House of Commons
Parliament

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The PM says she was not informed about the US travel ban in advance. She adds that it is not UK policy and is wrong.

But she says everyone was aware that there would be travel restrictions coming in because Mr Trump had promised it during the presidential campaign.

The PM says it is not the government's job to "chase headlines or take to the streets in protest" but to get the best deal for UK citizens in the UK interest.

Mrs May emphasises that the US travel ban is wrong and she disagrees with it.

House of Commons
Parliament

We are now on to the substance of the exchanges - with Mr Corbyn reminding Mrs May of her promise last week to be frank when she went to visit US President Donald Trump.

He asks "what happened"? And asks whether the PM knew that Mr Trump was going to announce the refugee and travel ban at their meeting in the White House last Friday.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Jeremy Corbyn is on his feet. He pays a heartfelt tribute to Tam Dalyell, saying his doggedness over issues ranging from the miner''s strike to Iraq made Parliament a better place. He says he recommends the late MP's autobiography - titled The Importance of Being Awkward - and it should be required reading for Brexit Secretary David Davis,.

Mrs May remarks that given the number of shadow ministers have resigned, perhaps they have read it to.

House of Commons
Parliament

The first question is from Tory Peter Heaton-Harris about the NHS. Mrs May acknowledges there have been concerns about the local NHS Trust but says she is committed to the best healthcare provision and putting more money into the health service. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Theresa May is on her feet. She starts by paying condolences to those killed in the Quebec mosque attack.

She also pays tribute to the late Labour MP Tam Dalyell, who she describes as an outstanding parliamentarian. 

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg says Jeremy Corbyn cannot avoid the Donald Trump state visit and US travel row, saying she is 99.9% sure he will bring it up. 

Not only does the Labour leader feel strongly about this but there is real disquiet on the Tory benches about the timing of the visit and US-UK relations.

Those Brexit committees have now wrapped up - nicely in time for Prime Minister's Questions, due to get under way.

The Commons has filled up as Northern Ireland questions come to an end. 

Select Committee
Parliament

Concluding the committee's hearing, Sir Bill Cash asks if Sir Ivan timed his resignation for the new year, and if he had any conversations with the mandarins who came to his defence after he resigned.

Sir Ivan says that he had no discussions with anyone apart from his wife, prior to resigning.

To go now is around the right time, he explains, continuing by telling the committee that the team in place when Article 50 is invoked should be the one in place after the negotiation conclude.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary David Anderson conveys the apologies of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who said at last week's Prime Minister's Questions that a police officer shot in Northern Ireland had died.

Mr Anderson wishes the officer well for his recovery. The PSNI officer was injured in a shooting attack on on 22 January, for which dissident republicans have claimed responsibility.

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the Labour leader passed on the sympathies of "the whole House" for the "police officer who lost his life".

North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds later described Mr Corbyn's gaffe as "one of the worst displays of crass ignorance that could be imagined".

It is understood Mr Corbyn has written a letter to the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to apologise for his error.

Select Committee
Parliament

Why did you decide to resign? asks chair Sir Bill Cash.

"I think I've set it out very clearly and honestly," Sir Ivan replies.

He explains that he thought there were different possibilities for when he should quit. Straight away after the referendum, he was very prepared to go if people wanted him to, he reveals.

Sir Ivan says that it came back from every level that they wanted him to stay.

"The fact that the British people voted to leave the EU is something you're content with?" asks Sir Bill.

"Yes," replies Sir Ivan.

Select Committee
Parliament

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International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is pressed by Tory MP James Cleverly about the prime minister's trade mission to India last November and claims by one of the business figures who went along that it was an "unmitigated failure".

The trade secretary questions what the individual in question would regard as a success, given that £1.2bn in deals was settled.

He jokes that it would be difficult to secure "verbal compliance" of all those accompanying the PM on such trips, however nice that would be for the government's press officers.

House of Commons
Parliament

DUP MP Sammy Wilson, whose party backs leaving the EU, seeks assurances that all parts of the UK "will leave the EU on an equal basis" and there should be no "special treatment" for Northern Ireland.

By contrast, Alasdair McDonnell of the nationalist SDLP says: "We are very impressed with the Union too - that's the European Union."

He asks about the implications of leaving the EU's customs union for the Common Travel Area.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire says ministers are open-minded about whether the UK continues in the customs union or makes "some kind of bespoke customs agreement".

Select Committee
Parliament

All future trade deals would have to be approved by Parliament, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox says in response to a question from Labour's Shabana Mahmood.

She then asks him to rule out the NHS being opened up to foreign procurement or competition as a result of a future trade deal, particularly with the US.

As the man likely to be responsible for such a deal, Mr Fox insists that "this will not be happening on my watch". 

The Labour MP suggests this is not quite a cast-iron guarantee and, as the UK's number one public asset, the public would find any encroachment on the health service would be unacceptable.

Select Committee
Parliament

Conservative Steve Double asks whether more concessions could have been achieved from the UK's negotiation with the EU, prior to the referendum. 

I don't think on the free movement issue we could have gone further, Sir Ivan tells him

He continues by speculating what would have happened if the then prime minister had walked away, despite the "laborious negotiations".

"I think very little. We would have effectively walked away and said that this is not enough."

"We will never know and can't ever know," he says

HARDtalk
BBC News programme

Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt says US President Donald Trump is one of the three threats facing Europe.

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP MP Ian Blackford begins Northern Ireland questions by asking what assessment ministers have made "of the effect of the UK's decision to leave the EU on the future of the Common Travel Area between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland".

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire says the government aims for "a practical solution" preserving the Common Travel Area but also controlling immigration.

Mr Blackford says the end of free movement across the border would be "disastrous" for border communities.

Tory MP Kevin Foster suggests that the Republic of Ireland should join the Commonwealth "as an associate member" but Mr Brokenshire says that is a matter for the Irish government.