Boris Johnson condemned Iran’s missile strikes on coalition bases and urged Tehran to hold back from further “reckless and dangerous” attacks during his first public appearance since his 12-day holiday.
The prime minister said there were no British casualties from the attack, and clashed with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as he defended the right of the US to “protect its bases and its personnel”.
Mr Johnson discussed Brexit with new European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at a meeting at No 10, as Brussels raised “concern” about a fresh threat to the status of EU citizens in the UK.
Ms von der Leyen had earlier told an audience at the London School of Economics they should not accept "isolation" as a result of Brexit.
On Tuesday afternoon Donald Trump said he would impose additional sanctions on Iran following the missile strikes, and urged the UK to ditch the 2015 nuclear deal.
It put him at odds with Mr Johnson, who said the agreement was the best way to rein in Tehran's atomic ambitions. The pair held a phone call on Wednesday afternoon, Downing Street said.
Dominic Raab's meeting with Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, was brought forward to Wednesday instead of Thursday.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster, as Boris Johnson prepares for PMQs, a No 10 meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and further scrutiny of his Brexit bill in the Commons.
Long Bailey gives Corbyn ‘10 out of 10’ as Labour leader
Labour leadership hopeful Rebecca Long Bailey has spent the past 24 hours insisting she was not the “continuity Corbyn” candidate – but also said she would give Jeremy Corbyn “10 out of 10” for his record in the job.
The current Labour leader – who said he wouldn’t be endorsing anyone – was later asked about the 10 out of 10 thing. “I never mark my own homework,” he replied.
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Rebecca Long Bailey says Jeremy Corbyn's record as Labour leader is '10 out of 10'
Contender in race for succession denies she is 'continuity Corbyn candidateRaab condemns ‘reckless’ Iran strikes on coalition bases in Iraq
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the missile strikes on Iraqi military bases hosting coalition - including British - forces and urged Tehran "not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks”
After Tehran fired missiles at military bases in Iraq hosting British and US troops, Raab said: “We condemn this attack on Iraqi military bases hosting coalition - including British - forces.
“We are concerned by reports of casualties and use of ballistic missiles. We urge Iran not to repeat these reckless and dangerous attacks, and instead to pursue urgent de-escalation.
“A war in the Middle East would only benefit Daesh (Isis) and other terrorist groups.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there have been no British casualties in the Iranian missile strikes on Iraqi military bases.
Iran strikes ‘not surprising’, says top Tory MP
Tom Tugenhat, the chairman of the defence committee during the last parliament, said the Iran attack on US and coalition military bases in Iraq was “not hugely surprising”.
The Conservative MP said it would be “extremely welcome” if the action marked the end of the tensions and both sides could “get back to talking”.
Tugenhat told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “As far as I’m aware, it is the first time Iranian ballistic missiles have been fired directly at US bases.
“That is slightly caveating it, because of course the Iranians have been firing missiles via proxy for many, many years.”
He added: “If both sides can declare victory and get back to talking, then that would be extremely welcome.”
Labour leadership candidates make opening pitch to MPs
MPs vying to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader made their opening pitches to the parliamentary party last night.
Six candidates - Rebecca Long-Bailey, Sir Keir Starmer, Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Clive Lewis - set out their stalls at a hustings event.
Long-Bailey said that in losing the election, the party had “let down the people who rely on us … Our number one duty as Labour MPs is to learn the lessons of defeat and make sure we don’t repeat them.”
Starmer reportedly got a good reception after telling MPs: “We have got the talent in this room ... I do believe we can force a way to victory.”
Nandy was said to have won a round of applause after her call for change. She made the pointed warning: “Now is not the time to steady the ship. If we do not change course we will die and we will deserve to.”
Phillips said: “I want to be prime minister to change people’s lives.”
Violence ‘must stop now’, says new European Commission chief ahead of No 10 talks
The European Commission has called for an immediate end to the use of weapons in the Middle East conflict between Iran and the United States, urging efforts to restart dialogue.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told a news briefing before departing to London that she would discuss the situation with Boris Johnson at No 10 today.
“The use of weapons must stop now to give space for dialogue,” she told reporters after a meeting of her commissioners.
“We are called upon to do everything possible to rekindle talks. There cannot be enough of that. We have established and time-tested relations with many actors in the region and beyond to de-escalate the situation,” she added.
