UK Politics

Downing Street is not telling the truth about whether Boris Johnson was warned about alleged “predatory behaviour” by one of his Tory ministers, a former top civil servant has said.Lord McDonald, who ran the foreign office at the time the complaint was made against Chris Pincher, said No 10 “keep changing their story and are still not telling the truth”.Downing Street previously claimed the prime minister was not aware of any specific allegations when he appointed Mr Pincher to be his deputy chief whip, and that “that it was deemed not appropriate to stop an appointment simply because of unsubstantiated allegations”.But the ex permanent secretary, who was in charge at the time complaints were made about Mr Pincher in summer 2019, said it was “not true” that Mr Johnson was not aware of the specifics.”Mr Johnson was briefed in person about the initiative and outcome of the investigation. There was a ‘formal complaint’,” the former head of the diplomatic service said in a letter to Katherine Stone, the parliamentary standards commissioner.”Allegations were ‘resolved’ only in the sense that the investigation was completed. Mr Pincher was not exonerated. To characterise the allegations as ‘unsubstantiated’ is therefore wrong.”Lord McDonald, who is now a crossbench peer, in his letter to the standards commissioner that he was “aware that is unusual to write to you and simultaneously publicise the letter”. “I am conscious of the duty owed to the target of an investigation but I act out of of my duty towards the victims,” he said, claiming that “Mr Pincher deceived me and others in 2019”. Speaking in BBC Radio 4’s Today programme after the release of his letter, he said: “I think they need to come clean. I think that the language is ambiguous. It’s sort of telling the truth and crossing your fingers at the same time and hoping that people are not too forensic in their subsequent questioning. And I think that is not working.”He added: “I dispute the use of the word ‘resolved’. For me ‘resolved’ is too positive a word. It sounds as though a happy and agreed conclusion was reached. No, the complaint was upheld. So to leave the impression that in some way Mr Pincher was exonerated is wrong.”Asked why he had intervened publicly, he said: “First of all, Number 10 have had five full days to get the story correct, and that has still not happened. And second, I do not approve of anonymous briefings behind the scenes. If I was to do this, I should put my name to it rather than just phone a journalist and tip them off.”The scrutiny of what the prime minister and other top Tories knew comes after Mr Pincher resigned his senior government job and lost the Tory whip after allegations that he groped two men in a private members’ club. The MP, who is yet to resign his seat in the Commons, said he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed myself and other people”.The deputy prime minister Dominic Raab on Tuesday morning admitted letting Mr Pincher off with a warning after the earlier complaint.Mr Raab, who was foreign secretary at the time said the minister was told he should “desist” from his alleged behaviour.”There was a complaint made by someone that worked with him about inappropriate behaviour. I swiftly agreed with the permanent secretary Simon McDonald at the time, that that ought to be reviewed under the civil service’s auspices to make sure it was done without fear or favour. “It came back and did not recommend formal disciplinary action. And it should be said that the individual who made the complaint that did not want that. I spoke to Chris Pincher about the inappropriate behaviour, made it clear in no uncertain terms it should desist, it must never be repeated. So did the permanent secretary. For additional assurance, because I take this so seriously. “I also referred it to the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team which also looked at it for example, to see whether action were warranted under the ministerial code. They didn’t, they agreed that it didn’t warrant that. “So although there was a complaint made about inappropriate behaviour, it did not trigger the disciplinary action either at the civil service level, or the cabinet office level in relation to the code of conduct. “So I not only followed it to the strict letter, I went beyond that and sought the assurance. Why? Because I think it’s so important that people that make complaints feel can have the confidence to come forward.”Reacting to Lord McDonald’s comments, Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader said it was clear the prime minister had “lied”.“Boris Johnson’s desperate attempts to cover up what he knew about sexual assault complaints against Chris Pincher before appointing him have been blown out the water,” she said.“It is now clear that the Prime Minister knew about the seriousness of these complaints but decided to promote this man to a senior position in government anyway. He refused to act and then lied about what he knew.“Boris Johnson is dragging British democracy through the muck. His appalling judgement has made Westminster a less safe place to work.“ More

