Boris Johnson will be a “permanent nightmare” for the new prime minister, Lord William Hague has warned amid the latter stages of the Conservative Party’s leadership contest.
He claimed it is “already apparent” that Mr Johnson wants “revenge” on Rishi Sunak, whose resignation as chancellor triggered a ministerial exodus – leading to the Cabinet revolting against the PM to oust him.
Lord Hague, who led the party between 1997 and 2001, suggested that Liz Truss – Mr Sunak’s rival for the top job – will also face an “identical problem” if she is the one chosen next week by 160,000 party members to become prime minister.
Mr Johnson will be a “bundle of resentment, denial, attention-seeking and attempted vindication that will be a permanent nightmare for the new prime minister,” he said.
Lord Hague’s remarks come after the first head-to-head debate between Ms Truss and Mr Sunak.
After the pair trashed each other’s economic ideas, upbringing, and outfits in a BBC debate, Lord Fowler – who served under Margaret Thatcher – warned that such rows will see the return of the “nasty party” reputation.
Brexit set to cause shortage of animal medicines in Northern Ireland
Boris Johnson‘s Brexit deal is set to create a shortage of veterinary medicines for sick animals in Northern Ireland, a parliamentary committee has warned.
Over half of veterinary medicines used in the territory are expected to be become unavailable when the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by the UK and EU comes into full force at the end of the year, writes Jon Stone.
The EU has so far extended grace periods on the medicines to allow them to be used in Northern Ireland until the end of 2022 – but supply chains are yet to adjust and MPs and ministers say they are extremely concerned.
Drugs affected are expected to include those for cardiovascular conditions, anaesthetics and vaccines, including those that prevent salmonella and E. coli.
Brexit set to cause shortage of most animal medicines in Northern Ireland
Grace period will stop at end of 2022 with talks on a solution stalled
‘Utter madness’: Truss and Sunak accused of failing to address climate crisis ‘as the world is dying’
Viewers of the Tory leadership contest could be forgiven for thinking the world isn’t in the grip of a climate emergency.
Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and home secretary Liz Truss have been accused of a lack of ambition and knowledge on the subject in their exchanges on Monday evening, despite last weeks record UK temperatures.
The climate crisis was spoken about for less than two minutes during the hour long programme, with more time dedicated to discussions on what clothes and jewellery the candidates were wearing.
Our environment correspondent Harry Cockburn writes:
Truss and Sunak accused of failing to tackle climate crisis ‘as the world is dying’
Truss vows to scrap green levies as Sunak suggests his young daughters care more than him about environmental issues
ICYMI- Truss supporters accuse Sunak of ‘mansplaining’ during BBC debate
Liz Truss supporters have accused her rival Rishi Sunak of “mansplaining” during last night’s fiery BBC debate in the first head-to-head between the last two candidates.
However, while Simon Clarke MP did not agree when probed if Mr Sunak did ‘mansplain’, he flagged the former budget chancellor’s “aggressive” appoach at the start of the debate.
Pollster: Leadership barbs to linger for longer among Tory MPs than voters
Tory MPs rather than voters are likely to remember the leadership contest insults for longer, according to a Conservative pollster.
Lord Hayward, a former MP and current Tory peer, believes the tone of the campaign will have a short-term impact on the wider electorate, although other issues will be more important to them by the next general election.
But the “more immediate, difficult and possibly slightly longer-lasting” impact of the campaign will be within the Conservative parliamentary party itself, Lord Hayward added.
My colleague Richard Wheeler has more:
Pollster: Leadership barbs to linger for longer among Tory MPs than voters
Lord Hayward said the next prime minister must create the circumstances under which the previous frictions ‘disappear’.
Tory leadership odds: Liz Truss strengthens lead after TV clash with Rishi Sunak
Liz Truss strengthened her lead over Tory leadership rival Rishi Sunak following last night’s TV debate, a bookmaker says.
The foreign secretary and former chancellor traded blows on the cost of living crisis, taxation and the economy in a lively contest on BBC One.
Both candidates defied warnings by Tory Party grandees to keep the debate clean as they engaged in personal attacks during the hour-long discussion.
Ms Truss accused her rival of “project fear” after he warned that her tax-cutting plans would lead to rising interest rates, while Mr Sunak reminded the former international trade secretary of her support for Remain in the Brexit referendum.
My colleague Matt Mathers has more:
Liz Truss strengthens lead after TV clash with Rishi Sunak
Foreign secretary is favourite among Tory Party members, who will choose winner
‘This stinks’: Government accused of hiding from scrutiny over sewage in rivers
The government has been accused of trying to hide a lack of action over the dumping of sewage into rivers and coastlines around England.
Ministers were told their approach to transparency “absolutely stinks” after they refused to disclose to MPs if and when they had met with water bosses to solve the problem.
It comes after the government was placed under investigation by the environment regulator for allegedly failing in its duties to manage the quality of water.
Our policy correspondent, Jon Stone, has more:
‘This stinks’: Government accused of hiding from scrutiny over sewage in rivers
Ministers refuse to say whether they have met with water companies to solve problem
Tory MPs likely to remember leadership race insults longer than voters, pollster shows
Tory MPs rather than voters are likely to remember the leadership contest insults for longer, according to a Conservative pollster.
Lord Hayward, a former MP and current Tory peer, believes the tone of the campaign will have a short-term impact on the wider electorate, although other issues will be more important to them by the next general election.
But the “more immediate, difficult and possibly slightly longer-lasting” impact of the campaign will be within the Conservative parliamentary party itself, Lord Hayward added.
This will require either Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss to create the circumstances under which the “previous frictions disappear”, he said.
Pledge to ban fur and foie gras imports kicked into long grass, minister admits
A promise to ban imports of fur and foie gras has been effectively ditched after a cabinet revolt, a government minister has confirmed.
Zac Goldsmith had pledged that the restrictions – once hailed as a key post-Brexit freedom – would go ahead by next year, insisting he was “completely committed” to them.
But the environment minister has now admitted the government is merely considering “any further steps that could be taken” and “potential action” on the controversies.
Our deputy political editor Rob Merrick has more:
Pledge to ban fur and foie gras imports kicked into long grass, minister admits
Government merely considering ‘further steps that could be taken’ and ‘potential action’, MP told
UK sanctions nephews of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov
The UK has sanctioned Sarvar and Sanjar Ismailov, nephews of major Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov who has close ties to the Kremlin.
Sarvar Ismailov was previously a director at Everton Football Club and both have significant interests in the UK, the Foreign Office said.
Alisher Usmanov (R) shakes hands with Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2018
” height=”726″ width=”982″ layout=”responsive” class=”i-amphtml-layout-responsive i-amphtml-layout-size-defined” i-amphtml-layout=”responsive”> Alisher Usmanov (R) shakes hands with Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2018
The leaders of the Moscow-backed breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine have also been hit with sanctions.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss said: “We will not keep quiet and watch Kremlin-appointed state actors suppress the people of Ukraine or the freedoms of their own people.
“We will continue to impose harsh sanctions on those who are trying to legitimise (Vladimir) Putin’s illegal invasion until Ukraine prevails.”
Most Tory members still prefer Truss after BBC debate – poll
A new YouGov poll of 507 Conservative Party members has been conducted after the BBC showdown between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
The results show that Ms Truss was rated more “in touch with ordinary people, likeable and trustworthy” than her rival.
The pair just about drew on the question of who was more “prime ministerial”.
