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

  1. Labour and SNP join forces over trade union reformspublished at 11:22

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is joining forces with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to oppose UK government trade union law reforms. They're both speaking at a rally tonight in Glasgow, which has been organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC).

    Westminster ministers want to tighten the rules on strike ballots to halt what they see as endless threats of industrial action. But opponents say the Trade Union Bill is an attack on the rights of workers.

    Read more

  2. NHS mental health trusts to be ratedpublished at 11:20

    BBC assistant political editor tweets...

    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
    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 2

    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 2
  3. Tessa Jowell takes her seat in the House of Lordspublished at 11:20

    BBC Parliament tweets...

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    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
  4. Jeremy Hunt says report on NHS deaths due before Christmaspublished at 11:10

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Hunt

    Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander has asked an urgent question to the government relating to a report on an alleged NHS failure to investigate unexpected deaths.

    "The whole house will be shocked by this morning's allegations," Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said and added NHS England has assured him that the report "will be published before Christmas".

    He said: "It is our intention to accept the vast majority, if not all, of the recommendations it makes." 

    He said ministers and MPs should not "pretend this is the result of the wrong culture at just one NHS trust", before adding: 

    Quote Message

    There is an urgent need to improve investigation and learning from the estimated 200 avoidable deaths we have every week across the system."

  5. Government asked about 'political delay' on Heathrowpublished at 11:07

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour asked the Government if there would be a "politically motivated delay" to the announcement about whether Heathrow Airport will be expanded.

    Speaking in the Commons the Shadow Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood asked whether the Prime Minister would keep his "guarantee" to make a decision on airport expansion before the end of the year.

    Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin responded saying "when an announcement is to be made I will make it in the House".

  6. The government's Heathrow problempublished at 11:00

    Laura Kuenssberg
    BBC political editor

    It is the most eagerly anticipated "decision" in Westminster for quite some time. Except when the metaphorical white smoke drifts up over SW1 the likely outcome is that the "decision" is not to make a decision yet at all.

    The politics of making a decision on building more runways in the South East of England were always going to be fraught - this time there's the London Mayoral election and a wannabe Tory Mayor, Zac Goldsmith who says he'll walk if Heathrow goes ahead.

    There are strong arguments put forward by Gatwick's supporters, concerns over air quality at the West London option, and the implacable opposition from several members of the Cabinet.

    By delaying, the government avoids a short term political problem and a pretty acute one at that.

    Read Laura's full blog.

  7. Council job losses in universal credit roll outpublished at 10:56

    Local authority staff who administer Housing Benefit face losing their jobs when the government rolls out its new Universal Credit programme. 

    Ministers have decided not to transfer existing staff to work on the new system. Housing benefit will gradually come under the umbrella of the centrally-managed Universal Credit over the next few years.

    The Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan-Smith, says in a written statement today: "My Department does not propose to make any staff transfer arrangements for Local Authority staff who currently work on Housing Benefit for people of working age." 

    He adds: "The phased nature of this process means that the impact on Local Authorities can be managed in a way which minimises the need for any redundancies." 

  8. Sadiq Khan: I want to educate Donald Trumppublished at 10:50

    Victoria Derbyshire

    Sadiq Khan

    Sadiq Khan, Labour's London mayoral candidate, says he wants to "educate" Donald Trump. 

    He says "when he loses the Republican race - hopefully when he loses not if - I'm looking forward to educating him".

    He points out that if Muslims were prevented from entering the US and he became Mayor of London he wouldn't be able to travel to the US to speak to the Mayor of New York.

    He says: "I'd be stopped from doing so because I happen to be a Muslim."

    He says he'd like to show Mr Trump around London and introduce him to other Muslims he says: "I'm in favour of debating him, show him how wrong he is, prove to him what a buffoon he is."

    Quote Message

    His views are divisive, they are outrageous and I hope he loses badly."

  9. Cameron damned either way on Heathrow, says Tory MPpublished at 10:40

    Victoria Derbyshire

    Conservative Bob Stewart

    Conservative MP Bob Stewart says David Cameron is "damned if he does, damned if he doesn't" on making a decision about expanding Heathrow Airport. 

