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| Brexit: Trump says parts of Johnson's deal would obstruct US-UK trade agreement - live news | Brexit: Trump says parts of Johnson's deal would obstruct US-UK trade agreement - live news |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Last night, my colleague Rowena Mason reported that the Tories’ election campaign was set to be run by Isaac Levido, the former right-hand man of Lynton Crosby. The PM’s de facto chief of staff, Dominic Cummings, was not due to be centrally involved and had remained in Downing Street, she reported. | |
| This evening, she has this update: | |
| Dominic Cummings has told Spads tonight that Isaac Levido is in charge of Tory campaign, not him, and he may yet go for his November medical operation - as we reported yesterday https://t.co/CmZfHHe6Em | |
| It emerged earlier this afternoon that an inquiry had concluded the £100,000 government grant given to a firm run by Jennifer Arcuri, the US businesswoman embroiled in a conflict of interest row over her close friendship with Boris Johnson, was “appropriate”. | It emerged earlier this afternoon that an inquiry had concluded the £100,000 government grant given to a firm run by Jennifer Arcuri, the US businesswoman embroiled in a conflict of interest row over her close friendship with Boris Johnson, was “appropriate”. |
| The shadow culture secretary and Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson, has now said: | The shadow culture secretary and Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson, has now said: |
| This ‘review’ is a complete whitewash. The documents published raise more questions than we had before. No one reading Hacker House’s grant application would give the company a penny, let alone £100,000 of tax payers’ money. | This ‘review’ is a complete whitewash. The documents published raise more questions than we had before. No one reading Hacker House’s grant application would give the company a penny, let alone £100,000 of tax payers’ money. |
| The fundamental question of why Hacker House was ever given this grant remains unanswered. The public deserve to know why their money was handled so irresponsibly. We will not let this lie. | The fundamental question of why Hacker House was ever given this grant remains unanswered. The public deserve to know why their money was handled so irresponsibly. We will not let this lie. |
| On Corbyn, Trump said: | On Corbyn, Trump said: |
| I have great relationships with many of the leaders, including Boris. He’s a fantastic man and I think he’s the exact right guy for the time and I know you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific if you (Farage) and he, if you and he get together as, you know, an unstoppable force. | I have great relationships with many of the leaders, including Boris. He’s a fantastic man and I think he’s the exact right guy for the time and I know you and him will end up doing something that could be terrific if you (Farage) and he, if you and he get together as, you know, an unstoppable force. |
| And Corbyn would be so bad for your country. He’d be so bad, he’d take you in such a bad way. He’d take you into such bad places. But, your country has tremendous potential, it’s a great country. | And Corbyn would be so bad for your country. He’d be so bad, he’d take you in such a bad way. He’d take you into such bad places. But, your country has tremendous potential, it’s a great country. |
| Trump told LBC he has got on well with both the current and former prime ministers on a personal level. Referring to the current occupant of No 10, Trump said: | Trump told LBC he has got on well with both the current and former prime ministers on a personal level. Referring to the current occupant of No 10, Trump said: |
| Oh yeah, Boris and I have a great friendship, we’ve become friends. Boris and I, when he was running they were saying: ‘He’s the Trump, he’s the Trump.’ We have a lot of the same things going, I guess. | Oh yeah, Boris and I have a great friendship, we’ve become friends. Boris and I, when he was running they were saying: ‘He’s the Trump, he’s the Trump.’ We have a lot of the same things going, I guess. |
| Boris is a terrific guy, you know that he’s a terrific guy. I think it was time for Boris, it was time you needed him. | Boris is a terrific guy, you know that he’s a terrific guy. I think it was time for Boris, it was time you needed him. |
| As some correspondents in Westminster have pointed out, this could end up playing better for Labour than for the Conservatives: | As some correspondents in Westminster have pointed out, this could end up playing better for Labour than for the Conservatives: |
