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Jeremy Corbyn denies bullying over threat to ring MP's Sinn Féin father - live Jeremy Corbyn denies bullying over threat to ring MP's Sinn Féin father - live
(35 minutes later)
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Corbyn’s camp has again insisted that the Labour leader did not threaten to call the father of Labour MP Conor McGinn. “Jeremy did not at any point threaten to call Conor’s dad, nor did he call him,” a spokesman told Politics Home.
New Corbyn line on Conor McGinn: "Jeremy did not at any point threaten to call Conor's dad. nor did he call him."
McGinn, who technically still serves as an opposition whip, has not withdrawn the accusation.
I've known Jeremy for over a decade. Respected him & worked for him. But I can't tolerate his hypocrisy any longer https://t.co/G8PDcIUSV3
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Here’s a roundup of what’s happened so far today:
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Peter WalkerPeter Walker
More on the bullying row from Peter Walker:More on the bullying row from Peter Walker:
Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to deny bullying his political opponents after one of his MPs alleged that the Labour leader had threatened to telephone his father amid a row over the party’s direction.Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to deny bullying his political opponents after one of his MPs alleged that the Labour leader had threatened to telephone his father amid a row over the party’s direction.
Corbyn has denied such a conversation ever took place, but Conor McGinn, the opposition whip, has insisted the leader of party said he would call his Sinn Féin supporting father over complaints about Labour’s direction.Corbyn has denied such a conversation ever took place, but Conor McGinn, the opposition whip, has insisted the leader of party said he would call his Sinn Féin supporting father over complaints about Labour’s direction.
The disagreement began with a statement from McGinn, the St Helens North MP since last year and a member of the Labour whips office, posted on Friday morning on the Politics Home website.The disagreement began with a statement from McGinn, the St Helens North MP since last year and a member of the Labour whips office, posted on Friday morning on the Politics Home website.
McGinn said he had been told by fellow whips that after Corbyn had been angered by an interview McGinn gave, he had proposed telephoning the MP’s father, who is a Sinn Féin councillor, to seek his intervention. While the call was never made, McGinn said the suggestion was “shocking and embarrassing, and almost unbelievable”.McGinn said he had been told by fellow whips that after Corbyn had been angered by an interview McGinn gave, he had proposed telephoning the MP’s father, who is a Sinn Féin councillor, to seek his intervention. While the call was never made, McGinn said the suggestion was “shocking and embarrassing, and almost unbelievable”.
Speaking to Sky News later, Corbyn denied he had made any threats. “I don’t do any abuse, I don’t do any bullying,” he said. A spokesman for the Labour leader’s office said Corbyn was denying any conversation took place about phoning McGinn’s father.Speaking to Sky News later, Corbyn denied he had made any threats. “I don’t do any abuse, I don’t do any bullying,” he said. A spokesman for the Labour leader’s office said Corbyn was denying any conversation took place about phoning McGinn’s father.
Related: Corbyn denies threatening to phone MP's father over rowRelated: Corbyn denies threatening to phone MP's father over row
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Jessica ElgotJessica Elgot
Former pensions minister Ros Altmann has said her time in David Cameron’s government was like being in detention, and said the stress of not being free to speak her mind had affected her health.Former pensions minister Ros Altmann has said her time in David Cameron’s government was like being in detention, and said the stress of not being free to speak her mind had affected her health.
“It has been the most terrible experience for me,” she told the Jewish Chronicle, saying she felt “micro-controlled” during her 14 months in government. “It affected my health without question. It’s a very uncomfortable experience,” she said.“It has been the most terrible experience for me,” she told the Jewish Chronicle, saying she felt “micro-controlled” during her 14 months in government. “It affected my health without question. It’s a very uncomfortable experience,” she said.
Altmann was a regular media personality as the former director-general of Saga Group, before she was given a peerage. But she said she had been told not to speak to journalists and direct all queries to the press office, who did not understand pensions in the same detail.Altmann was a regular media personality as the former director-general of Saga Group, before she was given a peerage. But she said she had been told not to speak to journalists and direct all queries to the press office, who did not understand pensions in the same detail.
“The instructions I had were: ‘If any journalist phones you; then they are always out to trick you and trap you’. What I found difficult was not being able to explain policy to the media; and thereby to the public in an open and honest way; which is what I have always done.”“The instructions I had were: ‘If any journalist phones you; then they are always out to trick you and trap you’. What I found difficult was not being able to explain policy to the media; and thereby to the public in an open and honest way; which is what I have always done.”
“Now and again I was very naughty, and I would actually speak to a journalist and take the consequences because I thought: ‘Stuff it, I have had enough of this’. But then you get called in to see the Secretary of State. It’s like being in school, like being in the naughty corner or detention.”“Now and again I was very naughty, and I would actually speak to a journalist and take the consequences because I thought: ‘Stuff it, I have had enough of this’. But then you get called in to see the Secretary of State. It’s like being in school, like being in the naughty corner or detention.”
