Select Committee
Parliament

The former prime minister spends some time shaking the hands of committee members, some his former colleagues, before the Chair Stephen Twigg welcomes him to the committee.

Gordon Brown tells MPs that the Department for International Development is "highly respected" around the world. 

There will always be a "battle publically" about how well aid is used, he adds. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Next up is Conservative peer Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, an enthusiastic supporter of leaving the EU. He notes that the Labour motion refers to the UK's "potential withdrawal" from the single market.

"Potential withdrawal?" he asks. "We are leaving the single market. We are leaving the customs union. The prime minister couldn't have made it any more crystal clear."

Labour peer Lord Lea of Crondall intervenes to argue that leaving the single market "was not part of the referendum question".

But Lord Forsyth retorts: "If the noble lord does not understand that Brexit means Brexit then perhaps I can put it simpler: leave means leave. That is what people voted for."

He says the key to enabling EU citizens to stay in the UK lies in "persuading our colleagues in the European Union that we need a reciprocal deal" for UK citizens in other EU states.

"No one seriously thinks that three million people are going to be expelled from this country," he adds, alleging that it is irresponsible to frighten people.

House of Commons
Parliament

The European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Bill, which kick starts the process for the UK's exit from the EU, has been given its formal first reading in the House of Commons - the procedural step that allows it to be printed.  

House of Lords
Parliament

The Bishop of Durham says that citizens of other EU member states living in the UK are "mothers, fathers, partners and in some cases, priests".

He says uncertainty over their status is placing strain on marriages and families and accuses the government of "an unwillingness to protect the family life of British citizens".

This is, he argues, "not the sort of Brexit that we should aspire to: one that supports the family and the common good".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Kevin Brennan seeks assurances that peers will not be given more time to debate the Article 50 bill than MPs.

Unlike the House of Commons, debates of legislation in the House of Lords are not time-limited.

David Lidington says it is not in the government's gift to set out a timetable for the House of Lords.

Select Committee
Parliament

Former prime minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown will be giving evidence to the International Development Committee shortly.

The committee is inquiring into all aspects of DFID’s work on education.  

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP MP Alex Salmond tells the House that his party will "most certainly" be opposing "this disgraceful programme motion".

He also repeats the questions asked by previous MPs -  Will the white paper will be published before the committee stage?

David Lidington replies that the white paper will be published "as soon as possible".

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Baroness Hayter opens the first debate, on "the impact of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union and potential withdrawal from the single market on the rights of European Union citizens living in this country and the United Kingdom’s future economic requirements" - to give the question its full title.

She argues that workers from other EU states make a major contribution to areas of the UK such as the NHS, telling peers: "The government is under obligation to provide legal clarity."

Baroness Hayter, who was born in Germany, said she "started to fill in the 85 page application form" to prove residency.

"It is, I have to say, a nightmare. I would have to produce 15 documents, spread over five years. Or, if I use my husband as a sponsor, I have to set out when I met him, when I started a relationship with him and when I decided to marry him.

"I didn't like to confess they were all on the same day."

Explaining some of the key buzzwords being used in the debate about the UK leaving the EU.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer says that Labour will be tabling an amendment to the Article 50 legislation asking for regular reports on negotiations progress "no less than every two months". 

David Davis notes that in five months he has given five statements and suggests that two months is "unambitious".

Keir Starmer seeks assurance that MPs will receive "no less say" than MEPs in the European Parliament.

David Davis suggests that the role of MEPs will be "peripheral" in the negotiations.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are expecting an all-night debate on the bill that will trigger the UK's exit from the European Union, it has been confirmed.

The European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Bill is set to be published later, with the first reading debate in the House of Commons to follow.

But Commons Business Leader David Lidington warned MPs to expect a late night during the first day of the bill's second reading - set for next Tuesday, 31 January - with debate expected to continue until midnight.

Theresa May has been "unequivocal" in her position on the use of torture, Downing Street has told lobby journalists.

