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Blair attacks Corbyn for doing nothing to stop Syria being barrel-bombed - live Blair attacks Corbyn for doing nothing to stop Syria being barrel-bombed - live
(35 minutes later)
1.57pm BST
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Blair criticises Gove, Boris Johnson, Twitter and Trump - but praises Cameron
And here are some more lines from Tony Blair’s interview with Bloomberg. Bloomberg has written it up here and here.
The wall of noise around [Cameron] as he makes decisions is larger and louder than anything before. Twitter and all these things, if you’re not careful, they create the era of the loudmouth. You read this stuff on Twitter -- 140 characters and you’re trying to sum up foreign policy.
It’s not clear to me what his policies really are. If they are some of the things that have been talked about, obviously you couldn’t agree with them. An actual trade war with China would be devastating for both sides so I can’t believe that’s what he’d actually want to do. If you literally say that no Muslims are going to come into America, that’s not a policy we can go along with. I’ve no idea what a Trump presidency would look like. It’s not clear to me what the common ground would be.
One of the things I find strange is when people say: ‘Look, I had to agonize over this decision.’ This is not one of those decisions. This is a decision where you should only be for ‘Leave’ if you’re absolutely clear. If you’re not clear, don’t do it ...
If you’ve been in government and been mayor of London, you know how big this decision is with those consequences,” he said. “If Britain leaves, you’re going to get the beginnings of what will be an economic shock for the country. How can you not think you’re at least going to suffer several years of economic insecurity?
We’ve now got to the somewhat absurd situation where if someone’s an ‘expert,’ that’s the worst insult you can level. Occasionally, rational evidence is a good thing to work on.
1.40pm BST
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Blair accuses Corbyn of just being interested in 'the politics of protest'
In his Bloomberg interview Tony Blair also accused Jeremy Corbyn of being only interested in “the politics of protest”. Blair said:
There’s a guy whose face is on the placard. That’s me: Hate that guy. You’re the person in power taking difficult decisions. Jeremy is the guy with the placard, he’s the guy holding it. One’s the politics of power and the other’s the politics of protest.
1.26pm BST1.26pm BST
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Blair attacks Corbyn for doing nothing to stop Syria being barrel-bombedBlair attacks Corbyn for doing nothing to stop Syria being barrel-bombed
Tony Blair has given an interview to Bloomberg which includes his strongest attack yet on Jeremy Corbyn. As Patrick Wintour wrote in his Guardian splash this morning, Blair objects to being accused of being a potential war criminal by someone who refused to back military action against the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who is generally viewed as an undisputed war criminal.Tony Blair has given an interview to Bloomberg which includes his strongest attack yet on Jeremy Corbyn. As Patrick Wintour wrote in his Guardian splash this morning, Blair objects to being accused of being a potential war criminal by someone who refused to back military action against the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who is generally viewed as an undisputed war criminal.
Now Blair is saying this on the record. He told Bloomberg.Now Blair is saying this on the record. He told Bloomberg.
I’m accused of being a war criminal for removing Saddam Hussein -- who by the way was a war criminal -- and yet Jeremy is seen as a progressive icon as we stand by and watch the people of Syria barrel-bombed, beaten and starved into submission and do nothing.I’m accused of being a war criminal for removing Saddam Hussein -- who by the way was a war criminal -- and yet Jeremy is seen as a progressive icon as we stand by and watch the people of Syria barrel-bombed, beaten and starved into submission and do nothing.
1.10pm BST1.10pm BST
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Labour’s Wes Streeting asks why the boundary review is going ahead on false figures.Labour’s Wes Streeting asks why the boundary review is going ahead on false figures.
Hancock says the boundary review has to operate on electoral roll figures from an agreed period. The electoral roll figures used to 10 years out of date. Now, as a result of the government’s changes, the information is only five years out of date.Hancock says the boundary review has to operate on electoral roll figures from an agreed period. The electoral roll figures used to 10 years out of date. Now, as a result of the government’s changes, the information is only five years out of date.
1.07pm BST1.07pm BST
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Almost 60,000 people have signed a 38 Degrees online petition saying the voter registration deadline should be extended for 24 hours.Almost 60,000 people have signed a 38 Degrees online petition saying the voter registration deadline should be extended for 24 hours.
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Hancock says there are no plans to change the deadline for applying for postal votes.Hancock says there are no plans to change the deadline for applying for postal votes.
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Hancock says he cannot say how many people were unable to register last night. Some of those who tried to register and failed will have tried again and succeeded on their second attempt.Hancock says he cannot say how many people were unable to register last night. Some of those who tried to register and failed will have tried again and succeeded on their second attempt.
1.04pm BST1.04pm BST
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No10 reveals 214,000 people tried register for #euref btwn 9-10pm last night. Compared to 74k before similar deadline for GE2015No10 reveals 214,000 people tried register for #euref btwn 9-10pm last night. Compared to 74k before similar deadline for GE2015
1.02pm BST1.02pm BST
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David Cameron on voter registrationDavid Cameron on voter registration
This is what David Cameron said about the government ensuring people who register today will be able to vote.This is what David Cameron said about the government ensuring people who register today will be able to vote.
