Afternoon summary
There appears to be no sign of announcement of junior minister portfolios today. We’re closing the live blog now, so here’s a summary of the key events from today:
-
Theresa May used her first official visit as prime minister to try to persuade Scotland that there is nothing to fear in a post-Brexit UK. May went to Edinburgh to meet with Nicola Sturgeon, who has warned that a backlash against Brexit made a second independence referendum highly likely (see 13.12pm).
-
Labour suspended its biggest constituency party (Brighton and Hove) and annulled the result of a vote that installed officers supportive of Jeremy Corbyn in key posts, after accusations of abusive behaviour and an improper ballot at the annual general meeting last week (see 15.10pm).
- Scottish Secretary David Mundell insisted there is “no mood” in Scotland for a second independence referendum (see 08.51am).
- Owen Smith, the former shadow work and pension secretary, postponed the formal launch of his Labour leadership bid after the attacks in Nice (see 08.43am).
- Andrea Leadsom, the new environment secretary, said it was not “sensible” to appoint a man to look after young children because of the danger that they could be a paedophile (see 08.43am). The comments, which came from the same interview she gave to the Times in which she made controversial statements about motherhood, were met with a backlash, including from Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who called for Leadsom to be sacked (see 11.35am).
- A man was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill in an email to Labour Party leadership contender Angela Eagle (see 13.31pm).
- Oliver Letwin, the former chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who was sacked as part of May’s cabinet reshuffle suggested the UK does not have its own trade negotiators because they are all working for the European Union (see 09.34am).
- Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, urged Theresa May to back a second runway at Gatwick. He said the airport was “the only show in town” and would bring substantial economic benefits to the capital (see 10.09am).
- The people of Batley and Spen turned out in their thousands to pay their respects to the MP Jo Cox, whose private funeral was held today (see 13.56pm).
- Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion and Chair of Parliamentary CND, urged MPs to vote against replacing Trident in a vote on Monday (see 14.15pm).
Thanks for reading, and for your comments.
Meanwhile today, the rail minister Claire Perry, who has been the public face of the government during the outcry over Southern railway’s failures, has resigned - days after she admitted she was “often ashamed to be the rail minister”.
Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted about her meeting with May:
Politics aside - I hope girls everywhere look at this photograph and believe nothing should be off limits for them. pic.twitter.com/QGZI3Cgw8d
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 15, 2016
Labour suspends biggest party branch amid accusations of abuse
Labour has suspended its biggest constituency party and annulled the result of a vote that installed officers supportive of Jeremy Corbyn in key posts.
Rowena Mason reports that the suspension of Brighton and Hove Labour party happened after accusations of abusive behaviour and an improper ballot at the annual general meeting last week, where leftwingers were elected to a raft of offices.
Concerns were also raised with Iain McNicol, the party’s general secretary, about entryism by people who had stood as candidates for the TUSC/Socialist party against Labour.
In response to complaints, the party sent a notice to Brighton, which has 6,000 members, saying it was subject to “administrative suspension” and would have to rerun the contest.
Read the full story below.
A reader asked if we could sum up the papers’ reaction to May’s reshuffle on the blog. Sarah Redman has done just that:
Telegraph:
The Daily Telegraph claimed that May’s cabinet reshuffle was a tactical move to consolidate her power as Prime Minister. “[It] appears to eliminate anything that might grow into a power base” Fraser Nelson, columnist for the Daily Telegraph, said. Nelson also pointed out that, in appointing Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary, May has put in power “a global salesman, who makes an impact when he visits”.
Yet, the Prime Minister may have made a mistake in keeping Jeremy Hunt in his role as Health Secretary as doctors may feel rejected, “she may come to regret the one move she didn’t make” wrote Harry de Quetteville.
Daily Mail:
The Daily Mail described May’s cabinet reshuffle as “the bloodiest clear-out in modern history”. The Mail Online draws particular attention to and praises May for her decision to create a cabinet of equality, increasing the number of female cabinet members to eight “equal to the record set during the Blair years” as well as the number of State-educated to 70%.
The Mirror:
The Mirror refered to the reshuffle as a “brutal purge of top Tories” and criticised the appointment of the “bumbling blonde Brexiteer to the Foreign Office” “to the surprise and shock of almost everybody”. Mikey Smith and Dan Bloom discussed how May “already stamped her power… as she ditched George Osborne as Chancellor, leaving him to slip out Number 10’s back gate with his reputation in tatters”.
The Daily Express:
The Daily Express praised May for the reshuffle claiming that “decisive action is exactly what this country needs and Theresa May has already delivered”. It was optimistic about the future with May in Downing Street, stating: “The Prime Minister’s swift actions during her first days in office are an encouraging sign.”
The Times:
The Times praised May for appointing David Davis, Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and Andrea Leadsom as they now have to “redeem their promise to the nation”; they “were instrumental in creating the EU disaster, so it’s poetic justice that they put it right”.
The Sun:
The Sun referred to the cabinet reshuffle as a “No.10 revolution”, complimenting May’s decision “to boost the number of women in cabinet”. Trevor Kavanagh, Associate Editor, also congratulated May on her “master stroke in balancing a divided Tory party and the people over the future of Britain in Europe”.
Updated
James Brokenshire, Northern Ireland’s new Secretary of State, has insisted he does not want to see a hardening of the Irish border in the wake of Brexit.
In his first full day in office, Brokenshire said both the UK and Irish governments were opposed to a return to border check points between north and south. In an interview with RTE, he said:
We certainly don’t want to see a return to the border of the past. We don’t want to see that hard border coming into place and I think there is a real sense of commitment between the UK government and also the Irish government to work together very closely so we don’t see that returning.
Ultimately the shape of the border between the UK and the Irish Republic will have to be agreed collectively by the EU’s remaining member states. During the referendum campaign, Theresa May indicated some form of border control would be required in Ireland if people in the UK voted to leave the EU.
Unlike his Brexiteer predecessor Theresa Villiers, Brokenshire, a close ally ofMay, campaigned for Remain. However, he said the UK now needed to unite and respect the outcome of the referendum. On the question of whether multi-million pound EU subsidies paid to Northern Ireland farmers will be replaced by the UK government after Brexit, Brokenshire said ministers were “looking very closely” at the issue.
He also expressed confidence that the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, such as those from the Republic of Ireland, could be guaranteed once the country left the European Union - but only if the rights of UK citizens living in the remaining member states were similarly respected.
Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion and Chair of Parliamentary CND, is urging MPs to vote against replacing Trident, Britain’s multibillion pound nuclear missile system on Monday. Lucas, who took over her role with the CND from Jeremy Corbyn, said:
The Trident vote on Monday is defining moment for Britain. We have the chance to join the vast majority of countries by ridding these islands of nuclear weapons, or we can opt for a new generation of mulitibillion pound missiles that can never be used and do nothing to make us safer.
Keeping our country safe should be the top priority for all of us in Parliament – which is why I’m urging all MPs to think very carefully before committing this country to this cold war relic. I believe that a new generation of nukes will not only fail to make Britain more secure, but will increase the dangers we’re facing. Just imagine any mistake or terrorist incident involving these weapons, it could kill millions. Keeping nukes also sends a dangerous signal to the rest of the world that security requires the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. At a time of increased tension that’s the opposite of what we should be saying.
I would specifically urge anti-trident MPs to use the coming few days to lay out the case against Trident. Labour MPs in particular should make a stand against Trident renewal at a time when public finances are so stretched. We won’t get another chance like this: and every MP who believes in a nuke free Britain should be making their case heard loud and clear.
Updated
The people of Batley and Spen have turned out in their thousands to pay their respects to the MP Jo Cox, who was murdered outside an advice surgery last month, Helen Pidd reports. Read the full article below.
