Summary

  • EU referendum campaigning latest

  1. Watch: Who are the busiest of the new-intake MPs?published at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Media caption,

    How many speeches have been made made by the MPs first elected in 2015?

    The House of Commons Library has revealed figures showing how many speeches were made by the MPs first elected in 2015, and how many written parliamentary questions they submitted. Daily Politics reporter Giles Dilnot looks at who is at the bottom and top of the lists.  

  2. Former Belgian PM: Brexit vote 'would help Assad'published at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    Guy Verhofstadt

    Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who leads the Liberal ALDE group, says his group's MEPs will be campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU. 

    To sounds of protestation in the chamber from the UKIP MEPs, he adds that the UK's so-called special relationship with the United States is "not so special any more".

    He adds that a vote to leave would "only help people like Vladimir Putin and Bashar Al-Assad". 

    He also joins those who have said during the debate that there would be no further renegotiation on EU membership terms following a vote to leave, adding: 

    Quote Message

    Don't think that after a no, you can come back to the negotiation table"

  3. Leader of Conservative MEPs to vote to remainpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    Ashley Fox, who leads the delegation of Conservative MEPs in the Parliament, says that he will be campaigning for the UK to remain in the EU. 

    However, he adds that he will "respect" the choice of those who vote to leave. 

    He describes the deal negotiated last week as "hard fought" and "fuelled with packets of Haribo".

    Explaining his choice, he says he does not want to risk the UK being taken out of the single market at a time when the economic recovery is still "fragile". 

    Labour MEP Richard Corbett intervenes to ask how many of the 20 Conservative MEPs will be voting to stay in the EU. 

    Mr Fox declines to give a precise reply, telling Mr Corbett that if he is so interested in the voting intentions of the Conservative MEPs then "he should ask them". 

    Ashley Fox
  4. S&D leader 'not convinced' on benefits changespublished at 15:14 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    Gianni Pitella

    The leader of the Socialist and Democrat group, Italian MEP Gianni Pitella, says he hopes that voters in the UK will vote to remain in the EU. 

    However, he says he regrets that the Council was "held hostage" by the UK's demands at a time when the EU has other problems to solve. 

    He says he is "not convinced" by the changes relating to social rights - ie benefits changes - and says this area must be "handled with care". 

    Another UKIP MEP, Gerard Batten, asks to confirm whether the group will seek to change the Commission's proposals that would be tabled after a remain vote. 

    Mr Pitella replies that the proposals cannot be "pre-empted", and notes that the Parliament would have the right to amend them. 

    He adds that the Socialist and Democrat MEPs will examine them "in a constructive spirit". 

  5. EPP leader pledges support for dealpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    German Christian democrat MEP Manfred Weber, who leads the centre-right EPP group, says he welcomes last week's deal, which he describes as a "solid outcome". 

    He says that in the EPP group, the British people will find a "fair partner" in implementing the necessary legislative changes after the referendum vote, and that it supports the the "core of the agreement".

    He adds, however, that they support the agreement as it stands - and that "there will be no follow-up negotiations". 

    UKIP MEP James Carner intervenes to ask "for clarity" for him to repeat that there would be no further renegotiations on the deal to change membership terms following a leave vote. 

    He says he is willing to confirm that, adding that the deal negotiated last week "is the offer on the table". 

    Weber
  6. EU states gave 'as much as they could offer'published at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says that the UK deal was "fair and balanced", and that the other 27 EU countries gave "as much as they could offer".

    He pledges that the Commission will table the necessary legislation to enact the promised changes to in-work and child benefits rules shortly after a "remain" vote. 

    Jean-Claude Juncker
  7. EU-Turkey migration summit on 7 Marchpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Migration crisisImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    European Union leaders will hold a special summit with Turkey on the migration crisis on 7 March, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have told the European Parliament.

  8. The European institutions are in charge, says UKIP's Douglas Carswellpublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    BBC News Channel

    UKIP MP Douglas Carswell has had this to say on whether or not the UK's EU agreement is legally binding:

    Quote Message

    If you actually read the text of the agreement it makes very clear in the second or maybe third paragraph that the agreement conforms with the European treaties. It then goes on to explain how the European Court will of course, adjudicate in any dispute. So in effect we've got a piece of paper which says 'Yes, Mr Cameron has got this new deal, but the European institutions are in charge'. And guess which way they tend to rule."

    Douglas Carswell, UKIP MP

  9. Suzanne Evans 'disappointed' to be removed from UKIP's top teampublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Suzanne Evans

    Reacting to being removed as one of UKIP's deputy chairmen, Suzanne Evans said: "I'm naturally disappointed."

