UK politics news – live: Rebecca Long Bailey sacked, as Starmer questions Boris Johnson’s judgement over support for Jenrick
All the day's events as they happened
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
Sir Keir Starmer has sacked Rebecca Long-Bailey from his front bench in a row over antisemitism. The former shadow education secretary tweeted her praise of Maxine Peake after the actor's views were revealed in an interview with The Independent.
The left-wing actor, who has since clarified that her assumptions were inaccurate, told The Independent: "The tactics used by the police in America, kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, that was learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services." The Labour leader described these comments as an "antisemitic conspiracy theory”.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir suggested Boris Johnson‘s judgement is now “in issue” after backing housing secretary Robert Jenrick, who faces calls to resign after releasing communications pertaining to his approval of a £1bn property development involving Tory donor Richard Desmond.
The 129-page bundle of documents concerning the Westferry Printworks site indicated that Mr Jenrick had personally sought to rush the project through, saving the former Daily Express owner millions in extra taxes in the form of a new Community Infrastructure Levy. While texts show Mr Desmond told the minister to act so that “Marxists” did not get “doe [sic] for nothing”, former Tower Hamlets council leader Andrew Wood has warned that “more will come out” yet.
It came as several councils across England, including those in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Wiltshire, warned they face effective bankruptcy, urging rapid government intervention, with Liverpool’s mayors describing a “profound crisis” ahead, having previously complained the government’s emergency pandemic funding favoured affluent areas.
Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load:
Actor Maxine Peake has clarified her statements - made in an interview in The Independent - which led to the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
You can read the full article below:
Opinion: ‘Keir Starmer has made it clear that antisemitism is unacceptable - and removed an underperforming member of his top team’
Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to sack Rebecca Long-Bailey has “made it clear” that antisemitism is unacceptable, according to our columnist John Rentoul.
John writes:
“It was one of those moments when a leader looks decisive but really had no choice. The more Keir Starmer thought about Rebecca Long Bailey’s tweet, ‘Maxine Peake is an absolute diamond’ - and the more he studied the interview in today’s Independent to which the tweet referred - the less choice he thought he had.”
You can read his full piece below:
Amnesty International has issued a statement clarifying that it has never reported “neck kneeling” as a technique taught by Israeli security services to US police in response to the row over Rebecca Long-Bailey.
“For years, we’ve documented appalling crimes under international law and human rights violations meted out to Palestinians by members of the Israeli security forces, though the precise nature of the training offered to US police forces by Israeli officials is not something we’ve documented,” the organisation told the New Statesman.
Unite boss says RLB sacking 'an unnecessary overreaction'
Keir Starmer's decision to sack Rebecca Long Bailey is not going down well with senior figures in the Labour movement.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell is backing a petition to reinstate her as shadow education secretary.
And Unite general secretary Len McCluskey has now described the sacking as "an unnecessary over-reaction to a confected row".
Labour leader backs pandemic remembrance day
Sir Keir Starmer said he would support a remembrance day for those who died of coronavirus.
During a Call Keir online question and answer session with people in Renfrewshire, the party leader said he believed there would be cross-party backing for a national day of mourning.
He added: "In many cases, you've had families shaken to the core by the loss they've sustained, but also not able to do the most basic of things to hold a funeral or service.
"We've had this with extended family - trying to do a funeral by Zoom, it's just so hard.
"I do think it would be important to have a national day - I don't know if in mourning or remembrance, but a day designated every year to remembering."
MPs are showing their support for Liverpool FC after the club was named premier league champions.
Labour's Tracy Brabin is not too impressed by the government's announced plan for English theatres - or by its timing.
The package of recommendations which include a later move to “performances outdoors with an audience plus pilots for indoor performances with a limited distance audience”, includes no funding to support the sector at this stage.
In case you missed it - Boris Johnson’s jet has made its first flight after its controversial £900,000 “rebranding” in Union Jack colours.
The RAF Voyager, a previously-grey military plane, took off from Cambridge Airport with the new red, white and blue livery on its tail.
It also features the words “United Kingdom” painted in gold along the fuselage.
More below:
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies