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| Labour leadership: Thornberry gives Corbyn '0 out of 10' for election, but '10 out of 10' for principle - as it happened | |
| (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 |
| The Labour leadership candidate Emily Thornberry has given Jeremy Corbyn “0 out of 10” for his performance during the general election. | The Labour leadership candidate Emily Thornberry has given Jeremy Corbyn “0 out of 10” for his performance during the general election. |
| Record numbers of patients are being forced to stay with ambulance crews for an hour or more this winter because overwhelmed A&E units are too busy to admit them. | Record numbers of patients are being forced to stay with ambulance crews for an hour or more this winter because overwhelmed A&E units are too busy to admit them. |
| MPs have been debating the third reading of the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill, and they will vote on its shortly. The shadow Brexit minister, Thangam Debbonaire, said that Labour would be voting against, but that that did not mean the party was voting against Brexit. The government is certain to win, and the bill will then go to the Lords. | MPs have been debating the third reading of the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill, and they will vote on its shortly. The shadow Brexit minister, Thangam Debbonaire, said that Labour would be voting against, but that that did not mean the party was voting against Brexit. The government is certain to win, and the bill will then go to the Lords. |
| Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has said the EU is continuing to plan for the prospect of “no-deal” at the end of 2020, when the UK could leave the post-Brexit transition without a trade deal in place. (See 11.28am.) | Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has said the EU is continuing to plan for the prospect of “no-deal” at the end of 2020, when the UK could leave the post-Brexit transition without a trade deal in place. (See 11.28am.) |
| Scottish Labour is considering backing a second independence referendum in a dramatic reversal of policy by the party leader, Richard Leonard. | Scottish Labour is considering backing a second independence referendum in a dramatic reversal of policy by the party leader, Richard Leonard. |
| Clive Lewis, the Labour leadership candidate, has said that “radical federalism” would be the best constitutional settlement for the UK. (See 9.18am.) | Clive Lewis, the Labour leadership candidate, has said that “radical federalism” would be the best constitutional settlement for the UK. (See 9.18am.) |
| Barry Gardiner has said that Labour colleagues are urging him to stand in the leadership election because they see him as someone who could win a general election. (See 1.26pm.) | Barry Gardiner has said that Labour colleagues are urging him to stand in the leadership election because they see him as someone who could win a general election. (See 1.26pm.) |
| Khalid Mahmood has announced that he is withdrawing from the contest to be Labour’s deputy leader, the BBC’s Kathryn Stanczyszyn reports. | Khalid Mahmood has announced that he is withdrawing from the contest to be Labour’s deputy leader, the BBC’s Kathryn Stanczyszyn reports. |
| The troubled Northern rail franchise faces financial collapse within months, the transport secretary has said, as the government set out a timetable to tackle the “unacceptable services” for rail passengers in the north. | The troubled Northern rail franchise faces financial collapse within months, the transport secretary has said, as the government set out a timetable to tackle the “unacceptable services” for rail passengers in the north. |
| A Cabinet Office investigation into how much the former Wales secretary Alun Cairns knew about the role of an ex-aide in the collapse of a rape trial has been branded a “sham” by the female victim in the case. | A Cabinet Office investigation into how much the former Wales secretary Alun Cairns knew about the role of an ex-aide in the collapse of a rape trial has been branded a “sham” by the female victim in the case. |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| Thanks for the comments. | Thanks for the comments. |
| A government minister facing criticism after announcing a ‘Town of The Year’ competition in a city has claimed that it was not the official launch which will take place later this year. | A government minister facing criticism after announcing a ‘Town of The Year’ competition in a city has claimed that it was not the official launch which will take place later this year. |
| Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, defended statements about the city of Wolverhampton from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, which described it as a town on two occasions. | Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, defended statements about the city of Wolverhampton from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, which described it as a town on two occasions. |
| Nineteen years ago Wolverhampton was one of three towns named as a Millennium 2000 City after a decade-long campaign by local MPs and councillors, fighting off competition from 36 other places. | Nineteen years ago Wolverhampton was one of three towns named as a Millennium 2000 City after a decade-long campaign by local MPs and councillors, fighting off competition from 36 other places. |
| The disclosure in the Guardian was particularly embarrassing for Jenrick, who was born and educated in Wolverhampton, which became a city when he was 18. Civic figures have claimed it is proof that the Tories are paying lip service to the UK’s struggling towns. | The disclosure in the Guardian was particularly embarrassing for Jenrick, who was born and educated in Wolverhampton, which became a city when he was 18. Civic figures have claimed it is proof that the Tories are paying lip service to the UK’s struggling towns. |
| In an interview with Sky News on Thursday, Jenrick claimed that his department did not get it wrong and denied that he did not know that Wolverhampton was a city. He said: | In an interview with Sky News on Thursday, Jenrick claimed that his department did not get it wrong and denied that he did not know that Wolverhampton was a city. He said: |
| Jenrick’s claims that the competition has not yet been launched appear to be contradicted by his own departmental press release which was sent to the media on Wednesday. It reads: “Communities secretary announces new Town of the Year competition to celebrate thriving towns.” It goes on to say Jenrick would be in Wolverhampton and quotes him as saying: “To celebrate the achievements of our towns, we are launching a national Town of the Year competition.” | Jenrick’s claims that the competition has not yet been launched appear to be contradicted by his own departmental press release which was sent to the media on Wednesday. It reads: “Communities secretary announces new Town of the Year competition to celebrate thriving towns.” It goes on to say Jenrick would be in Wolverhampton and quotes him as saying: “To celebrate the achievements of our towns, we are launching a national Town of the Year competition.” |
