Summary

  • Parental Bereavement Bill debated in Commons

  1. Deal was 'flimsy' - Fallonpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon says that the agreement "should never have been called comprehensive" and was "flimsy" because it did not include missiles.

    He says it has allowed the Iranian regime to interfere in Syria, Iraq and Yemen through new financial freedoms.

    Mr Johnson says that he doesn't remember Mr Fallon making those points when he was defence secretary.

    He says he disagrees with him because the advantage of the deal is that there is an idea at the heart of it to stop nuclear proliferation in exchange for limited economic benefits.

    The Iranians are still in compliance with that agreement, he says.

  2. Fear moderates will be undermined by decision - Clarkepublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kenneth ClarkeImage source, HoC

    Father of the House Ken Clarke congratulates the foreign secretary on his "unswerving loyalty to collective government policy" at the despatch box.

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    Mr Clarke asks if he agrees that one of the many dangers of the US decision, is that moderates in Iran will be undermined by this decision and will strengthen the hardliners.

    Mr Johnson says it is important that the government continues to work with the moderates in Iran and that he includes President Rouhani in their number.

  3. Dangers posed by Iran hardlinerspublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Former shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn asks whether one of the most serious consequences of the US withdrawing from the deal is that hardliners in Iran and elsewhere will say there's no point in doing deals with the United States "because they do not keep their word".

    All the more reason for the UK to work to preserve the essentials of the deal, says Boris Johnson.

    President Trump says he is committed to finding a new solution and "we should keep him to his word", Mr Johnson says.

  4. Deputy speaker cheered after PMQspublished at 13:05 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    MPs appeared to approve of deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle's performance in the chair for the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session.

    Read More
  5. US move 'deeply reckless'published at 13:05 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen GethinsImage source, HoC

    The SNP's International Affairs Spokesperson Stephen Gethins says that the deal has led to the reduction in low enriched uranium in Iran.

    This has been a long, painstaking process, he says, and it shows that this is a "much more effective way" of dealing with concerns of weapons of mass destruction. He says the US withdrawal is a "deeply reckless" move which has undermined the importance of the democratic process.

    He asks when the foreign secretary intends to next meet Federica Mogherini, the EU's representative on Foreign Affairs, on this matter.

    Mr Johnson says that the government will continue to work on this issue with European friends and neighbours.

    He adds that he expects to see Ms Mogherini next week.

  6. US leadership 'has often been a force for good in this world'published at 13:01 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom TugendhatImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat says that "US leadership has often been a force for good in this world", but adds that many are concerned at the US withdrawal from this deal.

    He says the government should be encouraging Iran to be a "good friend and neighbour".

    Mr Johnson says that Tehran is a "malign actor in the region" on Yemen and Israel. He says that there is a "cardinal importance" in these discussions on the Iranian people.

    He says the deal gave the option for the Iranian people to be able to access wider markets around the world, and this is the bargain to be struck.

  7. Washington 'must come up with further ideas'published at 12:54 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mr Johnson says that Ms Thornberry has made a good point in that the Iranian government have not walked away from this deal.

    The US administration has decided "that there is another way forward", he says, but "we have a different view" on the region.

    It is now up to Washington to come forward with further ideas on how to tackle this issue, he adds.

    He says the whole House will want to wish the US every success on a deal with North Korea.

  8. Whole world should stand united against US on this - Labourpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emily ThornberryImage source, HoC

    Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry says she is sure that eventually there will be a time to discuss the government's approach to this current White House.

    "The whole House and indeed the whole world should stand united today" against the decision by President Trump, she says.

    She says that General Mattis, US Defense Secretary, even said last month that the deal was working.

    President Trump has taken the first steps to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, and has thrown into doubt any deal which could be struck with North Korea, she states.

    We must get used to a world without American leadership, she adds.

  9. PMQs: the verdictpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    A clear win for Jeremy Corbyn.

    OK, the government’s visible divisions over a post-Brexit Customs Union presented him with an open goal, but you still have to score.

    He did.

    The PM had to fall back on formulaic holding answers and boiler-plate attacks on Labour, mixed with a bit of local election crowing. And most telling of all were the muted "hear hears" she extracted from her troops.

    Both pro and anti Tory factions on Brexit are uneasy at the moment – and the mainstream MPs, who would back the PM more or less whatever she did, are aching for a clear lead.

