Summary

  • Day in Commons starts with culture questions

  • Urgent question on hormone pregnancy tests

  • Business statement follows

  • Commons leader statement on sexual harassment

  • Main business backbench debates, including one on universal credit

  • House of Lords began questions at 11am

  • Several debates in the Lords this afternoon, including one on universal credit

  1. 'Zimbabwe approaching a crossroads'published at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    "Zimbabwe's approaching a crossroads," says Lib Dem foreign affairs spokeswoman Jo Swinson.

    She says she doesn't want it to "continue down a disastrous path with new faces at the top" but to have a democratic future.

    Boris Johnson says progress to democracy will be aided if a conference of the ruling Zanu-PF party goes ahead, following by scheduled elections next year.

  2. DUP MP asks if 'stolen money and land' can be returnedpublished at 13:25 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jim shannonImage source, hoc

    DUP MP Jim Shannon says Robert Mugabe "has expanded his bank accounts at the expense of the people of Zimbabwe" and asks what can be done to return money "and the stolen lands".

    Boris Johnson says he remembers "Zanu-PF thugs" seizing land from farmers and adds: "There is not easy way to make restitution for their loss, for their suffering."

    He argues it is important to encourage economic growth in the country in the future.

  3. SNP asks if UK has talked to regional governmentspublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    SNP spokesman Stephen Gethins asks what discussions the foreign secretary has had "with counterparts in the region".

    Boris Johnson says he has been liaising with the British embassy in Harare so far, but will be talking to the South African government later today, with the aim of securing its support for "free and fair elections next year" in Zimbabwe.

  4. Nicholas Soames: 'Unfinished business' in Zimbabwepublished at 13:15 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Sir Nicholas Soames, who recently met Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, says the UK has "unfinished business" there and must offer assistance.

    Boris Johnson thanks him for his recent mission and says he embodies "the historic ties between our countries and knows whereof he speaks".

  5. Thornberry warns of continuing 'authoritarian rule'published at 13:11 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emily thornberryImage source, hoc

    Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry says the situation in Zimbabwe looks "highly volatile".

    She calls on the Foreign Office to offer all necessary assistance to UK nationals in the country and consider their evacuation "if necessary".

    She echoes her Labour colleague Kate Hoey in warning of "authoritarian rule by one faction [being] replaced with authoritarian rule by another".

  6. MP warns of replacement of one 'ruthless leader' with anotherpublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    BBC correspondents say the army's move may be a bid to replace Robert Mugabe with his sacked deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose dismissal last week left Mr Mugabe's wife Grace as the president's likely successor.

    Labour MP Kate Hoey says many will welcome the removal of Mr Mugabe but warns that the situation could result in the replacement of one "ruthless leader" with another.

    She calls on the government not to "jump in and welcome" Mr Mnangagwa straight away.

    Boris Johnson says the UK government wants "free and fair elections" in Zimbabwe.

  7. Foreign Secretary condemns Mugabepublished at 13:04 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris Johnson says there has been infighting in Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and calls for calm.

    He attacks Robert Mugabe, accusing him of "looting and plundering" Zimbabwe and leaving the population dependent on aid.

  8. 'We do not know whether this marks the downfall of Mugabe'published at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Urgent question on Zimbabwe

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris JohnsonImage source, hoc

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson answers an urgent question on the situation in Zimbabwe, tabled by Labour MP Kate Hoey.

    Zimbabwe's military has placed President Robert Mugabe under house arrest in the capital Harare, South African President Jacob Zuma has said.

    Allies of the president's wife, Grace Mugabe "are said to have been arrested", Mr Johnson says.

    There have been no reports of British nationals being injured so far and the Foreign Office is advising Britons who live in Zimbabwe "to stay in their homes", he tells the House of Commons.

    He adds: "We do not know whether this marks the downfall of Mugabe."

  9. Reports from inside the House of Commons...published at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    SNP MP tweets

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  10. PMQs: longer and longerpublished at 12:55 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    BBC political correspondent tweets

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  11. Important committee to be established todaypublished at 12:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

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  12. Labour MP thanks May for increased majoritypublished at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Labour MP for Slough, Tan Singh Desi, says the prime minister is a "good neighbour" in the next-door constituency of Maidenhead.

    He thanks her for her help in the election campaign, to "increase our majority" from 7,000 to 17,000 in the general election.

  13. Strong and stable: how's it going?published at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Angela EagleImage source, hoc

    Labour MP Angela Eagle says that earlier in the year, the prime minister offered strong and stable leadership.

    Her Cabinet is crumbling before her eyes, she says.

    "Can she tell us how it's going?"

    Theresa May says the government has a plan to deliver Brexit; and that Ms Eagle is a member of a party can't decide what it wants from Brexit.

  14. PM pressed on Manchester attack moneypublished at 12:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Manchester MP Lucy Powell says it's nearly six months since Manchester arena attack, and says that costs incurred by Greater Manchester due to the attack are "well in excess of £17m".

    She says the government promised to pay, but have not yet done so.

    Theresa May says that her "thoughts continue to be with those who were affected", and says that the government will "respond by the end of next week" and that the government expects the majority of the money to be reimbursed.

  15. Tory MP lauds 'peaceful and fair' Somaliland electionspublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Zac Goldsmith asks about Somaliland, the internationally unrecognized state in the north of Somalia, who have just held a "peaceful transparent and fair" election, in contrast to "chaos" in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

    He adds that the winner has promised to legislate to outlaw FGM in the country

    Theresa May says the government is "pleased at the work we've done in Somalia" and says she's pleased with the intention to deal with FGM and adds "we want to see it dealt with in the United Kingdom too".

    One Labour MP is critical of the PM's answer:

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  16. Dover MP calls for 'at least £1bn' for 'deal or no deal' Brexitpublished at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    charlie elphickeImage source, hoc

    Dover MP Charlie Elphicke calls on the Chancellor to "consider earmarking at least £1bn" in the Budget to prepare for Brexit, "deal or no deal".

    Theresa May says ministers "hope to get that good deal" with the EU but will plan for all eventualities - though she declines to commit to a figure.

  17. Immigration: one rule for the City?published at 12:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Lib Dem leader SIr Vince Cable says the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, gave pledge that freedom of movement would be preserved for bankers.

    Why not other key sectors such as agriculture and the manufacturing? he asks.

    Theresa May says we need to look at the immigration rules after Brexit, and the Migration Advisory Committee, external is to make recommendations.

  18. Lib Dem: Does the PM feel shame over benefit cuts?published at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen lloydImage source, hoc

    Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd says Universal Credit cuts and "the benefits freeze" mean that single parents "stand to lose on average £2,380 per annum".

    He asks if Theresa May "feels a sense of shame".

    The PM insists that Universal Credit "is very important in getting people into work" and is "the right thing to do".

  19. Russian messagepublished at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Political correspondent, Sky, tweets

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  20. Labour MP calls for police numberspublished at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2017

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Marie Rimmer talks about about two stabbings in her constituency, which, she says, is part of a 20% rise in violent crime; and says Merseyside police has lost more than one in five police officers.

    How will the PM use the budget to address the public's expectation of more police on the streets? she asks.

    We are concerned about criminal acts, the PM says. "We have been protecting police budgets," Mrs May says, and we see more police officers on the front line.