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Voting opens in fourth spherical of management poll
Voting has opened within the fourth spherical of the Tory management poll.
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These are from my colleage Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence editor, on Liz Truss’s promise to lift defence spending to three% of GDP. (See 10.11am.)
Truss pledge to hike defence spending to three% of GDP by 2030 means c£20-25bn further spend on defence
How will that be paid for given Truss is a tax cutter?
What’s going to it imply: extra submarines, fewer hospitals?
Costly method to purchase Tugendhat votes – paid for by *you* pic.twitter.com/ZtYGowkNP1
— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) July 19, 2022
There are good arguments for supporting Ukraine as a part of a wider worldwide coalition – however does that require lifting defence spending by practically 50% in eight years? And may the notoriously wasteful MoD spend extra cash correctly?
— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) July 19, 2022
Right here is Boris Johnson together with his leaving current from the cupboard: Churchill’s six-volume historical past of the second world struggle. (See 12pm.)
On condition that Johnson has written a biography of Churchill, you may assume he would have had a set already.
Penny Mordaunt, the worldwide commerce minister and Tory management candidate, has immediately launched a plan for levelling up. She says she is going to double the variety of apprenticeships out there within the north, ship the Northern Powerhouse Rail mission and be certain that 50% of latest hydrogen capability is constructed within the north.
She has additionally backed the Northern Analysis Group’s four-point plan for the north.
Jake Berry, chair of the Northern Analysis Group, was one among Tom Tugendhat’s most distinguished backers, and he has retweeted Mordaunt’s tweet concerning the pledge, which might be an indication that his vote is now heading her method.
At this time the Occasions quotes one unnamed Tugendhat supporter saying most of his votes might go to Mordaunt. It studies:
Earlier than the third poll, one backer of Tugendhat mentioned that they believed a majority of his supporters would now transfer to Mordaunt. Mordaunt, who was within the cupboard below Theresa Could however has solely held junior positions below [Boris] Johnson, is seen by some MPs to additionally embody the clear begin supplied by Tugendhat. One Tugendhat supporter mentioned, nevertheless, that they believed the principle cause many would transfer to Mordaunt was that they wished to “maintain Truss out of the ultimate two”.
That is the total story from my colleague Helena Horton on Kemi Badenoch’s declaration final evening that she can be prepared to delay the 2050 internet zero goal – having advised a Tory hustings earlier that she was dedicated to it. (See 10.01am.)
Ukrainian overseas minister pays tribute to Truss’s ‘mettle, interior metal and readability of function’
Liz Truss, the overseas secretary, has received an endorsement in her marketing campaign for the Conservative management from Dmytro Kuleba, her Ukrainian counterpart.
UK help has been very important for Ukraine’s protection all over Russian aggression. I’m deeply grateful to the federal government of the UK and particularly my counterpart @TrussLiz. Her mettle, interior metal, and readability of function have been indispensable in crafting essential choices.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) July 19, 2022
Boris Johnson posed for a group {photograph} together with his cupboard immediately to mark what could be their final assembly collectively.
Voting opens in fourth spherical of management poll
Voting has opened within the fourth spherical of the Tory management poll.
Boris Johnson acquired first-edition copies of Winston Churchill’s books on the second world struggle as a present from cupboard colleagues, PA Media studies. PA says:
The books by Churchill, a hero of Johnson’s, have been offered to the prime minister by his whole cupboard, a Downing Avenue spokesman mentioned.
“On the conclusion of cupboard, the prime minister was offered with presents to thank him for his service to the nation, together with first editions of Winston Churchill’s books on the second world struggle,” the spokesman advised reporters.
Penny Mordaunt’s supporters do imagine that No 10 has eliminated the whip from Tobias Ellwood to cease him voting for her within the management poll (opposite to what Nadine Dorries claims – see 11.21am), Newsnight’s Nicholas Watt studies.
