Inside Politics: Boris Johnson’s funding promise falls short at Stormont

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Congratulations to the five dudes nominated for best director at the Oscars, a list so testosterone-heavy it brings to mind the theme tune from Two and a Half Men: “Men men men men, manly men men men!” The latest round of the Labour leadership contest, by contrast, sees four women compete for the big prize – along with lone bloke and knight of the realm Keir Starmer. The male auteur at No 10, meanwhile, is having some difficulty directing events in Northern Ireland – with both the DUP and Sinn Fein demanding he stumps up the cash for the Stormont power-sharing production. I’m Adam Forrest, and welcome to The Independent’s daily Inside Politics briefing.

Inside the bubble

Our chief political commentator John Rentoul on what to look out for in SW1 today:

Boris Johnson chairs cabinet this morning, and his media operation now usually briefs journalists with a line – unlike the recent past when various ministers’ showboating would be leaked unofficially within minutes. The House of Commons continues its debate on the Queen’s Speech, which is a chance for new MPs to make their first speeches – especially as the subject is education. Meanwhile the withdrawal agreement bill is in the Lords, and it is still not clear how much trouble Remainer peers really intend to make for the prime minister.

Daily briefing

NO MONEY MO PROBLEMS: The best things in life may well be free. But it’s money – and lots of it – wanted at Stormont to make good on the power-sharing deal. The finance minister, Sinn Fein’s Conor Murphy, said the UK government’s offer for extra funding to help restore the assembly and boost public services “falls way short” of what was promised after the parties met Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith on Monday evening. “It’s not just about money,” said Boris Johnson on his trip to Belfast, appearing to believe handshakes and hopeful rhetoric would be enough. DUP leader Arlene Foster said Johnson should “step up to the plate” and deliver the cash. The prime minister has managed to find the readies to put photographer Andrew Parsons on the payroll as a special advisor. Labour called it a “hubristic” waste of public funds. Parsons, incidentally, took the pic of Johnson pushing over a small child while playing rugby in Japan. One of the PM’s favourite moments, clearly.

JESSMANIA: Labour folk are recovering from the last-minute drama in the leadership race which saw Emily Thornberry get the required nominations just before the 2.30pm deadline – after Clive Lewis abandoned his own doomed bid in the final hour. The shadow foreign secretary said it was “wonderful” to have squeaked into the next round as one of “four strong women”. One of those mighty females, Jess Phillips, has explained how weird it is to be mega-famous. “A woman cried at the sight of me at the train station the other day as if I was Take That or The Beatles,” she told LBC. Rival strong woman Lisa Nandy launched her campaign by claiming voters found the prospect of a Corbyn government “frightening”. Richard Burgon, meanwhile, made it over the line in the deputy leadership contest with only minutes to go – after Corbyn’s son Tommy made a desperate plea for his dad’s loyal friend on Twitter.

SEE NO EVIL: So just how racist have the tabloids been towards Meghan, Duchess of Sussex? Extremely racist? Insidiously racist? Mildly and unconsciously racist? The home secretary hasn’t detected any of it. None. Not on her radar. “I’m not in that category ... where I believe there’s racism at all,” Priti Patel told BBC Radio 5 Live, when asked about Megxit. Asked if the media had been in any way bias, she replied: “I don’t think so, no.” She might want to look at what’s going on in her place of work. Two black MPs – Florence Eshalomi and Abena Oppong-Asare – have complained that they have already been confused with House of Commons staff and other politicians since arriving there last month. Meanwhile Patel has been condemned for backing a decision by anti-terror police to put Extinction Rebellion (XR) on a list of extremist ideologies. She said considering risks and threats to the public was the “proper thing to do”.

OFFER HE CAN REFUSE: Nigel Farage has often been accused of having a keen eye for a quick buck. But apparently the stockbroker’s son will refuse to accept his £153,000 “golden goodbye” transition allowance from the European parliament as a departing MEP. A spokesman for the Brexit Party leader said: “He won’t take a penny.” The noble Nigel! What a fine fellow he is. Not like that Zac Goldsmith, who donned his ermine robes in the Lords on Monday (Farage would never, ever accept a peerage ... would he?) In other Brexiteer news, Big Ben will not bong – repeat NOT BONG – on 31 January after the House of Commons Commission explained it would have cost £500,000 because the floor supporting temporary equipment in Elizabeth Tower had already been removed. Poor Mark Francois. He’d been waiting for years for the chimes of freedom. The desperate Tory MP suggested the BBC could play a recording instead.

MADNESS AND MISTAKES: Johnson loves being the centre of attention, of course. And it seems his government currently has the attention of a few significant foreign powers. Senior US officials reportedly presented British counterparts with a dossier of information in a bid to persuade them it would be “madness” to allow Chinese giant Huawei’s technology in our 5G network. According to the FT, there were growing expectations Johnson would decide in favour of having Huawei equipment in some “non-core” areas. Let’s see if the American briefing has any impact. Meanwhile Iran has threatened action against the UK if we make any “new mistake”. It follows a dressing down for Iran’s ambassador to the UK at the Foreign Office down over the arrest of Britain’s representative in Tehran Rob Macaire.

On the record

“Never mind the hand of history on my shoulder ... I see the hand of the future beckoning us all forward.”

Boris Johnson on the opportunity for functioning government in Northern Ireland.

From the Twitterati

“Over the past few weeks, Clive Lewis said a lot of things the Labour Party need to hear. So far at least they appear not to want to listen.”

The Guardian’s Aditya Chakrabortty says Lewis’s exit is a big loss...

“Thank Goodness Clive Lewis has quit the Labour leadership race. He got just five nominations. Embarrassing but obviously expected!”

...while The Daily Express columnist Carole Malone says it isn’t.

Essential reading

Lisa Nandy, The Independent: The red wall has fallen. As Labour leader I will build a bridge to unite Britain’s diverse communities

Tom Peck, The Independent: Congratulations, Lord Zachariah Goldsmith of Richmond, the voters can never harm you again

Polly Toynbee, The Guardian: Labour’s leadership contest will be a chance to seal electoral reform in Britain

Jeet Heer, The Nation: The real argument between Warren and Sanders is about how to win the election

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