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Version 14 Version 15
Brexit news live: Corbyn facing secret ballot of MPs Brexit news live: Corbyn facing secret ballot of MPs
(35 minutes later)
3.27pm BST
15:27
The New Statesman’s George Eaton says Jeremy Corbyn will definitely face a leadership challenge - but that it is not clear yet whether it will come from Angela Eagle or Tom Watson.
Labour MPs confident they'll reach agreement on one candidate. But still not clear whether it'll be Eagle or Watson.
Watson may well argue that he would be better placed to beat Corbyn in a leadership contest. He won the deputy leadership contest quite easily last year, when Eagle came first. But Eagle, an excellent Commons performer who also did well in the ITV referendum debate, may argue that she would a better leader for the party in a general election.
3.22pm BST
15:22
The Tory leader in Wales, Andrew RT Davies, who campaigned for leave, is arguing that out campaigners ought to be given a role in preparing the country’s response to the referendum result.He said:
Despite the expectations of many, including [first minister] Carwyn Jones, Wales has proven itself to be a Eurosceptic nation.
Clearly, both the Labour party and Plaid Cymru misunderstood this. Those parties, unlike the Welsh Conservative party, do not reflect the balance of opinion which exists amongst the Welsh public.
As negotiations in relation to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU continue, the Welsh government must ensure public opinion is better reflected as part of this process.
Wales needs strong leadership that reflects the wishes of its people, and ensures the best deal for our country in this new era. That must include a role for those politicians of all parties who campaigned for a vote to leave.
3.18pm BST
15:18
The Green MEP Molly Scott Cato has written a candid post on Facebook about being back in the European parliament after the Brexit vote. Here’s an excerpt.
It is difficult to realise that European colleagues can accept our decision to reject the the European Union largely without rancour. It is painful to realise that others are more affectionate and confident about my homeland than I am able to be myself just now.
3.11pm BST
15:11
Libby Brooks
Nicola Sturgeon has called on Scotland to move forward “in a spirit of unity and national purpose” as she condemned the leadership vacuum in Westminster and called on the UK government to “get a grip” in her first statement to the Holyrood parliament since last week’s referendum result.
Describing her fear that “we are still in the early days of this period of risk and uncertainty”, Scotland’s first minster told the chamber:
These are times that call for principles, purpose and clarity - in short, for leadership. That is why the vacuum that has developed at Westminster is so unacceptable.
One thing is clear: there cannot be three months of drift while both the government and main opposition parties at Westminster immerse themselves in internal elections. That would compound the difficult situation we are already facing and risk even more damage to our economy.
We have heard that – almost incredibly – there was no plan for this outcome. It is my view that the UK government must now get a grip on this: first, to restore stability and confidence, then, to set out its plan for the way forward. It must involve the Scottish government in that work at every step of the way.
Underlining her determination to protect the Scotland’s relationship with the European Union, Sturgeon confirmed that she will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet representatives of the major groups in the European parliament and the president, Martin Schulz.
Updated
at 3.17pm BST
2.55pm BST
14:55
Support growing for Angela Eagle as alternative Labour leader
Anushka Asthana
MPs are suggesting Angela Eagle is piling up nominations for the Labour leadership contest we’re expecting. Sources also say that there has been a high turnout for the no confidence ballot and that they expect an overwhelming result.
2.53pm BST2.53pm BST
14:5314:53
Sir Richard Branson says the Virgin Group has lost a third of its value since the vote for Brexit. He is also warning about the risks for a recession.Sir Richard Branson says the Virgin Group has lost a third of its value since the vote for Brexit. He is also warning about the risks for a recession.
2.50pm BST2.50pm BST
14:5014:50
Adam VaughanAdam Vaughan
Britain must continue to be a world leader when it comes to acting on global warming despite the EU referendum result last week, the UN’s climate chief has urged.Britain must continue to be a world leader when it comes to acting on global warming despite the EU referendum result last week, the UN’s climate chief has urged.
Christiana Figueres warned that should article 50 be triggered it would bring uncertainty and transition for two years but cooperation on climate change could be one area of stability and continuity between the UK and EU.Christiana Figueres warned that should article 50 be triggered it would bring uncertainty and transition for two years but cooperation on climate change could be one area of stability and continuity between the UK and EU.
