Politics latest: New frontrunner in Tory leadership race - as minister refuses to apologise over viral tweet (2024)

Tory leadership race
  • Tom Tugendhat is out of the Tory leadership race, leaving James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick, and Kemi Badenoch in the final three
  • Tugendhat thanks supporters - as Cleverly takes the lead
  • Explained:What happens next?
  • Analysis:There could be some skulduggery to come
  • Live reporting by Samuel Osborne
Other news
  • Biden cancels meeting with Starmer
  • Labour and PM suffer hefty poll slump
  • Minister won't apologise over viral tweet
  • Listen:Can special advisers be too powerful?
  • Wilfred Frost:What it was like to interview Boris Johnson

20:14:32

Nandy to meet Premier League clubs amid 'threat of civil war'

By Mark Kleinman, City editor

The culture secretary will hold talks with a group of Premier League clubs on Wednesday about the government's plans for a football watchdog, even as the sport's top flight teeters on the brink of civil war.

Sky News has learnt that Lisa Nandy will meet executives from clubs including Crystal Palace, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur within hours of alegal ruling which has triggered a fractious disputebetween Manchester City and the Premier League.

Ms Nandy will also meet a handful of English Football League (EFL) clubs this week, with theFootball Governance Billexpected to be introduced to parliament within weeks.

'A new deal for football'

The draft legislation will revive plans for the establishment of an independent football regulator after a previous bill ran out of parliamentary time ahead of theelection.

The new body will have powers to enforce a financial settlement between thePremier Leagueand EFL dubbed "a new deal for football".

Negotiations over a settlement ran aground after months of in-fighting among top-flight clubs.

Man City vs the Premier League

The culture secretary's discussions with Premier League clubs were described by one insider as "routine engagement" but they will come against a perilous backdrop for the English football elite.

Manchester Cityaccused the Premier League of providing a misleading summary of the outcome of a case between them, which culminated on Monday with both sides claiming victory.

The case centred on associated party transaction rules, overseen by the Premier League, which assess the fairness of commercial deals involving clubs and related companies.

A separate legal hearinginvestigating 115 alleged breachesby the champions of the Premier League's financial rules is ongoing.

A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport declined to comment on Tuesday.

19:54:12

What it was like to interview Boris Johnson

By Wilfred Frost, presenter

As Boris Johnson’s new 750-page tome - Unleashed - dropped on my doorstep just three days before my interview with him, I was reminded of one of my late father's favourite quips.

"It wasn't so much hard to put down but impossible to pick up."

It was a quip I repeated to Mr Johnson as he arrived for his interview with us a few hours ago. He laughed - I think with me.

To be honest, it was an easy read. He is ever the entertainer, both in person and in print.

But if you are looking for depths of fresh contrition on some of the specific issues that might have angered you - Brexit, Barnard Castle, Owen Paterson, Partygate, etc - you're unlikely to find it.

Queen's advice doesn't seem to have got through

The most contrition both in the book and the interview comes on how he governed, and how he failed to keep his MPs on side. And he admitted to me to operating more as a president than a prime minister.

Given we sat down together on 7 October, he said the world "was in danger of forgetting the full horror and evil that was done to Israel that day".

He clearly feels most comfortable talking about foreign affairs, and praised the Churchillian nature of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in contrast to the feebleness of the West leading up to the invasion of Ukraine.

The late Queen Elizabeth, he reveals in the book, advised him not to be bitter. It doesn't appear he has taken that advice to heart.

What are his thoughts towards Sue Gray leaving government?

"RIP," he said.

Watch Wilfred Frost's full interview with the former PM:

19:47:31

A big question for new Tory frontrunner - as members' favourite pursues curious tactic

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates has spent some time digesting today's developments in the Tory leadership race.

James Cleverly leads the way with 39 votes from MPs, followed by Robert Jenrick on 31 and Kemi Badenoch on 30.

Tom Tugendhat was knocked out on 20 votes.

But despite his healthy lead, Sam says this remains "the most unpredictable of races" given the skulduggery that could go on before MPs vote again on Wednesday.

Could there be another twist to come?

"Robert Jenrick was the frontrunner, and yet we have a situation now where he's going backwards," says Sam.

"The Jenrick camp were telling me yesterday they could get between 35 and 40 votes - 31 is a big underperformance."

But given Kemi Badenoch is top among the members, who ultimately decide who wins the contest, Sam speculates the Cleverly team could consider lending votes to Jenrick.

It's "a big question" facing him tonight, says Sam.

For Badenoch, her efforts this evening to get Tory MPs on the right to "coalesce around her" is a "curious tactic" because "those aren't the votes that are up for grabs" following Tugendhat's exit.

As a centrist Tory, one would imagine most of his backers to come in behind Cleverly - but as Sam says, it's anything but predictable.

19:43:15

Tory MPs give their views on leadership race

We've heard from Tory MPs on the latest round of the party's leadership race, which saw Tom Tugendhat eliminated after receiving the backing of only 20 MPs.

Mr Tugendhat's votes "now have to be reallocated," James Cartlidge said, adding: "Whatever else happens with other colleagues I'm sure there'll be a lot of frantic running around."