| This intervention helpful for Corbyn. Last thing he wants is endorsement from Trump. Lab leader chose to address an anti-Trump rally during Potus state visit in June. BUT Trump also revealed to me in Q&A at press conference, that Corbyn had asked to meet him. And he'd said no https://t.co/aafxpmxpH3 | This intervention helpful for Corbyn. Last thing he wants is endorsement from Trump. Lab leader chose to address an anti-Trump rally during Potus state visit in June. BUT Trump also revealed to me in Q&A at press conference, that Corbyn had asked to meet him. And he'd said no https://t.co/aafxpmxpH3 |
| Trump intervention is indeed a gift for Jeremy Corbyn, but surely also for Boris Johnson. What do we think 'Workington man' makes of President Trump? In reality the two campaigns are targeting different core voters. | Trump intervention is indeed a gift for Jeremy Corbyn, but surely also for Boris Johnson. What do we think 'Workington man' makes of President Trump? In reality the two campaigns are targeting different core voters. |
| This Trump/Farage interview is just extraordinary. Can’t help but feel it’s very patronising of the Prime Minister and the UK. Labour will big time use this to their advantage. | This Trump/Farage interview is just extraordinary. Can’t help but feel it’s very patronising of the Prime Minister and the UK. Labour will big time use this to their advantage. |
| Referring to his relationships with Theresa May, Trump told LBC: | Referring to his relationships with Theresa May, Trump told LBC: |
| Well, I liked her very much. You know, I disagreed with certain things that she did but I like her; she was always very nice to me, I was nice to her ... I told her exactly how to make a deal but she didn’t listen to me and that’s okay; not everybody listens to me. Some people do. | Well, I liked her very much. You know, I disagreed with certain things that she did but I like her; she was always very nice to me, I was nice to her ... I told her exactly how to make a deal but she didn’t listen to me and that’s okay; not everybody listens to me. Some people do. |
| According to May, Trump’s advice to her was to “sue the European Union”. | According to May, Trump’s advice to her was to “sue the European Union”. |
| Trump also suggested that gossip about the US having its eyes on the NHS may have started with the Labour leader, telling LBC: | Trump also suggested that gossip about the US having its eyes on the NHS may have started with the Labour leader, telling LBC: |
| I don’t even know where your healthcare system started with respect to us taking over your healthcare system. I mean it’s so ridiculous I think Corbyn put that out there. | I don’t even know where your healthcare system started with respect to us taking over your healthcare system. I mean it’s so ridiculous I think Corbyn put that out there. |
| In reality, besides Trump having himself put it out there (see previous post), his ambassador to London, Woody Johnson, has also explicitly and publicly raised the prospect. | In reality, besides Trump having himself put it out there (see previous post), his ambassador to London, Woody Johnson, has also explicitly and publicly raised the prospect. |
| On US designs on parts of the NHS, Trump told LBC: | On US designs on parts of the NHS, Trump told LBC: |
| No, not at all, we wouldn’t even be involved in that no. We’re trying to fix our health service. We all have our health service problems ... No. it’s not for us to have anything to do with your healthcare system. No, we’re just talking about trade. | No, not at all, we wouldn’t even be involved in that no. We’re trying to fix our health service. We all have our health service problems ... No. it’s not for us to have anything to do with your healthcare system. No, we’re just talking about trade. |
| The US president has previously contradicted himself on whether or not Washington would want the NHS on the table in trade talks. In June, he said: | The US president has previously contradicted himself on whether or not Washington would want the NHS on the table in trade talks. In June, he said: |
| When you’re dealing on trade, everything is on the table. So NHS or anything else. A lot more than that. | When you’re dealing on trade, everything is on the table. So NHS or anything else. A lot more than that. |
| Later the same day, he said: | Later the same day, he said: |
| I don’t see [the NHS] being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today and I say everything is up for negotiation, because everything is. But that’s something I would not see as part of trade. That’s not trade. | I don’t see [the NHS] being on the table. Somebody asked me a question today and I say everything is up for negotiation, because everything is. But that’s something I would not see as part of trade. That’s not trade. |
| Here’s what Trump told Farage on his discussions with the prime minister over the latter’s Brexit deal: | Here’s what Trump told Farage on his discussions with the prime minister over the latter’s Brexit deal: |
| We wanna do trade with the UK and they wanna do trade with us and, to be honest with you, this deal – under certain aspects of the deal – you can’t do it, you can’t do it, you can’t trade. | We wanna do trade with the UK and they wanna do trade with us and, to be honest with you, this deal – under certain aspects of the deal – you can’t do it, you can’t do it, you can’t trade. |
| Trump added that the US would be barred from some parts of the UK market under Johnson’s deal; a situation that he said “would be ridiculous”. | Trump added that the US would be barred from some parts of the UK market under Johnson’s deal; a situation that he said “would be ridiculous”. |
| Reacting to Trump’s LBC interview, the Lib Dems’ foreign affairs spokesman, Chuka Umunna, has said: | Reacting to Trump’s LBC interview, the Lib Dems’ foreign affairs spokesman, Chuka Umunna, has said: |
| Donald Trump is unfit to hold the office of president of the United States. Boris Johnson is unfit to be prime minister of the United Kingdom. | Donald Trump is unfit to hold the office of president of the United States. Boris Johnson is unfit to be prime minister of the United Kingdom. |
| This endorsement is yet another example of the cuddly relationship between the two men. As the saying goes, you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. | This endorsement is yet another example of the cuddly relationship between the two men. As the saying goes, you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep. |
| Trump is a bully, a misogynist and a racist. Yet the Conservatives have fawned to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with him. A trade deal that would threaten food standards and our precious NHS. | Trump is a bully, a misogynist and a racist. Yet the Conservatives have fawned to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with him. A trade deal that would threaten food standards and our precious NHS. |
| Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up to regressive politics and will continue to fight to stop Brexit and build a brighter future. | Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up to regressive politics and will continue to fight to stop Brexit and build a brighter future. |
| As has been suggested elsewhere, Farage has opened himself up to claims of hypocrisy by inviting a sitting US president to intervene when the UK is preparing to vote on its future. | As has been suggested elsewhere, Farage has opened himself up to claims of hypocrisy by inviting a sitting US president to intervene when the UK is preparing to vote on its future. |
| Nigel Farage on when it is and isn't ok for foreign leaders to interfere in UK politics. pic.twitter.com/PgdwNJvLMT | Nigel Farage on when it is and isn't ok for foreign leaders to interfere in UK politics. pic.twitter.com/PgdwNJvLMT |
| Here’s what the Brexit party leader told Fox News in 2016 in reaction to Barack Obama saying the UK would be at the back of the queue in trade negotiations if it voted to leave the EU: | Here’s what the Brexit party leader told Fox News in 2016 in reaction to Barack Obama saying the UK would be at the back of the queue in trade negotiations if it voted to leave the EU: |
| Vladimir Putin behaved in a more statesmanlike manner than President Obama did in this referendum campaign. Obama came to Britain and, I think, behaved disgracefully; telling us we would be at the back of the queue. Vladimir Putin maintained his silence throughout the whole campaign. | Vladimir Putin behaved in a more statesmanlike manner than President Obama did in this referendum campaign. Obama came to Britain and, I think, behaved disgracefully; telling us we would be at the back of the queue. Vladimir Putin maintained his silence throughout the whole campaign. |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has responded to Trump’s interview with LBC, tweeting: | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has responded to Trump’s interview with LBC, tweeting: |
| Donald Trump is trying to interfere in Britain’s election to get his friend Boris Johnson elected. It was Trump who said in June the NHS is “on the table”. And he knows if Labour wins US corporations won’t get their hands on it.Our NHS is not for sale.pic.twitter.com/AUhht3pCgL | Donald Trump is trying to interfere in Britain’s election to get his friend Boris Johnson elected. It was Trump who said in June the NHS is “on the table”. And he knows if Labour wins US corporations won’t get their hands on it.Our NHS is not for sale.pic.twitter.com/AUhht3pCgL |
