As it happenedended1563225049

Tory leadership debate: Johnson rules out general election before Brexit, as he and Hunt attack Corbyn over 'antisemitism'

The latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Monday 15 July 2019 19:38 BST
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Boris Johnson 'absolutely' rules out holding a general election before Britain has left the EU, saying: 'It would be the height of folly'

The two candidates vying to be the next Tory party leader both ruled out a general election before delivering Brexit, and joined the prime minister in condemning Donald Trump's "totally unacceptable" tweets.

Speaking at what was expected to be the last live debate of the leadership contest on Monday evening, Boris Johnson said "we will have an election at some stage in 2022".

His rival Jeremy Hunt said he agreed with prime minister Theresa May in condemning Mr Trump after the president told US congresswomen to “go back” to the “broken and crime-infested places from which they came”.

Mr Johnson added that the language used by the US president was “totally unacceptable”.

However neither politician would go as far as to call the comments racist.

Earlier in the day, Mr Johnson was warned that suggestions he could strike an early US trade deal in October would be a "breach" of EU law.

International trade secretary Liam Fox dismissed reports that the Tory frontrunner could broker a deal with Washington as soon as the UK leaves the EU on 31 October, saying it was impossible to negotiate anything in earnest until after Brexit.

See below for live updates

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Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 08:36
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International trade secretary Liam Fox has played down suggestions that a Boris Johnson-led government would be able to strike a deal with Washington as soon as the UK leaves the EU on October 31.

Dr Fox, who is supporting Jeremy Hunt for the Tory leadership, told the Today programme: "We can't negotiate anything with the US until after we have left the European Union.

"It would be in breach of European law for us to do that."

Dr Fox said the government had done a lot of preparatory work for a US trade deal but it would be a breach of the rules to discuss details before leaving the EU.

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 08:42
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Die-hard cricket fan Theresa May is in a good mood day - and has tweeted a video of herself dancing.

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 09:00
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Campaigner Gina Miller is launching legal action to stop Boris Johnson suspending parliament in order to force through EU withdrawal without a deal.

The businesswoman’s lawyers have written to the probable next prime minister warning it would be “constitutionally unacceptable” and unlawful for him to lock MPs out of the Commons to stop them from blocking a no-deal outcome.

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 09:19
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Tory leadership hopefuls, Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson, are going head to head in what could be the final clash of the leadership race.

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 09:29
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Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the Iran nuclear deal is not dead yet.

On his way in to an EU meeting in Brussels on the issue, Mr Hunt said of the international agreement aimed at preventing Tehran gaining a nuclear weapon: "Well, it isn't dead yet.

"And we are totally committed to keeping the Middle East denuclearised.

"If Iran acquires nuclear weapons then other countries in the region will acquire nuclear weapons.

"It becomes a very, very toxic and dangerous situation."

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 09:36
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A Tory former minister has said he will step down at the next election because the Conservatives are becoming an English "nationalist" party that is trying to "appeal to the extremes".

Guto Bebb, who resigned as a defence minister last year in protest at Theresa May's Brexit policy, said he did not feel able to support either Jeremy Hunt or Boris Johnson as leader.

The leadership contest between the pair had exposed "attitudes within the Conservative Party that don’t appeal to me at all", he said.

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 09:54
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Jacob Rees-Mogg has been ridiculed for politicising England’s victory in the Cricket World Cup by saying it showed “we clearly don’t need Europe to win”.

The Conservative MP’s attempt to link sporting triumph to Brexit attracted widespread derision, with many cricketing fans pointing out the England team’s international make-up.

The arch-Brexiteer backbencher, who was at Lord's watching the match, celebrated the team’s dramatic win over New Zealand on Sunday by writing on Twitter: “We clearly don't need Europe to win.”

More here:

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 10:10
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Plenty of discussion in Westminster this morning about this story in The Times on Boris Johnson's plans to strike an early deal with the US. 

It says: "Under plans being discussed by Mr Johnson’s team he would strike a limited trade deal in “one area” of goods in time for October 31. He and Mr Trump would also establish the broad outlines of a fully fledged deal.

“There is no question that the moment we leave on the 31st we should be in a position to get some kind of arrangement with the US,” the source said. 

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 10:28
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The woman lined up to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as EU commission president has said she is open to extending Brexit talks past October, a letter seen by The Independent reveals.

Ursula von der Leyen, who was tapped by member states for the top job in Brussels, said she would “support a further extension if good reasons are provided” beyond the current deadline.

But the German politician was emphatic that she would not change the deal struck by Theresa May, adding: “The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the United Kingdom is the best and only possible deal for an orderly withdrawal.” 

Lizzy Buchan15 July 2019 10:46

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