Key events:
Afternoon summary
- A confidential government briefing paper leaked to the Guardian has revealed a raft of dramatic and controversial education measures including billions of pounds in new funding, a crackdown on student behaviour and a further wave of free schools. The proposals were designed to be rolled out over the coming weeks in a bid to seize the initiative on education ahead of a possible autumn election.
- The Westminster leaders of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and the Independent Group for Change attended a meeting along with the shadow chancellor John McDonnell on Tuesday, at which they agreed to form an alternative parliament in the event of the prime minister shutting down the existing one to make a no-deal Brexit happen.
- The first major speech by the chancellor Sajid Javid has been mysteriously cancelled by the Treasury less than 24 hours before it was due to take place. A Treasury spokesman said that the one-year spending review, called a spending round, which had been due to take place later this year, was now being fast-tracked to take place in early September, adding fuel to speculation the government could be planning an early general election.
- Nigel Farage has said the Brexit party may be prepared to work with the Conservatives through a “non-aggression pact” if the only way of achieving a “clean-break” Brexit was a general election.
- The archbishop of Canterbury has agreed in principle to chair a citizens’ assembly on Brexit despite provoking outrage from Eurosceptics for considering the idea. Acknowledging the controversy of such a role, Justin Welby said he would only take part if the exercise were not aimed at thwarting Brexit. He also suggested it could be conducted after the UK had left the European Union as a way of overcoming divisions.
That’s it from us today. Thanks very much for reading.
Leaked documents reveal Tory school plans
My colleagues Aditya Chakrabortty, Richard Adams and Sally Weale have just published an exclusive detailing a raft of dramatic and controversial education policy proposals set out in a confidential briefing paper.
The measures include billions of pounds in new funding, a crackdown on student behaviour and a further wave of free schools, which are set to be announced by the government within days.
The briefing document, dated 22 August and marked “Official-Sensitive”, details a blizzard of policy proposals designed to be rolled out over the coming weeks in a bid to seize the initiative on education ahead of a possible autumn election.
While proposals including a £3.5bn funding announcement and plans to increase teachers’ basic pay may be broadly welcomed, there will be concern in some quarters over a package of disciplinary measures that include a renewed emphasis on exclusions and allowing teachers to use “reasonable force” to improve behaviour.
Read the full story here –
Jonathan Lis, deputy director of the thinktank British Influence, has written for our opinion pages welcoming today’s opposition talks.
Today’s meeting is highly significant for two reasons. First, it demonstrates that, when push comes to shove, politicians who may personally dislike or distrust each other can sit around a table and work seriously, cordially and productively. Second, and more importantly, it highlights that MPs have the means at their disposal to stop no deal. They already had the numbers. Now they are showing the willing.
The Conservative party has tweeted accusing opposition politicians of “plotting to cancel the votes of 17.4 million people”. Change UK leader, Anna Soubry, who was a Tory MP until February this year, said the message was yet more proof that “right wing ideologues” had taken over her old party.
These 6 politicians are plotting to cancel the votes of 17.4 million people.
? We respect the result of the EU Referendum.
? We will get Brexit done by October 31st and take this country forward.✍️ Show them they can’t ignore it.
➡️ https://t.co/sosWZSPztl pic.twitter.com/5yLJEiyfYP— Conservatives (@Conservatives) August 27, 2019
Today these MPs put aside their differences to ensure Parliament isn’t suspended to enable a disastrous #NoDeal #Brexit for which there’s no mandate.@Conservatives should be throughly ashamed of this disingenuous tweet- further proof the right wing ideologues have taken it over. https://t.co/m5S0yAq8kC
— Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) August 27, 2019
Archbishop of Canterbury willing to chair Brexit citizens forum ‘in principle’
The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has responded to an invitation from MPs to chair a “citizens’ forum on Brexit” in which alternatives to a no deal would be discussed.
It’s an unexpected privilege to be asked to chair the proposed Citizens’ Forum on Brexit. In the past such gatherings have opened the way for careful deliberation. I’m open in principle – provided the Forum doesn’t aim to stop or delay Brexit, and has cross-party support. https://t.co/pYLYUDFzwJ
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) August 27, 2019
He has issued a statement on his website:
It is an unexpected privilege to be asked to chair this proposed citizens’ forum on Brexit. In the past this kind of gathering has, in many places and in difficult situations, opened the way for careful deliberation if at the right time and genuinely representative.
