Summary

  • Keith Vaz quits as Home Affairs Committee chair

  • Ministers back tax disclosure plan amid pressure from MPs

  • Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to set out her programme for government

  1. Labour to vote on shadow cabinet electionspublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Glenn Campbell
    BBC political correspondent

    Labour MPs will vote today on a proposal to allow them to reinstate shadow cabinet elections. The change would put MPs - rather than the party leader - in charge of choosing Labour's key spokespeople.

    Left wingers see it as attempt to curb Jeremy Corbyn's power. But the MP behind the suggestion, Clive Betts, said it was a "pragmatic" way of making rival factions "work together".

    Any new system would need the backing of Labour's ruling national executive committee and the party conference.

    A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said the debate should include consideration of whether MPs, conference or party members should have a say on who sits in the shadow cabinet.

  2. Talk of Bill of Rights 'posturing'published at 12:04 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Justice quesitons

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon asks about the Human Rights Act, claiming that it would "rob" the British people of their rights, and that talk of a Bill of Rights is "posturing".

    Liz Truss says human rights were "not invented in 1998 with the Human Rights Act"; and that a British Bill of Rights would "enshrine ancient liberties".

    Liz Truss
  3. Coming up on Tuesday's Daily Politicspublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    The Daily Politics

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    Brexit, the junior doctors' strike, Keith Vaz's future, why some politicians keep talking about Hitler and the Nazis, and Nicola Sturgeon outlining her legislative priorities for the next five years are among the subjects for Jo Coburn and her guests from 12:00 BST on BBC2.

  4. Commitment upheld to introduce British Bill of Rightspublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Justice questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Dominic Raab is the first backbencher to question the new justice secretary this morning. 

    He wants to know what steps are being taken to reform the Human Rights Act. Liz Truss says that the government is committed to scrapping the Human Rights Act and introduce a British Bill of Rights.

    Earlier this month, Ms Truss told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are committed to that. It is a manifesto pledge. We are looking very closely at the details but we have a manifesto pledge to deliver that."

    Mr Raab welcomes Ms Truss to her post and says that being a lawyer "is of limited value" in her department - a nod to some of the criticism of levelled at Ms Truss when her appointment was announced, external.

  5. Farron: May needs to clear up Davis's Brexit 'mess'published at 11:41 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has called on Theresa May to "clear up the mess" created by Brexit Secretary David Davis over his comments on the European Single Market in yesterday's Commons statement.

    He's written to the prime minister seeking clarification on the government's position - including what its mantra that 'Brexit means Brexit' means.

    Mr Farron, whose party campaigned to stay in the EU, said:

    Quote Message

    David Davis yesterday seemed to rule out membership of the single market for access, in a statement, from the government, at the despatch box.  I know it has been a while since he was on the front bench and he might be rusty but these things matter. The public need to know if ideological zeal is threatening our economic security.  It is time for the prime minister to step in and clear up the mess."

    Tim Farron, Lib Dem leader

  6. Labour MPs 'not inclined to support Vaz' on committeepublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    BBC assistant political editor tweets...

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  7. Ken Livingstone defends Keith Vaz over private life allegationspublished at 11:20 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Ken Livingstone

    The former mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has backed Labour MP Keith Vaz as he faces calls to resign as chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee.

    Speaking to the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire, Mr Livingstone said:

    Quote Message

    I think someone’s private life should be private."

  8. Green leadership on today's Daily Politicspublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

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  9. Lords Speaker calls for 25% cut in number of peerspublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    House of LordsImage source, Getty Images

    The growing size of the House of Lords has long been a contentious topic, and now the new Speaker of the House, Lord Fowler, has called for the number of peers to be cut by a quarter or more.

    The former Tory cabinet minister said there were "passengers" among the 799 peers who contributed little to the business of the House. And he suggested the size of the unelected chamber should be reduced to fewer than 600, to ensure it is smaller than the Commons - which is to be cut from 650 to 600 MPs at the 2020 general election.

    Speaking to Parliament's The House magazine, Lord Fowler said:

    Quote Message

    I don't think that we can justify a situation where you have over 800 peers at the same time as you're bringing down the Commons to 600 MPs. The principle, it seems to me, is that we should have fewer Lords... There are - how should I put it? - a few passengers."