Altmann, who earlier this week told the FT she had been “frozen out” of talks over the purchase of Tata Steel despite grave concerns she had over proposed legal changes for the company to shed its pension liability, and the precedent that would set, said she felt she could have more impact outside of government.Altmann, who earlier this week told the FT she had been “frozen out” of talks over the purchase of Tata Steel despite grave concerns she had over proposed legal changes for the company to shed its pension liability, and the precedent that would set, said she felt she could have more impact outside of government.
“As I said to the prime minister, I am not going anywhere. I am still in the Lords and I am still offering to help. I can help as long as legislation goes through, to try and move it in a better direction, lead debates and ask the right questions.”“As I said to the prime minister, I am not going anywhere. I am still in the Lords and I am still offering to help. I can help as long as legislation goes through, to try and move it in a better direction, lead debates and ask the right questions.”
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Smith echoed Theresa May’s attack on Corbyn as an unscrupulous boss.Smith echoed Theresa May’s attack on Corbyn as an unscrupulous boss.
Asked by Sky News about Corbyn’s threats of deselecting rebel MPs, the Labour leadership contender said: “It is not kinder and gentler if you are the boss of an organisation and the workers are unhappy to threaten to give them the sack. It is the sort of thing that you might see at Sports Direct. It is not what you should be expecting in the Labour party.”Asked by Sky News about Corbyn’s threats of deselecting rebel MPs, the Labour leadership contender said: “It is not kinder and gentler if you are the boss of an organisation and the workers are unhappy to threaten to give them the sack. It is the sort of thing that you might see at Sports Direct. It is not what you should be expecting in the Labour party.”
The criticism follows a similar line of attack against Corbyn by May in her first prime minister’s questions. Asked by Corbyn about job insecurity, she said: “I suspect that many members on the opposition benches might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss – a boss who does not listen to his workers, a boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload and maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career. Remind you of anyone?”The criticism follows a similar line of attack against Corbyn by May in her first prime minister’s questions. Asked by Corbyn about job insecurity, she said: “I suspect that many members on the opposition benches might be familiar with an unscrupulous boss – a boss who does not listen to his workers, a boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload and maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career. Remind you of anyone?”
Smith added: “Some of the infighting in Labour is because I suspect people are frustrated that they don’t see a prospect of Labour returning to power and therefore we are turning in on ourselves.”Smith added: “Some of the infighting in Labour is because I suspect people are frustrated that they don’t see a prospect of Labour returning to power and therefore we are turning in on ourselves.”
Asked if any of the 180,000 new Labour supporters would vote for him, Smith revealed that one of the new supporters was his mother. “My mam is one of them, so I’m hoping she’s definitely going to vote for me. I’m really pleased that we have got so many people wanting to take part in this contest.”Asked if any of the 180,000 new Labour supporters would vote for him, Smith revealed that one of the new supporters was his mother. “My mam is one of them, so I’m hoping she’s definitely going to vote for me. I’m really pleased that we have got so many people wanting to take part in this contest.”
On bullying he said:On bullying he said:
I’ve never been bullied by Jeremy. Jeremy is very softly spoken and very calm in his manner. But the problem is under his leadership there has been a culture of bullying. There has been intolerance and abuse in the Labour party, that we have never seen before. Women in Labour have found themselves subject to awful awful misogynistic abuse, some of our Jewish MPs have been subjected to antisemitic abuse, some of our Asian MPs have been subjected to abuse. None of that can be acceptable in the Labour party.I’ve never been bullied by Jeremy. Jeremy is very softly spoken and very calm in his manner. But the problem is under his leadership there has been a culture of bullying. There has been intolerance and abuse in the Labour party, that we have never seen before. Women in Labour have found themselves subject to awful awful misogynistic abuse, some of our Jewish MPs have been subjected to antisemitic abuse, some of our Asian MPs have been subjected to abuse. None of that can be acceptable in the Labour party.
Jeremy, of course, always says that he does no condone it, but somehow under his leadership we can’t deny the facts that this wasn’t something we saw in the Labour party before Jeremy Corbyn became leader and it’s now become common place in the Labour party. So something has gone badly wrong under his watch.Jeremy, of course, always says that he does no condone it, but somehow under his leadership we can’t deny the facts that this wasn’t something we saw in the Labour party before Jeremy Corbyn became leader and it’s now become common place in the Labour party. So something has gone badly wrong under his watch.
