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| Boris Johnson tells cabinet ministers to cut wasteful spending and focus on manifesto priorities - 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 |
| At cabinet Boris Johnson and the chancellor, Sajid Javid, also unveiled a plan for what was described as “tough decisions” on spending ahead of March’s budget and the subsequent spending review. | At cabinet Boris Johnson and the chancellor, Sajid Javid, also unveiled a plan for what was described as “tough decisions” on spending ahead of March’s budget and the subsequent spending review. |
| “Ministers need to root out any waste, particularly anything that is not aligned with the government’s priorities and demonstrate value for money of every pound of taxpayers’ money that we spend,” the pair told the meeting, according to the No 10 spokesman. The spokesman went on: | “Ministers need to root out any waste, particularly anything that is not aligned with the government’s priorities and demonstrate value for money of every pound of taxpayers’ money that we spend,” the pair told the meeting, according to the No 10 spokesman. The spokesman went on: |
| The project will involve ministers and officials examining all ongoing projects, even those begun under the last nine years of Conservative rule, to both assess them for waste and for compliance with Johnson’s stated aim of spreading wealth around the country. | The project will involve ministers and officials examining all ongoing projects, even those begun under the last nine years of Conservative rule, to both assess them for waste and for compliance with Johnson’s stated aim of spreading wealth around the country. |
| Such campaigns against supposed waste or flabbiness in Whitehall are traditional for new governments, and generally meet with mixed success. | Such campaigns against supposed waste or flabbiness in Whitehall are traditional for new governments, and generally meet with mixed success. |
| David Cameron’s much-touted “bonfire of the quangos” in 2010, intended to abolish unnecessary quasi-government agencies, ended up costing twice as much to implement as planned, the National Audit Office concluded two years later. | David Cameron’s much-touted “bonfire of the quangos” in 2010, intended to abolish unnecessary quasi-government agencies, ended up costing twice as much to implement as planned, the National Audit Office concluded two years later. |
| Declining to give specifics on what projects could be at risk, the No 10 spokesman was asked how Johnson’s war on waste would differ from others in the past. He said: | Declining to give specifics on what projects could be at risk, the No 10 spokesman was asked how Johnson’s war on waste would differ from others in the past. He said: |
| Downing Street has indicated that it has abandoned plans to reshape or merge a series of ministerial departments, and will instead focus on more traditional new-government priorities such as a war on wasteful spending. | Downing Street has indicated that it has abandoned plans to reshape or merge a series of ministerial departments, and will instead focus on more traditional new-government priorities such as a war on wasteful spending. |
| Ahead of the election aides around Boris Johnson said that a new government would merge the Department for International Development (DfID) with the Foreign Office, and create borders and immigration department, spun off from the Home Office, among other changes. | Ahead of the election aides around Boris Johnson said that a new government would merge the Department for International Development (DfID) with the Foreign Office, and create borders and immigration department, spun off from the Home Office, among other changes. |
| But asked whether these ideas had been abandoned following reports this was the case, a No 10 spokesman indicated this was correct. | But asked whether these ideas had been abandoned following reports this was the case, a No 10 spokesman indicated this was correct. |
| While stressing that he could not discuss the “machinery of government changes”, the spokesman hinted that the decision had been taken to avoid the organisational turmoil. | While stressing that he could not discuss the “machinery of government changes”, the spokesman hinted that the decision had been taken to avoid the organisational turmoil. |
| “The PM has set out his ambitious programme to get Brexit done and level up the country,” the spokesman said, citing priorities such as investing in the NHS. “The government’s focus will be on delivery of these priorities.” | “The PM has set out his ambitious programme to get Brexit done and level up the country,” the spokesman said, citing priorities such as investing in the NHS. “The government’s focus will be on delivery of these priorities.” |
| Here are some of the lines from the Downing Street lobby briefing earlier. | Here are some of the lines from the Downing Street lobby briefing earlier. |
| Downing Street said that force protection measures for British troops in Iraq were kept under “constant review”. The prime minister’s spokesman said: | Downing Street said that force protection measures for British troops in Iraq were kept under “constant review”. The prime minister’s spokesman said: |
| The spokesman said Boris Johnson briefed ministers on the situation in Iraq at cabinet. The spokesman said: | The spokesman said Boris Johnson briefed ministers on the situation in Iraq at cabinet. The spokesman said: |
