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| Labour leadership: NEC meets to consider arrangements for election to replace Corbyn - live news | Labour leadership: NEC meets to consider arrangements for election to replace Corbyn - 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 are some lines from Labour’s NEC meeting. | |
| From the Yorkshire Post’s Geri Scott | |
| From the FT’s Jim Pickard | |
| From the Telegraph’s Harry Yorke | |
| Keith Vaz sits on the NEC as the representative of BAME Labour. | |
| Downing Street has issued a read-out following Boris Johnson’s conversation with his Iraqi opposite number, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, this morning. A No 10 spokesperson said: | |
| This morning Tom Watson, the former deputy Labour leader, said he was worried that Rebecca Long Bailey would be a “continuity candidate”. (See 9.38am.) But Angela Rayner, who is standing to replace Watson as deputy leader and backing her friend and London flatmate Rebecca Long Bailey for leader, told Sky News that this claim was wrong. When it was put to her that she and Long Bailey were seen as Jeremy Corbyn continuity candidates, Rayner replied: | |
| In her Guardian article last week Long Bailey said she was backing Rayner for the deputy leadership. Rayner is reciprocating. But, in her Sky News interview, Rayner also said that the fact that she was supporting her friend did not mean she was opposed to having anyone else as Labour leader. Asked who she wanted to lead the party, Rayner replied: | |
| When asked if she would be happy to have Jess Phillips as party leader, Rayner replied: | |
| From my colleague Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor | From my colleague Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor |
| When Boris Johnson meets Ursula Von Der Leyen, the European commission president, at No 10 on Wednesday, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, will attend too. The European commission’s chief spokesman said the meeting was taking place at “a very specific moment” before trade talks had begun. “This is not a meeting that will go into the details of the trade negotiation.” | When Boris Johnson meets Ursula Von Der Leyen, the European commission president, at No 10 on Wednesday, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, will attend too. The European commission’s chief spokesman said the meeting was taking place at “a very specific moment” before trade talks had begun. “This is not a meeting that will go into the details of the trade negotiation.” |
| The EU is not expected to finalise its mandate for talks on the future relationship with the UK until 25 February, the first time the EU’s European affairs ministers will meet after the UK’s departure on 31 January. | The EU is not expected to finalise its mandate for talks on the future relationship with the UK until 25 February, the first time the EU’s European affairs ministers will meet after the UK’s departure on 31 January. |
| While I was at the No 10 lobby briefing, Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, was launching her campaign to be Labour’s deputy leader. My colleague Kate Proctor was there and here is her story about the speech. | While I was at the No 10 lobby briefing, Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, was launching her campaign to be Labour’s deputy leader. My colleague Kate Proctor was there and here is her story about the speech. |
| And here are some more tweets from Kate. | And here are some more tweets from Kate. |
| I will post more on the speech shortly. | I will post more on the speech shortly. |
| Labour’s national executive committee is meeting now to discuss the arrangements for the leadership contest. | Labour’s national executive committee is meeting now to discuss the arrangements for the leadership contest. |
| As he arrived for the meeting, Ian Lavery, the party chairman, who has not ruled out standing for the leadership himself, said he expected the NEC to come up with the “right solution” during its discussion on the leadership contest. He said: | As he arrived for the meeting, Ian Lavery, the party chairman, who has not ruled out standing for the leadership himself, said he expected the NEC to come up with the “right solution” during its discussion on the leadership contest. He said: |
| I’m just back from the No 10 lobby briefing. Holding these meetings in 9 Downing Street, instead of in a room in the Houses of Parliament, will probably be good for lobby journalists’ exercise levels, although it is hard to see any other benefits at the moment, and for someone writing a live blog it’s a big inconvenience. | I’m just back from the No 10 lobby briefing. Holding these meetings in 9 Downing Street, instead of in a room in the Houses of Parliament, will probably be good for lobby journalists’ exercise levels, although it is hard to see any other benefits at the moment, and for someone writing a live blog it’s a big inconvenience. |
| Here are the main points. | Here are the main points. |
| Britain would oppose any move by the US to attack cultural sites in Iran, the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed. The spokesman said it was clear that this was not allowed under international conventions – although he stopped short of saying the move would amount to a war crime. | Britain would oppose any move by the US to attack cultural sites in Iran, the prime minister’s spokesman confirmed. The spokesman said it was clear that this was not allowed under international conventions – although he stopped short of saying the move would amount to a war crime. |
| Boris Johnson will host a meeting of senior ministers this afternoon to discuss Iran, the spokesman said. And tomorrow he will chair a national security council meeting on the topic. | Boris Johnson will host a meeting of senior ministers this afternoon to discuss Iran, the spokesman said. And tomorrow he will chair a national security council meeting on the topic. |
| Britain is urging Iraq not to insist on the withdrawal of American troops, the spokesman said. He said: | Britain is urging Iraq not to insist on the withdrawal of American troops, the spokesman said. He said: |
| Johnson was speaking to his Iraqi counterpart on this issue this morning, the spokesman said. | Johnson was speaking to his Iraqi counterpart on this issue this morning, the spokesman said. |
| The spokesman rejected suggestions that the US assassination of Qassem Suleimani was illegal. Asked about this, he said: | The spokesman rejected suggestions that the US assassination of Qassem Suleimani was illegal. Asked about this, he said: |
| But the spokesman refused to say if the UK government had been shown any evidence by the Americans to justify their claim that Suleimani posed an imminent threat to US personnel when he was killed. | But the spokesman refused to say if the UK government had been shown any evidence by the Americans to justify their claim that Suleimani posed an imminent threat to US personnel when he was killed. |
| Dominic Cummings will not be allowed bypass normal civil service recruitment processes when hiring staff for No 10, the spokesman said. Asked about the blog by Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, inviting “weirdos” and others interested in working for him to respond to a private email address, the spokesman said this was for “expressions of interest” only. He said new civil servants would be appointed in the usual way. | Dominic Cummings will not be allowed bypass normal civil service recruitment processes when hiring staff for No 10, the spokesman said. Asked about the blog by Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, inviting “weirdos” and others interested in working for him to respond to a private email address, the spokesman said this was for “expressions of interest” only. He said new civil servants would be appointed in the usual way. |
| 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 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 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: | 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 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 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. 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, 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: | 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. |
| 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. |