Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Whether or not to sign up to a trade deal is an issue which divides Labour.

So denouncing the prospect of No Deal at PMQs was a way for Sir Keir Starmer to rally the troops - even from self-isolation in Camden (not Islington, as Boris Johnson suggested)

The Prime Minister had the benefit of a live audience and he did not lose an opportunity to play to the gallery, punctuating each virtual question from his opponent with theatrical expressions of incredulity.

On substance, it was not surprising that the Labour leader focused on the potential economic consequences of failing to reach a deal with the EU, reeling off the worries of business.

And he had an actual, rather than a theoretical, example of a car manufacturing operation departing our shores.

Boris Johnson’s best card – which he played several times – was to accuse the Labour leader of trying to avoid talking about Brexit, and of evading the question of whether he’d back a deal, if the PM gets one.

But how Labour MPs vote on any deal will be a moot question if tonight’s dinner in Brussels leads to the conclusion that neither the UK government nor Brussels can stomach a compromise.

Image source, HoC

PMQs comes to an end but just before it does Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle notes that next Wednesday is the last PMQs before Christmas and asks Boris Johnson to provide an update on the leak inquiry.

The inquiry was launched after details of government's plan to introduce a second lockdown in England were leaked to the media.

The PM appears to offer assurances to the Speaker.

Image source, HoC

Labour's Richard Burgon says real-terms pay cuts to public sector workers and small increases in benefits show that the government want to pay the Covid borrowing back from the pockets of working class people.

He asks why taxes can't be increased on the super rich.

Mr Johnson says that the government is proud of what they've done to support nurses and the record investment in the NHS.

He says those working in the public sector "cannot doubt" the commitment of the government to them.

But he says the economy must recover to allow the UK to move forward.

Image source, Hoc

Labour's Stephen McCabe asks the prime minister "to explain to the people of Birmingham why he doesn't consider them a priority for receiving the vaccine".

Boris Johnson replies that he cannot accept the premise of his question and says there is clear criteria for who should get the vaccine first - and that includes Birmingham residents.

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP Bob Blackman says it has been three and a half years since the Grenfell fire tragedy, but, he says, there are still 3.6m leaseholders living in unsaleable and un-mortgageable properties.

He says current government funds to remove unsafe cladding expire at the end of this month.

He asks what can be done to stop people having to pay to change their cladding in the new year.

Mr Johnson says the government has put £1.6bn into removing unsafe cladding because people are in an "unfair position".

He says the continuation of this funding is being looked at urgently to allow it to go into next year.

Image source, HoC

SNP MP Pete Wishart says support for independence in Scotland has grown due to Nicola Sturgeon's leadership, the "crazy, chaotic Brexit" and the presence of Boris Johnson himself.

"For that, we mightily thank him," Mr Wishart says and suggests Mr Johnson "takes a bow".

Boris Johnson replies that it is the "sheer incoherence" of the SNP's argument that has kept the UK together.

He also accuses the party of refusing to "address the tough questions of what breaking up the UK really means".

Image source, HoC

Green MP Caroline Lucas (who is celebrating her birthday today) says UK Export Finance is considering an approval of an oil pipeline in Africa.

She says the UK has a further 6 fossil fuel investment projects under consideration through UKEF.

She asks if the UK government approves of these fossil fuel initiatives.

Mr Johnson says that "hydrocarbons remain a significant" part of economies around the world, including in Scotland.

He adds the UK still has the goal of hitting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP Julie Marson asks the prime minister if he will support the "Turn on the Subtitles" campaign.

She says there is a "wealth of evidence" that adding subtitles to kids TV programmes can have a "dramatic" effect on children's literacy and adds that it could be a useful tool in closing the education attainment gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Boris Johnson says he is a massive supporter of subtitles particularly on American crime dramas.

Image source, HoC

The SNP's leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, says Northern Ireland, by the government’s own admission, is getting the best of both worlds – access to the EU’s single market and customs union.

He says this is great news for businesses in Northern Ireland, however, he asks how this is fair for Scotland.

The PM says Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, will benefit from the “regaining of money, borders and laws”.

He adds that Scotland “will take back control of colossal quantities of fish”.

Pressed on what the Brexit deal will mean for Scotland, the PM says Scotland will benefit “from a very strong trading relationship” with the EU "whatever the terms we reach tonight".

Image source, HoC

"The prime minister said he had a deal, he didn't; he said he would protect jobs, he didn't; he said he would prepare for the outcome, he hasn't," Sir Keir Starmer says.

"His incompetence has held Britain back," he adds and urges the PM to "end this charade... and get the deal he promised".

Boris Johnson calls the Labour leader's question "baffling".

