Inside Politics: Labour leadership puzzle pieces fall into place

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Ever think there are hidden forces shaping our chaotic existence? The first Briton in space Dr Helen Sharman says aliens may already be all around us – we just can’t see them yet. Maybe the invisible creatures were to blame for Brexit? As Boris Johnson brings back his withdrawal bill to the Commons, he is hoping the mysterious, intangible project can finally assume a definitive, recognisable form this week. The Labour leadership contest – which has also felt a bit floaty and unreal at times – is also taking shape at last. We have all the relevant dates and deadlines. But there is still time for one of the aliens to step forward and declare themselves ethereal overlord of Her Majesty’s Opposition. 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 today:

Parliament is back. Today’s main business will be the first of three days devoted to what is supposed to be line-by-line scrutiny of the withdrawal agreement bill. But journalists’ main interest might well be outside the chamber, with the opening of nominations for the Labour leadership election: candidates have six days to secure the support of 22 MPs and MEPs in order to stand. House of Commons business starts with Treasury questions at 2.30pm, with chancellor Sajid Javid expected to announce the budget will be on 11 March.

Daily briefing

RED OR DEAD: Rebecca Long Bailey is a socialist, and she wants us all to know it. Becoming the sixth candidate to join the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, she said Labour needs a “a leader that can be trusted with our socialist agenda”. Writing in Tribune magazine, Long Bailey blamed the election defeat on “campaign strategy, not of our socialist programme”. That wonderful socialist programme! Everyone loved it. Former deputy Tom Watson caused a stink when he claimed Long Bailey “stands for Corbynism in its purest sense”. Backing her old flatmate, deputy leadership favourite Angela Rayner responded: “She is her own woman and she will say what she stands for.” She stands for socialism! Didn’t you hear Angela? Discussing her own candidacy on Sky News, Rayner was asked whether she’d be happy to work for that “fantastic northern women” Jess Phillips. She had to point out the Birmingham MP was actually from something called the Midlands.

PAY TO PLAY: Got £25 handy? If so you could have say in who succeeds Corbyn. Registered supporters will have a 48 hour window from 14 to 16 January to secure a vote by paying the sum, after Labour’s backroom boys and girls decided on the rules and timetable for the leadership contest. The three-month affair, which ends when the winner is announced on 4 April, officially gets under way later today when candidates face questions from fellow MPs at a hustings in parliament. Will the public actually care about them? According to a new Deltapoll survey, two-thirds of people are unable to pick any Labour candidate out of a line-up. Maybe Corbyn’s endorsement would help? A motion for the NEC to endorse one candidate was “overwhelmingly voted down” at Monday’s big meeting, but Jezza could still indicate his support for fiercely independent woman Long Bailey.

BELLS AND WHISTLES: Okay, so what stage is Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill at now? It was supposed to be “microwave ready” – but have MPs forked enough holes in the plastic lid yet? As the withdrawal agreement returns today, Labour are proposing amendments to make sure parliament and the UK’s devolved nations are properly consulted during trade negotiations with the EU. MPs will also debate opposition amendments seeking to guarantee rights for around three million EU nationals in the UK. And let’s not forget that all-important bell-ringing exercise. Brexit lovers Mark Francois and Nigel Evans have proposed an amendment which would legally require (!) Big Ben to bong at 11pm on 31 January in celebration. They’re not the only ones who want a party. No 10 is planning some “official” events to mark our exit from the EU – with details to be announced “shortly”. Bunting and street parties? Fireworks and laser shows? Who knows.

NORTHERN FLIGHTS: Fair warning: tedious jargon about the north lies ahead. Sajid Javid wants his March budget to help “level up” the nation, and he’s reportedly ready to send some Treasury ministers and civil servants to work outside of London full-time. Okay. Can we agree the phrase “level up” – which gives the Tories a way of paying lip service to inequality without actually using the word “inequality” – is a tragic abuse of the English language and should be banned immediately? Good. There’s actually a bit more to the chancellor’s plans to bridge the north-south gap than sending a few senior people to offices in Manchester or Leeds. Javid proposes looser spending rules to make a £100bn investment in infrastructure across neglected regions over the next five years.

CULTURE VULTURES: Real friends tell you the truth, even when it hurts. Am I right? Johnson offered a very mild rebuke for his buddy Donald Trump over the Iran crisis, advising against any attempt by the US to target Iranian cultural sites. The PM’s official spokesperson cited “international conventions” supposed to rule out such destruction of heritage. While there’s still some confusion about whether the US is willing to withdraw troops from Iraq, Johnson has urged his Iraqi counterpart Adel Abdul Mahdi to allow British soldiers to stay. The Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, is said to have “contingency plans” in place to pull civilians and military personnel out of the country if necessary. Good to see Dominic Cummings is taking the crisis seriously. He turned up at No 10 meetings with a bit of his lower back flesh hanging out over his low-slung slacks.

On the record

“We’re both brilliant women … we’ve had plenty of blokes from London before.”

Angela Rayner explains why she and Long Bailey would make a good team.

From the Twitterati

“She’s running. But she does so … effectively as the party establishment candidate, the precise opposite position of Corbyn’s insurgent triumph. Her biggest strength, that she is the candidate of JC, is her biggest problem.”

BBC Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall on Long Bailey as the continuity candidate...

“As a Labour MP said to me just before Christmas: ‘we are still two crazies away from a leader’.”

...while The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole suggests it doesn’t really matter who wins.

Essential reading

Sean O’Grady, The Independent: Angela Rayner should ditch Long Bailey and make a bid for leader

Tom Peck, The Independent: Dear Dominic Cummings, I have no relevant qualifications for anything, only immense self-regard, just like you. When do I start?

Nesrine Malik, The Guardian: To believe there’ll be world war three is to swallow US propaganda

Jeremy Stahl, Slate: The impeachment stalemate is working fine for Democrats

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