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Today’s political headlines includes Tory Candidates criticising Trump tweets but won’t say they’re racist, Johnson criticised for Islam comments, Rudd calls for more women in the Cabinet and Corbyn under pressure over antisemitism. 

Tory candidates criticise Trump tweets but won’t say they’re racist
The Times reports that Boris Johnson said that Donald Trump’s tweets about American congresswomen from minority backgrounds were ‘totally unacceptable’, while Jeremy Hunt said he would be ‘utterly appalled’ if such language was used against his half-Chinese children. However, neither of them would say that the tweets were racist. The paper adds that Johnson has refused to cut net migration, claiming that people had voted to ‘control’ it, not cut it, while Hunt claimed that the ‘spirit’ of the referendum would be ‘betrayed’ if it wasn’t cut.

Johnson criticised for Islam comments
The Guardian reports that Boris Johnson has been criticised over a claim in 2007 essay that the Muslim world was ‘literally centuries behind the west’ because of Islam, leading to ‘Muslim grievance’ being a factor in almost all conflicts. The Muslim Council of Britain said ‘many of us would be interested to find out whether Mr Johnson still believes that Islam inherently inhibits the path to progress’.

Rudd calls for more women in the Cabinet
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd says the new Prime Minister should appoint more women to the Cabinet, describing this as ‘one of the great feminist challenges of our time’. She argues that ‘if you don’t have women in politics, then women’s working lives are not taken seriously enough’.

Corbyn under pressure over antisemitism
The Guardian says that Jeremy Corbyn is under more pressure over antisemitism in Labour after over 200 current and past staff said he should resign if he couldn’t tackle the problem which, they claim, he has ‘moral responsibility’ for. A group of four peers have also written to Corbyn, offering to review the claims made on Panorama by former staff and to advise on setting up an independent complaints process.

Barclay tells Barnier Brexit deal is dead
The Times reports that Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay met with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier last week, telling him five times that the withdrawal agreement was ‘dead’, and leaving him ‘astonished and dismayed’. It says that the EU is now preparing for ‘brutal’ talks with the next Prime Minister, with an EU diplomat suggesting that ‘if this is what is coming then we will be heading for no deal very quickly’.

Domestic Abuse Bill to be introduced
The Daily Telegraph reports that the Domestic Abuse Bill will today be introduced into Parliament. One of the measures it will introduce is lie detector tests for domestic abusers to see if they are breaking their licences, as part of a three-year pilot. Other aspects include ‘exclusion zones’ around abused partners and the first legal definition of domestic abuse.

Gove to back comprehensive deposit return scheme
According to the Daily Mail, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary Michael Gove will today approve a comprehensive deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans, in what it claims is a ‘major rebuff to large retailers’. Gove will say that a comprehensive scheme will give a ‘clearer financial and social signal to recycle’ than a small-scale one.

May criticised for failure to condemn police threat over leaked cables
The Daily Telegraph says that Theresa May has been criticised after her official spokesman refused to condemn the Metropolitan Police for threatening to prosecute papers who publish more leaked diplomatic cables, saying only that ‘a free press is one of the foundations on which our democracy rests’.

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Today’s political headlines includes Johnson backing the Veterans Pledge, Hunt Promises to expand navy, 30 whistleblowers to give evidence on Labour antisemitism and May’s last interview. 

Johnson backs ‘Veterans Pledge’
The Sun reports that Boris Johnson has backed its ‘Veterans Pledge’, promising to pass a new law to end ‘unfair trials’ of soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The pledge also means that he has backed creating an independent veterans department and enshrining the military covenant into law.

Hunt promises to expand navy
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Jeremy Hunt claims the Royal Navy has been ‘run down too much’, and should be ‘expanded’ to tackle ‘deeply troubling’ events in the Middle East. He promises to increase the number of warships and carrier-based jets as ‘boosting our hard power is the surest way to keep Britain respected overseas’.

