Friday's politics: Heathrow and Blair on Libya

Summary

Text updates, video clips and BBC political programmes streamed live
Former prime minister Tony Blair is quizzed by MPs on UK foreign policy towards Libya
Business groups angry about further delay to airport expansion decision as internal Tory row erupts
Transport secretary insists it is not a political move to avoid the London mayoral contest

Live Reporting

Rajdeep Sandhu and Gavin Stamp

Read EU council President Tusk's letter on UK and the EUpublished at 14:30
European Council President Donald Tusk has written to heads of member states on the UK's referendum whether to stay or leave the European Union.
He writes:
Quote Message
I am writing to let you know where we stand on the issue of a UK in/out referendum before we address it at the December European Council. In November Prime Minister Cameron set out the four areas where he is seeking reforms to address the concerns of the British people over UK membership of the European Union. On this basis, we, in close cooperation with the Commission, held extensive bilateral consultations at Sherpa level with all Member States. We also discussed it with representatives of the European Parliament.
Quote Message
Clearly this is a significant and far-reaching agenda. Consultations have shown that the issues raised by the British Prime Minister are difficult. At the same time there is a strong will on the part of all sides to find solutions that respond to the British request while benefiting the European Union as a whole. We have been looking at the four baskets mentioned by PM Cameron. Let me briefly set out my assessment of where we are in this respect.
Read the full letter, external
Tusk letter on UK's EU renegotiation demandspublished at 14:28
BBC political editor tweets about EC council president Donal Tusk's letter
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'5,200 homes affected by flooding'published at 14:22
The Environment Agency says 5,200 homes across Cumbria and Lancashire have been affected by flooding.
This has risen from an earlier estimate from the department of environment, food and rural affairs of 2,100 homes. Although they said they were expecting the figure to rise.
Environment Secretary flooding statement at 15:30published at 14:20
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Watch: Andrea Jenkyns and Neil Coyle on unseating political giantspublished at 14:11
The Daily Politics
Media caption,
Our guests discuss what it's like to beat a prominent MP
Environment Agency hiring for 'flood risk' rolepublished at 14:08
The Environment Agency has posted an advert, external for an unpaid role for an "enthusiastic person to get involved in managing flood risk".Topical, one might think.
The post will be based in the south of England, not in the areas affected over the weekend. The role would be in the Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, who make "key decisions on local priorities for flood and coastal risk management".
'Cameron won't be forgiven over Heathrow expansion'published at 14:03
Sadiq Khan, Labour's London mayoral candidate has warned David Cameron he will not be forgiven if Heathrow expansion is postponed only in order to "spare" Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative candidate "embarrassment" during the run-up to the London elections.
Mr Goldsmith has previously said he would resign as Conservative MP for Richmond Park if Heathrow was given the go-ahead.
Mr Khan says many Londoners will be "relieved" the airport has not yet been given the go ahead. He is in favour of Gatwick being expanded rather than Heathrow and says his rival is "refusing to back any expansion in aviation capacity".
Quote Message
While many Londoners like me will be relieved that the Government seems to be cooling on Heathrow, we won’t forgive David Cameron if this is just a postponement to spare his mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith’s embarrassment during the campaign."
Sadiq Khan, Labour MP and candidate for Mayor of London
'A patch of long grass' looming for Heathrow?published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2015
BBC assistant political editor tweets...
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Farron: Extra resources needed for flood defencespublished at 13:50
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Investment by governments into flood defences thus far has "obviously not" been enough, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has said.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme that he wasn't satisfied with the government's promised £2.3bn flood defence investment:
Quote Message
That's probably about enough money to cover the insurance dividends of Kendal... Any additional money would be welcome, but I can't imagine that is anywhere near enough."
'Six month delay' for Heathrow decisionpublished at 13:45
Kamal Ahmed
Business editor
Image source, AFP
It looks like the major decision on whether to build a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick is going to be delayed for at least six months.
Senior sources very close to the process have told the BBC that there needs to be more "confidence building" about the environmental impact of a new runway at Heathrow, if the government backs it.
And that means yet another review.
And that expansion at Gatwick will not be ruled out.
Read Kamal's full blog
Watch: Lib Dem leader says questions should be asked over flood defencespublished at 13:35
Media caption,
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron on floods
Councils will be reimbursed over flooding costspublished at 13:37 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2015
Environment minister tweets...
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Government move to overturn votes at 16 bidpublished at 13:27
BBC deputy political editor tweets...
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Tim Farron on 'scary' floods ordealpublished at 13:25
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has been talking about his "scary" experience of being caught up in the floods in his Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme:
Quote Message
We basically found ourselves in the midst of a river that had just broken its banks. One moment the road was no standing water at all, the next the car was filling with water to the top of the seats. You had to make a quick decision as the car filled up what to do... you've just to get out and take the kids with you. Thankfully we were safe but it was a reminder of how quickly weathers can change and how dangerous weather can be."
Government in battle with Lords on EU referendum voting agepublished at 13:10
The government intends to overturn the House of Lords' decision to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in the referendum on the European Union, the Prime Minister's official spokesperson said.
Last month peers in the Lords voted to amend the European Referendum Bill - which paves the way for a poll by the end of 2017 - to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to take part in the UK's EU referendum.
On reports, external of plans to "neuter" the House of Lords, the spokesperson says the government is waiting on a report from Lord Strathclyde and would not comment further.
London mayoral battlepublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December 2015
Evening Standard political editor tweets...
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PM finishes campaign event, before heading off to visit floodspublished at 13:00
David Cameron wraps up the brief Q&A after the speech and makes his way out of the hall in Derby. He is heading up to Cumbria to see first hand the damage done to communities by this weekend's floods.
Coming up on the World at Onepublished at 12:59
The programme tweets..
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
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Listen: Lessons from Scotland for EU referendumpublished at 12:58
The World at One
BBC Radio 4
How campaigners are trying to create a buzz as Britain decides on its European future. Ben Wright reports.
Media caption,
How campaigners are trying to create a buzz as Britain decides on its European future.
Watch: Cameron applauds 'you ain't no Muslim bruv' commentpublished at 12:56
Prime Minister David Cameron said the person recorded saying "you ain't no Muslim, bruv" at the scene of the Leytonstone attack "said it all much better than I ever could".