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As it happenedended

Tory leadership debate – live: Johnson refuses to say whether he would resign if Brexit deadline is missed as he flounders over US diplomatic row

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Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Tuesday 09 July 2019 12:40 EDT
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Conservative leadership debate: Jeremy Hunt asks Boris Johnson if he will resign if Brexit not delivered by October 31

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Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt are going head-to-head in their only televised debate of the Tory leadership contest.

The two candidates to succeed Theresa May clashed after a day in which tensions between the UK and the US deepened following the leak of comments made by the British ambassador in Washington.

Earlier, MPs overwhelmingly backed moves to extend abortion and same-sex marriage to Northern Ireland, if power-sharing is not restored by October.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn told party members that Labour will back Remain in a new referendum over a no-deal Brexit or a Conservative agreement.

See below for live updates

Eleanor Laing, one of the deputy speakers, has selected amendments on same-sex marriage and abortion to the Northern Ireland bill, which is now underway in the Commons.

Labour's Conor McGinn has tabled an amendment to change the law to extend marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland if the executive is not restored by 21 October.

He has cross-party support for the bid, including Tory MP Justine Greening, Labour's Yvette Cooper, Lib Dem Layla Moran and Green MP Caroline Lucas.

Stella Creasy, another Labour MP, has put down a bid to change the law on abortion in Northern Ireland over the same time period.

She also has cross-party support, including several Tory MPs.

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 13:03

If these amendments are pushed to a vote later, it could be quite a clash. Tory MPs are understood to be allowed a free vote on both issues, as abortion and gay marriage are considered matters of conscience.

Interestingly, the SNP have said they will vote in favour of the amendments, despite their practice of not voting on matters that do not directly concern Scotland.

Here is the party's Westminster leader:

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 13:19

Donald Trump's fury over the leaked diplomatic cables is showing no sign of abating, as he launched a furious tirade against UK ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch.

Branding Sir Kim as "wacky" and a "very stupid guy", Mr Trump then turned his fire on Theresa May over the "failed Brexit negotiation" which he branded "a disaster".

We are running a separate live blog on Trump here:

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 13:36

"I'm a United Nations diplomat. This is how bad the Kim Darroch leaked email chain really is," writes Emin Pasha for the Indy.

Read this fascinating column here:

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 13:53

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Nicola Sturgeon has tweeted this in response to Donald Trump's latest attack on Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to the US. She say it shows why the next prime minister must "stand up" for British diplomats.

Benjamin Kentish9 July 2019 14:12

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has piled in to criticise Labour on its EU exit strategy.

He tweeted: "Typical Jeremy Corbyn with a mixed message, the truth is that he has lost the internal battle and that Labour is now a Remain party." 

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 14:22

Independent MP Nick Boles, a former Tory, is intending to raise Donald Trump's comments on Sir Kim Darroch in the Commons later.

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 14:36

'Labour’s new, fuzzy Brexit position won’t go far enough for ardent Remainers,' says Independent commentator Jim Moore.

Read his column on Jeremy Corbyn's latest shift:

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 14:52

Labour peer Lord Triesman has resigned the party whip over what he describes as "institutional antisemitism". The former general secretary, and chair of the FA, also said it was "impossible' to take Labour's positions on Brexit and other policy seriously.

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 15:01

Tory leadership frontrunner, Boris Johnson, has boasted of his relationship with Donald Trump amid a furious transatlantic row over leaked diplomatic cables.

Speaking on a visit to Manchester airport, Mr Johnson said: "I have got a good relationship with the White House and I have no embarrassment in saying that.

"I think it's very important that we have a strong relationship with our most important ally. The United States is, has been, will be and for the foreseeable future our number one political military friend."

Asked whether the president was right to criticise Mrs May and the way Brexit talks have been handled, Mr Johnson replied: "Myself, I have said some pretty critical things about the Brexit negotiations so far and that's one of the reasons I am standing tonight and one of the reasons I am putting myself forward.

"I think there is a chance to do things differently, a chance to break away from the failed old can-kicking approaching. Now is the time to really get a grip on this. Stop being so defeatist in our approach to the EU negotiations and maybe be a lot more positive about our country and what it can do."

Lizzy Buchan9 July 2019 15:18

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