Boris Johnson news: Tories on brink of losing majority as top Brexiteer attacks Farage for splitting by-election vote
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has suffered a blow to his authority after the Liberal Democrats overturned the Tory majority in Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, powered by a "Remain alliance".
Jo Swinson, the new Lib Dem leader, suggested future electoral pacts between pro-EU parties after Plaid Cymru and the Greens threw their weight behind her party for the ballot, which reduced the Tory majority to only one.
"It is still eminently possible to stop Brexit," she said, at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
"Delivering a People's Vote is still an option - the way in which in March we took control of the order paper - that is something which could be done again.
"We are going to explore different strategies."
She added: "What happened in March was that a motion was used to take control of the order paper, so that it was not only the Prime Minister or the leader of the House on a given day that was able to initiate what the business would be.
"So there are ways around it. And then you get into - is that better achieved by a vote of no confidence to bring the government down, or is it about bringing forward a Bill to secure a People's Vote."
Ms Swinson's comments come as a leaked Whitehall document laid bare widespread fears of consumer panic, rising crime and economic chaos in the aftermath a no-deal Brexit.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said the party's fourth place position in the by-election was "disappointing".
If you would like to see how events in Westminster unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Jeremy Corbyn has arrived at Scarborough Public Market, where he will meet shoppers to discuss the impact that a no-deal Brexit might have on their household food bills.
A study from the University of Sussex has suggested a departure from the European Union without a deal could cause the annual family shopping bill to rise by £220.
In the lead up to the visit, Mr Corbyn warned that Boris Johnson is "gambling with people's lives" by threatening a no-deal Brexit, after Chancellor Sajid Javid on Thursday announced £2.1 billion in funding to pay for preparation for such a scenario.
The Labour leader said: "After nine years of austerity holding down people's pay, with food bank use at an all-time high and with millions of people living in poverty in one of the richest countries in the world, a hike in food prices will be unaffordable for many families."
Defeat in the Brecon by-election has stymied any plans Boris Johnson had for an early general election, argues The Independent's political commentator John Rentoul.
Read his column here:
The Monetary Policy Committee sat on its hands because it has no better idea of how the Brexit mess will be resolved than you or I, writes Independent business commentator James Moore.
More here:
Jeremy Corbyn has been speaking to journalists on a visit to Scarborough to highlight food poverty.
Asked about Labour's performance in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, where the party finished fourth, Mr Corbyn said: "Well it was obviously disappointing.
"The Liberal Democrats won it after doing a deal with Plaid Cymru and the Greens.
"I think that a lot of voters were determined to get rid of the Conservative, and they voted accordingly. So we were squeezed, but it's a place we have not held for a very long time. The area has changed a bit."
He also spoke about the potential "catastrophic" impact of no-deal, saying: "A no-deal Brexit would mean a rapid rise in food prices, it would mean probably a loss of tourists from Europe coming.
"It would mean a massive impact on the manufacturing industry all across the north of England, because the manufacturing industries mainly supply to Europe. Tariffs will come in, therefore that market will go."
Asked how Labour would prevent such a scenario, he said: "Explain to people the dangers of a no-deal Brexit, explain the problems on food prices, explain the problems of a non-existent trade deal with the United States and the problems with the British manufacturing industry."
Donald Trump and Boris Johnson discussed issues including "trade, 5G and global security" in a call on Thursday.
A White House spokesman said: "The President reiterated his strong appreciation for the special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom and noted he is looking forward to meeting with the Prime Minister at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France later this month."
Dominic Raab has blamed Russia for the collapse of a landmark arms control treaty, saying Moscow has been "secretly developing and deploying a treaty-violating missile system which can target Europe's capitals".
Don’t listen to the Brexiteer bluff – Ireland is not to blame for their disaster, writes The Independent's Ben Kelly.
Read his piece here:
New advert from the Brexit Party - following the concern from Tories over the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election result.
The Conservatives lost the seat to the Lib Dems but they could have held onto it if the Brexit Party had thrown its weight behind the party.
Instead, the Brexit Party took 10% of the vote and split the Eurosceptic voters.
Moderate Conservatives have warned that hardline Brexiteers are determined to “force no-deal on the country” after a senior European Research Group official said its members would vote down a deal with Brussels even if the controversial backstop was removed.
One former minister said Boris Johnson had made himself “the willing prisoner” of the group of eurosceptic backbenchers and was doing everything he could to make a “catastrophic” no-deal happen.
More here
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