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| Labour leadership contest: Boost for Starmer's campaign as he gets Unison's backing – as it happened | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The day’s politics news, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president Ursula von der Leyen | The day’s politics news, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president Ursula von der Leyen |
| Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission, has said it will be “impossible” for the UK to negotiate a comprehensive deal covering all aspects of Brexit within the timeframe set by Boris Johnson. She also said Johnson should reconsider his decision to rule out extending the post-Brexit transition period. (See 2.29pm.) At the afternoon lobby briefing a spokesman for the PM said this would not happen. He said: | Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission, has said it will be “impossible” for the UK to negotiate a comprehensive deal covering all aspects of Brexit within the timeframe set by Boris Johnson. She also said Johnson should reconsider his decision to rule out extending the post-Brexit transition period. (See 2.29pm.) At the afternoon lobby briefing a spokesman for the PM said this would not happen. He said: |
| Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership campaign has received a boost after he won the backing of the UK’s biggest trade union, Unison, and became the first person to get more than the 22 MPs required to become a candidate. | Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership campaign has received a boost after he won the backing of the UK’s biggest trade union, Unison, and became the first person to get more than the 22 MPs required to become a candidate. |
| Boris Johnson has strongly backed the US’s decision to kill the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a missile strike, telling prime minister’s questions that while he could not comment on the legality of the act, “most reasonable people” would think the operation was justified. | Boris Johnson has strongly backed the US’s decision to kill the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in a missile strike, telling prime minister’s questions that while he could not comment on the legality of the act, “most reasonable people” would think the operation was justified. |
| The UK could introduce tariffs on imports of food from countries with lower food safety and farming standards than the UK, using World Trade Organization rules, Theresa Villiers, the environment secretary, has suggested. | The UK could introduce tariffs on imports of food from countries with lower food safety and farming standards than the UK, using World Trade Organization rules, Theresa Villiers, the environment secretary, has suggested. |
| MPs have voted down proposals to enshrine protections for child refugees as part of the government’s Brexit agreement. As the Press Association reports, following his election victory, Boris Johnson re-drafted his European Union (withdrawal agreement) bill and rowed back on the previous government’s acceptance of an amendment from Labour peer Lord Dubs to allow unaccompanied child refugees to continue to be reunited with their families in the UK after exit day. Clause 37 of the bill replaces the pledge with a watered-down vow for ministers to “make a statement” on the progress of the talks once the divorce with Brussels is complete. An attempt to re-instate the Dubs provision was defeated this afternoon by a majority of 96 votes. This is from the Green MP Caroline Lucas. | MPs have voted down proposals to enshrine protections for child refugees as part of the government’s Brexit agreement. As the Press Association reports, following his election victory, Boris Johnson re-drafted his European Union (withdrawal agreement) bill and rowed back on the previous government’s acceptance of an amendment from Labour peer Lord Dubs to allow unaccompanied child refugees to continue to be reunited with their families in the UK after exit day. Clause 37 of the bill replaces the pledge with a watered-down vow for ministers to “make a statement” on the progress of the talks once the divorce with Brussels is complete. An attempt to re-instate the Dubs provision was defeated this afternoon by a majority of 96 votes. This is from the Green MP Caroline Lucas. |
| Three MEPs who quit - and one who was sacked by - the Brexit party have joined the Conservatives. Annunziata Rees-Mogg - sister of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg - Lance Forman and Lucy Harris resigned the Brexit party whip only a week before the election to back the PM’s push to “get Brexit done”. As the Press Association reports, they were joined in backing Boris Johnson by John Longworth, the former director general of the British Chambers of Commerce who was sacked for “repeatedly undermining” leader Nigel Farage’s election strategy only days before the trio’s walkout. The four confirmed they have switched allegiance to become Tory MEPs in the European parliament, in a move that will more than double the number of Conservatives in Brussels. It takes the number of Tory representatives to