Summary

  • Theresa May to discuss Brexit at EU summit

  • Voters going to polls in Witney and Batley and Spen by-elections

  • Thousands of men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences to receive pardons

  • Scottish parliamentary boundary change plans unveiled

  • MPs back stripping Sir Philip Green of knighthood

  1. Brexit: 'Penalising UK not favourable'published at 09:53 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Hungary's foreign minister says he wants close co-operation between the EU and UK to continue.

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  2. Brexit secretary quizzed on financial servicespublished at 09:47 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Brexit questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Brexit questions is under way with the first question on discussions between the Brexit Secretary and the Chancellor on the position of financial services in the EU negotiations.

    David Davis says that the government hopes to get the "best possible deal" for a "crucial sector of our economy". 

    He confirms that he's met the Chancellor who agrees that "financial services will be of great importance". 

    He adds that maintaining London as a global financial hub is "not just in the UK's interest, also in the EU's interest".

    David Davis
  3. Reality Check: Who fibbed in the third US presidential debate?published at 09:41 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Here's a breakdown of some of the statements made by Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in their third and final presidential debate and how they compare with the facts.  

    The presidential candidates on a big screenImage source, Getty Images
  4. Today in the House of Commonspublished at 09:40 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Business begins with questions to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis and his ministerial team.

    After that, Jeremy Hunt will make a statement on the future of community pharmacies, followed by the weekly statement from the Leader of the House on future business in the Commons.

    The main debate of the day will be on the collapse of BHS, and will also vote on a motion to recommend stripping former owner Sir Philip Green of his knighthood.

  5. MPs to move on Sir Philip Green knighthood?published at 09:25 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Sir Philip GreenImage source, Reuters

    An amendment to strip former BHS boss Sir Philip Green of his knighthood will be discussed by MPs on Thursday.

    The honour was awarded in 2006 for services to retail but MPs want it removed after the sale and collapse of BHS. 

    If they vote on the issue, it will not be binding as it is for a committee in the Cabinet Office to decide whether he retains his title. 

    Meanwhile, Sir Philip is approaching a deal on pensions for former BHS staff.

    Read the full story here.

  6. Heathrow boss 'hopeful' PM will make 'right choice'published at 09:05 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Heathrow Terminal 5 at sunrise with plane taking offImage source, Getty Images

    Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye is on the Today programme, where he takes another opportunity to bang the drum for Heathrow expansion. He's says he's hopeful the prime minister will make the "right choice" to "get Britain moving". 

    "There is massive support for Heathrow expansion, not just from businesses, not just from unions but from politicians too. There's massive support for Heathrow expansion. It's time to get on with it, but I'm confident that the prime minister will make the right choice for the UK and show that we're open for business by expanding Heathrow."

  7. Listen: 'It's not about Trump's personality'published at 08:59 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    The personal character of Donald Trump has been a dominant theme of the election battle. 

    But the prominent conservative commentator Ann Coulter says people won't be voting for Donald Trump because of his personality and rather "it's all about his issues".  

  8. Watch: The moment Trump v Clinton turned nastypublished at 08:56 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Media caption,

    The two candidates clashed in the third and final US presidential debate

  9. Presidential debate: Who won - Trump or Clinton?published at 08:54 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    It was the third and final TV Presidential debate, so which of the two candidates came out on top?

    Anthony Zurcher
    BBC North America reporter

    US voters watching the presidential debateImage source, Getty Images

    This may have been the debate Donald Trump wanted, but it wasn't the one he needed.

    With one last chance to make a pitch to the American public that he should be trusted with the presidency, the Republican nominee had to make efforts to expand his base of support.

    And Mrs Clinton had to overcome her own moments where she was put on the defensive.

    Read more here.

  10. Polls open in Batley and Spen and Witney by-electionspublished at 08:47 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Jo CoxImage source, Brendan Cox

    Voting is under way in the Batley and Spen by-election that was prompted by the killing of Jo Cox.

    Polls are also open in the Witney constituency to select an MP to replace former Prime Minister David Cameron.

    Mr Cameron resigned his Oxfordshire seat in September after quitting Downing Street in July.

    Mrs Cox, Labour MP for the West Yorkshire constituency of Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed in Birstall, on 16 June.

    More on this story.

  11. Scottish election map to be redrawnpublished at 08:37 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    The political map of Scotland faces boundary changes which will cut the number of Scottish seats at Westminster.

    Map of ScotlandImage source, Alexandru Vlad

    The political map of Scotland is to be almost completely redrawn under plans to cut the number of Scottish seats at Westminster from 59 to 53.

    The proposals would see changes to the boundaries of all but three of the existing constituencies.

    And they could threaten the seats of the only Labour and Conservative MPs in Scotland.

    The move forms part of proposals to reduce the total number of MPs in the House of Commons from 650 to 600.

    Read more.

  12. Is Brexit on agenda at EU summit?published at 07:58 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    The BBC's Ros Atkins looks at whether Brexit will be high on the agenda during UK PM Theresa May's first EU summit.

  13. Cold and frosty EU morning for Theresa Maypublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    As British PM Theresa May prepares for her first summit of EU leaders, Brexit will loom large at the talks in Brussels, BBC Europe editor Katya Adler reports.

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  14. What is it like when the PM is your MP?published at 07:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    What life is like when your local MP is also the prime minister?

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  15. Bully row Labour group to be split uppublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    The Labour Party's Brighton and Hove branch, suspended amid claims of bullying and intimidation, is to be split into three.

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  16. EU aims 'may not be crystallised' by Marchpublished at 07:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    A minister says the government's negotiating position on Brexit may not be "totally crystallised" when Article 50 is triggered.

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  17. Inder wins in Guernsey by-electionpublished at 03:23 British Summer Time 20 October 2016

    Neil Inder is elected to the States of Guernsey in the Vale by-election.

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  18. Gove accuses SNP of using 'dead cat' strategypublished at 18:01 British Summer Time 19 October 2016

    House of Lords reform debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Michael Gove begins his speech by explaining the "dead cat" debating strategy. In the dead cat strategy, someone says something outrageous or attention grabbing, in the hope of distracting people from something they don't want to talk about, the oratorical equivalent of throwing a dead cat onto the table.

    He says that the SNP have chosen the House of Lords as a subject for debate because they don't want to talk about other issues like law and order, the health service or education. 

    SNP policing policy is a "disaster" he says, the NHS in Scotland is in "crisis" and he says the Scottish government recently had to pull a "humiliating u-turn" over education policy.

    The SNP like to talk about constitutional issues because "they cannot talk about bread and butter issues because their record is so appalling", he says.

    Michael Gove