"While the right honourable gentleman is deciding what his position on Brexit is, we are getting on with the work of government," he adds.

He says his government is working to recruit more nurses and policemen and is improving the country's infrastructure

"We will seize all the opportunities Brexit brings," he concludes.

Image source, HoC

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says Mr Johnson is asking how he will vote on a deal, when there isn't even a deal yet to look at.

He says the Labour Party will "vote in the national interest" and not on "party political lines".

The PM has done 15 u-turns, he says, and his own MPs are voting against him over coronavirus.

The message from businesses is that a deal must be done quickly, he adds. He says these are the people the PM should be listening to, not Conservative backbenchers.

He asks how many of the necessary 50,000 customs agents will be in place on 1 January.

Mr Johnson says the UK has invested a billion pounds into getting the UK ready for the 1st January, including £84m for customs checks.

He says this is necessary because under any circumstances, there will be changes from January 1st.

Image source, HoC

Sir Keir Starmer accuses the prime minister of "dithering" between "the deal we need and the compromise he knows his backbenchers won't let him do."

He says for some jobs it is already too late, noting that the company Ineos has said it will move its production from Bridgend to France.

"How many British jobs have to go overseas before he gets on with delivering the Brexit deal he promised," Sir Keir asks.

Boris Johnson accuses the Labour leader of not being able to say whether he would vote for a Brexit trade deal.

"Until he is able to come up with a position of his own... I find it difficult to take his criticism seriously," he adds.

He also says the UK will remain an attractive place to do business.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Boris Johnson has set out his red lines – deep red – with the EU.

He won’t sign up to anything that would require UK rules and regulations move in step with the EU in the future.

And ‘sovereign control’ of UK fisheries.

To be fair parliament isn’t the place to announce a compromise - especially when addressing his own backbenchers.

But the rhetoric suggests that at tonight’s EU dinner, any calls from Brussels for a significant change will stick in the throat

Image source, HoC

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says "get Brexit done" meant "just the first part of it", he adds he doesn't remember this proviso being added before.

He says that Mr Johnson said previously that leaving without a deal would be a "failure of statecraft", he asks if leaving the EU would mean higher unemployment, and a worse economy.

Mr Johnson says the UK left the EU "with a very good deal" and the UK will "prosper mightily". He says the Labour party is yet to say if they agree with leaving the EU on an "Australian" style deal.

Image source, HoC

Sir Keir Starmer accuses the PM of "deflecting".

"Twelve months ago he told the British people he had an oven ready deal," Sir Keir says.

He also quotes Mr Johnson describing the chances of a no-deal Brexit was "absolutely zero".

"Why should we believe a word he says now," the Labour leader asks.

Boris Johnson replies that the term "oven-ready deal" referred to the withdrawal agreement (the divorce deal the UK and EU signed in October last year).

"Whatever happens from 1 January, this country will be able to get on with our points-based immigration system, instituting low tax free ports, introducing higher animal welfare standards, doing free trade deals and getting our money back," the PM says.

Image source, HoC

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer starts his batch of questions and says it is "fantastic" to see the first people receiving the coronavirus vaccines yesterday.

He says that the PM promised a year ago to stop talking about Brexit, he asks how this is going.

Mr Johnson says "his own silence on this matter has been sphinx-like" as Sir Keir has not asked this question before. He says that the government delivered Brexit on January 31st this year.

Image source, HoC

The first question is from Conservative MP Edward Leigh.

He asks about a Brexit deal, urging the PM to “make one last effort".

The prime minister says a “deal is still there to be done” with the EU which he will be discussing more later today.

However, he says the EU are making demands that he cannot accept, such as the UK doesn’t have a control over fishing in its own waters.

Image source, HoC

The Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle announces the beginning of Prime Minister's Questions... and we're off.

Stick with us for all the updates.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

It’s inevitable that the clash between the two party leaders will focus on Brexit.

It’s possible that Boris Johnson’s tail will be tweaked over his promise of an ‘oven ready’ deal, while compromises between the EU and UK have so far proved unpalatable.

(Though, remember, the ‘oven ready’ phrase, was really about the withdrawal agreement, which enabled Brexit to take place in January).

In truth, both parties have a Brexit problem.

Watch out for any long-standing Brexiteers on Boris Johnson’s benches urging him to stand firm in the face of EU demands.

But in Keir Starmer’s party, the problems begin if the PM does pull off a deal.

Some members of the shadow cabinet have been pushing their leader not to endorse it – to abstain in any vote.

His instinct is to vote for it, to help rebuild trust in pro-Brexit areas which abandoned Labour last year.

A rebellion is inevitable whatever he decides – though no deal would unite the party in fervent opposition.