I fundamentally believe both Conor McGinn and Angela Eagle. Neither of them would tell lies about this. Conor has simply said that he understands that Jeremy was proposing to ring his father, who is a Sinn Féin councillor, and felt that was inappropriate as I think anybody would. I would be mortified if Jeremy was proposing to ring up my Dad to complain about me challenging him for the leadership.I fundamentally believe both Conor McGinn and Angela Eagle. Neither of them would tell lies about this. Conor has simply said that he understands that Jeremy was proposing to ring his father, who is a Sinn Féin councillor, and felt that was inappropriate as I think anybody would. I would be mortified if Jeremy was proposing to ring up my Dad to complain about me challenging him for the leadership.
This all speaks of a Labour party that is in crisis. We risk splitting the party. If that were to happen we would be destroyed.This all speaks of a Labour party that is in crisis. We risk splitting the party. If that were to happen we would be destroyed.
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Owen Smith complains of 'culture of bullying' under CorbynOwen Smith complains of 'culture of bullying' under Corbyn
Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith has complained of a “culture of bullying” under Jeremy Corbyn’s watch. In an interview with Sky News he said he had no reason to doubt claims made against Corbyn by Labour MPs Conor McGinn and Angela Eagle.Labour leadership challenger Owen Smith has complained of a “culture of bullying” under Jeremy Corbyn’s watch. In an interview with Sky News he said he had no reason to doubt claims made against Corbyn by Labour MPs Conor McGinn and Angela Eagle.
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The popularity of Corbyn threatens a paradigm shift in thinking from both the Labour party and, ahem, the Guardian, according author and journalist Jonathan Cook.The popularity of Corbyn threatens a paradigm shift in thinking from both the Labour party and, ahem, the Guardian, according author and journalist Jonathan Cook.
Writing on his blog, he argues:Writing on his blog, he argues:
The old elites, whether in the Labour parliamentary party or the Guardian editorial offices, sense the danger, even if they lack the necessary awareness to appreciate Corbyn’s significance. They will fight tooth and nail to protect what they have. They will do so even if their efforts create so much anger and resentment they risk unleashing darker political forces.The old elites, whether in the Labour parliamentary party or the Guardian editorial offices, sense the danger, even if they lack the necessary awareness to appreciate Corbyn’s significance. They will fight tooth and nail to protect what they have. They will do so even if their efforts create so much anger and resentment they risk unleashing darker political forces.
Corbyn’s style of socialism draws on enduring traditions and values – of compassion, community and solidarity – that the young have never really known except in history books. Those values seem very appealing to a generation trapped in the dying days of a deeply atomised, materialist, hyper-competitive world. They want change and Corbyn offers them a path to it.Corbyn’s style of socialism draws on enduring traditions and values – of compassion, community and solidarity – that the young have never really known except in history books. Those values seem very appealing to a generation trapped in the dying days of a deeply atomised, materialist, hyper-competitive world. They want change and Corbyn offers them a path to it.
But whatever his critics claim, Corbyn isn’t just a relic of past politics. Despite his age, he is also a very modern figure. He exudes a Zen-like calm, a self-awareness and a self-effacement that inspires those who have been raised in a world of 24-hour narcissism.But whatever his critics claim, Corbyn isn’t just a relic of past politics. Despite his age, he is also a very modern figure. He exudes a Zen-like calm, a self-awareness and a self-effacement that inspires those who have been raised in a world of 24-hour narcissism.
In these increasingly desperate times, Cobyn’s message is reaching well beyond the young, of course. A paradigm shift doesn’t occur just because the young replace the old. It involves the old coming to accept – however reluctantly – that the young may have found an answer to a question they had forgotten needed answering. Many in the older generation know about solidarity and community. They may have been dazzled by promises of an aspirational lifestyle and the baubles of rampant consumption, but it is slowly dawning on them too that this model has a rapidly approaching sell-by date.In these increasingly desperate times, Cobyn’s message is reaching well beyond the young, of course. A paradigm shift doesn’t occur just because the young replace the old. It involves the old coming to accept – however reluctantly – that the young may have found an answer to a question they had forgotten needed answering. Many in the older generation know about solidarity and community. They may have been dazzled by promises of an aspirational lifestyle and the baubles of rampant consumption, but it is slowly dawning on them too that this model has a rapidly approaching sell-by date.
Those most wedded to the neoliberal model – the political, economic and media elites – will be the last to be weaned off a system that has so richly rewarded them. They would rather bring the whole house crashing down than give Corbyn and his supporters the chance to repair it.Those most wedded to the neoliberal model – the political, economic and media elites – will be the last to be weaned off a system that has so richly rewarded them. They would rather bring the whole house crashing down than give Corbyn and his supporters the chance to repair it.
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Patrick WintourPatrick Wintour
Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has taken issue with the Republican US presidential nominee, Donald Trump, by emphasising the importance of Nato’s doctrine of mutual defence.Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has taken issue with the Republican US presidential nominee, Donald Trump, by emphasising the importance of Nato’s doctrine of mutual defence.