seven. | Three MEPs who quit - and one who was sacked by - the Brexit party have joined the Conservatives. Annunziata Rees-Mogg - sister of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg - Lance Forman and Lucy Harris resigned the Brexit party whip only a week before the election to back the PM’s push to “get Brexit done”. As the Press Association reports, they were joined in backing Boris Johnson by John Longworth, the former director general of the British Chambers of Commerce who was sacked for “repeatedly undermining” leader Nigel Farage’s election strategy only days before the trio’s walkout. The four confirmed they have switched allegiance to become Tory MEPs in the European parliament, in a move that will more than double the number of Conservatives in Brussels. It takes the number of Tory representatives to seven. |
| Airbnb-style short-term lets could be subject to new licensing schemes from spring next year, the Scottish government has announced. As the Press Association reports, as well as handing councils the power to bring in licensing schemes, local authorities will in future be able to designate new control areas for short-term lets, with those wanting to let out properties in this way first having to obtain planning permission. The measures are being introduced following concerns about the impact such lets have on areas such as Edinburgh - one of the most popular places for Airbnb listings. | Airbnb-style short-term lets could be subject to new licensing schemes from spring next year, the Scottish government has announced. As the Press Association reports, as well as handing councils the power to bring in licensing schemes, local authorities will in future be able to designate new control areas for short-term lets, with those wanting to let out properties in this way first having to obtain planning permission. The measures are being introduced following concerns about the impact such lets have on areas such as Edinburgh - one of the most popular places for Airbnb listings. |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| Thanks for the comments. | Thanks for the comments. |
| This is from Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, who attended the meeting in Dowing Street with Boris Johnson alongside Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission. | This is from Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, who attended the meeting in Dowing Street with Boris Johnson alongside Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European commission. |
| From LabourList’s Sienna Rodgers | From LabourList’s Sienna Rodgers |
| Jon Lansman is head of Momentum, the Labour organisation set up for Jeremy Corbyn supporters. And Matt Zarb-Cousin is a former press spokesman for Corbyn. | Jon Lansman is head of Momentum, the Labour organisation set up for Jeremy Corbyn supporters. And Matt Zarb-Cousin is a former press spokesman for Corbyn. |
| Here is Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary and Labour leadership candidate, responding to news that Unison is backing his campaign. | Here is Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary and Labour leadership candidate, responding to news that Unison is backing his campaign. |
| Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen have been reminiscing about the fact that they attended the same school in Brussels during their meeting in No 10. Their fathers both worked for the European commission, and so they both attended the European school in Brussels, although not at the same time. | Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen have been reminiscing about the fact that they attended the same school in Brussels during their meeting in No 10. Their fathers both worked for the European commission, and so they both attended the European school in Brussels, although not at the same time. |
| The Telegraph’s Peter Foster has a good take on the exchanges. | The Telegraph’s Peter Foster has a good take on the exchanges. |
| Northern Ireland businesses have vowed to take their fight for a Brexit mitigation package to the House of Lords any beyond. | Northern Ireland businesses have vowed to take their fight for a Brexit mitigation package to the House of Lords any beyond. |
| And they have dared the government to “prove it” after the Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker told MPs that “this deal is a good deal for both businesses and individuals in Northern Ireland.” | And they have dared the government to “prove it” after the Northern Ireland minister Robin Walker told MPs that “this deal is a good deal for both businesses and individuals in Northern Ireland.” |
| An amendment proposing cash compensation for the extra disruption they will face post-Brexit because of checks on goods crossing the Irish sea was comprehensively defeated by 75 voters in the Commons, as was a proposal for an annual review of the new arrangements if the impact of Brexit is adverse. | An amendment proposing cash compensation for the extra disruption they will face post-Brexit because of checks on goods crossing the Irish sea was comprehensively defeated by 75 voters in the Commons, as was a proposal for an annual review of the new arrangements if the impact of Brexit is adverse. |
