Steerpike

As tensions in Westminster continue to grow over Brexit, it's become commonplace for politicians to use language that would have been unheard of in the past. Yet, even in these febrile times, the Labour politician David Lammy managed to go a step further earlier this month when he compared the ERG faction of the Tories to the Nazi party, during a speech at a People's Vote rally. But if anyone was hoping that the MP had toned down his language since his last intervention, they would have been disappointed by his remarkable appearance on Andrew Marr this morning. When Marr showed the Labour politician a clip of his recent speech,  and asked if this was acceptable language to use, Lammy doubled down, saying: 'Andrew, I would say that wasn't strong enough.

Nigel Farage announced the launch of his new Brexit party today, in a metal finishing factory in Longford, Coventry. As you’d expect, Farage channeled the anger many Leave voters are feeling across the country in his speech. He predicted that the Brexit party would come first in the upcoming European Parliament elections and said he had already put down a £1,000 bet on this outcome. But it was his headline choice of candidate for these elections that caused surprise in the room. Saying that he had received over 1,000 applications from people hoping to become MEPs, he introduced one of the first to be selected: Annunziata Rees-Mogg, the journalist and sister of the Conservative MP for North East Somerset, Jacob.

In November last year, a row kicked off when the government asked the philosopher Roger Scruton to chair the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which will investigate the beauty of architecture in the UK. The 75-year-old philosopher was criticised by opposition MPs in the Commons for remarks he had made in the past about homosexuality, Islamophobia and alleged anti-Semitism. Now, fresh scrutiny has been applied to the government's decision once again, after Scruton gave an interview in the New Statesman in which he repeated some of his more controversial remarks. The government have since axed Scruton as an advisor. However, many are still questioning why Scruton was appointed to the position in the first place, given that many of his views have long been public.

Theresa May has suffered a record number of ministerial resignations since the day she walked into Number 10, but if she was hoping the worst was over, it appears that collective responsibility may still crumble away altogether. This morning it was Huw Merriman, the PPS of Philip Hammond, who threw down the gauntlet, when he dared the Prime Minister to sack him for speaking at a People's Vote rally. On Radio 4 this morning, the MP explained his frustration that he had been given a free vote on, and supported, a People's Vote in parliament during the indicative vote process, but if he spoke in support of the issue he would be breaking collective responsibility.

As Theresa May reaffirmed her commitment to strike a softer Brexit deal with Labour over the weekend, and Yvette Cooper's bill attempting to block no-deal Brexit passes through the Lords, leading Brexiteers stepped up their war against Theresa May. This afternoon ERG member Mark Francois, in a strongly worded letter to Graham Brady, called for 'indicative votes' of no confidence in the Prime Minister. Joining him was fellow Eurosceptic Andrew Bridgen, who on Politics Live said 'Theresa May needs to go and go now.' Less impressed with the proclamation though was Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein, who pointed out that after a failed bid to oust May in December, the ERG didn't have the ability to remove her or stop a no-deal Brexit.

Ever since Jeremy Corbyn first put himself forward to be Labour leader in 2015, the founder of Momentum, Jon Lansman, has been one of the most influential figures in Labour politics. Yet, as the far-left group has grown from a simple campaign to elect Corbyn, to a fearsome fundraising organisation at the heart of the Labour project, there has been a growing rift between the organisation's members and its founder. Now it may be that this relationship has finally reached its breaking point.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was on the Today programme this morning to discuss Theresa May's latest pitch to work with Jeremy Corbyn on a Brexit compromise. The ERG member was on familiar ground as he railed against this potential softer Brexit and the Remainer MPs who might make it possible, but sounded far less comfortable when, at the end of the interview, he was asked about his decision to retweet a clip made by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Asked by Mishal Husain whether this meant he supported other AfD positions, such as their anti-immigration and anti-Islam policies, Mogg sounded visibly annoyed, and went on the attack, saying: 'Well I think this is typical of the BBC's obsession, and dare I say it the Today programme obsession about this.

The results of the second set of indicative votes were announced this evening, and after showing once again that MPs had rejected every single alternative Brexit strategy, the Brexiteers in the Tory party were in a jubilant mood. None more so that ERG member Mark Francois, who spoke to Radio 4 shortly after the results were announced. In his interview Francois described the attempts by MPs to take control of the parliamentary timetable and force the government's hand as an attempted coup against the people, led by Philip Hammond, and ended his point by addressing the Chancellor directly, saying: 'And if you're listening Mr Hammond, my fraternal message to you is "up yours".' Tory party unity is going well then.

Tory MPs who have backed a softer Brexit or Remain have had an acrimonious relationship with their local Conservative associations as of late, with one MP already deciding to quit their local party following threats of deselection. Last night, it was the turn of the former attorney general and Remain supporter Dominic Grieve to face the ire of his local party. The Conservative members of Beaconsfield (Grieve's constituency) held a no-confidence vote in the MP, which he lost by 182 to 131 votes, beginning the process of deselection. As Grieve gave a speech ahead of the vote, he was continuously heckled by the audience, who booed at the mention of Oliver Letwin and Anna Soubry.

The Independent Group of pro-Remain MPs announced this morning that they would be officially forming a political party so they are ready to fight in potential upcoming European elections. The group also made the surprising decision, after only being formed for one month, to announce a new leader and adopt a new name: Change UK. Mr S isn't sure how much thought the group put into their new moniker though. As well as a slightly odd choice for a group whose only real policy is to Remain in the EU (rather than change anything), it also clashes with another political group which has been around for three years: Change Britain.

Last night, before the results of the indicative votes were announced, MPs voted on a Statutory Instrument which aimed to change the date of Brexit in domestic law. As you'd expect for a vote of such importance, a three-line-whip was placed on all Tory MPs to support the secondary legislation, and to prevent a 'clash' taking place between EU and UK law. Despite this, 93 Tory MPs voted against changing the date, and 67 defied the whip by abstaining, including 5 Cabinet ministers. Among these rebels was government minister for children and families, Nadhim Zahawi, who decided to abstain on this pivotal vote. This was a clear break with collective responsibility, but as of writing, there is no sign yet that Zahawi (or any of his other colleagues) will be resigning from the government.