A furious row has erupted between Labour and the Conservatives over a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Sir Keir Starmer’s government has announced that Britain will return the territory but will still have sovereignty over the Diego Garcia military base in the Pacific Ocean.
But the Conservatives have condemned the decision, with Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick accusing Sir Keir Starmer of “surrendering” Britain’s strategic interests.
Former foreign secretary James Cleverly has also joined the backlash, branding Sir Keir Starmer “weak, weak, weak” despite being behind the first negotiations over the agreement when he was in cabinet.
A Labour source hit back, accusing Rishi Sunak’s administration of putting the key UK-US base on Diego Garcia at risk during their negotiations.
They branded the territorial dispute a “legal car crash” left by the previous government which was “damaging the UK and the US’ national security”.
It comes as Boris Johnson revealed how he dismissed warnings over Dominic Cummings and the Barnard Castle row as “lefty journalists angry over Brexit”.
In his new book Unleashed, the former prime minister explained why he refused to sack his then-political adviser despite his infamous trip at the peak of the pandemic.
Key Points
- UK should hold vote on ECHR membership, says Boris Johnson
- UK to hand over secretive Chagos Islands to Mauritius
- Furious Tories condemn Starmer’s Chagos deal
- Boris Johnson dismissed Barnard Castle row as 'lefty journalists angry over Brexit'
- Practising Hindu Sunak was offended by Johnson’s rhetoric
Furious Tories condemn Starmer’s Chagos deal despite them opening talks
12:15
Salma Ouaguira
More Tory leadership candidates have joined Robert Jenrick in criticising the British Indian Ocean Territory decision.
James Cleverly said: “Weak, weak, weak! Labour lied to get into office. Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies!”
Fellow rival Tom Tugendhat said: “This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed.”
He claimed the Foreign Office had “negotiated against Britain’s interest” and it was “disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch”.
Mr Tugendhat added: “Lord Cameron rightly blocked them only to see it back under David Lammy’s complete failure of leadership.”
But the Tories were responsible for starting the negotiations over the deal when they were in power.
Former foreign secretary Mr Cleverly opened talks on the sovereignty of the archipelago in November 2022.
UK should hold vote on ECHR membership, says Johnson
21:44
Jane Dalton
Britain should hold a referendum on its membership of the European Convention on Human Rights, Boris Johnson has said.
The former prime minister told The Daily Telegraph there is a “strong case” to give the public a say on the ECHR, which critics say prevents Britain from having full control of its immigration policy.
Mr Johnson suggested the ECHR did not “provide people with protections that they wouldn’t otherwise have”.
Tory leadership candidates Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat have both backed the idea of leaving the ECHR.
US hails Chacos deal as ‘win for diplomacy'
21:15
Jane Dalton
US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said of the Chacos deal: “It’s a win for a diplomacy to see a successful, successful outcome of this effort between two US partners after more than a dozen rounds of talks.
“The agreement will secure the future of our joint US-UK military facility on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in US efforts to establish regional and global security, respond to crises and counter some of the most challenging security threats of our time.”
Bugging device found in my bathroom after Netanyahu visit, Johnson claims
20:59
Jane Dalton
A bugging device was found in Boris Johnson’s bathroom after a visit by Benjamin Netanyahu when he was foreign secretary, the former prime minister has claimed.
Mr Johnson alleged that his security team made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets after the Israeli premier had used them during a meeting in 2017.
Writing in his memoir Unleashed, the former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as “a secret annex… a bit like the gents’ in a posh London club”.
“Thither Bibi repaired for a while, and it may or may not be a coincidence but I am told that later, when they were doing a regular sweep for bugs, they found a listening device in the thunderbox,” Mr Johnson said.
It is unclear whether the Israeli government was confronted about the incident.
The Israeli embassy in London has been contacted for comment.
ITV interviews Boris Johnson after BBC cancels
20:30
Jane Dalton
ITV has announced it will broadcast an interview with Boris Johnson, after the BBC cancelled an interview with the ex-prime minister because presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent him her briefing notes.
