Politics latest news: Keir Starmer's team denies claims Jeremy Corbyn has been reinstated as Labour MP

Cat Neilan
·6 min read
He's back: Jeremy Corbyn's suspension from the Labour Party lasted just three weeks - AP
He's back: Jeremy Corbyn's suspension from the Labour Party lasted just three weeks - AP

Jeremy Corbyn has not been automatically reinstated as a Labour MP, Sir Keir Starmer's office has insisted, despite a former adviser claiming it was a done deal. 

The former Labour leader, who has been suspended for comments following a report into anti-Semitism, was issued with a "reminder of conduct" letter – effectively a formal warning – by a five-person disciplinary panel of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee. 

James Schneider, former director of strategic communications for the leader of the opposition, told Radio 4's Today programme: "It's automatic. Jeremy Corbyn is a Labour MP with the whip restored. It would be a decision for the leadership to now withdraw the whip if that's what they want to do."

However current LOTO figures insisted this was wrong. "No decision has been taken yet on the whip," one said. "Reinstatement isn't automatic."

Mr Schneider also insisted that his former boss "didn't say anything that was either factually or morally wrong", and had "apologised over and over again", describing the question of whether or not the MP had said sorry for the findings in the EHRC report as a "red herring". 

"If he didn't accept the clear failings he wouldn't have done so much to improve the process," Mr Schneider added. 

Mr Corbyn's reinstatement is likely to embroil Sir Keir in a civil war, with veteran MP Margaret Hodge said to be considering her future with the party. Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds is thought to have cancelled her broadcast round this morning. 

Follow the latest updates below.

09:03 AM

Boris Johnson to take first virtual PMQs

Today will mark a first for Prime Minister's Questions, as Boris Johnson answers remotely while he continues to self-isolate.

The Prime Minister has been confined to Downing Street after being in contact with Conservative MP Lee Anderson, who tested positive for coronavirus.

Mr Johnson will take part from self-isolation rather than having his deputy Dominic Raab stand-in for him at the despatch box.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There is an agreement that Prime Minister's Questions will go ahead and the Prime Minister will take part remotely."

Boris Johnson appeared remotely before the Liaison Committee in May - Reuters
Boris Johnson appeared remotely before the Liaison Committee in May - Reuters

08:52 AM

Alok Sharma defends Government over damning report on public spending

Alok Sharma has defended the Government after a damning report by the public spending watchdog.

The National Audit Office found a lack of transparency around some of the £18 billion of coronavirus contracts that had been awarded to the end of July. It also found that firms with political connections were directed to a “high-priority” channel for UK government contracts. 

The Business Secretary told BBC Breakfast there was "huge pressure" at the time to secure personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers after the National Audit Office exposed transparency failings.

"We had to do an enormous amount of work very fast to secure PPE and that's what we did, and I'm not going to apologise for the fact that quite rightly we made that effort," he added.

Mr Sharma also insisted that "checks were done" in the case of a Spanish businessman acting as a go-between who was reportedly given £21 million of UK taxpayers' cash.

Alok Sharma insisted the Government had been working in a pressured environment - Reuters
Alok Sharma insisted the Government had been working in a pressured environment - Reuters

08:38 AM

Margaret Hodge on resignation watch after she blasts 'broken system' over Jeremy Corbyn ruling

Sir Keir Starmer has a tight window to decide what to do about Jeremy Corbyn, if he is to avoid handing Boris Johnson a gift in PMQs. 

But it is how it plays out in his own party that will probably be the bigger conern, amid reports that former minister Dame Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, could quit the party.

She said on Tuesday evening that she could not "comprehend" why it was acceptable for Mr Corbyn to "be a Labour MP if he thinks anti-Semitism is exaggerated and a political attack".

Dame Louise Ellman, the Jewish former Labour MP who quit the party over its handling of anti-Semitism last year, said Sir Keir should "refuse to restore the whip" to Mr Corbyn.

"That way they could show that they are determined - as they have said they are - to rid the party of this dreadful stain," she told BBC Two's Newsnight.

08:25 AM

Tory MP compares Keir Starmer to 'Cowardly Lion' over Jeremy Corbyn

A Conservative MP has compared Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz for his failure to stand firm on Jeremy Corbyn. 

Robert Halfon, the Jewish MP for Harlow, shared a video of the character running away from the great and mysterious magician in fear.

"Really Disappointing," he added. 

08:22 AM

Alok Sharma: Too early to confirm five-day lift on restrictions over Christmas

Alok Sharma has said it is "too early" to know whether social distancing restrictions could be eased around Christmas.

This morning the Sun reported that a ban on indoor socialising could be lifted for five days, paving the way for larger gatherings around the festive period. 

Asked about this, the Business Secretary told BBC Breakfast: "I want to have my mum and dad around, I want to have members of my family around that Christmas table.

"I just think it's too early to be reaching any conclusions on that. What none of us knows right now is what the infection rate is going to be in different parts of the country."

However, it is not just about the family. Several MPs are concerned about the impact restrictions will have on busineses in the most critical part of the year. 

08:05 AM

Starmer under fire as Corbyn readmitted to Labour

Sir Keir Starmer faced a mutiny from his own MPs on Tuesday night after Labour was accused of "adding insult to injury" by readmitting Jeremy Corbyn just three weeks after he was suspended from the party in a row over anti-Semitism.

Former leader Mr Corbyn had refused to apologise for playing down the scale of the problem in the party, and his readmittance sparked a major new row over anti-Semitism which threatens to undermine Sir Keir's pledge to clean up Labour.

Sir Keir is now under intense pressure to withhold the whip from Mr Corbyn after the party lifted his suspension and gave him a "slap on the wrist", and at least one MP has threatened to resign if the whip is restored. On Tuesday night, Labour sources confirmed that he had not yet made a decision on whether to reinstate the whip. 

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