30 whistleblowers to give evidence on Labour antisemitism
The Guardian says that over 30 whistleblowers, including current staff, are to submit evidence to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about antisemitism in the Labour Party. Some members of Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) are worried that it isn’t doing enough to prepare for the EHRC investigation. Deputy leader Tom Watson has written to general secretary Jennie Formby calling for the party’s submission to the EHRC to be released to the shadow cabinet and the NEC.

May gives last interview
Theresa May has given her last interview at 10 Downing Street to the Daily Mail. Referring to her resignation speech, she tells the paper that ‘If a male Prime Minister’s voice had broken up, it would have been said “what great patriotism, they really love their country”. But if a female Prime Minister does it, it is “why is she crying?”.’ She admits that she hadn’t expected Brexiteers to vote against her deal but defends her achievements on modern slavery, plastic waste and mental health.

Prisoners to be given incentives for good behaviour
The Times reports on a new Ministry of Justice policy, which will mean that prison governors can reward prisoners with the ability to lock their own cells, giving them more privacy. Under the new arrangements, prisoners who behave well will also be allowed to cook their own food, shower when they choose, receive higher pay and get cash bonuses.

New inquiry calls for action to stop MPs bulling and harassing staff
The Guardian reports that MPs will vote next week on extending allegations of bullying and harassment by MPs to include historic allegations. This follows yesterday’s publication on an inquiry by Gemma White QC which recommended new employment measures to protect staff better, including details of staff being shouted at, groped, and things thrown at them.

Less than half of Tory members have voted in leadership election
According to The Times, less than half of Conservative members have yet returned their leadership ballots, despite there being just over a week left to do so, despite Boris Johnson’s campaign having claimed that two-thirds of members had voted. Jeremy Hunt’s campaign is pleased with the low turnout so far, Hunt having told members to wait until after today’s interviews of the candidates by Andrew Neil before voting.

Brexiteers demand seats in Johnson’s Cabinet
The Sun claims Brexiteers are demanding seats in Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, amid concerns he will make minor changes and might not stick to his pledge to leave on 31 October. Steve Baker wants to be Brexit Secretary, while a Eurosceptic expressed concern to the paper about Sajid Javid as Chancellor and Liz Truss as Business Secretary as they voted to remain.

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Today’s political headlines includes Labour’s concern over new antisemitisn documentary, May under pressure, Rudd announces review of benefits for terminally-ill patients and Brexit party switches will return to Tories if Brexit is delivered. 

Labour figures express concern about allegations in new antisemitism documentary
The BBC reports that senior Labour Party figures have expressed concern about the claims made in its documentary on antisemitism in the Labour Party yesterday, with deputy leader Tom Watson saying he was ‘shocked’ and ‘appalled’, although the party itself claimed that the programme was inaccurate. Former party officials made a series of claims about the attitude of the leader’s office towards antisemitism complaints, including interference by general secretary Jennie Formby and laughter from Jeremy Corbyn’s aide, Seumas Milne.

May under pressure not to appoint new ambassador
The Times says that allies of Boris Johnson have warned Theresa May not to appoint the new ambassador to the USA following the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch, saying that the decision should be left to the new Prime Minister. Friends of Darroch told the paper that his resignation was partially prompted by Johnson’s refusal to confirm that he would keep him in place. The Sun has been told by Johnson that he ‘can’t believe’ that he is being blamed for the resignation, and that he is ‘a great supporter of Kim’s’.

Rudd announces review of benefits for terminally-ill patients
The Times says Amber Rudd has announced an ‘honest and in-depth’ review of the system for fast-tracking benefits to terminally ill patients, following criticism from charities and MPs of the current limit which restricts it to those with six months or less to live. Recalling the death of her ex-husband, AA Gill, from cancer in 2016, Rudd has promised not to leave patients facing ‘unnecessary hardship’.

Brexit party switchers will return to Tories if Brexit is delivered by end of October
According to The Daily Telegraph, a poll of Conservative members shows that most switchers to the Brexit Party would return if Boris Johnson delivered Brexit by 31 October. It also found that just 56% of members will vote for the party if it isn’t delivered by the deadline. The Sun says that a senior Tory has called Sir John Major ‘bonkers’ after he threatened to sue Johnson if he prorogued Parliament.

