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Former Lib Dem leadership contender Norman Lamb has confirmed he will vote against his party’s whip and back Article 50, telling the BBC that it is a question of a "basic democratic principle".

House of Lords
Parliament

Business kicks off at 3pm with oral questions which today cover EU nationals living in Britain, South Sudan, energy storage and Syrian elections.

Then peers will get their first opportunity to debate the Technical and Further Education Bill which changes how apprenticeships are designed and how insolvent colleges are treated.

Towards the end the day peers will hold a debate on how to ensure that Nato countries commit to spending 2% of their GDP on defence.

The Welsh lamb industry could be destroyed by a free trade deal with New Zealand after Brexit, the rural affairs secretary warns.

House of Commons
Parliament

European Parliament
Brussels

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini tells MEPs that the EU has an "old and deep friendship" with the United States, which is still a source of "great respect and admiration".

However, she adds that the EU "certainly disagrees" with the latest US travel restrictions. 

She says that after talks with US officials, she can confirm that EU citizens, even those holding dual citizenship of the seven countries, will not be affected.

However, she says that this does not change the Commission's "overall assessment" about the exectuive order - which she says has the "potential to increase mistrust among peoples and nations". 

The EU, she adds, "will not turn back anyone who has the right to international protection". 

House of Commons
Parliament

We as MPs, we are closer to the people now than we have ever been, says Conservative Nadine Dorries.

"We will be responding to a mandate that was given to us by the people."

She criticised Lib Dem leader Tim Farron's call for a second referendum, and Ms Dorries said that he spoke with passion, in the same way that he "spoke with passion about student tuition fees."

He has divided his party of nine MPs more efficiently than Labour, she continues, noting that some Lib Dems have said they will abstain on the vote at second reading.

Concluding, she warned those intending to vote against tonight and calling for a re-run of the vote, because she thinks "the people would view their wishes dimly."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Nicky Morgan begins by paying tribute to her constituency neighbour Ken Clarke, who made a passionate speech during yesterday's debate, saying "Boy, does he know how it's done."

She continues by saying she supports the bill, because she is in agreement with those who say opposition to it would cause a democratic crisis.

Ms Morgan warns that Parliament must be involved in the process, "not just at the start" but "throughout and at the end."

While welcoming the publication of the government's white paper tomorrow, she explains her own three "tests" for a successful Brexit, which that it must not affect the economy, undermine the constitution and "it must not undermine our values as a country".

"Never in my adult life have i felt so concerned about the stability and the state of the world we live."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Alistair Burt - a noted remain campaigner - says he's speaking in a debate he never wanted to happen.

He said he promised his constituents he would honour the result of the referendum; but he says "I am not giving up fighting."

He says he's going to help the government "that's been landed with it" to make the best of Brexit.

He goes on to suggest that accepting a couple of amendments to the bill will assist the government with retaining Parliamentary support.

He says he will fight for a negotiated settlement, not a "no deal" option. "It is way more complicated than some of our colleagues ever wanted to believe," he says. 

The fight he is calling time on is that of the UK rejoining the European Union, he says. "It's time for me to place my support for the EU and Europe on a different footing." 

He promises to work from that position and defend the EU from further harm. 

"From those misguided enough to believe that the further disintegration of the EU is of some benefit - whether from a viewpoint of malevolence in some quarters in the UK, or ignorance in the United States."

He goes on: "I'm reconciled to Brexit but I'm not yet persuaded to the wisdom of the decision."

He also says he does not want the next generation of Conservative MPs to be dogged by the Europe argument, as his time in the party has been. "It's soured friendships, deepened bitternesses and damaged relationships. And I swore at a mate in the tea room. And I'm sorry."

The World at One
BBC Radio 4

House of Commons
Parliament

"I have little time for those who argue that we should now engage in procedural games," argues DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds.

"I think it's dishonest, I think it's undemocratic."

He warns against perceived efforts to thwart the will of the people, and admits that Brexit presents challenges for Northern Ireland.

Mr Dodds predicts a "better future" for the UK and Northern Ireland, and welcomes Theresa May's commitment to retain a common travel area between there and the republic, saying that any attempts to give Northern Ireland special status are being used as a way to undermine the union.

A man who set up a petition backing a state visit says opponents are 'decrying free speech'.

House of Commons
Parliament

"I will never vote for another referendum while I am in this House, after what happened last year," says Conservative MP Gary Streeter.

However, he indicates that he will vote today in accordance with the referendum result and praises Theresa May's "leadership" since she became prime minister.

He says it will be necessary to "prepare ourselves for substantial transitional arrangements" during negotiations with the EU and be honest with people "about the likely short-term impact".

He adds: "There is likely to be an impact on government spending for the next few years."

House of Commons
Parliament

We are only here today and we were only here yesterday because the government were taken to court, says Labour's sole Scottish MP Ian Murray.

"I campaigned vigorously for a remain vote."

The reason was, he continues, that the UK's continued membership of the EU is within the national interest.

He warns that the bill cannot be "railroaded through" Parliament, because MPs need to get the best deal for their constituents.

Explaining why he is voting against the bill, he explains he does so with a "heavy heart".

"I will do so with the knowledge that I can walk down the streets and look at my constituents in the eye."

He ends by expressing frustration, asking why the government aren't reaching out across the chamber to ensure that the country gets the best deal.

House of Commons
Parliament

"Liberal Democrats have always been proud internationalists," says the party's leader Tim Farron.

"I was utterly gutted by the result," he continues.

He explains that he accepts the outcome of the referendum, but that nobody in the country has any idea of the deal which can be achieved with the EU, and therefore the eventual deal must be put to the British people to "hold the government to account for the monumental decision" they will take.

"The only way to achieve democracy and closure is for there to be a vote at the end."

To loud heckles, he says that the Liberal Democrats are fighting for a second vote because "democracy means not giving up your beliefs when the going gets tough".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Yvette Cooper says MPs have "a challenge" over the coming two years as the Brexit negotiations take place.

"The backdrop to this is that we are seeing, across Western democracies, democratic values being undermined," she claims.

She gives as examples attacks on High Court judges as "enemies of the people", attacks on the Human Rights Act, attacks on the media and "attacks on truth itself".

But, she says, it will be "harder to defend that faith in democracy if we ignore the results of the ballot box last summer".

Can the number of people reported to have signed parliamentary petitions be believed?

House of Commons
Parliament

Caroline Johnson, the Conservative MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, makes her maiden speech in the Commons.

She succeeded former MP Stephen Phillips, who resigned over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government.

As is customary, Ms Johnson praises her constituency and pays tribute to her predecessor, joking that "he resigned at exactly the right time for me to be able to stand for this seat".

She also describes herself as "a committed Brexiteer".

House of Commons
Parliament

Alex Salmond likens the situation facing the House of Commons to the vote on whether to invade Iraq under Tony Blair when, he claims, MPs were "gripped by collective madness".

He tells MPs: "This House was mesmerised by a strong prime minister into the blood and disaster of the Iraqi war."

He recalls Conservative MP Ken Clarke's pro-EU speech yesterday, in which he likened post-Brexit trade hopes to Alice in Wonderland.

"Alice only took herself into the [rabbit] hole," Mr Salmond says, but the PM is "taking virtually all the Tory party, half the Labour Party and the entire country into the hole".

Finally, the former first minister of Scotland says a "hard Tory Brexit or full English Brexit, as we're calling it in Scotland now" could prompt a new independence referendum.

If the "gauntlet" is thrown down, he says, his successor as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, "will pick it up".