Boris Johnson rejects claims he had to back down from telling EU to 'go whistle' over 'Brexit bill' – Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, as Theresa May tries to reach agreement on the UK-EU Brexit deal 1.36pm GMT Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor of London, has ruled out becoming prime minister. Although seen as someone with long-term ambitions to lead Labour, he told ITV during a visit to Pakistan that he was ruling himself out as a candidate to be the first Muslim prime minister. He said:I never had ambitions in the first place and I’ve got no ambitions now. I love being the mayor. Why give up a job I love to do a job I don’t want? I’m absolutely ruling myself out. Forever.Blinder from @SadiqKhan on BBC news just now. pic.twitter.com/ge1rmGjuUB 1.23pm GMT Nicola Sturgeon has strong words for Theresa May’s government at today’s session of first minister’s questions, describing it as “dissembling, mendacious and totally, totally incompetent”.“I don’t think we’ve seen a more incompetent UK government in my lifetime and that really is saying something,” she told the Holyrood chamber.It may well be that the case [for a second referendum on Brexit] becomes difficult to resist but I think there is a more immediate necessity and that is to stop this reckless UK government driving the entire UK over this cliff edge.I think the majority exists in the House of Commons if Labour gets its act together, and I think the majority exists across the whole of the UK to stop that happening. The sensible compromise option and the least damaging option for our economy is to stay within the single market and the customs union so everyone who is of that view should come together and make that happen.As long as we continue to allow our future to be in the hands of Tory governments in Westminster rather than having our future in our own hands we will always be at the mercy of reckless decisions taken by Tory government in Westminster. Continue reading…
Via: Boris Johnson rejects claims he had to back down from telling EU to 'go whistle' over 'Brexit bill' – Politics live