Boris Johnson: The Interview will go out on ITV1 at 7pm tomorrow. The interviewer is Tom Bradby.
WATCH | Which Tory leader came out on top at Conservative Party Conference?
20:00
Salma Ouaguira
MPs accepting freebies while out of power ‘different’, minister claims
19:30
Salma Ouaguira
A minister has claimed accepting freebies in opposition is “different” from doing so in government as she attempted to explain why Sir Keir Starmer has paid back the value of some Taylor Swift tickets, but not thousands of pounds worth of other gifts.
Industry minister Sarah Jones suggested Sir Keir and other Labour frontbenchers were taking free tickets to concerts and festivals while in opposition to “build relationships” with businesses.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story below:
Osborne urges Reeves to deliver a ‘relaunch Budget’
19:00
Salma Ouaguira
Rachel Reeves needs to deliver a “relaunch Budget” following the freebies row that hit the Labour government, George Osborne has said.
The former chancellor told his Political Currency podcast: “This Budget was supposed to be the five-year plan for the Starmer government and some tough decisions early on that would reap benefits later, politically and economically.
“The truth is, it’s becoming increasingly a relaunch Budget. The government is in such trouble politically, because of all the things we’ve been talking about.
“There’s a poll out this week that says [the government] is now more unpopular with the British people than the Sunak government it replaced. So this Budget now can’t just be about the long term. It’s got to be about the short term. It’s got to be about getting the government back on track.”
Pictured: New leader of Scottish Conservatives Russell Findlay makes debut
18:30
Salma Ouaguira
Bill to give ‘choice at end of life’ to be introduced to Parliament this month
18:00
Salma Ouaguira
Proposals to change the law to give terminally ill people “choice at the end of life” are to be introduced in parliament this month.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater said she hoped for “honest, compassionate and respectful debate” when her Bill, which will be tabled on 16 October, is considered in the Commons.
The conversation around legalising assisted dying has been increasingly in the spotlight for the past year, with high-profile figures including broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen calling for a parliamentary debate and vote on change.
Dame Esther said she is “thrilled and grateful” at the news, which she said could mean “terminally ill people like me can look forward with hope and confidence that we could have a good death”.
She said: “I never thought I might live to see the current cruel law change.
“But even if it is too late for me, I know thousands of terminally ill patients and their families will be given new hope.
“All we ask is to be given the choice over our own lives.”
Ms Leadbeater said her private member’s bill (PMB) would establish in law the right for terminally ill eligible adults to have choice at the end of life to shorten their deaths and ensure stronger protections for them and their loved ones in the aftermath.
She said: “Parliament should now be able to consider a change in the law that would offer reassurance and relief – and most importantly, dignity and choice – to people in the last months of their lives.”
Pictured: First copies of Boris Johnson’s book ‘Unleashed’
17:30
Salma Ouaguira
Row erupts over Chagos Islands as Tories accused of risking loss of key air base in courts
17:00
Salma Ouaguira
A furious row has erupted over Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to hand hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, securing the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
Rivals battling it out for the Tory leadership accused the prime minister of weakness and said the decision would leave the UK’s allies exposed.
Our political correspondent has the full story below:
Boris regrets not sacking ‘weird’ Cummings over Barnard Castle debacle
16:30
Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson has branded his former chief of staff Dominic Cummings as “weird” and compared him to a “homicidal robot” as he blamed him for his downfall as prime minister.
In his new autobiography Unleashed, the Mr Johnson charted the collapse of his relationship with Cummings from the high point of them working to win the EU referendum in 2016.
But he has alleged that Cummings lack of gratitude for his efforts to defend him over potentially breaking lockdown rules with an infamous trip to Barnard Castle in 2020 led to the former chief of staff using Partygate as a form of revenge.
Our political correspondent David Maddox has the full story below:
Labour MP criticises ‘disappointing’ Chagos Islands decision
16:07
Salma Ouaguira
This is very disappointing. The decision over the future of the islands belongs the Chagossian people, it's not for the UK to bargain away. 60 years on from their exile, they've been let down again.
