Brexit news - LIVE: Rory Stewart attacks Boris Johnson as Labour reveals plan to block no deal

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Rory Stewart questions Boris Johnson's abilities as he launches Conservative leadership bid

Labour has joined with MPs from other parties, including senior Conservatives, to launch a fresh bid to block a no-deal Brexit. The party will force a vote on Wednesday on a motion to stop the government taking Britain out of the EU without an exit deal.

The news came shortly after the EU dismissed Tory leadership candidates’ claims that they will be able to renegotiate Theresa May’s deal. A spokesperson for the European Commission insisted the bloc would “not change the parameters of what is on the table”.

Boris Johnson picked up further endorsements from Tory Brexiteers to succeed Ms May. Launching his leadership bid on Tuesday evening, Rory Stewart attacked the credentials of Mr Johnson and jokingly compared him to a “prancing elephant”.

Key Points

• Labour to force vote that would pave the way for law to block no-deal Brexit
• EU dismisses suggestions that new prime minister will be able to renegotiate Brexit deal
• Boris Johnson receives backing of former Tory leader
• ... as former foreign secretary is urged to give 'clear answers' about past cocaine use
• Matt Hancock promises immediate Commons vote on Brexit plan
• Rory Stewart compares Boris Johnson to 'prancing elephant'

[11 June 2019 14:48 · Benjamin Kentish]

Oof. Labour MP Anna Turley has described last night's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party as "messy" and difficult, saying: "I think the cleaners are probably still mopping up the blood on the carpet."

[11 June 2019 15:06 · Benjamin Kentish]

Voters are opposed to parliament being suspended to force through a no-deal Brexit, a new poll has found.

According to the YouGov survey, 47 per cent said they would not support it, compared to 24 per cent who would.

However, 45 per cent of Leave voters back the move, while 28 per cent disagree.​

Most of the Tory leadership candidates have ruled out proroguing parliament if MPs try to block no deal, but Dominic Raab has left the option on the table.

[11 June 2019 15:36 · Benjamin Kentish]

BREAKING: Labour has said it will launch a new bid tomorrow to make a no-deal Brexit illegal. 

Along with other parties, it will force a vote that would pave the way for new legislation to prevent whoever succeeds Theresa May from opting for no deal.

The motion to be voted on on Wednesday would set time aside on 25 June for MPs to debate legislation that would instruct the government to seek to delay Brexit again rather than leave the EU without a deal.

Keir Starmer MP, the shadow Brexit secretary, said: 

“The debate on Brexit in the Tory leadership contest has descended into the disturbing, the ludicrous and the reckless.

“None of the likely candidates for the top job has a credible plan for how to break the deadlock before the end of October. Instead, we have witnessed candidates openly advocating a damaging no deal Brexit and even proposing dragging the Queen into politics by asking her to shut down Parliament to achieve this.

“MPs cannot be bystanders while the next Tory Prime Minister tries to crash the UK out of the European Union without a deal and without the consent of the British people. That’s why we are taking this latest measure to end the uncertainty and protect communities across the country. 

“My challenge to MPs who disagree either with a no deal Brexit or proroguing Parliament is to back this motion and act in the national interest.”

[11 June 2019 15:50 · Benjamin Kentish]

Rory Stewart's campaign launch is this evening, and he's just released this video ahead of the event. It seems that, in between roaming Britain's streets, he has also found time for a haircut.

[11 June 2019 16:08 · Benjamin Kentish]

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, has claimed UK politicians are more interested in ousting Theresa May than solving Brexit

[11 June 2019 16:29 · Benjamin Kentish]

Full story: Labour announces bid to block new Tory PM from forcing no-deal Brexit

[11 June 2019 16:44 · Benjamin Kentish]

Strong words from Jean-Claude Juncker, who says (again) that the current Brexit deal will not be able to be renegotiated by a new prime minister. 

The outgoing European Commission president tells a POLITICO event: 

"This is not a treaty between Theresa May and Juncker. This a treaty between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

"It has to be respected. It has to be respected by whomsoever will be the next British prime minister.

"There will be no renegotiations as far as the content of the Withdrawal Agreement is concerned.

"We can have some clarifications - precisions, additions - to the Political Declaration concerning the future of our organisations. The Withdrawal Agreement will not be renegotiated."

[11 June 2019 17:02 · Benjamin Kentish]

Michael Gove denies Brexit campaign led to increase in hate crime, despite police evidence

 

 

[11 June 2019 17:51 · Adam Forrest]

Tory Leadership hopeful Andrea Leadsom said she would “never say never” to another referendum on Scottish independence, but stressed that it would not be in the interests of either Scotland or the UK.

She said it would be “disrespectful” to the Scottish Parliament for her to rule out a referendum completely if she becomes prime minister, but she would fight against it.

The Tory leadership hopeful told a Westminster lunch: “The reason I say “never say never” is because I do not think that there should be another independence referendum in Scotland, I do not think it's in their interest, but on the other hand I am a big believer in devolution.

“So, what I just want to say is I am not going to stand here and utterly rule it out because I think that that is disrespectful. But I would very strongly fight against a second referendum, which I don't think is in the interest of Scotland and it's definitely not in the interests of the UK.”

[11 June 2019 17:58 · Adam Forrest]

Rory Stewart has officially now launched his bid to be next Tory leader and prime minister.

Addressing an audience inside the Spiegeltent, at the Underbelly Festival on London's south bank, the international development secretary said the British people wanted leadership.

In a video realised just before his speech, he vowed to “absolutely, clinically realistic about where we are, what our options are and where we are going”.