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Labour leadership: Jess Phillips clarifies Brexit stance, saying party won't back rejoin at next election - live news Labour leadership: Jess Phillips clarifies Brexit stance, saying party won't back rejoin at next election - live news
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenRolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
This is from ITV’s Paul Brand.This is from ITV’s Paul Brand.
I’m off to the No 10 lobby briefing now. From today No 10 is holding the briefings in Downing Street, instead of in a room in the House of Commons (about two minutes’ walk from the corridor where press gallery journalists are based), and this means getting to and from the meetings is going to take longer and be more cumbersome (because it will involve clearing No 10 security). I probably won’t be able to post again until after 11.45am. I’m off to the No 10 lobby briefing now. From today, No 10 is holding the briefings in Downing Street, instead of in a room in the House of Commons (about two minutes’ walk from the corridor where press gallery journalists are based), and this means getting to and from the meetings is going to take longer and be more cumbersome (because it will involve clearing No 10 security). I probably won’t be able to post again until after 11.45am.
These are from Alice Perry, a local government representative on Labour’s national executive committee. One of the key issues to be decided at today’s NEC meeting is what the arrangements will be for registered supporters to vote in the leadership contest. Under the new rules introduced when Ed Miliband was leader, registered supporters can vote, as well as proper party members and people who are affiliated to the party through membership of a trade union. But the NEC will have to decide how much people will have to pay to vote as a registered supporter, and how long they will get to register. These are from Alice Perry, a local government representative on Labour’s national executive committee. One of the key issues to be decided at today’s NEC meeting is what the arrangements will be for registered supporters to vote in the leadership contest. Under the rules introduced when Ed Miliband was leader, registered supporters can vote, as well as proper party members and people who are affiliated to the party through membership of a trade union. But the NEC will have to decide how much people will have to pay to vote as a registered supporter, and how long they will get to register.
In 2015 the fee was just £3. People in the party were not sure how popular the scheme would be, but more than 100,000 people ended up registering. In 2016 the fee was set at £25 and registration was open for just 48 hours, but 120,000 people registered anyway. At the time Corbynites on the NEC were worried about the registered supporters scheme being exploited by Owen Smith supporters, but in the event 70% of the people who signed up in the 48-hour window voted for Jeremy Corbyn. In 2015, the fee was just £3. People in the party were not sure how popular the scheme would be, but more than 100,000 people ended up registering. In 2016, the fee was set at £25 and registration was open for just 48 hours, but 120,000 people registered anyway. At the time Corbynites on the NEC were worried about the registered supporters scheme being exploited by Owen Smith supporters, but in the event 70% of the people who signed up in the 48-hour window voted for Jeremy Corbyn.
In an interview with Sky News this morning Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, refused to say who he would be backing in the Labour leadership contest. But he said that Rebecca Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, was the candidate he was worried about. He explained: In an interview with Sky News this morning, Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, refused to say whom he would be backing in the Labour leadership contest. But he said that Rebecca Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, was the candidate he was worried about. He explained:
But he also acknowledged that, when Long Bailey does announce her campaign, she might adopt a different line.But he also acknowledged that, when Long Bailey does announce her campaign, she might adopt a different line.
It is true that Long Bailey has not said anything in the form of an interview or a speech. But she did make an opening pitch in the form of an article in the Guardian last week.It is true that Long Bailey has not said anything in the form of an interview or a speech. But she did make an opening pitch in the form of an article in the Guardian last week.
For the record, this is what Sir Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, said in his Andrew Marr interview (pdf) yesterday when asked if he would back rejoining the EU if he became Labour leader.For the record, this is what Sir Keir Starmer, the frontrunner in the Labour leadership contest, said in his Andrew Marr interview (pdf) yesterday when asked if he would back rejoining the EU if he became Labour leader.
Starmer was not pressed on whether he was firmly ruling out Labour ever adopting a rejoin position under his leadership, or whether he was just saying there was no realistic possibility of this being an option over the next five years (which is now the Jess Phillips position - see 8.51am). Starmer was not pressed on whether he was firmly ruling out Labour ever adopting a rejoin position under his leadership, or whether he was just saying there was no realistic possibility of this being an option over the next five years (which is now Jess Phillips’ position - see 8.51am).