— Peter Lamb MP (@PeterKLamb) October 3, 2024
UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius https://t.co/8SO4OBwSzn
Suella Braverman joins Tories in slamming Chagos Islands deal
16:00
Salma Ouaguira
This is a shameful decision.
— Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) October 3, 2024
Starmer's reckless capitulation over the Chagos Islands severely undermines UK national security.
We all knew Lammy was weak but now it’s official: he’s China’s useful idiot too.
A dark day for our country’s sovereignty.
https://t.co/R64bbmsVC5
Chagossians ‘deplore’ UK-Mauritius deal for being excluded from negotiations
15:58
Salma Ouaguira
Chagos islanders have criticised Labour’s deal to return most territory of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending a long-standing dispute.
They have slammed the governments for being “excluded” from the negotiating table during the deal.
In a statement, Chagossian Voices said: “[We] deplore the exclusion of the Chagossian community from the negotiations which have produced this statement of intent concerning the sovereignty of our homeland.
“Chagossians have learned this outcome from the media and remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland.
“The views of Chagossians, the indigenous inhabitants of the islands, have been consistently and deliberately ignored and we demand full inclusion in the drafting of the treaty.”
Britain treated Chagossians ‘shamefully’, says envoy
15:44
Salma Ouaguira
The envoy behind the Chagos Islands-Mauritius deal has said Chagossians were treated “shamefully” when they were removed from the islands in the 1960s.
Jonathan Powell told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “What we did in the 60s, what Britain did, was wrong. We treated them shamefully.
“And that’s why previous governments have given them British nationality, British citizenship, and so on.
“So we setting up a fund that will be administered by the Mauritian government because this is now Mauritian territory, so we can’t say who goes back.”
But under the deal, Chagossians are not able to return to Diego Garcia, the UK-US military base in the Pacific Ocean.
He added: “Many of Chagossians are either Mauritian citizens or have the right to Mauritian citizenship.
“Going back to the islands … it’s going to be difficult. They’re very remote and very hard to live on, and the life there before was very difficult.
“But yes, we are committing ourselves to help on visits, and we’re committing to a fund to help on resettlement if that’s possible.”
15:20
Salma Ouaguira
We inherited ‘legal car crash’ with Chagos Islands
15:17
Salma Ouaguira
A Labour source has hit back at the Tories’ after the fierce criticism from leadership candidates over the government’s decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
They said: “Labour inherited a legal car crash that could have left this vital military base in the hands of the court, damaging the UK and the US’ national security.”
In 2021, the Conservative government was urged to end its “unlawful occupation” of the Chagos Islands by the prime minister of Mauritius after Britain’s claim to sovereignty was rejected by the UN court.
But the Foreign Office argued it had not been party of the court proceedings so it was under no obligation to comply with the ruling.
The UK then underwent a long period of negotiations with Mauritius to settle the issue.
The source added: “James Cleverly and the Tories tried and failed in 11 rounds of negotiations, putting our national security interests at risk.
“The new government did the deal to secure the base and shut off a potential illegal migration route.
“You wouldn’t get the US President applauding the deal if it put US interests at risk.”
COMMENT | Laura Kuenssberg’s Boris Johnson gaffe was bad – but these are worse
15:10
Salma Ouaguira
The BBC presenter accidentally sent the former PM her notes: cue, cancelled interview. And Ryan Coogan has a few confessions of his own…
ICYMI: Boris Johnson regrets not sacking ‘homicidal robot’ Dominic Cummings over Barnard Castle debacle
14:50
Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson has branded his former chief of staff Dominic Cummings as “weird” and compared him to a “homicidal robot” as he blamed him for his downfall as prime minister.
In his new autobiography Unleashed, the Mr Johnson charted the collapse of his relationship with Cummings from the high point of them working to win the EU referendum in 2016.
But he has alleged that Cummings lack of gratitude for his efforts to defend him over potentially breaking lockdown rules with an infamous trip to Barnard Castle in 2020 led to the former chief of staff using Partygate as a form of revenge.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story below:
THE INDEPENDENT DEBATE: Who should be the next leader of the Tory party?
14:30
Salma Ouaguira
Share your thoughts by adding them in the comments — we’ll highlight the most insightful ones as they come in.
All you have to do is sign up and register your details — then you can take part in the discussion. You can also sign up by clicking ‘log in’ on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Chagos Islands envoy brands Tory criticism ‘silly’ and ‘ludicrous'
14:10
Salma Ouaguira
Jonathan Powell, who was appointed only a month ago, has been at the forefront of the Chagos Islands’ negotiations.
The former Tony Blair’s chief of staff was also a key figure in negotiating the Good Friday agreement.
Mr Powell said the securing the deal was “genuinely historic” and he had negotiated “intensively”.
Asked about the criticism from Tory leadership candidates on the deal, he said: “I do think these comments from the Tory leadership candidates are a bit silly.
“James Cleverly was leading these negotiations not that many months ago with the Mauritian government [when he was foreign secretary].”
He added: “What this government has done has been able to conclude it, because that government managed to lose the trust of the Mauritian government during the process.
“So for the people who were involved in that negotiation to start criticising the outcome of something they couldn’t achieve is absolutely ludicrous.”
Grant Shapps joins Tory furore
13:50
Salma Ouaguira
Nigel Farage says ‘giving up Chagos Islands is strategic disaster’
13:39
Salma Ouaguira
The Reform UK leader told The Telegraph: “Giving up the Chagos Islands is a strategic disaster.
“Our American allies will be furious and Beijing delighted. Labour are making the world a more dangerous place.”
ICYMI: Cleverly condemns Chagos Islands deal - which he initiated
13:30
Salma Ouaguira
James Cleverly has condemned Sir Keir Starmer as “weak, weak, weak” for handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius - despite having kicked off negotiations over the deal when he was foreign secretary.
After a barnstorming conference, which catapulted Mr Cleverly to second favourite in the Tory leadership contest, the misstep threatened to derail his momentum.
Our politics team has the full story below:
Reform MP accuses government of ‘undermining British interests'
13:20
Salma Ouaguira
Rupert Lowe has joined the Tories in criticising the government’s decision to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The Reform MP tweeted: “The British government is now actively undermining British interests overseas. A total surrender.
“Speaking to contacts in Gibraltar, they are incredibly concerned following the Chagos Islands capitulation - ‘the thin end of the wedge’...
“The message is loud and clear - this Labour government is a disgrace.”
Your Tory Party conference questions answered by John Rentoul
13:10
Salma Ouaguira
This year’s Conservative Party conference in Birmingham provides a pivotal moment for reflection and debate.
It stands in stark contrast to the 2023 gathering, when Rishi Sunak’s government made a series of last-minute policy announcements, including offshoring prisoners, cutting civil servants, and controversially scrapping HS2.
As the conference unfolds, our chief political commentator John Rentoul has been answering your burning questions on the leadership contest, the fallout from the election defeat, and more.
Practising Hindu Rishi Sunak was offended by Boris Johnson’s rhetoric
13:07
David Maddox
Rishi Sunak had to remind Boris Johnson over the impact of his language when the former prime minister was ranting about “sacred cows”, our political editor David Maddox reports.
The episode is candidly revealed in Mr Johnson’s new book ‘Unleashed’ where he describes a meeting with his cabinet.
He wrote: “‘Come on!’ I exhorted the assembled secretaries of state, at least twice. ‘It’s time to slaughter the sacred cows.’”
Mr Johnson said that after the second occasion Mr Sunak came up to have a word. But Johnson did not quite pick up on Sunak’s “diffident” challenge.
The former prime minister noted: “I said enthusiastically ‘I want a complete abattoir, a charnel-house, a total bovicide! It’s the only way to do it.’”
But Sunak pointed out: “Just remember that not everyone would choose to use that language.”
Johnson claimed that he “gawped” and then “twigged…he was speaking to me as a convinced and practising Hindu.”
13:06
Salma Ouaguira
Lammy says returning Chagos Island to Mauritius to close migration route
12:55
Salma Ouaguira
In a news release about the agreement, the government claimed handing over Chagos Island to Mauritius will close a potential illegal migration route.
