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| Brexit: Boris Johnson will have to break his promise not to extend transition, EU trade commissioner claims - live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen | Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen |
| Here is some Twitter comment on the Phil Hogan interview. (See 3.22pm.) | |
| From Peter Foster, the Daily Telegraph’s Europe editor | |
| From Mujtaba Rahman, the Brexit specialist at the Eurasia consultancy | |
| From Stewart Jackson, the Tory Brexiter, former MP and former chief of staff to David Davis when he was Brexit secretary | |
| Boris Johnson’s decision to rule out extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020 is a “stunt” that he will be forced to abandon, according to a leading figure in the European commission. | Boris Johnson’s decision to rule out extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020 is a “stunt” that he will be forced to abandon, according to a leading figure in the European commission. |
| When MPs return to the Commons on Tuesday next week they will resume their debate on the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill, the legislation paving the way for the UK to leave the EU on 31 January. In line with a commitment in the Conservative election manifesto, Boris Johnson has inserted a provision in the bill making it illegal for the government to agree to extend the transition for a year to two (ie, until December 2021 or December 2022), even though the deal with the EU allows this. | When MPs return to the Commons on Tuesday next week they will resume their debate on the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill, the legislation paving the way for the UK to leave the EU on 31 January. In line with a commitment in the Conservative election manifesto, Boris Johnson has inserted a provision in the bill making it illegal for the government to agree to extend the transition for a year to two (ie, until December 2021 or December 2022), even though the deal with the EU allows this. |
| Many trade experts think an extension will be necessary because it will be impossible to negotiate a new trade deal with the EU before the end of 2020. Ursula von der Leyen, the new commission president, recently gently suggested that Johnson might have to rethink his ‘no extension’ policy, saying that his timetable might not be feasible. But now one of her colleagues, the trade commissioner Phil Hogan, has criticised Johnson’s stance in much blunter terms. | Many trade experts think an extension will be necessary because it will be impossible to negotiate a new trade deal with the EU before the end of 2020. Ursula von der Leyen, the new commission president, recently gently suggested that Johnson might have to rethink his ‘no extension’ policy, saying that his timetable might not be feasible. But now one of her colleagues, the trade commissioner Phil Hogan, has criticised Johnson’s stance in much blunter terms. |
| Hogan, who is Irish and who will oversee the UK-EU trade negotiation in his new job, told the Irish Times in an interview that Johnson’s ‘no extension’ commitment was a ‘stunt’ and that in reality Johnson would agree to a longer transition. He said: | Hogan, who is Irish and who will oversee the UK-EU trade negotiation in his new job, told the Irish Times in an interview that Johnson’s ‘no extension’ commitment was a ‘stunt’ and that in reality Johnson would agree to a longer transition. He said: |
| In another jibe at Johnson, Hogan said that in the next phase of the Brexit talks Britain would have to accept that having your cake and eating it was impossible. He was referring to the phrase, first used by Johnson to sum up his approach to life in general, that became synonymous with the Brexiter belief that the UK could leave the EU but retain most of the benefits of membership. Hogan said: | In another jibe at Johnson, Hogan said that in the next phase of the Brexit talks Britain would have to accept that having your cake and eating it was impossible. He was referring to the phrase, first used by Johnson to sum up his approach to life in general, that became synonymous with the Brexiter belief that the UK could leave the EU but retain most of the benefits of membership. Hogan said: |
| In his interview (fuller version here) Hogan also restated the EU’s belief that the UK would be worse off outside. He said: | In his interview (fuller version here) Hogan also restated the EU’s belief that the UK would be worse off outside. He said: |
| The Labour MP Toby Perkins isn’t convinced by the claims that Ian Lavery is seriously considering standing for the leadership. (See 9.11am.) | The Labour MP Toby Perkins isn’t convinced by the claims that Ian Lavery is seriously considering standing for the leadership. (See 9.11am.) |
| It is hard to know if Perkins is right about Lavery’s motives - Lavery has not been giving interviews and, even if he is just engaged in a feint, you would not expect him to say so - but Perkins is almost certainly right about the consequences of Lavery’s name being in the race at the moment. | It is hard to know if Perkins is right about Lavery’s motives - Lavery has not been giving interviews and, even if he is just engaged in a feint, you would not expect him to say so - but Perkins is almost certainly right about the consequences of Lavery’s name being in the race at the moment. |
