Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed an offer from Owen Smith of becoming party president, in the event his rival wins the Labour leadership. 

In an interview with BBC Newsnight's Evan Davis, he said it was "a job that doesn't exist" which would require a "constitutional change" - and he compared the role to that of "director of football". 

Watch the full interview on BBC Newsnight on 21 July at 22:30 BST on BBC Two.

Just in case you were wondering what the PM and French President might be eating tonight...Bon appetit!

Hugh Schofield
BBC News, Paris

Image source, Getty Images

There was much at this news conference of the permanent relationship between the UK and France - of the alliance which both leaders said pre-dated the EU and would outlast Brexit.

The atrocity in Nice a week ago was a chance for Theresa May to extend her feelings to the families of those killed and injured, and for Francois Hollande to speak of strong co-operation on security and defence. 

That was the agreeable backdrop both leaders sought to conjure up in the full knowledge that the coming reality - the negotiation over Brexit - will not be easy. 

The prime minister seems to have won her way over the timing of article 50 - the French are not going to make a problem if it's put off until early next year. But President Hollande said that on the key issues of access to the single market and free movement of people, the UK had to understand: you don't get one without the other. 

During the press conference President Hollande said Britain must accept the free movement of people if it wanted to remain in the single market after leaving the EU.

Here's what some political editors thought of what the PM and president had to say...

The prime minister reiterated that the triggering of article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - starting the official two-year exit period from the EU - will not take place before next year.

Mrs May says she and the French leader are agreed that the Le Touquet agreement - by which Britain and France maintain border controls on each other's territory - will continue in operation.

As Britain leaves the EU it will have to determine how to maintain the closest possible economic relationship with France, Theresa May says in joint press conference with President Hollande.

Here's your Thursday round-up of the main political stories:

• Jeremy Corbyn has urged Labour MPs to "get behind the party" as he launched his campaign to be re-elected leader
• Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership rival, Owen Smith, accused him of "threatening to sack" MPs, following his comments about candidate selections
• French President Francois Hollande is expected to tell Theresa May he wants to start talks on the UK's exit from the EU as soon as possible, when they meet later
• Jeremy Corbyn ally Diane Abbott has accused Labour MPs of deliberately undermining the party leader by refusing to cheer him at Prime Minister's Questions
• And newly-released files show that Margaret Thatcher's senior aides used photos of a baby Prince William to try to distract attention from a 1983 anti-nuclear march - and the former PM considered suing BBC Radio 4's Today programme for libel

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has responded to comments by Jeremy Corbyn during his campaign launch earlier.

In an apparent swipe at rival Owen Smith over his previous job working for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, Mr Corbyn said pharmaceutical companies should not be "over-dominant" and medical research should not be "farmed out" to them.

"The pharmaceutical industry invests more than £88bn a year into research and development in order to bring new medicines and vaccines to patients to fight disease," the ABPI said in a statement.

"These new medicines include treatments for diabetes, cancer and cures for Hepatitis C, transforming the lives of patients and their families. In the UK this equates to £4.1bn per year of investment in R&D, with the MRC also contributing £770m and research charities £1.3bn.

The industry body said representatives would be "very happy to meet Mr Corbyn to discuss his concerns and tell him more about our work".

LBC

London Mayor Sadiq Khan would not be drawn on whether he backed Jeremy Corbyn or Owen Smith for Labour leader.

Asked if he would back Mr Corbyn at the next election, should he retain the leadership, Mr Khan said: "Of course I will back whoever is Labour leader. Divided parties do not win elections."

He added: "There should be a good clean leadership contest and we need to elect a leader who gives us the best chance of winning the general election.

"Our leader must put us in the best place to win a general election. I’m not going to get involved in a leadership commentary."

And commenting on Jeremy Corbyn's performance at Prime Minister's Questions, the mayor said:

Prime Minister Theresa May has arrived in Paris for talks about Britain's exit from the EU - with French President Francois Hollande saying "the shorter the better" when it comes to negotiations.

Mrs May met Mr Hollande at the Elysee Palace,  ahead of a working dinner. Downing Street said she would stress that France was "one of our oldest and most important partners, where the depth of our relationship - particularly on security and defence - is very important for both of us".

Mr Hollande, speaking after talks with Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, said "The sooner the negotiations are open the better, and the shorter the better."

But Mrs May has indicated that she was unlikely to start the two-year process of quitting the EU before the end of this year.

Image source, LBC

The Labour Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said "it's really disappointing" that Labour MP Angela Eagle has taken the decision not to meet her constituents.

Speaking to LBC radio this afternoon he said: "Angela [Eagle] has to act on the advice of police."

Asked if the threat to MPs is "the worst he's ever seen", he added:

Merseyside Police have issued a statement in which they stress that the decision to suspend constituency surgeries was made by Angela Eagle's office.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Kenwright said:

Tom Bateman
BBC political correspondent

Larry the Downing Street cat has been seen by a vet after suffering an injury to his paw, officials have revealed.

It comes after he was spotted yesterday limping into Number 10.

The prime minister's official spokesman said Larry was "expected to make a full recovery".

Asked who would pay the bill, the spokesman said he did not know as it had not yet been received.

Pressed on whether it would be paid from "the kitty", the spokesman said only: "Oh dear."

Asked whether this followed a fight with Palmerston the Foreign Office cat, the spokesman said he would have to refer the question to "higher authorities".

Larry did not require surgery.

BBC Monitoring

Image source, Getty Images

Read key quotes from high-profile European and other figures on Britain's vote to leave the EU, as compiled by BBC Monitoring between 14 and 21 July.

Liz Truss, the first female Lord Chancellor in the 800 years that the post has existed, has been sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Ms Truss, who is also the new Justice Secretary, has faced some questions about her lack of legal experience and suitability for the Lord Chancellor role - one of the most ancient offices of state.

Friends of the new Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary have blamed, external "thinly veiled misogyny" for the criticism.

Reuters reports that a spokesman for Angela Eagle's office has said: "We have received advice from Merseyside Police that the safety of Angela, her staff and constituents cannot be guaranteed."

The spokesman said the office in Wallasey, which was vandalised last week, was still open to members of the public and could also be contacted by phone or email.

On Tuesday, police said a 44-year-old man, who had been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill after an email was sent to Ms Eagle, had been released on bail pending further enquiries.