The spokesman insisted that the UK does not condone torture or inhumane treatment in any circumstances. 

He made the comments after US President Donald Trump suggested that the use of torture against terrorists is under consideration.

The spokesman said Mrs May's visit to the US was a chance for the her to engage with the new US administration as they start to formulate their policies.

He added that the two countries had a "strong and close" relationship that allows "frank exchanges".

House of Lords
Parliament

There is more laughter when Brexit minister Lord Bridges of Headley, when asked for an estimate of the cost of the government's Article 50 appeal to the Supreme Court, says figures "will be published in due course".

The government argued that it should be able to trigger the process for leaving the EU using prerogative powers but its appeal failed in the Supreme Court, which ruled that Parliament must vote.

The question comes from Baroness Smith of Basildon, the Labour leader in the Lords, who says the time taken on an appeal could have been "used for Parliamentary debate".

Conservative peer Lord Forsyth says it is "extraordinary" to have this question from Labour when party leader Jeremy Corbyn proposed triggering Article 50 "the week after the referendum result".

Lord Bridges says Mr Corbyn made the comment "the day after" the referendum vote, suggesting that "we were not alone in thinking we would be able to use the royal prerogative on the triggering of Article 50".

Lord Newby, the Lib Dem leader in the Lords, alleges that Parliament will get a vote on beginning Brexit negotations but will have "no significant role in influencing the negotiations themselves".

But Lord Bridges insists there will be "ample opportunity to scrutinise the negotiations as they proceed".

House of Commons
Parliament

One or two EU member states are holding up a deal to guarantee the status of EU citizens living in the UK, David Davis has said.

The Brexit secretary said Theresa May has tried to come to an agreement to settle the issue and also guarantee the rights of Britons living in the EU.

But a couple of states have refused to be drawn on the matter before the UK triggers Article 50 and start the formal Brexit negotiations, MPs heard.

Asked repeatedly about the issue in Brexit questions in the Commons, Mr Davis said:

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Angela Eagle is "astonished" at the time given to Parliament to debate the Article 50 bill. 

Fellow Labour MP Ben Bradshaw describes it as “totally unacceptable”.

He urges every MP who “cares about parliamentary democracy” to vote against “this contempt of parliament” when it comes to the programme motion.

Another Labour MP Chris Leslie describes it as "pathetic" noting that the amount of time is "a tiny fraction" of what MPs had for discussions of the Maastrict treaty

David Lidington dismisses this as "synthetic rage".

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Oliver Letwin seeks assurance that the government will "resist every amendment" that seeks to "tie the government in legal knots".

David Lidington replies that the bill allows the prime minister to trigger Article 50 and commence negotiations.

"That is all the bill is about."

House of Commons
Parliament

"What a week," begins the SNP's spokesman Pete Wishart.

"First there was no vote, now we have a vote. Then there was no bill, now we have a bill. Then there was no white paper and now we have a white paper."

We should have asked for a commitment to staying in the EU, he suggests.

David Lidington replies that MPs voted "overwhelmingly" to give the decision on leaving the EU "to the people".

House of Commons
Parliament

European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Bill

First reading: 26 January (today!)

Second reading:

Day 1 - Tuesday, 31 January

Day 2 - Wednesday, 1 February

Committee stage:

Day 1 - Monday, 6 February

Day 2 - Tuesday, 7 February

Day 3 - Wednesday, 8 February

Report stage and third reading: Wednesday, 8 February.

Select Committee
Parliament

Labour peer Lord Wood asks the foreign secretary if he is supportive of President Trump's new approach to the defeat of so-called Islamic State, or ISIS, which may be "possibly in cooperation with Russia", even if it "comes at the expense of the goal of removing Bashar al-Assad from power" in Syria.

"I want to see a negotiated solution" to defeating ISIS, Mr Johnson says, and affirms that it is the UK's longstanding position that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "should go", but says he is "open-minded" about how this happens. 

You can read more about this here.