“Should that be the case [article 50 being triggered], there is going be quite a lot of uncertainty, transition, volatility for at least two years,” she told told an audience of business leaders in London on Tuesday.“Should that be the case [article 50 being triggered], there is going be quite a lot of uncertainty, transition, volatility for at least two years,” she told told an audience of business leaders in London on Tuesday.
2.44pm BST2.44pm BST
14:4414:44
Lunchtime summaryLunchtime summary
Almighty backroom negotiations expected today to decide who'll stand against Corbyn. Trade-off between best placed for contest vs election.Almighty backroom negotiations expected today to decide who'll stand against Corbyn. Trade-off between best placed for contest vs election.
I'm told Boris Johnson has made clear to Tory right he WILL end EU free movement after Telegraph column y'day angered ppl.I'm told Boris Johnson has made clear to Tory right he WILL end EU free movement after Telegraph column y'day angered ppl.
Boris Telegraph y'day column was "written too quickly" and he's tired. Friends agree sloppy & sent mixed messages & will be vetted in futureBoris Telegraph y'day column was "written too quickly" and he's tired. Friends agree sloppy & sent mixed messages & will be vetted in future
Fwiw Boris wouldn't accept any inconsistency: he reaffirmed points system. The problem was the "ppl didn't vote against immigration" phraseFwiw Boris wouldn't accept any inconsistency: he reaffirmed points system. The problem was the "ppl didn't vote against immigration" phrase
Johnson’s latest thinking will please Rupert Murdoch, who said today that if Johnson backtracked on things said during the referendum campaign, there would be ““another bloody revolt”. (See 2.12pm.)Johnson’s latest thinking will please Rupert Murdoch, who said today that if Johnson backtracked on things said during the referendum campaign, there would be ““another bloody revolt”. (See 2.12pm.)
Sturgeon describes the leadership vacuum at Westminster as "unacceptable".Sturgeon describes the leadership vacuum at Westminster as "unacceptable".
Sturgeon: we cannot have 3 months of drift while gov't & main opposition at Westminster immerse selves in internal electionsSturgeon: we cannot have 3 months of drift while gov't & main opposition at Westminster immerse selves in internal elections
.@NicolaSturgeon reiterates: it is my intention that we will secure continued access to single market for Scotland.@NicolaSturgeon reiterates: it is my intention that we will secure continued access to single market for Scotland
Sturgeon: my overriding priority is to protect Scotland's relationship with and place in European UnionSturgeon: my overriding priority is to protect Scotland's relationship with and place in European Union
Sturgeon to establish Standing Council of experts to advise on how best to achieve EU objectives, chair Anton MuscatelliSturgeon to establish Standing Council of experts to advise on how best to achieve EU objectives, chair Anton Muscatelli
2.12pm BST2.12pm BST
14:1214:12
Murdoch says Brexit vote was wonderfulMurdoch says Brexit vote was wonderful
Jane MartinsonJane Martinson
Rupert Murdoch has called the British vote to leave the EU “wonderful” and described Donald Trump a “very able man” in remarks made in London on Tuesday.Rupert Murdoch has called the British vote to leave the EU “wonderful” and described Donald Trump a “very able man” in remarks made in London on Tuesday.
In his first public comments since last week’s historic referendum vote, the owner of several newspapers including the Times, the Sun and the Wall Street Journal said leaving the EU was like a “prison break … we’re out” and suggested that a UK-US trade deal would not take long to negotiate.In his first public comments since last week’s historic referendum vote, the owner of several newspapers including the Times, the Sun and the Wall Street Journal said leaving the EU was like a “prison break … we’re out” and suggested that a UK-US trade deal would not take long to negotiate.
Rupert Murdoch: we made a momentous decision last week. This is like a prison break... we're out. #TimesCEOsummitRupert Murdoch: we made a momentous decision last week. This is like a prison break... we're out. #TimesCEOsummit
Long regarded as a Eurosceptic, Murdoch kept remarkably quiet during the referendum campaign while his biggest selling UK newspaper, the Sun, took a passionately anti-EU stance.Long regarded as a Eurosceptic, Murdoch kept remarkably quiet during the referendum campaign while his biggest selling UK newspaper, the Sun, took a passionately anti-EU stance.