Actual anger in @PennyMordaunt camp after her supporter @Tobias_Ellwood stripped of Tory whip for lacking final evening’s confidence vote within the authorities after he didn’t return in time from journey to Moldova
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) July 19, 2022
The Mordaunt camp are dismissing the whips’ argument about why different Conservative MPs who missed the vote have stored the whip: that they have been paired with opposition MPs. One Mordaunt backer tells me: why didn’t they try this for Tobias? He was visiting Moldova
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) July 19, 2022
Authorities whips could really feel the warmth. One Mordaunt backer tells me: it might all come down to at least one one vote and so they have taken that away
— Nicholas Watt (@nicholaswatt) July 19, 2022
Nadine Dorries, the tradition secretary and Boris Johnson loyalist, has dismissed as “ridiculous” claims that Tobias Ellwood has had the Tory whip eliminated to cease him voting in opposition to the Johnson candidate within the management contest. (See 10.08am and 10.45am.)
That is wholly unfaithful and admittedly completely ridiculous. Each single MP of each social gathering is below no phantasm concerning the worth to be paid in not voting throughout a Gov confidence movement. It’s a really clearly outlined and historic purple line. Tobias might have voted like everybody else. https://t.co/IXo6ZqHXa6
— Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) July 19, 2022
Labour says Forde report on claims of racism, sexism and bullying in social gathering could possibly be revealed immediately
It was a New Labour particular adviser that coined the phrase about “a very good day to bury unhealthy information”. At this time would type of qualify – the most popular day ever, public sector pay awards being revealed, the Tory management contest at a key stage – and Labour has confirmed that immediately it would publish a report that’s prone to be horribly embarrassing to the social gathering.
A Labour spokesperson mentioned:
Labour’s basic secretary, David Evans, has now acquired the Forde report and he can be taking it to immediately’s nationwide government committee assembly with a transparent advice that the NEC agree the publication of the report as quickly as attainable immediately.
The report, from Martin Forde QC, was commissioned after the leak of an inner Labour report in 2020 purportedly confirmed proof of social gathering workers being responsible of bullying, racism and sexism. The leak, which appeared to be a hostile act aimed toward Jeremy Corbyn’s opponents (who got here out worst from the revelations), led to the social gathering being sued for defamation and breach of privateness.
My colleague Jessica Elgot has a information to the background of the Forde report right here.
Ellwood defends lacking confidence vote, saying he’s overseas selling Johnson’s Ukraine coverage
Tobias Ellwood has mentioned that journey disruption meant he couldn’t return from Moldova yesterday in time for the Commons confidence vote. (See 10.08am.) He mentioned he was “very sorry” to have the whip withdrawn, however that he would proceed together with his tour, the place he can be having conferences about reopening Odesa port. He mentioned:
Following my assembly yesterday with the president of Moldova I used to be unable to safe return journey attributable to unprecedented disruption each right here and within the UK.
I’m very sorry to lose the whip however will now proceed my conferences in Ukraine selling the prime minister’s efforts right here and particularly looking for to safe the reopening of Odesa port – so very important grain exports can recommence.
Though MPs can have the whip eliminated for failing to obey a three-line whip, it’s uncommon for this sanction to be deployed in opposition to an MP who solely misses a vote, and doesn’t vote in opposition to the social gathering, and has an inexpensive excuse for being away. It’s much more uncommon for this to occur in relation to a vote which the social gathering was at no danger of dropping. Boris Johnson has a majority of 111 within the vote final evening.
However Ellwood has been one among Johnson’s most vocal backbench critics and Johnson is vengeful. He as soon as mentioned his favorite film scene was the end of the Godfather with its “multiple retribution killings”. His determination to sack Michael Gove as levelling up secretary two weeks in the past appeared to be motivated purely by rating settling.
The lack of the whip can be severe for Ellwood if it meant he couldn’t stand as a Conservative candidate on the subsequent election. However the whip is prone to be restored by the following Tory chief properly earlier than any election takes place.
Nonetheless, the transfer will cease Ellwood voting within the management contest immediately and tomorrow, and this might assist Liz Truss get onto the ultimate poll in opposition to Rishi Sunak. Johnson blames Sunak for undermining him, and though he has not backed Truss in public, his allies are actively working to get her elected.
