Summary

  • MPs are debating private members' bills

  1. Reporting for the radio...published at 14:24 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Today in Parliament presenter tweets

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  2. Will fishing frameworks be changed without Scottish consent?published at 14:11 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Fisheries statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Deidre BrockImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Deidre Brock says that these red lines might now be considered "red herrings". She says that the UK will still be under the CFP but will not have a minister at the table agreeing to the quotas.

    She asks for guarantees that the fisheries frameworks will not be changed without agreement of the Scottish government.

    Mr Gove says that the government will consult with the Scottish government before changes are made.

    He adds that Scottish fishermen have "no friends" in the Scottish National Party.

  3. There is a 'huge gap' between this and what will happen - Labourpublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Fisheries statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sue HaymanImage source, HoC

    Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman says that Michael Gove made fisheries the "poster child" of the Leave campaign.

    She says that there is a "huge gap" between his "vision" and what he will actually end up delivering.

    "This white paper is full of optimism for the negotiations," she says, but the only deal agreed so far is that the UK will keep its current fishing policies during the transition period.

    70% of what we catch is exported, she says, while 80% of what we eat is imported. There's no point in catching more fish if it's going to rot at the border before being exported, she states.

    Mr Gove says that the UK will be treated as an "independent coastal state" by December 2020, which is before the end of the transition period.

    He adds that opportunities arise as a result of the UK leaving the CFP. He adds that Labour members of the European Parliament voted against the UK leaving the policy.

  4. Commons hears statement on fisheries policypublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Fisheries statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Michael GoveImage source, HoC

    Michael Gove, the environment secretary, is giving a statement about fisheries policy.

    The government is holding a consultation on its plans for fishing once the UK has left the EU, when it will no longer be subject to the Common Fisheries Policy.

    Fishing has become a controversial part of the Brexit process, as fishing communities hope to gain from new policies and environment campaigners oppose any relaxation of regulations.

    Mr Gove says that the government is today publishing a white paper on fishing, external.

    He states that allocations are made using out of date data which do not reflect recent changes in the water.

    The government is determined to make a policy which ensures profitability and sustainability "for decades to come," he says.

  5. PMQs: the verdictpublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Conservatives in general and the government in particular have found a week of Cabinet splits and ministerial crossfire over Brexit pretty hard to take.

    So did Jeremy Corbyn miss an opportunity to rub salt into open wounds, by talking about buses, not Brexit?

    The Westminster bubble always prefers to hear about its own concerns, but it is flat out wrong to be dismissive of the problems on the buses – and maybe the choice of question reflected his experience of trying to penetrate the PM’s carefully phrased formulae on customs unions and immigration.

    But if Mr Corbyn didn’t delve into Brexit, Brexiteers Owen Paterson and Edward Leigh did attempt to drill down.

    Mr Paterson delivered a humorous-sounding question referencing President Macron’s plan to hold performance reviews of his cabinet. But don’t mistake the menace behind the genial grin. He was targeting “soft Brexit” cabinet ministers like the Chancellor and the business secretary, to be sure, but he was also nailing the PM to her own election promises, and signalling that he wanted no retreat from them.

    Sir Edward followed up by seeking reassurance on key Brexiteer concerns about securing control of immigration, and allowing the UK to strike independent trade deals, unrestricted by the EU’s single market rules.

    The PM assured him her red lines remain in place. It sounds reassuring, but were the questioners reassured?

    And I was also struck by the giggles produced by her assertion that she led a strong cabinet team – the opposition doesn’t even bother to jeer such claims any more.

    SNP's rough ride

    The SNP Leader Ian Blackford had a predictably rough ride after his party forced divisions last night to keep MPs voting while the England-Columbia game was on.

    But he zeroed in on questions about political funding. Does this mark the opening of a parliamentary second front, attacking Brexit by attacking the legitimacy of the referendum verdict?

    One telling point is the way the noise level dropped as his question unfolded, and then redoubled as he continued. Maybe the hecklers recognised a threat.