I am honoured to be approached and would be willing to accept in principle, subject to some conditions which have not yet been met. The main three are first, and indispensably, that the forum should not be a Trojan horse intended to delay or prevent Brexit in any particular form. That power can only be exercised by the government and MPs in parliament. A forum must be open to all possibilities. Second, that it has cross-party support (although its members will not be politicians). Third, the process must have time to be properly organised.
Jesus Christ is the source of reconciliation and healing for individuals and society. It is obviously right that among many others the churches should contribute to the emergence of a dynamic and united country post-Brexit, however it may be achieved. Every one of us must play the part they can in this task.
The need for national healing and eventually for a move towards reconciliation is essential, and will take much time, a deep commitment to the common good, and contributions from every source. This forum is only one of many different efforts being made inside the political world and across the country before and after Brexit. Every effort counts.
Let us pray for all those in government, parliament and political leadership. Let us pray for the people of this country whose lives will be affected in many ways by the momentous decisions that are made.
Responding to earlier reports that Welby had met with MPs to discuss hosting a possible citizens’ assembly, the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said:
I generally don’t criticise the archbishop but he shouldn’t allow himself to be tempted into what is essentially a very political issue right now. This assembly is designed to destabilise Boris Johnson’s position. As such I hope he will recognise the deeply political nature of this.
Jeremy Corbyn was not at today’s meeting of opposition leaders at Church House – the shadow chancellor said he was busy in meetings – but the Labour leader has spoken to broadcast media this afternoon.
Labour’s John McDonnell has responded to the announcement that the first major speech by the new chancellor, Sajid Javid, has been cancelled less than 24 hours before it was due to take place.
Sajid Javid is getting a record of announcing events and initiatives, and then within hours cancelling or reversing them.
This doesn’t inspire confidence. Panic seems to be setting in inside government.
Patrick Greenfield
Dear readers, it’s been fun but it’s time to hand over the live blogging reins to my colleague Frances Perraudin (Twitter @fperraudin). She’ll bring you the latest Brexit developments until close of play.
Have a peaceful evening and thank you for your questions and comments.
Church House meeting in focus
Ben Quinn
Our reporter Ben Quinn attended a symbolic meeting of MPs in Church House where they discussed their opposition to no-deal Brexit. He filed this report.
Boris Johnson was described as a threat to the very nature of British democracy at a cross party meeting of MPs who signed a pledge to an alternative parliament in the event of the prime minister shutting down parliament to make a no deal Brexit happen.
In a highly symbolic gathering in Church House, where MPs met during the second world war, Labour’s John McDonnell took to the stage alongside the former Conservative MP, Anna Soubry, as well as the Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and Caroline Lucas of the Green Party.
Each one signed the ‘Church House Declaration,’ which declared that shutting down parliament would be “an undemocratic outrage at such a crucial moment for our country, and a historic constitutional crisis.”
It added: “Any attempt to prevent Parliament sitting, to force through a no deal Brexit, will be met by strong and widespread democratic resistance.”
The shadow chancellor, who said that Jeremy Corbyn had been trapped in meetings, told those assembled: “Prime Ministers come and Prime Ministers go but I don’t think we have seen a Prime Minister like this who has had the potential to threaten the vary nature of our democracy.”
I want to warn him that we will not and let that happen, said McDonnell, who added that MPs will use “whatever mechanism necessary” to thwart Johnson.
More than 160 MPs from a range of parties were said by organisers to have signed the declaration.
Ian Blackford, the leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, said that the government posed a threat to the security of citizens, while the Green MP Caroline Lucas said: “We will block what is nothing less than a coup.”
Swinson said that members of parliament had come together to make the point that they would not stand by while the government sent the country into a “catastrophic no deal Brexit.”
While Conservative MPs were conspicuous by their absence from the event, there was a highly symbolic moment when the former Tory MP and minister addressed the event, standing on stage while McDonnell sat beside her.
