Paul McNamara , Reporter

In the last hour, the EU’s top job of President of the European Commission has been given to Ursula von der Leyen.

At a meeting this afternoon trade union chiefs appear to have come to a common position on what Labour policy on Brexit should be.

So Boris Johnson could well be on track to become the next Prime Minister, if the latest poll is to be believed as Tory party members began receiving their ballot papers for the leadership race.

Speaking at a hustings in Darlington, he said the reports were simply “not true”.

Jeremy Hunt was forced to rein in an apparent pledge made yesterday to reverse the ban on fox hunting.

Are you running scared? That was the question from one Conservative activist to Boris Johnson today, demanding to know why he wouldn’t take part in a direct debate with his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt at today’s Conservative hustings in Exeter.

While the Labour Party appears intent on tearing itself apart over issues like anti-Semitism – the Tory Party is embroiled in its never-ending civil war over Brexit.

Boris Johnson has insisted that if he’s Prime Minister, Brexit will happen on the 31st of October – come what may, do or die.

The Guardian has published an account of a police callout to the home of the girlfriend of Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson, Carrie Symonds, in the early hours of this morning. 

Mark Field has been suspended as a Foreign Office minister, pending an investigation, after he grabbed a female climate change protester during a black-tie dinner.

His rivals have urged him to debate them. 

MI5 has been accused of “extraordinary and persistent illegality” for holding on to data obtained from members of the public.

Peter Willsman, who was suspended by the party today while it conducts an investigation, has not commented on today’s allegations.

Voters in Peterborough will choose a new MP next week – in a by-election which has been dominated by Brexit – and the meteoric rise of the Brexit Party. The campaign was triggered when voters effectively sacked MP Fiona Onasanya after she was jailed for lying about a speeding fine.

Labour has promised to “fully co-operate” with an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into allegations of anti-Semitism, saying it would help the party “build trust with the Jewish community”.