| In 2010, when David Miliband was running for the Labour leadership, he ended up nominating Diane Abbott, and urging his supporters to do the same, so that she could end up on the ballot. She became the first black person to contest the Labour leadership, and Miliband thought it was good to be seen to supporting diversity and pluralism. But his team later concluded that this move had backfired because, with Abbott on the ballot, Miliband was no longer about to portray his brother Ed as the most leftwing candidate in the contest. | In 2010, when David Miliband was running for the Labour leadership, he ended up nominating Diane Abbott, and urging his supporters to do the same, so that she could end up on the ballot. She became the first black person to contest the Labour leadership, and Miliband thought it was good to be seen to supporting diversity and pluralism. But his team later concluded that this move had backfired because, with Abbott on the ballot, Miliband was no longer about to portray his brother Ed as the most leftwing candidate in the contest. |
| (Those were the days when being the leftwinger in a Labour leadership contest was assumed to be a drawback. Now that is not necessarily the case.) | (Those were the days when being the leftwinger in a Labour leadership contest was assumed to be a drawback. Now that is not necessarily the case.) |
| The Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis has posted a tweet clarifying what he meant when he gave an interview to the Today programme this morning. (See 9.11am.) He said this morning that he thought the party, and Jeremy Corbyn, should have fought more strongly for remain. But that does not mean he wants to re-open the Brexit debate now, he says. | The Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis has posted a tweet clarifying what he meant when he gave an interview to the Today programme this morning. (See 9.11am.) He said this morning that he thought the party, and Jeremy Corbyn, should have fought more strongly for remain. But that does not mean he wants to re-open the Brexit debate now, he says. |
| He has also posted this about his agenda. | He has also posted this about his agenda. |
| I referred to Alastair Campbell as a Labour figure a few moments ago, although of course he was thrown out of the party earlier this year after he revealed he voted Lib Dem in the European elections. He has contrasted his treatment with the former Labour MP Gisela Stuart’s. She said this morning she was still a party member - even though she appeared on a platform with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove during the election campaign, urging people to vote Tory to deliver Brexit. | I referred to Alastair Campbell as a Labour figure a few moments ago, although of course he was thrown out of the party earlier this year after he revealed he voted Lib Dem in the European elections. He has contrasted his treatment with the former Labour MP Gisela Stuart’s. She said this morning she was still a party member - even though she appeared on a platform with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove during the election campaign, urging people to vote Tory to deliver Brexit. |
| Campbell, a hate figure for some in Jeremy Corbyn’s circle because of his work for Tony Blair, has long argued that the decision to expel him was vindictive and unfair. | Campbell, a hate figure for some in Jeremy Corbyn’s circle because of his work for Tony Blair, has long argued that the decision to expel him was vindictive and unfair. |
| And here is some comment on Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article from Labour figures - although not ones from her wing of the party. | And here is some comment on Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article from Labour figures - although not ones from her wing of the party. |
| From Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former communications director | From Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former communications director |
| From the former Labour MP David Clelland | From the former Labour MP David Clelland |
| From Sunder Katwala, the director of the British Future thinktank, and a former Fabian Society general secretary | From Sunder Katwala, the director of the British Future thinktank, and a former Fabian Society general secretary |
| Katwala has posted a whole thread about the notion of progressive patriotism. You can read the whole thing if you click on the tweet above. | Katwala has posted a whole thread about the notion of progressive patriotism. You can read the whole thing if you click on the tweet above. |
| From Damian McBride, Gordon Brown’s former communications chief who now advises Emily Thornberry | From Damian McBride, Gordon Brown’s former communications chief who now advises Emily Thornberry |
