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The Independent UK

Politics

Jon Sharman

Brexit news: Conservatives plotting to change rules to stop Johnson being toppled by own party as soon as he becomes PM

Senior Tories are considering changing party rules to stop Boris Johnson facing a no-confidence vote within the first year of being prime minister, by preventing a vote of no-confidence in the leader being called until they had been in office for at least 12 months.

It came after Philip Hammond suggested he would be willing to vote against the next Conservative government in a vote of no confidence if it pursued a no-deal Brexit.

The chancellor’s latest comments followed a claim by leading Tory Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg, a supporter of Mr Johnson, that suspending parliament so that MPs cannot stop the next prime minister forcing through a no-deal Brexit “may have to happen”. The leading Tory Eurosceptic said he did not support a lengthy prorogation but that parliament could have to be closed for one or two days.

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2019-07-19T07:32:33.470Z

Welcome to today's live coverage from Westminster.

2019-07-19T07:53:51.000Z

Jacob Rees-Mogg has said parliament may have to be suspended for a short period if MPs attempt to block a no-deal Brexit.

The leading Tory Brexiteer said the idea of a lengthy prorogation was "never a sensible idea or a realistic idea" but that a suggestion that MPs and peers could be sent home "for a day or two" to stop any legislation designed to block no deal "may have to happen at a future date".

He said MPs opposing no deal "don't have the courage" to admit that they don't want Brexit at all and were trying to "bluff their way to stopping us leaving".

2019-07-19T08:05:34.920Z

A committee of MPs has warned that a 'no deal' Brexit would cause 'severe disruption' to the economy

No-deal Brexit would cause 'severe disruption' to economy and jobs, MPs warn

The IndependentCommons Brexit committee says 'responsible' prime minister would not opt for no-deal

2019-07-19T08:27:55.453Z

Sajid Javid has launched a thinly-veiled attack on Donald Trump over the US president's racist 'go-home' comments

Sajid Javid launches thinly-veiled attack on Trump after his racist 'go home' comments

'I'm from an immigrant family, I know what it's like to be told to go back to where I came from'

2019-07-19T08:36:06.103Z

Stephen Hammond, currently a health minister, has suggested that he would be willing to vote to bring down a Boris Johnson government if the frontrunner to succeed Theresa May opted for a no-deal Brexit.

Asked during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today if he would be prepared to press the "nuclear button" by voting against the government in a no-confidence vote, he said:

"I hope we never get there but I think a lot of people were taught that you must put the interest of the country before yourself.

"I don't think we will get there actually, and I'm pretty certain, as a Conservative, that I would be very, very, very cautious about ever doing that. I'm a Conservative through and through and no-one takes any pleasure in rebelling.

"I think it's really important that. at this historic stage in this country's lifetime in modern politics. that politicians put aside any of their own personal ambitions or views and actually make sure they do the right thing as they see it for the country."

2019-07-19T08:57:45.786Z

Senior Tories are considering changing party rules to stop Boris Johnson facing a no-confidence vote within the first year of being prime minister.

The change would prevent a vote of no-confidence in the party leader being called until they had been in office for at least 12 months.

Nigel Evans, a member of the 1922 Committee, which represents Tory MPs, has told Sky News:

"There is a discussion within the 1922 as to whether we should change the rules. Those talks are still ongoing. Change them to safeguard a new leader. When they've been elected by the members that [the new leader] should be given at least a 12-month run before any challenges."

2019-07-19T09:07:30.513Z

Theresa May is to use her final days as prime minister to give public sector workers a pay rise, reports suggest.

The Treasury is set to unveil a £2bn package that will amount to the biggest public sector pay rise for six years, according to The Times.

Two million workers will benefit from the rise, with police officers expected to see their pay go up by 2.5 per cent, soldiers by 2.9 per cent, teachers by 2.75 per cent and dentists and consultants by 2.5 per cent.

However, the money will come from existing budgets, meaning cuts will need to be made elsewhere.