Trump questioned the doctrine this week when he said he would weigh up whether other Nato members “fulfill their obligations” before deciding whether the US would protect them in the face of external aggression.Trump questioned the doctrine this week when he said he would weigh up whether other Nato members “fulfill their obligations” before deciding whether the US would protect them in the face of external aggression.
Johnson, speaking in Washington DC, insisted he was not getting involved in US politics but stressed the UK’s commitment to the policy of mutual defence.Johnson, speaking in Washington DC, insisted he was not getting involved in US politics but stressed the UK’s commitment to the policy of mutual defence.
He said: “I think that article five in the Nato treaty of 1948, the doctrine of mutual defence, is incredibly important. It’s something that I’ve repeated several times already just in the last week to various other countries, and my counterparts in various other countries around Europe, in the Baltic countries and elsewhere.He said: “I think that article five in the Nato treaty of 1948, the doctrine of mutual defence, is incredibly important. It’s something that I’ve repeated several times already just in the last week to various other countries, and my counterparts in various other countries around Europe, in the Baltic countries and elsewhere.
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PMI slumpPMI slump
Nick FletcherNick Fletcher
The UK economy shrank at its fastest rate since the financial crisis of seven years ago, following the vote to leave the European Union, according to a survey of business activity.The UK economy shrank at its fastest rate since the financial crisis of seven years ago, following the vote to leave the European Union, according to a survey of business activity.
In the first survey of business confidence since the Brexit referendum, the services sector was particularly hard hit, showing its biggest drop on record.In the first survey of business confidence since the Brexit referendum, the services sector was particularly hard hit, showing its biggest drop on record.
With manufacturing dropping to its lowest level since February 2013, the survey suggests UK GDP could shrink by 0.4% in the third quarter, according to Markit, which compiles the data.With manufacturing dropping to its lowest level since February 2013, the survey suggests UK GDP could shrink by 0.4% in the third quarter, according to Markit, which compiles the data.
Related: Britain's economy shrinking at fastest rate since 2009, says surveyRelated: Britain's economy shrinking at fastest rate since 2009, says survey
Don’t say we didn’t warn you says remain campaigner Angela Eagle.Don’t say we didn’t warn you says remain campaigner Angela Eagle.
As we warned : BBC News - Brexit plunges UK economy to worst level since 2009, data suggests https://t.co/R6K4bnrzXyAs we warned : BBC News - Brexit plunges UK economy to worst level since 2009, data suggests https://t.co/R6K4bnrzXy
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Anushka AsthanaAnushka Asthana
Politicians have allowed xenophobia, Islamophobia and antisemitism to enter the mainstream as a result of their toxic and divisive campaigning, according to Lady Warsi.Politicians have allowed xenophobia, Islamophobia and antisemitism to enter the mainstream as a result of their toxic and divisive campaigning, according to Lady Warsi.
The Conservative peer and former party co-chair told the Guardian she was deeply worried about the current political climate, claiming a surge in “respectable racism” was feeding the far right.The Conservative peer and former party co-chair told the Guardian she was deeply worried about the current political climate, claiming a surge in “respectable racism” was feeding the far right.
“I was still disgusted but more comfortable with the racism of the 70s and 80s that was overt and thuggish, than this new form of respectable xenophobia where it is done in political circles, journalism and academia,” she said.“I was still disgusted but more comfortable with the racism of the 70s and 80s that was overt and thuggish, than this new form of respectable xenophobia where it is done in political circles, journalism and academia,” she said.
Warsi argued that the EU referendum and London mayoralty campaigns had helped create a climate in which people feel it is acceptable to tell long-established British communities “it’s time for you to leave”.Warsi argued that the EU referendum and London mayoralty campaigns had helped create a climate in which people feel it is acceptable to tell long-established British communities “it’s time for you to leave”.
Referring to a spike in hate crime since the 23 June EU vote, she said: “I do not hold anybody who voted for Brexit responsible for the rise in racism; I don’t hold people who believed in Brexit responsible; but I definitely hold politicians, who put out divisive xenophobic messages and posters, responsible because this created the atmosphere in which this thrived.”Referring to a spike in hate crime since the 23 June EU vote, she said: “I do not hold anybody who voted for Brexit responsible for the rise in racism; I don’t hold people who believed in Brexit responsible; but I definitely hold politicians, who put out divisive xenophobic messages and posters, responsible because this created the atmosphere in which this thrived.”