Priti Patel has urged police to use new powers to shut down protests after fuel price campaigners held up highways around the country, according to reports.At least 13 protesters were arrested on Monday for driving too slowly when blocking roads in a call for fuel duty to be slashed to slow the soaring cost of filling up a car.The so-called “go-slow” protests spread across Britain’s road network. Most of the arrests took place on the M4 though drivers also protested on the M54, M62, A38 and several other roads.Controversial new laws which came into effect on 28 June give police increased powers to deal with protests deemed to be causing serious disruption.The laws were introduced in response to Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain environmental protests which blocked roads en masse.Along with giving police greater powers of dispersal, the government has increased penalties for protesters. While “Wilful obstruction of the highway” used to be punishable by a maximum fine of £50, it now carries up to a six month prison sentence and/or an unlimited fine.After a day of 30mph traffic on the motorways, Priti Patel was reportedly moved to remind police of their new powers. More

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he is not “advocating the status quo” on Brexit as he ruled out rejoining the EU’s single market or customs union if Labour wins the next general election.The Labour leader also sidestepped a question over whether he was effectively accepting a hard Brexit, but set out a five-point plan to fix the “hulking ‘fatberg’ of red tape and bureaucracy” under the deal brokered by Boris Johnson.Sir Keir’s remarks came after a speech at the Irish embassy during which he vowed that Britain would not join the single market, restore freedom of movement, or seek to go back into the EU under a future Labour government.In his first major intervention into the Brexit debate in months, the Labour leader said: “There are some who say ‘we don’t need to make Brexit work – we need to reverse it’. I couldn’t disagree more.”He acknowledged some may not want to hear that Britain would not return to the single market or a customs union under Labour, but added “it is my job to be frank and honest”.Setting out his plan to “make Brexit work” at the event hosted by the Centre for European Reform thinktank, Sir Keir pledged to make the existing “poor deal” work by first fixing the Northern Ireland Protocol.The party would eliminate “most border checks created by the Tory Brexit deal”, he said, and implement a “new veterinary agreement for agri-products between the UK and EU”.It would also work with business to put in place a “better scheme” to allow low-risk goods to enter Northern Ireland without “unnecessary checks”, he claimed.Asked by The Independent after his speech whether he was effectively accepting a hard Brexit by ruling out a return to the single market or customs union, the Labour leader said: “I’m putting forward a way of making Brexit work.“All the government has done is said the words ‘get Brexit done’ and negotiated a deal which is holding us back. What I want is a plan to make Brexit work and that’s what I’ve set out.”Pressed on whether it was “leadership to accept the status quo”, he also told journalists on Monday: “I’m not advocating the status quo. On the contrary I’m saying the status quo, the government’s deal, is holding us back.”While some Labour MPs welcomed Sir Keir’s intervention on Brexit on Monday, backbencher Rosie Duffield posted during the speech on social media “not in my name” alongside an emoji of the European Union flag.Asked what he would say to his backbench critics, Sir Keir also told journalists: “Look, we’re out of the EU, we’ve got to, and we will make Brexit work. You can’t move forward by constantly looking over your shoulder at the past. “I don’t think there’s an argument that reopening the divisions of the last few years is a recipe for growing our economy.”He added: “Whichever way we vote, we’re out. My plan is to look forward and make Brexit work. The driving purpose behind this is growing the economy. We’re stagnant as an economy.”Before Sir Keir delivered his speech, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Brexit opportunities minister, accused the Labour leader of a “half-cock” attempt at copying the Conservatives’ plans.He told LBC: “I’m fascinated by what he’s got to say, or reports of it … and what he wants to do, by and large, is things either that the Conservatives are doing (because) they want to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, so I hope he’ll support us on our Bill.“And he wants recognition of qualifications, which we’ve already legislated for. So you do wonder if he was half asleep last year.“I think all that Sir Keir is going to be saying later on today is that he wants to do what the Conservatives are doing but half-cock, so it’s not much of an announcement by him today.”The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford also claimed the Labour Party is now “indistinguishable from the Tories on Brexit”, adding: “Keir Starmer has strengthened the case for independence by embracing the Tories’ hard Brexit”. More