The invite-only business summit hosted by the Times, which like many of its readers backed remain, heard Murdoch extol the virtues of the Brexit vote and the campaign itself. Referring to England’s disastrous 2-1 loss to Iceland in the Euro 2016 football match on Monday night, the media boss compared the Brexit campaign to Iceland, a team playing to win, while remainers were like England or “overpaid players expected to be good”.The invite-only business summit hosted by the Times, which like many of its readers backed remain, heard Murdoch extol the virtues of the Brexit vote and the campaign itself. Referring to England’s disastrous 2-1 loss to Iceland in the Euro 2016 football match on Monday night, the media boss compared the Brexit campaign to Iceland, a team playing to win, while remainers were like England or “overpaid players expected to be good”.
Speaking at the Times CEO summit, Murdoch’s comments suggest the pro-Brexit Sun newspaper reflected his own Eurosceptic views, although the paper’s editor, Tony Gallagher, has made no secret of his own dislike for the EU in a series of leaders since he was appointed almost two years ago.Speaking at the Times CEO summit, Murdoch’s comments suggest the pro-Brexit Sun newspaper reflected his own Eurosceptic views, although the paper’s editor, Tony Gallagher, has made no secret of his own dislike for the EU in a series of leaders since he was appointed almost two years ago.
In a sign that Boris Johnson may not win immediate backing for any future campaign, Murdoch said if he backtracked on promises made during the campaign on serious things, presumably like immigration, this would trigger “another bloody revolt”.In a sign that Boris Johnson may not win immediate backing for any future campaign, Murdoch said if he backtracked on promises made during the campaign on serious things, presumably like immigration, this would trigger “another bloody revolt”.
The owner of Fox television station and Sky also made positive comments about the Republican candidate for the US president Donald Trump and compared his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton unfavourably to her husband.The owner of Fox television station and Sky also made positive comments about the Republican candidate for the US president Donald Trump and compared his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton unfavourably to her husband.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.23pm BSTat 2.23pm BST
2.02pm BST2.02pm BST
14:0214:02
Watson disappears after Corbyn's latest 'reshuffle'Watson disappears after Corbyn's latest 'reshuffle'
Jessica ElgotJessica Elgot
Jeremy Corbyn invited cameras in to his first meeting with his new shadow cabinet this morning but appeared to be having second thoughts about it – and the seating arrangements.Jeremy Corbyn invited cameras in to his first meeting with his new shadow cabinet this morning but appeared to be having second thoughts about it – and the seating arrangements.
Calling over two of his aides, the Sky News microphone picked up Corbyn saying “this isn’t a good idea” as he sat between Tom Watson, his deputy leader tipped by many to be pondering a leadership challenge, and Cat Smith, a new shadow cabinet minister and Corbyn loyalist who was elected just over a year ago.Calling over two of his aides, the Sky News microphone picked up Corbyn saying “this isn’t a good idea” as he sat between Tom Watson, his deputy leader tipped by many to be pondering a leadership challenge, and Cat Smith, a new shadow cabinet minister and Corbyn loyalist who was elected just over a year ago.
The cameras were asked to leave, and on their return there was quite a different seating plan in place. Watson and Smith were gone, replaced by Emily Thornberry and Corbyn’s PPS Steve Rotheram. The deputy leader had shifted out of sight.The cameras were asked to leave, and on their return there was quite a different seating plan in place. Watson and Smith were gone, replaced by Emily Thornberry and Corbyn’s PPS Steve Rotheram. The deputy leader had shifted out of sight.
Corbyn gets cold feet about having cameras at the start of Shadow Cabinet... Keep your eye on who he's sitting with pic.twitter.com/L5j7KIQLmsCorbyn gets cold feet about having cameras at the start of Shadow Cabinet... Keep your eye on who he's sitting with pic.twitter.com/L5j7KIQLms
When cameras are back in Tom Watson & Cat Smith have swapped with Steve Rotherham & Emily Thornberry pic.twitter.com/yYSZbOD0qvWhen cameras are back in Tom Watson & Cat Smith have swapped with Steve Rotherham & Emily Thornberry pic.twitter.com/yYSZbOD0qv
Unfortunately, the captioning can lead to picture crops like this.Unfortunately, the captioning can lead to picture crops like this.
