Sturgeon to publish new independence referendum bill for Scotland - Politics live

Boris Johnson is facing criticism for his comments to the foreign affairs committee earlier about how the Britain could get an even better trade deal with the EU when it leaves than it has at the moment. (See 2.33pm.) This is from the Conservative MP Anna Soubry, a campaigner for Open Britain, which wants the UK to stay in the single market.

If there’s a deal of ‘greater value’ out there than single market membership, then businesses and economists have not come across it. The government needs to provide concrete evidence before it pulls us out of our home market of 500 million customers.

And this is from the Lib Dem leader Tim Farron.

After his bungling performance today, it’s clear the only thing which is becoming ‘increasingly useless’ is Boris Johnson himself. His glib dismissal of the single market shows the Conservatives have given up any claim to be the party of business and are putting jobs, prosperity and lower prices at risk.

The SNP conference has passed a resolution saying that the UK government should abandon the policy of having lower minimum wage rates for the young and that workers aged 16 to 24 should get the same as over-25s, who are currently the only group who get the more generous “national living wage”. The SNP MP Chris Stephens said:

Conference has been resounding in its condemnation of the UK government and their discriminatory policy on wages. To pay workers less than their colleagues based purely on age is unacceptable and today the SNP has made that clear.

Simon Wolfson, the Next chief executive and prominent leave campaigner, has warned that the British economy is “finished” if the government pursues an isolationist Brexit course. The Tory peer told the Press Association that the referendum vote was about UK independence, not isolation, adding that Britain is setting itself up for economic failure if it closes itself off from the rest of the world.

I think the hard, soft Brexit language is unhelpful, and what we should be talking about is whether we have an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ Brexit.

Britain voted for independence, it didn’t vote for isolation and so we have a choice: are we going to choose to build an open, global-facing economy, or one that’s closed and isolated?

If we choose the latter, then our economy is finished. If we choose the former, we stand a chance of flourishing greatly.

Here is the Labour MSP Anas Sarwar on Nicola Sturgeon’s speech.

Theresa May’s cabinet committee on Brexit met yesterday and considered three new papers, I’ve heard. A draft of one was reported to include that controversial £66bn cost of reverting WTO rules.

But there were two others as well, on free movement and interestingly the customs union, which was discussed.

Liam Fox has suggested Britain will leave the customs union, and Raoul Ruparel - the new adviser to David Davis who was the co-director at Open Europe- has said Britain will have to leave, arguing “that ship has sailed”.

But Treasury ministers are pushing back internally saying there has to be a conversation about cost of an exit, and clearly the issue remains on the table.

Alex Massie at the Spectator says, in the light of Nicola Sturgeon’s speech, that it’s a mistake to write off the chances of Scotland voting for independence. Here’s an excerpt.

In any event, these are still the opening exchanges in a long game. Sturgeon might have announced a crowd-pleasing consultation on a draft referendum bill – sometimes a piece of paper makes a convincing rabbit – but we are still in the wait and see stages. She may need to keep her troops happy but past experience, and the evidence of our present circumstances, suggests the promise of jam tomorrow is always enough to maintain their morale.

Again, the sage and serious people will tell us it’s all a ruse and we can calm down because, come on, sage and serious people in London know the Jocks aren’t stupid enough to vote for independence. They are, instead, trapped in a Brexit box and that’s worth a chortle or two. Maybe that is so, but many of these sage and serious people are also the idiots who thought, for reasons best explained by their own ignorance and complacency, that only one in three Scots would vote for independence in 2014. They were warned not to be fools then but chose not to listen until it was almost too late but I suppose it’s too late – and probably pointless anyway – to warn them not to be fools again.

SNP members at the conference in Glasgow have passed a motion condemning xenophobia and prejudice and saying foreigners are welcome in Scotland. Christian Allard, a former SNP MSP and a French citizen, said:

The difference between the SNP conference and last week’s Tory conference could not be starker. Here in Glasgow, we are promoting a message of inclusivity and diversity - a million miles away from the Tory message of xenophobia and division.

Labour would not try to stop the Scottish government holding a second independence referendum, PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield reports.

Here is some more comment from journalists on Nicola Sturgeon’s speech.

From the Guardian’s Martin Kettle

From the Times’ Kenny Farquharson

From the Guardian’s Libby Brooks

From the Sun’s Steve Hawkes

Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, has also accused Nicola Sturgeon of dividing Scotland.

She says:

Nicola Sturgeon’s top priority is to divide our country once again. But our country is already divided following the Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble and we should not be seeking further divisions.

