David Cameron attacks ‘appalling’ successor after PM heckled and accosted in street during northern debacle
PM's last-but-one predecessor warns against a no-deal Brexit
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David Cameron has hit out at Boris Johnson and his Brexit strategy, saying the prime minister was wrong to suspend parliament and warning that a no-deal Brexit would be a “bad outcome”.
It rounded off a dismal day for the prime minister after a trip to Yorkshire descended into chaos when he was confronted by an angry voter over Brexit in Doncaster and heckled over the suspension of parliament during a speech in Rotherham.
The prime minister was setting out plans to hand more powers to the north of England, but was derailed by an audience member, who shouted: “Why are you not in parliament sorting out the mess you’ve created?”
Mr Johnson said he was “cautiously optimistic” of getting a Brexit deal as he prepared for talks on Monday with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president, and negotiator Michel Barnier.
He claimed there was the “rough shape” of a deal in place.
But he made clear that if he was unable to get a new deal, he would not be deterred by “shenanigans” at Westminster from taking Britain out of the EU by 31 October.
His last-but-one predecessor Mr Cameron claimed Mr Johnson had behaved “appallingly” during the Vote Leave campaign.
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DUP leader Arlene Foster has dismissed a report it will offer Boris Johnson a lifeline to help him unlock a Brexit deal.
A story in The Times said the unionists had agreed to shift its red lines on Brexit, saying it could accept Northern Ireland abiding by some EU rules post-Brexit as part of a new deal to replace the Irish backstop.
The paper claimed the DUP had also privately said it would drop its objection to regulatory checks in the Irish Sea, something it had previously said was unacceptable.
But Foster insisted: “UK must leave as one nation. We are keen to see a sensible deal but not one that divides the internal market of the UK.”
“We will not support any arrangements that create a barrier to East West trade.”
She added: “Anonymous sources lead to nonsense stories.”
DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson has also rejected reports that the party is softening its stance on Irish border backstop proposals.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the claims of shifting red lines in The Times were “untrue”.
However, Wilson said he detected a different tone in Brexit talks, stating: “I think that there was a different attitude in the talks between the prime minister and the taoiseach at the beginning of the week and there seemed to be less rhetoric at those discussions from what there had been in the past.
“And I suppose that’s progress. We want to see a deal, the UK government wants to see a deal. And I think that, as the deadline approaches, the Irish government recognise the damage to their economy if they don’t try and get some kind of arrangement with the UK.”
Tory MP Bernard Jenkin has accused accuses John Bercow of running a “majoritarian dictatorship” in the Commons.
The firm no-deal Brexit supporter told the Today programme that the speaker had too much power and was acting in a “partisan” manner – while defending the PM’s decision to shut down parliament.
John McDonnell said Labour have the “opportunity of a lifetime” to change the direction of political travel in the UK.
Ahead of a visit to Glasgow today, the shadow chancellor said that the party’s “time is coming”, amid suggestions that a general election will soon be held.
McDonnell will also outline his support for Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard.
He is expected to say: “We are presented with the opportunity of a lifetime to change the direction of political travel in the UK in a way not seen since the 1980s.
“Our time is coming and it may be coming quicker than anyone expected.”
McDonnell has also suggested Labour is seriously considering a four-day working week. “Watch this space,” said the shadow chancellor last night, promising the party would “study and draw upon” a report by Lord Skidelsky.
Former PM Gordon Brown has said Boris Johnson is “still not telling the truth” about the threat to medical supplies and food in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
It follows a statement by Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon revealing that the Yellowhammer dossier seen by her government was titled “base scenario” before it was changed to “worst case scenario” prior to its release for public consumption.
John Bercow has promised to use “additional procedural creativity” in the Commons this October to stop the government flouting the law and crashing Britain out of the EU without a deal.
The speaker also compared the PM to a bank robber. All the details here:
Labour is planning to take on private schools, scrapping their discounted business rates and charging VAT on fees if it comes to power, according to a leaked document.
The policy is estimated to have the potential to bring in £1.64bn a year.
More details here:
More evidence that the title of the Yellowhammer dossier was changed from “base scenario” to “worst case scenario” – from former Tory minister Rory Stewart.
If you missed Question Time last night, this was the only good bit.
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