The deal announcement comes after a period of negotiations that began in 2022 under the Tories.
The international court of justice (ICJ), the UN general assembly and the international tribunal of the law of the sea recognised Mauritian arguments for sovereignty in 2019 and 2021.
But the deal had not been reached until now.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said: “For the first time in more than 50 years, the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure, following a political agreement between the UK and Mauritius.
“Without today’s agreement, the long-term, secure operation of the military base would be under threat, with contested sovereignty and legal challenges – including through various international courts and tribunals …
“Diego Garcia has also seen a small number of vulnerable migrants arrive since 2021, subsequently launching asylum claims. The agreement will shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, with Mauritius taking responsibility for any future arrivals.”
John Healey defends decision to hand over Chagos Islands
12:45
Salma Ouaguira
The defence secretary has defended the Labour government decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Mr Healey said: “This historic agreement highlights the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific. The UK-US base on Diego Garcia has a vital role in protecting our interests.
“By providing long-term sovereignty over Diego Garcia, this treaty secures continued operation of this major military base.”
This historic agreement highlights the UK’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) October 3, 2024
The UK-US base on Diego Garcia has a vital role in protecting our interests.
By providing long-term sovereignty over Diego Garcia, this Treaty secures continued operation of this major military base. https://t.co/XLUSdqZQkY
Boris Johnson mostly ignores Liz Truss
12:31
David Maddox
There are only three mentions of Liz Truss in Boris Johnson’s book Unleashed even though she was one of his most senior ministers and took over from him as Tory leader and prime minister, David Maddox reports.
Ms Truss accounts for two brief mentions in her role as foreign secretary related to Afghanistan and Ukraine and a brief mention as his successor.
Mr Johnson though prefers to focus his ire on Rishi Sunak’s “Brutus” like behaviour in betraying him. He also blames Sunak for losing the Tories the election.
The former prime minister complained about Sunak “junking the agenda on which we were elected” in 2019, and “never mentioning the good things we had done” under his premiership including Brexit.
He notes: “Instead we had a few zany ideas like making maths compulsory for 18-year-olds.”
US President Joe Biden hails ‘historic’ UK-Mauritius agreement
12:29
Salma Ouaguira
Joe Biden has welcomed Britain’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a move to secure the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
The US President branded the deal “historic” and praised the UK government for securing “effective operation” of the US-UK joint Diego Garcia base.
In a statement, he said: “I applaud the historic agreement and conclusion of the negotiations between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the status of the Chagos Archipelago.
“It is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”
He added: “Diego Garcia is the site of a joint US-UK military facility that plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security.
“It enables the United States to support operations that demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability, provide rapid response to crises, and counter some of the most challenging security threats we face.
“The agreement secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century.”
Record number of families living in temporary accommodation
12:20
Salma Ouaguira
A record number of families are having to live in temporary accommodation, new figures show, as councils warn their spending on emergency housing will rise by a third this year.
Some 117,450 households were living in temporary accommodation, such as B&Bs and hotels, in March 2024, which is the highest number since records began in 1998. This was up 12.3 per cent on the same period last year.
Of these, 74,530 were families with children - up 14.7 per cent year-on-year - and the number of children who have been living in temporary accommodation for five years or more has risen by more than 3,000.
Our social affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft has the full story below:
Robert Jenrick hits at Starmer over Chagos Islands deal
12:07
Salma Ouaguira
The Conservatives have shared their anger after Sir Keir Starmer handed the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick was scathing about the British Indian Ocean Territory deal.
He said: “It’s taken three months for (Sir Keir) Starmer to surrender Britain’s strategic interests.
“This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.”
UK to hand over secretive Chagos Islands to Mauritius in historic move
12:01
Salma Ouaguira
Britain has agreed to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to secure the future of a secretive military base in the Pacific Ocean.
The government on Thursday said it would recognise the sovereignty of Mauritius over the archipelago under a new agreement, which also secures the rights of Britain to operate a military base at Diego Garcia for at least the next 99 years.
