Sean Curran
Parliamentary correspondent

MPs have approved controversial new regulations to allow fracking under national parks and other scenic areas by  298 to 261, a government majority of 37 votes.

The Commons took the decision in what is known as a "deferred division". MPs voted earlier today using ballot papers. The motion was "That the draft Onshore Hydraulic Fracturing (Protected Areas) Regulations 2015, which were laid before this House on 16 July, be approved."

The proposals are controversial because ministers have been accused of performing a U-turn. At the start of this year, the then coalition government said there would be an outright ban on fracking in national parks.

The policy was changed in July when the Department of Energy and Climate Change set out which areas would be excluded from fracking. Companies won't be allowed to drill in protected areas but will be able to drill horizontally below 1200 metres.

The changes have been introduced using regulations. The parliamentary rules meant that MPs couldn't debate the proposals last night. When they were asked to approve the regulations some MPs shouted "object" which triggered today's deferred division.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Theresa May is now asked about newspaper reports suggesting she is the most vocal supporter within the cabinet for firmer action on benefit curbs for EU migrants and is pressing David Cameron to toughen his stance during the current negotiations. Reading directly from The Sun, Keith Vaz asks Mrs May whether she is one of the "fantastic four" cabinet ministers the paper says are trying to stiffen the PM's spine and whether, as reported, she feels it is a "dangerous moment" for the UK in terms of immigration. Mrs May say the PM has always been "very clear" about the need to bring greater control to immigration policy. She adds. 

BBC director general Tony Hall has defended the decision to shortlist boxer Tyson Fury for Sports Personality of the Year.

Under fierce questioning from MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Lord Hall said it was the decision of an independent panel to add the World Heavyweight Champion to the list - and that he trusted viewers to make the right decision.

Tyson Fury's suitability has been questioned after the boxer made homophobic and sexist comments on social media. 

But Lord Hall told the committee it was not the BBC that chose to add Fury and Andy Murray to the list.

Leave.EU - one of the groups vying for the official EU 'out' designation - has offered some advice for David Cameron ahead of tomorrow's European Council meeting, where the UK's EU reform aims will be discussed.

Brian Monteith, head of Leave.EU's press, said the PM should "stay home and put his feet up" because "he isn't asking for anything that people actually want".

And he said treaty change without EU treaty change any guarantees given to the UK will be "nothing more than a fudge".

Changing access to in-work benefits in the UK must not discriminate against other European citizens, the former prime minister of Belgium has warned.

Guy Verhofstadt said any moves to limit access to welfare - as demanded by the British government - must be done "without discriminating against other citizens in Europe".

"The basic idea behind the European Union is no discrimination is possible," he said.

"I think we need to find a solution for the British request but without discriminating against other citizens in Europe".

He said the demands by David Cameron should be used as a start to reform other parts of the European Union, he added most of Mr Cameron's demands were not a "big problem".

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Parliament

Image source, AP

After their initial verbal back slapping, Keith Vaz opens his committee's questioning of Theresa May by asking her about calls for Donald Trump to be barred from the UK. When the decision on whether to stop the US businessman and presidential nominee from entering the country is one for the Home Office, he wants to know why David Cameron and George Osborne have already appeared to rule this out. Mrs May says Mr Trump's recent remarks about banning all Muslims from the US - which provoked worldwide condemnation - were "divisive, unhelpful and wrong". But she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons has voted down a bill proposed by Labour's Jonathan Reynolds to introduce proportional representation as a way of electing some MPs.

Arguing for the change, he told MPs the current system was no longer "fit for purpose" and "threatens the constitutional cohesion of the UK" because it doesn't represent the people.

He said there had been three general elections where the party with the most votes didn't win, adding that four million people voted UKIP in May but only one MP was elected.

Speaking against the proposal, Labour MP John Spellar said he found it "rather astonishing" that in a month where the far-right National Front had made electoral gains in France that someone would argue for the introduction of PR. And he said the 2011 alternative vote referendum showed the public didn't want to change the electoral system.

A vote was called, and the bill was rejected by 164 votes to 27, majority 137, meaning it will not progress further.

Under the government's plans, the extraction of shale gas - known as fracking - would only be allowed twelve hundred metres below the ground, with drilling taking place outside the protected areas.

The result of the vote was announced in the Commons by deputy Speaker Natascha Engel.

Full story here.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, UK Parliament

Theresa May is making her semi-regular appearance before the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee to talk them through the work of her department. She is welcomed by its Labour chair Keith Vaz who remarked that every time she appears before them she has "broken another record". He points out that she is now the longest-serving home secretary for more than 60 years, having recently overtaken Rab Butler's stint in office, and if she remains in post until next August will become the longest incumbent in the role since the 19th Century. He concludes by asking Mrs May "are you ever going to go?". Mrs May, who has been talked off as a future Tory leader, smiles and replies.

MPs have voted to allow fracking under national parks, by 298 votes to 261.

The finance secretary John Swinney has ruled out an increase in Scottish income tax when Holyrood gets new financial powers next year.

Mr Swinney made the announcement as he unveiled his draft budget to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

He warned that he was operating in a "significantly constrained" public spending environment.

And he said the Scottish budget was set to continue to reduce in real terms until the end of the decade.

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The Daily Politics

Ross Hawkins
Political correspondent

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Trade unions and left-wing groups are set to be given formal roles helping to run the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting campaign body Momentum.

Activists have been told that unions and "established left organisations" will get a place in its structure.

Momentum - the successor body to Mr Corbyn's Labour Party leadership campaign - has revealed almost nothing about how it is run.

But leaks to the BBC show an outline arrangement has been agreed.

One Momentum source said it may consider affiliating to the Labour Party - a move that could give it a direct say in policy decisions and, potentially, the de-selection of MPs.

Critical Labour MPs fear Momentum could let hard-left activists influence Labour and oust sitting MPs.

Momentum says it is a mass movement for progressive politics.

Jon Lansman - a key figure in Mr Corbyn's leadership bid and in Momentum - is understood to have told activists that trade unions will be involved at a "local, regional and national level".

Sources said the final structure of the organisation was yet to be confirmed.

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