“Labour’s Brexit policy was exposed as a shambles last night as the party’s divisions were laid bare. Jeremy Corbyn was forced to sack three shadow ministers after they defied his orders not to back a ‘soft’ Brexit. The Labour leader has been accused of cynically trying to face both ways on Europe. He is desperate to keep the support of both the party’s Brexit-backing Northern heartlands and pro-Remain cities such as London. But he suffered a humiliating rebellion yesterday as nearly 50 Labour MPs – a fifth of his party – supported an amendment to the Queen’s Speech calling for Britain to remain in the EU single market and the customs union. Shadow ministers Andy Slaughter, Ruth Cadbury and Catherine West were fired for joining the revolt. Shadow transport minister Daniel Zeichner quit before the vote.” – Daily Mail
More EU:
Comment:
>Today: LeftWatch: Slaughter slaughtered. Corbyn sacks him – and two other frontbenchers for joining a 50 Labour MP-strong anti-Brexit revolt
>Yesterday:
“Theresa May was forced into a new policy on abortion to halt a rebellion by Conservative backbenchers yesterday. In a move that was seized on as a sign of the government’s weak grip on power, the prime minister caved in to pressure to pay for abortions in England for Northern Irish women. A Labour amendment to the Queen’s Speech called on ministers to provide “adequate funding” for free terminations for women from the province, who must pay for them at present. Many Tory MPs also expressed concerns about the issue, prompting fears of a revolt in a vote last night on the Queen’s Speech.” – The Times (£)
Comment:
>Yesterday: Gary Porter in Local Government: A disappointing Queen’s Speech for local government
“Theresa May has secretly agreed to end the public sector pay cap after 20 senior Tory MPs marched on No10, The Sun can reveal. Amid a bitter Cabinet row, the PM and her Chancellor have publicly insisted the 1% cap on state wage rises until 2019 will stay. But during a secret meeting with Mrs May’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell, the posse of senior Conservatives were told the duo will end it to give five million state workers’ pay a decent hike. They were also told the announcement will come later in the year, so the PM is not seen to be giving in to “Comrade Corbyn”. The delegation – which included at least three ex-ministers and a former party chairman – demanded the showdown on Wednesday afternoon.” – The Sun
Osborne:
Comment:
Editorial:
>Today: ToryDiary: Voter satisfaction with public services – higher under the Conservatives than Labour
>Yesterday:
“Andrea Leadsom is being urged by “dozens of Tory MPs” to run for party leader again and oust Theresa May, it is being reported. The Prime Minister defeated her Cabinet colleague in last year’s leadership contest but she is under serious pressure after losing her Commons majority. According to BusinessInsider, friends of the Leader of the House want her to put her name forward a second tilt at the top job. She is the latest figure in the frame as a possible successor to Mrs May, who has faced calls after the disastrous election campaign. Allies of David Davis and Boris Johnosn have both accused each other of positioning themselves to make a leadership challenge. The Chancellor Philip Hammond and Home Secretary Amber Rudd have also been named as potential runners.” – The Sun
“Priti Patel has declared war on UN agencies, charities and fat cat suppliers squandering Britain’s bloated £13 billion foreign aid budget by pledging to crackdown on consultants’ perks. The International Development Secretary promised to impose stricter controls on daily allowances and travel expenses run up by organisations and firms contracted to run our aid programmes in a bid to protect taxpayers’ money. Daily pay rates for consultants working on foreign aid schemes in Africa’s poorest areas can run up to £600 a day – equivalent to a £150,000 salary. This comes on top of other expenses. And all UN agencies that spend Britain’s foreign aid cash take a seven per cent slice to pay for “overheads”.” – The Sun
“A university has been criticised for increasing the salary of its vice-chancellor by 55 per cent over six years, taking it £352,000 to a year. Southampton University, currently led by Sir Christopher Snowden, was singled out by universities minister Jo Johnson as an example of the ‘endless upward ratchet’ of fat cat pay since tuition fees started. Mr Johnson hit out at the ‘sharp increase’ handed out over six years and called for restraint. He warned that students have been raising concerns about high wage packets for senior staff after paying up to £9,250 a year for their course.” – Daily Mail
“The deadline for power-sharing talks in Northern Ireland has been extended until Monday, after no agreement was reached by 4pm today. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said it would provide “space and time” for both sides to come to an agreement. Earlier in the day, senior Democratic Unionist politician Edwin Poots had warned that the deadline would be missed. If a deal cannot be struck, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire could give Westminster a greater say in making decisions in Northern Ireland. Alternatively, he has the option of calling another Northern Ireland Assembly election or giving the parties more time to negotiate.” – The Independent
“The Conservatives are advertising for new campaign managers, fuelling speculation that the party is manoeuvring to a war footing for a possible second snap election. An advert for party campaign leaders in England and Wales was posted on the “Working for an MP” website and stated that recruitment would continue “until further notice”. It is understood that the Conservatives are seeking a marketing director. The recruitment drive at this period in the electoral cycle has triggered speculation among senior Tories that Theresa May’s minority government, which depends on the support of ten DUP MPs to survive, is so weak that another election could be in the offing this year or next year.” – The Times (£)
>Yesterday: Francis Maude in Comment: To win, we must modernise all over again
“A Tory MP refused to appear on Channel 4 News last night, saying he ‘couldn’t be sure’ of its impartiality because of presenter Jon Snow’s alleged political leanings. Former Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps’ comments came after Snow was accused of joining in a chant of ‘f*** the Tories’ whilst at Glastonbury last week. The 69-year-old journalist, who is one of Channel 4’s biggest names, is alleged to have told festival-goers: ‘I’m supposed to be neutral,’ after making the remarks. Snow later claimed he has ‘no recollection’ of the event, but he has since faced accusations of political bias.” – Daily Mail
Comment:
“A new definition of destitution that would significantly reduce the number of people considered to be among society’s poorest has been proposed by a senior Labour MP. Frank Field, a former work and pensions select committee chairman, will call for the government to establish an accurate figure for the number of people living in destitution in a speech today. This should be defined not by income, he argues, but by three factors: hunger, lack of access to gas and electricity and homelessness. Mr Field, who was appointed to lead a review of child poverty by David Cameron in 2010, is a longstanding critic of the present definition of poverty — households with less than 60 per cent of that year’s median income.” – The Times (£)
“Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to bar English students, armed forces personnel and second-home owners based in Scotland from voting in a second independence referendum, the responses to an official consultation have disclosed. A Scottish Government report analysing the responses to the SNP government’s draft Referendum Bill raised concerns by some who had submitted their views that those who has been “resident for a temporary or short period of time” would get a vote. These include “students from England or other countries”, members of the British armed forces based north of the Border and those “who own holiday homes in Scotland.” Some responses argued that personnel in the Army, Royal Air Force or Royal Navy based at one of Scotland’s many military bases should only get a vote if they were born in Scotland or their families were based there.” – Daily Telegraph
Comment:
“Commons Speaker John Bercow scandalised traditionalists today when he ditched the tradition that male MPs have to be wearing a tie to speak in the chamber. Mr Bercow outlined a break with the long-standing dress code by saying it was enough for politicians to be dressed in ‘business-like attire’… It marks the latest move by Mr Bercow to modernise proceedings in the Commons. On taking the Speaker’s chair in 2009 he dropped the previous tradition of Speakers wearing full ceremonial dress – including breeches – in the chamber. Instead Mr Bercow wears an ordinary business suit and black gown. Earlier this year he dropped the requirement for clerks to wear wigs earlier this year.” – Daily Mail