    Quote Message

    I felt I was doing a good job and helping to broaden the party's appeal both in relation to the EU referendum and the upcoming electoral challenges of 5 May and beyond."

    She said she had "no intention of being drawn into any disharmony" and would play a "full role" in the party's election campaign for the local elections and upcoming EU referendum.

  10. Tusk: UK deal 'is legally binding'published at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament
    Brussels

    European Council President Donald Tusk kicks off the debate by telling MEPs that the "test of time" is ahead of them, ahead of the referendum in June. 

    He describes the settlement agreed last week as "legally binding and irreversible", and says that it "cannot be annulled by the European Court of Justice". 

    He says the agreement is also in conformity with the current EU treaties. 

    He says that a vote for Britain to leave the EU would "change Europe forever", adding that it is his personal opinion that it would be "for the worse".

    And he adds that he "couldn't agree more" with David Cameron's recent statement that "now is not the time to split the West". 

    Donald Tusk
  11. UKIP shakes up top team to fight EU referendum campaignpublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    UKIP has announced a shake up of its top team, with deputy chairs Suzanne Evans and Neil Hamilton out, replaced by MEPs William Dartmouth and Diane James.

    In a statement, Nigel Farage said Ms Evans and Ms Hamilton were candidates in the upcoming local elections on 5 May "and this will limit any role they can play in the national referendum campaign. He added:

    Quote Message

    Diane will have responsibility for speaking on the issue of security in the campaign and William on trade and jobs. I know that both are free to campaign on a full time basis."

  12. Watch: Cameron and Corbyn on doctor strikes and weekend deathspublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Media caption,

    David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn both call for apologies over NHS policy.

  13. MEPs to debate UK dealpublished at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    European Parliament in BrusselsImage source, European Parliament

    Over in Brussels, MEPs are shortly due to debate the UK’s renegotiation deal during their plenary session this afternoon.

    European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk are both expected to speak at the start of the debate.

    The European Parliament will have to eventually vote on the part of the deal relating to limiting child benefits, tightening up the rules on “sham marriages” and the emergency brake on in-work benefits.

    You can follow the debate on our European Parliament live page

  14. Watch: Tax cuts for higher earners in Scotland?published at 14:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    The Daily Politics

    Angus Robertson asks David Cameron about reports of potential tax cuts for high-earners in Scotland, despite austere times.

    The prime minister says there are "opportunities to cut taxes" and that Conservative leader Ruth Davidson would have his full support for "whatever she decides".

    Media caption,

    Angus Robertson asks David Cameron about potential tax cuts in Scotland.

  15. Did Corbyn deserve 'bite back' from Cameron?published at 13:40

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    How about David Cameron's suggestion during PMQs that Jeremy Corbyn should smarten up his appearance? Education Secretary Nicky Morgan backs the PM. "There are standards in Parliament," she says. "If you bring families or mothers into it you can expect a pretty firm bite back."

  16. Nicky Morgan v Douglas Carswell on the EU debatepublished at 13:35

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says Michael Gove is "just wrong" on his interpretation on whether David Cameron's reforms are legally binding. But UKIP's Douglas Carswell says the European Court could "drive a coach and horses" through them. 

  17. Lord Hill on control over financial marketspublished at 13:29 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    EU commissioner Lord Hill says the 28 EU leaders have been clear that David Cameron's reforms are contained in a "binding legal agreement". The former Conservative peer says the "irony" of leaving the EU would be that in quitting to get "more control" you end up with "less control over rules governing your financial markets". He says the European Court of Justice has never overturned a "binding agreement clearly expressed" by all 28 member states. 

  18. Watch: Michael Gove's BBC interview in fullpublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    Michael Gove

    There's been a lot of discussion about Justice Secretary Michael Gove's comments, in an interview with BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, about why he is backing the UK leaving the EU. You can watch his 24-minute interview in full, here.

  19. How far apart are Michael Gove and Number 10?published at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

    By Anthony Reuben

    Reality Check

    European Court of JusticeImage source, Getty Images

    How far apart are the positions of Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Number 10, represented by Attorney General Jeremy Wright, on the legal status of David Cameron's EU agreement?

    They both agree it to be an international law declaration. It seems to me that the difference is what we mean by "legally binding".

    Mr Gove is right that it’s not strictly speaking legally binding, but the attorney general is right that the European Court of Justice would struggle to avoid taking into account what the European Council had agreed. 

    So the details of the deal can be challenged by the Court, in common with anything else done under EU law. 

    But as my colleague, legal affairs correspondent Clive Coleman says, the chances of a successful legal challenge are slim.

  20. General Rose 'wrongly included in ex-defence chiefs' letter on EUpublished at 12:53 Greenwich Mean Time 24 February 2016

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