Earlier I posted a tweet suggesting that Andrew Rosindell may have asked Boris Johnson a question about Norfolk Island because he had been there on a freebie. Actually, there was a bit more to it than that. I have posted an update at 10.17am.

Speeding up the referendum bill process opens up a deepening and increasingly significant political divide between the Scottish and UK governments, signalling Nicola Sturgeon’s increasing confidence that the Tories shift to a harder line stance on Brexit has strengthened her hand.

But she made clear that was to protect her government’s longer term position. Sturgeon faces clear short-term obstacles to staging a second vote on leaving the UK: Scottish voters are still not convinced of the case for a fast second referendum and Holyrood requires Westminster’s legal authority to stage one.

The latest poll, published on Thursday by the Herald from BMG, found that only 12% of voters would switch to back leaving the UK if there was a hard Brexit.

The economics of Scottish independence are still extremely difficult: the latest GDP data showed Scotland’s economy is still growing at a third of the pace of the UK’s as a whole and government data showed a £15bn Scottish spending deficit last year – 21% of overall government spending in Scotland.

The SNP leader told delegates her first objective was to win far more power for the Scottish parliament – a proposal many senior SNP figures including former health secretary Alex Neil now back.

Sturgeon made clear for the first time she will press May to strengthen Holyrood’s autonomy over policies currently overseen by the EU but devolved within the UK to Scotland, such as fisheries and agriculture.

But Sturgeon expanded that list of demands to include the right for Scotland to have special access to the single market, the freedom to have distinctive immigration policies, and the right to strike separate foreign deals, without specifying what those deals might be.

Here is my colleague Severin Carrell’s story on the Nicola Sturgeon speech.

Here are more lines from Nicola Sturgeon’s speech from my colleague Severin Carrell.

Angus Robertson, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, has been elected deputy leader of the party with a pledge to empower all members to begin campaigning for a second independence referendum immediately.

Describing himself as “bowled over” by the result, Robertson told over 3000 delegates gathered in Glasgow for the first day of party’s autumn conference: “We are very close to independence and we must start campaigning right now”.

Robertson, who emerged as an early favourite in the contest, was considered the establishment candidate. On the gradualist wing of the party, he has enjoyed a significantly raised profile over the past year thanks to his confident performances at PMQs, often in the face of lacklustre efforts by the main opposition.

Robertson’s closest challenger, fellow MP Tommy Sheppard, is a former Labour council leader who is one of the many thousands who joined the party after the 2014 referendum. Sheppard’s campaign focused on the membership needs of the radically expanded cohort of SNP members.

The contest was triggered in May after Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie stood down from the position following the revelation of his extra-marital affair.

The result, which was decided in a ballot of the SNP’s 116,000 members, gave 52.5% of first preferences to Robertson, with Sheppard taking 25.53%, MEP Alyn Smith gaining 18.6% and Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny with 3.38%.

Speaking of the need to “empower every one of our members” to “reach out to the 55% who voted no [in 2014]”, Robertson said: ““The SNP is the most effective political party in the country. Our strength comes from our members, branches, local grassroots campaigning and partnership with councillors and parliamentarians.”

He described his election as a “tremendous honour” and praised the other candidates for contributing to a “model election campaign”.

Here is the key quote from Nicola Sturgeon’s speech about publishing an independence referendum bill.

I am determined that Scotland will have the ability to reconsider the question of independence - and to do so before the UK leaves the EU - if that is necessary to protect our country’s interests.

So I can confirm today that the independence referendum bill will be published for consultation next week.

You know, there’s not a day that passes just now without someone advising me to hurry up with a referendum.

And there’s not a day that passes without someone advising me to slow down.

Welcome to my world.

But the responsibility of leadership is to act in the best interests of our country as a whole.

The morning after the EU referendum, I said that I’d be guided at all times by a simple, clear test.

What is best for the people of Scotland?

That’s the principle that I will continue to be guided by - and I know I can on your support every step of the way.

Here is the full text of Nicola Sturgeon’s speech to the SNP conference this morning.

Andrew Rosindell asks about Cyprus.

Johnson says we are on the verge of great progress in Cyprus.

And that’s it. The hearing is over.

I will post a summary soon.

Labour’s Ann Clywd goes next.

Q: Should we suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia until we are sure they are not being used against civilians in Yemen?

Johnson says the UK has one of the most robust regimes for arms exports in the world. It is keeping this matter under constant review.

Crispin Blunt says the committee does not agree with the Foreign Office on this.

Q: What measures could we take in Syria, short of “kinetic” (ie, military) action?