| A more “substantial” discussion would take place at the national security council following cabinet, the spokesman said. | A more “substantial” discussion would take place at the national security council following cabinet, the spokesman said. |
| The spokesman defended Johnson’s decision not to give the oral statement to MPs this afternoon about the Iran crisis himself. Instead Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, will address the Commons. Asked why the PM was not doing it, the spokesman said: | The spokesman defended Johnson’s decision not to give the oral statement to MPs this afternoon about the Iran crisis himself. Instead Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, will address the Commons. Asked why the PM was not doing it, the spokesman said: |
| The spokesman said the government had raised “numerous concerns” about the judicial process in the Cyprus rape case case with the Cypriot authorities. The spokesman said: | The spokesman said the government had raised “numerous concerns” about the judicial process in the Cyprus rape case case with the Cypriot authorities. The spokesman said: |
| UK ministers could make provision in areas of devolved policy as a result of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, according to a new report. As the Press Association reports, a briefing (pdf) by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) says new powers in devolved policy areas will be handed to Scottish ministers under Boris Johnson’s EU (withdrawal agreement) bill to ensure it is properly implemented. But the powers will also be conferred on UK ministers, allowing them to act “alone or jointly with Scottish ministers”, according to SPICe. It means the powers granted to UK ministers in the bill will extend to the whole of the UK and relate to both reserved and devolved matters. | UK ministers could make provision in areas of devolved policy as a result of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, according to a new report. As the Press Association reports, a briefing (pdf) by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) says new powers in devolved policy areas will be handed to Scottish ministers under Boris Johnson’s EU (withdrawal agreement) bill to ensure it is properly implemented. But the powers will also be conferred on UK ministers, allowing them to act “alone or jointly with Scottish ministers”, according to SPICe. It means the powers granted to UK ministers in the bill will extend to the whole of the UK and relate to both reserved and devolved matters. |
| The SPICe document states: | The SPICe document states: |
| Jeremy Corbyn has conducted a mini reshuffle to fill three gaps in his frontbench team left by the general election. Tracy Brabin has been appointed shadow culture secretary to replace Tom Watson, who stood down. Rachael Maskell has been appointed shadow employment rights secretary to replace Laura Piddock, who lost her seat. And Luke Pollard has been appointed shadow environment secretary to replace Sue Hayman, who also lost her seat. | Jeremy Corbyn has conducted a mini reshuffle to fill three gaps in his frontbench team left by the general election. Tracy Brabin has been appointed shadow culture secretary to replace Tom Watson, who stood down. Rachael Maskell has been appointed shadow employment rights secretary to replace Laura Piddock, who lost her seat. And Luke Pollard has been appointed shadow environment secretary to replace Sue Hayman, who also lost her seat. |
| Corbyn has also appointed Tan Dhesi as his parliamentary private secretary. | Corbyn has also appointed Tan Dhesi as his parliamentary private secretary. |
| Jess Phillips, the Labour leadership candidate, has said she is opposed to holding a second referendum on Scottish independence. Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme this morning, she said: | Jess Phillips, the Labour leadership candidate, has said she is opposed to holding a second referendum on Scottish independence. Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme this morning, she said: |
| Phillips also said she thought one of the reasons why Labour lost in Scotland was that it did not necessarily have a clear position on the two big constitutional questions of the day (Brexit and Scottish independence). On Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn said he would be neutral in a second referendum on the topic. And, although Corbyn did not support Scottish independence, he did not rule out allowing Scotland to hold a second referendum on the issue. | Phillips also said she thought one of the reasons why Labour lost in Scotland was that it did not necessarily have a clear position on the two big constitutional questions of the day (Brexit and Scottish independence). On Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn said he would be neutral in a second referendum on the topic. And, although Corbyn did not support Scottish independence, he did not rule out allowing Scotland to hold a second referendum on the issue. |
| In a clip recorded for Sky News Rebecca Long Bailey, the Labour leadership candidate, dismissed claims she was a continuity Corbyn candidate. She said: | In a clip recorded for Sky News Rebecca Long Bailey, the Labour leadership candidate, dismissed claims she was a continuity Corbyn candidate. She said: |
| Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, became the most senior party figure to level this accusation against Long Bailey yesterday, when he said she represented “Corbynism in its purest sense”. | Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader, became the most senior party figure to level this accusation against Long Bailey yesterday, when he said she represented “Corbynism in its purest sense”. |
| Despite her comment to Sky, Long Bailey’s Tribune article shows that, in terms of policy at least, she does want to continue with the approach championed by Jeremy Corbyn. She says: | Despite her comment to Sky, Long Bailey’s Tribune article shows that, in terms of policy at least, she does want to continue with the approach championed by Jeremy Corbyn. She says: |
| Last night the Labour MP Alison McGovern posted this on Twitter. | Last night the Labour MP Alison McGovern posted this on Twitter. |
| It attracted this response from someone who presents on Twitter as a Jeremy Corbyn supporter. | It attracted this response from someone who presents on Twitter as a Jeremy Corbyn supporter. |
| In response, Rebecca Long Bailey, the Labour leadership candidate, posted this. | In response, Rebecca Long Bailey, the Labour leadership candidate, posted this. |
| The shadow sports minister, Rosena Allin-Khan, has also announced this morning that she is standing to be Labour’s next deputy leader. In a statement the MP for Tooting, who still works as a practising A&E doctor, said the party needed to listen with “humility” to voters who abandoned the party at last month’s general election. She said: | The shadow sports minister, Rosena Allin-Khan, has also announced this morning that she is standing to be Labour’s next deputy leader. In a statement the MP for Tooting, who still works as a practising A&E doctor, said the party needed to listen with “humility” to voters who abandoned the party at last month’s general election. She said: |
| Here is her campaign video. | Here is her campaign video. |
| Allin-Khan is the sixth candidate to declare for the deputy leadership. The others are: Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary (and probable favourite); Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary; Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities; Khalid Mahmood, the shadow Europe minister; and Ian Murray. | Allin-Khan is the sixth candidate to declare for the deputy leadership. The others are: Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary (and probable favourite); Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary; Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities; Khalid Mahmood, the shadow Europe minister; and Ian Murray. |
| Ian Murray, the only Labour MP in Scotland, has confirmed he is standing to be Labour’s deputy leader. In a statement he said: | Ian Murray, the only Labour MP in Scotland, has confirmed he is standing to be Labour’s deputy leader. In a statement he said: |
| As he sets out in an article for the Daily Mirror, he has four campaign priorities: 1) making sure Labour listens to voters who have given up on the party, particularly in Scotland; 2) being clear on key issues like Brexit and Scottish independence; 3) reforming Labour’s organisation; and 4) having an open policymaking process. | As he sets out in an article for the Daily Mirror, he has four campaign priorities: 1) making sure Labour listens to voters who have given up on the party, particularly in Scotland; 2) being clear on key issues like Brexit and Scottish independence; 3) reforming Labour’s organisation; and 4) having an open policymaking process. |
| Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is travelling to Brussels today for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East following the death of Qassem Suleimani and the escalating conflict in Libya, the Foreign Office has confirmed. As the Press Association reports, Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before they join their German and Italian counterparts and the EU high representative for talks on Libya. | Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is travelling to Brussels today for talks with his European counterparts on the situation in the Middle East following the death of Qassem Suleimani and the escalating conflict in Libya, the Foreign Office has confirmed. As the Press Association reports, Raab will have a bilateral meeting with the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, before they join their German and Italian counterparts and the EU high representative for talks on Libya. |
| The so-called “E3” – Britain, France and Germany – will then meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran, with all three pushing for de-escalation, a Foreign Office spokesman said. | The so-called “E3” – Britain, France and Germany – will then meet to discuss the tensions between the US and Iran, with all three pushing for de-escalation, a Foreign Office spokesman said. |
| I have already posted on two of the main lines from Rebecca Long Bailey’s Today interview. (See 9.18am.) Here are some of the other points she made. | I have already posted on two of the main lines from Rebecca Long Bailey’s Today interview. (See 9.18am.) Here are some of the other points she made. |
| Long Bailey cited Brexit and antisemitism as two of the reasons for Labour’s election defeat. In her first answer, speaking about why Labour lost, Long Bailey said: | Long Bailey cited Brexit and antisemitism as two of the reasons for Labour’s election defeat. In her first answer, speaking about why Labour lost, Long Bailey said: |
