Today’s political headlines includes suggestions Rory Stewart could have been a spy, Gove’s claims that the final two candidates must believe in Brexit, homeless camps removed and half of Tories would be happy with Farage as leader.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Stewart may have been MI6 spy<\/span><\/strong> Gove claims that the final two candidates must \u2018believe in Brexit\u2019<\/span><\/strong> Number of homeless camps\u00a0removed\u00a0trebles<\/span><\/strong> Almost half of Tory membership would be happy with Farage as leader, poll finds<\/span><\/strong> Parliamentary standards authority doesn\u2019t recognise maternity leave, Creasy says<\/span><\/strong> Mothers should live with children in prison<\/span><\/strong> Government rejects \u2018fast fashion tax\u2019<\/span><\/strong> Hammond criticises Johnson over unfunded spending commitments<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/span>The Daily Telegraph<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>suggests<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that Rory Stewart may have worked for MI6 as a spy prior to his election, with a \u2018Whitehall security source\u2019 telling it that he was recruited while at university and worked for the service for seven years. He has denied being a spy but has also pointed out that even if he had been, he would be legally obliged to deny it. He has now secured the backing of David\u00a0Lidington, the de-facto deputy prime minister, in the leadership contest, and is the second favourite with the bookmakers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Writing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>The Times<\/span><\/i>, Michael Gove calls on MPs to ensure the two leadership candidates they put to the party membership \u2018believe in Brexit\u2019, arguing against choosing a pair of candidates who will \u2018polarise our party\u2019. The paper claims that this is an attempt by Gove to undermine Rory Stewart\u2019s campaign and secure his own place in the final round. Sajid Javid has also claimed that \u2018blue on blue\u2019 attacks are damaging the party\u2019s prospects.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>In an\u00a0<\/span>exclusive<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>The Guardian<\/span><\/i>\u00a0claims that the number of homeless camps which local authorities forcibly removed has more than trebled since 2014, rising from 72 to 254. Charities say that this is a sign of a growing homelessness problem due to changes to welfare, poorly-funded support services and insecure housing. Over the same period, complaints about such camps have grown by 448%.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>A YouGov poll of Conservative members for\u00a0<\/span>The Times<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>finds<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that 46% of them would be happy for Nigel Farage to become party leader, while 40% would be unhappy. 68% of members want to attract voters from UKIP and the Brexit Party, compared to just 25% from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Farage has admitted that he has been approached by Tory donors but rejected the idea of a pact between the two parties.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Writing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>The Guardian<\/span><\/i>, Labour MP Stella Creasy claims Parliament is effectively telling her to \u2018choose between being a mum and being an MP\u2019. She is pregnant but has been told by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority that it does not recognise maternity leave and won\u2019t automatically provide extra support. She was also forced to work as normal without further support after suffering two miscarriages.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Daily Telegraph<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>carries details<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of a new report commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and conducted by Lord Farmer, which argues that women in prison should be kept with their children in mini-prisons in the community\u00a0<\/span>in an attempt to<\/span>\u00a0break the reoffending cycle. Such a scheme would target those jailed for less than two years for offences such as theft, fraud or minor assaults.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>Daily Mail<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>says<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that the Government is being criticised after it rejected the Commons Environmental Audit Committee\u2019s suggestion of a \u2018fast fashion tax\u2019 of 1p per item in order to cover the costs of collecting and recycling the 300,000 tonnes of clothes incinerated or sent to landfill each year. Instead, ministers\u00a0<\/span>claim<\/span>\u00a0to have developed their own initiatives, including encouraging voluntary efforts by the industry.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span>According<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>The Sun<\/span><\/i>, Chancellor Philip Hammond has criticised Boris Johnson for making unfunded spending commitments on tax cuts and faster broadband, with just Rory Stewart acceding to his request that leadership candidates stick to sensible spending plans. Speaking at Mansion House in the City of London, Hammond urged \u2018all candidates to be cautious\u2019 and said the lack of agreements was \u2018a disappointment\u2019.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n