*Invents Twitter* pic.twitter.com/9eatDWK5a3*Invents Twitter* pic.twitter.com/9eatDWK5a3
Here is the full video footage. Here is the video footage:
Jeremy Corbyn reshuffles the shadow cabinet - literally - before TV filming https://t.co/7D7wyfdN1c https://t.co/ceabdcinNd
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.17pm BST at 3.09pm BST
1.56pm BST
13:56
This is from my colleague Anushka Asthana.
Understand that Graham Brady has raised complaints about whips canvassing for Theresa May with chief whip, Mark Harper.
1.53pm BST
13:53
Cameron says he wants UK to be 'as constructive as possible' over Brexit
David Cameron said he wanted to be “as constructive as possible” as he arrived in Brussels to discuss Brexit with fellow EU leaders. (Discuss Brexit, but not to negotiate Brexit – he had said he would leave it to his successor to trigger the formal start of the withdrawal process.)
As he arrived at the summit he said:
I’ll be explaining that Britain will be leaving the European Union but I want that process to be as constructive as possible, and I hope the outcome can be as constructive as possible, because of course while we’re leaving the European Union, we mustn’t be turning our backs on Europe.
These countries are our neighbours, our friends, our allies, our partners and I very much hope we’ll seek the closest possible relationship in terms of trade and cooperation and security, because that is good for us and that is good for them. And that’s the spirit in which the discussions I think will be held today.
Updated
at 2.15pm BST
1.44pm BST
13:44
If you are British and despair at the prospect of leaving the EU, a daily newspaper in Bucharest has launched a website suggesting becoming Romanian as a solution.
1.36pm BST
13:36
Cooper calls for national commission on immigration
Yvette Cooper, the former shadow home secretary and former (?) Labour leadership contender, gave a speech to the Centre for European Reform this morning. The only clip I’ve seen on the news features a passage criticising Jeremy Corbyn, but it will be a shame if that is the only passage that gets picked up because the speech was very good. It is probably the most thoughtful response to the referendum I’ve heard yet from a British politician.
Here are the main points.
We need a national commission on immigration charged with building a consensus across the country – drawing together faith leaders, community leaders, trades unions, employers, the voice of the small towns and the big cities. We have to face this. Britain has benefited for centuries from people coming here from abroad. We need international talent and ideas. But we also need a system that is fair and has public consent. Or the divisions will grow and extremists will be able to exploit them.
And there needs to be direct access for the opposition to civil servants now too. The leading Tory party contender has said he is considering an general election. The prime minister has accepted there may be a case for an early general election, that may be only 4 months away.
I am therefore writing to Jeremy Heywood, the cabinet secretary, to ask him to trigger the process for access talks for opposition parties.
We need to build a progressive, outward-looking Labour vision of Britain’s future alongside the EU – a new ‘special relationship’ with our European partners underpinned by Labour values – social solidarity, equality, social justice and human rights.
At a time when the world has changed, when an election is looming, I am very concerned that Jeremy Corbyn has no plan to reunite the Labour movement, no plan to respond to the deep and serious issues the referendum has thrown up, and no plan for a looming general election …
I got to know Jeremy last year and I always found him a kind, friendly man. He won well and he has brought more people into the party. He did not lose the referendum – the prime minister lost the referendum he called. But Jeremy did not show he had any of the campaigning zeal our party needs in a tough fight.
But he is losing us Labour support across the country – and particularly in the towns and coalfields that built the labour movement in the first place.
Jeremy would be letting down Labour voters and communities across the country who badly need a strong Labour voice right now, and who badly need a Labour government, if he drags this out any longer. I hope he does the right thing in the party and stands down swiftly because we cannot drift and leave Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Iain Duncan Smith to shape Britain’s future.
The cities voted in. Industrial towns voted out. Digital growth areas like the M4 corridor or the University towns voted in. The Tory shires and the Labour coalfields voted out. Scotland voted in. England and Wales voted out. The young voted in. Older votes chose out. Graduates in. Working-class communities out.
Those who saw globalisation as an opportunity voted in. Those who felt globalisation was a threat and didn’t trust “the system” to make it better voted out … Communities who didn’t believe the Remain campaigns arguments about risk because they didn’t feel they had much more to lose. People who said they didn’t believe “experts”, because too often experts have let them down ...
