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

Voices: Richard Burgon's nomination for deputy leader shows the flaws in Labour's processes, writes Sean O'Grady

Lisa Nandy backed by defeated Labour MP

The former Labour MP Gloria de Piero – who lost her seat in Ashfield at last month’s election – has backed Lisa Nandy to be the next Labour leader.

She criticised Rebecca Long-Bailey for giving Jeremy Corbyn full marks. “That election was an absolute disaster, devastating, anybody who gives somebody 10 out of 10 will not be getting my vote.”

De Piero also claimed she “tried to get the Labour party to wake up” to what was happening in “our soul, our heartlands”.

Momentum ballot members on ‘recommended’ candidates

The left-wing activist group Momentum has sent a ballot out to 40,000 members explaining its National Coordinating Committee has recommended endorsing Rebecca Long-Bailey for the leadership and Angela Rayner.

As our correspondent Ashley Cowburn points out, the group has asked members for a simple yes or no whether to formally back each of these two candidate – it being unclear what happens if Long-Bailey or Rayner fail to get 50 per cent “yes” responses.

PM’s spokesman rejects idea UK support for Iran pact waning

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman rejected suggestions that the PM’s comments on a “Trump deal” for Iran meant the UK’s support for the existing JCPOA deal was waning.

The PM’s official spokesman said: “The JCPOA is the only deal that currently exists which prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“As the PM has said before - including in New York in September - if in the future we can agree a better deal that has the support of the US as well, then that is something we will work towards.

“As the joint statement between the prime minister, president Macron and chancellor Merkel said at the weekend, we need to define a long term framework for Iran’s nuclear programme.”

Raab says Johnson supports Iran pact – but UK welcomes ‘broader’ initiative

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons the prime minister supports the Iran nuclear agreement as outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – despite the PM’s claim Donald Trump should produce a replacement for the pact.

“The prime minister supports the JCPOA and bringing Iran back into full compliance,” said Raab.

The foreign secretary said: “It’s not just president Trump, but also president Macron who have argued for a broader deal with Iran … The UK would be fully open to a broader initiative which would address not just the nuclear concerns but the broader concerns around destabilising activities.”

Raab explained why the foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany were referring Iran’s breaches of the nuclear deal to the dispute resolution mechanism.

“The UK, France and Germany will remain committed to the deal and will approach the DRM (dispute resolution mechanism) in good faith, striving to resolve the dispute and bring Iran back into full compliance with its JCPOA (Iran nuclear deal) obligations.”

Raab said the Iranian government has a choice, explaining: “The regime can take steps to de-escalate tensions and adhere to the basic rules of international law or sink deeper and deeper into political and economic isolation.

“So Iran’s response to the DRM will be a critical test of its intentions and its goodwill.”

Dominic Raab speaking in Commons (Parliament TV) 

Thornberry mocks ‘mythical’ Trump deal suggested by PM

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has criticised Boris Johnson for comments on “replacing” the Iran deal with a “Trump deal”.

Quoting his BBC Breakfast interview, Thornberry said: “In the space of a few days the prime minister has gone from issuing a joint statement calling for the retention and restoration of the JCPOA to calling for it to be scrapped and replaced by some mythical Trump deal.

She suggested foreign secretary Dominic Raab and Johnson are not “on the same page” on the issue.

“Perhaps he could answer some questions … Can he confirm that in his discussions with his American counterparts that they have said one of the problems with the JCPOA was that, to quote the prime minister, ‘It was negotiated by president Obama’.

“Can the foreign secretary tell us how this supposed alternative Trump deal that the prime minister is so enthusiastic about differs from the current JCPOA?

“Can the foreign secretary tell us why on earth would Iran accept a new deal negotiated with Donald Trump with new conditions attached when he has shown his readiness to tear up the existing deal and move the goalposts in terms of what it should cover?”

Emily Thornberry speaking in Commons (Parliament TV) 

Labour peer rebuked for harassing two women - with photo claim and sexual rhyme

Parliamentary authorities have upheld a harassment complaint against a Labour peer over his behaviour towards a woman around 60 years his junior.

Lord Lea, 82, sent a note to the woman in her 20s – telling her that he had a framed photo of her on his piano and inviting her to share a bottle of champagne with him.

The peer was also found to have harassed a second women after devising a sexual rhyme about her.

All the details here:

Harry and Meghan should be ‘inspiration’ for PM, says Verhofstadt

Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, has been a pretty consistent critic of Boris Johnson and the Tory party.

The MEP has mocked the prime minister by claiming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might act as “inspiration” for a healthy transition agreement with the EU.

He tweeted: “As Harry and Meghan just got a “transition” to leave without a hard deadline from the Queen. This might be a good inspiration for her PM on Brexit too to show also more flexibility towards the EU citizens.”

Verhofstadt also warned Johnson’s government not to retreat into “bureaucracy” over the status of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit.

Hilary Benn: PM cannot support Iran deal and want it replaced

Labour’s Hilary Benn has challenged on foreign secretary Dominic Raab on the prime minister’s remarks on a Donald Trump “replacement” deal for Iran.

Raab claimed the prime minister still supports the current agreement on the Iran nuclear programme as outlined in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Benn said: “Either the PM wants to maintain this deal or he is now advocating for its replacement. He cannot credibly hold both positions. Which one is the policy of the government?”

Raab replied: “He is just wrong. Of course you can want to preserve this deal, but be ambitious if it’s possible, to bring in the US and Tehran into a broader rapprochement dealing not just with nuclear issue, but the wider destabilising activities and that’s the policy that we’re pursuing and we’re doing it with the US, but also crucially with our EU partners.”

French president Emmanuel Macron, he added, proposed a very similar approach.

Hilary Benn in the Commons (AFP) 

‘Concentrate on the day job’, Gove tells Sturgeon

The cabinet minister Michael Gove has a message for Scotland’s first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.

“We already had a referendum – and she [Nicola Sturgeon] and Alex Salmond both agreed that the referendum on Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom would be a once in a generation event.

“So it would be wrong to disrespect the result of that referendum and to have a series of referendums, which is what Nicola Sturgeon wants.

“We’re saying, ‘No, Nicola – concentrate on the day job’. Because the Scottish government is failing when it comes to education, health, transport and crime.”