Today’s political headlines includes Labour deputy leader Tom Watson urged to apologise after false allegations, Swinson elected as Lib Dem leader and Johnson to announce new domestic policies if elected.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Watson urged to apologise after VIP paedophile ring accuser convicted of lying Swinson elected as Lib Dem leader Johnson to announce new domestic policies if he\u2019s elected today May and Hancock in argument over \u2018sin taxes\u2019 Ministers confirm they\u2019ll resign rather than serve under Johnson Three former Prime Ministers criticise Johnson over no-deal Brexit plans Labour steps up efforts to combat antisemitism Iran accused of \u2018state piracy\u2019 by Hunt
\n<\/strong>The Times<\/em> says<\/a> that Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is being urged to apologise after the paedophile Carl Beech was convicted of making false allegations about being abused by a ring of VIPs, including former Home Secretary Leon Brittan. Watson wrote that it was \u2018a travesty\u2019 that Brittan \u2018will never be asked the truth\u2019, while the son of another accused politician, Greville Janner, claimed that Watson had politicised the police investigation for \u2018personal political advancement\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em> reports<\/a> that Jo Swinson has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats, winning almost two-thirds of the vote. In her acceptance speech, she said that \u2018liberalism is alive and thriving, in the face of nationalism, populism, the catastrophe of Brexit\u2019, adding that it was \u2018the time for working together, not the time for tribalism\u2019. The Times<\/em> adds<\/a> Justice Secretary David Gauke has warned that a no-deal Brexit will \u2018play into the hands\u2019 of the Lib Dems, saying Swinson \u2018will be an energetic and passionate advocate\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Sun<\/em> claims<\/a> that Boris Johnson will immediately \u2018start to unveil a blitzkrieg of domestic plans\u2019 if he is elected as Tory leader today. He will announce a state-backed social care insurance scheme, new rules and funding to end regional imbalances in school funding and a \u2018Brexit dividend\u2019 for the regions. The Daily Telegraph<\/em> says<\/a> that Johnson will lift Hammond\u2019s controls on public spending, pausing deficit reduction to fund tax breaks for those earning under \u00a380,000.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a> to the Financial Times<\/em>, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock tried to block the publication of a new green paper promising to end smoking by 2030 and to ban the sale of energy drinks to children, but was over-ruled by Theresa May. He is a supporter of Boris Johnson, who has opposed so-called \u2018sin taxes\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em> reports<\/a> that International Development Secretary Rory Stewart has joined David Gauke and Philip Hammond in confirming that he will resign rather than serve under Boris Johnson, while Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan resigned to request an emergency debate to test whether Johnson could command a majority, but this was rejected by the Speaker. The Times<\/em> says<\/a> Johnson has met Stewart, Gauke and Hammond as part of a \u2018charm offensive\u2019, amid concerns they will be \u2018nightmare\u2019 backbenchers.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Mirror<\/em> leads<\/a> with the news that three former Prime Ministers \u2013 Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major \u2013 have criticised Boris Johnson over his no-deal Brexit plans, with Brown claiming that it would be the world\u2019s largest \u2018self-inflicted wound\u2019 and Major saying that Johnson would face \u2018uncompromising opposition\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em> says<\/a> that Labour is increasing its efforts to tackle antisemitism, with the shadow cabinet backing new plans from Jeremy Corbyn to speed up the expulsion of antisemites from the party. A new rule will see members who have committed the most serious offences referred to a new panel with the power to immediately expel them.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Mail<\/em> reports<\/a> that Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday accused Iran of \u2018state piracy\u2019 over its seizure of a British tanker, saying that the UK would \u2018seek to put together a European-led maritime protection mission to support safe passage of both crew and cargo in this vital region\u2019.<\/p>\n