| “The fight will go on in the House of Lords, at Committees and with the EU. We are determined to protect NI families and the affordability and choice they enjoy,” the business groups said in a statement. The 12 business groups backing the amendment include the Ulster Farmers Union and the Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland. | |
| So far there have been four votes on amendments to the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill in the Commons this afternoon. The government has won them all very easily. | So far there have been four votes on amendments to the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill in the Commons this afternoon. The government has won them all very easily. |
| Here is a rather sad tweet from Laura Smith, who was Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich until she lost her seat in the election. | Here is a rather sad tweet from Laura Smith, who was Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich until she lost her seat in the election. |
| These are from HuffPost’s Paul Waugh, who has been at the afternoon Downing Street lobby briefing. | These are from HuffPost’s Paul Waugh, who has been at the afternoon Downing Street lobby briefing. |
| The Labour leadership candidates have mostly been wary of criticising Jeremy Corbyn directly, but they have been more willing to have a go at his advisers and none more so than Emily Thornberry, who in an interview before Christmas effectively called for Seumas Milne and Karie Murphy, who have been Corbyn’s two most powerful aides, to be sacked. | The Labour leadership candidates have mostly been wary of criticising Jeremy Corbyn directly, but they have been more willing to have a go at his advisers and none more so than Emily Thornberry, who in an interview before Christmas effectively called for Seumas Milne and Karie Murphy, who have been Corbyn’s two most powerful aides, to be sacked. |
| Today Thornberry has escalated her attack, saying that unnamed “advisers” in Corbyn’s office tried to remove a line from the 2019 manifesto criticising rocket and terror attacks by Palestinian groups against Israel. In a blog for the Jewish Chronicle she says: | Today Thornberry has escalated her attack, saying that unnamed “advisers” in Corbyn’s office tried to remove a line from the 2019 manifesto criticising rocket and terror attacks by Palestinian groups against Israel. In a blog for the Jewish Chronicle she says: |
| In a passage on Israel and Palestine the manifesto said: | In a passage on Israel and Palestine the manifesto said: |
| In the blog Thornberry says she does not think Corbyn was aware that his advisers were trying to make sure the manifesto did not contain implicit criticism of groups like Hamas. She says: | In the blog Thornberry says she does not think Corbyn was aware that his advisers were trying to make sure the manifesto did not contain implicit criticism of groups like Hamas. She says: |
| She also says the party needs to be much tougher with antisemites in the party. She says: | She also says the party needs to be much tougher with antisemites in the party. She says: |
| Corbyn’s office has been asked to comment, but has not replied yet. I will post their response if I get one. | Corbyn’s office has been asked to comment, but has not replied yet. I will post their response if I get one. |
| A government minister has said there will be “reporting requirements” for goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. | A government minister has said there will be “reporting requirements” for goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. |
| But Robin Walker, a Northern Ireland minister, told MPs during the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill: “It is clear there are reporting requirements in terms of the functioning of the protocol.” | But Robin Walker, a Northern Ireland minister, told MPs during the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill: “It is clear there are reporting requirements in terms of the functioning of the protocol.” |
| But Walker said the checks would be light touch. He said: | But Walker said the checks would be light touch. He said: |
| Walker added he recognised the concerns of businesses over checks because of Brexit and the government would seek to minimise them. | Walker added he recognised the concerns of businesses over checks because of Brexit and the government would seek to minimise them. |
| They are demanding cash compensation that could run to more than £100m for the disruption caused by Brexit. | They are demanding cash compensation that could run to more than £100m for the disruption caused by Brexit. |
| Walker said the government recognised the “strong voice” and concerns of Northern Ireland businesses but article 6 of the withdrawal agreement NI protocol gave the government the power to ensure “unfettered” access. He said: | Walker said the government recognised the “strong voice” and concerns of Northern Ireland businesses but article 6 of the withdrawal agreement NI protocol gave the government the power to ensure “unfettered” access. He said: |