| Andrew Gwynne, the shadow communities secretary, said: | Andrew Gwynne, the shadow communities secretary, said: |
| The Labour MP Justin Madders says he has nominated Lisa Nandy for leader, and Angela Rayner for deputy leader. | The Labour MP Justin Madders says he has nominated Lisa Nandy for leader, and Angela Rayner for deputy leader. |
| From my colleague Peter Walker | From my colleague Peter Walker |
| Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting who is standing for the deputy leadership, has drafted a code of conduct for leader and deputy leadership candidates to sign. She says Jess Phillips (here) and Emily Thornberry have backed it. | Rosena Allin-Khan, the Labour MP for Tooting who is standing for the deputy leadership, has drafted a code of conduct for leader and deputy leadership candidates to sign. She says Jess Phillips (here) and Emily Thornberry have backed it. |
| MPs have been debating the third reading of the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill. It has been a relatively pedestrian affair – it is hard to say anything new about Brexit at this point, ministers are not revealing much about their strategy for the trade talks, and the government majority means opposition MPs can do almost nothing to change the bill – but there are some quotes anyway, from the Press Association wire. | MPs have been debating the third reading of the EU (withdrawal agreement) bill. It has been a relatively pedestrian affair – it is hard to say anything new about Brexit at this point, ministers are not revealing much about their strategy for the trade talks, and the government majority means opposition MPs can do almost nothing to change the bill – but there are some quotes anyway, from the Press Association wire. |
| Paul Blomfield, the shadow Brexit minister, said the government should not assume that its election victory was a mandate for a very hard Brexit. He told MPs: | Paul Blomfield, the shadow Brexit minister, said the government should not assume that its election victory was a mandate for a very hard Brexit. He told MPs: |
| Fleur Anderson, the new Labour MP for Putney, said the bill could encourage racism. In her maiden speech she said: | Fleur Anderson, the new Labour MP for Putney, said the bill could encourage racism. In her maiden speech she said: |
| And the SNP’s Pete Wishart said the government was losing Scotland. He said: | And the SNP’s Pete Wishart said the government was losing Scotland. He said: |
| The troubled Northern rail franchise faces financial collapse within months, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has said, as the government set out a timetable to tackle the “unacceptable services” for rail passengers in the north. My colleague Gwyn Topham has the full story here. | The troubled Northern rail franchise faces financial collapse within months, Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, has said, as the government set out a timetable to tackle the “unacceptable services” for rail passengers in the north. My colleague Gwyn Topham has the full story here. |
| Nadia Whittome, the new Labour MP for Nottingham East, also says she is going to nominate Clive Lewis for Labour leader without necessarily planning to vote for him because she wants his ideas to be part of the debate. Lloyd Russell-Moyle is in this position too. (See 1.55pm.) | Nadia Whittome, the new Labour MP for Nottingham East, also says she is going to nominate Clive Lewis for Labour leader without necessarily planning to vote for him because she wants his ideas to be part of the debate. Lloyd Russell-Moyle is in this position too. (See 1.55pm.) |
| In Edinburgh, first minister’s questions – briefly interrupted by Extinction Rebellion climate protesters – were dominated by a domestic agenda today, but not without the usual thread of constitutional matters. The interim Conservative leader, Jackson Carlaw’s attack on Nicola Sturgeon’s education record probably has to be seen in the context of his current bid for party leadership to replace Ruth Davidson, as he promised that 2020 would be the year of holding the SNP government to account. | In Edinburgh, first minister’s questions – briefly interrupted by Extinction Rebellion climate protesters – were dominated by a domestic agenda today, but not without the usual thread of constitutional matters. The interim Conservative leader, Jackson Carlaw’s attack on Nicola Sturgeon’s education record probably has to be seen in the context of his current bid for party leadership to replace Ruth Davidson, as he promised that 2020 would be the year of holding the SNP government to account. |
| Likewise, the Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard, mounted a dissection of social care services, arguing that the failing integration of health and social care services alongside council funding cuts were the direct responsibility of the Scottish government. | Likewise, the Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard, mounted a dissection of social care services, arguing that the failing integration of health and social care services alongside council funding cuts were the direct responsibility of the Scottish government. |
| As usual, Westminster was not far away: Sturgeon responded that her government was working to protect heath and social care within a very constrained overall budget, the ultimate result of Westminster austerity. Similarly, she rebuffed attempts to criticise the SNP’s record by repeating that the public had given their verdict in last month’s election. One might argue this is not necessarily a direct conclusion of the SNP’s general election success, given that a Westminster campaign does not scrutinise their performance in Holyrood. | As usual, Westminster was not far away: Sturgeon responded that her government was working to protect heath and social care within a very constrained overall budget, the ultimate result of Westminster austerity. Similarly, she rebuffed attempts to criticise the SNP’s record by repeating that the public had given their verdict in last month’s election. One might argue this is not necessarily a direct conclusion of the SNP’s general election success, given that a Westminster campaign does not scrutinise their performance in Holyrood. |
| But when Brexit was mentioned directly, with a question about Wednesday’s decisive Holyrood vote to reject Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement, Sturgeon repeated what is now an entirely familiar call for Scotland to have the opportunity to decide its own future. While yesterday’s vote was entirely symbolic – Holyrood can’t bind the Westminster parliament in this way – it does add to the growing narrative of Scotland as entirely divergent politically from the rest of the UK. | But when Brexit was mentioned directly, with a question about Wednesday’s decisive Holyrood vote to reject Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement, Sturgeon repeated what is now an entirely familiar call for Scotland to have the opportunity to decide its own future. While yesterday’s vote was entirely symbolic – Holyrood can’t bind the Westminster parliament in this way – it does add to the growing narrative of Scotland as entirely divergent politically from the rest of the UK. |