Summary

  • David Cameron chairs a meeting on Greece, after the country voted to reject the terms of an international bailout

  • Mr Osborne pledges that the government will do "whatever is necessary" to protect the UK's economy against the fallout

  • It is two days until Mr Osborne unveils his first Budget since the general election

  • Culture Secretary John Whittingdale confirms the BBC is to take on the cost of free TV licences for over-75s

  1. Threat to the EU single market?published at 17.13

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Andrew Gwynne asks what the chancellor is doing to make sure the EU's single market is not undermined by events in Greece. George Osborne tells him the key is making sure the Eurozone finds "a communal way forward" to make sure political tensions do not "spill out" and affect the economy.

  2. Finance fashionpublished at 17.11

    On the outgoing Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis - who resigned last night, Mr Osborne says: "I doubt the next finance minister will have quite the dress sense of the one Greece has just lost."

    Yannis VaroufakisImage source, Reuters
    Greek finance ministerImage source, AFP
    Greek finance ministerImage source, EPA
    greek finance ministerImage source, EPA
  3. Bad debtpublished at 17.06

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    UK banks have reduced their exposure to bad debt compared to a few years ago because of the financial crisis, George Osborne tells MPs. But he says the UK is still vulnerable because it is an open economy, and a crisis in Europe "would not pass Britain by".

  4. Risks to the UKpublished at 17.01

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    George Osborne says the worst scenario for the UK coming out of the Greek debt crisis is that we have a "completely disorderly" situation over the next few weeks. He says it's a challenge for the UK as an "open economy".

  5. 'Travel prepared'published at 17.00

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The chancellor is asked whether there are any tour operators unduly exposed to the situation in Greece, and at risk of failing. Mr Osborne says most British tour operators have very big operations in Greece - but adds that most are happy with the support they are receiving, and are going ahead with all future bookings - which is also helping bringing money into the Greek economy, he adds. He says the advice for tourists is not "don't travel to Greece" - it's "travel prepared".

  6. EU 'vulture funds'published at 16.57

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Christopher Chope

    Greek people should not feel "ashamed" to get out of the "straitjacket" of the Eurozone and its "vulture funds", says Conservative Eurosceptic MP Christopher Chope. Mr Osborne says he agrees that Britain is "well out" of the Eurozone and "happy to stay that way",

  7. Advice to British pensioners in Greecepublished at 16.54

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    George Osborne says the situation of British nationals in Greece who get a British pension but who have a Greek bank account is a challenge. He says the government is continuing pension payments because "we don't know if stopping them might disrupt rent payments" and other bills

    So far, Mr Osborne goes on to say, the Greek government has not put restrictions on pensioners bank accounts. The UK government has contacted several thousand Britons in Greece, and advice is under daily review, he adds.

  8. Tax revenuespublished at 16.50

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Helen Goodman asks whether any assistance has been given to Greece along the lines of that given to eastern European countries, in finding ways to increase tax revenue. Mr Osborne says there is "a tradition of non-payment" in Greece. He says British civil servants have gone to Greece to try and improve revenue collection - but that it has all but dried up at the moment.

  9. Pic: Inside the Commonspublished at 16.47

    House of Commons
    Image caption,

    MPs are bobbing up and down trying to "catch the Speaker's eye" to get a chance to question the chancellor

  10. Different approachespublished at 16.46

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards says history suggests that "crippling austerity" isn't the only way forward for Greece. The chancellor agrees with him that there are different approaches, and says the UK government is urging the two sides to find a common view.

  11. 'Prevent contagion'published at 16.45

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Andrew Tyrie

    Andrew Tyrie, Conservative chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, earlier told MPs that Greece couldn't recover under the current euro exchange rates and almost certainly wouldn't be able re-pay all its debts He said "the best course now for Greece and the Eurozone would be to encourage Greece to recreate it's own currency and for the Eurozone to take all the necessary steps to prevent contagion."

    To chuckles from around the House, Mr Osborne tells him: "When people try to tell us what currency we should adopt we don't take too kindly to it. I think we should respect the decision of the Greek government."

  12. 'Constant humiliation'published at 16.43

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David Winnick, Labour MP, says the reason Greece voted no was because of the "constant humiliation that the country has suffered" at the hands of other EU nations. He says Greece has a history of standing up to oppression - including Mussolini and the Nazis.

    Mr Osborne responds: "If you join the Eurozone, you are joining an agreement with other nations and other institutions. That is why the UK did not want to join the EU."

  13. Tory cheerspublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 6 July 2015

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  14. 'Remarkable'published at 16.40

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Labour leader hopeful Jeremy Corbyn asks whether the chancellor agrees there is something "remarkable" about the young people of Greece rejecting austerity and asking their government to renegotiate the terms of the bailout, despite the levels of youth unemployment  there. He argues that further austerity will only create "misery" for people in Greece.

  15. 'No option' for Greecepublished at 16.38

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Former Conservative Chancellor Ken Clarke says the Greek government cannot simply "print a new Drachma", and there is no option for them but to accept the proposals from the EU.

    Mr Osborne, in response, says it is clear that there needs to be major structural reform of the Greek economy, but equally other governments in the EU need to be open to options.

  16. Change of tone?published at 16:34 British Summer Time 6 July 2015

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  17. 'Sensible reaction'published at 16.32

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The chancellor says he believes markets have not reacted much in response to the Greek referendum result because ministers in various EU countries have been "sensible" in their reaction.

    Mr Osborne says there is a helpline for business, and help should be available in individual constituencies as well. The governor of the Bank of England remains in contact with the head of the European Central Bank, he adds.

  18. Mandelson: Labour has gone to sleeppublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 6 July 2015

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  19. 'Stay calm'published at 16.30

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stewart Hosie

    SNP Treasury spokesman Steward Hosie questions whether, given Greece voted No in the referendum, the chancellor will try to persuade his colleagues in the EU to respect the outcome, "stay calm", but find an outcome in everyone's interests? He also asks what plans there are to protect British businesses that export to Greece,

  20. How Greek vote will affect EU debate in UKpublished at 16.24

    James Landale
    Deputy political editor

    Cash point queues in GreeceImage source, EPA

    The economic risks to Britain of the Greek No vote are clear to see. But what of the political impact?

    In the short term, the No vote will shape the context of this week's Budget. George Osborne will once again seize on the example of Greece to press home his argument for continued deficit reduction.

    The chancellor will argue that it shows not only what happens to countries that do not get on top of their deficits, but also that greater fiscal restraint is needed to protect Britain against economic shocks such as the possibility of Greece exiting the eurozone.

    Mr Osborne's opponents might wonder if such a resounding rejection of continued austerity by the Greek people is really to his advantage as he prepares to announce more spending cuts himself. But the chancellor is adamant.

    Read more from James.