Brexit news: Boris Johnson downgrades Tory Islamophobia inquiry and vows to sack ministers against no deal, amid Labour confusion over Corbyn stance
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Boris Johnson appears to have downgraded his promise of support for an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
The frontrunner for the Tory crown said he wanted a probe into all types of discrimination, despite having previously backed calls for an investigation specifically into anti-Muslim prejudice.
His rival, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, also faced criticism after claiming the two sides in the Northern Ireland conflict must be treated “the same”.
At a Tory leadership hustings, Mr Johnson said it would be “absolutely folly” to rule out suspending Parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit againast the rule of MPs. He said the controversial measure should remain as “an essential tool in our negotiation”.
Meanwhile, Mr Hunt conceded the winner of the contest could spend the shortest time as prime minister in history, and said he would resign if he failed to deliver Brexit.
Biggest lies told by Boris Johnson
Show all 5Mr Johnson told party members in Bournemouth that he wanted to be the prime minister of a “representative democracy, a great representative democracy in which we believe in our elected representatives to take the right decision”.
“I would rather than confiding in this archaic device to get this thing done at my own behest, I would rather confide in the maturity of common sense of parliamentarians, all of whom are now staring down the barrel of public distrust,” he said.
Mr Hunt told the hustings that he would introduce a “no-deal Bill” in the first Queen’s Speech in the new parliamentary session to ensure the country is “fully” prepared for such an outcome.
And, asked by moderator Hannah Vaughan Jones if he was “concerned by threats it could be the shortest tenure in history”, he replied: “Well, if we get this wrong, it will be.
“And we have got the biggest constitutional crisis in living memory and that is because MPs like me made a promise to the people that we would deliver the outcome of the referendum whatever it was and we failed.”
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Our Future Our Choice - an organisation of young people arguing for a second referendum - has staged a small demonstration outside Boris Johnson's campaign headquarters in central London. According to organisers, they've place 2,000 rubber ducks outside the door, telling the Tory leadership frontrunner to "stop ducking scrutiny" in his campaign for No 10.
Jeremy Hunt’s plan to hike spending and cut taxes if he becomes prime minister would “exacerbate” the UK’s financial problems, a highly respected think tank has said.
The Tory leadership candidate has already announced pledges that would cost up to £40bn, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Mr Hunt, who is vying with Boris Johnson in the battle to succeed Theresa May, has laid out plans to cut corporation tax, ramp up defence spending, raise the threshold above which workers must pay national insurance, and cut the interest rate on student debt.
"Jeremy Corbyn surprised some members of his close circle at the shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday by putting off a decision on Labour’s Brexit policy," writes political commentator John Rentoul.
"This was not what John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, predicted. He had told a City audience the day before to expect “white smoke”, and said: “Out of shadow cabinet tomorrow I’m hoping that a more definitive position will emerge.”
"And this morning Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, replied to a Labour supporter on Twitter: “Like you I have supported Labour’s Brexit strategy so far. But like you I am beginning to worry…” How strange to comment in public – and in the past tense – as if she is simply an interested spectator."
Jeremy Corbyn has defended Labour's antisemitism complaints procedure following the decision to lift Chris Williamson's suspension from the party, saying the issue is taken "very, very seriously".
"We deal with anti-Semitism very, very seriously, there is no place for anti-Semitism in our society and obviously not in our party as well," he said.
"Anyone that makes antisemitic remarks can expect to be at the very least reprimanded and, if they are very serious and they engage in antisemitic activity, then they are expelled from the party."
Theresa May is expected to have meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday in the margins of the G20 summit.
The meetings will follow Friday's face-to-face talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Other meetings have been lined up on Saturday with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
After Jeremy Corbyn claimed he "wasn't involved in the decision [to allow Chris Williamson back into the party] at all" and insisted Labour dealt with antisemitism "very seriously", Wes Streeting responded: "This is handwringing nonsense."
Ken Clarke, the Conservative former chancellor, has said he is "minded" not to stand again as an MP in the next general election after having given almost two-thirds of his life to Westminster.
The 78-year-old began his career as a barrister before entering Parliament as MP for Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire in 1970.
He has served under David Cameron, John Major and Margaret Thatcher, with cabinet posts including chancellor of the Exchequer.
He first entered the cabinet in 1985, later serving as secretary of state for health, education, justice and for the Home Department.
Seen as a feared opponent, he was rejected three times in his bid to become leader of the Conservative Party.
A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain has said: "We are disappointed to see that Mr Johnson has apparently reneged on his promise for an independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative Party.
"It has become all too apparent that the Conservatives have a problem with Islamophobia, as evidenced this week with a damning poll revealing how rank-and-file Conservative party members hold conspiratorial views on Muslims.
"This includes the absurd belief that parts of the UK are governed under Sharia law and preference not to have a Muslim prime minister. Rowing back on the promise only demonstrates further unwillingness to deal with bigotry seriously.
"We expect nothing less that a full and independent inquiry into Islamophobia."
Naz Shah, Labour MP for Bradford West, said: "Boris Johnson has broken his promise in less than two weeks. Anything short of a full, independent inquiry into Islamophobia and racism in the Conservative Party will be an insult to Muslim communities, and will compound the hurt and anguish that is already being felt.
"Johnson described black people as 'piccaninnies' with 'watermelon smiles', approved an article which argued that black people have lower IQs, and last year compared Muslim women to letterboxes and bank robbers. He has also now appointed to his team one of the chief architects of the Conservatives' racist campaign against Sadiq Khan.
"He is not remotely fit to be prime minister and the prospect of it will strike fear into the hearts of many British Muslims."
Stop Brexit protesters have formed a mini demonstration outside the Tory leadership hustings in Bournemouth.
Around half a dozen activists waved EU flags outside the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, where Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson will begin to address party members at around 7pm.
Campaigners for both men were also outside the venue handing out leaflets.
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