vSEVuZlj0n |
| Boris Johnson chaired cabinet this morning. No 10 will brief on it at 12pm, but the Spectator’s James Forsyth has already had a read-out. | Boris Johnson chaired cabinet this morning. No 10 will brief on it at 12pm, but the Spectator’s James Forsyth has already had a read-out. |
| At Cabinet this morning, Boris Johnson told ministers that the next 5 weeks would see the government focus on the NHS, violent crime and the cost of living. In other words, an attempt get back to the campaigns that worked for them so well in August when parliament was not sitting | At Cabinet this morning, Boris Johnson told ministers that the next 5 weeks would see the government focus on the NHS, violent crime and the cost of living. In other words, an attempt get back to the campaigns that worked for them so well in August when parliament was not sitting |
| Intriguingly, he told them that his policy on Brexit was unchanged by the Benn bill. I'm told that he said what he does on October 19th if there's no deal will only come clear nearer the time. So, no answer now--or not one he's prepared to share | Intriguingly, he told them that his policy on Brexit was unchanged by the Benn bill. I'm told that he said what he does on October 19th if there's no deal will only come clear nearer the time. So, no answer now--or not one he's prepared to share |
| Number 10 still think they can find a way to avoid this extension., They also expect an attempt, via an SO24, to revoke Article 50 when parliament returns in October | Number 10 still think they can find a way to avoid this extension., They also expect an attempt, via an SO24, to revoke Article 50 when parliament returns in October |
| I'm told Boris Johnson also took on the critique that the government is extreme. He argued that most people want the referendum result delivered and that his domestic agenda was in the common ground of British politics | I'm told Boris Johnson also took on the critique that the government is extreme. He argued that most people want the referendum result delivered and that his domestic agenda was in the common ground of British politics |
| He highlighted polling showing that they are more trusted on the NHS than Jeremy Corbyn. (Think poll was the Survation one for the Mail, that showed 35% of voters trust Boris Johnson with the NHS compared to 30% for Corbyn) | He highlighted polling showing that they are more trusted on the NHS than Jeremy Corbyn. (Think poll was the Survation one for the Mail, that showed 35% of voters trust Boris Johnson with the NHS compared to 30% for Corbyn) |
| Corbyn is on his peroration. | Corbyn is on his peroration. |
| Congress, the coming general election will be a chance for a real change of direction. | Congress, the coming general election will be a chance for a real change of direction. |
| In the next few weeks the establishment will come after us with all they’ve got, because they know we’re not afraid to take them on. | In the next few weeks the establishment will come after us with all they’ve got, because they know we’re not afraid to take them on. |
| We’re going after the tax avoiders. | We’re going after the tax avoiders. |
| We’re going after the bad bosses. | We’re going after the bad bosses. |
| We’re going after the dodgy landlords. | We’re going after the dodgy landlords. |
| We’re going after the big polluters destroying our climate. | We’re going after the big polluters destroying our climate. |
| Because we know whose side we’re on. | Because we know whose side we’re on. |
| We’re creating a society of hope and inclusion – not poverty – and division. | We’re creating a society of hope and inclusion – not poverty – and division. |
| He is now getting a long standing ovation. | He is now getting a long standing ovation. |
| Corbyn has praise for the Financial Times. | Corbyn has praise for the Financial Times. |
| Last week the Financial Times said that Labour is, and I quote, ‘determined to shift power away from bosses and landlords and to workers and tenants’. | Last week the Financial Times said that Labour is, and I quote, ‘determined to shift power away from bosses and landlords and to workers and tenants’. |
| Well there has been no shortage of rather unkind reporting about our party over the last few years, but this time they’ve got it absolutely right. | Well there has been no shortage of rather unkind reporting about our party over the last few years, but this time they’ve got it absolutely right. |
| We will put workers on company boards, and give the workforce a 10% stake in large companies paying a dividend of as much as £500 a year to each employee. | We will put workers on company boards, and give the workforce a 10% stake in large companies paying a dividend of as much as £500 a year to each employee. |
| And we will give tenants more rights including caps on rent rises. | And we will give tenants more rights including caps on rent rises. |
| And that principle of empowering people doesn’t just apply to the workplace. | And that principle of empowering people doesn’t just apply to the workplace. |
| We’ll bring rail, mail, water and the national grid into public ownership, so the essential utilities that people rely on are run by and for the public, not just shareholders. | We’ll bring rail, mail, water and the national grid into public ownership, so the essential utilities that people rely on are run by and for the public, not just shareholders. |
| Here is a story by my colleagues Kate Proctor and Rajeev Syal about the employment rights announcement in Corbyn’s speech. | Here is a story by my colleagues Kate Proctor and Rajeev Syal about the employment rights announcement in Corbyn’s speech. |
| Jeremy Corbyn pledges biggest ever extension of workers' rights | Jeremy Corbyn pledges biggest ever extension of workers' rights |
| Corbyn says Labour would set up a workers’ protection agency. | Corbyn says Labour would set up a workers’ protection agency. |
| Too many employers are getting away with flouting laws. Nearly half a million people are still being paid less than the minimum wage. | Too many employers are getting away with flouting laws. Nearly half a million people are still being paid less than the minimum wage. |
| We’ll put a stop to that. We’ll create a workers protection agency with real teeth, including the power to enter workplaces and bring prosecutions on workers’ behalf. | We’ll put a stop to that. We’ll create a workers protection agency with real teeth, including the power to enter workplaces and bring prosecutions on workers’ behalf. |
| If you’re a worker with a boss who makes you work extra hours for no pay or forces you into dangerous situations, you deserve a government that’s on your side and ready to step in to support you. | If you’re a worker with a boss who makes you work extra hours for no pay or forces you into dangerous situations, you deserve a government that’s on your side and ready to step in to support you. |
| Corbyn says Labour would introduce equal rights for all workers from day one. | Corbyn says Labour would introduce equal rights for all workers from day one. |
| And it would end zero-hours contracts. | And it would end zero-hours contracts. |