| Here is a round-up of what some journalists, commentators and academics are saying about Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article for the Guardian today containing her pitch for the Labour leadership. It is a relatively random sample because many of the usual suspects are (sensibly) still in holiday mode and staying off Twitter. | Here is a round-up of what some journalists, commentators and academics are saying about Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article for the Guardian today containing her pitch for the Labour leadership. It is a relatively random sample because many of the usual suspects are (sensibly) still in holiday mode and staying off Twitter. |
| From my colleague Zoe Williams | From my colleague Zoe Williams |
| From openDemocracy’s Peter Geoghegan | From openDemocracy’s Peter Geoghegan |
| From the Independent’s John Rentoul | From the Independent’s John Rentoul |
| There is more. If you click on one of those tweets, you should be able to read the thread. Here is his conclusion. | There is more. If you click on one of those tweets, you should be able to read the thread. Here is his conclusion. |
| From HuffPost’s Rachel Wearmouth | From HuffPost’s Rachel Wearmouth |
| From the blogger and commentator Kevin Meagher | From the blogger and commentator Kevin Meagher |
| From the author and former Guardian journalist David Walker | From the author and former Guardian journalist David Walker |
| From the politics professor Steven Fielding | From the politics professor Steven Fielding |
| From the politics professor Richard Wyn Jones | From the politics professor Richard Wyn Jones |
| From the politics professor Matthew Goodwin | From the politics professor Matthew Goodwin |
| Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has been tweeting this morning - but without saying anything about her campaign for the Labour deputy leadership that Rebecca Long-Bailey endorsed even though it has not been announced. (See 11.07am.) | Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has been tweeting this morning - but without saying anything about her campaign for the Labour deputy leadership that Rebecca Long-Bailey endorsed even though it has not been announced. (See 11.07am.) |
| Jeremy Corbyn is still leader of the Labour party. But in his Today interview this morning Clive Lewis was speaking about him in the past tense (“he was an authentic politician” - see 9.11am) and, in an interview on Sky News this morning, Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, also spoke as if Corbyn had already gone. She said it was important for Labour to learn some “hard lessons” from its defeat, and to listen to the views of voters who did not support the party. She said: | Jeremy Corbyn is still leader of the Labour party. But in his Today interview this morning Clive Lewis was speaking about him in the past tense (“he was an authentic politician” - see 9.11am) and, in an interview on Sky News this morning, Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, also spoke as if Corbyn had already gone. She said it was important for Labour to learn some “hard lessons” from its defeat, and to listen to the views of voters who did not support the party. She said: |
| In a clear criticism of Corbyn, she said Labour needed a leader who was popular in the country at large, not just with the membership. | In a clear criticism of Corbyn, she said Labour needed a leader who was popular in the country at large, not just with the membership. |
| Asked who she would like to see as the next Labour leader, O’Grady refused to say. She wanted to see how candidates performed in the leadership contest, she said. But she said the party should choose a leader with credible policies who could win back trust. | Asked who she would like to see as the next Labour leader, O’Grady refused to say. She wanted to see how candidates performed in the leadership contest, she said. But she said the party should choose a leader with credible policies who could win back trust. |
| In her Guardian article Rebecca Long-Bailey says she will be supporting Angela Rayner for deputy Labour leader. Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has been tipped as a Labour leadership candidate herself but, as the Guardian reported two weeks ago, after the election her allies said she was focusing on the deputy leadership vacancy, leading to speculation that she and Long-Bailey would run on a joint ticket. | In her Guardian article Rebecca Long-Bailey says she will be supporting Angela Rayner for deputy Labour leader. Rayner, the shadow education secretary, has been tipped as a Labour leadership candidate herself but, as the Guardian reported two weeks ago, after the election her allies said she was focusing on the deputy leadership vacancy, leading to speculation that she and Long-Bailey would run on a joint ticket. |
| But last night’s Sky’s Sam Coates said that Long-Bailey’s comment was premature, because Rayner is not yet ready to announce that she is running for the deputy leadership. | But last night’s Sky’s Sam Coates said that Long-Bailey’s comment was premature, because Rayner is not yet ready to announce that she is running for the deputy leadership. |