    Jeremy Corbyn’s call for the Trade Bill to be brought back before MPs for its long-delayed report stage was a well-targeted reminder that the government seems to believe it can’t win a vote on the Customs Union issue with its current policy.

    Lindsay Hoyle did a good job presiding over a quiet-ish PMQs – and while some on Twitter have been contrasting his approach to John Bercow’s, he didn’t have to deal with any serious outbreak of disorder, or any major bouts of backbench ranting.

    Only once did he have to shut down a prolix questioner….which he did fairly clinically. He got through the list of questioners in less than 40 minutes, which the PM will probably be grateful for.

    A 3.5 for artistic impression, for understated elegance; a 4.0 for technical merit, for keeping PMQs a bit closer to time.

  10. Government 'regrets' decision of US to withdrawpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says "the government regrets" the decision of the US to withdraw from the deal.

    He says the government has been making representations on this since the Trump presidency began.

    Under the agreement, Iran has surrendered 95% of its enriched uranium and has closed off the plutonium route to manufacturing a bomb.

    The obligation on Iran to allow weapons inspectors will last until 2040, he adds.

    Britain will remain a party to the international agreement, he states, which was over 13 years in the making.

    "Britain has no intention of walking away," he says, but will work with the other parties to continue work on the deal.

    "I urge the United States to avoid taking any action that would hinder other parties from taking action," in commitments under the deal, he adds.

  11. Commons hears statement on Iranpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Iran statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is making a statement on the Iran Nuclear Deal.

    Yesterday, President Trump announced the US would withdraw from the treaty, saying it was "defective at its core".

    Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has since said that Iran would "wait and see how others react".

    Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have all stated their commitment to the continuation of the deal.

    The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has announced that EU leaders will discuss this at a summit next week.

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  12. Tory MP calls for fee waiver for Afghan military interpreterspublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Alex Chalk asks whether Afghan interpreters who have served alongside British soldiers will be "able to remain" in the UK.

    He also asks for a pledge that the "ordinary fees" accompanying applications be waived for them.

    In reply Theresa May says it is important to "recognise the debt" owed to such interpreters.

    The issue of fees is one Home Secretary Sajid Javid "has been looking at", she says.

  13. World 'much more dangerous place'published at 12:40 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    BBC tweets

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  14. How can we recycle more plastic?published at 12:39 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alistair CarmichaelImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael says that the UK is still overly reliant on plastics. He asks if the government will work with manufacturers to reduce the current 50 types of plastics in use.

    Mrs May says that the government is "making some progress on plastic," and she adds that the business secretary and environment secretary are working to ensure that all plastics being used and manufactured are able to be recycled.

  15. Lib Dem MP raises plastics problempublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Alistair Carmichael goes on plastics pollution – a good issue for his Orkney and Shetland constituency; it’s always tough to devise a question still worth asking when you’re towards the end of the PMQs batting order.

  16. Conservative MP asks about NI unsolved killings casepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Julian Lewis raises statute of limitations for former military in consultation on Historical Investigations Unit concerns.

    Theresa May avoids answering his question but highlights the existing unfairness in system where terrorist crimes are not being investigated.

    "The peace we see today in Northern Ireland is due to the work of our armed forces," she says.

    Read more about this story here.

  17. Tory infighting 'costing jobs in Newcastle'published at 12:37 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chi OnwurahImage source, HoC

    Labour's Chi Onwurah says that start-ups are failing due to the government being unable to guarantee access to European funds and workers.

    She says that "Tory infighting is costing jobs in Newcastle".

    Mrs May says that the government has been clear on the support funds that have previously come from the European Union; and adds that the government has also been clear on the rights of European citizens up until March 2019.

  18. PM welcomes group promoting tolerance in schoolspublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns asks Theresa May to welcome the creation of a new parliamentary group to promote "respect, tolerance and inclusion" in schools.

    In reply, the prime minister says it is important that the values of respect and inclusion "are ones that everyone recognises and practises".

    The law has been changed to make sure schools actively promote "fundamental British values", she says.

  19. RBS branch closures raisedpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Luke GrahamImage source, HoC

    Conservative Luke Graham says that RBS gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday, and he asks if the government will strengthen the Access to Banking Standards, external, which dictate how banks should act in case of a branch closure proposal.

    Mrs May says it is important that these access to banking regulations exist, and that the government works with the banks to encourage alternative access to banking facilities.

  20. Today's Mass for former Speakerpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 9 May 2018

    Daily Telegraph writer tweets

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