Boris Johnson news – live: Government embroiled in row over EU citizens’ rights, as Keir Starmer out ahead in Labour leadership poll

Royle Family star and ardent Jeremy Corbyn supporter Ricky Tomlinson has backed Keir Starmer's campaign to become Labour party leader.

The actor was one of the Shrewesbury 24 - a group of builders arrested following strike action in 1972 - and was imprisoned for two years over the dispute. Mr Starmer worked with the group to have their convictions overturned.

In a video released to the Liverpool Echo, Mr Tomlinson said: "All the contestants are worthy people - but I've got to throw my weight behind Keir Starmer - and I'm going to ask you do the same.

"We can't make any more mistakes. We just took a terrible drumming at the last election. We've got to overturn this government run by Boris the buffoon.

"So get behind me, join me, and get behind Keir Starmer for the next leader of the Labour Party."

Emily Thornberry officially launches her campaign.

Emily Thornberry is formally launching her campaign to lead the party in Guildford, where she grew up.

Praising Jeremy Corbyn's ability to turn the party into a "mass-movement" and the "passion he has inspired in the party, she says the leadership vote will not be about choosing who will drag the party to the left or the right, but instead "who can take us forward"

Emily Thornberry - We need someone battle hardened to launch the fight back

Emily Thornberry is leaning on her experience as the central element of her campaign – highlighting her 15 years in Westminster and setting herself apart as the only candidate for the leadership to have been an MP for a length of time that falls into double digits (the nearest to her tenure is Lisa Nandy, who has been in the Commons for 9 years, 11 months and eight days).

Speaking at her campaign launch, Ms Thornberry said: “I’m standing here today, and I’m standing to lead our party because I want to be the woman, and I know can be the woman, who stands up and leads the fightback against Boris Johnson.

"And we’re going to need to have somebody tough, and somebody resilient, and somebody experienced and battle hardened to win that fight – because we all know that it is going to be a long tough road back to power after the painful and crushing defeat that we suffered last month."

Sir Keir on top in YouGov poll

Kier Starmer is likely to walk away from the Labour leadership contest with the win - according to one survey.

In a YouGov poll conducted for the Times, Sir Kier was placed ahead in the final round with a comfortable 63 per cent of the vote compared to the 37 per cent attributed to Rebecca Long-Bailey

Emily Thornberry would be out in the first round of votes, then Lisa Nandy, then Jess Phillips, according to the poll of 1005 Labour members.

Meanwhile it appears the party faithful stand by Jeremy Corbyn - 

Keir Starmer embraces Ricky Tomlinson's support

Earlier we mentioned Royle Family star and activist Ricky Tomlinson had endorsed Kier Starmer - well the leadership candidate has since said he is "really honoured to have the support" of a man he considers a "legend".

It's quite a coup for Sir Keir, even if it is one born of a previous relationship. Mr Tomlinson is exactly the sort of Labour figure Rebecca Long-Bailey would hope to receive support from: an arch-Corbynite who identifies Dennis Skinner - the beast of Bolsover - as his political idol.

Check out the tweet below for the full video of Mr Tomlinson's endorsement:

Keir Starmer cements early lead over rival Rebecca Long-Bailey ahead of first hustings

Here's more from Lizzy Buchan on that YouGov poll that puts Keir Starmer ahead of the pack - a poll that comes at a critical time for the prospective leaders ahead of their first head-to-head test.

The five candidates will battle it out in a hustings in Liverpool on Saturday, as they seek the critical endorsements of local parties and affiliated unions and groups to make it onto the ballot paper.

Rebecca Long-Bailey to formally launch campaign shortly

Rebecca Long-Bailey - one of the leadership race's two front runners - is due to formally launch her campaign to be party leader shortly.

She is currently being introduced by MP Zarah Sultana - a new MP in the Commons who used her maiden speech to decry what she termed as '40 years of Thatcherism' experienced by the UK earlier this week.

Rebecca Long-Bailey - scrap the Lords and end 'gentleman's club of politics'

Rebecca Long-Bailey has pledged to "end the gentleman's club of politics" by devolving powers to regional and local politicians and replacing the House of Lords with an elected senate based outside of the capital.

Taking to the stage by welcoming those "still hurting and those still hopeful" following the 2019 election, she noted that many across the country had taken issue with "a distant and ultimately unaccountable elite in Brussels" expressed through Brexit.

Announcing that she would reform democratic processes, she added "Westminster didn't feel much closer" than Brussels when she began as an MP "and it still doesn't today".

RLB focuses on green new deal and greater democracy

Paying homage to her Salford roots, Rebecca Long-Bailey doubled down on her plans for a sweeping range of green policies – named the green new deal after similar initiatives in the US – and greater devolution of powers, both of which have been integral messages in her campaign so far.

She was heralded onto the stage of her launch event to the sound of supporters chanting ‘Oh Rebecca Long-Bailey’ to the White Stripes tune Seven Nation army – a continuation of the song used to praise Jeremy Corbyn in previous years.

And her policies – many having been drafted by the MP for the Labour 2019 manifesto – also continued the tune of her predecessor by supporting public ownership and committing to “fight for a democratic economy”.

She told supporters:

“I will fight for a green new deal that ushers in a new era of prosperity, security and wellbeing. I will fight for investment in the low carbon industries of today and tomorrow to secure a liveable planet for future generations and bring new jobs and prosperity to all regions and countries of the United Kingdom.

I will fight for world class public services that secure our fundamental needs and free us up as individuals, as families, as communities, to pursue the lives we aspire to. I will fight for the rewilding and restoration of our landscapes which will multiply many times over the natural wealth that belongs to us all.

And I will fight for a democratic economy. For modern democratic public ownership, so we all share in the tremendous wealth that human ingenuity and hard work can guarantee us all.

I will fight for all of these things and that is why I am standing to become leader of the Labour party and the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 

Boris Johnson has a problem with women - Emily Thornberry

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has insisted Prime Minister Boris Johnson has "a problem with women".

Launching her bid to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Opposition, Ms Thornberry insisted she was best placed to oust the PM within five years.

She said: "Boris Johnson has all sorts of problems with women.

"And he is going to have an even bigger one if I become leader of the Labour Party.

"I think that he has a problem with women.

"I have spoken to a number of women who have said that the way he deals with them - and they are younger women - is that he flirts with them.

"He makes light of them and he undermines them. He has problems with a women such as myself. He doesn't know what to do with me.

"I think that he doesn't know how to relate to women."