Johnson says much of Western Europe still buys “huge amounts of Russian gas”. Some countries think sanctions should be imposed on gas. But that would be damaging to countries reliant on Russian gas.

Crispin Blunt is asking questions now.

Q: Can you tell us more about the Syria meeting on Sunday?

Johnson says he is bringing together like-minded country. There are 25 countries in the Syria support group, which is chaired by Russia and America. But that has not worked. The last session was very acrimonious. Speaker after speaker denounced Russia, but the Iranians came to Russia’s aid.

On Sunday John Kerry and others - he cannot reveal the exact cast list now - will meet to “canvass all the options”.

Those options include “more kinetic action”. But there are grave difficulties involved, for the reasons Theresa May set out at PMQs yesterday.

Q: Will the US position change if there is a new president?

Johnson says it is too early to say. But Hillary Clinton has taken a tougher line on Syria than the White House.

Q: How close are Syria and Russia to achieving their goals?

Johnson says President Assad will never be able to be a legitimate rule of Syria.

Q: In 2012 William Hague said the government recognised the national coalition of Syrian opposition forces as the sole representatives of the Syrian people. Is that still the case?

Johnson says the national coalition is still recognised, but there might be other groups that legitimately represent the Syrian people.

BuzzFeed’s Jim Waterson has dug out this, which helps to explain Andrew Rosindell’s interest in Norfolk Island. (See 10.09am.)

UPDATE: Rosindell’s trip was not a jolly - or at least not just a jolly. There was a serious point to it, because the island has had its autonomy revoked by Australia. Here is the story that Guardian Australia published about the trip that Rosindell made with fellow MPs in the summer.

Johnson is now talking about Syria.

He says the government is looking at more military options.

Q: Do you want to build another Royal Yacht?

(This is something the Daily Telegraph is campaigning for.)

Johnson says building a new Royal Yacht is “not a government priority”. He says the old Royal Yacht is in such a poor state that restoring it is not feasible. But if a group of philanthropists want to fund a new one, that would be fine, he says.

• Johnson signals that government will not fund a new Royal Yacht.

Rosindell has just asked about Gibraltar and the Falklands.

He is now asking Johnson about Norfolk Island, and its right to self-determination.

(That means another trip to Google for me.)

Andrew Rosindell, a Conservative, goes next.

Q: You have not mentioned the Commonwealth. William Hague promised to put the C back in FCO, but nothing happened. What are you going to do to improve relations with Commonwealth countries.

Johnson says the Commonwealth is very important. Many Commonwealth countries are high growth countries. They are bounding ahead. But, because the UK has been in the EU, it has not been able to sign trade deals with these countries.

Q: So should the Commonwealth flag fly from British embassies as the EU flag comes down?

Johnson says Rosindell is testing his vexillology (study of flags). He admits he is not familiar with the Commonwealth flag, and will not make commitments now.

Here’s what the Commonwealth flag looks like.

Q: Is there any mapping of political divisions in Syria?

Johnson says the UK wants to get the ceasefire restored.

The opposition groups have a great deal of credibility, he says. It is possible to see a future for Syria without President Assad.

He says he will write to the committee about mapping.

Johnson says the UK does not want to be part of a federalist construct.

That has led to UK relations with the rest of the EU always being tense.

Q: Many of us think the FCO is under-resourced. How forceful will you be in lobbying for more funds?

Johnson says he is grateful for the committee for backing the case for more money for the FCO

Johnson says there is a fascinating article in the FT today by the French prime minister setting out his federalist aspirations for the EU.

Q: Would we be prepared to fall back on WTO tariffs. David Davis says that holds no fears.

Johnson says Baron is trying to get him into a “running commentary” on Brexit. He thinks the UK can get a great deal.

Q: Would you say the WTO option holds no fears?

Johnson says he does not want to get into the minutiae of the negotiations.

John Baron, a Conservative, goes next. Baron voted to leave the EU.

Q: What would you say to those called the “remoaners”?

Johnson says those who prophesied doom have been proved wrong, and will continue to be proved wrong.

But it will take time for the full benefits of leaving to emerge, he says.

• Johnson says it will take time for full benefits of Brexit to emerge.

He says EU countries have an interest in doing a deal that will suit both partners.

But there might by some sturm und drang (storm and stress) along the way.

Crisipin Blunt has a question.

Q: Who will you achieve this with a constrained budget?

Johnson says the Foreign Office does more than its French equivalent with only 70% of the budget.

But its budget is going up from £1.1bn to £1.24bn in 2019-20, he says.

And the Department for International Development has a considerable budget, he says. He says Priti Patel, the international development secretary, wants to ensure that the money is spent in a way that meshes with the Foreign Office’s aims.

