EU warns of Brexit 'consequences' amid backlash over PM's 'politically unsustainable' decision to rule out Indyref2

Starmer ‘firmly on the left’ says leading left-wing commentator

The influential left-wing author and broadcaster Paul Mason – supportive of much of the Corbyn project – has backed Keir Starmer to become the next Labour leader

Mason has offered his Twitter follows 10 reason why. He claims the shadow Brexit secretary is “firmly on the left”, wants to move beyond factionalism, looks like he has a plan to win and has been clear that Brexit is done.

PM says likelihood of US suspect returning to UK in Harry Dunn case ‘very low’

Boris Johnson has said the chances of a return to the UK for the US suspect charged in connection with the death of teenager Harry Dunn are “very low”.

The Home Office said it submitted an extradition request for Anne Sacoolas on Friday after she was charged with causing the 19-year-old’s death by dangerous driving last month.

Despite saying it was “right that we made the appeal for extradition”, Johnson said that sending Sacoolas back to face justice was “not what (the US) do”.

Reacting to the PM’s comments from Denver in the US, the Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger said: “I do not know what is in the prime minister’s mind in making those comments because the parents and I have not yet had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him – but we expect to do so within the next few days.

“Certainly, if he is basing those comments on what is currently emanating from Washington he may well be right.

“Harry’s family will as always take things one step at a time and will not prejudge the outcome of the process but as I have stated many times publicly, my analysis of the prospects of success are diametrically opposed to Mr Johnson’s given my detailed discussions with officials both in London and Washington.”

‘We’re through the looking glass’: Shock at PM’s crowdfunding for Big Ben bong claim

Some reaction Boris Johnson’s suggestion that the government could encourage the public to raise the £500,000 needed for Big Ben to chime on 31 January. “We are working up a plan so people can bung a bob for a Big Ben bong,” he said.

SNP MP Stewart Macdonald said: “A ‘global Britain’ that has to run a crowdfunder to ring the bells of its most famous clock tower. We really are really through looking glass.”

“All totally normal,” said The Daily Mirror’s Dan Bloom.

Nigel Farage, meanwhile, has poured scorn on the half-a-million pounds figure, which comes from the House of Commons Committee. “Can we be told how much it costs to ring Big Ben on New Years Eve? Surely not £500,000.”

The right-wing broadcast Julia Hartley-Brewer has suggested an alternative. “Everyone celebrating in Parliament Square brings their own bell to ring. Wouldn’t that be more fun?”

Labour rejects state aid rescue package for Flybe

John McDonnell, Labour’s shadow chancellor, has responded to reports suggesting the government is ready to come up with a package of support for the stricken airline Flybe.

“Bailing out a company through a tax cut across the industry is not the way forward,” said McDonnell, set to depart from the frontline when the Labour leadership contest comes to an end in early April.

“Working with the company and unions the government should look at targeted assistance to support routes judged on economic, environmental and social grounds.”

Chancellor Sajid Javid will hold talks with the business and transport secretaries to discuss if the loss-making regional carrier can defer paying this year’s estimated air passenger duty (APD) bill of £106m for three years or whether the tax should be cut for all domestic flights, according to multiple reports.

Boris Johnson said earlier the government was “working very hard to do what we can” to save the regional airline.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell (PA) 

UK, France and Germany to report Iran over breaches in nuclear pact, say foreign ministers

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany said it was referring Iran’s breaches of the nuclear deal to the dispute resolution mechanism.

They said: “We do this in good faith with the overarching objective of preserving the JCPOA and in the sincere hope of finding a way forward to resolve the impasse through constructive diplomatic dialogue, while preserving the agreement and remaining within its framework.

“In doing so, our three countries are not joining a campaign to implement maximum pressure against Iran. Our hope is to bring Iran back into full compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA.”

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab will make a statement on the Iran nuclear deal in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, the Commons Leader’s office has said.

It follows reports that the UK, France and Germany will trigger the dispute resolution mechanism (DRM) in the deal over breaches of the agreement by Iran.

Raab has previously said the breaches are “acute” and “we will be looking at all measures including potentially triggering the DRM”.

This morning Boris Johnson suggested the pact had no future, backing Donald Trump to “replace” the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab (Getty) 

PM rejects Sturgeon’s request for indyref2 powers

Boris Johnson has written to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday refusing her request to be given the powers to hold another Scottish independence referendum.

Sturgeon wrote to Johnson in December asking him to enter negotiations on transferring the power to hold a referendum from London to Edinburgh.

“I cannot agree to any request for a transfer of power that would lead to further independence referendums,” Johnson wrote in a letter which he posted on Twitter, telling Sturgeon she had agreed a 2014 referendum, in which Scots opted to stay in the United Kingdom, would be a “once in a generation” vote.

“Another independence referendum would continue the political stagnation that Scotland has seen for the last decade ... it is time that we all worked to bring the whole of the United Kingdom together.”

Sturgeon responds: ‘Tories are terrified … It will not stand’

Scotland’s first minister Nicolas Sturgeon has responded quickly to Boris Johnson’s rejection of her request for a transfer of referendum powers from London to Edinburgh.

“Tories are terrified of Scotland’s right to choose - because they know that when given the choice we'll choose independence. Tories have no positive case for the union - so all they can do is attempt to deny democracy. It will not stand.

“The problem for the Tories is the longer they try to block democracy, the more they show the Westminster union is not one of equals and fuel support for independence. This response predictable - but also unsustainable and self defeating. Scotland will have the right to choose.”

Jess Phillips condemns ‘racism’ at Labour meeting in Ilford

Labour leadership candidate Jess Phillips has called for a change in the party’s culture after a member claimed he was subjected to antisemitic abuse at a local meeting.

Phillips responded after Alex Holmes, vice-chairman of the party’s Ilford South branch in east London, tweeted about a meeting he described as the worst he had ever attended.

Holmes said he and another member were called “agents of a foreign power” after speaking against a motion attacking the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

The organisation has published “10 pledges” it said would end Labour’s problems with anti-Semitism, which were signed by leadership candidates including Rebecca Long-Bailey and Sir Keir Starmer.

“The proposers used multiple anti-Semitic tropes to make their point that the Board of Deputies is a ‘Tory organisation’ illegally interfering in the Labour leadership contest,” Mr Holmes tweeted of the meeting.

“Racists of any kind have no place anywhere near the Labour party, nor any other mainstream political party.”

Phillips responded: “Today I will seek to speak to Alex about what happened … this will not be easily solved but we must change culture that accepts without shame and embarrassment calling Jewish orgs, Jewish people and their allies ‘agents of a foreign power’. It’s racism.”

Following Holmes’ tweets, the Board of Deputies responded: “We are profoundly saddened to see yet another example of the hatred which has infested parts of Labour.”

‘You are talking about £50,000 a bong,’ says Speaker

The House of Commons Commission has explained the cost and logistical difficulty in having Big Ben bong for Brexit – stating it could cost over £500,000 to do so.

Dozens of MPs would like to hear Big Ben bong at 11pm on 31 January to mark the moment the UK leaves the EU.

But the House of Commons Commission was told that bringing the Great Bell back to life during essential re-flooring work on the belfry could result in huge costs to the public purse.

For the Bell to ring on 31 January, the temporary striking mechanism used for Remembrance Sunday and New Year’s Eve would need to be reattached and tested to ensure the timing is correct. Alongside this work, a temporary floor of the belfry where Big Ben is housed, would also need to be installed as extensive work is currently taking place in this area. 

These would include bringing the ‘bonging’ mechanism back, testing it and allowing it to chime - and building a temporary floor to the belfry and removing it (£120,000), and delaying to the ongoing and vital conservation work by up to four weeks (£100,000 a week).

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “The Commission believes it is important to weigh up the costs this would involve if Big Ben is to chime on 31 January. You are talking about £50,000 a bong.”

The House of Commons Commission put the minimum cost of sounding Big Ben at £320,000 – but said it could rise to up to £500,000.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Reuters) 

Sadiq Khan says Big Ben bongs for Brexit a waste of money

The Mayor of London has weighed in on the Bong-gate madness, criticising the potential £500,000 cost of having Big Ben chime on 31 January

“I’ve just discovered it could cost half a million pounds … Imagine the good we good to with half a million pounds dealing with hate crime,” said Khan.