Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

With much tabloid fury over Tuesday’s Commons Brexit bodging, not to mention a ministerial resignation to crow over, the temptation for Jeremy Corbyn to apply salt to Tory wounds must be overwhelming.

He can ask the PM to spell out the terms of the “meaningful vote” compromise offered by ministers during that debate, and follow up by asking who’s right; the Tory rebels, who think they now have the possibility of real parliamentary leverage, or the Brexiteers, who think that what has been offered is barely a concession at all.

He can lift some quotes from the resignation speech by departed Justice Minister Phillip Lee, and he could repeat last week’s successful attack and accuse the government of drift.

Or, indeed, he can do all of the above across his six questions.

But the Labour leader will need to tread a little carefully; it’s not impossible he may be sacking people from his front bench later today, if some of his team decide to vote for the Lords amendment calling for Brexit Britain to join the European Economic Area, which Labour, officially, opposes.

And the EEA could offer a way for Tory MPs to retaliate. Look out for former chief whip Mark Harper – third in today’s batting order of questioners – who may well take a pop at the EEA option.

Will the SNP’s Pete Wishart, also on today’s list, continue the inquest into Tuesday’s proceedings, by complaining that the sheer number of votes left a derisory amount of time to debate the amendments on devolution issues?

(His leader, Ian Blackford, is calling for an emergency debate on the Sewel Convention, external under which devolved parliaments give consent for Westminster to legislate on issues touching them – the application will follow PMQs.)

A couple of other questioners to watch out for are Labour’s Gareth Thomas – first on the list today. He chairs the Co-Operative Party in Parliament, and could well ask about tax evasion by big companies.

Further down the list, Manchester Labour MP Jeff Smith could well raise the train timetable chaos – and ask the PM about the call, backed by northern newspapers, for Transport for the North to be handed control of Network Rail and train operators in the North.

House of Commons
Parliament

The day in the Commons begins with questions to the Wales Office ministers, ahead of the usual Prime Minister's Questions session at noon.

SNP MPs are likely to try to secure an emergency debate under standing order 24, to discuss the timing of yesterday's proceedings.

After that, MPs turn back to Lords amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill, with six hours of debate followed by votes.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The committee is pulling Michael Gove up on his use of the phrase "improved broadband" rather than "superfast broadband", because it is unclear what "improved broadband" would mean, or if it would be quick enough to satisfy the needs of rural users.

He goes on to say that the government is aiming for the "best possible provision for everyone" and raises the idea that the state would subsidise it.

Committee chair Neil Parish says "rural people are very patient but after 2010, 15, 17, all these promises, they still haven't got their broadband they are getting just a trifle impatient".

Michael Gove says the the impatience has been "communicated to me, albeit in polite and stoical terms".

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, PA

The SNP's Alan Brown asks about rural broadband connectivity. He says Michael Gove has previously suggested some of the UK's EU contribution could be diverted to pay for that after Brexit and asks how much money he thinks will be available.

Michael Gove says that the government was discussing the proposed "shared prosperity fund", to replace EU funding, just yesterday.

He says one of the "key things" the fund will tackle is improving productivity in "areas which face particular challenges" which, he says, includes rural and coastal communities. He says that "improved broadband" is one of the things that can help those areas, as well as improved mobile connectivity, although admits that it's far too early to know how much money would be available.

When pressed on how the "shared prosperity fund" would work he says the government is "discussing the process" but says he personally favours some way of letting "local communities set their priorities".

Tory rebel Nicky Morgan says the prime minister gave 'assurances' on a Brexit vote

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The committee has started the session by talking about the Agriculture Bill, expected before the end of 2018, which will outline the post-Brexit future of British farming.

Currently farming subsidies are distributed by the European Union as part of the much-criticised Common Agricultural Policy. But experts in the sector have warned that outside of the CAP, farming subsidies are likely to be reduced which would particularly hit smaller farmers.

Michael Gove says he's spoken to small scale farmers who "recognise that change has got to come" and understand that everyone will have to take a "small reduction" in payments.

Committee chair Neil Parish asks what he means by a "small reductions" but Mr Gove declines to be drawn on any specific numbers.

Select Committee
Parliament

From 9:30am, MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee will hear from the Environment Secretary Michael Gove on the work of his department.

This week marks one year since Mr Gove took the job.

He has made a flurry of eco-friendly announcements in his year in the job, including announcing the phasing out of petrol and diesel cars by 2040, measures against single-use plastics and has introduced a bill to ban ivory sales.

Welcome to another busy day in Westminster, with PMQs and the second day of consideration of Lords amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill to come.

But first, a visit to the committee rooms, for a session with Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

The government avoids a defeat over what happens next if Parliament rejects the final Brexit deal.

Image source, HoC

The government has avoided a major defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill by 324 votes to 298 after a late concession.

Ministers saw off a move to give MPs the decisive say on what happens over Brexit if they do not agree with the deal negotiated by the UK government.

The concession offered by ministers is believed to include offering a new Parliamentary motion if the Brexit deal is voted down by MPs and peers.

Two Tory MPs - Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry - voted against the government.

Five Brexit-backing Labour MPs - Ronnie Campbell, Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer - voted with the government as did Kelvin Hopkins, who sits as an independent after being suspended by Labour.

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said she had been told by a government source that no actual concessions have been agreed and the only agreement was to keep talking.

Read more here and analysis from parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy here.

There is confusion tonight about what the concession offered by the government to potential Tory rebels mean.

This was in response to a potential defeat, over the Lords amendment on a "meaningful vote".

The concession offered by the government is believed to include offering a new Parliamentary motion if the Brexit deal is voted down by MPs and peers.

Dominic Grieve's amendment didn't get voted on today but it here it is:

Image source, Hoc

House of Commons
Parliament

SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford says that there has been "no time" for hearing other speakers during the devolved powers debate, adding that "Scotland's voice has been shut out".

He says that Scottish Conservative MPs have voted to undermine the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. He asks what can be done.

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader Liz Saville Roberts joins in to say that the precedent set today "is so corrosive to public trust in Wales".

Mr Bercow says that he is satisfied that, despite the legitimate grievances that exist, "the House has complied with its standing orders" and "there is no procedural impropriety".

He suggests that there are "other ways" in which members can get the attention of the government on this matter.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons has voted to reject the Lords amendments on devolved powers.

Ayes: 321

Noes: 40

Majority: 281