The Foreign Office said the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure following a political agreement between the two countries.
You can read the full story below:
MPs accepting freebies while out of power ‘different’, minister claims
12:00
Salma Ouaguira
A minister has claimed accepting freebies in opposition is “different” to doing so in government as she attempted to explain why Sir Keir Starmer has paid back the value of some Taylor Swift tickets, but not thousands of pounds worth of other gifts.
Industry minister Sarah Jones suggested Sir Keir and other Labour frontbenchers were taking free tickets to concerts and festivals while in opposition to “build relationships” with businesses.
Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story below:
Dominic Cummings conspired against me, says Boris Johnson
11:58
Salma Ouaguira
In his new book ‘Unleashed’, Boris Johnson has revealed hearing Cummings in an interview for the BBC admitting that he had been conspiring to bring him down as prime minister.
He explained that the former adviser had been conspiring against him from early January 2020, just weeks after the massive election victory.
Reacting to the revelations, Mr Johnson wrote: “I mean WTF?”
“You might have thought that the honourable thiing to do would have been to resign, if that was how he really felt,” he added.
Boris Johnson dismissed Barnard Castle row as 'lefty journalists angry over Brexit'
11:25
Salma Ouaguira
Boris Johnson has revealed how he originally dismissed the Dominic Cummings’ Barnard Castle row as “lefty journalists angry over Brexit”, David Maddox reports.
In his new book ‘Unleashed’, the former prime minister explained why he refused to sack his then-political adviser despite his infamous trip during the peak of the pandemic.
In his memoir, he claimed he had a “blazing row” with former colleague and friend Will Walden who urged him to sack Cummings.
But Johnson said he retorted: “The whole thing is a put up job. It’s just a load of lefty journalists who want payback for Brexit.”
Tony Blair: Kemi Badenoch is right ‘not all cultures are equal’
11:05
Salma Ouaguira
The former New Labour leader has agreed with Kemi Badenoch’s remarks that “not all cultures are equally valid”.
The Tory leadership hopeful faced fierce criticism after claiming that some cultures are more valid when it comes to deciding who should be allowed into the UK.
Despite the backlash, Tony Blair agreed and insisted people should “assimilate into the common values”.
He told Politico: “Your cultural space is a space rich in diversity where you can pursue your own culture in what you do and the celebrations you have and the ceremonies you have and the faith you have.
“All of that’s absolutely fine. But when it comes to basic rules about democracy or, for example in our country now, rules about the role of women or people who are gay being entitled to equality, that’s not up for argument.
“You integrate with those things and it’s really important because otherwise you end up with the situation where people often say multiculturalism failed. No multiculturalism didn’t fail. There’s not a problem with most communities in the UK.”
Andy Burnham tip-toes over Starmer’s gifts row
11:02
Salma Ouaguira
The Greater Manchester mayor has refused to say whether Sir Keir Starmer overstepped the bounds of rules around hospitality.
He was pressed on whether the prime minister repaying £6,000 in tickets and clothes meant he had accepted too many gifts.
Mr Burnham told Sky News: “I think everyone’s got to use their own judgement, haven’t they?”
He added: “I think he’s absolutely right to say, clearer rules are needed for everybody, so everyone knows exactly what’s expected.
“So, I think we’ve got to the right place here. And I think it will help all members of parliament.”
When asked if he would have taken freebies he said: “I’m not going to say that I’m holier than thou.”
ICYMI: BBC cancel Johnson interview after sending him briefing notes
10:50
Salma Ouaguira
The BBC has cancelled an interview with Boris Johnson after presenter Laura Kuenssberg accidentally sent the former prime minister her briefing notes.
Ms Kuenssberg, presenter of the BBC’s flagship Sunday political interview show, said she sent Mr Johnson the notes “in a message meant for my team”.
The BBC’s political editor between 2015 and 2022 said it was “embarrassing and disappointing”, adding the error meant it was “not right for the interview to go ahead”.