Theresa May’s official spokeswoman has responded to Leadsom’s nanny comments. “These were personal views that were expressed, and she, as in Andrea Leadsom, has said that she employed a male nanny for five years, and doesn’t think that men, or fathers, shouldn’t be nannies,” she said.
Man arrested over death threats to Angela Eagle
A man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill in an email to Labour Party leadership contender Angela Eagle.
Merseyside Police said a 44-year-old suspect is being questioned following an arrest in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on Friday.
A police spokeswoman said: “A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill. Officers from Merseyside Police executed a warrant in Paisley, Scotland, this morning, Friday July 15, and arrested the man.
“He will be questioned by Merseyside detectives today.
“The arrest comes after an email was sent to the account of Wallasey MP Angela Eagle.”
Updated
May meets with Sturgeon in Edinburgh
Theresa May is currently in her meeting with Nicola Sturgeon, after making in her first official visit to Edinburgh as prime minister. The meeting comes as May’s government promises to involve Scotland’s devolved administration in negotiations to withdraw Britain from the EU.
Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters
The two women posed briefly for photographers outside the first minister’s official residence, Bute House, before beginning their meeting which is scheduled to last for around 45 minutes. This is only the third time that the pair have met, and their first formal one-to-one encounter.
After the meeting, May is expected to attend a party event along with Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives and a firm supporter of May for leader of the Westminster party.
Updated
Theresa May has arrived at Nicola Sturgeon’s official residence in Edinburgh for talks.
She was greeted at Bute House by Sturgeon, and the two shook hands and stopped on the steps for photographers.
May’s official spokeswoman said the meeting would look at Brexit issues, but the Prime Minister believed the issue of Scottish independence had now been settled.
She said: “It will be an opportunity to discuss how they are going to work together. An opportunity for the Prime Minister to underline to the First Minister that she does want to make sure the UK Government fully engages with the Scottish Government on discussions around leaving the European Union.
“And with regard to a second referendum, the Prime Minister’s view is that we have already had a referendum. It was legal, and fair, and the result was decisive.”
Updated
Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth has also responded to Leadsom’s comments. He said: “This is an extraordinarily offensive statement from the new Environment Secretary. Andrea Leadsom should apologise immediately and the Prime Minister should also distance herself from these comments.”
Tim Farron has responded to Andrea Leadsom’s comments on male nannies, saying that she should “not be sat around the cabinet table”.
Interesting to note Farron's suggestion that Leadsom is wearing multiple masks, that keep slipping off. pic.twitter.com/cEYQHlvjYc
— Robert Hutton (@RobDotHutton) July 15, 2016
The SNP have hit back at Scottish secretary David Mundell’s comment that Scotland is “in no mood” for a second independence referendum.
Speaking ahead of first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s meeting with the new prime minister in Edinburgh later this morning, the SNP’s finance and constitution minister Derek Mackay said:
“The Scottish Secretary has this morning claimed that Scotland is in no mood for an independence referendum – but what Scotland is actually in no mood for are any lectures from a Tory UK Government.
“We have been put in a position where our vital interests – businesses, jobs, universities, freedom to travel, workers’ rights and much else besides – are all at risk. It is a Conservative Government which has put us into this position, so the onus is now on them to prove that our interests can be protected within UK – because the fact is that the EU referendum has placed a very big question mark over that.
“Warm words about a ‘special Union’ are simply not enough – a Union that ignores our wishes and drags us out of EU against our democratic will would not be very special.”
Updated
Ahead of Jo Cox’s funeral, hundreds of people have lined the streets of her Batley and Spen constituency to pay their respects.
Cox’s funeral cortege slowed down in the town of Heckmondwike before continuing to Batley. Many threw flowers in the path of the cortege.
In last night’s council by-elections the Lib Dems gained four seats. The Tories narrowly beat Labour (by just 27 votes) at Selby Council.