Jonathan Cribb, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said:

"These public sector pay rises are higher than last year's and considerably higher than the 1% for many years before that.

It is the highest nominal pay increase since the coalition. But these increases are still slower than pay rises that are happening on average in the private sector."

2019-07-19T09:26:29.886Z

Parliament's intelligence committee has urged the next government to make a decision on Huawei's role in UK telecoms 'as a matter of priority'

UK needs to make a decision on Huawei urgently, warns intelligence committee

'The new prime minister must take a decision as a matter of priority’

2019-07-19T09:39:32.050Z

Philip Hammond has suggested that he could vote to bring down a Boris Johnson government if the next prime minister tries to push through a no-deal Brexit.

The outgoing chancellor has told the Le Monde and Süddeutsche Zeitung newspapers:

“I will take steps to avoid an exit without agreement apart from an explicit parliamentary approval.

“There should be a new and sincere attempt to reach a consensus. If we do not find a solution with the members, we may have to ask the British to give their opinion again, in one form or another.”

Asked if he would rule out voting against Mr Johnson in a vote of no confidence, Hammond responded:

“I do not exclude anything for the moment.”

2019-07-19T10:04:43.500Z

Sadiq Khan has demanded the power to introduce greater rent controls in London.

The London mayor has backed a new report by the New Economics Foundation think-tank which calls for a "Private Rent Index" in London that would reduce rents and then cap annual increases.

He said:

“It is high time for private renting in London to be transformed. Londoners need fundamental change that is long overdue.

Unlike other mayors around the world, I have no powers over the private rented sector. That’s why this landmark report sets out a detailed blueprint of what the government must do to overhaul tenancy laws, and what powers City Hall needs from them to bring rents down.”

2019-07-19T10:05:58.540Z

NEW: Angela Merkel has said the Northern Ireland backstop will be "overwritten" if another solution to the border issue is included in the political declaration on the future UK-EU relationship.

2019-07-19T10:27:55.490Z

Here is that Angela Merkel quote in full. The German chancellor suggests that the Northern Ireland backstop could be "overwritten" if an alternative way is found to keep the Irish border open after Brexit.

Speaking a press conference, she says:

"The Withdrawal Agreement is the Withdrawal Agreement, but the moment that a solution for the management of the border is found in [the declaration on] the future relationship - so for the European Union's future ties to Britain - which basically squares the circle - on the one hand I have no physcial border but on the other hand the EU Single Market ends - that satisifies both questions, then the backstop will be overwritten so-to-speak."

2019-07-19T10:50:11.066Z

Full story: Theresa May to promise public sector workers £2bn pay rise - but there will be no new money to fund it

'Insulting': Government promises public sector £2bn pay rise - but won't give any extra cash to fund it

'There seems to be no new money to fund these pay rises, meaning savings will have to be made elsewhere'

2019-07-19T11:05:10.000Z

The Jewish Leadership Council has written to members of the shadow cabinet urging them to speak out about antisemitism, ahead of an emergency meeting on Monday at which Jeremy Corbyn's top team will discuss the issue.

The chair of the organisation, Jonathan Goldstein, wrote:

"The Labour Party currently attracts antisemites and repels Jews. This is a sickening situation for you and for us, but it is the undeniable truth."

Addressing shadow cabinet ministers, he said:

"We appeal to you, individually and collectively, to examine your consciences and do everything in your power to stop Labour Party antisemitism...

"In this situation, to be silent is to be complicit. To fail to lead is to allow evil to flourish...

"As members of the shadow cabinet, you now face a very difficult and unavoidable decision, in which inaction will signal your support for what has happened and what will follow.

"Please do not underestimate the importance of your actions for the future wellbeing of British Jews, or for the wider messages that you give about racism, liberal democratic values and our British society."

2019-07-19T11:26:10.000Z

Three Jewish Labour MPs have also written to Jeremy Corbyn to raise fresh concerns over antisemitism

In a letter posted on Twitter, Louise Ellman, Ruth Smeeth and Dame Margaret Hodge said their party leader's claims about Labour's handling of anti-Jewish abuse "in no way matches up with the reality".