It’s extremely welcome that so many people want to take part in this massive democratic exercise. Last night there was record demand on the Gov.uk website ... This caused an overload on the system. I’m very clear that people should continue to register today. The Electoral Commission made a statement today urging the government to consider options including extending the deadline ... We’re working urgently with them to do just that and to make sure those who registered today and who registered last night will be able to vote in the EU referendum.It’s extremely welcome that so many people want to take part in this massive democratic exercise. Last night there was record demand on the Gov.uk website ... This caused an overload on the system. I’m very clear that people should continue to register today. The Electoral Commission made a statement today urging the government to consider options including extending the deadline ... We’re working urgently with them to do just that and to make sure those who registered today and who registered last night will be able to vote in the EU referendum.
1.00pm BST1.00pm BST
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Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP, says he has heard there have been problems with processing ballot papers sent from abroad.Ben Bradshaw, the Labour MP, says he has heard there have been problems with processing ballot papers sent from abroad.
Hancock says the government is addressing these problems. It is “pulling out all the stops”, he says.Hancock says the government is addressing these problems. It is “pulling out all the stops”, he says.
12.57pm BST12.57pm BST
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The Conservative MP Damian Green says, if the government announces a new deadline, there could be another surge.The Conservative MP Damian Green says, if the government announces a new deadline, there could be another surge.
Hancock says the government is putting more capacity in the system to ensure the computer system can cope.Hancock says the government is putting more capacity in the system to ensure the computer system can cope.
12.55pm BST12.55pm BST
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Labour’s Dennis Skinner says, if Labour gives up half of day of its time in the Commons for the legislation, the government should promise to ensure Labour will get another half day.Labour’s Dennis Skinner says, if Labour gives up half of day of its time in the Commons for the legislation, the government should promise to ensure Labour will get another half day.
Hancock says if the government legislates tomorrow, it could ensure that people registering today have their applications accepted.Hancock says if the government legislates tomorrow, it could ensure that people registering today have their applications accepted.
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Hancock says any extension to the deadline would require legislation.Hancock says any extension to the deadline would require legislation.
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Hancock says the fact that so many people wanted to register to vote shows how successful the voter awareness campaign was.Hancock says the fact that so many people wanted to register to vote shows how successful the voter awareness campaign was.
12.52pm BST12.52pm BST
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Hancock says extension to the voter registration deadline will only apply for a 'short period'Hancock says extension to the voter registration deadline will only apply for a 'short period'
Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP and chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, says it would be acceptable to extend the deadline by a few hours. But going beyond that would make this country look like a joke.Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative MP and chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, says it would be acceptable to extend the deadline by a few hours. But going beyond that would make this country look like a joke.
Hancock says he agrees. Any extension should be for a “short period”. Any proposals will have an extension for a “short period” in mind.Hancock says he agrees. Any extension should be for a “short period”. Any proposals will have an extension for a “short period” in mind.
12.50pm BST12.50pm BST
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Hancock is replying to De Piero.Hancock is replying to De Piero.
He says the goverment is looking at legislative options. It needs to be sure it gets emergency legislation right. He says he is glad Labour has offered to support the government.He says the goverment is looking at legislative options. It needs to be sure it gets emergency legislation right. He says he is glad Labour has offered to support the government.
People need to register now. The government will then ensure how those applications can be made valid.People need to register now. The government will then ensure how those applications can be made valid.
He says the government did stress-test this system. It stress-tested it beyond the pre-election peak. But there were even more applications than people expected.He says the government did stress-test this system. It stress-tested it beyond the pre-election peak. But there were even more applications than people expected.
12.47pm BST12.47pm BST
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Gloria De Piero says she is glad the government is saying people who register today will have their applications accepted.Gloria De Piero says she is glad the government is saying people who register today will have their applications accepted.
But she says the government needs to explain how it is going to ensure this is the case.But she says the government needs to explain how it is going to ensure this is the case.
What is the new deadline?What is the new deadline?
What will happen about postal votes? The deadline for applying is today. But you can only apply if you are registered, she says.What will happen about postal votes? The deadline for applying is today. But you can only apply if you are registered, she says.
12.45pm BST12.45pm BST
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Urgent question on voter registrationUrgent question on voter registration
Labour’s Gloria De Piero asks for a statement on the voter registration situation.Labour’s Gloria De Piero asks for a statement on the voter registration situation.
Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office minister, is replying.Matthew Hancock, the Cabinet Office minister, is replying.
He says the EU referendum is a very important moment.He says the EU referendum is a very important moment.
In the last week alone over 1m people applied to vote.In the last week alone over 1m people applied to vote.
Yesterday 525,000 applied to register to vote.Yesterday 525,000 applied to register to vote.
He says anyone eligible should be able to register to vote.He says anyone eligible should be able to register to vote.
But, because of the unprecedented demand, the system crashed at 10.15pm.But, because of the unprecedented demand, the system crashed at 10.15pm.
Before the general election the system was handling 74,000 applications an hour at the peak period. Yesterday it was 214,000 applications per hour at the peak moment.Before the general election the system was handling 74,000 applications an hour at the peak period. Yesterday it was 214,000 applications per hour at the peak moment.
He says the government is looking at what it can do to ensure that people can register. The site is still open today, he says.He says the government is looking at what it can do to ensure that people can register. The site is still open today, he says.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.05pm BSTat 1.05pm BST
12.40pm BST12.40pm BST
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PMQs is over. Today it lasted for 40 minutes. It is only supposed to run for half an hour.PMQs is over. Today it lasted for 40 minutes. It is only supposed to run for half an hour.