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General election: DUP does not rule out backing minority Labour government if Corbyn replaced – live news General election: DUP does not rule out backing minority Labour government if Corbyn replaced – live news
(32 minutes later)
Ephraim Mirvis has written that poison ‘sanctioned from the top’ has taken root in LabourEphraim Mirvis has written that poison ‘sanctioned from the top’ has taken root in Labour
The Labour peer Lord Dubs was on the Today programme this morning responding to the claims from the chief rabbi that Jeremy Corbyn has allowed antisemitism to take root in his party. Dubs, who arrived in the UK in 1939 as a refugee from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, said he respected Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, but thought he was wrong on this. Dubs said:
Asked if he thought Corbyn was fit to be prime minister, Dubs replied:
Asked whether Jewish people should fear a Labour government, Dubs said:
Here are some of the campaign events in the diary for today.
11.30am: Jeremy Corbyn launches Labour’s race and faith manifesto with Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities, at an event in Tottenham in London.
12pm: Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, speaks at an event in Barnsley.
3pm: Sajid Javid, the chancellor, gives a speech in Manchester.
7pm: Corbyn is interviewed by Andrew Neil on BBC One.
Boris Johnson and Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, are also doing campaign events, but the timings have not been confirmed yet.
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Mattha Busby.Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Mattha Busby.
In an interview with Sky News last night Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service who has been advising the Labour party, suggested that, if Labour needed SNP and Lib Dem support to form a minority government, Jeremy Corbyn’s role as party leader could be part of the negotiation. Labour sources are disputing this, but Kerslake said:In an interview with Sky News last night Lord Kerslake, the former head of the civil service who has been advising the Labour party, suggested that, if Labour needed SNP and Lib Dem support to form a minority government, Jeremy Corbyn’s role as party leader could be part of the negotiation. Labour sources are disputing this, but Kerslake said:
In his Today interview this morning Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP chief whip, also hinted that the DUP could rethink its opposition to Labour if Corbyn were to be replaced as leader. The DUP had a confidence and supply arrangement with Theresa May. But now it finds itself isolated because Boris Johnson is proposing a Brexit deal that would effectively create customs border down the Irish Sea, which is unacceptable to unionists. Asked who the DUP wanted to win the election, Donaldson replied: In his Today interview this morning Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP chief whip, also hinted that the DUP could rethink its opposition to Labour if Corbyn were to be replaced as leader. The DUP had a confidence and supply arrangement with Theresa May. But now it finds itself isolated because Boris Johnson is proposing a Brexit deal that would in effect create a customs border down the Irish Sea, which is unacceptable to unionists. Asked who the DUP wanted to win the election, Donaldson replied:
When it was put to him that his use of the phrase “Corbyn-led Labour government” implied the DUP might take a different view of a Labour government led by someone else, and when he was asked if the DUP could “do business” with such a government, Donaldson replied:When it was put to him that his use of the phrase “Corbyn-led Labour government” implied the DUP might take a different view of a Labour government led by someone else, and when he was asked if the DUP could “do business” with such a government, Donaldson replied:
Asked if the DUP could support Labour’s plan for a second referendum featuring two options, remain and a leave option, Donaldson did not rule this out. “Well, we’d need to see what the deal was, of course,” he replied.Asked if the DUP could support Labour’s plan for a second referendum featuring two options, remain and a leave option, Donaldson did not rule this out. “Well, we’d need to see what the deal was, of course,” he replied.
Political parties tend to react very badly to other parties telling them who they should have as leader, and it is hard to imagine Labour ditching Corbyn just to win parliamentary support from the Lib Dems or the DUP. But there is some sort of precedent for gestures of this kind. After the 2010 general election Gordon Brown announced that he would quit before the end of the year in the hope that this might make the Lib Dems more willing to form a pact with Labour. (Of course, it didn’t.)Political parties tend to react very badly to other parties telling them who they should have as leader, and it is hard to imagine Labour ditching Corbyn just to win parliamentary support from the Lib Dems or the DUP. But there is some sort of precedent for gestures of this kind. After the 2010 general election Gordon Brown announced that he would quit before the end of the year in the hope that this might make the Lib Dems more willing to form a pact with Labour. (Of course, it didn’t.)