Von der Layen indicates she won’t reopen Brexit talks
The Guardian reports that Ursula von der Layen, the European Commission’s presidential nominee, has indicated that she won’t reopen Brexit talks, telling a Liberal Democrat MEP that ‘it is your responsibility and your noble task to sort this out’. She added that ‘the backstop in the Brexit deal is precious, important and has to be defended’.

Mordaunt announces new laws to protect sexual harassment victims
The Daily Telegraph says that Women and Equalities Minister Penny Mordaunt has announced new laws to protect sexual harassment victims, with interns and volunteers to be given the same protections as staff, a ‘proactive duty’ on employers to prevent sexual harassment and a potential extension to the time limit for claims to be made.

Report funds culture of bullying and harassment in Lords
The Guardian carries details of a report into bullying in the House of Lords released yesterday. It found that there was a culture of harassment and bullying, with one in five staff having experienced these. Staff did not report incidents for fear of reprisals. The report recommends installing CCTV in ‘hotspots’, training for peers, and a new staff member to oversee allegations. A similar report on the House of Commons will be published today.

Johnson intervened to try to save girlfriend’s job
In an exclusive, the Daily Mirror claims that Boris Johnson personally intervened in an attempt to save the job of Carrie Symonds, his girlfriend, after Conservative officials decided that she wasn’t performing well enough. However, a source told the paper that party staff thought his intervention was ‘a bit half-hearted’.

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Today’s political headlines includes Johnson putting Darroch’s future in doubt, MPs voting to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland, Corbyn says Labour would back remain and Symonds reportedly asked to leave her Tory role over poor performance. 

Johnson puts ambassador’s future in doubt
The Times says that Boris Johnson failed to say whether he would retain Sir Kim Darroch as ambassador to the USA if he was Prime Minister during last night’s ITV leadership debate. Jeremy Hunt has said that Donald Trump was ‘disrespectful and wrong’, following Trump’s description of Darroch as ‘wacky’ and a ‘pompous fool’, and that he would keep the ambassador in place until the end of the year, when he is due to retire.

MPs vote to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland
The Guardian reports that MPs voted to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland as a result of amendments tabled by backbench Labour MPs, on which the Government gave MPs a free vote. The changes will come into effect unless the devolved administration is restored within the next three months. An amendment tabled by Dominic Grieve, requiring fortnightly reports to the Commons on restoring the assembly also passed. This is part of an attempt to prevent Parliament from being prorogued.

Corbyn says Labour would back remain in referendum on Tory Brexit
The Guardian says Jeremy Corbyn has announced Labour’s ‘settled’ Brexit policy, making it clear in an e-mail to members that the party would support remaining in the EU in any referendum on a Brexit deal agreed by a Conservative Prime Minister or on a no-deal Brexit. However, he did not clarify what Labour’s stance on Brexit would be in a general election.

Symonds reportedly asked to leave Tory role over poor performance
The Daily Mail claims that Carrie Symonds, Boris Johnson’s girlfriend, was asked to leave her role as Director of Communications for the Conservatives owing to poor performance. According to a source she was accused of misusing her expenses and of failing to turn up to work, as well as leaking damaging stories to the media.

Ex-Change UK MPs form new group
The Times reveals that some of the MPs who quit Change UK are forming another grouping, The Independents, which will be a ‘workers’ collective’, not a political party, based around six core values but with free votes on some issues. Those involved are Luciana Berger, Heidi Allen, Gavin Shuker and Angela Smith, together with John Woodcock, who left Labour over sexual harassment allegations. They are in talks with other independent MPs.

Lidington warns no-deal Brexit could lead to break-up of UK
The Financial Times says David Lidington warned a meeting of the Cabinet that there was a ‘real risk’ of the UK breaking up as a result of a no-deal Brexit. He said the Scottish independence movement was a ‘significant and urgent political challenge’, there could be no complacency about Wales and there was a risk of a border poll in Northern Ireland.