  10. Belfast could lose MP in boundary redrawpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Belfast could lose one of its four parliamentary constituencies under new Boundary Commission proposals.

    The number of seats in Northern Ireland would fall from 18 to 17, in what is being seen as an extensive redrawing of Northern Ireland's electoral map.

    Outside Belfast, five constituencies would disappear and six new ones would be created.

    The plans, which will go out for consultation, have had a mixed reaction from the political parties.

    Read more

  11. Vaz to face calls to stand asidepublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Norman Smith
    Assistant political editor

    Keith Vaz will today be urged to stand down as chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee.

    If Mr Vaz refuses to do so, the committee will give him 24 hours "to reflect on his position" before facing a possible vote of no confidence.

    It's understood senior figures on the committee are consulting Commons clerks about what powers they have to force Mr Vaz out.

    A senior member of the committee told the BBC that Mr Vaz would be given the opportunity this afternoon to "justify himself".

    If he did not stand aside voluntarily then the committee will meet again tomorrow to decide what action to take.

    The source said he was "pretty sure" Mr Vaz would today at least stand aside on a temporary basis. The source said  Mr Vaz's position was "not tenable."

    However, MPs are unclear over what powers they have to force Mr Vaz out if he refuses to quit.

    Half of the committee are Conservative MPs.

    It's understood there is still some support for Mr Vaz in the committee from members who hold him in "high regard" for his chairmanship.

  12. 'Phantom' students skew migration datapublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    StudentsImage source, Getty Images

    The government might be targeting "phantom students" in its efforts to control migration, a study suggests.

    The number of non-EU migrants who come to the UK to study but remain five years later could be about half that ministers claim, say researchers.

    The "current self-destructive policy is deterring genuine international students", says the Institute for Public Policy Research, external.

    Ministers say it is crucial to crack down on immigration abuse.

    Read more

  13. Ministers back tax disclosure plan amid pressure from MPspublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Multinationals and tax protestersImage source, Getty Images

    A cross-party call for multinational companies to publish details of where they do their business and the tax they pay has been agreed by the government.

    The move for greater transparency follows controversy over a deal between the UK government and Google to repay £130m in back taxes earlier this year.

    Ministers have accepted proposals that would oblige Revenue and Customs in principle to release data on tax paid.

    The amendment to the Finance Bill had been backed by 60 MPs.

    More here

  14. Reggae band UB40 endorse Jeremy Corbynpublished at 10:53 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    UB40

    British reggae band UB40 - albeit not the full 1980s line-up - have praised Jeremy Corbyn as an "incorruptible politician" who will put working people first as they backed his campaign to remain as Labour leader.

    The group, who have sold 70 million records, said Mr Corbyn had inspired young people and offered a "believable" alternative to business as usual.

    Mr Corbyn has been backed by several stars, such as actor Daniel Radcliffe.

    But best-selling Harry Potter author JK Rowling has called him a lousy leader.

    Read on

  15. Sturgeon to set out legislative agendapublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

    Away from Westmisnter, and Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is to set out her programme for government with education at its heart.

    Ms Sturgeon's SNP formed a minority government after winning 63 seats in May's Scottish Parliament elections.

    She will make a speech outlining her priorities for the next five years, with education, healthcare and new welfare powers high on the agenda.

    Opposition parties will also get a chance to set out their priorities for the coming term over a two-day debate.

    Read more

  16. Good morningpublished at 10:52 British Summer Time 6 September 2016

    Hello and welcome to our rolling coverage of the day's political news. Labour MP Keith Vaz is due to meet his colleagues on the Home Affairs Select Committee later, for the first time since a newspaper claimed he had paid for the services of two male sex workers.

    The MPs will consider whether Mr Vaz can continue as chairman amid pressure on him to resign, with the possibility of him facing a no confidence vote. More on that story here.

    In the House of Commons, which sprung back in to action yesterday after the summer recess, MPs will begin the day questioning justice ministers, while the main business to contend with is the final stage of the Budget-enacting Finance Bill.