Mr Cartlidge, who is backing Kemi Badenoch, who received 30 votes, placing her last among those still in the race, said: "I think that's a good result because she's into that final round, and I'm confident she can now make it through to the membership, where in my view she is strong favourite."

Edward Argar, who is backing Robert Jenrick, said it was a "strong result" for both Mr Jenrick and frontrunner James Cleverly.

"Rob is still in a very strong position," he added.

"I am confident we will see him tomorrow go through to the final two candidates to go to the party membership for a vote, and I'm confident he's the right person to take us through four years of opposition and lead us back into government after those four years."

Meanwhile, Paul Holmes, who is backing Mr Cleverly, said his surge to first place was the result of "the positive speech" he made at party conference, "and the fact many of us in our constituencies were speaking to members who saw that speech and thought that James was the person that should take us in to the next election as our leader".

19:29:57

UK 'understands we're facing the same threat', Israeli embassy spokesperson says

A spokesperson for Israel's embassy in London has said she thinks the UK "understands that we're facing the same threat" from Iran.

Orly Goldschmidt toldPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgeshe understands the Israeli response to Iranian rocket attacks "is going to be a strong one".

She says Iran-backed groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi militants in Yemen are "not organisations we can talk with".

"We have to defend ourselves," she adds. "I'm sure you would expect the UK government, if there was even one missile that fell in the middle of London, to respond and not to let that aggression go unanswered".

UK's support welcomed despite partial arms embargo

Asked how she would describe Sir Keir Starmer's support for Israel, she says: "We feel that the prime minister, the government is very supportive of Israel's rights to defend itself."

Sir Keir and other members of the government have met with the families of the victims of the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, she adds.

But Israel "felt disappointed" when the UK imposed a partial arms embargo on Israel, over fears such weapons could be used to commit war crimes, "especially because we are fighting the same enemies".

"We believe we are working in compliance with international law, and we're taking all the steps in order to make sure that we are operating along with international law."

19:15:02

Russia trying to cause 'mayhem' on UK streets, MI5 boss warns

Russia is trying to cause "mayhem" on the UK's streets and the security services are facing "plot after plot" from Iran, the head of MI5 has warned.

The organisation's director general Ken McCallum also emphasised the"worsening threat from Al-Qaeda and in particular from Islamic State", which he said had "resumed efforts to export terrorism".

Mr McCallum revealed 13% of people under investigation by MI5 were under 18 - a three-fold increase in three years.

He said the security service is seeing"far too many cases where very young people are being drawn into poisonous online extremism".

Overall MI5 and the police have disrupted 43 late-stage attack plots since March 2017, Mr McCallum said.

Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged the "sober findings" revealed by Mr McCallum, but his spokesperson said the public should be "reassured that our security services are world-class and will do everything necessary to keep us safe".

19:08:53

MI5 chief's warning makes the world feel like it's closing in

MI5, Britain's domestic intelligence service, acts as our eyes on what's happening beneath the surface.

And today the boss of MI5 is so worried about what they're seeing that he made a rare public intervention.

Director general Ken McCallum said Russia is trying to create "mayhem" on British streets - and we're facing "plot after plot" from Iran.

The threat from Al-Qaeda and Islamic State is also growing.

Listening to his words, the world suddenly feels very small - like it's closing in.

A world on the brink

In the Middle East, Israel claims to have killed the Hezbollah leader who replaced the other Hezbollah leader they killed just 10 days ago.

And the United Nations warns Lebanon could descend into the same "spiral of doom" seen in Gaza.

It's a world that feels on the brink.

19:00:01

Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgeis live now on Sky News.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

On the show tonight isOrly Goldschmidt, spokesperson for the Israeli embassy here in London.

And on the panel are ex-Labour adviserMax WilsonandJames Starkie, former chief of staff to Priti Patel.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgefrom Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

18:17:57

Tories claim education secretary 'propagating class war' with viral tweet on private schools

So far as requests in parliament go, being asked to apologise for a tweet isn't among the most common.

But that's what was demanded of the education secretary today, after a post she wrote in defence of the government's plan to impose VAT on private school fees went viral.

Bridget Phillipson said: "Our state schools need teachers more than private schools need embossed stationary.

"Our children need mental health support more than private schools need new pools.

"Our students need careers advice more than private schools need AstroTurf pitches."

She was responding to a report that some private schools were going without such things to cope with the tax plan.

'No need to apologise,' say Labour

Tory MPs, who were already vehemently opposed to Labour's plan, have taken particular exception to the tweet, which was posted over the weekend and has almost six million views.

"This reeks of prejudice and propagates a class war," said Luke Evans.

Nigel Huddleston described it as "shockingly ill-judged".

Ms Phillipson appeared in the Commons following the scathing remarks, but didn't respond to calls for an apology.

Treasury minister James Murray said none was needed "for wanting to improve state education across this country".

The 20% VAT rate on private school fees is set to be introduced from January 2025.

18:00:01

Could chancellor 'find' more money?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves could change her fiscal rules to give her tens of billions more to spend in the budget on 30 October.

Our economics and data editor Ed Conway says these self-imposed rules, inherited from the Tories, have impeded long-term investments.

Ed has been looking at just what Ms Reeves could do about them - watch him talk you through it below.

Politics latest: New frontrunner in Tory leadership race - as minister refuses to apologise over viral tweet (2024)
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