Johnson tells cupboard that heatwave vindicates authorities’s internet zero technique
Boris Johnson is chairing what would be the closing assembly of his cupboard and – as has turn into his common observe in current weeks – he invited in a TV digicam to document his opening remarks.
Johnson claimed the heatwave vindicated the federal government’s determination to push for internet zero carbon emissions by 2050. He advised his ministers:
Who can doubt that we have been proper to be the primary main economic system to go for internet zero? It might be generally retro to say this however it’s the proper factor to do.
Actually, the laws making 2050 a legally binding goal was handed into legislation within the closing days of Theresa Could’s authorities, however Johnson has retained the dedication to internet zero. As my colleague Fiona Harvey argues in immediately’s First Version briefing, Johnson is extra dedicated to internet zero than any of the candidates who may succeed him. “No one else within the greater echelons of the Conservative social gathering provides a stuff,” Fiona says. “He was the one champion inexperienced Tories had.”
Addressing cupboard, Johnson additionally urged the expertise popping out of lockdown confirmed why the heatwave shouldn’t be allowed to cease individuals working. He mentioned:
On one other scorching, sweltering day I feel it’s very, essential that we predict again to that second that we opened up [after the lockdown] and try to steadiness danger with the necessity to maintain our nation, our society and our economic system transferring.
I hope, cupboard, that you’re all agreed that so far as attainable we must always maintain faculties open and maintain our transport system going so far as we probably can.
Truss says she would increase defence spending to three% of GDP by 2030
Liz Truss, the overseas secretary, has used an interview with the Occasions to declare that she would increase defence spending to three% of GDP by 2030. She mentioned:
We dwell in an more and more harmful world the place the risk degree is greater than a decade in the past, and we’d like a stronger deterrent to face down these threats and guarantee Britain leads on the worldwide stage. Finally that requires extra sources. My primary precedence is protecting this nation secure and other people can belief me to do this.
Britain and the free world face a defining second. We want a first-rate minister able to main internationally, who may also drive the financial progress we’d like right here at residence. I’m the candidate finest positioned to do this.
In a briefing concerning the announcement, the Truss marketing campaign mentioned defence spending wanted to go up due to the elevated risk from China and Russia. This message could attraction to among the 31 supporters of Tom Tugendhat whose votes are up for grabs immediately. Tugendhat, chair of the Commons overseas affairs committee, has constantly argued that the UK has not taken the risk from China and Russia critically sufficient.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood has whip withdrawn after failing to again authorities in confidence vote
Tobias Ellwood, the chair of the Commons defence committee, has had the Tory whip eliminated as a result of he didn’t vote for the federal government within the confidence debate final evening, the Occasions’ Henry Zeffman studies. Ellwood, who was one of many Tories most crucial of Boris Johnson, didn’t have permission to be away.
NEW: Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has been stripped of the whip by Boris Johnson for failing to help the federal government in final evening’s confidence vote
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) July 19, 2022
Ellwood appears to have been overseas. A Conservative supply mentioned that he was advised final Wednesday he must cancel the journey. They mentioned Ellwood was “reminded of the implications properly upfront of the vote”
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) July 19, 2022
Ellwood was in Moldova. A Conservative Get together supply mentioned: “Different Conservative MPs cancelled overseas journeys, left poorly kinfolk and one MP’s mom died on the morning of the vote and nonetheless attended and voted.” https://t.co/uB98YuleaG
— Henry Zeffman (@hzeffman) July 19, 2022
As Steven Swinford studies, the choice means Ellwood will be unable to vote in parliamentary management poll till the whip is restored. He’s a Penny Mordaunt supporter, and in a really tight race, a single vote might doubtlessly make a distinction.
The race for No 2 within the Tory management contest could be very, very tight
Tobias Ellwood – a Penny Mordaunt supporter – not has a vote after being stripped of the whip for failing to help govt in confidence vote
It is not unfeasible this all comes down to at least one or two votes https://t.co/jWLGwH1nFC
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) July 19, 2022
Badenoch says she would delay 2050 internet zero goal date in some circumstances
Kemi Badenoch may also declare to be the change candidate in one other, much less constructive, sense. Yesterday she advised a Tory local weather fringe that she backed the federal government’s goal of reaching internet zero emissions by 2050. She was the final candidate to make that dedication.
However later within the day she had an obvious change of coronary heart and advised Speak TV that her dedication to the 2050 date was not absolute. Requested if she would ever take into account altering the 2050 deadline, she replied:
Sure, there are circumstances the place I’d delay it, however I feel that the goal itself is a little bit of a purple herring.
The complete interview is right here.
Badenoch claims she is simply ‘change candidate’ left in Tory management contest
In a submit on Twitter after final evening’s outcomes have been declared Kemi Badenoch claimed that Tom Tugendhat’s departure from the race meant she was the one “change candidate” left within the race.
On to the following vote. Thanks to all my colleagues for his or her help.
It’s all to play for. Continued momentum, closing the hole, I’m the one change candidate left within the race.
I’m in it to win.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 18, 2022
Penny Mordaunt would most likely contest that. Badenoch, the previous equalities minister, is the one candidate nonetheless within the race who has not served in cupboard. However as equalities minister she pursued an “anti-woke” agenda in style with No 10.
Mordaunt, the worldwide commerce minister, by no means resigned from Boris Johnson’s authorities (in contrast to Badenoch). However she has by no means recognized as an enthusiastic supporter of Johnsonism.
MPs to vote once more with Sunak near securing place on closing poll
Good morning. Per week after nominations closed, and after three ballots, among the fog round who can be our subsequent prime minister has lifted and no less than three propositions now appear fairly properly based.
- Rishi Sunak, the previous chancellor, is now all however sure to be one of many two candidates on the ultimate poll for Conservative social gathering members. He’s now on 115 votes and as soon as a candidate will get 120 (simply over a 3rd of the overall), it’s mathematically unimaginable for 2 different candidates to get extra votes. Sunak can also be notably properly positioned to select up lots of the 31 Tom Tugendhat votes now up for seize; Sunak, like Tugendhat, presents as a mainstream pragmatist, not an ideological rightwinger.
- Liz Truss and Penny Mordaunt are actually the 2 strongest candidates within the contest to be the second particular person on the ultimate poll. One current survey urged each would beat Sunak within the closing ballot, however Truss extra comfortably than Mordaunt. Nearly definitely, Sunak’s probabilities can be higher in opposition to Mordaunt; her lack of expertise means the chance of her marketing campaign imploding below scrutiny stays excessive (during the last week her reputation has already fallen considerably), and Truss, in contrast to Mordaunt, can be assured the help of the Tory proper en masse.
- Kemi Badenoch seems to be prone to be eradicated this afternoon. It isn’t inevitable – she has defied expectations already – however she stays 13 votes behind Truss, and will wrestle to get a lot of the Tugendhat vote. If she does fall out, her votes can be for grabs tomorrow – and would resolve whether or not Sunak faces Truss or Mordaunt, which might in flip decide who will get elected as the following PM.
Right here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Boris Johnson chairs what could be the final assembly of his cupboard.
10.30am: Officers from the CBI and the TUC are among the many specialists giving proof to the Commons enterprise committee on post-pandemic financial progress.
12pm: Voting begins within the fourth poll for the Conservative social gathering management. The poll closes at 2pm.
12.30pm: Michael Gove, the previous levelling up secretary, and Lord Frost, the previous Brexit minister, participate in a dialogue on the way forward for Conservatism on the Coverage Alternate thinktank.
3pm: Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 Committee, declares the outcomes of the most recent management poll.
Afternoon: Pay awards for round 2.5 million public sector employees, together with NHS workers and lecturers, are attributable to be introduced.
I attempt to monitor the feedback under the road (BTL) however it’s unimaginable to learn all of them. When you have a direct query, do embrace “Andrew” in it someplace and I’m extra prone to discover it. I do attempt to reply questions, and if they’re of basic curiosity, I’ll submit the query and reply above the road (ATL), though I can’t promise to do that for everybody.
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