Boris Johnson news: Five go forward in Labour leadership race after last-minute nominations scramble, as Tory ‘Festival of Brexit’ plans ridiculed
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Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry made it through to the next stage of the Labour leadership contest after Clive Lewis dramatically abandoned his bid moments before the deadline.
It comes as Boris Johnson visited Belfast and praised the “wonderful” compromise from all Northern Ireland’s political parties in getting Stormont back up and running after a three-year impasse.
Mr Johnson is to press ahead with a cultural celebration after the UK’s exit from the EU dubbed the “Festival of Brexit”, despite concerns about the £120m cost. The organiser has been mocked for claiming it will bring “joy, hope and happiness”.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
Lord Pannick: Government trying to control ‘fundamental’ part of legal system
The House of Lords will begin scrutinising Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill this week, with plenty of peers vowing to challenge various aspects of the legislation MPs were not able to amend.
Lord Pannick – the peer who led the case against the government during prorogation – has warned the withdrawal agreement bill gives ministers the power to decide which British courts are no longer bound by previous European Court of Justice (ECJ) rulings.
He thinks it’s wrong for the government to control a “fundamental aspect of our legal system”.
Before the Tory election victory, the bill allowed for only the UK’s Supreme Court to overrule ECJ precedence.
Meanwhile the Irish deputy PM Simon Coveney has poured scorn on Johnson’s promise a trade deal by the end of 2020, saying it’s “probably going to take longer than a year”.
No leadership hustings in Labour’s ‘red wall’ heartlands
Candidates in the race to replace Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader have criticised the party’s decision to ignore parts of the so-called “red wall” for its hustings.
Frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer said he was “disappointed” debates would not be held in the South East, east of England or Yorkshire – where Labour lost several key seats.
Wakefield, Don Valley, Great Grimsby and Rother Valley were among long-held Labour constituencies to fall to the Tories in December as the so-called “red wall” of seats in the North and Midlands collapsed.
Hustings for the leader and deputy leader elections kick off on Saturday in Liverpool, with events planned each weekend in cities including Durham, Bristol, Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow and London. There will also be hustings in the West Midlands and Bedford.
The shadow Brexit secretary, who has 68 nominations from the parliamentary party, tweeted: “I’m disappointed the Party hasn’t organised hustings in the South East, East of England or Yorkshire. Labour can win the next election, but only if we win back people’s trust across the UK.
“I’ll be writing to the NEC tomorrow asking them to reconsider.”
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy, who has 24 nominations, said: “As I have repeatedly said, the Labour Party has lost seats for the first time in our history in areas like Bolsover, Wrexham and Stoke.
“The failure to debate the future of our party in communities like these shows that we are part of the problem.”
Festival of Brexit dismissed as ‘bonfire of money’
More reaction to the so-called “Festival of Brexit” – the government’s planned 2022 national cultural celebration defended by its chief organiser as a way to help us “re-find common ground”.
Anti-Brexit campaign Mike Galsworthy, founder of the Scientists for EU group, called the “vanity project” as a “bonfire of money”.
The writer Marcus Chown joked: “Apparently, when you go to the Festival of Brexit Britain, you'll be able to refuse to pay the entrance fee and demand unlimited access to all the attractions.”
Michael Dougan, professor of European law at the University of Liverpool, said he looked forward to “celebrating the grotesque triumph of charlatans, the alienation of millions of migrant citizens, the mass removal of rights and protections and the squandering of international influence through the medium of creative dance”.
PM meets newly-appointed NI leaders
Boris Johnson has met Stormont’s newly-appointed leaders for talks set to focus on how much the government will stump up to support the return of devolution.
The PM and Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith were greeted by DUP first minister Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill outside Stormont Castle in Belfast.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar is also due at Stormont on Monday as he Johnson mark the resurrection of the institutions after a three-year political impasse.
Ahead of Johnson’s arrival, a Stormont minister said he expected the ‘overnment to deliver at least £2bn to support the power-sharing deal outlined in the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ draft agreement.
DUP agriculture minister Edwin Poots warned that the money could come with “strings attached”, potentially by way of a commitment from the executive to raise extra revenue through the introduction of water charges or a hike in rates bills.
Boris Johnson, Michelle O'Neill, Arlene Foster and Julian Smith (Reuters)
Iran’s ambassador to the UK summoned by Foreign Office
The Iranian ambassador to the UK has been summoned by the Foreign Office in response to the “unacceptable” arrest of the British ambassador in Tehran, Downing Street said.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We have summoned the Iranian ambassador today to the Foreign Office to convey our strong objections.”
It follows the arrest of Rob Macaire, the UK ambassador to Iran, on Saturday night after he attended a vigil for those who died when an Iranian missile shot down a passenger plane. Police briefly detained Macaire, who said he went to the event without knowing it would turn into a protest.
The PM’s spokesman said was an unacceptable breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. “We are seeking full assurances from the Iranian government that this will never happen again.”
Families of the victims of the downed Ukrainian International Airlines flight could seek compensation from the Iranian government, Downing Street also indicated.
The spokesman said: “As a first step we need a comprehensive, transparent and independent investigation to know exactly what happened. Of course the families of the four British victims deserve justice and closure and we will continue to do everything we can to support them in getting that, including options for compensation.”
Iranians protest outside British embassy on Sunday (AP)
Corbyn’s son pleads for support on behalf of Richard Burgon
Tommy Corbyn – Jeremy Corbyn’s son – has appealed for support for deputy Labour leadership candidate Richard Burgon.
The shadow justice secretary – flagbearer for the Corbyn project – had only 18 nominations as of Sunday. He needs four more before the 2.30pm deadline to advance to the next stage.
Corbyn’s son called the situation “a travesty” and called Burgon “one of the most dedicated and committed socialists” in the party.
‘Festival of Brexit’ boss says 2022 event will bring ‘joy and happiness’ despite ridicule
The boss of a new £120 million national festival planned for 2022 has claimed he will “bring the nation together” with “joy, hope and happiness”.
Martin Green’s event has been mocked as a “festival of Brexit” ever since it was announced by former prime minister Theresa May in 2018. It was given the go-ahead by Boris Johnson last year.
Green, who oversaw the Olympic ceremonies and Hull during its year as UK City of Culture, told The Guardian there was “no doubt that we have been through a particularly divisive time in the discourse of our daily lives, and as we go forward, let’s see how the great creativity and ingenuity of the UK can help re-find that common ground”.
Boris Johnson is greeted by Arlene Foster at Stormont
The prime minister has travelled to Northern Ireland to meet party leaders in the newly established Assembly. Powersharing between Sinn Fein and the DUP broke down in 2017 but the deadlock was finally resolved at the end of last week.
Sources say Dawn Butler has secured the minimum MP nominations for deputy leader ballot
Shadow cabinet minister Dawn Butler appears to have secured the necessary 22 endorsements to pass the first hurdle, a source says.
Official confirmation will come at 2.30pm, when the ballot closes. Angela Rayner and Ian Murray have both already passed the threshold - but Richard Burgon and Rosena Allin-Khan are still struggling to get enough backers.
Editors urged PM to review changes to lobby briefings
An open letter signed by every national editor as well as several prominent regional and broadcast editors, has been sent to Boris Johnson – urging the PM to address concerns over the new system for Westminster lobby correspondents.
Correspondents now have to leave parliament and negotiate the Downing Street security system before attending briefings (now held at No 9). There are no longer allowed to bring their mobile phones.
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