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As it happenedended

Brexit news: Conservatives plotting to change rules to stop Johnson being toppled by own party as soon as he becomes PM

As it happened

Jon Sharman
Friday 19 July 2019 15:18 BST
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Boris Johnson says his first task if he becomes Prime Minister will be to launch a huge no deal ‘public information campaign’ to help minimise any possible disruption

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Senior Tories are considering changing party rules to stop Boris Johnson facing a no-confidence vote within the first year of being prime minister, by preventing a vote of no-confidence in the leader being called until they had been in office for at least 12 months.

It came after Philip Hammond suggested he would be willing to vote against the next Conservative government in a vote of no confidence if it pursued a no-deal Brexit.

The chancellor’s latest comments followed a claim by leading Tory Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg, a supporter of Mr Johnson, that suspending parliament so that MPs cannot stop the next prime minister forcing through a no-deal Brexit “may have to happen”. The leading Tory Eurosceptic said he did not support a lengthy prorogation but that parliament could have to be closed for one or two days.

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The Electoral Commission is coming under pressure after losing its case against Darren Grimes.

Jon Sharman19 July 2019 17:35

Labour shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry is reportedly receiving treatment in hospital after being knocked off her bicycle by a vehicle in Parliament Square in Westminster at lunch time. 

A spokesperson for Ms Thornberry told the Huffington post: “Emily is recovering in hospital, and is hugely grateful for the support of the ambulance crew and A&E staff who have helped her since this accident.

“We hope she will be back on her feet, back to work, and back on her bike as soon as possible."

Harry.Cockburn19 July 2019 17:59

Labour is apparently running two new adverts on Facebook, with one calling for a general election and another calling for a referendum on whatever Brexit deal is coming. 

Harry.Cockburn19 July 2019 18:03

Donald Trump is apparently looking forward to a Boris Johnson premiership:

Harry.Cockburn19 July 2019 18:10

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has been discharged from hospital after being knocked off her bicycle as she left Parliament.

The Labour frontbencher thanked hospital staff and the ambulance crew who helped her following the accident.

Ms Thornberry was treated in hospital after colliding with a taxi as she cycled around Parliament Square at lunchtime on Friday, it is understood.

A spokesman said: "Emily has now been discharged from hospital, and is hugely grateful for the support of the ambulance crew and A&E staff who helped her following her accident.

"She will be back to work and back on her bike as soon as possible."

Harry.Cockburn19 July 2019 19:05

Iran has seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

Read The Independent's report here:

Harry.Cockburn19 July 2019 19:52

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