Tory leadership race – live: Johnson under fire after ambassador resigns, as Labour face questions over antisemitism probes

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Alan Duncan says Boris Johnson has 'thrown' Sir Kim Darroch 'under the bus' by not supporting him

Conservative MPs rounded on Boris Johnson after it emerged that the US ambassador had decided to resign in the wake of the senior Tory's lack of support.

Sir Kim Darroch said his job had become “impossible” after the leak of diplomatic memos highly critical of Donald Trump’s administration.

His decision is understood to have been made after Mr Johnson repeatedly refused to support him during a televised Tory leadership debate on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Labour denied claims senior figures in the party interfered with anti-semitism complaints as a BBC Panorama documentary was set to air at 9pm.

A Labour spokesman accused the broadcaster of “pre-determining” the outcome of its investigation – while the broadcaster claimed the party was “criticising a programme they have not seen”.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• Embattled US ambassador resigns over leaked Donald Trump criticism
• Furious backlash as insiders say Sir Kim Darroch decided to quit after Johnson failed to back him
• Labour whistleblowers claim Corbyn's team intervened in antisemitism cases
• May's deputy says proroguing parliament would be a 'constitutional outrage'
• ... as ex-PM John Major threatens legal challenge over potential prorogation
• Labour sends instructions to MPs and activists ahead of Panorama documentary

[10 July 2019 18:32 · Lizzy Buchan]

Chuka Umunna has said his only regret of his political career over the last year is  “not joining [the Liberal Democrats] sooner".

Appearing on the FFS’ Another Brexit Podcast, the former Labour and Change UK MP said that he was in talks with independent MPs about joining the Lib Dems, comments.

He also said there were a number of Tory MPs close to backing a Final Say referendum.

[10 July 2019 19:31 · Chiara.Giordano]

Labour has denied claims senior figures in the party interfered with anti-semitism complaints – and has written a complaint to the BBC.

In a Panorama programme due to air tonight, communications chief and Jeremy Corbyn ally Seumas Milne and National Constitution Committee general secretary Jennie Formby are singled out for criticism.

A Labour spokesman accused the BBC of “pre-determining” the outcome of its investigation, adding: “We completely reject any claim that the Labour Party is anti-semitic.”

However the broadcaster hit back, accusing Labour of “criticising a programme they have not seen”.

Dan Hogan, who worked as an investigations officer for the Labour Party, appears in Is Labour Anti-Semitic? (BBC Panorama) 

Labour Anti-Semitic? will be broadcast on BBC one tonight at 9pm

[10 July 2019 19:57 · Chiara.Giordano]

Labour appears to have sent out instructions to MPs and activists about how to deal with tonight’s Panorama programme.

According to the HuffPost’s Paul Waugh, supporters have been told to “park your emotions for a few days”, “amplify” claims of Tory Islamophobia, and to “saturate” social media with the times Jeremy Corbyn has opposed antisemitism.