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Brexit: Boris Johnson addresses Tory backbenchers as critics accuse him of 'inciting hatred towards MPs' – live news | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, will travel to Brussels on Friday for a meeting with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Downing Street has said. But the PM’s spokesman has also said that although progress has been made in negotiations with Brussels, “there are significant obstacles remaining to concluding a deal”. | |
From my colleague Matthew Weaver | |
Here's a word cloud of Boris Johnson's opening statement to Parliament last night pic.twitter.com/uQjZUWQeYM | |
From the Spectator’s James Forsyth | |
At 1922 meeting just now, Boris Johnson told Tory MPs that ‘they [Labour] are trying to drive us off the word surrender because they know it is cutting through’. Clear he is not going to stop using the phrase | |
The European commission has joined those reprimanding Boris Johnson for the language he used in the Commons last night about his opponent. This is what the commission’s spokeswoman, Mina Andreeva, said on the subject. | |
We would remind everybody that respect is a fundamental value in all democracies. It is the responsibility of each and every politician to uphold our values. History has shown us what happens when they are not respected. | |
.@EU_Commission on tone of House of Commons' debate: "Respect is the key word. Respect is a fundamental value of all our democracies. It's the responsibility of each and every politician to uphold our values. History has shown us what happens when they're not respected"#Brexit pic.twitter.com/PwsjO1fJcF | |
Boris Johnson is addressing the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee. These are from some of the journalists doorstepping the meeting. | |
Loud desk banging and door banging as @BorisJohnson enters 1922 cttee meeting | |
Cheers as the Prime Minister arrives at the ‘22 | |
Dominic Cummings arrives in Parliament as the PM gets ready to face the 1922 committee | |
Boris Johnson has arrived at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Tory MPs. Cheering as the prime minister arrived but one person inside says “half the room is silent” | |
In the Commons, in response to an urgent question, Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, has admitted that the government has made further breaches of the court ruling banning arms sales to Saudia Arabia that could be used in Yemen, my colleague Dan Sabbagh reports. | |
Liz Truss admits to the Commons that govt made further breaches of the court ruling banning arms sales to Saudi that could be used in Yemen. And minister admits *more breaches may be found*. Another example of the govt failing to adhere to the law... | |
Jo Cox’s sister, Kim Leadbeater, has joined Cox’s husband (see 7.45am) in expressing alarm about the language used by Boris Johnson in the Commons last night. Leadbeater told Sky News: | |
I watched parliament TV for four hours last night and I was mesmerised and dumbstruck by the scenes that I saw before me. | I watched parliament TV for four hours last night and I was mesmerised and dumbstruck by the scenes that I saw before me. |
I think the prime minister needs to think very carefully about the language he uses. | I think the prime minister needs to think very carefully about the language he uses. |
I think everybody has to think really carefully about the language they use. | I think everybody has to think really carefully about the language they use. |
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has defended Boris Johnson’s decision to use terms such as surrender and betrayal in the Brexit context. | |
When Boris Johnson uses words like surrender and betrayal, he is right.That’s why he should not surrender to the Withdrawal Agreement and betray 17.4 million people. | When Boris Johnson uses words like surrender and betrayal, he is right.That’s why he should not surrender to the Withdrawal Agreement and betray 17.4 million people. |
The argument against such language is that it is inflammatory because it frames Brexit, an issue that is supposed to be about a trading relationships with friendly countries, in terms of warfare, with the EU depicted as an enemy power. | The argument against such language is that it is inflammatory because it frames Brexit, an issue that is supposed to be about a trading relationships with friendly countries, in terms of warfare, with the EU depicted as an enemy power. |
The Tory MP Simon Hoare has called for a change of tone from Boris Johnson. Hoare, who voted remain in 2016, told the Commons: | The Tory MP Simon Hoare has called for a change of tone from Boris Johnson. Hoare, who voted remain in 2016, told the Commons: |
There needs to a change in the mood music emanating from No 10 because as a Tory party we obey the rule of law and the fact that is in question in this place should bring shame on all of us. | There needs to a change in the mood music emanating from No 10 because as a Tory party we obey the rule of law and the fact that is in question in this place should bring shame on all of us. |
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, picking up from Matthew Weaver. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, picking up from Matthew Weaver. |
One consequence of Boris Johnson’s extraordinary provocative and divisive performance in the Commons last night is that it has made it much, much harder to see how any opposition MPs could vote with him for a Brexit deal in the next few weeks. It is hard to know whether he is even at all serious about trying to get an agreement through the Commons. | One consequence of Boris Johnson’s extraordinary provocative and divisive performance in the Commons last night is that it has made it much, much harder to see how any opposition MPs could vote with him for a Brexit deal in the next few weeks. It is hard to know whether he is even at all serious about trying to get an agreement through the Commons. |
This has just been confirmed in the chamber by Labour’s Lisa Nandy, one of the opposition MPs who has been trying to drum up support for a cross-party deal. Condemning Johnson’s “horrendous, divisive language”, she said: | This has just been confirmed in the chamber by Labour’s Lisa Nandy, one of the opposition MPs who has been trying to drum up support for a cross-party deal. Condemning Johnson’s “horrendous, divisive language”, she said: |
For those of us who do want to work cross-party to achieve a deal, this is making it much, much more difficult. | For those of us who do want to work cross-party to achieve a deal, this is making it much, much more difficult. |
The Labour MP Paula Sherriff has accused the prime minister of inciting hatred against MPs. | The Labour MP Paula Sherriff has accused the prime minister of inciting hatred against MPs. |
