Summary

  • MPs debating support for people with autism in the UK

  • Earlier: minister announces legal funds for contaminated blood victims

  • 'Reasonable expenses' for preparing for public inquiry will be met

  • International Development Secretary: Islamic State group 'all but destroyed'

  • Commons leader announces future parliamentary business

  • House of Lords sits from 11am

  1. I was seen as a bit of a crank on Russia - Ben Bradshawpublished at 20:16 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ben BradshawImage source, HoC

    Labour's Ben Bradshaw says that when he first spoke in the House about potential Russian interference in democracies he was treated as "a bit of a crank".

    He says he wants the government to take "seriously" the attention that is given by the Kremlin to think tanks and political establishments in the UK.

    He says he wants information on how the government is responding to accusations that the Kremlin is seeking to infiltrate UK political parties and that some Russians based in London who pretend to be Putin opponents are not so.

    He says that the government should investigate ties between Nigel Farage, Arron Banks, Jim Mellon and Russia. He tells MPs he was the first to raise concerns about Cambridge Analytica, and now the government is taking these concerns seriously.

    He states that the delay between the Information Commissioner's Office seeking a warrant and the warrant being granted shows that the government does not have enough power in dealing with these kinds of cases.

  2. Government pressed on ECJpublished at 20:15 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    European Council statement

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  3. UK is engaged in a 'cool war' - Conservative MPpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mark FrancoisImage source, HoC

    Conservative Mark Francois says that while the current situation is not at the heights of the cold war, it could be classified as a "cool war".

    Mr Francois says that Russia is taking part in a ten-year strategic armament programme which will run through to 2021.

    "We can see very clearly" that Russia is prepared to use military warfare, allied to "information warfare", to achieve ambitions on the European landmass, he states.

    The attack on Mr Skripal was clearly meant to be seen as a symbol for other potential defectors, he continues, and "the people who do this, are not our friends".

  4. Lords hear PM's statementpublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    European Council statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lords Leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park is repeating a statement made earlier in the Commons by Theresa May on the recent European Council summit.

    Theresa May used the statement to update MPs on coordinated EU action to confront Russia over its alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury.

    She also welcomed the agreement reached between David Davis and Michel Barnier on elements of a withdrawal deal.

  5. Compromise on Brexit date defended by governmentpublished at 19:06 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    GoldieImage source, HoL

    Government spokesperson Baroness Goldie points out that in the Commons, an amendment was added to allow the government to change exit day if the day on which treaties fail to apply to the EU changes and any such regulation would be subject to affirmative procedure.

    This means it "now matches up with the reality of the UK's position in international law", she says, arguing that to allow Labour's amendment would detract from that compromise.

  6. Committee chair labels Russia 'a kleptocracy'published at 18:55 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    Parliamentary reporter tweets...

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  7. Labour argues for removal of Brexit datepublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    HayterImage source, HoL

    Labour spokesperson Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town presents an amendment which would make it possible to vary Brexit day, which is currently set as 29 March 2019.

    She says it's "not about overturning the decision" to leave but "removing the straitjacket" imposed by "ardent Brexiteers".

    She argues that the UK needs to negotiate as strongly as possible and "a fixed immutable date undermines this" because it would mean Brexit takes place regardless of whether the timing is in our interest.

  8. Woodcock disputes Corbyn's 'robust critic' remarkpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

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  9. Labour MP attacks Corbyn on historical responses to Russiapublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn states that he has always been a "robust critic" of the actions of the Russian government for more than 20 years.

    Labour MP John Woodcock intervenes to disagree, citing articles Mr Corbyn has written in the Morning Star.

    Mr Woodcock's remarks cause delight on the Conservative benches but get a frosty reaction from Labour MPs.

    Mr Corbyn simply thanks Mr Woodcock "for his usual helpful intervention".

  10. Ben Bradshaw defends Labour leaderpublished at 18:26 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mr Corbyn asks what advice the police and security services are giving to high profile Russians and Russian nationals living and working in the UK.

    And turning to "dirty" Russian money in the UK, he asks about the government's response to the Magnitsky amendments tabled to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill in the Lords.

    Amid several interventions from Conservatives suggesting that Mr Corbyn has not condemned Russia, Labour MP Ben Bradshaw - who was previously criticised Mr Corbyn - comes to his aid.

    He says Mr Corbyn now agrees that the Russian state was responsible for the attack. Mr Corbyn, himself, confirms this is the case citing Russia's response to the attack over the past fortnight.

    He asks the government to tackle money laundering in London by oligarchs, many of whom are connected to the Russian president.

    He states that it is not just the Labour Party pushing for these legal changes, but also the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has stated that the best way to attack Putin "is to hit his billionaire allies in their pockets".

    The UK "must continue" to build further concrete reactions to Russia's actions, to show that Russia's behaviour is not acceptable.

