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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A no-deal Brexit could have a "serious effect" on the ability of the police to fight crime, a watchdog has warned.
Biometrics commissioner Paul Wiles raised the concerns in his annual report which was submitted to Parliament on Thursday.
In it, he said: "The last year has been dominated by concern about the possible effects of Brexit on European exchanges and cooperation.
"If, in the event, the UK is excluded from the main exchange mechanisms, that would have a serious effect on the police ability to deal with inter-country and international criminality.
"The police have been working on mitigation planning but this will not remove the risks involved."
He said EU exchanges would be "continued as part of a Brexit deal or, if we leave without a deal, they will cease."
Nicola Sturgeon has said the choice of having Jeremy Hunt or Boris Johnson as the next prime minister is like "asking me if I'd prefer to be run down by a lorry or a bus".
The Scottish First Minister was speaking as part of a Newsnight Special being broadcast from Edinburgh - and made clear she did not endorse either candidate.
During the interview she criticised Mr Johnson, saying the potential of him in Number 10 "gives you a sense of how out of kilter the whole UK political system has become".
But when asked about a preference between the two, Ms Sturgeon said: "With the greatest of respect that's asking me if I'd prefer to be run down by a lorry or a bus.
"I think both of them in different ways would not be good for Scotland. I don't think that any Tory prime minister who actually doesn't have a mandate from Scotland is a good thing for Scotland.
"Don't take this as an endorsement of Jeremy Hunt because I don't endorse Jeremy Hunt - but I look at Boris Johnson right now, and I find it really difficult to get my head round how any rational person could seriously contemplate putting him into the highest political office in the UK.
"And the fact that the Tories appear very seriously to be contemplating doing that I think gives you a sense of how out of kilter the whole UK political system has become and how out of touch the Tories are with mainstream opinion in Scotland."
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has called on Jeremy Corbyn to withdraw the whip from Chris Williamson following his controversial readmission to the party.
There was widespread anger at the announcement on Wednesday that the Derby North MP has had his suspension lifted amid criticism at the way the party deals with allegations of antisemitism.
In a statement signed by 118 Labour MPs and peers, Mr Watson said they could not overstate the "depth and breadth of hurt and anger" at the way the case had been handled.
"We call on Jeremy Corbyn to show leadership by asking for this inappropriate, offensive and reputationally damaging decision to be overturned and reviewed," the statement said.
"Ultimately, it is for Jeremy Corbyn to decide whether Chris Williamson retains the Labour whip.
"He must remove it immediately if we are to stand any hope of persuading anyone that the Labour Party is taking antisemitism seriously."
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