Summary

  • Day began with questions to Culture, Media and Sport ministers

  • Business Statement unveils forthcoming business

  • Statement on decision on Fox's Sky takeover bid

  • MPs and peers debate Queen's Speech

  1. The new MP for Belfast Southpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emma Little PengellyImage source, HoC

    One of the DUP's new MPs, Emma Little Pengelly, is now making her maiden speech in the chamber.

    The new MP for Belfast South speaks with warmth about her constituency and praises a former member for her seat whose coat of arms hang in the chamber after he was killed by the IRA - Rev Robert Bradford.

    She says that she wishes to stand for those who feel they have no voice and those who want to build a stronger economy.

    "Let us build on the strong foundations of the union - duty, sacrifice and service," Ms Little Pengelly says.

  2. Parliament 'reeks of the establishment'published at 16:48 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Laura PidcockImage source, HoC

    The new Labour MP for North West Durham Laura Pidcock makes some observations on the her new place of work.

    "This building is intimidating," she says, "it reeks of the establishment and of power".

    She says the systems are confusing and that it was built at a time when her sex and class would have been denied a place within it because they were deemed unworthy.

    The intimidating nature of this place "is not accidental" but is symbolic of the system at large, Ms Pidcock argues, but says the most frustrating thing has been to sit opposite people who say things are better and that suffering has lessened for her constituents.

  3. Former NI secretary urges caution over DUP agreementpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    ReidImage source, HoL

    The Labour former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Reid of Cardowan tells the House he's not going to go as far as Sir John Major, but he thinks it would be "extremely unwise" for the government to ignore some of the impressions of its arrangement with the DUP.

    In particular, he warns the deal creates a "perception of conflict of interest" for the UK government as a guarantor of Belfast Agreement and this could undermine the efforts to revive power-sharing at Stormont.

  4. 'A vacuous, empty noise of nothing'published at 16:39 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Veteran Labour MP Vernon Coaker asks where the policies are to address the "very real concerns" that people have every day in their lives, calling the Queen's Speech "vacuous".

    He says that governments of all colours have wrestled with the skills shortages, arguing that it is not a policy problem but "a cultural problem" that vocational education is still seen as "second rate".

    The former shadow Northern Ireland Secretary says that "whatever the details" of the deal the government made with the DUP, "let no government minister come to that despatch box again and say there is no money".

    He finishes by saying that the Queen's Speech was "a vacuous empty noise of nothing".

  5. Lib Dems lament lack of prison reformpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    PaddickImage source, HoL

    For the Lib Dems, Lord Paddick says the Queen's Speech was notable not for what it contained but what it did not contained - namely, bills to reform prisons and the court system.

    He also takes the government to task for creating "a hostile environment for all immigrants" and for, in his view, not listening to the police about funding.

  6. Backing a winnerpublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Luke GrahamImage source, HoC

    Scottish Tory Luke Graham rises to make his maiden speech as the new MP for Ochil & South Perthshire.

    He tells MPs that the winner of this year's Grand National, One For Arthur, resides in his seat and so "you know who to back in a tight race".

    Other highlights from his constituency include "one prime minister and two Star Wars actors" and says he will let MPs decide who made the better contribution to the UK.

    Mr Graham says that too much of modern politics is focused on anger, and tells the chamber that he hopes to call for days of courage rather than days of rage.

  7. Oldest town title hotly disputed in maiden speech...published at 16:19 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Layla MoranImage source, Hoc

    Once again the maiden speeches are coming thick and fast this afternoon, and next up is the Liberal Democrat Layla Moran - the new MP for Oxford West & Abingdon, which she gained from Conservative former health minister Nicola Blackwood.

    She's quick to fire shots in the Commons chamber, telling MPs that Abingdon has been called one of the contenders for the title of oldest town in the UK before saying "it is the oldest town; Colchester go away and try harder".

    On the subject of today's debate Ms Moran says "there is a funding crisis make no mistake" and warns that unless more funding is found there will be fewer teachers, and this will affect students.

    "Is there anything more important than the support and love we give to the youngest in our society?"

  8. Tory MP calls for a 'step-change' in approach to electric carspublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    A VW e-Golf electric car being charged in Dresden, GermanyImage source, Reuters

    Tory MP Amanda Milling, who as a 2015 election alumni is something of an elder statesman in today's maiden speech-rich debate, is speaking about her support of the government's plans to increase the number of charge points for electric cars.

    She says that this is vital to create a "step-change" in the way people think about electric vehicles.

  9. Commons Library briefingspublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    As usual the researchers in the House of Commons have put together a detailed package of briefings for the Queen's Speech debate on today's topics of education and local services.

    The link for the debate packages can be found here., external

  10. New MP urges Parliament to 'try a different path'published at 15:58 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Lesley LairdImage source, HoC

    Labour's new MPs for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath, Lesley Laird, now makes her maiden speech in Parliament. She praises the former SNP MP Roger Mullin, and also the last Labour MP for the area - a certain Gordon Brown.

    She says her constituency is full of talent that is "untapped and unfulfilled" and potential that deserves to be unlocked.