  11. Corbyn: 'Little doubt' that Russia was responsiblepublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is responding to Mrs May's opening speech. He starts by saying that what happened to the Skripals was "an outrageous act".

    He says there can be "little doubt" that the nerve agent used in Salisbury was "of a type manufactured by Russia".

    He criticises Russia for offering "nothing concrete in response" because there is "clear evidence that the Russian state has a case to answer".

    "Russia has a direct or indirect responsibility for this," he concludes.

    He reflects that it is a matter of "deep regret" that UK-Russian relations now stand at "a low ebb".

    The former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon is one of a string of Conservatives to intervene on Mr Corbyn, saying: "He has not condemned the attempted murders themselves."

    Mr Corbyn rejects that claim, saying that he has "very clearly condemned the event and those who perpetrated the attack".

  12. Minister underlines support for Gibraltarpublished at 18:06 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Brexit Minister Lord Callanan underlines that the UK is "steadfast in our support for Gibraltar, its people and economy", while stating he cannot support the amendment to guarantee acquired rights there.

    He says the draft agreement on withdrawal includes Gibraltar as a sign of the government's commitment to "the whole UK family".

    But he tells peers the bill does not affect Gibraltar except in two very minor ways, and his department has held meetings with Gibraltarian ministers where they agreed to "strengthen and deepen" ties between the two countries.

  13. May: Russia is sowing 'discord'published at 18:01 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    National Security and Russia

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mrs May says that expulsions of Russian diplomats and workers in other countries will have a positive impact on national security.

    She accuses the Russian government of seeking to "weaponise information" in order to "sow discord in the West and undermine our institutions." Russia is doing this through TV outlets and online, she says.

    Russia is failing to honour its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, she adds, saying that Russia continues to cover up the actions of Syian President Bashar al-Assad.

    Russia has repeatedly failed to use its influence over the Syrian regime in a positive way, she states.

  14. EU membership 'vital' to Gibraltar - Labourpublished at 17:56 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    CollinsImage source, HoL

    Shadow foreign affairs spokesman Lord Collins of Highbury lends his party's backing to the amendment placing safeguards on Gibraltarians' acquired rights.

    He says they voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU because EU membership has brought political and economic conditions which are "vital to their continuation as a viable society".

    "What we need to hear from the minister... is that Gibraltar can continue to have positive economic relationship with the EU."

  15. May opens debate on national security and Russiapublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    After her long statement on Russia and Brexit, Theresa May remains in the Commons chamber to opening the debate on national security and Russia.

    She starts with an update on the Salisbury poison attack, saying that Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill and "may never recover fully". Mrs May says that highlights the "utterly barbaric nature of this act".

    As for the risks to public health, she says they are low but it is thought that over 130 people in Salisbury could potentially have been exposed.

    "We are quite clear that Russia is responsible for this act," she says, adding that Russia has a record of "conducting state-sponsored assassinations".

    She says some people question whether there could be another explanation, stressing that "we have been led by evidence not by speculation".

    She says the Russians did not provide an explanation, choosing instead to respond with "sarcasm" and "defiance" and deploying "21 different arguments" for the attack, including blaming other countries, including the UK.

    She concludes that it is "unworthy of their people and their great history".

  16. Emergency debate on Vote Leave and BeLeave spending tomorrowpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    Emergency debate application

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom BrakeImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Tom Brake is making the case for an emergency debate to be held in the Commons on allegations about BeLeave and Vote Leave made in the Guardian and the Observer over the weekend, external.

    Mr Brake says that electors need confirmation that British elections are "free and fair".

    The Speaker, John Bercow, says that he is "satisfied" that this meets emergency debate standards.

    The debate will be held tomorrow and will last for two hours.

  17. 'This has nothing to do with Brexit'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    Activist Shahmir Sanni says his Vote Leave accusations "have nothing to do with Brexit".

    Read More
  18. 'Together we have sent a message'published at 17:36 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    Theresa May says the UK has global backing after the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Salisbury.

    Read More
  19. Government and opposition have 'more positions than the Karma Sutra' - SNPpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    European Council statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hannah BardellImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Hannah Bardell jokes that the UK government and the opposition have had "more positions on Brexit than the Karma Sutra," asking if it is time the process was stopped and the "disastrous economic consequences" are spelled out to constituents.

    Mrs May says "the picture she paints is not one I recognise, indeed in relation to anything she said in her question," prompting laughter from MPs.

  20. Extra protection urged for Gibraltar after Brexitpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 26 March 2018

    EU Withdrawal Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Butler-SlossImage source, HoL

    Checking back in with the House of Lords where the crossbencher Baroness Butler-Sloss presents an amendment designed to ensure nothing in what will be the EU WIthdrawal Act is construed as removing, replacing, altering or prejudicing the exercise of rights acquired by Gibraltar.

    She describes Gibraltar as a "faithful friend" which the UK must "stand by" in negotiations with the EU, in the face of claims which may be brought by Spain.