Westminster Hall

Labour MP Paul Flynn calls the fact that President Trump was offered a state visit within a week of his term starting is "extraordinary", stating that since 1952 only two presidents have have been accorded a state visit. 

The petition is the reflection of "fear and anxiety" by some of the British public, claiming he has the "intellectual capacity of a protozoan" and has blundered on several issues in his first month.

SNP's International Affairs spokesperson Alex Salmond claims that the word "desperation" comes to mind, with the UK keen to sign a trade deal with the US soon after the withdrawal with from the European Union.

Westminster Hall

Labour’s Paul Flynn launches the much-anticipated Westminster Hall debate on the US President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.

The petitions committee, of which Paul Flynn is a member, asked for the debate after 1.85m signatures were gathered calling for the state visit to be cancelled – far surpassing the 100,000 required.

A similar petition in favour of his state visit garnered 311,000 signatures.

From the early afternoon, protesters started gathering on Parliament Square in preparation for the debate. Similar rallies, organised by the Stop Trump Coalition, will take place across the UK.

This is the second time MPs have debated a visit by Donald Trump to the UK.

Last January a similar debate was held after the then candidate for president called for a ban on Muslims to the United States. 

In that debate he was branded a ‘buffoon, demagogue and wazzock’. Whether or not MPs will hold back the punches this time remains to be seen.

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs are now debating the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill at report stage.

The bill implements the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict. 

This requires all parties to respect both their own and others' cultural property during conflict. This emerged after considerable damage was committed by both sides during World War II to cathedrals and ancient monuments. 

The UK did not sign up to the original protocols until additional measures were added to it. Currently 127 countries are party to the agreement.

The bill has been amended by Labour to ensure protection of digital cultural property and to ensure foreign nationals under the UK employ must be in accordance to it. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Lord Cashman tells peers he will support amendments to protect the single market and give "parliament or the people" a final say on a negotiated Brexit agreement.

If such amendments are not carried he says he will not vote in favour of the bill triggering Article 50. 

"A hard Brexit is not in the country's long term interests," he argues.  

House of Lords
Parliament

Despite voting Remain, Conservative peer and former Conservative leader William Hague warns that it would be a great error to re-fight the referendum. 

He recalls that Tony Blair defeated him in the 2001 general election.

He wonders how the former prime minister would have reacted if the Conservatives had urged people to "rise up and fight" that result.  

On triggering Article 50, he says it is "necessary to do it and do it now".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Ian Lucas asks if the business secretary will look for a "British solution" for the car plants. He says, given France's history of not investing in the British car industry, closures could be likely. 

Greg Clark says that early conversations lead him to believe that the PSA Group plans to "invest in performance". 

Something, he believes, the British has "a great record of". 

He ends the urgent question by stating that "we shouldn't underplay the strengths that we have to attract business to invest in this country."

House of Lords
Parliament

The Bishop of Southwark sets out a number of concerns, including the residence rights of EU citizens.

However, he says he recognises that the bill is about process not substance.

It would be preferable, he says, "not to weigh down the bill" with additional provisions.

Where there is a choice between accepting a government assurance or passing an amendment he urges peers to "bank the former and avoid the latter".

Theresa May says she hopes peers will not delay the timetable to begin Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

House of Lords
Parliament

Crossbench peer Lord Hope of Craighead now speaks.

As crossbench convenor, he keeps crossbench peers informed about parliamentary business but does not represent their political views.

On triggering Article 50, he says he wants the process to happen without delay.

However, he warns the government that failing to seek approval for a final Brexit deal in legislation could result in another court case for the government. 

On 7 February, the government promised that parliament would be offered "a meaningful vote" on a final Brexit deal. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Liberal Democrat Tom Brake asks if any "sweeteners" have been offered to the PGA Group, in reference to a similar situation with Nissan last year.

The business secretary replies that people should "reflect on the competitiveness" of the automotive industry. He highlights the country's skilled, flexible labour force and research and development. 

He also reasserts that information on the Nissan deal will be released when it is no longer "commercially sensitive".

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP's Callum McCaig praises the business secretary's engagement with the French government and asks for more information on any conversations with them or the PSA Group, but also notes that British factories will have a "competitive disadvantage" post-Brexit. 

He notes that the PSA Group would inevitably chose to keep a German factory open over a British one due to access of EU markets. 

Greg Clark replies that the PSA Group can not give any contractual promises whilst a merger is still being discussed, but claims that keeping plants open will not be due to "altruism". 

The plants, he notes, are highly productive and will continue to be so. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Theresa May has just been listening to the opening of the Lords debate on the EU bill today - but it's an unusual sight to see the PM in the Upper House.

Which other PM's have listened to crucial speeches or debates?

Former PM David Cameron watched the Thatcher tributes (from the gallery) in 2013.

John Major sat on the steps in 1990 for Lord Waddington's maiden speech.

Clement Attlee watched the Lords pass the Indian Independence bill in 1947.

Thanks to Matthew Purvis at theLords library, external for the information.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey asks the business secretary to ensure that "no UK jobs or plants will be lost" in any potential deal, criticising a lack of certainty in industrial strategy. 

Greg Clark claims there is "tremendous enthusiasm" for the UK's industrial strategy across Europe and the world. 

He also says that he is in "close touch" with his counterpart in France, given that the French government owns a significant stake in the PSA Group and that talks on protecting British jobs had been "constructive". 

House of Lords
Parliament

If the prime minister reaches a Brexit deal, who can ratifiy it? asks Lord Newby.

He says that during the bill's passage through the Lords, Lib Dems will seek to give Parliament "a more meaningful role".

However, he argues that at the end of the process only the people should have the final say in a referendum on the deal. 

He concludes by recalling that Brexit Secretary David Davis urged MPs to "trust the people".

"My Lords, we agree."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, European Photopress Agency

The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark states he "will do everything I can at all times to secure the best possible future for Vauxhall and its workers."

In his statement, he says he has aimed to reassure the PSA Group that he is seeking "mutual beneficial access to European markets" and plans to enhance the automotive industry as part of his industrial strategy.

Labour MP Justin Madders, who tabled the question, says that although Brexit will not be the only reason for potential plant closures, uncertainty of access to the single market will play a part. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Lord Newby, the Leader of the Lib Dem Lords, describes the government's Brexit white paper as "a horrifying mixture" of "pious aspiration and complacent delusion".

He says the white paper portrays the UK as "a national equivalent of Clark Kent, entering the Brexit telephone booth" and "emerging as a superman".

Either the prime minister believes this, he says "which would be deeply worrying" or, he adds "she hopes that it will all work out well".

That is scarcely more reassuring, he says. 

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour’s Justin Madders now asks his urgent question on the proposed takeover of Vauxhall and Opel by PSA.

The deal would see the PSA Group, which includes Peugeot, buy General Motors’ loss-making European arm, which includes Vauxhall plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port.

The two UK plants employ 4,500 workers, with thousands more involved in its retail and components chain.

The head of the PSA Group is due to meet both the prime minister and the Unite union general secretary in the coming days.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams states that the new 'two-child' policy on child benefits means a woman who has a third child after a rape will have to prove the assault happened in order to claim child tax support. 

She also accuses the government of cutting widowed parent's allowance by an average of £17,000 for each bereaved family - an allowance which benefits 40,000 children, she says.

She asks for the government to reconsider these "punitive measures". 

Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green says the claims about needing proof of rape "do not accord with reality".

He also says he "doesn't agree the policies are punitive". 

He says the widowed parent allowances were established when women were likely to need "lifelong support" - due to lower women employment rates - rather than "extra support". He says the system supplies help "when it's most wanted".