    Rebuke from NAO raised

    Then, the Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey was added to the list of under-fire Cabinet ministers when Labour's Marsha De Cordova raised the blistering rebuke she'd suffered from the Comptroller and Auditor General, the government's Wastefinder-General for misleading the House of Commons over the contents of his National Audit Office's report on the roll-out of the new super-benefit, Universal Credit.

    First, Marsha De Cordova skilfully avoided the procedural bear traps around accusations of this kind, when a false word could quite easily have resulted in the Speaker intervening,

    And then the PM responded by announcing that Esther McVey would apologies after question time - when she endured a brief noisy few minutes "correcting the record".

    Problems from all areas

    So, to summarise, the PM navigated through some dangerous waters on Brexit, but the exchanges with her backbenchers had a rather rote and ritual feel.

    And the questions provided a reminder that Brexit is not the only issue; Sir Oliver Heald's hardline call for action on the crisis on the railways demonstrates the heat Tory MPs are taking from commuters, the implementation of Universal Credit touches millions of voters and Jeremy Corbyn's bus questions highlighted another public service problem.

    The PM was, as ever, well prepared and went on the attack where she could. But the overall impression was of problems crowding in from all quarters while the government wrestles with Brexit.

  6. 'Perplexed and dismayed'published at 13:22 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    West Bank urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Christine JardineImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat Christine Jardine says she is "perplexed and dismayed" that Israel does not "comprehend" the outrage from the international community on this.

    She asks for assurances that the government will also make the case to the US President that this cannot be allowed to continue.

    Mr Burt says that the short answer to this is "yes" as conversations would not ignore such a "significant" issue.

  7. Is it time for a global response?published at 13:15 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    West Bank urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stephen GethinsImage source, HoC

    The SNP's international affairs spokesperson asks if it is time for a "global response".

    Mr Burt says it is "such a fragile time" and it is "difficult to see what steps can be taken next" to keep the two-state solution viable.

  8. Dealing with Netanyahu government 'a waste of breath' - Thornberrypublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    West Bank urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Emily ThornberryImage source, HoC

    Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry says "we are all frankly tired of asking what can be done to control and compel the Netanyahu government" to act with "basic fairness" on building permits.

    It is all frankly "a waste of breath", she states.

    "This is the time for the United Kingdom to lead the major nations of the world in recognising the Palestinian state...while there is still a state left to recognise."

    Mr Burt says that the danger of a two state solution "slipping away" has been the case "for some time".

    He adds that the UK government is "in conversation with like-minded European partners about what the response should be".

    The only viable possibility in providing peace in the region is the two state solution, he says, if there is an alternative, then he hasn't heard of it in 30 years.

  9. Summary: Esther McVey apologises to MPspublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Work and Pensions Secretary makes statement over NAO remarks

    The Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey has apologised for "inadvertently misleading" the House of Commons over Universal Credit.

    Speaking in Parliament on a point of order, Ms McVey said, "I mistakenly said that the NAO had asked for the rollout of Universal Credit to continue at a faster rate and to be speeded up. In fact, the NAO did not say that."

    She continued by saying what she had meant to say was that the NAO said "there was no practical alternative to continuing with Universal Credit. We adopt a test and learn approach to the rollout of Universal Credit, which the NAO says mainly follows good practice.

    "Therefore the point I was trying to make was that the calls from the party opposite to pause it seem to fly in the face of those particular conclusions."

    The work and pensions secretary said that she was working to set up a meeting with the NAO.

    She also said "with regard to the NAO report not taking into account the impact of the recent changes to UC. I still maintain this is the case. Such as housing benefit run-on and 100% advances and the removal of waiting days.

    "The impact of these changes are still being felt, and therefore by definition couldn't have been taken into account by the NAO report".

    Following her statement, the Labour Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee Frank Field said he had applied to the Speaker's Office for an urgent question to be asked tomorrow on the issue.

  10. This is 'state-sponsored theft'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    West Bank urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Richard BurdenImage source, HoC

    Labour's Richard Burden says that "as we speak" Israel is destroying the village and a school which was built using international funds.

    "People who live in these villages threaten no-one," he says, and he states that this is "state-sponsored theft".

    He says that it contravenes international humanitarian law and is a "war crime". He asks for an outlawing of British firms from operating with companies in illegal settlements in the West Bank.