MPs’ staff warned bullying and harassment report will be distressing
The Sun says that the House of Commons has warned MP’s researchers that a report into bullying and harassment in Parliament, due to be published tomorrow, will contain ‘distressing and uncomfortable’ revelations. Counselling workshops have been arranged to help staff cope with the findings of the report.

Three peers quit Labour over antisemitism
The Daily Telegraph reports that three peers quit the Labour Party yesterday, citing its handling of antisemitism. Lord Triesman, once the party’s general secretary, said that it was ‘very plainly antisemitic’, and he was joined in resigning the whip by Lord Darzi and Lord Turnberg, with a party official admitting at least one more peer is expected to leave.

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Today’s political headlines includes Trump attacking the British ambassador over leaks and dozens of Tory MPs will try to stop no-deal. 

Trump attacks British ambassador over comments in leaked cables
The Daily Telegraph reports that Donald Trump has attacked the British Ambassador to the USA, Sir Kim Darroch, after diplomatic cables in which he called the President’s administration ‘inept’ and ‘incompetent’ were leaked. Trump said ‘we are not big fans of that man, and he has not served the UK well’, while the Foreign Office announced that it was investigating the leak. The paper adds that the source of the leak is believed to be a senior official or minister frustrated at the civil service’s efforts on Brexit.

Dozens of Tory MPs will try to stop no-deal Brexit
According to The Times, if Boris Johnson becomes Prime Minister, dozens of Conservative MPs will attempt to block a no-deal Brexit. Sam Gyimah said that there were ’30-plus’ MPs looking at ways to stop no-deal through legislation or to stop Parliament from being prorogued. Some MPs, led by Dominic Grieve, will use today’s debate on power-sharing in Northern Ireland to put forward an amendment to legislation, requiring a statement to be made to the Commons in October, thus ensuring that it will be sitting.

Operations cancelled in row over pension changes
The Guardian reports that consultants have started working to rule in a row over NHS pensions, leading to operations being cancelled and cancer scans not being checked for weeks. The dispute centres on pension tax bills which could leave doctors worse off if they work longer than their normal hours, with NHS pensions expert Dr Tony Goldstone warning that ‘the pensions catastrophe is an existential threat to our NHS’.

Labour Party ‘on the brink of civil war’ ahead of antisemitism documentary
The Daily Mail claims that the Labour Party is ‘on the brink of civil war’ ahead of a BBC documentary on antisemitism in the party being screened on Wednesday. It says that the party is taking legal action to try and gag whistle-blowing staff, while John McDonnell is continuing to try and pressure Jeremy Corbyn to back a second referendum and has denied that he has also been trying to get Corbyn to sack his closest aides.

Stewart says he’ll help organise alternative parliament to stop no-deal Brexit
The Guardian says Rory Stewart has claimed that he will help to organise an ‘alternative parliament’ if the new Prime Minister attempts to prorogue Parliament in order to facilitate a no-deal Brexit. He suggested that it could be overseen by a former Speaker, such as Betty Boothroyd. He attacked Boris Johnson’s leadership skills, saying he ‘likes to be popular’.

New report warns to risk to sexual abuse survivors of bail reforms
The Times carries details of a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, which warns that changes to bail rules mean that growing numbers of alleged child sexual abusers are able to contact their victims before a trial, adding that this ‘had serious ramifications for the safety of survivors’.

Johnson to boost apprenticeships funding
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Boris Johnson promises more funding for further education colleges and apprenticeships. He claims that apprentices are ‘indispensable to the future of this country’, adding ‘there are far too many young people who leave university with huge debts, and no clear sense of how their academic qualification has helped their career.’

Hunt will stand up for persecuted Christians
The Guardian reports that a report by the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mounstephen, commissioned by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, has called on the Government to impose sanctions on countries which persecute Christians. Hunt has committed to implement all the reports’ recommendations if he becomes Prime Minister, adding that the ‘sense of misguided political correctness that has stopped us standing up for Christians overseas must end’.

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