| In her Tribune article published last night she did not mention Brexit or antisemitism at all. Instead, in that article she said one reason for Labour’s defeat was that the campaign “lacked a coherent narrative”. | In her Tribune article published last night she did not mention Brexit or antisemitism at all. Instead, in that article she said one reason for Labour’s defeat was that the campaign “lacked a coherent narrative”. |
| She accepted that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was a factor in Labour’s defeat, but she implied that his unpopularity was down to critical coverage in the media. When it was put to her that Corbyn’s name came up repeatedly on the doorstep, she replied: | She accepted that Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership was a factor in Labour’s defeat, but she implied that his unpopularity was down to critical coverage in the media. When it was put to her that Corbyn’s name came up repeatedly on the doorstep, she replied: |
| She stressed her support for Corbyn. She said: | She stressed her support for Corbyn. She said: |
| She said Labour lost the trust of leave voters during the election and that all the parliamentary effort focused on blocking a no-deal Brexit obscured the fact that Labour was “trying to get a good deal”. | She said Labour lost the trust of leave voters during the election and that all the parliamentary effort focused on blocking a no-deal Brexit obscured the fact that Labour was “trying to get a good deal”. |
| She said Labour was not “strong enough” when it came to dealing with antisemitism. Asked if Corbyn was responsible, she said: “Ultimately he has to take responsibility as the leader of the party.” She also said Labour should accept all the recommendations of the Equality and Human Rights Commission report into the party when it was published. | She said Labour was not “strong enough” when it came to dealing with antisemitism. Asked if Corbyn was responsible, she said: “Ultimately he has to take responsibility as the leader of the party.” She also said Labour should accept all the recommendations of the Equality and Human Rights Commission report into the party when it was published. |
| She rejected claims that she had given a misleading account of remembering the impact of the closure of the Salford docks on her family. Asked about this story in the Sunday Times (paywall), she said: | She rejected claims that she had given a misleading account of remembering the impact of the closure of the Salford docks on her family. Asked about this story in the Sunday Times (paywall), she said: |
| She praised Angela Rayner, her flatmate in London, who is standing for the deputy Labour leadership. Asked what last made her laugh out loud, she said it was probably Rayner, because she was “always coming out with cracking jokes”. | She praised Angela Rayner, her flatmate in London, who is standing for the deputy Labour leadership. Asked what last made her laugh out loud, she said it was probably Rayner, because she was “always coming out with cracking jokes”. |
| Here is some Twitter comment on the Rebecca Long Bailey interview from journalists. | Here is some Twitter comment on the Rebecca Long Bailey interview from journalists. |
| From the BBC’s Norman Smith | From the BBC’s Norman Smith |
| From my colleague Gaby Hinsliff | From my colleague Gaby Hinsliff |
| From the Daily Mirror’s Dan Bloom | From the Daily Mirror’s Dan Bloom |
| From the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s James Ball | From the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s James Ball |
| From the Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole | From the Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole |
| Cole is rarely positive about any Labour figure, and so this counts as a compliment. | Cole is rarely positive about any Labour figure, and so this counts as a compliment. |
| Good morning. At one stage Rebecca Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, was seen as the favourite in the Labour leadership contest because she is the candidate most favoured by Jeremy Corbyn and his inner circle. But she kept a low profile after the general election, avoiding interviews, and Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, is now seen as the favourite based on polling showing that he is more popular with members. | Good morning. At one stage Rebecca Long Bailey, the shadow business secretary, was seen as the favourite in the Labour leadership contest because she is the candidate most favoured by Jeremy Corbyn and his inner circle. But she kept a low profile after the general election, avoiding interviews, and Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, is now seen as the favourite based on polling showing that he is more popular with members. |
| But Long Bailey has now given her first interview as a candidate for the Labour leadership. She did so after using an article for Tribune published last night to formally announce that she will be a candidate. My colleague Rajeev Syal has written it up here. | But Long Bailey has now given her first interview as a candidate for the Labour leadership. She did so after using an article for Tribune published last night to formally announce that she will be a candidate. My colleague Rajeev Syal has written it up here. |
| In her interview Long Bailey mostly struck a note likely to go down well with Labour members. Two of her answers were particularly revealing. | In her interview Long Bailey mostly struck a note likely to go down well with Labour members. Two of her answers were particularly revealing. |