You can read the full story below:
Tony Blair tells Keir Starmer to ‘rise above’ donations row
10:35
Salma Ouaguira
And now Sir Tony Blair himself has commented on the row.
The former prime minister has urged Sir Keir Starmer to “rise above” the backlash and “get used to” the attacks.
He told a Politico podcast: “Dealing with politics at this level when you come under attack, which is, you know, it’s just the way it is. You’re going to have to get used to it.
“It’s going to be like that. But the single most important thing is always to have a driving purpose as a government.
“That is constantly rising above that because it will be, it is just part of modern politics today… It doesn’t worry me in, in terms of whether it can displace the overall [mission] of the government. But I agree you’ve got to deal with it and they’re trying to deal with it so, let them deal with it.”
Tony Blair’s strategist says donations row damages public perception
10:30
Salma Ouaguira
A former political secretary to Tony Blair was also on the morning media round discussing Sir Keir Starmer’s freebies row.
John McTernan said the problem was not rules being broken but the public perception.
The political strategist told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Politicians have to not only act by the rules, they have to act by community standards.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that voters are angry, the community’s angry, about what they see as double standards.
“The absolute fundamental rule of politics is the voters are never wrong. Rule one of politics is the votes are never wrong. Rule two, if you’re angry because you think the votes are wrong, please refer to rule number one.”
And voters’ anger has been noticeable in recent polls, with Sir Keir’s personal ratings dropping 45 points since July to -26, according to Opinium.
‘Right’ that PM is updating gift rules in ministerial code, says minister
10:13
Salma Ouaguira
Minister Sarah Jones has insisted that the prime minister has not “broken any rules” despite paying back £6,000 worth of gifts and hospitality.
She told Sky News: “I think under the last government, the issue was always about transparency, people not declaring things, people not going by the rules.”
The industry minister added that Labour is considering the rules on freebies but they have been “incredibly busy”.
However, she added: “[The PM] is looking again at the principles around gifts and hospitality.
“That’s the right thing to do.”
Angela Rayner’s Ibiza DJ booth party revealed as £836 freebie
10:00
Salma Ouaguira
Angela Rayner’s trip to an Ibiza nightclub where she was spotted partying in a DJ booth over the summer was a freebie worth hundreds of pounds, it has emerged.
In the latest register of MPs’ financial interests revealed on Wednesday, the deputy prime minister declared she received £836 worth of hospitality for a “visit to (a) DJ booth” at nightclub Hi Ibiza.
It was paid for by Ayita LLC, which is the agent of DJ Fisher, who she was filmed dancing with in footage of the event on 29 August that was shared on social media.
You can read the full story below:
Minister: Lord Alli ‘confident’ he has done nothing wrong
09:42
Salma Ouaguira
Business minister Sarah Jones has defended Lord Alli, claiming the Labour peer is “confident” he had done nothing wrong.
The fashion mogul is under investigation by the Lords’ commissioner over “alleged non-registration of interests” which could lead to a breach of the members’ code of conduct.
During the morning media round, she said: “He will completely cooperate with that investigation, of course, and he’s confident he’s registered everything in the way that he should have done.
“And that’s that, really. We need to let that investigation run its course.”
Tories challenge Labour ministers to follow Starmer and repay donations
09:35
Salma Ouaguira
With Sir Keir Starmer facing questions over ethics and transparency for accepting generous gifts, the Tories have not lost time in calling for more ministers to repay freebies.
The Conservative party said in a statement: “Day after day more and more comes out about the scandal at the top of Keir Starmer’s government. This scandal has become a complete distraction from the job of governing.
“It appears Starmer will only be transparent when his backs against the wall. This announcement today poses more questions than it answers. Why did Starmer take these freebies in the first place? Why haven’t Angela Rayner and other senior party members not paid back donations?”
The Conservatives have a lot of experience of donation scandals. The party had previously faced scrutiny under Boris Johnson over Tory donors and their alleged links to corruption.
Bank of England governor warns ‘more aggressive’ rate cuts coming
09:27
Salma Ouaguira
Interest rate cuts could become “more aggressive” sparking falls in the