Q: But DfID only spends money in developing countries.

Johnson says his predecessor, Philip Hammond, said the Foreign Office needed more money. Since he is now chancellor, Johnson thinks he has a good chance of getting a higher budget from him.

Johnson covers non-Brexit foreign policy.

Boris Johnson was seen as a successful campaigner during the EU referendum and some involved with Vote Leave think that, if it had not been for him, leave would have lost.

But the foreign policy establishment, so far, seems less impressed by him. Here is an extract from a withering column about him that Philip Stephens published in the Financial Times (subscription) recently.

Word in Westminster has it that Boris Johnson would like to apologise personally to Barack Obama for raising his “part-Kenyan” ancestry when the US president backed the pro-Europeans during the EU referendum. Word in Washington is that the UK foreign secretary would do as well not to bother. Such slights are not easily forgotten by the first African-American president.

Mr Johnson seems to have something of a problem with, well, foreigners. Fellow Europeans have not forgiven the mendacity of the EU “out” campaign. Some in Africa may recall his allusions, albeit some while ago, to “piccaninnies” and “watermelon smiles”. He says such remarks have been taken out of context. Visiting Ankara this week he presumably told his hosts something similar about the Leave campaign’s scaremongering about Turkish migrants.

Foreign policy is a serious business, the more so in an age of global upheaval and rising disorder. Mr Johnson looks more comfortable in the role of court jester than thoughtful policymaker. He prefers the broad brush to irksome detail. His Italian opposite number Paolo Gentiloni was left baffled when Mr Johnson proposed a post-Brexit grand bargain: Italy would back open access to the EU for London’s financial industry and Britain would continue to drink lots of Italian prosecco.

Word in Berlin is that Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the intensely serious German foreign minister, can scarcely abide being in the same room as Mr Johnson. Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, has mocked the foreign secretary’s shallow grasp of the way the union works by offering to send him the Lisbon treaty. Finance ministers, he remarked waspishly, were “accustomed to having a high degree of respect for foreign ministers”. It might be added that Theresa May, the prime minister, is banking on Berlin’s support to secure a good deal in the Brexit negotiations.

Allies say that Mr Johnson is “a quick read” — when paying attention, he absorbs information easily. Whitehall no doubt has laid on crash seminars on the workings of the world. The foreign secretary does not help himself, though, by addressing fellow ministers in the manner of Bertie Wooster, the twittish toff from the pages of English humorist PG Wodehouse. The other day Mr Johnson sat down with the hard-bitten Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. An unkind observer might have imagined Wodehouse’s Wooster meeting Machiavelli’s Prince.

Who’d have guessed that Brexit would trigger a national Marmite shortage? Or, to be accurate, a national Marmite shortage for people who get their shopping from the Tesco website. The Brexit repercussions continue to surprise and there is detailed coverage of this (plus the pound falling, again) on my colleague Graeme Wearden’s business live blog.

It is a good day to be hearing from the leading Brexiteers. And luckily the most senior of them, Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, is giving evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee. It’s a wide-ranging session, covering foreign policy developments generally, but the committee says it wants to focus in particular on Brexit, Syria and relations with Russia. The last time Johnson attended a hearing like this was in March, when he gave evidence to the Treasury committee in his capacity as a leading Vote Leave campaigners. His appearance on that occasion wasn’t exactly a triumph and at the end Andrew Tyrie, the chairman, accused him of delivering “grains of truth with mountains of nonsense”. Whether he can make a better impression on the foreign affairs committee we’ll soon find out.

Here is the agenda for the day.

9.15am: Boris Johnson gives evidence to the Commons foreign affairs committee.

9.30am: The legal challenge to the government’s decision not to let parliament decide when to invoke article 50, triggering EU withdrawal, will start.

9.30am: Statistics on hate crime are published.

9.30am: Waiting time and other health statistics from NHS England are published.

10.30am: The SNP announces the winner of the election for its new deputy leader at its conference in Glasgow.

10.45am: Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister and the SNP leader, gives a speech to the conference. As Libby Brooks reports, she will give a commitment to seek common cause with Westminster opposition parties and moderate Conservatives in order to defeat hard Brexit.

2.15pm: Lord Bridges, a Brexit minister, and Lord Price, a trade minister, give evidence to a Lord committee looking at Brexit.

As usual, I will be covering the breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime and another in the afternoon.

If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow.

I try to monitor the comments BTL but normally I find it impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer direct questions, although sometimes I miss them or don’t have time. Alternatively you could post a question to me on Twitter.