Summary

  • David Cameron and Nicola Sturgeon discuss new powers for Scotland

  • There will be a devolution bill in the Queen's Speech later this month

  • Nigel Farage warns 'one person' in UKIP to decide whether they want to stay in the party

  • Shadow business secretary, Chuka Umunna, withdraws from Labour leadership contest after just three days

  1. Has he got another big job in sight?published at 13:09 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    New Statesman

  2. Sturgeon: PM 'willing to look at proposals'published at 12:55

    David Cameron in talks with Nicola SturgeonImage source, Getty

    Nicola Sturgeon says David Cameron has agreed to consider proposals for devolving extra powers to the Scottish Parliament, beyond those already agreed. 

    She described their talks in Edinburgh as very constructive, and said they'd decided to meet more regularly.

    Ms Sturgeon said the Prime Minister had agreed to fully implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission and consider the SNP's ideas for additional devolution over areas including employment law and benefits. 

    Quote Message

    I think it's fair to say he does not share my view obviously on the powers the Scottish Parliament should have. But I think what was significant today, and very welcome, is that there is a willingness to look at the proposals we now make. Now that's not me saying that - the Prime Minister has agreed to implement those proposals but you know there's a process now that I want us to get into - in parallel to moving forward with full implementation of the Smith proposals.

  3. Collins: Umunna's withdrawal should give us all pause for thoughtpublished at 12:45

    The Daily Politics

    Phillips Collins

    “If a perfectly viable and good candidate has withdrawn [from the leadership contest] because he doesn't want to take part in our politics, well we really do need to think about that,” says Times columnist and former Labour speechwriter Phillips Collins of Chuka Umunna’s withdrawal today.

    He says it is possible that Mr Umunna has genuinely had a rethink about whether he wants to put his mother, girlfriend and the rest of his family through the maelstrom of media attention that comes with being leader of the Labour party.

  4. Bradshaw: I hope Umunna will continue to play a senior rolepublished at 12:27

    The Daily Politics

    It doesn’t sound like Mr Umunna can be persuaded to change his mind about his candidacy for the leadership, Mr Bradshaw says. He would have tried to persuade him given the chance but he has been told the decision is final.

    He adds:

    Quote Message

    I don’t think you can go back on a decision like this but I hope he will still play a very senior role in the future Labour party and help us get back into government.

  5. Bradshaw: Tragic that Umunna has withdrawnpublished at 12:26

    The Daily Politics

    Ben Bradshaw

    Former Labour cabinet minister Ben Bradshaw tells the Daily Politics Chuka Umunna was one of the people he was considering backing in the Labour leadership contest. 

    He says it is "tragic" that Mr Umunna has withdrawn, that Mr Umunna was the man "the Tories feared the most", and that he would have made "a great potential leader and great potential prime minister".

    If he has withdrawn because of “pressure on family or an extended group of friends I think that is a very sad reflection on our political culture,” he adds.

  6. Rawnsley reviews the 'Godfather' weekpublished at 12:14

    As the general election appeared to wipe the Miliband era from the Labour Party, the Observer's Andrew Rawnsley looks at the search for a new leader for the left.

    In a film for BBC1's This Week, he took inspiration from The Godfather, as he reviews the political headlines of the Westminster week since election night, with a look at how the SNP, Lib Dem, Conservative and UKIP families are getting on (or not)

    Watch his film

    Godfather graphic for This Week film
  7. Coming up on the Daily Politicspublished at 12:04

    The Daily Politics

    Jo Coburn gets reaction to Chuka Umunna’s decision to quit the Labour leadership race from MP Ben Bradshaw and former Tony Blair speechwriter Phil Collins, while Labour backbencher John Trickett will say why he is not standing.

    And she will hear more about David Cameron in Edinburgh meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. There will be a film about legalising gay marriages in Ireland, ahead of a referendum.

    After 12:30, the emphasis turns to European issues with two MEP guests: UKIP's Jonathan Arnott and Green Jean Lambert.

    Jean Lambert MEP
  8. Celebrating in No 10?published at 12:04 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    That's what the Sun's political editor reckons the Tories will be doing right now.

  9. Umunna: 'Huge talent'published at 11:57 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    Fellow Labour MPs have been posting their thoughts on Mr Umunna's withdrawal:

    Some leadership suggestions from SNP MP Pete Wishart and Conservative MP Henry Smith:

  10. Tabloid pressure too muchpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    This is what the New Statesman's political editor says he's been told about Mr Umanna's withdrawal from the Labour leadership contest.