| Corbyn’s referring to Trump’s claim that the US would have no involvement in the NHS under a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal. The US president has, at different times, said the NHS would and would not be on the table in any such negotiations. | Corbyn’s referring to Trump’s claim that the US would have no involvement in the NHS under a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal. The US president has, at different times, said the NHS would and would not be on the table in any such negotiations. |
| Donald Trump opened his interview with LBC by again repeating his nonsense claim to have correctly predicted the result of the Brexit referendum when he opened his Turnberry golf course on 24 June 2016. | Donald Trump opened his interview with LBC by again repeating his nonsense claim to have correctly predicted the result of the Brexit referendum when he opened his Turnberry golf course on 24 June 2016. |
| The Brexit referendum was held on 23 June 2016. | The Brexit referendum was held on 23 June 2016. |
| Trump’s interviewer, the political campaigner and Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, nodded, said “yep” and allowed the false claim to pass. | Trump’s interviewer, the political campaigner and Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, nodded, said “yep” and allowed the false claim to pass. |
| Donald Trump has used an interview with his ally Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader and LBC broadcaster, to intervene in the UK election. Trump said that Jeremy Corbyn would be “so bad” for the UK, and that Farage and Boris Johnson would be an “unstoppable force” if they joined up in some way. (See 5.28pm.) | Donald Trump has used an interview with his ally Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader and LBC broadcaster, to intervene in the UK election. Trump said that Jeremy Corbyn would be “so bad” for the UK, and that Farage and Boris Johnson would be an “unstoppable force” if they joined up in some way. (See 5.28pm.) |
| World Exclusive: President @realDonaldTrump told @Nigel_Farage, Corbyn "would be so bad for your country, he'd take you into such bad places" #TrumpOnLBC pic.twitter.com/bbECEYbYSC | World Exclusive: President @realDonaldTrump told @Nigel_Farage, Corbyn "would be so bad for your country, he'd take you into such bad places" #TrumpOnLBC pic.twitter.com/bbECEYbYSC |
| Trump also criticised Johnson’s Brexit plan, saying it could obstruct a UK-US trade deal. (See 5.28pm.) | Trump also criticised Johnson’s Brexit plan, saying it could obstruct a UK-US trade deal. (See 5.28pm.) |
| Corbyn has insisted Labour’s 2019 general election campaign is “not about me”, as he declined to say whether he would step aside if the party failed to dislodge Johnson from Downing Street in six weeks. | Corbyn has insisted Labour’s 2019 general election campaign is “not about me”, as he declined to say whether he would step aside if the party failed to dislodge Johnson from Downing Street in six weeks. |
| Johnson has been accused of preventing the publication of a report assessing the security threat posed by Russia to the UK and whether a future general election could be affected by Kremlin-sponsored disinformation. | Johnson has been accused of preventing the publication of a report assessing the security threat posed by Russia to the UK and whether a future general election could be affected by Kremlin-sponsored disinformation. |
| A £100,000 grant awarded to the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri’s Hacker House company by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has been considered “appropriate” by the government’s internal audit agency. | A £100,000 grant awarded to the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri’s Hacker House company by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has been considered “appropriate” by the government’s internal audit agency. |
| The prime minister could be poised to sound the death knell for the UK’s controversial shale gas industry after more than a decade of support for fracking, according to sources. | The prime minister could be poised to sound the death knell for the UK’s controversial shale gas industry after more than a decade of support for fracking, according to sources. |
| The Labour MP Keith Vaz has been formally suspended from the Commons for six months for offering to buy drugs for sex workers and failing to cooperate with an investigation, after the Commons endorsed the findings of an inquiry. | The Labour MP Keith Vaz has been formally suspended from the Commons for six months for offering to buy drugs for sex workers and failing to cooperate with an investigation, after the Commons endorsed the findings of an inquiry. |
| 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. |