6 ***^ Wednesday 24 July 2019 The Daily Telegraph
Victory for Johnson
Theresa May told
ministers at her last
Cabinet meeting
they could be
‘proud of their
record’Name drop Theresa May got
a lovely bunch of flowers on
her penultimate day in No
yesterday. If only the sender
had checked how to spell the
outgoing PM’s name...AFP/GETTY IMAGESCorbyn critic will
advise Government
on anti-Semitism
Lib Dems will stand
against Brexit even
if Leave wins again
By Harry Yorke
ONE of Jeremy Corbyn’s fiercest critics
was yesterday appointed as a govern-
ment adviser on anti-Semitism, in one
of Theresa May’s final acts as leader.
John Mann, the Labour chairman of
the parliamentary group on anti-Semi-
tism, will provide the incoming com-
munities secretary with guidance.
It poses a fresh headache for Mr Cor-
byn, whom he has repeatedly criticised
in recent months over the failure to
drive anti-Jewish racists out of Labour.
Mr Mann was also heavily involved
in the campaign to expel Ken Living-
stone from the party in 2016 and was
filmed publicly confronting him over
his claims that Adolf Hitler supported
Zionism.
More recently, he has led calls for
Labour to expel Chris Williamson, a
staunch supporter of Mr Corbyn, who
is currently suspended after claiming
the party had been “too apologetic”
against anti-Semitism claims.
Mr Mann said yesterday: “If we stay
silent on anti-Semitism, we allow cow-
ardice and bigotry to speak its own re-
pulsive language. I will endeavour to
give a clarion call to government on
prejudice and discrimination.”
The news came as Mr Corbyn was
told by Labour’s former head of dis-
putes that his plans to speed up anti-
Semitism cases would “completely
factionalise” the party’s disciplinary
system.
Mike Creighton, who worked for La-
bour for almost 30 years, warned that
Mr Corbyn’s plans were “wrong-
headed” and risked further undermin-
ing confidence in the party.
The Labour leader has proposed ap-
pointing one of his closest political al-
lies to a new panel to oversee the most
serious complaints of anti-Semitism.
Under his plans, Jennie Formby, the
general secretary, would hear cases
alongside officers from the National
Executive Committee, Labour’s gov-
erning body, with the panel able to ex-
pel or suspend members.
His proposals, approved by the com-
mittee yesterday, have killed off rival
plans drawn up by Tom Watson, his
deputy, who had joined with scores of
Labour MPs in demanding a new inde-
pendent body to deal with complaints.
They will now be put to Labour’s an-
nual party conference for approval.
On Mr Corbyn’s plans, Mr Creighton
told The Daily Telegraph: “It’s com-
pletely factionalising the process. It is
absolutely clear that nothing less than
an independent process will satisfy the
people both inside and outside the
party who are demanding change.”By Charles Hymas Home AffAirs editorJO SWINSON, the new Liberal Demo-
crat leader, says she will continue to
campaign for Remain even if a second
referendum votes Leave.
Ms Swinson, who beat Sir Ed Davey
to the leadership of the Lib Dems on
Monday, said a further vote in favour of
leaving the EU would not “change my
fundamental beliefs”.
Asked if she would vote to enable
Brexit in Parliament if a second refer-
endum confirmed the 2016 result, she
said: “No, because I was elected on a
firm manifesto pledge to fight for Scot-
land’s place in the UK and the UK’s
place in the EU.
“That’s what Lib Dems are here to
do. That’s the mandate we have.”
Asked a second time on the BBC, she
replied: “I am going to do what I was
sent here to do, which is to stand up for
things I believe in and stand up for the
principles of working internationally
with other countries.”
Ms Swinson, who secured nearly
two thirds of the votes to take the lead-
ership, has pledged to “do whatever it
takes” to block Brexit, and is demand-
ing a “people’s vote” with a Remain op-
tion on the ballot paper.
The Lib Dems’ avowed anti-Brexit
stance has paid dividends with its bestpoll ratings for years, and a surge in
support in the European elections
where it came second with 20 per cent
of the vote share.
Responding to Boris Johnson’s vic-
tory, she claimed he “isn’t fit to be the
prime minister of our country”.
She said: “Whether it is throwing
people under the bus or writing a lie on
the side of one: Britain deserves better
than Boris Johnson.”
Yesterday, Ms Swinson again ruled
out working with Jeremy Corbyn,
branding him a Brexiteer who cannot
be trusted to fight for a second referen-
dum. She said her door was open to
MPs from other parties who wanted to
work towards a second referendum.
But she said the Lib Dems could not
join a pact with Labour while Mr Cor-
byn was leader, even in the event of a
hung parliament and even though the
party has said it would support a refer-
endum on any deal put forward.
She said: “There is nothing to sug-
gest Jeremy Corbyn can be trusted on
Brexit or that he will campaign to re-
main. Let’s remember, in the last refer-
endum he went on holiday for two
weeks in the middle of it.
“Forgive me for not believing Jer-
emy Corbyn’s newly mouthed words
on Brexit. He can barely bring himself
to say the words ‘people’s vote’.”May bows out with a trimmed-down legacy
By Harry Yorke
PoliticAl
corresPondentTHERESA MAY has sent a
letter to Conservative MPs
listing her achievements
since announcing her res-
ignation eight weeks ago,
as she yesterday attempted
to salvage a legacy from her troubled
premiership.