She said that she hoped that when the history books were written they would record their determination and courage and show that there were those who acted while others stood by and did nothing.
“You all know who the people of courage are and those who have failed to exercise it. They will stop you in the corridors and say: ‘of course this is absolute madness’ but they will not go and do the right thing, which is to be true to their principles.”
Corbyn asks 116 Tory MPs for support to stop no-deal Brexit
The Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to 116 Tory MPs, including former prime minister Theresa May, Philip Hammond, David Gauke and Greg Clark, urging them to support cross-party efforts to stop no-deal Brexit.
Here’s the full text of the letter:
Dear colleague,
I am writing to you after convening a meeting earlier today with the leaders of other opposition parties on how we can work together, across Parliament to prevent a damaging No Deal exit from the European Union. At that meeting, we agreed to make efforts to put party politics aside to find a way through the present crisis.
We know there is a majority in parliament against No Deal. As MPs we’ve voted against No Deal on a number of occasions and we did so in the largest number on 27 March of this year.
As you were one of 116 Conservative or independent MPs who voted against No Deal that day and are not on the government frontbench, I am writing to you to offer to work together, in a collegiate, cross party spirit, to find a practical way to prevent No Deal.
This is an urgent task. The Prime Minister is reportedly planning to suspend parliament to force through a No Deal crash out. This action would be, according to legal advice I’ve received from Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti, “the gravest abuse of power and attack upon UK constitutional principle in living memory”.
My view is that holding a general election after an extension is achieved is the simplest and most democratic way to prevent No Deal and to let the people of this country decide our future. Indeed, it is the best route to a referendum or leaving the EU with a deal.
I understand not all colleagues may agree.
So I would like to invite you to join a dialogue with myself, as leader of the Labour Party, and other opposition parties, to find a way for the clear will of parliament against No Deal to express itself. Please respond by email.
Yours sincerely,
Jeremy Corbyn
Cancelled Javid speech heightens election speculation
Jessica Elgot
This from our chief political correspondent Jessica Elgot on Sajid Javid’s cancelled speech. The chancellor has been meeting Trump’s treasury secretary on Tuesday.
The first major speech by the chancellor Sajid Javid has been mysteriously cancelled by the Treasury less than 24 hours before it was due to take place.
A Treasury spokesman said that the one-year spending review, called a spending round, which had been due to take place later this year, was now being fast-tracked to take place in early September, adding fuel to speculation the government could be planning an early general election.
The speech, which was due to take place in Birmingham, was billed as Javid “outlining his vision for the UK economy.” In an email to attendees, the Treasury press office said the speech was being rescheduled but gave no other reasoning.
“The forthcoming Spending Round will instead be brought forward in early September and will cover the themes and priorities he was due to outline,” the email said.
McDonnell: PM a threat to the UK’s democracy
John McDonnell is here in place of Jeremy Corbyn on the stage at Church house..
’Alternative parliament’ pledge
Symbolic stuff alongside Jo Swindon, Luciana Berger and co pic.twitter.com/U0BNYf4wkH— Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) August 27, 2019
John McDonnell: “Prime Ministers come and Prime Ministers go but I don’t think we have seen a Prime Minister like this who has had the potential to threaten the vary nature of our democracy
— Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) August 27, 2019
McDonnell: “And I just want him that we will not and let that happen. We will use whatever mechanism necessary.”
— Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) August 27, 2019
Just in case you were wondering what the former prime minister is up to today…
The chancellor cancels major speech on the economy on Wednesday
Treasury have just cancelled a planned Sajid Javid speech for tomorrow – and announcing the 1-year spending review (“spending round”) brought forward till early Sept….
— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) August 27, 2019
Our Ben Quinn has escaped the Brexit party rally and is at Church House to watch MPs pledge to form an alternative parliament if Boris Johnson shuts down the Commons to make a no-deal Brexit happen.
At Church House, where MPs sat during WWII…
A cross party grouping of MPs are today pledging to form an alternative parliament if Boris Johnson shuts the House of Commons down for a no deal Brexit pic.twitter.com/TJHSlKmobJ— Ben Quinn (@BenQuinn75) August 27, 2019
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