    Quote Message

    It could well be put into the long grass. I think I agree with Sadiq that actually a decision should be made and under the circumstances with all the objections with all the reports and with all the pressure to try and get London a really good airport system I think it probably has to be Gatwick. Let's get on with it, let's do it."

    He also makes the point that even with another runway, more capacity will still be needed in the future and remarks the situation is at "bursting point". 

    He says if people really object to expansion at Heathrow, than Gatwick is probably an option "we could accept all round".

  10. Watch: David Cameron says EU negotiations will take timepublished at 10:37

    Media caption,

    Cameron: EU negotiations will take time

  11. Sadiq Khan: I'm in favour of runway at Gatwickpublished at 10:35

    Victoria Derbyshire

    Sadiq Khan

    Sadiq Khan, Labour's London mayor candidate, said he supports a new runway at Gatwick, saying "I'm in favour of a new runway at Gatwick Airport and no new runway at Heathrow Airport."

    He added that a decision to delay may be good to internal Conservative politics but not for Londoners. 

    Asked about his changing stance on the issue, having previously backed Heathrow expansion, he says: "I'm not scared to change my mind if the facts change."

    He says "Cameron should say yes to Gatwick, no to Heathrow and get on with it".

  12. Terrorism-related arrests increase by thirdpublished at 10:20

    Danny Shaw
    BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

    The number of terrorism-related arrests has increased by a third in the past 12 months. 

    Home Office figures show there were 315 arrests in the year ending September 2015. 

    The number of women and girls detained more than doubled from 21 to 50. 

    The number of under 18 year olds arrested for terrorism-related offences almost doubled from 8 in the year ending September 2014, to 15 in the year ending September 2015.

  13. EU referendum result will be announced in Manchesterpublished at 10:15

    Despite not having a date for the referendum on the European Union yet (beyond the PM's promise to hold it by the end of 2017), the Electoral Commision have decided on a place for the result to be announced - Manchester.

    The Electoral Commission says it chose the location to "ensure value for money for the taxpayer". The chief counting officer Jenny Watson said:

    Quote Message

    Agreeing this now will help us plan as quickly as possible to deliver a successful and cost effective event once we know the date of the referendum.”

  14. Hard-left is operating in Labour says Mary Creaghpublished at 10:00

    Labour MP Mary Creagh writes in the New Statesman, external urging unity for her party after the divisions over the air strikes in Syria. She was one of 66 MPs who voted in favour of military action and warns against the influence of "hard-left parties".

    Quote Message

    Individuals from smaller, hard-left parties with no loyalty to Labour are now operating in the party... these people do not reflect the values of Labour voters or the British public in general.

    Quote Message

    The message is simple: if Labour is divided, the Tories rule."

  15. 'Younger people need fairer deal'published at 09:42

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    David Willetts, former Conservative cabinet minister earlier told Today "wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the baby boomers" and more should be done for younger generations.

    He said wealth needed to be spread across age groups and said the problem was being "exacerbated" and could cause divisions in society. He said public policy wasn't delivering the values people hold of helping other generations.

    He warned against a state that delivers services to older people and is less good at services for younger people.

    He said the "triple-lock" system, which ensured the state pension goes up by whichever is higher - inflation, wages or 2.5% - needed to be looked at as pensioner income kept on increasing, whereas younger people were earning less than previous generations.

    Quote Message

    If we as we get older want to be supported by younger people, younger people have to feel they are getting a fair deal from us."

  16. Urgent question in the Commonspublished at 09:28

    Below is the agenda for the House of Commons. 

    In addition, at 10.30 GMT there will be an urgent question on the investigation into deaths at Southern Health Foudation. The Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander will be asking Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

    Read more on the Southern Trust here

    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
  17. Catch-up: Dan Jarvis says Syria 'difficult moment' for Labourpublished at 09:25

    BBC Newsnight tweets...

    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
  18. Lord Coe says Russia could miss Rio Olympicspublished at 09:15

    BBC Radio 4 Today tweets...

    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
  19. Polish PM: Disagreements on EU migrant benefitspublished at 09:12

    BBC assistant political editor tweets...

    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
  20. Polish PM: EU freedom of movement fundamentalpublished at 09:10

    BBC assistant political editor tweets...

    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