Speaking to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme she said she was horrified by Boris Johnson’s dismissal of her concerns about threats to MPs as “humbug”. Sherriff said: | Speaking to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme she said she was horrified by Boris Johnson’s dismissal of her concerns about threats to MPs as “humbug”. Sherriff said: |
We talk about it in the tearooms. People are really frightened and for him to treat it almost like a joke, was absolutely horrific and demeans the office of prime minister. | We talk about it in the tearooms. People are really frightened and for him to treat it almost like a joke, was absolutely horrific and demeans the office of prime minister. |
I believe the prime minister is inciting hatred towards MPs. I understand the importance of saying that, but I know that feeling is shared by many of us. | I believe the prime minister is inciting hatred towards MPs. I understand the importance of saying that, but I know that feeling is shared by many of us. |
She said one MP had contacted her since last night saying the rhetoric used meant she would not stand at the next election. But Sherriff said she herself was determined to continue as an MP. She said: “I will not let these bullies win and I include the prime minister in that.” | She said one MP had contacted her since last night saying the rhetoric used meant she would not stand at the next election. But Sherriff said she herself was determined to continue as an MP. She said: “I will not let these bullies win and I include the prime minister in that.” |
She said she feared that another MP could be killed and insisted she was “not scaremongering”. | She said she feared that another MP could be killed and insisted she was “not scaremongering”. |
She also called on MPs from all sides of the house to tone down their rhetoric: “We all need to reflect on our language and our behaviour. The bad behaviour is not exclusive to Conservative MPs.” | She also called on MPs from all sides of the house to tone down their rhetoric: “We all need to reflect on our language and our behaviour. The bad behaviour is not exclusive to Conservative MPs.” |
But she singled out the Treasury minister Simon Clarke for accusing her of making a “toxic” intervention in her angry question to the prime minister. | But she singled out the Treasury minister Simon Clarke for accusing her of making a “toxic” intervention in her angry question to the prime minister. |
This is the face of the Labour Party today. Utterly toxic. https://t.co/YidW5GppfE | This is the face of the Labour Party today. Utterly toxic. https://t.co/YidW5GppfE |
Sherriff described Clarke’s tweet as abhorrent. “It makes me sick,” she said. | Sherriff described Clarke’s tweet as abhorrent. “It makes me sick,” she said. |
She said she had had threats of rape, murder and mutilation earlier this year. | She said she had had threats of rape, murder and mutilation earlier this year. |
The abuse comes every day, thankfully the death threats don’t. Last night the overwhelming majority of the communications I received were supportive, including from many Conservative supporters. But equally I received some horrific abuse last night much of it misogynistic. We urgently need to dial down the rhetoric. | The abuse comes every day, thankfully the death threats don’t. Last night the overwhelming majority of the communications I received were supportive, including from many Conservative supporters. But equally I received some horrific abuse last night much of it misogynistic. We urgently need to dial down the rhetoric. |
Labour MPs remain furious about Johnson’s comments about Jo Cox, but many are now citing her memory to try to mend divisions. | Labour MPs remain furious about Johnson’s comments about Jo Cox, but many are now citing her memory to try to mend divisions. |
I’ve been thinking very deeply about Jo Cox in the last couple of days, not least because I spent time with her sister yesterday. Jo was a future party leader and potential Prime Minister. She could have healed a divided nation and we would have been proud of her. | I’ve been thinking very deeply about Jo Cox in the last couple of days, not least because I spent time with her sister yesterday. Jo was a future party leader and potential Prime Minister. She could have healed a divided nation and we would have been proud of her. |
We all have a responsibility to weigh our words but only one side talked of “surrender” and “capitulation” last night egged on by Tory press who call judges and remainers mutineers and saboteurs. All time low& insult to Jo Cox #moreincommon visionInbox full of emails like this pic.twitter.com/zos679RpwH | We all have a responsibility to weigh our words but only one side talked of “surrender” and “capitulation” last night egged on by Tory press who call judges and remainers mutineers and saboteurs. All time low& insult to Jo Cox #moreincommon visionInbox full of emails like this pic.twitter.com/zos679RpwH |
I wish it hadn’t needed saying, but Jo’s murder didn’t happen in a vacuum but in a context, a context similar to today. @MrBrendanCox is spot on this morning and we should all heed his advice. https://t.co/WSIFosC90s | I wish it hadn’t needed saying, but Jo’s murder didn’t happen in a vacuum but in a context, a context similar to today. @MrBrendanCox is spot on this morning and we should all heed his advice. https://t.co/WSIFosC90s |
In 2017 I made 1st speech in this Parliamentary session. In ‘proposing the loyal address’ I said, ‘The country expects our debates to be robust but there is room for consensus too. We should reflect on Jo Cox’s words about there being more that unites us than divides us’ #naive | In 2017 I made 1st speech in this Parliamentary session. In ‘proposing the loyal address’ I said, ‘The country expects our debates to be robust but there is room for consensus too. We should reflect on Jo Cox’s words about there being more that unites us than divides us’ #naive |
Duddridge refuses to be drawn on what circumstances the government would seek an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline. He again repeats that the government will obey the law. | Duddridge refuses to be drawn on what circumstances the government would seek an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline. He again repeats that the government will obey the law. |
Brexit minister James Duddridge repeatedly saying the government will obey the law, but which one - the one which requires the PM to seek an extension or the one which says Britain leaves the EU on October 31? | Brexit minister James Duddridge repeatedly saying the government will obey the law, but which one - the one which requires the PM to seek an extension or the one which says Britain leaves the EU on October 31? |