A Tory prime minister could not persuade them. Because a Tory government has let them down. But Labour had nothing to say that could convince them either. They weren’t convinced by staying in Europe because they couldn’t see how they benefited.
We are here without a plan because politics has failed. Because our political process just couldn’t deal with the difficult issues so they got worse. Because too many of our politicians couldn’t work out how to solve problems so they made false promise or just walked away. Because too many towns feel they have no future. Because immigration seemed too hard to solve. Because the EU seemed too hard to reform. Because inequality is still rising and it seemed too hard to stop. Because we weren’t prepared to take action to sort out housing. Because trust collapsed. And with every layer of failure, politics just made it worse.
Updated
at 1.57pm BST
1.15pm BST
13:15
Jennifer Rankin
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, has vowed to fight the next general election, “which could be very soon”, on a pledge to stop Brexit.
Voters deserved the chance to rethink their decision, now the EU debate has moved from the abstract to the visceral, threatening jobs and living standards, he said on a visit to Brussels.
The MP said he respected the result, but it was perfectly legitimate to put the question to the British people at an election, because the country was out of control and the campaign had been fought on lies. He said:
I think it is right that in a general election we say to the British people that if you want to get out of the increasing economic mess that we find ourselves in, where we have lost control, [where] we are at the mercy of markets, people’s jobs are going, people’s livelihoods are being destroyed and we are not taking back control … And the fact that the key tenets of the leave campaign are now proved to be lies … It would prove legitimate for the Liberal Democrats to go into the next election and say we offer you a chance to reconsider.
Updated
at 1.37pm BST
12.44pm BST
12:44
Italian PM says UK cannot retain 'good things' from single market without 'bad things'
Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, also said it would be impossible for the UK to retain access to the single market without accepting free movement. This is what he told CNN.
It’s impossible to belong to [the] community only with the good things, and not with the bad things. In every family, if you belong to [the] family, you must accept the good things and the bad things. It is impossible to speak only about the single market and [not] accept the politics about migration. It’s impossible to be very communitarian about the economy and not about values. This is the problem, in my view, about this campaign.
This is what Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said this morning too. (See 12.02pm.)
Italian PM @matteorenzi: UK can't have single market access w/o free movement. Can't have only the "good things." https://t.co/QiETOrhIXk
Updated
at 1.26pm BST
12.31pm BST
12:31
Sajid Javid, the business secretary, has been holding talks with business leaders from groups such as the CBI to discuss the consequences of the Brexit vote. But trade unions were not invited. Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary, said:
It is disappointing that the representatives of working people are not part of these talks. At a time when the government should be looking to heal the wounds of a divisive campaign, this is a backward step.
Updated
at 12.38pm BST
12.27pm BST
12:27
Jeremy Corbyn has been chairing a meeting of his new shadow cabinet this morning. Sky News has just shown some footage.
According to Sky, more than half of Labour’s frontbench posts remain unfilled because of all the resignations.
Updated
at 12.34pm BST
12.23pm BST
12:23
Labour party resignations continue
The Labour party resignations are continuing.
Alan Whitehead has resigned from his post as shadow energy minister.
It is with great sadness that I have resigned as Shadow Energy and Climate Change Minister as of 11am today pic.twitter.com/97JksufgUz
Barbara Keeley and Andrew Gwynne are also reportedly resigning as shadow health ministers.
The Shadow Health team is about to be reduced to just Diane Abbott and Justin Madders. Barbara Keeley and Andrew Gwynne set to quit
12.10pm BST
12:10
Nigel Farage may have been booed in the European parliament, but the SNP MEP Alyn Smith received a standing ovation when he delivered a passionate pro-European speech in the debate. Here’s an extract:
I want my country to be internationalist, cooperative, ecological, fair, European. And the people of Scotland, along with the people of Northern Ireland and the people of London and lots and lots of people in Wales and England also voted to remain within our family of nations. I demand that that status and that esprit européen be respected.
Colleagues, there are a lot of things to be negotiated. We will need cool heads and warm hearts. And please remember this: Scotland did not let you down. Please, I beg you, do not let Scotland down now.
And here is a video clip.
Updated
at 12.24pm BST