House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Plaid Cymru's Hywel Williams says the idea of retaining EU citizenship rights is supported by a "wide range" of parties and organisations.

Their argument, he says, is that the rights currently conferred on UK citizens by EU membership should not be "extinguished" after Brexit.

The idea that the rights associated with a treaty should continue even if the treaty itself no longer applies is "enshrined strongly" in international law, including the Vienna Convention, he says.

This interpretation is supported by the "overriding" objective of securing legal certainty, he adds.

However even under the alternative interpretation that Article 50 overrides this, EU and international law would demand that a treaty is negotiated on "associate" citizenship, he says.

Thus EU citizenship "of a sort" is required either way, he says.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Maybe it’s the lack Tory of blowback from her big Brexit speech last week, but whatever the reason, Theresa May seemed more confident and less careworn at the Dispatch Box, today.

And maybe Jeremy Corbyn’s line of attack was just too predictable. The International Women’s Day line about the PM raising women’s rights issues between pitching for arms sales with the visiting crown prince of Saudi Arabia was effective but was trumped by her “mansplaining” riposte. It clearly delighted her backbenchers and whether it was pre-prepared or an ad lib, it set the tone for the remainder of her exchanges with the Labour leader.

Nor will Mr Corbyn have enjoyed being countered with quotes from his own shadow foreign secretary and close-ish ally, Emily Thornberry, when the subject moved on to the wider UK relationship with Saudi Arabia. In fact, several moments in this PMQs highlighted the efficiency and effectiveness of Theresa May's behind the scenes preparation for these appearances.

Another example was the PM’s answer to York Labour MP Rachael Maskell. She parried a question about rising homelessness in York with a rebuke to the local council, saying it had failed to produce a local plan which would allocate land for more housing. So gold stars to the Downing St parliamentary private secretaries, Seema Kennedy and George Hollingbery, and the team behind them.

Mr Corbyn’s best moment came when he asked about rising homelessness – but he did not score heavily in the ensuing policy joust. Nor did the SNP leader at Westminster Ian Blackford, when he raised branch closures by the state-owned RBS for the third week running. This produced a patient, even weary, explanation that ministers did not second guess commercial decision

it was a 48 minute PMQs today, in which more than half the time was absorbed by the front bench exchanges. But when the backbench MP did get their chance, we saw an example of an increasingly important function of this occasion. Increasingly select committee chairs have realised they can enlist government support for their activities. The question from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Chair Neil Parrish, about the concerns raised by the big joint inquiry into air quality won a sympathetic response from Theresa May.

This was a more sure-footed Prime Minister; but it is too soon to suggest her points victory in this particular bout portends a more lasting ascendancy. PMQs remains a contest between two, at best, middling parliamentarians.

Image source, EPA

MPs now move on to an opposition day debate chosen by Plaid Cymru, on the party's call for UK nationals to be allowed to keep their EU citizenship after Brexit.

Plaid said EU citizenship would give holders the right to travel, live, study and work anywhere in the EU even after the UK leaves next year.

The move is supported by other anti-Brexit political parties and some legal experts.

However the UK government says only citizens of EU member states could hold EU citizenship.

Image source, HoL

A quick check back in with the House of Lords where the Ministry of Justice spokesman Lord Keen of Elie has been responding to an amendment in the Lords seeking continued recourse to the European Court of Justice for EU citizens.

Lord Keen argues these guarantees belong in the withdrawal agreement, which will form the basis of an international treaty.

He says it's "only through this treaty we will allow domestic rights and obligations to be brought into our law".

"Of course we're concerned to achieve this sooner rather than later," he tells peers.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Chris Matheson picks the culture secretary up on his remarks that the allegations concern "historic events".

Mr Matheson says some of the victims of the latest "blagging" allegations "only found out today", which is "not very historic".

And he asks why the culture secretary thinks "he knows better than Brian Leveson".

Sir Brian Leveson was said to be furious at the government's decision to close the inquiry.

Matthew Hancock replies that he "considered all the relevant evidence", including from Sir Brian.

He tells MPs that in his judgement "we need to concentrate on ensuring that we have sustainable, high quality journalism in the future".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband asks Matt Hancock to "stop hiding behind the Leveson inquiry".

How can we have the reassurance that the culture has changed, without an inquiry, he asks.

"The culture has clearly changed. The fact that these practices ended in 2010 underlines the fact that they are historic practices", says the culture secretary.

House of Commons
Parliament

Former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke says he shares the disappointment of some that the second part of the Leveson inquiry is not going ahead.

"Does he really think there is no longer any sufficient public interest in new allegations of this kind, or knowing which newspapers were bribing which policeman, because it was as long ago as seven years?".

