Politics

Philip Hammond also expressed his dislike for ‘ad hoc’ spending or tax-cut commitments, in an apparent nod to the Tory leadership race.

The two men are vying to be prime minister.

“I know I’m visibly different. I don’t have the privilege to hide my identity. I’m BLACK & my name is Magid. I don’t intend to try fit in. Get used to it!”

Boris Johnson has accused the European Union of “moral blackmail” over the Northern Ireland backstop as he insisted he would never allow the return of a hard border with the Republic. In the latest Tory leadership hustings held in Belfast, both Mr Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt insisted the backstop had to go if there was to be a Brexit deal with Brussels. Mr Johnson told party members he had felt so strongly over the issue he had resigned...

Ballots for the leadership election will be issued towards the end of this week.

Liberal Democrat MEPs also wore ‘stop Brexit’ T-shirts.

The Liberal Democrats wore bright yellow t-shirts with 'Bollocks to Brexit' on the back, setting out their thoughts on the Brexit issue on their first day on the job. It was the first day for the new intake of MEPs in the European parliament. Photograph: European Parliament. Guy Verhofstadt, Brexit negiotiator for the European parliament, tweeted his delight. He said: "Here's my new view in the plenary of the European Parliament!" However, it didn't go downthat well with everyone as...

Jeremy Corbyn has called for a “speedy and thorough” independent investigation into reported claims by senior civil servants that he is “too frail” to be prime minister. The Labour leader, in a letter to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, said the matter had “undermined confidence in the principle of civil service neutrality”, as he called for a probe. The Times reported at the weekend that it had been told by two senior civil servants that Mr Corbyn, 70, may have...

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee says electoral laws are no longer fit for purpose.