Last night's council by-elections: Lib Dems gain four seats; Tories take a Labour marginal: https://t.co/cLH7f7XkZe pic.twitter.com/F62AoMBgyo
— Britain Elects (@britainelects) July 15, 2016
Amazing win in Astley by-election just outside N Norfolk constit Great, energetic candidate @PierreButikofer excellent campaign, Ed Maxfield
— Norman Lamb (@normanlamb) July 15, 2016
Theresa May has said Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist “murderers” after the “horrifying” attack in Nice, and has called a meeting of senior officials in the government’s emergency Cobra committee, the Press Association reports.
May said Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with France.
Updated
Ahead of Theresa May’s first official visit to Scotland, the sole remaining Liberal Democrat MP north of the border, Alistair Carmichael, has challenged the new prime minister on human rights.
He said that May, who will meet first minister Nicola Sturgeon later this morning to discuss Brexit negotiations, had an opportunity “to show that her commitment to the Union goes beyond warm words by scrapping the idea of repealing the Human Rights Act which is hard wired into the devolution settlement and would involve a complete rewriting of the Scotland Act”.
“By abandoning this dangerous and pointless manifesto commitment, she could set a constructive and productive tone to her working relationship with the Scottish Government,” he said.
Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most loyal backers, has switched allegiance and called on party members to back rival leadership candidate Owen Smith.
In an email to Labour members, Stevens wrote: “During the past two weeks it has become painfully obvious that we have been unable to fulfil the very basic day to day operation as the official opposition in Parliament. We cannot present ourselves as a government in waiting without leadership and a leadership team that commands the respect and support of not only members....but Labour voters and potential Labour voters.”
She added: “I want to let you know I will be supporting Owen Smith.”
David Davis has said Britain will be in a position to trigger Article 50 “before or by the start of next year”.
Davis said the government’s “first order of business” will be to begin negotiations with the aim of striking trade deals with non-EU countries such as the United States and China within two years. This would give Britain a free trade area “almost twice the size of the EU” before the negotiation with the European bloc is complete, he said.
Davis insisted Britain would be able to put in place new trade agreements to come into force at the point of exit from the EU having been fully negotiated beforehand.
Writing in The Sun, he said:
I expect the new Prime Minister to trigger a round of global trade deals with all our most favoured partners - and the negotiation of most within between 12 and 24 months.
Within two years, before the negotiation with the EU is likely to be complete, we can negotiate a free trade area massively larger than the EU.
Deals with the US and China alone will give us a trade area almost twice the size of the EU - and of course, we will also be seeking deals with many others.
This will provide massive markets for our exports and cut costs for our manufacturing industries.
Davis said Article 50 should not be triggered immediately in case EU countries act “irrationally” and refuse tariff-free access to the European single market because the UK will not compromise on ending free movement so it can control immigration.
Updated
Sadiq Khan backs second runway at Gatwick
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has urged Theresa May to back a second runway at Gatwick. He said the airport was “the only show in town” and would bring substantial economic benefits to the capital.
Khan warned that pressing ahead with a third runway at Heathrow would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Conservative party and political turmoil in London, the Evening Standard reports.
Khan told the paper:
If you want an increase in flight capacity sooner rather than later Gatwick is the only show in town.
There are no legal obstacles, it’s cheaper, they’re ready to go, there would be jobs and growth in that part of the city as a consequence and nowhere near the same problems with noise and air as Heathrow.
But also Gatwick with a new runway means that Heathrow has got to raise its game. If she was to go ahead with Heathrow it would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Tory party, and it doesn’t lead to the increase in airports capacity that we need.
The new prime minister has a very important decision to make regarding new airport capacity, and I urge her to rule as swiftly as possible in favour of a second runway at Gatwick.
It would bring substantial economic benefits and very clearly demonstrate to the rest of the world that London is open.
The UK has sought advice from Canada on how to cut a trade agreement with the European Union following the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s Sarah Butler reports.
Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s trade minister who is scheduled to meet Liam Fox, the UK’s new secretary of state for international trade, on Friday afternoon, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme her team had been having “technical exchanges” with the UK about its recently finalised deal with the EU.