Labour’s Jess Phillips has appeared to advise the party’s leadership on how to respond to the chief rabbi Ephraim Mervis’ intervention.Labour’s Jess Phillips has appeared to advise the party’s leadership on how to respond to the chief rabbi Ephraim Mervis’ intervention.
Michael Gove has said he feels a “certain sense of sadness” about Michael Heseltine’s views on the Conservative Party. Michael Gove has said he feels a “certain sense of sadness” about Michael Heseltine’s views on the Conservative party.
However, he said he “respectfully disagreed” with the peer on Europe and described him as a “longtime advocate” of further integration with the EU. Gove then said Heseltine was “wrong” to advise people to vote Liberal Democrat. However, he said he “respectfully disagreed” with the peer on Europe and described him as a “longtime advocate” of further integration with the EU. Gove then said Heseltine was wrong to advise people to vote Liberal Democrat.
On the chance of securing a trade deal, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: On the chance of securing a trade deal, the chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster said:
Pressed on whether services would have access to the EU freely, Gove said: “Well, at the moment we do not have a single market in services even within the European Union.” Pressed on whether services would have access to the EU freely, Gove said:
Asked whether services would be better or worse than at present, he added: “It would depend on the individual sector. But I think what we are likely to get, and I think this is certainly what Europe wants as well, is a no tariffs, no quotas, no quantitative restrictions as part of that free trade agreement.” Asked whether services would be better or worse than at present, he added:
DUP parliamentary candidate Jeffrey Donaldson has warned that the Tory Brexit deal would “destabilise Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK” and be “disadvantageous” to the Northern Ireland economy. The DUP parliamentary candidate Jeffrey Donaldson has warned that the Tory Brexit deal would “destabilise Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK” and be “disadvantageous” to the Northern Ireland economy.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added:Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he added:
He reiterated that a Corbyn-led Labour government would be “disastrous” for the UK and said the party would look “very carefully” at joining forces with a Labour government that its current leader was not involved in.He reiterated that a Corbyn-led Labour government would be “disastrous” for the UK and said the party would look “very carefully” at joining forces with a Labour government that its current leader was not involved in.
Conservative party grandee Michael Heseltine has urged voters to back the Liberal Democrats to stop Brexit being delivered by Boris Johnson.Conservative party grandee Michael Heseltine has urged voters to back the Liberal Democrats to stop Brexit being delivered by Boris Johnson.
Speaking last night alongside former Tory MPs David Gauke, Dominic Grieve and Anne Milton in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Heseltine was reported to have said:Speaking last night alongside former Tory MPs David Gauke, Dominic Grieve and Anne Milton in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Heseltine was reported to have said:
On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, the former deputy prime minster asserted that Jeremy Corbyn had no chance of becoming prime minister and that “traditional reds under the beds” scares came about in every election.On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, the former deputy prime minster asserted that Jeremy Corbyn had no chance of becoming prime minister and that “traditional reds under the beds” scares came about in every election.
The 86-year-old former deputy prime minster said a more pressing question was whether Corbyn would be leader of the Labour party by Christmas, though he appeared to urge people against voting for the Tories.The 86-year-old former deputy prime minster said a more pressing question was whether Corbyn would be leader of the Labour party by Christmas, though he appeared to urge people against voting for the Tories.
The peer has long supported a second referendum, due to the lies made during the 2016 vote by influential Brexit supporters.The peer has long supported a second referendum, due to the lies made during the 2016 vote by influential Brexit supporters.
He recognised that the Liberal Democrats – with their ”Stop Brexit” pledge – are not going to win the election, although he is voting for the party, and warned of the consequences of Johnson winning a majority.He recognised that the Liberal Democrats – with their ”Stop Brexit” pledge – are not going to win the election, although he is voting for the party, and warned of the consequences of Johnson winning a majority.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said nobody can afford to be “complacent” about antisemitism, reiterating that political parties must avoid worsening a “perception of fear” and calling on them to offer reassurances.The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said nobody can afford to be “complacent” about antisemitism, reiterating that political parties must avoid worsening a “perception of fear” and calling on them to offer reassurances.
