House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Commons kicks off a busy day with questions to the Secretary of State for Wales and his ministerial team.

SNP MP John McNally is first up, asking what recent assessments have been made of the effect of Brexit on the Welsh economy.

Wales Secretary Alun Cairns says "Wales approaches Brexit from a position of strength" due to its growing economy.

Asked about the impacts on the agricultural sector and whether he called for continued free movement of people at Chequers, Mr Cairns says "that wouldn't have meant we could have met the expectations of the British people... the Chequers agreement protects the agricultural sector".

House of Commons
Parliament

The Commons' day starts with Wales questions at 11:30am.

It's a busy day for Theresa May. It's Prime Minister's Questions at midday.

As she was away last week at the Nato summit, and it's possible she may face questions about the resignations from her Cabinet over the past week and a half. And with her party split over Brexit and continued chatter about her position, it could be a tricky session.

There are then three urgent questions:

• Govia Thameslink Franchise
• Recent violence in Northern Ireland
• Arrangements for members on maternity, paternity or adoption leave and proxy voting - this comes after Liberal Democrat Jo Swinson accused Brandon Lewis, the Conservative chairman, of breaking their pairing arrangement during the customs union vote in the Trade Bill yesterday

There is then a ministerial statement on space policy from Sam Gyimah.

The former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is then due to give a resignation speech in which he is expected to criticise the government's Brexit policy.

After that - a ten minute rule bill on animal welfare, and a debate on Lords amendments to the Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill.

There is then a general debate on the future relationship between the UK and the EU, focusing on the White Paper based on the prime minister's Chequers deal.

And then Mrs May is off to address her fractious backbenchers at a meeting of the 1922 Committee.

Select Committee
Parliament

Environment Secretary Michael Gove says his department "like every other department, are stepping up our preparations for the possibility, while no one wants it, that we would leave in March 2019 and then have to trade on WTO terms".

Tory MP Michael Tomlinson asks: "That’s obviously in light of Chequers, the agreement and the subsequent White Paper?”

Mr Gove replies: "Yes. We were already in DEFRA and I think in other government departments, I know, undertaking a significant amount of work there. But there has been a step change as a result of Chequers.”

In response to further questions by Labour's Geraint Davies, Mr Gove says the "cliff edge metaphor is not the happiest".

Select Committee
Parliament

Asked how optimistic he is about agreeing a trade deal with the United States considering President Trump's "more erratic" actions, Mr Gove acknowledges that Mr Trump's "approach is different" to most people.

However, he explains that this does not mean a deal cannot be done.

"Just because his style is different doesn't mean a deal is any more unlikely, it's just more of a rollercoaster."

Committee chair Sir Bill Cash suggests Mr Trump is the first US president to take a "strong position on the EU" and that he "understands the EU in a way that quite a few other people do not", to which Mr Gove agrees.

We're waiting to hear whether former foreign secretary Boris Johnson makes a resignation statement in the Commons today.

In the meantime, this comes from our parliamentary correspondent:

Select Committee
Parliament

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The environment secretary says the government's aim is to ensure that in future "we definitely have a different approach to the CAP [Common Agricultural Policy], that is less bureaucratic and more enlightened".

In terms of dealing with the issue of the Irish border, where the CAP is considered a difficult sticking point, Mr Gove says he hopes this can be overcome by ensuring high animal welfare standards continue after Brexit.

Asked about farming subsidies, which farmers currently receive from the EU, Mr Gove says that "right up until 2022 the same amount in cash terms will be spent on environmental support" by the government, suggesting this actually provides more certainty than EU farmers have.

The SNP's Philippa Whitford asks what subsidies will be in place for "being more productive", to which the environment secretary points to subsidies for investment in technology.

Select Committee
Parliament

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Environment Secretary Michael Gove says "even the most optimistic person acknowledged" that there would be a period when the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy continue to apply after Brexit, but says that the UK and EU have found a "mature way" of dealing with this.

He says the UK will be independent from the CFP from 2021, but will operate under CFP rules until then.

Asked about the impact tariff agreement changes will have on the fishing industry, he says "there are strong economic reasons for the EU to continue to allow tariff free access, for food at at least", as the UK imports significantly more food from the EU than it exports.

Select Committee
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The European Scrutiny Committee is hearing evidence this morning from Environment Secretary Michael Gove, as part of its ongoing inquiry on EU withdrawal.

The session is likely to cover the implications of Brexit for fisheries, agriculture and environment policy, including during the proposed implementation period. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is dealing with 64 areas related to Brexit from animal imports to regulation of chemicals.

Mr Gove was a key player in the Vote Leave campaign, and one of the few leading Brexiteers still in Cabinet.

After yesterday's dramas...there's more to come today.

PMQs is ahead, as well as a session of the Liaison Committee, where Theresa May will be questioned by chairs of the Commons select committees.

A debate on the UK and EU is scheduled this afternoon - and could we see a resignation statement from Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary?

First, today, though, there's a session of the European Scrutiny Committee, with MPs questioning Environment Secretary Michael Gove.

House of Commons
Parliament

The government avoided defeat in the Commons on a key part of its Brexit legislation, the Trade Bill.

Twelve pro-European Conservative MPs backed calls for the UK to stay in a "customs union" in the event that no free trade agreement had been reached with the European Union by January 2019.

But the government won by six votes, with four Labour MPs backing the government's stance.

The government were defeated by four votes on another issue with MPs agreeing to keep medicines flowing freely between Britain and the European Union after departure.

Again there were 12 Conservative rebels, who supported an amendment to the Trade Bill set out by Dr Phillip Lee.

It was only the government's second defeat on Brexit in the Commons during the passage of various bills.

Overall, the Trade Bill cleared its final stage, with a government majority of 31, and is now on its way to the Lords.

House of Commons
Parliament

The government drops its plans to rise early for the summer recess.

There was a motion on the order paper which would enable MPs to rise early (ie the Commons wouldn't sit on Monday and Tuesday next week.)

But the whips called out that the motion wasn't moved - and that means the government has dropped the proposal.

Consensus among journalists follows this tweet from the Political Editor of the Daily Mail:

House of Commons
Parliament

MPs have voted in favour of the Trade Bill at third reading. It will now progress to the Lords.

Ayes: 317

Noes:286

Majority: 31

John Pienaar
Pienaar’s Politics

Ahead of the government's narrow victory on the customs union tonight,Tory MPs were told a defeat would have led to a vote of no confidence in the government, well placed sources have confirmed to the BBC.