Related: Politicians to blame for rise of 'respectable racism', says Lady WarsiRelated: Politicians to blame for rise of 'respectable racism', says Lady Warsi
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An anti Corbyn campaigner has turned to the stop-motion children’s television series Trumpton to mock the Labour leader and his supporters in the Momentum movement. Here’s a sample of Momentum Trumpton tweets:An anti Corbyn campaigner has turned to the stop-motion children’s television series Trumpton to mock the Labour leader and his supporters in the Momentum movement. Here’s a sample of Momentum Trumpton tweets:
Threats of deselection escalated to include every man, animal, plant & microorganism. Daisy branded as blairite scum pic.twitter.com/2bh3qeTelmThreats of deselection escalated to include every man, animal, plant & microorganism. Daisy branded as blairite scum pic.twitter.com/2bh3qeTelm
Dr Mopp has heard 'big pharma is bad' from the Dear Leader so asks Farmer Bell if he'll grow some drugs for him pic.twitter.com/urUP2Oc997Dr Mopp has heard 'big pharma is bad' from the Dear Leader so asks Farmer Bell if he'll grow some drugs for him pic.twitter.com/urUP2Oc997
James Schneider was pleased with the work Momentum had done in aiding his next party destination pic.twitter.com/Rt22vHO0hWJames Schneider was pleased with the work Momentum had done in aiding his next party destination pic.twitter.com/Rt22vHO0hW
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Jessica Elgot
Theresa May should use her first 100 days as Britain’s second female prime minister to make radical changes for women’s rights, including a commitment to a gender balanced parliament and universal childcare, the Women’s Equality party has said.
Launching its 100 days of May campaign, the party’s leader, Sophie Walker, said the new PM was being asked to make six commitments to advance equal opportunities for women and girls, from domestic violence funding to sex education.
Walker said having a female prime minister did not mean the end of the toxic climate around many women standing for political positions across all parties.
“The Tory leadership contest between Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom was an almost exact re-run of the way Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall were pitted against each other, on the basis of who has children and who doesn’t,” she said. “This gaming of women has got to stop.”
Walker called Angela Eagle’s departure from the Labour leadership contest “enormously disappointing” and said the speed with which the parliamentary party rallied behind a male candidate to take on Jeremy Corbyn “shows that Labour really does have a women problem”.
Related: Women’s ​Equality party sets Theresa May goals for first 100 days as PM
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Northern Ireland’s first minister Arlene Foster has again dismissed Sinn Féin’s call for a referendum on Northern Ireland joining the Republic of Ireland and insisted that a “creative” solution can be found to Northern Ireland’s border after the UK leaves the European Union.
Sinn Fein demanded a referendum on Northern Ireland joining the Republic after 56% of the people of Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU while the rest of the UK voted to leave in last month’s Brexit vote.
Speaking to the Today programme ahead of Friday’s British-Irish Council summit on the implications of Brexit, Foster said Sinn Féin’s call was a “silly season” suggestion.
She said: “There is absolutely no evidence that the people of Northern Ireland would vote to go into a republic and that is the test our new secretary of state has to put into his mind when he decides on whether to call a border poll or not.
“This is the silly season and often we have people coming forward with policy ideas that have no relevance to reality and certainly a border poll if it were to happen, would give a resounding result that we wanted to remain within the United Kingdom.”
Foster said that if a referendum were to be held there would need to be a border poll every seven years which would lead to a “great deal of instability” in Northern Ireland.
She added: “What we want to do now is have a realistic way of dealing with the border, with the common travel area, and to working with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland. Even the French President (François Hollande) made it clear yesterday when he visited the Republic of Ireland, that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was something that was special within Europe, therefore we needed to address it in an innovative and creative way. I believe that is absolutely right.
“There has always been a border, it is how we police that border [that is the question]. There are ways to deal with this that we can be creative and innovative about and flexible, it is just what the nature of that border will be.
Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, said Brexit would be a “disaster for the island of Ireland”.
He said: “Anything that resembled a return to border check points would represent a grievous undermining of the Good Friday agreement. I view such a prospect with great alarm, given the fact that 56% of the people of the north, voted to see their future in Europe.
“People have a decision to make as to whether or not they would like to see their future in a reunited Ireland which remains in Europe or to continue to be part of the United Kingdom out of Europe.
“We are not stirring up any difficulties. What we are trying to deal with is the realpolitik that for example from 2014 to 2020 we will put at risk something in the region of £3.5bn that we are due from the European Union. A European Union that has been a huge support to us over the course of something like 40 years. And the very real prospect that we would see a massive backward step by the imposition of border checkpoints from Newry to Derry.”
(Note: this post has been changed after it incorrectly stated the Northern Ireland voted to stay in the UK rather than EU. Apologies for the typo and thanks to OinklmSammy for pointed it out).
Updated
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Corbyn: 'I don't do bullying'
Jeremy Corbyn has denied allegations of bullying.