| Long Bailey insisted that Labour should be pro-immigration. In her Tribune article she said that Labour should never again “put ‘controls on immigration’ on a mug”, as it did in the 2015 general election, and, when asked if that meant she was opposed to any immigration controls, she said the 2015 policy was a “nod towards quite dangerous politics”. She said: | Long Bailey insisted that Labour should be pro-immigration. In her Tribune article she said that Labour should never again “put ‘controls on immigration’ on a mug”, as it did in the 2015 general election, and, when asked if that meant she was opposed to any immigration controls, she said the 2015 policy was a “nod towards quite dangerous politics”. She said: |
| Long Bailey said she did not accept claims that immigration depressed wages. She said that, when the UK left the EU, EU freedom of movement would end. But when asked what should replace it, she said that was the “million dollar question”. When it was put to her that as party leader she should have a response to the million dollar question, she said it was vital to protect the rights of EU nationals living in the UK. And she added: | Long Bailey said she did not accept claims that immigration depressed wages. She said that, when the UK left the EU, EU freedom of movement would end. But when asked what should replace it, she said that was the “million dollar question”. When it was put to her that as party leader she should have a response to the million dollar question, she said it was vital to protect the rights of EU nationals living in the UK. And she added: |
| This stance is likely to meet the approval of Labour members who, at the party conference last year, passed a motion saying that freedom of movement should be extended (even though quite what this meant has subsequently become a matter for debate). | This stance is likely to meet the approval of Labour members who, at the party conference last year, passed a motion saying that freedom of movement should be extended (even though quite what this meant has subsequently become a matter for debate). |
| Long Bailey expressed very strong reservations about using the nuclear deterrent - without ruling it out. Asked if she would be willing to authorise the nuclear deterrent as PM, she said: | Long Bailey expressed very strong reservations about using the nuclear deterrent - without ruling it out. Asked if she would be willing to authorise the nuclear deterrent as PM, she said: |
| When asked if that included using the nuclear deterrent, she replied: | When asked if that included using the nuclear deterrent, she replied: |
| This is probably the right answer for the Labour membership too. They will interpret the “warmonger foaming at the mouth” line as a reference to the former Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, who is much disliked by Labour activists and who stressed her willingness to push the nuclear button during the election campaign. In the early days of his leadership Corbyn did firmly rule out using nuclear weapons, but the party as a whole backs the nuclear deterrent (not least because a lot of union jobs are tied up with the nuclear submarine programme) and later he became more evasive when asked if he would ever use nuclear weapons. | This is probably the right answer for the Labour membership too. They will interpret the “warmonger foaming at the mouth” line as a reference to the former Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, who is much disliked by Labour activists and who stressed her willingness to push the nuclear button during the election campaign. In the early days of his leadership Corbyn did firmly rule out using nuclear weapons, but the party as a whole backs the nuclear deterrent (not least because a lot of union jobs are tied up with the nuclear submarine programme) and later he became more evasive when asked if he would ever use nuclear weapons. |
| I will post more on the interview shortly. | I will post more on the interview shortly. |
| Here is the agenda for the day. | Here is the agenda for the day. |
| 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. | 9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs cabinet. |
| 12pm: Downing Street lobby briefing. | 12pm: Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| 2.30pm: Sajid Javid, the chancellor, takes questions in the Commons. | 2.30pm: Sajid Javid, the chancellor, takes questions in the Commons. |
| After 3.30pm: Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, makes a statement in the Commons about the Iran crisis. | After 3.30pm: Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, makes a statement in the Commons about the Iran crisis. |
| Around 5pm or later: MPs begin the committee stage debate for the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill. | Around 5pm or later: MPs begin the committee stage debate for the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill. |
| 6pm: Labour leadership candidates speak at a private hustings for Labour MPs organised by the parliamentary Labour party. | 6pm: Labour leadership candidates speak at a private hustings for Labour MPs organised by the parliamentary Labour party. |
| 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. We plan to post a summary when we 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. We plan to post a summary when we 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. |