Summary

  • Cabinet discuss reaction to Tunisia attacks as the confirmed UK death toll rises to 22

  • Education Secretary Nicky Morgan announces plans for tougher exam targets for schools in England

  • Labour leadership contenders Liz Kendall and Andy Burnham set out plans on welfare-to-work schemes and the minimum wage

  • They and rivals Jeremy Corbyn and Yvette Cooper take part in trade union hustings

  1. Scotland Bill votepublished at 15:12

    A short time ago MPs divided to vote on amendment 128 to the Scotland Bill at committee stage.

    Amendment 128 sought to change the definition of disability benefit in the bill to make it "less restrictive", so as to not place "unnecessary limits on the kind of benefits the Scottish government has the power to introduce".

    This was clearly a vote the government wanted to win, as our chief political correspondent notes.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    And indeed the government did win. Amendment 128 was defeated by 312 votes to 252, a majority of 60.

    The united votes of Labour and the SNP were not enough to see this amendment make it on to the face of the bill.

    We can expect several more votes this afternoon on amendments relating to universal credit, further welfare powers, and employment support.

  2. Creasy makes her casepublished at 15:05

    Stella CreasyImage source, Other

    Stella Creasy is the final deputy leadership candidate to speak. She says she wants to "smash the myth that trade unions are a destructive force and restore the role of Labour as the champions of social justice". She says she knows many in the trade unions "are frustrated that this hasn't been a relationship of equals", with the unions portayed as "either a cashpoint for Labour or a source of conflict for Labour". She adds: "Neither does justice to our shared ambitions."

  3. Flint and Bradshawpublished at 14:55

    More from the Labour deputy leadership hopefuls.

    Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint says at the election, millions of people voted Tory "not because they are Tory by nature but because they did not trust that we could deliver what we promise". She says if the debate continues to be Tory austerity vs anti austerity "we will lose". "We've got to work together as a Labour family to balance the books," he adds.

    Ben Bradshaw says he's the only candidate with a record of winning in a previously safe Conservative seat - "the sort of seat we're going to have to win in droves" if we are to win in 2020. He says he's a member of trade unions "but because I'm not seen as a trade union politician I think I'm well-placed to make the argument for the trade union link."

  4. Would-be deputies make their pitchpublished at 14:50

    Labour deputy leadership candidatesImage source, Other

    Labour's deputy leadership candidates are now on stage at the trade union hustings in London.

    Angela Eagle goes first. She says the Conservatives view unions as "the enemy", and David Cameron "wants to silence your voice". She goes on: "I love the Labour Party. I see the Labour Party and the trade union movement as two sides of the same coin I believe we belong together and we have to overcome these challenges together if we are to succeed in these challenges of building a better Britain."

    Next up is Tom Watson, who paints an apocalyptic picture of life under the Conservatives. "Organised labour is under systematic attack..." he says. "No justice, no voice, no rights. That's Cameron's vision of a workers' Britain." He goes on: "Labour must say no."

  5. 'Create your own welfare system'published at 14:40

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ian Murray

    Scotland would be able to mitigate Conservative welfare cuts under Labour and SNP plans to give Holyrood the power to create new benefits and top up existing payments, the shadow Scottish secretary has said.

    Moving a series of amendments to the Scotland Bill, Ian Murray said Labour's plans, some of which are backed by the SNP, would “effectively give the Scottish Parliament the power to design its own welfare system”.

    He said:

    Quote Message

    However unlike others we are determined to ensure the welfare state remains an integrated UK-wide system of social security to allow for the continued pooling and sharing of risks and pooling and sharing of resources."

  6. Rail decision 'disappointing'published at 14.25

    Railway line

    Business Secretary Sajid Javid has said he's "disappointed" with the government's decision to halt electrification work on the Midland Mainline and the TransPennine route between Leeds and Manchester.

    Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin gave the news to the Commons last week.

    Speaking at business questions, Mr Javid said: "I was disappointed with that recent news because it's important we continue to invest in infrastructure, not least to increase productivity and therefore jobs growth.