Boris Johnson was given a “first-hand account” of inappropriate sexual behaviour by Chris Pincher before his appointment to the role of deputy chief whip, The Independent has learned.The prime minister was told about specific claims against the Tory MP on at least two occasions, according to a senior Downing Street source.No 10 declined to comment on both alleged conversations.Claims of what Mr Johnson knew and when came as his official spokesperson sought to qualify previous statements that suggested the prime minister was unaware of specific allegations regarding Mr Pincher’s conduct.The first conversation alleging “inappropriate sexual touching” on the part of Mr Pincher took place in early February this year, shortly before his formal appointment to deputy chief whip on 8 February, it is claimed.His alleged misconduct was raised again in May when reports emerged of inappropriate behaviour of an unnamed MP, which was later revealed to be the former deputy chief whip, the source told The Independent.Asked about Mr Pincher’s conduct, the No 10 staffer said: “The prime minister was made directly aware of a first-hand account of inappropriate sexual touching. He was told in early February and also in May.”It comes as Sky News reported that Carrie Johnson openly questioned Mr Pincher’s suitability as a government whip as early as 2017.Mr Pincher has firmly denied a slew of allegations related to groping fellow MPs, activists and others which have emerged since he resigned as deputy chief whip after admitting drinking too much and embarrassing himself and others at the Carlton Club last week.Over the weekend one Tory MP told The Independent how he had been groped on two occasions by Mr Pincher, including having his genitals touched over his clothes. The No 10 spokesman on Monday said the prime minister was aware of “media reports” and “allegations that were either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint”.They added that in the absence of a formal complaint “it was deemed not appropriate to stop an appointment on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations”.The spokesman was also unable to say what, if any, efforts were made to establish if allegations could be substantiated – and indicated Mr Pincher was not asked about them directly.Downing Street has not denied an allegation from former top aide Dominic Cummings that the prime minister had referred to the former deputy chief whip as “Pincher by name, pincher by nature” ahead of his appointment to the role.Instead, the spokesman said he would not comment on the content of private conversations.The scandal comes as No 10 is preparing for a fresh of round elections to the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs. The elections could present another challenge to Mr Johnson’s premiership, with some outspoken rebels warning they intend to stand.Mr Pincher had the Whip removed from him on Friday, so he can no longer sit as a Conservative MP in the house of commons. The suspension will be in force pending the outcome of an investigation from parliament’s independent complaints service.The former deputy chief whip, who held a sensitive role overseeing party discipline within parliament, stood down after it was alleged that he groped two men at the tory-linked Carlton Club, a private members club in central London.In his resignation letter, Mr Pincher wrote that he “drank far too much” and embarrassed himself and others.However, over the weekend he indicated an intention to remain an MP. He said in a statement that he would seek professional medical support.“I am in the process of seeking that now, and I hope to be able to return to my constituency duties as soon as possible,” he said.It could be several months before the investigation into the most recent complaint against Mr Pincher concludes.The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme was set up in the wake of the “Pestminster” scandal to deal with complaints relating to bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct by MPs, peers and parliamentary staff.However, figures show that the average length of investigation closed in 2020-21 lasted 196 working days, while the longest inquiry took 572 working days to conclude – representing more than two years.The string of allegations in news reports over the weekend, all denied by Mr Pincher, span a course of several years.The Mail on Sunday carried claims that he made unwanted advances against an individual a decade ago.The Sunday Times reported allegations that Mr Pincher had groped a male Tory MP in 2017, made unwanted advances towards a different Conservative MP in 2018, and did the same towards a Tory activist in Tamworth in 2019. More

The UK is “backsliding on human rights” and must be stopped, a Council of Europe official has warned.The organisation, which was co-founded by Winston Churchill following the Second World War, took aim at proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act, as well as new protest laws and moves to criminalise asylum seekers crossing the English Channel.Dunja Mijatović, its commissioner for human rights, said: “Legal reforms should not weaken human rights protections in the United Kingdom.”Following a five-day visit to Britain, where she met ministers including justice secretary Dominic Raab, she added: “It is worrying that the proposed legal reforms might weaken human rights protections at this pivotal moment for the UK, and it sends the wrong signal beyond the country’s borders at a time when human rights are under pressure throughout Europe.”Mr Raab has insisted that his planned Bill of Rights would not weaken human rights protections in the UK, but Ms Mijatović said it would make significant changes to how people can enforce their rights. She highlighted that the proposals were part of a “wider context” of laws affecting the freedom to protest and specific groups, such as asylum seekers and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.Ms Mijatović warned that the effective protection of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was a “foundation” to the Good Friday Agreement, warning that attempts to preserve peace in Northern Ireland must not be undermined.The human rights commissioner said new proposals on how to review Troubles-related cases may not be compliant with ECHR standards on independent and effective investigations and “could lead to impunity”. She also raised concerns over the rights of children amid the continued effects of the Covid pandemic and mounting cost of living crisis. “The high number of children living in, or at risk of, poverty is a serious human rights problem affecting every other aspect of their safety and well-being”, Ms Mijatović said.She warned of an “increasingly hostile public discourse, supported by some politicians and by media reporting” towards trans people, adding: “Contrary to what some are trying to suggest, protecting women’s rights and the rights of trans people is not a zero-sum game.“The current discourse is ingraining harmful gender stereotypes, which will negatively affect the protection of the rights of all involved in the long run.”Ms Mijatović’s full report on her visit to the UK will be published at a future date. More

Boris Johnson has watered down his target for higher defence spending made only four days ago, calling it a “prediction” and not a firm commitment.The prime minister raised alarm on the Tory benches when he said it is “likely” the UK will be spending 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 – and then hinted it will depend on “the size” of the economy then.Mark Harper, a former Conservative chief whip, told him last week’s announcement had “appeared to be really quite solid”, but no longer did so after his Commons statement.“Is it a commitment? And, secondly, how are we going to pay for it? Because you have to have a credible plan to pay for it. Are we going to put up taxes?” Mr Harper asked.In reply, Mr Johnson pointed to spending announcements already made, including on the Aukus security pact with Australia and the US and a new air-combat system.“This is a straightforward protraction – prediction – based on what we are currently committed to spending,” he admitted.And he added: “Of course much depends on the size of our GDP at the time. Much depends on the growth in the economy.”Mr Johnson said he expected the UK to “pay for it out of steady and sustained economic growth”, despite warnings of a significant hit to the economy from his hard-Brexit trade deal.Following his return from the Commonwealth, G7 and Nato summits, the prime minister also rejected calls for the West to send warships to the Black Sea to lift Russia’s blockade on Ukrainian grain.“No, we are not looking at that. There are alternative solutions that don’t involve the presence of UK or other warships in the Black Sea,” he told MPs.The allies were exploring “using the Danube” to get grain out, or railways “in smaller quantities than we would be able to do with a giant maritime convoy through the Black Sea”, he acknowledged.“We are looking at all the possible options, including smaller packets of grain coming out that way,” Mr Johnson said.He also urged Saudi Arabia to release more oil to help ease the cost of living crisis – having failed to persuade the kingdom to shift on a controversial trip in March.Responding to a Tory MP’s call for action, the prime minister told him: “He’s right about the role of Saudi.“There may be some question about how much more the Saudis could pump out at this particular moment, but there’s no doubt we’re going to need a lot more Opec Plus oil.”Mr Johnson also insisted “not a single person said that the UK was in breach of international law” to him while he was away in Rwanda, Germany and Spain.The UK faces accusations of lawbreaking over its tearing up of the Northern Ireland protocol, deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda and watering down of human right commitments. More

The former Tory MP who resigned for watching porn in the House of Commons said his wife chases him around the kitchen with scissors aiming for “part of my anatomy.” Neil Parish was forced to quit in May after it emerged that he twice watched adult content in parliament in view of female colleagues.The 66-year-old claimed the first time he had accidentally clicked on porn was while looking at tractors, earning him the moniker “tractor porn MP”.The second time was a “moment of madness,” he said.He is now enjoying life away from Westminster and spoke to ITV’s Lorraine Kelly show on Monday about how the scandal affected him and his wife.”She knows I’m no angel,” he said. “In fact she chases me around the kitchen with the scissors going, ‘snipper-snap’ knowing full well which part of my anatomy she’s after.”A shocked looking Ms Kelly replied by saying, “OK,” before Mr Parish added: “She knows what I’m like.”Ms Kelly then suggested that he must have had some “very awkward conversations” with his wife after the reports first came to light.”You’ve said she knows what you’re like, she accepts that I guess, but that conversation must have been very difficult,” she said.Mr Parish said that his wife has supported him throughout his career in Westminster and “she’s done so much with me.”