Boris Johnson has avoided an embarrassing defeat in the Commons over his decision to renege on a manifesto pledge on foreign aid after the speaker did not select the amendment for consideration.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rejected calls for a vote in parliament despite support from around 30 backbench Tories, who warned the government that cutting the international aid budget from 0.7 per cent of GDP to 0.5 per cent would damage the UK’s reputation at a time when it was hosting the G7 summit in Cornwall, and cause potentially “thousands” of deaths.
Sir Lindsay said the Tory rebel amendment on overseas aid “may not be debated” on Monday as it was “outside the scope of the Bill”.
But he added that he was open to hearing applications for an emergency debate on the issue, which could take place on Tuesday.
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Boris Johnson dodges potential defeat on foreign aid cuts as Speaker blocks rebel vote
Boris Johnson has dodged a potential House of Commons defeat on international aid cuts after Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle rejected calls for a vote in parliament.
The Conservative rebel amendment had been designed to reverse cuts described as morally “devastating” but it has not been selected for consideration, Sir Lindsay told MPs on Monday afternoon.
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Starmer speech halted by internet issues
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s address to a union conference has been delayed due to internet issues, PA reports.
Sir Keir was due to speak virtually at the GMB conference on Monday, but instead, viewers could only see Sir Keir’s name on the screen and a grey stock image silhouette.
After three attempts to connect with the leader, the conference moved on.
GMB national president Barbara Plant said: “There just might be issues with wifi at Parliament, that’s the problem.”
‘Special relationship’ out, ‘close relationship’ in as PM meets Biden
Boris Johnson will meet US President Joe Biden face to face this week – but meantion of the “special relationship” will reportedly be avoided because the PM does not like the expression.
No 10 said Mr Johnson “prefers not to use the phrase” and would instead refer to the “close relationship” with Washington.
A profile of Mr Johnson in The Atlantic magazine said the PM told aides he does not like using the term because it seems “needy and weak”.
The White House has said Mr Biden, on his first overseas trip as president, will meet Mr Johnson for talks on Thursday, ahead of the G7 summit in Cornwall which begins on Friday.
Perhaps unaware of Mr Johnson’s dislike of the term, the White House said the visit will “affirm the enduring strength of the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom”.
DUP members quit amid claims of ‘purge’ of opponents of Edwin Poots leadership
Several Democratic Unionist Party members have quit the party over what is claimed to be a “purge” against those who opposed Edwin Poots during the recent leadership campaign.
DUP councillors Glyn Hanna and Kathryn Owen, and former Westminster candidate Diane Forsythe, are among members to have left the Northern Ireland party during a bitter row over the ousting of Arlene Foster.
The departures follow a vote to remove Mr Hanna as the chair of the DUP South Down Association at its AGM over the weekend.
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Green Party drops candidate over homophobic tweets
A rugby league international has had his Green Party candidacy for the Batley and Spen by-election revoked after it was revealed he made a series of “highly offensive” homophobic tweets as a teenager.
Ross Peltier, 29, who played for the Doncaster Dons and was a Jamaica international, apologised for the “terrible” language used in the tweets and said “in no way” is he homophobic.
The Green Party said it did “not feel it is right” for Mr Peltier to continue as the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election.
A spokesman said the party will not be putting another candidate forward.
In a statement released on Twitter at the weekend, Mr Peltier said: “A few tweets have come to light from around 10/9 years ago from when I was 19 years of age.
“The language used is not acceptable or appropriate in any way, shape or form.
“In no way am I homophobic.
“I am sorry if my old tweets have caused harm or upset to anybody.
“But my growth as a person since the time of those tweets has been immeasurable.
“I hope I can be judged on my character now and not of when I was a 19-year-old.”
Foreign aid vote confirmed at 3.30pm
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle will announce in the chamber at 3.30pm whether the rebel amendment seeking to overturn the government’s cuts to foreign aid spending can be debated, the PA news agency is reporting.
His spokeswoman said that will be the time that he will reveal whether the amendment led by Tory backbencher Andrew Mitchell will be selected.
One rebel toldThe Independent it was “50-50” whether the speaker will select the amendment which seeks to reinstate the UK’s commitment to 0.7 per cent of gross national income on overseas aid spending from January 2022.
Vote on foreign aid cut could still go ahead, says former international development secretary
Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell has told the BBC’s World At One programme that it was still not known whether the Commons speaker would allow an amendment to challenge the foreign aid cut.
Amid speculation that Sir Lindsay Hoyle had decided not to allow the vote to go ahead, Mr Mitchell said: “Well we don’t know yet, and no one knows and there’s obviously been a certain amount of spinning going on this morning, but the meeting at which the Speaker will make that decision starts in about 20 minutes.”
Mr Mitchell said the rebel clause was “clearly in order … otherwise it wouldn’t appear on the order paper”.
He said: “I think Mr Speaker will also be conscious in making up his mind that the government has specifically denied the House of Commons a vote on this matter so far, we’ve had to come to a device through amending this Bill, which we think works, and in making his decision he will note that every single member of the House of Commons elected in December 2019 was elected on a promise to stand by this spending commitment, that it’s a legal commitment.”
Labour criticises Dowden over Ollie Robinson remarks
Labour’s Jo Stevens, the shadow culture secretary, has criticised Oliver Dowden for wading into the row over the suspension of Ollie Robinson for a series of offensive tweets.
Ms Stevens said: “It is right that the ECB takes the action that they think is necessary and appropriate to tackle racism and other forms of discrimination in their sport.
“They should not be criticised for doing so by the secretary of state.”
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No 10 refuses to condemn supporters who booed players taking the knee
Boris Johnson’s spokesman has also refused to condemn supporters who booed players for taking the knee in protest at racial injustice.
He said the prime minister “supports individuals’ rights to protest” and that Mr Johnson “fully respects the right of people in this country to peacefully protest and make their feelings known about injustices”.
Asked whether the PM was refusing to criticise supporters who boo the gesture, the spokesman said: “No… the prime minister is supporting the England football team and wants them to succeed and he wants the whole country to get behind them in that endeavour in this tournament.”