The cross-bench peer Rabbi Julia Neuberger has said the UK could become a less comfortable place for Jews to live if Jeremy Corbyn came to power.The cross-bench peer Rabbi Julia Neuberger has said the UK could become a less comfortable place for Jews to live if Jeremy Corbyn came to power.
She said she agreed with the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, that the Jewish community is gripped by anxiety ahead of the general election due to an “unwillingness” of the Labour leadership to tackle a creeping “insidious antisemitic tone”.She said she agreed with the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, that the Jewish community is gripped by anxiety ahead of the general election due to an “unwillingness” of the Labour leadership to tackle a creeping “insidious antisemitic tone”.
“People in the Jewish community have seen that unwillingness and asked what is going on, why are they not gripping it?” she asked.“People in the Jewish community have seen that unwillingness and asked what is going on, why are they not gripping it?” she asked.
The interviewer cited recent polls suggesting 87% of Jews believe Corbyn is antisemitic and almost half would consider emigrating from the UK if he became prime minister, to which Neuberger replied:The interviewer cited recent polls suggesting 87% of Jews believe Corbyn is antisemitic and almost half would consider emigrating from the UK if he became prime minister, to which Neuberger replied:
The author said that although UK remains a good place to live as a Jew, that is shifting and if Labour under Corbyn comes to power then “this comfortable place to live may become less comfortable”.The author said that although UK remains a good place to live as a Jew, that is shifting and if Labour under Corbyn comes to power then “this comfortable place to live may become less comfortable”.
“People will look for ways of moving or having a place somewhere else, or whatever they can possibly do to mitigate what feels oppressive, uncomfortable, dangerous.”
Asked why non-Jews potentially more concerned with austerity and benefit cuts should care enough to not vote Labour, Neuberger said: “If a section of the population is feeling uncomfortable because of racism, that is serious.”Asked why non-Jews potentially more concerned with austerity and benefit cuts should care enough to not vote Labour, Neuberger said: “If a section of the population is feeling uncomfortable because of racism, that is serious.”
The former Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Ian Austin have spoken out in support of the condemnation of Jeremy Corbyn from the UK’s chief rabbi of the UK.The former Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Ian Austin have spoken out in support of the condemnation of Jeremy Corbyn from the UK’s chief rabbi of the UK.
The papersThe papers
Meanwhile, Britain’s former envoy to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers has issued a scathing verdict of the government’s “diplomatic amateurism”, saying Boris Johnson is sowing the seeds of “the biggest crisis of Brexit to date”.Meanwhile, Britain’s former envoy to the EU Sir Ivan Rogers has issued a scathing verdict of the government’s “diplomatic amateurism”, saying Boris Johnson is sowing the seeds of “the biggest crisis of Brexit to date”.
In a lecture in Glasgow, Rogers said Johnson was repeating Theresa May’s “strategy errors” and would soon find himself “unwisely” boxed in by his campaign promises.In a lecture in Glasgow, Rogers said Johnson was repeating Theresa May’s “strategy errors” and would soon find himself “unwisely” boxed in by his campaign promises.
Labour accused of ‘poison sanctioned from the top’ by chief rabbiLabour accused of ‘poison sanctioned from the top’ by chief rabbi
The chief rabbi has accused Jeremy Corbyn of allowing a “poison sanctioned from the top” to take root in Labour, saying Jews are justifiably anxious about the prospect of the party forming the next government.The chief rabbi has accused Jeremy Corbyn of allowing a “poison sanctioned from the top” to take root in Labour, saying Jews are justifiably anxious about the prospect of the party forming the next government.