“So naturally, on the morning I decided to resign, it was her advice I took, it was my children, my son and daughter, both very sound advice,” he said.”In the end, do you twist and turn, do you tell lots of fibs, or do you go cleanly? And I decided to go cleanly,” he explained.Mr Parish’s comments came as Boris Johnson dealt with the fallout from another MP, Chris Pincher, facing multiple misconduct claims against him.The former deputy chief whip resigned on Thursday after being accused of drunkenly groping two men at private members’ club for Tories in central London.Since then a string of other allegations have been made against the Tamworth MP, all of which he denies.The prime minister was criticised for promoting Mr Pincher to deputy chief whip given that he resigned from the whips’ office over a similar claim in 2017, also denied by Mr Pincher.Downing Street said initially that Mr Johnson was not aware of any specific claims against the MP.No 10 later on Monday admitted that he “was aware” of some allegations against Mr Pincher. More

Starmer criticises Johnson’s ‘lack of influence’ over NatoBoris Johnson showed “bad judgement” in appointing Chris Pincher to the whips’ office despite knowing of sexual misconduct allegations against him, Sir Keir Starmer said.Downing Street today admitted the prime minister was aware of claims against the now-suspended MP when he made him deputy chief whip in February.Asked about Mr Johnson’s position, Sir Keir told Sky News: “I have got no sympathy with a prime minister who repeatedly makes bad judgment calls.“We have been living with a version of this story for month after month after month. Bad judgment by a man who puts himself above everything. I don’t have any sympathy for him.”Mr Pincher, who was hit with a string of other misconduct claims over the weekend, previously resigned from the whips’ office in 2017 amid claims he made an appropriate pass at a Conservative Party candidate.The scandal has once again brought Mr Johnson’s leadership into question, with senior Tory MP Sir Roger Gale warning his party “cannot go on like this”.Show latest update

1656969379That will be all for The Independent’s live coverage of politics for this evening. Make sure to check back tomorrow for updates.Liam James4 July 2022 22:161656967234Boris Johnson claims Scottish independence could be ‘utterly tragic for the whole world’Boris Johnson has claimed Scottish independence would be “utterly tragic for the whole world” if it caused the UK’s armed forces to be divided.Speaking in the House of Commons, Conservative MP Brendan Clarke-Smith claimed Scottish nationalists would cut defence spending and “unilaterally disarm” if they achieved independence.Mr Johnson replied: “The Scottish contribution to our armed services is immense, everybody knows it, it’s a fantastic thing, it helps to make the UK what it is.“It would be utterly tragic for the whole world if the UK armed services were to face a division of that kind or a loss of that kind.”Defence is an issue that Scots have said is a key benefit of being part of the UK.Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has outlined plans to hold a second vote on Scottish independence on 19 October next year. Mr Johnson said a referendum was not a priority for the government.Liam James4 July 2022 21:401656965749Porn Tory says wife ‘chases him with scissors’The former Tory MP who resigned for watching porn in the House of Commons said his wife chases him around the kitchen with scissors aiming for “part of my anatomy” (Matt Mathers writes).Neil Parish was forced to quit in May after it emerged that he twice watched adult content in parliament in view of female colleagues.Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine today, he revealed his wife’s reaction to the incident: “She knows I’m no angel,” he said. “In fact she chases me around the kitchen with the scissors going, ‘snipper-snap’ knowing full well which part of my anatomy she’s after.”A shocked looking Ms Kelly replied by saying, “OK,” before Mr Parish added: “She knows what I’m like.”Ms Kelly then suggested that he must have had some “very awkward conversations” with his wife after the reports first came to light.“You’ve said she knows what you’re like, she accepts that I guess, but that conversation must have been very difficult,” she said.Mr Parish said that his wife has supported him throughout his career in Westminster and “she’s done so much with me.”Liam James4 July 2022 21:151656964234Jacob Rees-Mogg defends Boris Johnson for promoting grope claim MPJacob Rees-Mogg has defended Boris Johnson’s decision to appoint Chris Pincher to the whips’ office in knowledge of sexual misconduct claims against him.The Brexit opportunities minister told LBC’s Tonight With Andrew Marr: “There were rumours. I think prime ministers have to be just, they can’t just say, ‘I’ve heard a bit of gossip and I think you’ve done something that I wouldn’t approve of’.