There are two other lines in Jess Phillips’ article in the Independent today that are worth pointing out.There are two other lines in Jess Phillips’ article in the Independent today that are worth pointing out.
First, she argues that one of Labour’s biggest mistakes during the election was to allow Boris Johnson to get away with the claim that he would “get Brexit done” by 31 January. She says:First, she argues that one of Labour’s biggest mistakes during the election was to allow Boris Johnson to get away with the claim that he would “get Brexit done” by 31 January. She says:
This is also what Sir Keir Starmer, the favourite in the contest, has been arguing. For pro-Europeans like Starmer and Phillips, who strongly supported a second referendum, it is a way of acknowledging that Brexit was a problem for the party during the election (an argument being made powerfully by Corbynites in the party), without accepting the second referendum policy was at fault. This is also what Keir Starmer, the favourite in the contest, has been arguing. For pro-Europeans like Starmer and Phillips, who strongly supported a second referendum, it is a way of acknowledging that Brexit was a problem for the party during the election (an argument being made powerfully by Corbynites in the party), without accepting the second referendum policy was at fault.
And, second, while implicitly accepting that she have gone too far in her Andrew Marr interview (see 8.51am), Phillips argues that overall honesty and plain speaking are positive attributes, not negative ones. She says: And, second, while implicitly accepting that she have gone too far in her Andrew Marr interview (see 8.51am), Phillips argues that overall honesty and plain speaking are positive attributes. She says:
Good morning. Labour’s national executive committee is meeting today to decide the detailed arrangements for the party’s leadership contest. And this morning we have witnessed what amounts to something close to the first U-turn by one of the candidates.Good morning. Labour’s national executive committee is meeting today to decide the detailed arrangements for the party’s leadership contest. And this morning we have witnessed what amounts to something close to the first U-turn by one of the candidates.
Yesterday, in an interview (pdf) with the BBC’s Andrew Marr, Jess Phillips did not rule out Labour campaigning to rejoin the European Union at the next election. As my colleague Heather Stewart points out in her story, this contrasted with the approach taken by Sir Keir Starmer, who stressed that it was time to move one. Asked if the party would be a “return party” at the next election, Phillips said: Yesterday, in an interview (pdf) with the BBC’s Andrew Marr, Jess Phillips did not rule out Labour campaigning to rejoin the European Union at the next election. As my colleague Heather Stewart points out, this contrasted with the approach taken by Keir Starmer, who stressed it was time to move one. Asked if the party would be a “return party” at the next election, Phillips said:
And when pressed if, as leader, she could make rejoining the EU official Labour policy, she replied:And when pressed if, as leader, she could make rejoining the EU official Labour policy, she replied:
Some commentators viewed this as a mistake, and Phillips herself seems to agree because in an article for the Independent this morning she has clarified her position, saying she could not imagine Labour backing rejoin at the next election. She says:Some commentators viewed this as a mistake, and Phillips herself seems to agree because in an article for the Independent this morning she has clarified her position, saying she could not imagine Labour backing rejoin at the next election. She says:
There are, of course, more important things happening in the world than the Labour leadership contest, although any influence the UK may have over the conflict between President Trump and Iran may be limited. But Boris Johnson will be discussing it today with ministers on his first full day back from holiday. Parliament does not return until tomorrow, but we will be getting a No 10 lobby briefing.There are, of course, more important things happening in the world than the Labour leadership contest, although any influence the UK may have over the conflict between President Trump and Iran may be limited. But Boris Johnson will be discussing it today with ministers on his first full day back from holiday. Parliament does not return until tomorrow, but we will be getting a No 10 lobby briefing.
Here is the agenda for the day.Here is the agenda for the day.
Morning: Boris Johnson is due to hold talks with ministers about the Iran crisis following his return from holiday.Morning: Boris Johnson is due to hold talks with ministers about the Iran crisis following his return from holiday.
11am: Downing Street lobby briefing.11am: Downing Street lobby briefing.
11am: Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, gives a speech in Stockport. She is expected to announce that she is standing to be Labour’s deputy leader.11am: Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, gives a speech in Stockport. She is expected to announce that she is standing to be Labour’s deputy leader.
12pm: Labour’s national executive committee meets to decide the arrangements for the party’s leadership contest.12pm: Labour’s national executive committee meets to decide the arrangements for the party’s leadership contest.
As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, 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, 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.
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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.