Ephraim Mirvis, the spiritual leader of the UK’s 62 orthodox synagogues, made the rare political intervention on the day that the Labour party is planning to unveil its race and faith manifesto in Tottenham this morning. Corbyn, Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler will attend.Ephraim Mirvis, the spiritual leader of the UK’s 62 orthodox synagogues, made the rare political intervention on the day that the Labour party is planning to unveil its race and faith manifesto in Tottenham this morning. Corbyn, Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler will attend.
Writing for the Times, Mirvis said it was not his place to tell people how to vote but argued that the way in which the Labour leadership had dealt with anti-Jewish racism was “incompatible with the British values of which we are so proud – of dignity and respect for all people” and that in this election the “soul of the nation” was at stake.Writing for the Times, Mirvis said it was not his place to tell people how to vote but argued that the way in which the Labour leadership had dealt with anti-Jewish racism was “incompatible with the British values of which we are so proud – of dignity and respect for all people” and that in this election the “soul of the nation” was at stake.
Labour has always strongly denied any suggestion that Corbyn has failed to get to grips with allegations of antisemitism in Labour, pointing to his record as an anti-racist campaigner and moves to overhaul the party’s complaints process.Labour has always strongly denied any suggestion that Corbyn has failed to get to grips with allegations of antisemitism in Labour, pointing to his record as an anti-racist campaigner and moves to overhaul the party’s complaints process.
The rabbi wrote: “The party leadership have never understood that their failure is not just one of procedure, which can be remedied with additional staff or new processes. It is a failure to see this as a human problem rather than a political one. It is a failure of culture. It is a failure of leadership. A new poison – sanctioned from the top – has taken root in the Labour party.”The rabbi wrote: “The party leadership have never understood that their failure is not just one of procedure, which can be remedied with additional staff or new processes. It is a failure to see this as a human problem rather than a political one. It is a failure of culture. It is a failure of leadership. A new poison – sanctioned from the top – has taken root in the Labour party.”
Good morning politics early birds, welcome to our rolling coverage of the day’s news and today, we’re talking about money.Good morning politics early birds, welcome to our rolling coverage of the day’s news and today, we’re talking about money.
The huge gap in the spending promises of the two major parties is the main topic of debate today, after it emerged that Labour was committing 28 times as much in public spending as the Conservatives.The huge gap in the spending promises of the two major parties is the main topic of debate today, after it emerged that Labour was committing 28 times as much in public spending as the Conservatives.
Jeremy Corbyn defended his multibillion pound general election spending pledge on public services, saying that even with the increased spending of £83bn a year that he has promised, the UK would still spend less on public services than France or Germany. Zoe Williams writes that Labour has outlined its promises, now its job is to make those promises seem real.Jeremy Corbyn defended his multibillion pound general election spending pledge on public services, saying that even with the increased spending of £83bn a year that he has promised, the UK would still spend less on public services than France or Germany. Zoe Williams writes that Labour has outlined its promises, now its job is to make those promises seem real.
Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has released analysis showing that child poverty is at risk of rising to a record 60-year high under a Conservative government because its manifesto retains the coalition’s benefit cuts. The analysis says the number of British children living in relative poverty would increase from 29.6% in 2017-18 to 34.5% in 2023-24 under a Boris Johnson-led government. Though it adds that Labour’s £9bn of extra spending on social security would mean 550,000 fewer children in poverty but would not lead to current poverty rates falling.Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation thinktank has released analysis showing that child poverty is at risk of rising to a record 60-year high under a Conservative government because its manifesto retains the coalition’s benefit cuts. The analysis says the number of British children living in relative poverty would increase from 29.6% in 2017-18 to 34.5% in 2023-24 under a Boris Johnson-led government. Though it adds that Labour’s £9bn of extra spending on social security would mean 550,000 fewer children in poverty but would not lead to current poverty rates falling.
I’ll be with you for the first hour of the live blog before I send it in the direction of my esteemed colleagues. You can get in touch with me on Twitter or via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).I’ll be with you for the first hour of the live blog before I send it in the direction of my esteemed colleagues. You can get in touch with me on Twitter or via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).