“Jeremy Corbyn has launched an independent inquiry into anti-Semitism in the Labour party amid pressure to expel Ken Livingstone. The panel, led by former Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti, will offer guidance about anti-Semitism and other forms of racism – despite the Labour leader insisting yesterday there was ‘no crisis’.” – Daily Mail
Livingstone:
Labour:
Corbyn:
“Our political home has been squatted in by careless, incompetent fools, too arrogant even to see what harm they do. “Racism is normally an attribute of the right,” said Jon Trickett, MP, a Corbyn ally, on Newsnight. Yes, the left are the good guys; no need for a party inquiry, to look into our souls. We are the righteous; ergo everything we do is right.” – The Times (£)
>Today:
>Yesterday:
“Mothers should vote for Britain to leave the European Union to give their children “rewarding careers” one of the leading Brexit ministers has said today. Ms Leadsom said that the prospects for “our children and grandchildren outside the EU have never been better”. The comments will be seen as a direct challenge to the Remain campaigners who are urging voters to stay in the UK for the sake of their children.” – Daily Telegraph
“Those who want to leave the EU to achieve “undiluted sovereignty” should “go to North Korea”, Sir John Major has said. The former Conservative prime minister accused the Leave campaign of “faux-patriotism” and “mindless soundbites”, as he made the case for remaining in the EU. He said Britain “gain more than we give” and “win more than we lose” from our membership of the European Union.” – Daily Telegraph
“The failure of the Government’s recent renegotiation of our membership to bring back any powers over immigration demonstrated that other EU nations and the Brussels elite just aren’t interested in reforming Europe. What they are determined to do is deepen and widen their political union. And because our veto was watered down in the recent negotiations, the countries of the eurozone now have the power to get their way, unimpeded, on a slew of European issues. We can no longer prevent them imposing their will on us.” – Daily Mail
“George Osborne made his ambition to become Tory leader clearer than ever last night after making a string of gags mocking Boris Johnson – and even joked that he wished the Mayor of London had been executed. The Chancellor joked he had ‘nothing against uncontested leadership elections’ before laying into the Mayor of London, his main rival for the top job.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
“Mr Goldsmith was asked about tolls and said he would be in favour of introducing them for new traffic bridges. “There is no doubt that we need new river crossings to the east of London and that without those crossings, London will continue to grind to a standstill and we won’t get new homes. The only way to pay for those river crossings, given the lack of finance, is by introducing charging for those crossings, for those new conveniences.”” – The Times (£)
“The Education Secretary is expected to remain defiant on plans to turn every school into an academy as she refuses to offer any more concessions despite warnings from her own party. There have been claims that Nicky Morgan had been forced to offer concessions, with suggestions that the best performing councils could run their own academy chains. But Mrs Morgan is set to offer a robust defence of the academies plan, which will see every school turned into an academy by 2022…” – Daily Telegraph
“Up to 30 Conservative MPs could rebel in a Commons vote against David Cameron’s refusal to let child refugees in Europe into Britain. To avoid a humiliating defeat, ministers are now reconsidering whether to offer sanctuary to thousands of unaccompanied children in camps on the Continent.” – Daily Mail
“Scottish Labour’s “civil war” over Trident has intensified after it emerged a senior member of Kezia Dugdale’s front bench has lobbied the UK party’s defence review to renew Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Jackie Baillie, who since 1999 has represented the Scottish Parliament’s Dumbarton constituency that includes Trident’s Faslane naval base, has tabled a submission to the review making the case that it should be retained.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
“A Labour MP has gone on trial accused of assaulting a Yes campaigner at a polling station on the day of the Scottish independence referendum. Marie Rimmer, 69, denies kicking Patricia McLeish and acting in a threatening or abusive manner towards her and fellow independence campaigner Dennis Ashcroft. Giving evidence, Miss McLeish, 52, said Rimmer, MP for St Helens South and Whiston, kicked her then “smirked” outside Shettleston community centre in Glasgow on 18 September 2014.” – The Scotsman
“Neil Hamilton saw his career as a Tory MP come to a crashing halt in 1997 after becoming embroiled in the “cash-for-questions” scandal. Yet the bow-tied Thatcherite politician, now familiar as a television personality alongside his wife Christine, is set to return to the political frontline — as one of Ukip’s first members of the Welsh assembly. Experts expect the anti-Brussels party to get six or seven members from the “list seats” based on regional vote share.” – FT
“Protesters have stormed police barricades and surrounded the California hotel where Donald Trump addressed a Republican gathering. Several hundred people gathered outside the hotel, many with “Dump Trump” signs or waving Mexican flags. Police had to separate them from smaller crowds of Trump supporters, at least one of whom claimed to have been attacked. A trump piñata was set on fire as obscenity-laden chants rang out.” – Daily Telegraph