| Long-Bailey and Rayner are friends and they share a flat in London. Rayner may well end up backing Long-Bailey as leader and running for the deputy leadership, but there are some in the party who think that she would make a better leader herself and, if a friendship does rupture under the strain of a leadership contest - well, that won’t be the first time that has happened in the Labour party. | Long-Bailey and Rayner are friends and they share a flat in London. Rayner may well end up backing Long-Bailey as leader and running for the deputy leadership, but there are some in the party who think that she would make a better leader herself and, if a friendship does rupture under the strain of a leadership contest - well, that won’t be the first time that has happened in the Labour party. |
| I’m describing Clive Lewis as a Labour leadership candidate because he has confirmed that he wants to run, as has Emily Thornberry. Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey also seem all but certain to run. Other people who are seriously considering running, or who at least have not ruled it out, are: Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Yvette Cooper, Ian Lavery, David Lammy and Dan Jarvis. | I’m describing Clive Lewis as a Labour leadership candidate because he has confirmed that he wants to run, as has Emily Thornberry. Sir Keir Starmer and Rebecca Long-Bailey also seem all but certain to run. Other people who are seriously considering running, or who at least have not ruled it out, are: Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips, Yvette Cooper, Ian Lavery, David Lammy and Dan Jarvis. |
| But it is worth pointing out that, to be a candidate on the ballot paper, it is not enough for an MP just to declare that they are standing. They also need the support of 10% of Labour MPs (ie, 21 MPs). It used to be 15%, but the threshold was lowered after Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader. Under the new rules, candidates also need the support of 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs) to be included on the ballot (that’s 33 of them), or 5% of the union/affiliates vote. Luke Akehurst has a more detailed guide to the new rules here, in an article for Politics.co.uk. | But it is worth pointing out that, to be a candidate on the ballot paper, it is not enough for an MP just to declare that they are standing. They also need the support of 10% of Labour MPs (ie, 21 MPs). It used to be 15%, but the threshold was lowered after Jeremy Corbyn’s election as leader. Under the new rules, candidates also need the support of 5% of constituency Labour parties (CLPs) to be included on the ballot (that’s 33 of them), or 5% of the union/affiliates vote. Luke Akehurst has a more detailed guide to the new rules here, in an article for Politics.co.uk. |
| While Starmer and Long-Bailey, the two frontrunners, should easily be able to meet these requirements, some other candidates hoping to be on the ballot, including possibly Lewis himself, may find it more difficult. | While Starmer and Long-Bailey, the two frontrunners, should easily be able to meet these requirements, some other candidates hoping to be on the ballot, including possibly Lewis himself, may find it more difficult. |
| Here are some more lines from what Clive Lewis, the shadow Treasury minister and Labour leadership contender, said in his Today programme interview this morning. (See 9.11am.) | Here are some more lines from what Clive Lewis, the shadow Treasury minister and Labour leadership contender, said in his Today programme interview this morning. (See 9.11am.) |
| Lewis said that the explanation for Labour’s election defeat was complicated and that, although Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and Brexit were factors, there were other reasons too, going back years. He said: | Lewis said that the explanation for Labour’s election defeat was complicated and that, although Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and Brexit were factors, there were other reasons too, going back years. He said: |
| He said that he knew from personal experience on the doorstep that Corbyn’s leadership was a problem for the party. | He said that he knew from personal experience on the doorstep that Corbyn’s leadership was a problem for the party. |
| He restated his call for more internal democracy in the Labour party. | He restated his call for more internal democracy in the Labour party. |
| He said the party needed to complete a “complete analysis” of why it lost the election. That had to happen quickly, he said, and the exercise should not be a sectarian one. He said he supported the inquiry being launched by Labour Together, and he said he hoped it would be rigorous. | He said the party needed to complete a “complete analysis” of why it lost the election. That had to happen quickly, he said, and the exercise should not be a sectarian one. He said he supported the inquiry being launched by Labour Together, and he said he hoped it would be rigorous. |