“You can’t judge people on rumours, that’s fundamentally unjust. There are rumours about all sorts of people that turn out never to come to anything.”Before the latest round of allegations against him, Mr Pincher had resigned in 2017 over claims he groped a Tory activist in 2001. He denied the allegations and a party investigation ruled in his favour.Liam James4 July 2022 20:501656963034Give MPs vote on assisted dying, says Matt HancockMPs should have the opportunity to debate assisted dying in the House of Commons, Matt Hancock said in a Westminster Hall debate on the healthcare question.The Conservative former health secretary said it had been seven years since the last Commons vote on assisted dying.He went on: “I can speak as a former health secretary to say that the medical movement as a whole is changing its view and I think it is appropriate that we raise this question in a voteable manner on the floor of the House of Commons once again.“I can’t see how the minister can argue other than that we need an informed, compassionate debate on the floor of the House of Commons. For 50 years we have had a legal choice over who to love, for a decade we have had a legal choice over who we can marry.“So let’s have an informed debate over when the end is inevitable and when the pain is insufferable, how we die.”In Westminster Hall this evening MPs are debating a petition, which has received more than 155,000 signatures, calling for assisted dying to be legalised for “terminally ill, mentally competent adults”. Liam James4 July 2022 20:301656961834Labour peer reveals nightmare 999 call as wife lay dying in his armsA leading scientist has revealed how he faced a “litany of questions” after calling for an ambulance as his wife lay dying in his arms.The renowned broadcaster and fertility expert Robert Winston said such a “waste of time” was critical when seconds count in dealing with a cardiac arrest.The Labour peer spoke of the deeply traumatic experience as the House of Lords heard that “thousands” of people were dying because of delays to the arrival of paramedics.This has been blamed on hold-ups in being able to hand patients over and getting ambulances back on the road to answer new calls – meaning people calling 999 wait longer than they should.Speaking in the chamber, Lord Winston said: “Some months ago, as my wife lay dying in my arms, I phoned the 999 service. The man answering the call asked me a litany of questions and asked me to count her number of heartbeats per minute. That waste of time is critical. With a cardiac arrest you have only a few seconds … When eventually the man backed down, it was obvious that he had not been trained to ask the right questions.”He added: “Can the minister assure the House that there is proper training for people who answer these calls at these critical times, when they are dealing with someone who may recognise that their close relative is dying, and that the latter can hear what they are saying on the telephone?Thanking the peer for sharing his “very personal story”, health minister Lord Kamall said “clearly, there are too many incidents of this kind,” and promised to take the question to his department.Liam James4 July 2022 20:101656960574Jacob Rees-Mogg says Starmer has copied Tories on BrexitJacob Rees-Mogg accused Sir Keir Starmer of pitching a “half-cock” copy of the Conservatives’ post-Brexit plans for Britain.Speaking ahead of the Labour leader’s speech in which he laid-out the plans for dealing with the EU in future, the Brexit opportunities minister told LBC’s Tonight With Andrew Marr: “I’m fascinated by what he’s got to say, or reports of it … and what he wants to do, by and large, is things either that the Conservatives are doing [because] they want to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, so I hope he’ll support us on our bill.“And he wants recognition of qualifications, which we’ve already legislated for. So you do wonder if he was half asleep last year.“I think all that Sir Keir is going to be saying later on today is that he wants to do what the Conservatives are doing but half-cock, so it’s not much of an announcement by him today.”Liam James4 July 2022 19:491656959447Starmer pitches five-point plan to ‘make Brexit work’Sir Keir Starmer has laid out a five-point plan to “make Brexit work” in a speech to the Centre for European Reform on how a Labour government would chart Britain’s future course in the world.The Labour leader said his party was “claiming the centre ground of British politics once again”, not from a “mushy place of compromise”, but driven by “purpose” and “optimism”.He said he would say more about how it intends to get the country’s economy growing again “in the weeks and months to come”, but the first step is to make a success of leaving the EU.Speaking at the Irish Embassy in London, he said: “There are some who say, ‘We don’t need to make Brexit work – we need to reverse it’. I couldn’t disagree more.“Because you cannot move forward or grow the country or deliver change or win back the trust of those who have lost faith in politics if you’re constantly focused on the arguments of the past.“We cannot afford to look back over our shoulder because all the time we are doing that we are missing what is ahead of us.“So let me be very clear. Under Labour, Britain will not go back into the EU. We will not be joining the single market. We will not be joining a customs union.” More