Asked on Sky News about claims by Labour MPs Conor McGinn and Angela Eagle, the Labour leader said:
“I wish some of my colleagues would concentrate on political issues. I regret the language that has been used by all of them. I don’t do any abuse, I don’t do any bullying, I don’t allow it to be done in any of my campaigning teams.
“And I’m very surprised and actually very disappointed that they should say that because politics has to be about bringing people in and I think we have done that spectacularly well.
“We are now the largest membership we have ever had. That’s good. It’s not a threat it’s a good thing that people come together and want to debate and be active in politics and our society. Isn’t that good for democracy?”
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08:53
Libby Brooks
Nicola Sturgeon is in Cardiff this morning to discuss the impact of Brexit with her counterparts from devolved administrations across the UK.
The first meeting of the British-Irish Council since the EU referendum will bring together leaders and ministers from the eight member administrations: the UK and Irish governments, the devolved administrations of NorthernIreland, Scotland and Wales and the governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Sturgeon described the Extraordinary Summit as “one of the most important ever meetings of the British-Irish Council”, as it offers her the first opportunity to speak face-to-face to her counterparts since the referendum vote.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Scotland’s first minister said:
“Scotland voted overwhelming to remain within the European Union and that democratic choice by the Scottish people - so important to our economy, society and culture - will guide us as we seek to maintain our relationship with the EU.”
“As I have consistently said, we will explore all options to ensure that relationship is protected, and the new Prime Minister gave me an undertaking when we met in Edinburgh last Friday that she is willing to consider the options we put forward.”
“As such, this is one of the most important ever meetings of the British-Irish Council. I will fully discuss with colleagues the implications of the referendum result, the range of options available to us and how we can shape the negotiation process so it is reflective of everyone’s circumstances.”
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Here’s audio of Hammond’s remarks about the possibility of resetting fiscal policy in the autumn statement.
Updated
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Hammond might 'reset' fiscal policy
Chancellor Philip Hammond has suggested he’s prepared to tear up George Osborne’s tax and spending plans.
The Guardian’s Business Live has more:
During his first overseas visit since becoming Britain’s finance minister, Hammond said that he might have to “reset” fiscal policy when he delivers the autumn statement later this year.
The scale of such a ‘reset’ will depend on how Britain’s economy responds to the Brexit vote. George Osborne’s goal of a budget surplus by the end of the parliament already appears doomed.
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08:14
Corbyn threatened to ring MP's Sinn Féin father after criticism
Conor McGinn, the Labour MP for St Helens, has written about how Corbyn threatened to ring his father, a Sinn Féin councillor, after he urged the Labour leader to broaden his appeal in an interview in May.
McGinn said he was prompted to reveal the extent of Corbyn’s bullying because he “no longer tolerate the hypocrisy of him talking about a kinder, gentler politics” on Newsnight last night.
In a statement to Politics Home, McGinn, said:
It transpired that Jeremy, in deliberations about how to respond to my interview, had said that he intended to ring my father to discuss it with him and ask him to speak to me about it. The leader of the Labour Party was proposing to address an issue with one of his own MPs by ringing his Dad. Jeremy does not know my father so I can only presume that because of the much-publicised fact that my father was a Sinn Féin councillor, Jeremy felt that they would share a political affinity and was proposing to use that to ask my father to apply pressure on me. Thankfully, others dissuaded Jeremy from taking this course of action. The call was not made, and it would not have been well received.
McGinn also revealed that he has been subjected to a “torrent of abuse and threats” since criticising Corbyn.
In my constituency, a group of people gained access to my shared office building under false pretences and filmed themselves protesting outside the door of my office, in an incident that has been reported to the police. They threatened to disrupt my surgeries and events I was attending, requiring me to have a police presence at those last weekend.
He added:
When I watched Jeremy’s interview on Newsnight last night, I am afraid I could no longer tolerate the hypocrisy of him talking about a kinder, gentler politics when I knew for a fact that he had proposed using my family against me in an attempt to bully me in to submission because he didn’t like something I said. That is why I have reluctantly and sadly chosen to make this information public now.
My Dad was Sinn Féin councillor. When I - as a Labour MP - challenged Jeremy, he demanded an apology and said he was going to ring my Dad.
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07:40
Matthew Weaver
Labour’s former interim leader Harriet Harman has accused Corbyn of “driving a wedge” between Labour members and the PLP.
Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about Corbyn’s hints that Labour rebel MPs face deselection, Harman said:
It is not clear whether what Jeremy Corbyn was saying was that there is going to be new measures in relation to preventing current MPs standing again as Labour MPs at the next election, or whether he was describing the current system.
But either way it more of driving a wedge between different parts of the party, setting the members against MPs, setting MPs against members. One of the responsibilities of leadership is to bring people together not to set people against each other.
So it I think it is very unfortunate and another example of why really we need a new leadership rather than Jeremy Corbyn.
