Brexit news: Jeremy Hunt claims Merkel is willing to look at new deal as PM hopeful lays out withdrawal plans
All the developments from Westminster on Monday
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Your support makes all the difference.Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt has unveiled his 10-point plan to handle a no-deal Brexit, vowing to “cease all discussions” with Brussels on 30 September if the EU fails to budge.
He also claimed to have been told by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, that she would be willing to look at any new Brexit the next British PM comes up with.
It came as his rival, Boris Johnson, was heckled at a garden centre and accused of misrepresenting the ideas of a 14th century Tunisian scholar after claiming he could cut taxes and increase revenue.
Meanwhile, pro-Jeremy Corbyn organisation Momentum has launched a fresh drive to unseat Mr Johnson – who could not name the amount paid under the living wage during his latest TV interview – at the next general election.
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Brexit can only be stopped if Labour becomes a Remain party and allies itself with like-minded others, writes Indy commentator Sean O’Grady.
He claims Unite boss Len McClusky is doing more than any other figure to ensure Brexit happens, including Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.
Make up your own mind by reading his piece.
Jeremy Corbyn, still angry about claims reports emerging that government officials had claimed he was “too frail” to be PM, is heading into the Commons chamber for a point of order on the matter.
The new PM might be able to renegotiate part of the document setting out future relations with the EU, the UK’s longest serving MEP has claimed.
Veteran Labour politician David Martin said European leaders would be “open to a discussion on how we might change the Political Declaration”.
But Mr Martin, who has spent 35 years as an MEP, said he could not see "”any momentum” within to make changes to the formal Withdrawal Agreement despite claims to the contrary by both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt.
“I don’t think there is unanimity anymore,” said Martin. “I think that are some member states, perhaps led by the French, who think that even a hard Brexit would do less damage than continuing the psycho-drama we're engaged in.
“There are some countries who now just want it over like, I think sadly, a big section of the British population. And there are others like Chancellor Merkel, whose power is waning a little bit now ... who is prepared to give Britain as long as it wishes.”
Newsnight’s political editor Nicholas Watt says Jeremy Corbyn “is confident he knows the identity of the official who briefed against him”.
The Labour leader, remember, is very upset about reports claiming government officials fear he is “too frail” to be prime minister.
The director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies has again criticised the tax and spending plans offered by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, who have both claimed there is £26bn worth of “headroom” in the government coffers to help the UK sail through the Brexit process.
Paul Johnson told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “The problem is, of course, if we don’t get a deal, if we go out with a no-deal type Brexit, then the economy will grow less quickly, we will lose that fiscal headroom and there certainly won’t be scope in the long run for spending increases and tax cuts, although you might need to do something in the short run to cushion the economy from the immediate shock.”
Remarkable pictures coming in from Hong Kong, where protesters have stormed the headquarters of the city’s Legislative Council and spray-painting the building.
Jeremy Hunt, still the UK’s foreign secretary as well as a Tory leadership campaigner, has condemned violence but backed the right to peaceful protest.
The BBC’s political editor points out that the Office Budget Responsibility requires eight weeks to prepare for a government budget, even though Jeremy Hunt promised earlier to have an emergency one in early September.
Fair to say the Tory leadership candidates’ tax and spending promises have not been well received today.
Here’s our deputy political editor Rob Merrick with more on the accusations that Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are trying to dupe the public with a series of “extraordinary” pledges.
Easy to believe politicians across Britain are permanently at each other’s throats these days. But UK and Scottish Government ministers have joined the leaders of both English and Scottish councils in the Borders to forge an unprecedented £395m cross-border economic deal.
The growth deal is the first cross-border deal of its kind, bringing together five local authorities - Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Borders Council, Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, and Northumberland County Council.
The UK Government is investing up to £265 million, £200 million of which is going south of the border, while the Scottish Government has pledged £85 million and the five local authorities will contribute a total of £44.5 million.
Further plans, all subject to business case approval, include upgrading Carlisle station, developing a mountain bike innovation centre in the Borders and creating a dairy innovation centre in Dumfries and Galloway. The agreement is a major step towards signing a full deal to extend the Borders railway line from Tweedbank to Carlisle.
Labour MP Jon Trickett has raised a point of order in the Commons, demanding a statement on the “unconstitutional intervention” by senior civil servants reported to have questioned the health of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd has responded, explaining that the cabinet secretary will soon be writing to Corbyn. Rudd added: “We have complete confidence in the fairness and the independence of the civil service, and they have said they will respond and I frankly question the good judgment of the shadow minister for bringing it up in the House at this stage before they have had the chance to do so.”
Speaker John Bercow also said of Corbyn: “The leader of the opposition looks perfectly healthy to me. I've known him a long time. He's a very healthy-living fellow in my experience.” Bercow added: “On a serious note, I do think the convention is sacred and it really shouldn't brook of any dispute across the House and it might be best to leave it there.”
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