    Ms Laird asks MPs if they are accepting of the notion that the poor are always with us "or are we to try a different path?"

  11. Plenty to come...published at 15:55 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

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  12. Labour warns terror review must be properly resourcedpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    KennedyImage source, HoL

    Opening this afternoon's debate for Labour, Lord Kennedy of Southwark stresses the need for police forces to be "adequately resourced".

    He focuses on proposals for a review of counter-terror measures, warning there will be no point in "new laws and new powers with no new money to back them".

    This could result in a "false sense of security", he warns.

  13. New Scottish Labour MP pays tribute to former MPspublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hugh GaffneyImage source, HoC

    The new Labour MP for Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill, Hugh Gaffney, is now making his maiden speech in the House of Commons.

    He praises the former MPs for his seat, especially the late John Smith, whom he calls "the best prime minister we never had".

    With a carrying voice, which was undoubtedly an asset during his time as a union rep for the CWU, the former postal worker says he wishes to emulate another working man who once came to Parliament - Labour's founder Keir Hardie.

    He says that his constituency used to have heavy industry and "what is left is not enough", telling MPs "we have poverty and not enough housing".

    On the issue of the post service, Mr Gaffney says Royal Mail wasn't privatised "it was stolen".

  14. Minister sets out plans for counter-terrorism reviewpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Queen's Speech debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    WilliamsImage source, HoL

    Peers are now beginning another day of debate on the Queen's Speech - today focusing on home affairs, justice, constitutional affairs, devolved affairs, communities and local government.

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford says the Queen's Speech signals the government's intention to "reshape our immigration policy" and launch a counter-terror review.

    She underlines their commitment to "stand with our communities", saying: "Together we will defeat terrorism."

  15. New MP praises creativity of Colne Valleypublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Thelma WalkerImage source, HoC

    And now a maiden speech from a Labour MP, Thelma Walker, who was elected to Colne Valley.

    She turns to the discussion of "what is a good school" and says that a culture of targets and tests does not result in a happy child.

    She adds that the UK's media and creative arts are the envy of the world and she says Colne Valley is "vibrant with creativity" and wants to see a Colne Valley powerhouse.

    But she says cuts have an impact on children and says she wants to campaign for more funding for schools, hospitals and services in the area.

  16. Health minister defends handling of patients' lost documentspublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    NHS Shared Business Services statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour's Lord Hunt calls it "rather odd" that the health secretary says he has relied on civil servants' advice when updating the House on the loss of patient documents, asking: "Why can't he stand on his own two feet?"

    Lib Dem spokesperson Baroness Walmsley says the previous statement on this was made on the last day before summer recess last year, suggesting it was a "good day to hide bad news".

    Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy responds that people would be "alarmed if he [the health secretary] wasn't taking advice" from civil servants and points out that summer 2016 was a "rather busy period" immediately after the EU referendum.

  17. 'No second independence referendum' says new MPpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ross ThomsonImage source, HoC

    Ross Thomson, the new Conservative MP for Aberdeen South, gives his maiden speech and - as is usual - sings the praises of his predecessors and his constituency.

    He says the people of Aberdeen South sent the message that "they do not want a second independence referendum", and points out that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has not taken it off the table.

    The people want the divisions in Scotland to be healed, not exacerbated, he says.

  18. Peers hear statement on NHS patient documentspublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    NHS Shared Business Services statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Health Minister Lord O’Shaughnessy is repeating an answer to an urgent question asked earlier in the Commons on the National Audit Office's report on the NHS Shared Business Services' loss of half a million patient documents.

    Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told MPs the large backlog of unprocessed NHS correspondence arose from a mail redirection service.

    He said that no documents were lost and that his immediate concern was that patient safety was compromised; and he tells MPs that a rapid process was put in place to assess patient risk.

    Mr Hunt specified that 535,000 documents were low risk, 2,508 were deemed higher risk of harm - and the vast majority have been dealt with.

  19. Labour MP calls for measures on education and gun crimepublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Maria EagleImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Maria Eagle says Theresa May has gone from Wonder Woman from the Joker in one fell swoop.

    "When a prime minister at the apogee of their power after an election it ought to be about big ideas," she says. "But this is more about what the whips think they can get away with."

    She says the Queen's Speech could have helped her constituents by tackling gun crime and improving the education of children.

    She brings up the lack of A-level provision in the borough of Knowsley; and says that there is no guarantee that school funding won't be cut.

  20. Labour decries 'bung' to DUPpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 27 June 2017

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    HuntImage source, HoL

    In an exchange on staffing the NHS, Labour health spokesman Lord Hunt of Kings Heath claims there has been a 96% fall in nurses coming to the UK from EEA countries, which he says is not to do with language requirements but the government's attitude to immigration.

    He asks: "The government has found £1bn to bung the DUP - when are they going to find money to get rid of cap on nurses' pay and pay them what they deserve?"

    Health Minister Lord O'Shaughnessy replies that he is "mistaking cause for correlation" and "there are more EU nurses here than there ever have been".