Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Well well!

High drama as the SNP Leader Ian Blackford seeks revenge for yesterday’s manoeurings, which limited debate on devolution amendments to the EU (Withrawal) Bill to 20 minutes. He sought to move that the House do sit in private, a motion which is normally voted on immediately.

It would have broken up PMQs, and the Speaker said he would not take the vote untill afterwards. Mr Blackford kept up his protests and was eventuially ordered out – to be followed by his entire contingent of MPs.

They didn’t go far, because moments later he was giving an interview to the BBC’s Norman Smith in Central Lobby, a few yeards outside the Chamber.

There is not doubt the SNP are very angry about what happened yesterday – and they have never been shy of staging a bit of performance art to highlight what they see as the corrupt, archaic ways of Westminster.

I suspect this is Act 1, and more drama lies ahead.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

SNP MPs have walked out of the chamber following angry clashes between SNP leader Ian Blackford and the Speaker.

After saying votes on the EU Withdrawal Bill yesterday "silenced Scotland's voice" and that Westminster is engaging in a "power grab" he attempts to force a vote on sitting in private in protest.

After consultation with his clerks, Speaker John Bercow says that a vote can be held but that it should be held at the end of the session. Ian Blackford refuses to sit down and, after a lot of shouting, is ordered by the Speaker to "withdraw immediately" from Parliament for the rest of the day.

As their leader leaves, the SNP MPs also in attendance also get up and walk out of the chamber.

House of Commons
Parliament

The SNP MPs have left the chamber, after leader Ian Blackford calls for the House to sit in private.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

SNP Leader Ian Blackford calls for the House to sit in private – normally a motion that has to be put forthwith, so disrupting PMQs.

The Chief Whip moves to whisper into the ear of the Clerk of the House…. John Bercow resists pushing the matter to a vote, and orders Mr Blackford to sit dwon.

Surreal scenes – will Mr Blackford end up being “named” and sent out of the Chamber...

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

This is livelier than normal.

Another nice Corbyn question about a possible extension of the Brexit transition period – Theresa May PM-splains about her Customs Backstop.

The Labour leader has a nice pre-prepared riposte about whether it’s a backstop or backsliding, and continues hammering away at the government’s failure to unveil detailed Brexit proposals.

There’s a slight sense that Theresa May’s normally iron self control is slipping; maybe it will do her no harm to be a bit less restrained…..

House of Commons
Parliament

Mr Corbyn says the cabinet is divided, deals are being reneged on and there is still no white paper. He asks when she will begin to deliver for the British people.

The prime minister accuses Labour of frustrating Brexit and takes aim at the party's economic record. She says the Conservatives are delivering on the economy.

She makes a joke about the forthcoming Labour festival LabourLive, asking what it says when the headline acts are the shadow chancellor and the magic numbers.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Jeremy Corbyn says "you've got to face the fact, there may now be a meltdown".

He says they are not his words, but the words of Boris Johnson, "even as his fellow Cabinet ministers are preparing people for government negotiations" which they think is going to be a disaster.

He asks if she backs Mr Johnson's position.

Mrs May says that the government "has set out our position on the border," and she says that Labour have gone back on their promises on Brexit.

"The Conservative Party in government are going to deliver on the will of the British people," she states.

Image source, hoC

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

The Labour leader says the situation is "ever more confusing". He suggests that if they can't release a white paper the government release a Brexit green paper, so that "all their disagreements can be out in the open".

He says "surely the PM can't be going to Brussels [for a summit in June] without anything to negotiate on", and asks if the summit will be delayed.

Theresa May says June is "not a summit on the Brexit negotiations" and will be about a wide range of issues.

She goes on to suggest that Labour are divided, saying "I'll tell him what division really is, it's members of the Labour Party circulating instruction manuals on how to deselect all the MPs sitting behind him" to cheers from the Tory benches.

House of Commons
Parliament

Jeremy Corbyn responds that he is unsure if Theresa May is talking about a "backstop or a backslide".

He asks when the Brexit white paper will be released.

Theresa May responds that she is confident about its publication.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Jeremy Corbyn says on Grenfell, "sadly the reality is some have still not got a permanent home to move into".

He moves on to Brexit, saying the transition was set to end in 2020 but the government is now working on the basis it could continue for a further year - "which December is it?"

Theresa May replies that's not right and the backstop is an arrangement which will be used in case the new customs arrangement is not in place, but "we don't want the backstop to be necessary".

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

The question about President Trump taking over the Brexit talks – an idea discussed by Boris Johnson in a leaked recording, may be Jeremy Corbyn’s single best question to the PM – she was visibly annoyed, and the Foreign Secretary was visibly smirking a couple of seats away.

A highly effective jibe.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn begins his questions paying tribute to unpaid carers and raising the number of Grenfell Tower residents who still do not have a permanent home.

He then moves on to a question about whether at the G7, the PM did as Boris Johnson suggested in a leaked tape of comments made to activists, and asked Donald Trump to take over the Brexit negotiations.

After a lengthy pause and laughter from MPs, Theresa May lists the times she says Labour was wrong about her Brexit strategy before switching to Mr Corbyn's Grenfell comments.

She reaffirms the government's commitment to getting everyone who lived in the tower new homes.

The second question comes from former immigration minister, Tory MP Mark Harper, who says that one of the reasons why people voted for Brexit was to get an immigration policy based on skills and talents.

He calls for her to stick to the Conservative policy of leaving the single market, getting back control of immigration policy and not listening to Labour voices who want to continue with unlimited immigration.

"We will take back control of our borders," Theresa May says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Labour's Gareth Thomas has the first question for the prime minister.

Mrs May says tomorrow marks one year since the Grenfell Tower Fire.

She says this "unimaginable tragedy remains at the forefront of our minds", and says the government is doing everything it can to ensure people affected get the support they need.

And she wishes the England men's football team the best luck in the World Cup.

Mr Thomas says he joins comments for Grenfell and the football team.

He says the top five co-operatives in the UK paid more tax than Amazon, Starbucks, eBay and E-on. He asks for more support in the co-operative and mutual businesses.

Mrs May says that HMRC has been requiring some of the large companies he referenced to pay more tax. HMRC look "fairly across all types of institution", she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

It's time for Prime Minister's Questions, and Theresa May is on the front bench ready for her weekly question session with MPs.

(Mr Bercow starts the session five minutes later than the usual noon kick-off time...)

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, PA

Several questions, including from the shadow Wales secretary, focus on the plans for the creation of tidal lagoons for towns and cities in Wales.

The government is criticised for not approving a tidal lagoon project for Swansea, but Mr Andrew says financial considerations are still being made.

House of Commons
Parliament

Commons business begins with questions to the Wales Office Minister, Stuart Andrew and Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.

The first questions are on the roll out of Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payments, with MPs bringing personal stories from their constituents to their debate.

Mr Andrew says PIP is a more accurate benefit for disabled people, whereas Universal Credit is helping more people into work.