Tory MPs urged to take moral stance over ‘appalling’ removal of child refugee protections from Brexit bill
MPs will scrutinise Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill again today, and attention turns to a Labour amendment urging the government to guarantee unaccompanied child refugees are reunited with family in the UK.
Labour’s Lord Dubs – who came to this country as a child to escape the Nazis – said the government’s decision to remove a pledge on child refugees from the withdrawal bill was “appalling and deeply distressing”.
The peer and Keir Starmer have written to Conservative MPs pleading with them to take a “moral stance” on the issue.
Six arrests related to Labour antisemitism, says Met Police chief
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said the force had made six arrests related to investigations into antisemitism in the Labour party.
She also told LBC that five files had been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to decide whether to bring charges.
It follows an investigation internal Labour dossier obtained by the broadcaster in 2018 detailing cases of alleged antisemitism in the party.
Barnier urges PM not to dilute protections for EU citizens
The EU has protested at a fresh threat to EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, as the European Commission’s new president Ursula von der Leyen arrives in London for talks with Boris Johnson.
The PM is under fire over plans to allow the powers of an independent watchdog – the independent monitoring authority (IMA) – meant to protect their rights to be switched to other bodies.
A letter sent by chief negotiator Michel Barnier to Brexit secretary Steve Barclay raises “concern” that EU citizens may not have a fully-independent organisation through which to make complaints.
Urging the government not to dilute protections for EU citizens in the UK after our exit, Barnier wants a “generous interpretation” of the rules for people applying for settled status here.
More details here:
Brussels protests at fresh threat to EU citizens in the UK after Brexit
Michel Barnier protests at risk to independent watchdog meant to protect residents' rightsUri Geller applies for No 10 job with Dominic Cummings
Amid anger, fear and uncertainty, is there anyone out there coming to save us? How about spoon-bending guru Uri Geller?
Apparently the weirdo-misfit has taken Dominic Cummings call for “weirdos and misfits” to apply for No 10 jobs seriously. According to The Telegraph, Geller has sent Cummings his CV.
The formerly-famous Israeli said his work for Boris Johnson had “already begun” – since the Tory leader’s election triumph was of course down to Geller’s gift of a spoon “energised with mind positivity”.
A source close to the attention-seeking psychic told the newspaper: “He concedes that his application might be one of the more unusual received by Dominic Cummings, but hopes that he can see the potential value of having Uri on board.”
Well Dom, what are you waiting for?
Steve Barclay denies PM has been ‘absent’ over Iran crisis
The Brexit secretary Steve Barclay has defended Boris Johnson against claims he has been “absent” during the crisis in the Middle East.
He said: “The prime minister has been engaging, he has been speaking on a regular basis with world leaders, he is continuing to do that today, as are my colleagues across government.”
On whether Britain would join America if Donald Trump looks to retaliate, he added: “I’m not getting into speculation about the next steps.”
He also rejected the idea the government was preparing to “water down” protection for EU citizens in the UK. “Their rights are guaranteed, we value them, we want them to stay and the [withdrawal] bill delivers on that,” he told Sky News.
HS2 ‘must go ahead’, says George Osborne
Former chancellor George Osborne – instigator of the Northern Powerhouse concept – said the HS2 rail project “must go ahead”.
He also said the government should go further and sign off HS3, a fast rail route connecting cities in the North from east to west.
The Evening Standard editor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “HS2 is absolutely critical to changing the economic geography of this country.
“For the nation that invented the railway, the fact we are the only nation in Europe without high-speed lines should be an embarrassment.”
The former Conservative politician said the West Coast Main Line, connecting major cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, would be “completely packed” within the next three decades if capacity was not increased.
Osborne added: “HS2 must go ahead. It must be accompanied by what is called Northern Powerhouse Rail or HS3, which is across the North. I think that’s critical.”
‘Time for cool heads’, says Labour’s Jess Phillips
Labour leadership hopeful Jess Phillips tweeted her thoughts on the Iran crisis, saying the strike on US and coalition bases “risks a downward spiral in which there will be no winners, only losers”.
The MP added: “This is a time for cool heads and for the international community to strain every sinew to de-escalate this situation.
“For families with their loved ones on deployment with our Armed Forces and for many with family in Iran, including my own, this will be a worrying time and my heart goes out to them.”
Labour candidates condemn ‘nasty’ column on Long Bailey
Candidates hoping to succeed Jeremy Corbyn have condemned on opinion piece in The Telegraph which made an unflattering remark about the appearance of fellow leadership candidate Rebecca Long Bailey.
Keir Starmer said Allison Pearson’s description of Long Bailey as looking “like the love child of the Roswell alien and Mrs Merton” was a “nasty, personal attack” which “has no place in our politics”.
Angela Rayner said it showed “hard right media attacking our candidates (not on policy issues) but on how they look”.
Richard Burgon: ‘I’ll be a team player’
Labour MPs hoping to become the party’s next deputy leader are setting out their stalls to parliamentary colleagues this morning.
Among those hoping to succeed Tom Watson are hadow cabinet ministers Richard Burgon, Angela Rayner and Dawn Butler, along with shadow Europe minister Khalid Mahmood, shadow sports minister Rosena Allin-Khan and Labour’s only MP in Scotland, Ian Murray.
Burgon is expected to call for “unity” in his pitch. He will say: “I’ll be a team player. I don’t see this job as an alternative pole to the leader. Or as leader in-waiting. It’s important in its own right.”
He also wants a “special commission” into how the party rebuilds in the 50-plus seats lost in Leave-voting areas.
Keir Starmer secures backing from Labour MPs to get on ballot
Leadership hopeful Keir Starmer has already secured 23 nominations from fellow Labour MPs – enough to pass the threshold of 22 required to get on the ballot.
The party revealed the total so far after last night’s hustings event, with the shadow Brexit secretary securing his frontrunner status.
Rebecca Long-Bailey has seven nominations so far, Jess Phillips has six, while Lisa Nandy has two and Emily Thornberry one. There are no nominations for Clive Lewis yet.
Police ‘extremely alert’ to Iran impact in UK, say Met chief
Police are monitoring the crisis in Iran and are “extremely alert” to any effect it may have in the UK, the country’s most senior officer has said.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick told LBC that head of UK counter-terror policing Neil Basu has been in discussions with the security agencies about the crisis.
She said: “It’s a very worrying time clearly and we have lots of people of Iranian and Iraqi heritage and the surrounding areas in London, so there’s lots for us to think about, lots for us to be alert to.
“What I can say is so far in London we have had no issues directly associated with this, there was one quite small protest.
“But of course we’re extremely alert to what this could possibly lead to, but it’s a very complex situation. At the moment there's absolutely no impact on London.”
Nigel Farage won’t be next ambassador to US
The Brexit Party leader is not happy. The government has finally advertised for the position of UK ambassador to the US – and the job spec says it requires civil service experience.
Farage – widely believed to have coveted the job – tweeted: “If they want to shake up the Civil Service, insisting our next US ambassador is a civil servant shows no imagination.”
He suggests a “good relationship” with the Trump administration is the important thing.
UK exit will be ‘tough and emotional’, says EU Commission chief
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has begun her speech at London School of Economics (LSE) – where she formerly studied. She said the EU has “always fully respected” the result Brexit referendum in 2016.
She said: “The result of the referendum was a bitter pill to swallow, but it is people who make politics and the decision of the British people in June 2016 was clear.”
Von der Leyen said January 31 – Britain’s exit date - would be a “tough and emotional day”.
But she added: "When the sun rises again on February 1, the United Kingdom and the European Union will still be the best of friends and partners. The bonds between us will still be unbreakable.”
Von der Leyen also warned: “Brexit will not resolve any of the existing challenges for the European Union, nor for the UK.”
UK will have to accept ‘trade-offs’, says EU Commission chief
Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and Britain would have to prioritise when negotiating if the government was not willing to extend the transition period beyond December.
“Without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our new partnership,” she told the LSE audience. “We will have to prioritise.”
And she added: “We are prepared to design a new partnership with zero tariffs, zero quotas, zero dumping – a partnership that goes well beyond trade and is unprecedented in scope.”
But she also said the partnership “will not be as close as before because with every choice comes a consequence”.
Von der Leyen added: “With every decision, comes a trade-off. Without the free movement of people, you cannot have the free movement of capital, goods and services.
“Without a level playing field on environment, labour and state aid, you cannot have the highest quality access to the world’s largest single market.
“The more divergence there is, the more distant the partnership will be.”