Matt Hancock says that the question that faces the government is what is the right thing to do "now, going forward" to make sure that we can tackle fake news, disinformation and internet clickbait.

"Allegations of behaviour like this were covered by the original inquiry," the culture secretary says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Tom Watson says John Ford has called his own activity "illegal, intrusive and ultimately wrong" and he notes that the Sunday Times has disputed Mr Ford's claims..

Mr Watson says the second half of the Leveson inquiry - halted by the government last week - could "establish where the truth lies".

"The government is closing down the public inquiry before it has done it work," Mr Watson says.

He accuses the culture secretary of "capitulating to the press barons who want to use their raw power to close down a national public inquiry."

Matthew Hancock replies that Mr Ford was "raised at the Leveson inquiry" and says it's a matter for the police to follow up.

He rejects the idea of opening an inquiry "that is backword looking" and would "help to undermine further the free press that we need".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock says that the allegations relate to behaviour that is "totally unacceptable and potentially criminal" and is a matter for investigation by the police.

Mr Hancock says that it is "worth noting" that the activity described stopped in around 2010, before the Leveson inquiry was set up.

"Today's revelations, if proven, are already covered by the law." the culture secretary says.

"Criminal behaviour should be dealt with by the police and the courts."

He says that everyone wants to see the highest standards in journalism "to underpin our democracy in the years to come".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson is asking an urgent question about blagging and the Leveson inquiry.

It comes after an ex-private investigator who was used by The Sunday Times has spoken about the criminal activity he was involved in to obtain information for the paper.

John Ford said he targeted politicians such as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when they were in government.

He said his methods included "blagging" or pretending to be a bank or utilities account holder to get information.

The Sunday Times said it "strongly rejects" the claim that it had ever commissioned anyone to act illegally.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Stephen Gethins asks whether the minister will be "raising the plight of the women in Yemen" affected by the impact of cholera and famine on their children.

The value of UK arms sales has outstripped the value of humanitarian aid to Yemen "eighteen times over", he says. He asks whether Alistair Burt will "use that leverage".

In reply, Mr Burt says no one would deny the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

The UK is doing "all we can" to search for an end to the conflict, he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Saying that she is a feminist, the Conservative Anna Soubry tells the Commons that, on a delegation to Saudi Arabia, she did not find "any prejudice or disrespect".

She says that while "we are a long way" from seeing the rights in Saudi Arabia that we expect "from a modern civilised society" the best way to influence the country is to have "firm conversations and a good relationship in private".

The minister tells her that the government does "talk frankly" to Saudi Arabia.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry says that Labour wants to have a "good, diplomatic and economic relationship with Saudi Arabia.

She says there must be "honesty" and the crown prince does not deserve to have the red carpet "rolled out", calling him the "architect" of the blockade in Yemen.

She says that there is "nothing but a shameful silence" on human rights from the UK government.

Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt says that there has been "no silence" from the UK, saying the government has been working hard for a diplomatic solution.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt says Vince Cable's question was "shorn of the context" of the scale of the reforms taking place in Saudi Arabia.

He urges the government to continue its "assistance" to deliver the "astonishing" ambition of the country's 2030 reform plan.

Alistair Burt replies that there are "difficult aspects" to the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia, but that the country's future is "changing markedly".

Mohammed bin Salman "could well have an influence on the region for the next thirty years", he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The urgent question is being asked by the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Vince Cable.

He says there's "widespread concern" at a visit by "the dictatorial head of a medieval regime".

Sir Vince asks if the prime minster, when she meets the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia this afternoon, will demand an end to the bombing of civilian targets in Yemen.

And, ahead of International Women's Day tomorrow, he points out that women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to do many things - including marry - without the approval of their male relatives.

The minister Alistair Burt replies that his remarks about Saudi Arabia being a "medieval regime'" is one reason why the Crown Prince is in the UK.

The Crown Prince has been conducting a series of reforms, he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Prime Minister's Questions comes to an end paving the way for the Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt to answer an urgent question about the UK's relationship with Saudi Arabia.

The minister says the UK is "delighted to welcome" the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

He tells MPs the prime minister will discuss "a range of bilateral matters" with him as part of their "close and wide-ranging relationship".

He specifies their discussion will include the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Alison McGovern asks the prime minister whether she will thank staff at the Department for International Development for setting up a grant in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox.

The grant will "empower women in some of the most difficult parts of our world", she says.

Theresa May replies that Jo Cox was a "dedicated humanitarian" who "fought for gender equality" at home and abroad.

It is right that women's voices are heard "wherever they are", she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Leo Docherty says that Saudi Arabia is a "force for tremendous stability" and asks her to reassure the Crown Prince that the UK will stand with him as he reforms his country.

"We have had a long-standing historic relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and that will continue", the prime minister replies.