‘Theresa May last night faced the most significant challenge to her leadership after one of the Conservatives’ most high-profile backbenchers resigned from Parliament – triggering a “Brexit by-election” – over the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow. Zac Goldsmith, the party’s unsuccessful London mayoral candidate, claimed that the Heathrow expansion will be a “millstone around this Government’s neck for many years” as he quit as the Conservative MP for Richmond Park, a constituency close to the airport. He will stand as an independent candidate and the Conservatives last night announced they would not contest the seat. The Liberal Democrats are now poised to regain the constituency on an anti-Brexit ticket.’ – Daily Telegraph
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>Today: ToryDiary: Goldsmith in Richmond. A stupendous majority, a vulnerable position
>Yesterday: MPs etc: Goldsmith resigns to force a by-election over Heathrow
‘Opponents of a third runway at London’s Heathrow airport are preparing for a prolonged rearguard action after Tuesday’s announcement by Chris Grayling, transport secretary, that the government had endorsed the expansion plan. The resistance was led by MPs from within Theresa May’s Tory party and government, including Boris Johnson, her foreign secretary, who predicted it was “very likely” the £16.5bn expansion would never happen.’ – FT
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>Yesterday: Video: WATCH: “A third runway is undeliverable” – the Foreign Secretary criticises the Government’s Heathrow decision
‘Legal challenges. The third runway will face an immediate challenge from a coalition of four Tory councils — Hillingdon, Wandsworth, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead — backed by Greenpeace. … Air quality. The government has said it will not allow plans to proceed unless they meet legal air-quality limits. … Red tape. Details of the third runway will be set out in a “national policy statement”. The government will be forced to consult those in affected areas and is likely to face strong opposition. … MPs’ vote. The decision will be subject to a full vote of MPs in late 2017 or early 2018. … Planning. Even after MPs approve the policy statement, Heathrow will be required to apply for a development consent order (planning permission).’ – The Times (£)
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‘There was “no likelihood” that post-Brexit immigration controls would apply to EU workers who were highly skilled and highly paid, Philip Hammond has said. The chancellor said voters were concerned about foreign workers “taking entry-level jobs” but not about those with high skills and high pay coming into the UK. His comments go further than previous statements he has made in seeking to reassure financial services firms that they would still be able to employ staff from abroad.’ – Guardian
>Today: Andrew Green in Comment: Others shouldn’t be blamed for Cameron’s renegotiation failure on immigration
‘Our legislators seem to have forgotten to ensure equality of treatment when making the law, just as they blithely disregard the importance of free speech. Another case in point is the severe threat to newspapers posed by legislation brought in after the Leveson Inquiry into the press. With minimal debate and little thought, Parliament rushed through a pernicious new law intended to force the industry to sign up to a state-backed regulator. Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 would see libel costs awarded against any newspaper which is not a member of a government-approved regulator, even where it has successfully defended the claim.’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, has set himself on a collision course with Theresa May after rebuffing economic claims made in her keynote Conservative conference speech. Mr Carney argued that the monetary policy pursued by the Bank in recent years has had a positive impact that is “without parallel”, despite the Prime Minister using her speech to claim it had led to “bad side effects”. The Governor also rubbished the idea, set out in Ms May’s speech, that one group of people had benefitted from monetary policy against the interests of another group who had lost out.’ – Independent
‘Theresa May privately warned that companies would leave the UK if the country voted for Brexit during a secret audience with investment bankers a month before the EU referendum. A recording of her remarks to Goldman Sachs, leaked to the Guardian, reveals she had numerous concerns about Britain leaving the EU. It contrasts with her nuanced public speeches, which dismayed remain campaigners before the vote in June. Speaking at the bank in London on 26 May, the then home secretary appeared to go further than her public remarks to explain more clearly the economic benefits of staying in the EU.’ – Guardian
‘Michael Gove has paved the way for a return to the Cabinet as he heaped praise on Theresa May and said he would “happily” serve in her Government if asked. It came as he denied stabbing former Vote Leave colleague Boris Johnson in the back after supporting his leadership bid then withdrawing and putting himself forward to be prime minister. Mr Gove said his decision was “not treachery”, adding: “I wouldn’t say I stabbed him in the back”.’ – Daily Telegraph
More government
‘Council taxpayers are to pick up the bill for dozens of unaccompanied child refugees arriving in the UK from the Calais Jungle this week. … David Simmonds, chairman of the Local Government Association’s refugee group, said that the Home Office had to come up with more cash if local services such as care for the elderly and libraries were to be spared and council taxpayers protected. “Local authorities will be responsible for all these children until they reach the age of 25,” he said. “We need more assurance and a firm statement on funding to motivate councils to come forward and take these children.”’ – The Times (£)
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‘Former secretary of state Colin Powell, a Republican who served under George W Bush, will reportedly vote for the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, in the upcoming general election. Speaking at the Long Island Association, a trade group and civic organization based outside New York City, Powell told the group that “I am voting for Hillary Clinton,” according to the New York Times.’ – Guardian
More America
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