  11. Umunna withdrawal: 'Girlfriend's grandma doorstepped'published at 11:37 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    Channel 4 political correspondent Michael Crick says the doorstepping went beyond just his girlfriend and his mum.

  12. Did Chuka go because of a Sunday splash?published at 11:36 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    According to this tweet from Times reporter, John Simpson, that's the case. We'll know for definite in less than 48 hours.

  13. Hodges: 'Gobsmacked' by Umunna withdrawalpublished at 11:29

    BBC News Channel

    Dan Hodges, a columnist for the Daily Telegraph, tells the BBC he is “gobsmacked” that Chuka Umunna has withdrawn from the Labour leadership contest. He says the Shadow Business Secretary was favourite with bookmakers to be the next Labour leader. “It has come as a shock to me and I think it has come as a shock to everybody in Westminster,” he adds.

    Mr Hodges says he is amazed by the events that have taken place this morning. He says he can’t remember a leadership contest where the front runner has announced and then withdrawn in such a short space of time.

    He says Mr Umanna has been a high profile member of the shadow cabinet for quite some time but we have to accept and take at face value his rationale for withdrawing from the race.

    It seems unlikely Mr Umunna would be unaware of the pressures that come with leadership, Mr Hodges says, but perhaps it is one thing to consider such things in the abstract and another to consider them and experience them in reality.

    The withdrawal of Mr Umunna and Dan Jarvis ruling himself out  - considered two of the front runners in the race to be next Labour leader – could also mean that whoever wins is always seen as a secondary choice. 

    He says however this is the most open leadership contest he has ever seen. No-one really has emerged yet as favourite.

  14. Scotland meeting 'constructive and helpful'published at 11:26

    The Cameron-Sturgeon meeting was constructive and helpful, the Scottish government says. 

    Both sides concluded that the Smith Commission proposals would be implemented "as agreed", a spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon says. 

    The Scottish government says David Cameron was open to considering proposals which would go further than the Smith Commission plan to devolve extra powers to Scotland. 

    The two leaders have agreed to meet more regularly, possibly quarterly, says BBC's Scotland correspondent James Cook.

  15. Umunna withdrawal 'a complete shock'published at 11:23

    BBC News Channel

    Our political correspondent Eleanor Garnier says Mr Umunna's withdrawal from Labour's leadership contest came as a "complete shock". 

    Her sources tell her there's no scandal about to be revealed. It was the "sheer pressure" put on him and his family since he declared he would stand. 

    She says he had journalists camping outside his home and his mother was pursued on her way home from work.

  16. Minor parties 'are bonkers'published at 11:17

    The trouble with minor parties like UKIP and the Greens is that when you strip away their reasonable policies (which the major parties would also agree with) they are dangerous or at best, bonkers.

    Duncan Gardiner, Politics live reader

  17. Umunna says it is not the right timepublished at 11:09

    Nick Robinson
    Political editor

    I understand that Chuka Umunna has told friends that "this is not right for me or people close to me. I'm human, the rest of my life is more important to me than politics". 

    The shadow business secretary has been distressed by the degree of scrutiny he, his family and his girlfriend have come under since he declared his intention to stand for the Labour leadership.

    I am told that this includes reporters waiting outside the houses of relatives late at night .

    Friends of Mr Umunna deny that he is nervous of not getting the support of enough MPs to run for the leadership, they point out that he already has half the necessary names and that there are some weeks to go.

    The shadow business secretary now wants to play a leading role in arguing that Britain should stay in the EU and does not rule out seeking the leadership in the future.

  18. PM will 'remain true to the Scotland promise'published at 10:55 British Summer Time 15 May 2015

    A few words here from the PM on his visit to Edinburgh:

  19. Umunna: Pressure was uncomfortable experiencepublished at 10:50

    In a statement, Mr Umunna says since the election he has been "subject to the added level of pressure that comes with being a leadership candidate" and it has not been "a comfortable experience".

    He adds: "Nothing compares to actually doing it and the impact on the rest of one's life. Consequently after further reflection I am withdrawing my candidacy." 

    He goes on to apologise to all those who supported and encouraged him to stand and for disappointing them. 

    Quote Message

    I know this will come as I surprise to many but I had always wondered whether it was all too soon for me to launch this leadership bid - I fear it was.