7.33am BST
07:33
In his Newsnight interview, leadership questions aside, Jeremy Corbyn said it was unlikely the Brexiters would get what they want on immigration:
I have made the point all along that the single market does include free movement of labour, and if you go away from that you’re not in the single market …
Because if we say we’re going to start restricting, then it works both ways: it will also restrict British people going to live and work in Europe. I think that is going to be impossible within a single market.
He did also concede it had been a mistake to call for the triggering of article 50 the day after the referendum:
I may not have put that as well as I should have done … Article 50 will be invoked at some point. I did not mean it should be invoked on Friday morning and we should rush over to Brussels and start negotiating.
7.03am BST
07:03
Morning briefing
Claire Phipps
Good morning and welcome to our daily politics live blog on a morning that – so far – looks to be a little quieter than many in recent months. Although Donald Trump officially accepted the nomination as Republican presidential candidate, confirming 2016 as the Year of Anything Can Happen, so don’t slip off on your political holidays just yet.
There’s still plenty to scoop up in the morning briefing, naturally. And do, as ever, share thoughts and questions in the comments below, or find me on Twitter @Claire_Phipps.
The big picture
Jeremy Corbyn, fresh from his formal bid to be voted back in to his leader’s seat, took a turn on Channel 4 News and BBC Newsnight, and though there wasn’t an Ed Miliband-style “Hell yes!” moment, the Labour leader did insist he was having a good time:
Do I enjoy it? Absolutely. Look at me here, I’m very happy.
And does he welcome the debate within the party?
Yeah, course.
So what did we learn?
He doesn’t want to be president of the Labour party, a role rival Owen Smith suggested he might do:
There’s no such job. No, I don’t want to be president of the party. I’m not even sure we should have a president of the party. What’s a president for? It sounds to me a bit like a director of football. So, no … It’s not in his gift to offer unopposed election to anything, unless he has some control over the whole electorate that I haven’t been told about. It’s kind of him, anyway.
He doesn’t think Smith is a Blairite (probably):
I don’t go round calling people Blairites, actually … Tony Blair stopped being prime minister in 2007, it’s quite a long time ago.
He’s not keen on colleagues calling him incompetent:
How unkind of them.
And he says he’s not sure why some of the shadow cabinet resigned:
I’m very disappointed that those people resigned, often without really giving me any satisfactory explanation as to why they were resigning.
But he did apologise to Thangam Debbonaire for the shadow minister guessing-game:
It was not, I admit, well handled … Unfortunately my wish to appoint her as one of her arts spokespersons was informed to her when it shouldn’t have been … I had a very long conversation with her and of course I apologised to her for that.
And if he wins again, he believes he could build a “broad” shadow cabinet:
I’m sure some of them will reach back and maybe others will take a little longer to come on board.
It might not have been ideal that Labour MPs watching the interviews would also have had in their hands a note from the chief whip, Rosie Winterton, reassuring them that earlier comments from Corbyn about deselection – “there will be a full selection process with every constituency” – ahead of the next election weren’t meant as a threat.
But former leadership challenger Angela Eagle insisted Corbyn had enabled a “permissive” environment” in which his critics faced abuse and very real threats. Having cancelled her constituency surgeries over safety fears, Eagle told the Telegraph:
I think he has contributed to this. It’s all very well to condemn it, but there’s a permissive environment. You can make any number of ritual condemnations as you like but you have got to be judged by your actions, not just words. He has been stirring. He needs to be held to account.
If yesterday’s “Things that are taking longer than the Labour leadership to resolve” list was topped by yet another delay to universal credit, today’s could be David Cameron’s resignation honours list. The former PM’s nominations have been held up, we hear, as “questions have been raised” over whether the candidates/chums he suggested were suitable for the rewards (and by rewards, we’re talking peerages and the like, not Pokémon Go stuff). Political editor Heather Stewart reports:
His chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn, director of external relations, Gabby Bertin, and top spin doctor, Craig Oliver, are all thought to be in line for recognition of some kind for their loyal service, but the Lords committee, which met this week, is said to have expressed doubts about some of Cameron’s recommendations for peerages.
He had already been criticised for insisting that the close advisers who were abruptly swept out of Downing Street alongside him be awarded payoffs worth six months’ salary – more than the contracted amount they were entitled to.
Does anyone have a Brexit plan yet?
After Theresa May’s leisurely agreement with Angela Merkel that a rush to the EU door wasn’t necessary, the new prime minister’s visit to Paris on Thursday wasn’t quite so relaxed, with French president François Hollande insisting free trade = free movement.
It’s lucky for fresh foreign secretary and Brexit fan Boris Johnson that his French is decent, because Hollande was pretty clear:
The UK today has access to the single market because it respects the four freedoms. If it wishes to remain within the single market it is its decision to know how far and how it will have to abide by the four freedoms.
