Summary

  • MPs back Brexit bill by 498 votes to 114

  • Bill gives go-ahead for Article 50

  • White Paper on Brexit published

  • It sets out UK's Brexit talks strategy

Live Reporting

Jackie Storer, Alex Hunt and BBC Parliament Staff

  1. Rifkind: UK should be 'polite but firm' to Trump

    Sir Malcolm Rifkind

    Former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind has an interesting perspective on the US travel row and how the UK should respond.

    The Conservative politician tells the BBC he believes the policy being pursued by the Trump administration is "dumb" and rails against the president's use of Twitter - suggesting it is "seriously disturbing" for him to be conducting international relations and discussing issues of significance via social media.

    But he says that Mr Trump has already shown he is willing to listen and show "flexibility" on issues such as Nato and Russia and he advises against cancelling the state visit or engaging in what he calls "megaphone diplomacy". 

    I think the executive order he signed is an incredibly foolish one but we can't escape the fact that he is President of the United States, elected by the American people and this something he said he was going to do. That does not mean we simply sit back and do nothing. If we have the opportunity, and the UK is in a very special position here, then we can in a very polite but firm and robust way make our representations and that to a significant degree is what Theresa May has been doing."

  2. Clegg: May has 'chosen Trump over Merkel'

    Theresa May and Angela MerkelAFP

    Former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has accused Theresa May of being "naive" in her handling of relations with the new US administration.

    By visiting Washington so soon after the US President's inauguration, the Lib Dem MP said the prime minister was effectively "choosing Donald Trump over Angela Merkel" and this would damage her reputation across Europe at a highly delicate time.

    Donald Trump said he was going to pursue these divisive policies, so I think they have been hasty and deeply naïve in somehow imagining that President Donald Trump was going to be very dramatically different to candidate Donald Trump. He isn't."

    On the issue of a state visit for Mr Trump later this year, Mr Clegg said such an occasion would be "premature". 

  3. Ed Miliband: Travel ban will make world more dangerous

    Former Labour leader Ed Miliband

    Those comments about a state visit have been echoed by Mr Corbyn's predecessor, Ed Miliband, who says it would be wrong for the UK to be "rolling out the red carpet" for the US President at such a time.

    He tells the BBC that the "only thing that Donald Trump understands is strength" so what is needed from the UK is a strong, robust response.

    Mr Miliband, who is pushing for an emergency debate on the issue later, says Mr Trump is welcome in the UK but not while the travel ban is in place.

    The ban he has imposed will make the world a more dangerous not a safer place.

  4. Corbyn: Trump 'not welcome' in Britain at moment

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Among those calling for the state visit to be reconsidered is Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has called the travel ban "illegal and immoral". 

    Donald Trump should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees' and women's rights. Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Trump's actions in the clearest terms. That's what Britain expects and deserves."

  5. Commons statement on US travel ban

    It is ten days since Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States and it is fair to say he is dominating the political agenda on both sides of the Atlantic.

    The announcement of a temporary travel ban on all refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries has divided opinion in the US.

    It has also caused a political firestorm in the UK, coming so swiftly after Theresa May's visit to the White House on Friday.

    Amid calls for Mr Trump's proposed state visit to the UK later this year to be delayed, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will make a statement to Parliament at about 16:15 GMT. 

  6. Downing Street 'looking forward' to welcoming Trump

    Theresa May and Donald Trump in the White HouseEPA

    On the issue of the state visit, Downing Street is making clear the invitation to Mr Trump will not be withdrawn, saying it had been "extended and accepted".

    At a lobby briefing this morning, No 10 said the UK and US had a strong and close relationship and it was right that that co-operation continued.

    For the avoidance of doubt, a spokeswoman later said. 

    To be clear, the prime minister extended an invitation on behalf of the Queen – and she was very happy to do so. The USA is one of this country's closest allies, and we look forward to hosting the President later this year.”

    There has been a bit of discussion this morning about the process for deciding state visits and whether or not there is a committee - possibly within the Foreign Office - which initially considers these matters.

    I think we will be hearing more about this later.

  7. State visit petition garners a million signatures

    Donald TrumpAFP

    A petition calling for Donald Trump's proposed state visit later this year to be downgraded has now attracted more than one million signatures.

    The petition says the US President should still be allowed to come to the UK but with none of the trappings of a state visit - such as a state banquet at Windsor Castle and possibly a formal address to Parliament - enjoyed by other heads of state, including his predecessor Barack Obama.

    Because of the large number of signatures, the petition is likely to be debated in Parliament - MPs will decide that tomorrow.

    It is only a year ago that MPs debated whether to allow Mr Trump to come to the UK at all. 

    That was in response to another public petition which followed the then US presidential candidate's call for a ban on Muslims in late 2015. Read more