    Mr Burt says that the community in the settlement were unable to get planning permission under Israeli law.

    "The overwhelming sense" is that "this is something that should not be happening and need not be happening," he says - and adds that this will do damage at a time when the international community want to see a two-state solution.

    He is consulting with European partners on "what should be done next".

  11. Commons hears urgent question on Khan al-Amarpublished at 13:06 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    West Bank urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alistair BurtImage source, HoC

    Labour's Richard Burden has tabled this urgent question on the demolition of Khan al-Amar in the West Bank.

    Israel's Supreme Court approved the demolition of the village at the end of May, external.

    Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt says that this morning officials in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem witnessed a bulldozer which began levelling the ground, but has not yet bulldozed any structures.

    "We deeply regret this turn of events," he states.

    "We condemn such a move," he adds, which would "strike a major blow to prospects for a two state solution".

    The British ambassador will later request formally that these demolition plans are halted.

  12. McVey apologises to MPs for misleading statementpublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Personal statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Esther McVeyImage source, hoc

    Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey is making a personal statement at the dispatch box.

    She says that during a statement on Universal Credit, she mistakenly said the NAO had asked for the Universal Credit roll out to be sped up.

    The NAO did not ask for that, and she says she wants to apologise for inadvertently misleading the House.

    She says she asked to correct the record yesterday, and says regarding the letter sent by the NAO today, she is setting up a meeting with the organisation.

  13. Stabbing raised by Chuka Umunnapublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Chuka Umunna says that one of his constituents nearly died after a stabbing in December 2016.

    His mother feared that he would be stabbed again, and asked for the family to be moved out of the borough. Last week, he was stabbed again, seven times, he states.

    He says there must be a national scheme which can move people between social housing providers.

    Mrs May says that the government is introducing an offensive weapons bill and is tackling serious violence.

    She adds that this is something for providers to work on between themselves, and he urges him to speak to the Mayor of London further about this.

  14. Tory MP calls for guarantees post-Brexitpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh asks the PM to confirm that the UK will be leaving the customs union and single market - and that after leaving the EU, the UK will have unfettered control over immigration, be able to do trade deals and have control over regulation of business.

    Theresa May says the UK will operate an independent trade policy, Parliament will determine the UK's laws and the government will end freedom of movement.

    Analysis by Mark D'Arcy:

    A Brexiteer follow-up question as Sir Edward Leigh zeros in on key concerns about securing control of immigration, and allowing the UK to strike independent trade deals, unrestricted by the EU’s single market rules.

    The PM assures him her red lines remain. A lot of circles will have to be squared at that Cabinet summit on Friday.

  15. Pound 'too funny' for an MPpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Stephen Pound is one of the Commons’ resident comedians and is probably too funny for the good of his career – read his brilliant maiden speech, back in 1997.

  16. PM: Brexit red lines still in placepublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    BBC Political Correspondent

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  17. The NHS needs 'cold cash' not 'warm words'published at 12:49 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Stephen Pound says that both he and the NHS "needs a bit of care and attention" as they celebrate their 70th birthdays, adding that the NHS doesn't need "warm words" but "cold cash". He adds that he would happily pay more in income tax to support it and asks if the prime minister would do the same.

    Mrs May replies that the government is providing the NHS with extra money, £20bn extra a year "in real terms". The government is also developing a 10-year plan "which delivers for patients," she adds.

  18. Support for Corbyn's tacticspublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

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  19. Ministers' futures questionedpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Owen patersonImage source, hoc

    Nice from Owen Paterson – with more than a hint of menace about the future of soft-Brexit cabinet ministers. But the spontaneous titters produced by the PM’s assertion that she leads a strong cabinet team tell their own tale.

  20. Bouncy castle deaths questionedpublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 4 July 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative Robert Halfon says that in 2016 in Harlow a girl lost her life when a bouncy castle blew away. The same thing happened this weekend, he states.

    He urges the Prime Minister to look at regulations on bouncy castles and temporary structures.

    Mrs May pays tribute to the children who have lost their lives, she says she shares concerns on these incidents. She says if there are any recommendations made as a result of the police investigation then the government will consider them.