None can be separated from the other. There cannot be freedom of movement of goods, free movement of capital, free movement of services if there isn’t a free movement of people … It will be a choice facing the UK – remain in the single market and then assume the free movement that goes with it or to have another status.
May confirmed that the two countries’ Le Touquet agreement – under which UK officers carry out border checks in Calais – would stay. Also staying, said Hollande, would be British people living in France:
There is no doubt that the French people who reside in the UK will be able to continue to work there and that the British people in France will be able to continue to work there and spend as much time as they wish.
The British prime minister did not reciprocate the promise.
You should also know:
Awkward encounter of the day
Adding fuel to a theory that politicians are engaged in a brutal battle over who can excruciate us the most, the Times has a report today of a “clear the air” meeting between expedient-allies-turned-enemies Michael Gove and Boris Johnson.
In a 25-minute meeting between the two in Johnson’s office, Gove apologised, the Times says:
He is said to have delivered a long and detailed account of his reasons for his attempt to usurp Mr Johnson as the main Brexit challenger after saying: “I am sorry if I hurt you.” …
Mr Johnson heard him in almost total silence and offered no comment or forgiveness, according to a source: “It’s fair to say that Michael did most, if not all, of the talking.” Another ally said: “Boris could barely bring himself to look at Gove.”
Diary
Read these
Mary Dejevsky in the Independent says the Labour leader deserves to be heard:
The political centrism that prevailed in parliament in the wake of Tony Blair’s landslide left sections of the population essentially without a voice. The Iraq war, a touchstone now for mistrust of government, was supported by both major parties in parliament, as was sweeping de-regulation, as – despite the Labour leader’s best efforts – was the Trident decision this week.
Jeremy Corbyn’s was a lone voice on all these issues, but he can claim in many ways to have been vindicated. His so-called ‘intransigence’ has now won him a following in the country at large, where levels of discontent – largely disguised by the first-past-the-post electoral system – were spectacularly laid bare in the Brexit vote. Whether you agree with him or not, you must accept that Jeremy Corbyn represents a real opposition.
In the Telegraph, Fraser Nelson makes the case for the Conservatives as the progressive party:
Mr Corbyn listed his new ‘giant evils’ as inequality, neglect, insecurity, prejudice and discrimination. All nasties, to be sure, but his definitions are vague and his solutions implausible. The Labour party has been trapped not so much by a bad leader but by its own clichés. In the few days of her premiership, Theresa May has been having fun using these Labour clichés to describe Tory goals …
It’s true that many of the best Tory reforms continue the trajectory of Tony Blair’s ideas. But the Blair agenda is loathed and disowned by those now running Labour, leaving Tories to absorb the people whom Blair referred to as the ‘change-makers’.
Patricia Hogwood at the Conversation says the task of saving Project Europe has landed squarely in Angela Merkel’s lap:
Avoiding a free-for-all clamour from member states hoping to negotiate special membership arrangements is a top priority. It will demand an especially delicate balancing act. Merkel is determined to hammer home the message that the member states must pull together at this time of crisis. However, if she steers too heavily towards greater integration, she risks alienating both the non-eurozone members and those with a more statist orientation …
Merkel also has to balance the needs of her own, pro-liberal national party support base with more statist demands for European governance. Particularly France and Italy remain suspicious of a ‘Anglo-American’ model dominated by market forces and globalisation. Brexit is likely to strengthen calls for a more ‘European’ approach to managing the EU, involving greater regulation, internal transfers and distributional policies.
Startling claim of the day
Is Corbyn really going to call the parents of recalcitrant MPs to demand a ticking-off?
My Dad was Sinn Féin councillor. When I - as a Labour MP - challenged Jeremy, he demanded an apology and said he was going to ring my Dad.
The day in a tweet
Just the one day, mind you. Steady on.
A rare moment when every single minister and shadow minister on the front benches in Parliament is a woman.https://t.co/KK2ImZS9X7
If today were a song
It would be Pharrell Williams’ Happy. Because sometimes we all feel like a room without a roof.
And finally
As parliament heads off for its summer recess, we’re winding up our daily Brexit morning briefing. Fear not: we’re not turning our backs on Europe, just rebooting the relationship – a new weekly briefing will be coming, starting from next week, hosted by European affairs correspondent Jon Henley and our Westminster team.
Readers signed up for the daily email will continue to receive the new one; others can sign up afresh here.
(I’m off to start work on a new Rio Olympics morning briefing and live blog; you’ll be able to sign up for that email soon, should real rather than leadership races be your thing. In the meantime I am, as ever, on Twitter: @Claire_Phipps. Thanks for all your comments, questions, barbs and feedback over the past couple of months.)
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