As it happenedended1562615748

Labour takes step towards backing Final Say referendum as MPs trigger plan to thwart no-deal Brexit

Trade unions agree party should call for second public vote on EU membership

Benjamin Kentish
Political Correspondent
,Jane Dalton
Monday 08 July 2019 17:12 BST
Comments
Labour must express view on Brexit now, says John McDonnell

Labour has taken a big step towards full backing for a second EU referendum, after trade unions agreed the party should demand a public vote on any Brexit outcome produced by the Tories.

Both the deal and the option to stay in the EU should be on the ballot paper, and Labour should campaign for Remain, the union leaders agreed.

The decision leaves open the possibility Labour could negotiate its own Brexit deal if it wins a general election.

It came after MPs earlier launched a new bid to stop the next prime minister opting for a no-deal Brexit without parliament’s consent.

See below for what was our live coverage.

1562573261

Welcome to The Independent's live politics coverage.

Jon Sharman8 July 2019 09:07
1562573362

Here's our current lead story.

Everyone should be worried about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, the former leading Brexit civil servant said, writes Alessio Perrone.

Former permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) Philip Rycroft said a no-deal Brexit was “fraught with risk” and a “step into the unknown”.

Jon Sharman8 July 2019 09:09
1562573542

Asked if he would use a meeting with Donald Trump's daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump to apologise for the leak of Sir Kim Darruch's remarks, Liam Fox has said: "I will be apologising for the fact that either our civil service, or elements of our political class, have not lived up to the expectations that, either, we have or the United States, has about their behaviour, which in this particular case has lapsed in a most extraordinary and unacceptable way.''

Jon Sharman8 July 2019 09:12
1562575388

Jeremy Hunt has warned there will be "very serious consequences" for whoever leaked Sir Kim Darroch's memos about the Trump administration, if they are unmasked.

Jon Sharman8 July 2019 09:43
1562575946

"If anything, Kim Darroch's assessment that Trump is 'inept' and 'dysfunctional' is testament to his fine judgment," David Lammy has said.

The Labour MP added: "We need honest ambassadors that speak candidly. This leak is simply an attempt to ensure the next US ambassador is Trump's lapdog."

Jon Sharman8 July 2019 09:52
1562576923

MPs have launched a new bid to stop the next prime minister forcing through a no-deal Brexit without parliament's consent

Benjamin Kentish8 July 2019 10:08
1562578003

Business in the Commons doesn't get underway until 2.30pm today (it's the same every Monday) - here's the order paper for later in the day.

Benjamin Kentish8 July 2019 10:26
1562579023

Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has distanced himself from comments made by Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to the US, in leaked messages.

Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Office, Mr Hunt said:

"It's a personal view and there will be many people in this building who don't agree with that view and indeed I don't agree with some of the views that we saw in those letters.

"I think the US administration is highly effective and we have the warmest of relationships and a partnership based on standing up for shared values.

"So I think it's very important that our ambassadors and high commissioners around the world continue to feel that they are able to express those frank views because we have one of the best diplomatic networks in the world and the foundation of that is the free exchange of information and opinions and the understanding that we're not always going to agree with each other but we want to know what people around the world are thinking."

Benjamin Kentish8 July 2019 10:43
1562580103
Benjamin Kentish8 July 2019 11:01
1562580883
Benjamin Kentish8 July 2019 11:14

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in