Boris Johnson: EU gives fresh Brexit ultimatum as Supreme Court told 'mother of parliaments shut down by father of lies'

Boris Johnson has been confronted by an angry parent during a NHS hospital visit.

The man, whose child was being treated at Whipps Cross University Hospital in north-east London, claimed there had been “years and years and years of the NHS being destroyed”.

The parent said the situation was “not acceptable” and told Johnson: “There are not enough people on this ward, there are not enough doctors, there's not enough nurses, it's not well organised enough.

“The NHS has been destroyed ... and now you come here for a press opportunity.”

Johnson said “there’s no press here” but the parent gestured to cameras filming the confrontation and said: “What do you mean there's no press here, who are these people?”

Boris Johnson with angry parent at hospital (PA) 

Happier times for Boris Johnson, now his confrontation with an angry father at Whipps Cross University Hospital is over.

But he appears to be struggling to make his tea / coffee.

PM meets members of staff at Leytonstone hospital (PA) 

In the Supreme Court, there's an interesting back and forth between Lady Black and Sir James Eadie.

Sir James, representing the government, is arguing that the issue of proroguing parliament is not a matter for the courts but a matter for parliament, because parliament has the power to respond to it itself. It could pass a law blocking the prorogation or could respond after the suspension ends, he says.

Supreme Court justice Lady Black asks how it would help for parliament to act after the suspension is lifted.

Sir James suggests that it could pass a vote of no confidence in the government or pass any legislation it sees fit. In this specific case, he says, there is plenty of time before the Brexit deadline for parliament to impose its will - even if it is on 31 October, the day that Britain is due to leave the EU. 

Lady Black does not seem especially convinced by this argument...

No 10 is worried about how things are going in the Supreme Court, according to Laura Kuenssberg.

The BBC’s political editor goes on to say in her Twitter thread that No 10 suspects the judges will “fire warning shots” over the legitimacy of the courts to rule on such matters, but “does not, at the moment, think court will unravel their plan for Queen’s Speech on Oct 14th.”

Here’s the moment a parent confronted Boris Johnson in a hospital corridor to tell him the NHS was “being destroyed”:

Jeremy Corbyn has repeatedly declined to clarify whether he would back Remain or Leave in a Brexit referendum he would call as prime minister.

He has been warned he cannot stay neutral. All the details here.

First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said Welsh Labour "must and will campaign to remain in the EU" in any future referendum.

In a message to Welsh Labour members "given the dramatic and worrying events in Westminster recently", Mr Drakeford said: "Any type of Brexit - even the softest possible - will cause potentially irreparable damage to Wales and its economy.

This is because Wales is heavily dependent on manufacturing and agri-food, and 60% of our exports go straight to the EU.

"We will support all the efforts our colleagues in Westminster are taking to prevent the no-deal Brexit, which the Prime Minister and the Tory government is hell-bent on pursuing.

"Labour has made an unequivocal commitment to put the Brexit decision back to the people.

"In that referendum, we, as Welsh Labour, must and will campaign to remain in the EU. "

Another big story today - Liz Truss has got into hot water by suggesting Australian citizens could get freedom of movement rights denied to EU nationals after Brexit.

Speaking during a visit to Canberra, the international trade secretary said that the relaxation of visa requirements for Australian nationals wanting to live and work in the UK would “certainly” be looked at as part of negotiations on a new trade deal.

Read more here:

Labour former minister Alan Johnson, who led the Labour In campaign during the referendum, warned Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit approach could see the party "steamrollered" in a general election.

Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the Labour leader's approach could be approved at party conference because it's "a pragmatic way to try to avoid the extremes".

He added: "My fear is if you go into the next election without Europe being sorted it's going to be the most toxic, horrible, nasty and unpredictable election that probably we've ever had in this country.

"And the people in the middle that are trying to suggest 'let's try and get a deal here somewhere' are going to get mowed down.

"There's an awful lot wrong with it.

"My main fear is Labour will be steamrollered by the two extremes if they've got this neither one thing or the other thing in the middle."

Labour's ruling body has backed a call to replace its student organisation Labour Students to be effectively abolished.

The party's national executive committee (NEC) supported a motion Momentum founder, Jon Lansman, and was approved just days before the start of the annual Labour conference.

A Labour source said: "The NEC has asked staff to draw up proposals for a reformed student organisation that complies with the rules and represents the tens of thousands of students in our party."

Labour Students denied claims the organisation had not paid its affiliation fees on time.

A statement issued before the NEC vote said: "This motion is being brought forward as we approach a general election, with no alternative proposals for how the Labour Party organises and engages with students."

"The end of Labour Students is actually a sign that Corbynism is waning," writes Emma Burnell for The Independent.

Read her take here: