Brexit news: Theresa May warns against no-deal Brexit as Tory leadership race swells to 10 candidates
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Theresa May has warned her successor against pursuing a no-deal Brexit as the EU rebuffed the hopes of Tory leadership contenders by refusing to reopen talks.
Ms May told reporters in Brussels that the next Tory leader must "get a consensus" as the number of Conservatives jockeying to replace her reached double figures.
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, one of the candidates, warned the Tories a no-deal exit would be "catastrophic", in a warning to rivals such as Esther McVey who are actively pursuing such an outcome.
Elsewhere, Speaker John Bercow fanned the flames by telling an audience in Washington that it would "inconceivable" for parliament to lack a voice over the shape of Brexit.
In another dramatic day in Westminster, the equality watchdog announced a formal investigation into antisemitism in Labour, while the Muslim Council of Britain demanded the Conservatives face a probe into claims of Islamophobia.
Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alistair Campbell was also expelled from Labour after admitting he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European election
See below for live updates
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (PA/family handout)
Jeremy Hunt has said the government will “keep leaving no stone unturned” in the case of incarcerated charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
The foreign secretary said the government was “very happy” for a court hearing, which campaigners have linked to the Anglo-Iranian mother’s case, to be made public.
The case relates to reported Iranian demands for £400m after a past dispute about military equipment.
Mr Hunt told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Well first of all I think Richard Ratcliffe is an incredibly brave man. I want to reassure him that there is no policy to keep these court hearings private.
“It is an arbitration procedure which is normally held in private unless someone applies for it to be made public and we're very happy for it to be made public.
“The reality is that Nazanin is an entirely innocent woman who is being held as a tool of diplomatic leverage by Iran and we don’t know exactly what it is they’re looking for, but the problem is if you pay ransom money to someone who is a hostage, then all that happens is you might get that hostage out, but the next time they want something, they'll just take someone else hostage, that is the conundrum you have.”
Conservative leadership hopeful Rory Stewart has won plaudits after posting a video of himself speaking in Dari, the language of Afghanistan.
The international development secretary tweeted the clip of himself on Monday speaking to a member of the public in Barking, east London, alongside the comment “practising my now - rather rusty - Dari”.
Mr Stewart, seen by bookmakers as an outsider for the top job, lived in Afghanistan for several years as chairman of a human development organisation.
He has since been called upon as a political adviser on the country and presented a BBC documentary called Afghanistan: The Great Game.
Social media commentators noted that his “rusty” use of the language was actually quite impressive.
“One of the better conversational Daris I’ve heard from expats,” wrote author and Afghanistan analyst Ahmad Shuja.
Former Conservative MEP Sajjad Karim tweeted: “This is what Britain needs in its leader today. I’m supporting Rory for leader of Conservatives because he has what it takes.”
Kabul-based journalist Thomas Watkins responded: “Sounds pretty good to me...”
Some breaking news: The UK’s equality watchdog will launch a formal investigation into whether Labour has “unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people" from the Jewish community.
Updates here as we get them.
A social media campaign to make Boris Johnson the next prime minister is being run by the owner of the notorious political website Guido Fawkes, it has been revealed.
A website called Boris2020.org is urging members of the public to get “Get Boris On The Ballot” – claiming there is a “plot” by pro-EU Conservative MPs to thwart him.
The adverts have provoked suspicion because they are similar to the online campaign, earlier this year, to pressure MPs to vote against Theresa May’s doomed deal.
Read the full story from our deputy political editor Rob Merrick:
An MEP of Asian origin was heckled with shouts of “go home” by Brexit Party supporters during her acceptance speech following her re-election to the European Parliament.
British Sikh Neena Gill’s speech was loudly interrupted by angry supporters of Nigel Farage's Eurosceptic party during the declaration of results for the West Midlands in Birmingham on Sunday night.
West Midlands Labour said the heckles exposed an “ugly truth” about the Brexit Party – and Ms Gill sent out a message on social media characterising the incident as “racism”.
However, Brexit Party spokesmen said their supporters had been enraged by Ms Gill claiming in her speech that they were racists and fascists, and denied that the “go home” heckle had a racist intent.
More from our political editor Andrew Woodcock here:
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage (AP/Alastair Grant)
Alastair Campbell has been expelled by Labour after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections to push for a fresh Brexit referendum.
Tony Blair’s former spin chief attacked the decision, contrasting the ruthless approach with “the way antisemitism cases have been handled”.
“I have been advised by lawyers with expertise in this field I have grounds for appeal against expulsion and shall do so,” Mr Campbell tweeted.
A Labour Party spokesman said “support for another political party or candidate is incompatible with party membership”.
Conservative leadership hopeful Rory Stewart says he would thrash out a new Brexit deal with a “Macron-style Citizen’s Assembly” chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury and including figures ranging from Unite’s Len McCluskey to, “if necessary”, Nigel Farage.
The international development secretary told the Evening Standard he was ready to contact the Brexit Party leader.
“I am the last person he will expect to hear from and that is a powerful position to come from,” he said.
Rory Stewart (Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty)
Prime minister Theresa May (Dan Kitwood/Getty)
Theresa May’s Brexit legislation may now be scrapped following her decision to quit as Tory leader on 7 June, Downing Street indicated.
The Withdrawal Agreement Bill had been due to be published in the week beginning 3 June, according to plans set out before the prime minister announced her decision to step down as leader of the Conservative Party.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We now have to reflect on the fact that we are in a different position.”
Britain’s largest Muslim organisation has called for a formal investigation into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) sent more than 20 pages of evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, in the wake of the government’s refusal to adopt a proposed definition on Islamophobia.
Its complaint accused the Tories of “ignoring” calls for an independent inquiry on anti-Muslim hatred and failing to take action against Islamophobes in its ranks.
More here from our Home Affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden:
Brexit minister James Cleverly is rumoured to be the 11th person to declare their candidacy to be Tory leader.
A flashy website has appeared under the banner "Let's All Win with James Cleverly", setting out his pitch - although it's important to note that this has not been officially confirmed.
Describing the 49-year-old former soldier as "the future leader of our party and our country", the site says that only Cleverly can make the Tories "electable".
"He can offer something new, by saying something new," said the site. "We believe that James can level the playing field in a country that has become too divided." There was no immediate confirmation from Mr Cleverly's office that he was preparing a bid."
After the European elections, Mr Cleverly tweeted:
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