In her last full day as Prime Minister,
Mrs May set out a series of new policies
and spending commitments, which
she said demonstrated her Govern-
ment’s “proud record of domestic
achievement”.
The announcements include a new
target to reduce the UK’s carbon foot-
print to zero by 2050, as well as ap-
pointing an envoy to aid the
Government’s efforts to combat mod-
ern slavery.
Mrs May has also created a new
quango, named the Office for Tack-
ling Injustices, which will seek to
help the “just about managing”
families whose lives she promised
to improve when she entered
Downing Street three years ago.
However, the letter was more
notable for its glaring omissions,
including plans for a multi bil-
lion-pound cash injection for
schools.
The Prime Minister had
hoped to make a three-year edu-
cation package worth £27 billion
a central plank of her legacy, but
is understood to have encoun-
tered fierce resistance from
Philip Hammond.
The Chancellor is said to
have threatened to resign overthe issue, which he warned would
threaten the Conservative Party’s re-
cord on fiscal discipline and reducing
the deficit.
His concerns were shared by allies of
Boris Johnson, who accused Mrs May
of attempting to tie her successor’s
hands by spending money the two
Tory leadership contenders had
already earmarked for their own
projects.
In response, Mrs May began draw-
ing up watered down plans for a one-
off £3 billion boost for schools, only to
be again shut down by Mr Hammond.
And, in a final blow for her departure
planning, a £2 billion package of public
sector pay rises for police officers, sol-
diers and teachers was leaked to re-
porters last week.
While the deals promise above-infla-
tion pay rises for nearly one million
workers, there will be no new money
for teachers, meaning the extra pay
will have to come from existing Depart-
ment for Education budgets. Attempt-ing to piece together her legacy, Mrs
May told MPs: “Since I announced my
intention to resign eight weeks ago, it
has not been possible to make further
progress on Brexit, but we have been
afforded the chance to make further
progress on building a country that
works for everyone.
“I would like to take this opportunity
to thank all those ministers and col-
leagues who contributed so much to
making these announcements a reality,
continuing our proud record of domes-
tic achievement as Conservatives in
Government since 2010.”
Mrs May also used her last meeting
of the Cabinet to remind ministers of
her Government’s record, highlighting
the additional funding secured for the
NHS as evidence they could be “proud
of their record”.
In response, David Lidington, her de
facto deputy, thanked Mrs May on be-
half of the Cabinet for her “great dedi-
cation to public service and her
commitment to the Union”.Shall we dance?
Amber Rudd, the
Work and Pensions
Secretary, joins
Morris dancers
outside Parliament
to campaign to
keep the May Day
bank holiday on a
Monday next year.
The holiday is
being put back four
days to coincide
with the 75th
anniversary of
VE Day, which
has prompted a
number of petitions
calling for an extra
bank holiday
instead of moving
it. Mad Jack’s
Morris dancers hail
from Ms Rudd’s
Hastings
constituency.JAMES VEYSEY/REXOutgoing PM sends letter
of her achievements to
Tory MPs which is more
notable for its omissions
Theresa May told
ministers at her last
Cabinet meeting
they could be
‘proud of their
record’sent a
ve MPs
ments
er res-
ks ago,
mpted
oublednister,
olicies
which
overn-
mestica newtarget to reduce the UK’s carbon foot-
print to zero by 2050, as well as ap-
pointing an envoy to aid the
Government’s efforts to combat mod-
ern slavery.
Mrs May has also created a new
quango, named the Office for Tack-
ling Injustices, which will seek to
help the “just about managing”
families whose lives she promised
to improve when she entered
Downing Street three years ago.
However, the letter was more
notable for its glaring omissions,
including plans for a multi bil-
lion-pound cash injection for
schools.
The Prime Minister had
hoped to make a three-year edu-
cation package worth £27 billion
a centralplank of her legacy, but
is understood to have encoun-
tered fierce resistance from
Philip Hammond.
The Chancellor is said to
have threhreateatenednedtotoreresigsignon oververthe issue, which he warned
threaten the Conservative Party
cord on fiscal discipline and red
the deficit.
His concerns were shared by al
Boris Johnson, who accused Mr
of attempting to tie her succe
hands by spending money th
Tory leadership contenders
already earmarked for their
proprojecjects.ts.
In response, Mrs May begb an an
ing up watered down plans for
off £3 billion boost for schools, o
be again shut down by Mr Hamm
And, in a final blow for her dep
planning, a £2 billion package of
sector pay rises for police officer
diers and teacherswas leaked
porters last week.
While the dealspromise above
tion pay rises for nearly one m
workers, there will be no new m
for teachers, meaning the extr
will have to come from existing D
ment for Education budgets. Attter
re
nsTheresa May
was presented
with a luxury
handbag and
necklace by
ministers at her
final Cabinet
meeting as
Prime Minister.
Members
clapped and
banged the
Cabinet table in
a show of
appreciation, as
they presented
her with leaving
gifts thought to
have cost
£1,500. The
presents were
handed over byMichael Gove,
who had
organised a
whip round of
the top team,
who each
contributed £50.
Mrs May was
given a £
black Liberty
Bucket Bag, a
clutch bag and a
£500 necklace
from the French
jewellers
Lalique.
Mr Gove is
understood to
have purchased
the gifts with his
wife, journalist
Sarah Vine.Leaving presents Cabinet’s
£1,500 whip roundРЕЛИЗ ПОДГОТОВИЛА ГРУППА "What's News" VK.COM/WSNWS