Latest updates: During a call with Tory MPs on Monday Boris Johnson described devolution as a ‘disaster north of the border’ and ‘Tony Blair’s biggest mistake’
- Devolution ‘a disaster north of the border’, says Boris Johnson
- Covid tier system for England under review, says minister
- Coronavirus – latest updates
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Jeremy Corbyn has posted a lengthy statement on his Facebook page clarifying his position on the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report on Labour and antisemitism. It reads very much like something drafted in such a way as to allow Labour to lift its suspension of him and readmit him to the party.
For the record, here is the statement in full.
Last month, I was suspended from the Labour party, after 54 years’ membership and four and a half years as party leader.
On the day I was suspended I gave a broadcast interview to clarify what I had said in response to the EHRC report, and I also made a statement to the party to clear up any confusion about what I had meant, as follows: “The publication of the EHRC report should have been a moment for the Labour party to come together in a determination to address the shortcomings of the past and work as one to root out antisemitism in our own ranks and wider society. We must never tolerate antisemitism or belittle concerns about it. And that was not my intention in anything I said this week. I regret the pain this issue has caused the Jewish community and would wish to do nothing that would exacerbate or prolong it. To be clear, concerns about antisemitism are neither “exaggerated” nor “overstated”. The point I wished to make was that the vast majority of Labour party members were and remain committed anti-racists deeply opposed to antisemitism. I fully support Keir Starmer’s decision to accept all the EHRC recommendations in full and, in accordance with my own lifelong convictions, will do what I can to help the party move on, united against antisemitism which has been responsible for so many of history’s greatest crimes against humanity.”
Sedwill insists he was not sacked as cabinet secretary. He says he had always intended to move on. He left his post “voluntarily, by agreement”, he says.