    "I haven't had a discussion with [Mr McLoughlin] at this point but I'm looking forward to doing so."

  7. 'Some consolations'published at 14.15

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Ed Miliband

    Former Labour leader Ed Miliband says one of the consolations of losing the general election is that his children "know who I am now".

    Mr Miliband resigned immediately following the result, saying his party must "rebuild" with a new leader.

    "There are some consolations," he told BBC Radio 5Live Daily. "I get to spend some time with my children - they know who I am now. They recognise me in the mornings. There are some upsides in what obviously is a very disappointing situation."

    He added later: "I came back to Parliament a couple of weeks after the election and spoke about issues I care about like inequality, which is an issue I will continue to talk about."

  8. Freedom of Information changes?published at 14.12

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    The Prince of WalesImage source, PA

    Former attorney general Dominic Grieve has said ministers won't be able to"duck" the question of whether Freedom of Information laws need to be tightened up following the court ruling earlier this year which cleared the way for the Prince of Wales' private letters to ministers to be published. He tells The World at One this ruling effectively "got rid" of the ministerial veto which previously allowed the government to block the disclosure of information in exceptional circumstances. Mr Grieve says this was not intended by Parliament when it passed the legislation introducing FOI more than a decade ago. FOI campaigner Maurice Frankel says he believes ministers want to make it easier for the government to overrule the courts and for public authorities to refuse FOI requests on cost grounds. He adds: 

    Quote Message

    It might be convenient for the government but the public will notice their rights have been undermined in a significant way."

  9. Cabinet briefingpublished at 13:45

    At the weekly Cabinet meeting earlier, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin outlined the process behind the Airports Commission. The report is out tomorrow and there will be a ministerial statement in the Commons. 

    At Cabinet the prime minister also talked about the European Council and the foreign secretary talked about Iran.

    Asked if there had been any discussion on military options to tackle Islamic State at source, the prime minister's official spokesman said there was a general discussion on a "fully fledged" response but no discussion either ruling in or out further military action.

    The spokeswoman said while military action wasn't ruled out "forever" the prime minister made it clear he would go back to the Commons if it was to be stepped up. Asked if we were doing anything more militarily, No10 said the UK has "beefed up" training of local troops.

  10. Tory mayoral racepublished at 13:25

    Writing in ConservativeHome, external , Paul Goodman says he understands the Conservative candidate for London mayor will be decided in September. He believes the contest will be an open primary, in which anyone can register to take part, rather than being restricted to Conservative Party members. The public, he believes, will be asked to choose from a "shortlist" of candidates selected by the party rather than all of those who have so far put their names forward. He suggests that this is all "good news" for the frontrunner, Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith. 

  11. Original northern powerhouse?published at 13:10

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dennis Skinner

    Dennis Skinner has claimed he and Gordon Brown "were the northern powerhouse" during Labour's time in office. The MP for Bolsover told the Commons during business questions: 

    Quote Message

    I asked him for £40m to flatten the pit tips at Markham Vale, and he gave it me. I asked for some more money for an interchange straight off the M1 into Markham pit yard and I got that as well. We were actually fixing the roof while the sun was shining - we don't want none of this claptrap about Tory northern powerhouse."

  12. Call for strike actionpublished at 13:00

    Yvette CooperImage source, Other

    Yvette Cooper proposes "a candidate strike" when questioner Kevin Maguire tries to begin a series of quickfire questions - how much is a pint of milk, that sort of thing. She says "we're all going to get these things wrong".

    However, it's put to the audience and the cheer-ometer says he has to ask them anyway.

    Only Andy Burnham gets his question - what's the weekly rate of child benefit - bang on. It's £20.70 by the way. Liz Kendall gets pretty close on what level the higher rate of tax kicks in.

  13. More from the Labour hustingspublished at 12:58

    Will you reverse cuts to the arts, the candidates are asked.

    "No," says Yvette Cooper, "I'm not going to promise to reverse any cuts... I do, think, however, the government is wrong to have this rollercoaster cuts plans."