They wrote:

"Labour's entire approach seems more interested in protecting you from further embarrassment rather than allowing whistleblowers to speak out against antisemitism."

They claimed that Mr Corbyn's office had "corrupted the complaints process" and said it was "extremely damaging to the Labour Party that you continue to deny this". His record of leadership in tackling antisemitism was "woeful" they said.

They called on Mr Corbyn to take four steps: set up an independent disciplinary process, promise to automatically expel members where there is clear evidence of racism, apologise to antisemitism whistleblowers, and publish Labour's response to the equalities watchdog's inquiry into anti-Jewish abuse in the party.

2019-07-19T11:52:46.620Z

Sajid Javid has called on all public figures to “moderate their language” but refused to criticise Boris Johnson when The Independent highlighted his comments comparing Muslim women to letterboxes and bank robbers, writes Lizzie Dearden.

“It's incumbent on all politicians to be careful about the language they use,” the home secretary said, before reiterating his support for Mr Johnson in the Conservative leadership race.

Javid warns 'UK risks sliding into nationalism' amid growing threat from far right

Home secretary stops short of calling Donald Trump racist and defends Boris Johnson over 'letterbox' comments

2019-07-19T12:12:56.000Z

A blimp caricaturing Boris Johnson is to be sent into the skies of London, just as one mocking Donald Trump was flown last month.
The giant inflatable depicting the probable next prime minister was unveiled by anti-Brexit campaigners on Thursday, writes Colin Drury.

It will float above the capital during the anti-Brexit March For Change on Saturday after more than £6,000 was crowdfunded to create it.

Boris blimp to fly over London during anti-Brexit protest

'We will not allow Boris Johnson to float into Number 10 on a favourable tailwind after so much hot air'

2019-07-19T12:29:40.000Z

Britain's budget deficit widened to £7.15bn last month, the largest gap for a June since 2015 and more than double its level last year, official data has showed, writes Olesya Dmitracova.

The Office for National Statistics focuses on year-to-year rather than month-to-month comparisons in the public finances data because it does not adjust the numbers for seasonal variations.

The unexpectedly large gap between public revenue and spending underscores the pressure on the UK government as it is trying to prepare for a possible no-deal Brexit, as well as end years of austerity.

UK budget deficit balloons to highest in four years for a June

Unexpectedly large gap underscores pressure on UK government as it is preparing for possible no-deal Brexit and working to end years of austerity

2019-07-19T12:47:24.000Z

So, farewell then, This Week. I’m not at all sure about the BBC’s reasoning for dropping this show, and it is said that it follows presenter Andrew Neil’s decision to “step down” from the Thursday night show, writes Sean O'Grady.

It is a loss. It tried to inject a bit of humour into grim times. The sofa team – Michael Portillo, Diane Abbott, Liz Kendall, Alan Johnson and the like – did their best to restrain the usual partisan nonsense we’re subjected to. They put the cheeky girls on. They did quizzes. They did jokes. Best of all… they gave Andrew Neil a regular outing.

I hope we won’t be seeing less of him. He looks like he has plenty of life in him, and indeed he does. Perhaps right on cue, he was given the opportunity to conduct the only serious one-on-one interviews with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership, and it was enthralling and amusing to watch.

This Week may be bowing out, but the BBC should make as much use of Andrew Neil as it can

As symbol of its impartiality, the old Murdoch group editor could be the embattled state broadcaster’s best defence in these troubled times

2019-07-19T12:52:07.000Z

European politicians are again insisting the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be re-negotiated.

French Europe minister Amelie de Montchalin visited the Irish border on Friday and said she had seen at first hand the importance of an ordered Brexit to protect the bloc's internal market and the Irish peace process.

And later on Friday Leo Varadkar, the Irish premier, tweeted that an image of Ms De Montchalin at the border "says it all" about European solidarity.

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