Boris Johnson news: Tory minister ridiculed over Brexit claim as senior Labour figure forced to abandon leadership bid
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Tory health minister Nadine Dorries has been widely mocked for claiming “Brexit got done” after the Withdrawal Agreement Bill cleared the Commons. The bill still needs approval in the Lords, and a UK-EU trade deal still needs to be forged after 31 January.
It comes as Northern Ireland could see a return to power-sharing arrangements today after the UK and Irish governments published a draft deal, urging the five main parties to get back to work at Stormont.
Meanwhile, Labour leadership candidate Clive Lewis has called for a referendum on the future of the monarchy, saying: “Let the British public decide.” It follows shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner’s decision to rule himself out of the contest.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below:
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of British politics, as Northern Ireland faces a possible return to power-sharing after a dramatic night of developments in political efforts to resurrect devolution.
Powersharing could return to Northern Ireland after draft deal published
Northern Ireland could witness a return to powersharing today after a dramatic night of developments in political efforts to resurrect devolution.
The UK and Irish governments jointly published a suggested deal late last night and urged the five main parties to sign up and get back to work at Stormont.
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith wrote to the speaker of the defunct Assembly requesting him to convene a sitting on Friday – issuing a challenge to the parties to turn up and get back to business.
The DUP, the party blamed by both governments for holding up a deal in December, responded positively to the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ text published by the governments.
Party leader Arlene Foster said there was a basis to re-establish the devolved institutions in a”fair and balanced way”.
All eyes will now turn to Sinn Fein – the other party whose agreement is required to secure the return of a mandatory coalition executive. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said: “We are studying the text and will give it careful consideration.”
‘Brexit got done’, claims Tory minister
The Tory health minister Nadine Dorries has been mocked for premature celebrations after claiming “It happened. Brexit got done”. It followed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill clearing the House of Commons with a comfortable majority of 99.
But the legislation now heads to the upper chamber, where there is no government majority and where peers repeatedly dealt blows to Theresa May’s administration.
And, as many people pointed out to Dorries on social media, the UK’s formal exit from the UK on 31 January only sets up the next stage of the process as the two sides attempt to thrash out a trade deal.
She wasn’t the only one in triumphant mood. Tom Hardwood tweeted “Brexit: done.”
Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has already organised his “Happy Brexit Day” celebration day at Parliament Square.
Thornberry and Lewis struggling to get enough support among Labour MPs
Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy and Jess Phillips have all won enough the support of at least 22 MPs to pass the first hurdle of the Labour leadership contest.
Frontrunner Keir Starmer has increased his lead to 63 backers, while Long Bailey takes second place with 26 supporters, while Nandy is in third on 24 supporters and Phillips is fourth on 22 endorsements.
It leaves Emily Thornberry lagging behind with only nine supporters, while outsider Clive Lewis has picked up four backers – in serious danger of failing to meet the required number of nominations by Monday.
Barry Gardiner bows out of brief Labour leadership bid
So having teased us all so delightfully, the shadow trade secretary Barry Gardiner announced he won’t formally stand for the Labour leadership after all.
Gardiner confirmed last night that he hadn’t been able get enough support – after a furious round of calls to MPs from Abu Dhabi – to join the contest.
He tried though; he really tried. Speaking live from the Persian Gulf on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show yesterday, he claimed he could win a general election, and pleaded for the Unite boss Len McCluskey’s backing. “Len, if you’re watching … I’d like to talk.”
But in statement last night he said: “I am now clear that at this late stage I cannot secure sufficient nominations to proceed to the next round. I have therefore decided not to stand for the leadership at this time.
“I will continue to serve the party loyally under whichever of my colleagues has the honour of leading our party forward to win the next general election.”
Labour MP Barry Gardiner (PA)
Raab calls for ‘transparent’ investigation into plane crash in Iran
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has called for an “independent, full and transparent” investigation to determine what caused the Tehran airliner crash.
His comments came after Boris Johnson suggested there was now a “body of information” that indicated the crash was caused by an Iranian missile.
The PM made the announcement after US officials and the Canadian leader said Iran looked to have been involved in the downing of the Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752.
Speaking in Canada, Raab said: “We agree with the Canadian assessment that indicates that Ukrainian International Airlines flight was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, and as (Canadian foreign minister) Francois-Philippe (Champagne) said, it may well have been unintentional.
"The Iranian regime must open up to the international community, including access to the crash site, so we can get to the truth as quickly as possible to give the families of the victims an understanding of what happened to their loved ones.”
The Foreign Office has also advised British travellers against all air travel to, from and within Iran.
Dominic Raab with Francois-Philippe Champagne (Reuters)
Zaghari-Ratcliffe admitted to clinic after panic attack, says husband
British-Iranian woman jailed in Iran spent one night in a clinic after experiencing “palpitations and panic attacks”, her husband has said.
Richard Ratcliffe said tensions in Tehran, sparked by the US assassination of General Qasem Suleimani, are taking a toll on the mental health of his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe.
She is midway through a five-year sentence, accused of spying, which she denies.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Friday morning, Mr Ratcliffe said: “This is a situation where there is a lot of anger in Iran and a lot of vulnerability, and it’s very stressful for the people involved.
“I mean, Nazanin was taken down to the clinic overnight two nights ago, through palpitations and panic attacks. So I think it’s important for the government to just do what they can.”
He added: “She was put on beta blockers to calm down. We usually expect things to happen a week or 10 days later, so there is a sense of foreboding which is affecting all the prisoners.”
He added that he should be meeting Foreign Office officials later on Friday. “(We are) really pressing up on the media for a meeting with the prime minister. So we will be calling to find out when we can do that.”
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (PA)
‘We need to get back to work’, says NI secretary
The Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith reiterated that his financial package could end the nurses strike in the region.
He said: “The package is dependent on the executive getting back up and running. We have gone for three years without government, without politicians taking the right decision, three years where MLAs (assembly members) have been paid their salary.
“The time is up, we need to get back to work.”
Smith visited Maghaberry Primary School in Co Antrim where he fielded questions like what he did when he was recognised out on his regular runs.
He conceded: “Most of the time people are more interested in musicians or sportspeople.”
‘Four more to go!’ Burgon close to passing first hurdle
The Labour deputy leadership candidate Richard Burgon – flagbearer for the Corbynite left – has been backed by 18 Labour MPs so far.
The shadow justice secretary says he won’t get greedy, and will encourage colleagues to endorse others if he passes the threshold of 22 nominations needed by Monday to advance to the next stage of the contest.
‘Delighted’: Labour back possible return to powersharing at Stormont
Tony Lloyd, Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has said the party was “delighted” to see Northern Ireland’s political leaders reach an apparent compromise.
He tweeted: “We all hoped to see Northern Ireland returned to the pathway and principles outlined in the Good Friday Agreement, for public services and particularly the NHS.
“The Labour party will support any legislation to ensure a Stormont government returns and thrives.”
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