Summary

  • David Cameron faced his weekly Prime Minister's Questions from 12:00

  • A long-awaited review into Britain's airport capacity recommends a new runway for Heathrow

  • Downing Street said there would be no "snap judgement" on the findings

  • Boris Johnson says it would have "catastrophic" impacts and predicts "it's not going to happen"

  • MPs debate a ministerial statement on the Airports Commission review

  • Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith announces a new way of measuring child poverty

  1. Greening: Constituents will be disappointedpublished at 17:00

    Justine Greening

    International Development Secretary Justine Greening, Putney MP, has said her constituents will be "extremely disappointed" by the findings of the airports review, which has recommended a third runway at Heathrow.

    Ms Greening said "noise, pollution, traffic gridlock, high cost and – crucially – opposition from millions of residents under the flight path" were already "major concerns" at Heathrow, adding: "I will continue to ensure my local community has its say, as I have done for many years."

    Ms Greening said David Cameron was right to say the report should be considered fully before any decision is made by the government.   

  2. More airports report reactionpublished at 16:55

    The findings of the Airports Commission have been welcomed by the global head of aviation at KPMG, James Stamp.

    Quote Message

    The rigorous report has made a clear recommendation in favour of Heathrow, but equally, it has not ruled out expansion at Gatwick in the future. We expect both airports to play a very important role."

    He said a decision needs to be reached quickly, warning that "further delay would significantly damage" the UK economy.  

  3. 'A wily old owl'published at 16:46 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

    Former Labour MP...

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  4. Government 'turning its back' on childrenpublished at 16:43

    The Child Poverty Action Group has accused the government of "turning its back" on poor children after ministers said they intended to revamp child poverty targets, to focus on a broader set of non-financial indicators. Its chief executive Alison Garnham said: 

    Quote Message

    Today’s statement isn’t about strengthening efforts to end child poverty but about burying the failure of the government’s child poverty approach. And with more cuts coming down the line, child poverty is set to rise. Two thirds of poor children are in working families – it’s unclear whether these children will be counted as poor in the future. The Child Poverty Act secured the support of many in the voluntary sector and all the main political parties because it made clear that any effective child poverty strategy has to take a broad approach – it needs to look at jobs and skills, health and education, home and communities as well as direct financial support to families. A child poverty strategy which excludes income isn’t a child poverty strategy."

  5. Parliamentary dress codepublished at 16.30

    MPs and journalists have been allowed to cast off their jackets with temperatures soaring on the hottest day of the year. But what is the actual dress code for members? Here's a guide.

  6. Chilling outpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

    Conservative MP tweets

  7. Testing new freedomspublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

    PA parliamentary editor tweets...

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  8. UK-French co-operationpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

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  9. RAF brings first UK dead homepublished at 16:01

    Plane landing at Brize NortonImage source, PA

    The bodies of some of the British tourists killed by a gunman in Tunisia have arrived back in the UK.

    Eight coffins were flown by an RAF C17 from Tunis to RAF Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire.

    Thirty of the 38 victims are thought to have been British and the repatriation of the bodies is expected to take several days, with a joint inquest to follow.

    The latest UK victims to be named are Christopher and Sharon Bell from Leeds.

    More here.

  10. Welcome newspublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

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  11. Map of proposed Heathrow expansionpublished at 15:58

    Proposed Heathrow expansion map
    Image caption,

    This is what the new site would look like, if a third runway is given the go ahead by the government

  12. 'Outcome-focused criteria'published at 15:55

    Jo JohnsonImage source, Reuters

    Mr Johnson said the new system would "include a clear set of outcome-focused criteria and metrics" and that institutions would be externally assessed by an existing regulator.

    He also said traditional university degree classes should be accompanied by US-style Grade Point Averages on a 13-point scale to give employers more information about candidates and to prevent grade inflation.

  13. Drive to boost standardspublished at 15:50

    Universities will be judged on the quality of their teaching and not just their research, Universities Minister Jo Johnson has said in a speech to Universities UK. Mr Johnson said there must be "recognition of excellent teaching" and "clear incentives" to make 'good' teaching even better.

    Quote Message

    Some rebalancing of the pull between teaching and research is undoubtedly required. It is striking that while we have a set of measures to reward high quality research, backed by substantial funding, there is nothing equivalent to drive up standards."

    A Green Paper will be published in the Autumn which will set out a new Teaching Excellence Framework. 

  14. 'Hiding lack of progress'published at 15:40

    Stephen TimmsImage source, Labour Party
    Quote Message

    David Cameron's government is trying to make child poverty go away by pretending that if you don't measure it, it doesn't exist. The Tory manifesto promised to ‘eliminate child poverty'. But now Tory ministers are trying to change the definition of child poverty to hide the government’s lack of progress."

    Stephen Timms, Acting shadow work and pensions secretary

  15. 'Putin's arms'published at 15:36 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

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  16. Preparing for a climbdown?published at 15:36 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

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  17. Recall law 'in force in September'published at 15:21

    A system to sack MPs between elections will not come into force before Parliament breaks up for the summer recess. Cabinet Minister Oliver Letwin told the Commons earlier today that work on the remaining aspects of the Recall Of MPs Act was being done "at pace". But he said the rules governing the law's petition system would not be put in place until September.

  18. US presidential hopefulspublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 1 July 2015

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  19. Job-sharing MPs?published at 15:15

    The Green Party has launched a campaign to crowdsouce £30,000 for a legal challenge to allow MPs to job-share. The party says it would make Parliament more diverse, and open the door to more female and disabled MPs.

    The move comes after Green members Clare Phipps, a carer for two young children, and Sarah Cope, who suffers from a disability, were not allowed to stand on a joint-ticket in Basingtoske, at the 2015 general election.

    Quote Message

    At a time when people are disenchanted with 'business as usual' politics, it is an idea that could re-engage people. If voters have the chance to vote for people who are more like them, and who can relate to issues within their lives such as living with disabilities, or coping with caring responsibilities, they may be more likely to engage with the democratic process."

    Sarah Cope, Chair of Green Party Women

  20. Jackets offpublished at 15:12

    Mark Pritchard

    As mentioned just now, this is shaping up to be one of the hottest days in the UK for at least a decade. Conservative Mark Pritchard announced that, given the temperature, MPs were allowed to take their jackets off in Westminster Hall during their debate on productivity in the NHS (jackets are still required in the main Commons chamber)