This comes as David Davis said yesterday that his preferred model for the UK’s ongoing relationship with the EU is Canada’s comprehensive and economic trade agreement, known as Ceta.
Sam Coates in the Times writes that Osborne’s allies are reportedly angry at the manner of his sacking.
Osborne allies angry at manner of his sacking: via @samcoatestimes https://t.co/60IL7Ey3jE pic.twitter.com/lzeAovctle
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) July 15, 2016
More tributes to victims of the Nice attacks are being tweeted this morning.
Shocking & horrific attack in France. My thoughts are with the victims & their families. Solidarity with emergency services & people of Nice
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) July 15, 2016
Shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Nice, and the terrible loss of life.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 15, 2016
Dreadful reports from Nice. Thoughts with all involved. https://t.co/iQ7FmyP0Gm
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 14, 2016
Oliver Letwin says UK does not have its own trade negotiators
Oliver Letwin, the former chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who was sacked as part of May’s cabinet reshuffle has suggested the UK does not have its own trade negotiators because they are all working for the European Union.
Letwin was appointed by Cameron to be the architect of the UK’s negotiations with the EU, but was replaced in that role by David Davis, who has been appointed Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.
One of the key tasks faced by Mr Davis, along with Liam Fox, the newly appointed International Trade Secretary, will be to negotiate trade deals with the world.
But speaking on the Today programme, Letwin said: “The trade negotiators who are Brits, at the moment are basically working for the EU.”
He was then asked again exactly how many, to which he responded:
Quite a number... but they are employed there and it’s up to them obviously whether they are recruited into Whitehall. There are obviously very experienced trade negotiators elsewhere in the world as well.
Letwin was then asked if the UK has in fact got any of its own trade negotiators.
No, no. We don’t have trade negotiators because the trade negotiation has been going on in the EU so we are going to have to hire a whole - David Davis is going to have to hire - group to deal with the EU negotiations and Liam Fox of course in what I think is an excellent plan of Theresa’s to create a new Department of International Trade.
Philip Hammond, the former foreign secretary and newly appointed Chancellor, has previously said that Britain is willing to hire trade negotiators from “wherever” it can in the world. He said the Government is “actively seeking” to recruit trade specialists to help the UK strike the deals it needs for when it has formally left the EU. That includes approaching former civil servants who have retired and those who have moved to the private sector.
Updated
Theresa May’s Cabinet has the lowest proportion of privately-educated ministers in more than 70 years, according to a study by the Sutton Trust.
70% of the new PM’s cabinet were state-educated - 44% at comprehensive schools and 26% at grammar schools. At 30%, the proportion of independently-schooled ministers is at its lowest since the government of Labour’s Clement Attlee in 1945 with 25%.
But of the 27 members or attendees at the top table, 44%, including May herself, went to Oxford or Cambridge (with the exception of Gordon Brown, every prime minister since 1937 who attended university went to Oxford).
May spoke of tackling “burning injustice” during her maiden speech outside Number 10. “If you’re at a state school you’re less likely to reach the top professions than if you’re educated privately,” she said.
Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust and Education Endowment Foundation said he was “heartened” by May’s declaration. “She was absolutely right to highlight the importance of ensuring that everyone should get as far as their talents can take them,” he said.
A private funeral will take place later today for Labour MP Jo Cox in her Batley and Spen constituency. Her family have asked that the funeral service will be a small and private occasion for close family and friends only. Members of the public have been told there will be two places where the cortege will slow down so people can pay their respects.
Cox’s husband Brendan tweeted this morning:
Jo wld ask us not 2 fight hate with hate but draw together 2 drain the swamp that extremism breeds in.Thinking of all victims of hatred 2day
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) July 15, 2016
Updated
David Mundell says 'no mood' in Scotland for second referendum
Scottish Secretary David Mundell has made some media appearances this morning, during which he insisted there is “no mood” in Scotland for a second independence referendum. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme:
What people in Scotland don’t want is this toxic and divisive issue of a second Scottish independence referendum being put on the table and blurring the issues around the EU negotiations.
People in Scotland are in no mood for a second independence referendum and business in particular in Scotland isn’t in a mood to have the issue of Scottish independence blurring the very, very important negotiations to get Scotland the best possible deal from the EU negotiations.
Mundell, who was re-appointed to his position by May late on Thursday evening, was asked whether Westminster would stand in the way of a second independence referendum should the Scottish people not like the deal that is eventually struck with Brussels. He said:
Of course there could be another independence referendum but the big issue is should there be another independence referendum given that over two million people voted 18 months ago to remain in the United Kingdom.
I’m clear there shouldn’t and will continue to passionately make the case for that and also for the benefit Scotland gets from the United Kingdom.
Mundell also told the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme that “it’s quite clear that Theresa May is committed to being prime minister for the whole of the UK, and committed to keeping the UK together.”
Asked about his previous comments that Scotland might be able to pursue a separate deal with the EU post-Brexit, he insisted: “If it is possible then of course it will be looked at, which is why I’ve said that the first minister is welcome to pursue any separate arrangements.” However, he added: “It is clear that we had a vote on whether the UK should leave the EU and it is very difficult to envisage the UK signing up to part remaining while the rest leaves”.
Mundell said that May’s visit to Edinburgh confirmed her desire to bring Scotland “right into the heart of the negotiation process”. “I’ll be looking to ensure that the Scottish government and wider Scottish interests play a full part in that,” he said.
Leadsom says it's 'not sensible' to allow male nanny to look after children
Andrea Leadsom, Theresa May’s new environment secretary who pulled out of the race for the leadership after being plunged into controversy over comments on motherhood made in an interview with the Times (£), appears to have slipped up again.
In further comments released from the same interview, Leadsom said it was not “sensible” to appoint a man to look after young children because of the danger that they could be a paedophile.
“As an employer we’re not — let’s face it — most of us don’t employ men as nannies, most of us don’t. Now you can call that sexist, I call that cautious and very sensible when you look at the stats. Your odds are stacked against you if you employ a man. We know paedophiles are attracted to working with children. I’m sorry but they’re the facts,” she said.
The comments are likely to anger the 5% of nannies who are male. A survey by the pre-school learning alliance has shown that the vast majority of parents are happy for men to work with children aged 3 to 5 at nurseries, with 89% happy for younger children.
The government has been trying to boost the number of men in childcare saying the “gender imbalance” should be addressed.
Updated
Owen Smith postpones launch of Labour leadership bid
Owen Smith, the former shadow work and pension secretary, has postponed the formal launch of his Labour leadership bid after the attacks in Nice.
Smith was due to make a speech in Pontypridd setting out why he wanted to challenge Jeremy Corbyn. But he said he would not go ahead as planned following the “heartbreaking” news from Nice overnight.
The Pontypridd MP had been expected to say at his campaign launch:
This is a moment of deep peril for Labour, if we carry on as we are the party I love will end up in a disastrous spilt. I am not prepared to let that happen.
The Labour party must pull through this crisis and unite, we owe it to the millions of people across Britain who look to the Labour party to provide hope and optimism for their lives.
So now it falls to a new generation of Labour MPs to step forward and secure Labour’s future. I am the only person in this race than can do that. It’s not enough just to talk about being anti-austerity, Labour needs to set out the details of how we overcome Tory austerity and secure the next Labour government that delivers investment, not cuts.
That’s what I will be doing throughout this campaign, setting out the vision and policies that can unite the party and lead us into government.
Read our full report below.
Updated
Reactions to Nice attack
More condolences pour in from politicians in the wake of the attack in France.
Terrible and tragic news from Nice today - all thoughts and prayers with those affected, and the people of France.
— Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) July 15, 2016
Shocked and hurt by the devastating events in Nice last night. Our thoughts are with the French people and we stand together in solidarity.
— Tim Farron (@timfarron) July 15, 2016
Deep sorrow for the victims of Nice attacks. Unspeakable and shocking. Solidarity with the French people.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) July 15, 2016
Thoughts and prayers of millions of Londoners are with the victims of this horrific attack on #Nice, their families & their friends.
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 15, 2016
Horrified by events in Nice. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
— Elizabeth Truss (@trussliz) July 15, 2016
Awful news about the terrorist attack in France. Thoughts & prayers with all affected #PrayForNice
— Greg Mulholland (@GregMulholland1) July 15, 2016
Unimaginable horror in Nice. We pray for those affected, show solidarity with French people & send love to dear friends there #PrayForNice
— Liz Kendall (@leicesterliz) July 15, 2016
Updated
Morning briefing
Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog.
The big picture
Today, Theresa May is using her first official visit as prime minister to try to persuade Scotland that there is nothing to fear in a post-Brexit UK.
May will go to Edinburgh and meet with Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has warned that a backlash against Brexit made a second independence referendum highly likely. Scotland voted 62% to 38% to remain in the EU, and according to Sturgeon it would be against the country’s national interest to be forced out of the bloc.
Speaking ahead of the visit, May said:
I believe with all my heart in the United Kingdom - the precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This visit to Scotland is my first as Prime Minister and I’m coming here to show my commitment to preserving this special union that has endured for centuries.
And I want to say something else to the people of Scotland too: the government I lead will always be on your side. Every decision we take, every policy we take forward, we will stand up for you and your family - not the rich, the mighty or the powerful.
That’s because I believe in a union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens. Whether it’s reforming the economy or strengthening our society, we are going to build a better Britain and a nation that works for everyone - not just the privileged few.
The reshuffle
The new PM is expected to announce a raft of junior minister portfolios today.
But shockwaves from her radical Cabinet reshuffle continue to surge through the Tory party, with George Osborne, Michael Gove, Nicky Morgan, Oliver Letwin and John Wittingdale all out, and Boris Johnson, Andrea Leadsom, Amber Rudd, Justine Greening and Liz Truss in. Oh, and after much confusion, Jeremy Hunt keeps his job.
'Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated...' Thrilled to be back in the best job in Government.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 14, 2016
May insisted her Cabinet shake-up was “bold” and necessary, but some Tory MPs have expressed confusion over who will control Brexit policy as three outspoken Leave campaigners - Johnson, now foreign secretary, as well as David Davis at the new department for EU withdrawal, and Liam Fox, who was put in charge of International Trade - were all placed in control of different aspects of the project.
What’s happening with Labour?
While May’s spokesman said her appointments show a commitment to putting social reform at the heart of her government, Labour said the promotion of a string of right-wingers contradicted May’s “warm words” on her entry into Downing Street about seeking to govern “not for a privileged few, but for every one of us”.
Ed Miliband expressed concern at the apparent down-grading of climate change policy in the shake-up of Whitehall departments , branding the move “stupid”.
And as the world comes to terms with the horrific terror attack in Nice last night, in which at least 84 people were killed, politicians have expressed their condolences.
These include Owen Smith, who has cancelled the planned launch of his Labour leadership campaign in Pontypridd in the wake of the attack. Across the Atlantic, Donald Trump has also delayed the announcement of his running mate.
In light of the heartbreaking news from Nice, I am cancelling today's campaign launch. Solidarité et fraternité avec le peuple Français.
— Owen Smith (@OwenSmith_MP) July 15, 2016
Reading list
John Harris says there’s a fetid cloud of acrimony over Labour – it’s the reek of death.
Aditya Chakrabortty says George Osborne’s austerity choked off the recovery and Brexit is his legacy.
And the Guardian view on Boris Johnson, which is that he’s no joke at all.
One more thing
Would you like to wake up to our morning briefing in your inbox? Sign up here.
Updated