    "No, you can't promise no cuts for the arts at a time when we're cutting social care, when we're taking support off kids with complex needs... you can try to minimise them," Andy Burnham says. He says he would boost the status of art in schools though.

  14. More on Tunisia aftermathpublished at 12:55

    More from Downing Street. All British nationals injured in the Tunisia attack are now back in the UK - repatriation of the bodies of those killed will begin on Wednesday. Many of those bodies will be carried on RAF planes and will land at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

    All government and royal buildings will fly their flags at half mast on Friday to remember the victims of the Tunisia attack. 

  15. Tunisia death tollpublished at 12:50
    Breaking

    A total of 21 Britons have been identified as victims of the Tunisian beach massacre and a further nine are believed to be among the dead, Downing Street says.

  16. Hairdresser not requiredpublished at 12:45

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chuka Umunna and Sajid JavidImage source, PA

    In between serious questions, Business Secretary Sajid Javid pokes fun at himself and his opposite number Chuka Umunna over their shaved heads.

    After Conservative Alan Mak hailed the success of Headromance, a salon in his constituency, Mr Javid joked: "I'm not sure I would have much need for the services of Headromance and I'm sure that applies to the shadow business secretary too.

    "But that doesn't stop me from warmly congratulating them on their success and particularly for backing apprentices."

  17. What went wrong?published at 12:35

    The Labour candidates conduct a post-mortem on Ed Miliband's election campaign.

    Jeremy Corbyn says Mr Miliband was doing "a great job" arguing about zero hours contracts, low page, inequality. "The problem was that we weren't challenging the fundamental message that somehow or other we have to continue shrinking the state for an arbitrary date to move into budgetary surplus."

    "I think Ed was outrageously treated, says Yvette Cooper. "He dealt with that with real dignity." She continues: "There were a lot of really great things in our manifesto," but Labour talked much more about cracking down on zero hours contracts and less about creating good jobs.

  18. Business questionspublished at 12:30

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sajid Javid

    Over in the Commons, Business Secretary Sajid Javid and his ministerial team are taking questions from MPs.

    It began with the new Conservative MP for Havant Alan Mak's question on what is being done to to support small and medium-sized businesses to become more competitive.

    The business secretary promised "extensive cuts to red tape" in this parliament.

    Later, SNP business spokesperson Michelle Thomson urged the UK government to follow the Scottish government's "four i's" of innovation, internationalisation, investment, and inclusion to create jobs.

    Mr Javid told the SNP to help businesses in Scotland by removing regulation.

  19. Future of carepublished at 12:22

    Care for elderly and vulnerable people is "the big issue of our time," says Andy Burnham in a response to a question from a GMB branch secretary. He says we've currently got "a malnourished, minimum wage, zero hours care service" - and instead we need a new National Health and Care Service. He says he''s been trying to get Labour to back the plan for years and if he's leader, it will become policy.

    Liz Kendall says the care system is "a moral scandal" and "economically illiterate" because it costs the country more in unnecessary hospital stays. She promises to improve pay for care workers - "This is why we're in the Labour Party," she adds.

  20. Minimum wage debatepublished at 12:13

    Labour hustings...

    Labour hustingsImage source, Other

    The Labour candidates are now facing questions from the floor. First up is Kyle Williamson, from the TSSA union, who asks about the minimum wage.

     Yvette Cooper says the amount must rise, and the low pay commission should urgently review the youth rate and apprentice rate too. "Frankly it's an outrage that anybody is still living on poverty pay in Britain," she adds. 

    Andy Burnham says he "can't support a separate minimum wage for young people - an hour's work deserves an hour's pay whatever age you are". He also wants more tax breaks for firms to offer the living wage.

    Liz Kendall says the low pay commission's remit should be changed so it can work out how to move sector by sector, towards a living wage - "The living wage has got to be our goal for all."

    Jeremy Corbyn says the living wage "should become the minimum" and £10 is "the right level to go to". He also says low pay costs the country a lot of money because those people receive tax credits to top up their salaries.