Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs and Michel Barnier’s Brexit speech 1.44pm GMT John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has described Sajid Javid’s resignation statement (see 1.37pm) as an attempt by Javid to position himself as the leader of a Thatcherite Tory faction fighting for low taxation. In a statement McDonnell said:Sajid Javid’s statement is not only a damning attack on Dominic Cummings’ dominance of the Johnson administration but also an unashamed leadership bid to the group of Thatcherite backbenchers committed to resisting tax rises for the wealthiest and big business. Choppy waters are ahead for Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. 1.37pm GMT Here are the key points from Sajid Javid’s resignation statement. It was not a Geoffrey Howe-style sabotage mission by any stretch of the imagination, and the tone of his remarks – and of Boris Johnson’s response – implied that a return to government at some point in the future may well be an option. But Javid did deliver two messages that sounded like polite but firm warnings about the direction in which Johnson is leading his government.It has always been the case that advisers advise, minsters decide and minsters decide on their advisers. I couldn’t see why the Treasury, with the vital role that it plays, should be the exception to that.A chancellor, like all cabinet ministers, has to be able to give candid advice so he is speaking truth to power. I believe that the arrangement proposed would significantly inhibit that and it would not have been in the national interest.So while I was grateful for the continued trust of the prime minister in wanting to reappoint me, I am afraid that these were conditions that I could not accept in good conscience.Now I don’t intend to dwell further on all the details and the personalities … the Cummings and goings if you will.I very much hope that the new chancellor will be given space to do his job without fear or favour. And I know that [Sunak] is more than capable of rising to the challenge.The prime minister has won a huge mandate to transform our country and already he is off to a great start – ending the parliamentary paralysis, defeating the radical left, getting Brexit done, a points-based immigration system and an infrastructure revolution.We need a resolute focus on long-term outcomes and delivery, not short-term headlines. The Treasury as an institution, as an economic ministry should be the engine that drives this new agenda. Continue reading…
Via: PMQs: Sajid Javid warns PM he must not stop cabinet ministers 'speaking truth to power' – live news
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PIERS MORGAN: A phone call I received from a fired-up Trump should be a warning to Democrats
President Trump called me for a chat on Saturday. It was our first conversation since he unfollowed me on Twitter in April after I wrote a Mail column telling him to ‘Shut the f*ck up Read more…