The Tories have tabled an Humble Address for their Opposition Day in the Commons. Labour has responded by 1) telling its MPs to vote to cover up the majority of material relating to Mandelson and 2) releasing some documents relating to his appointment…
An Humble Address is a binding call for papers from government departments. The Tories’ – laide overnight – asks for:
An amendment from Starmer and others last night added:
‘At end add “except papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations.”’
The Tories’ ask is broad. Starmer and the Cabinet are instructing MPs to cover up the majority of the files…
In addition Wes Streeting has told broadcasters that documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment and vetting will be released by the government later today because Starmer is “going for maximum transparency here.” Labour is trying to get out of the gate first with a limited release…
Follow Guido’s coverage of events in the Commons today. The situation rapidly developing…
Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns told Times Radio she would have put a precondition on a China trip if she were PM:
“I would have put a precondition that I was not going to go if I was prime minister, unless Jimmy Lai was coming home with me. I would also put a precondition in the six months leading up to the visit that I wanted a reduction in hostile acts against our country. But that’s not what we saw. And actually, in contrast, what we saw was clearly the Chinese Communist Party did put a precondition, which was that the new embassy in London had to be signed off. So why is it okay for China to set preconditions and to make very clear red lines about what they require for a visit, but we go without having put any ourselves?”