| In his London Playbook briefing for Politico Europe Jack Blanchard has a good single-paragraph analysis of Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article for the Guardian setting out her pitch for the leadership. He says: | In his London Playbook briefing for Politico Europe Jack Blanchard has a good single-paragraph analysis of Rebecca Long-Bailey’s article for the Guardian setting out her pitch for the leadership. He says: |
| Good morning. I hope you all had a good Christmas. Politics Live is back today, although with parliament still in recess, and much of the UK still in holiday mode, the news agenda is looking a lot thinner than it has been recently. | Good morning. I hope you all had a good Christmas. Politics Live is back today, although with parliament still in recess, and much of the UK still in holiday mode, the news agenda is looking a lot thinner than it has been recently. |
| But the Labour leadership campaign has been rumbling on throughout the Christmas period. It is still at the preliminary skirmishes stage, but this morning Clive Lewis, the shadow Treasury minister and one of only two candidates who have confirmed that they are running (the other is Emily Thornberry) gave an interview to the Today programme about what went wrong for Labour at the election. He said on Brexit the party should have fought more strongly for remain. Asked if the party should have adopted an out-and-out remain position, he replied: | But the Labour leadership campaign has been rumbling on throughout the Christmas period. It is still at the preliminary skirmishes stage, but this morning Clive Lewis, the shadow Treasury minister and one of only two candidates who have confirmed that they are running (the other is Emily Thornberry) gave an interview to the Today programme about what went wrong for Labour at the election. He said on Brexit the party should have fought more strongly for remain. Asked if the party should have adopted an out-and-out remain position, he replied: |
| Lewis was a member of the shadow cabinet until he resigned in 2017 so that he could vote against the bill allowing the government to trigger article 50, starting the process that will lead to the UK leaving the EU. Before the election he also strongly backed Another Europe is Possible’s “Remain, Reform, Revolt” campaign, saying the UK should remain. | Lewis was a member of the shadow cabinet until he resigned in 2017 so that he could vote against the bill allowing the government to trigger article 50, starting the process that will lead to the UK leaving the EU. Before the election he also strongly backed Another Europe is Possible’s “Remain, Reform, Revolt” campaign, saying the UK should remain. |
| I will post more from Lewis’s interview, which expands on an article he wrote for the Guardian earlier this month confirming his candidature, shortly. It follows two other Labour leadership developments overnight. | I will post more from Lewis’s interview, which expands on an article he wrote for the Guardian earlier this month confirming his candidature, shortly. It follows two other Labour leadership developments overnight. |
| Rebecca Long-Bailey has made her opening pitch for the Labour leadership, avoiding any direct criticism of Corbyn but implicitly offering an alternative approach by promising to champion “progressive patriotism”. She did so in an article for the Guardian. My story about it is here, and the article itself is here. | Rebecca Long-Bailey has made her opening pitch for the Labour leadership, avoiding any direct criticism of Corbyn but implicitly offering an alternative approach by promising to champion “progressive patriotism”. She did so in an article for the Guardian. My story about it is here, and the article itself is here. |
| In her article Long-Bailey, like Lewis, criticises the party’s Brexit position, saying: “Our compromise solution satisfied too few.” But she does not say what the party should have done instead. | In her article Long-Bailey, like Lewis, criticises the party’s Brexit position, saying: “Our compromise solution satisfied too few.” But she does not say what the party should have done instead. |
| Ian Lavery, the Labour party chair, has confirmed that he is considering standing for the leadership. A spokesman for Lavery told the Daily Mirror: | Ian Lavery, the Labour party chair, has confirmed that he is considering standing for the leadership. A spokesman for Lavery told the Daily Mirror: |
| As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens (in so far as there is any), as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary when I wrap up. | As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens (in so far as there is any), as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary when I wrap up. |
| You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. | You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow. |
| I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. | I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone. |
| If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. | If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter. |