Summary

  • The House of Lords debates private members' bills

  1. Money came from 'goodness knows what source'published at 13:09 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Pat McFaddenImage source, HoC

    Labour's Pat McFadden says that he first reported the Vote Leave spending to the Electoral Commission and the police two and a half years ago.

    He asks why it has taken that long to get to this result. He says this money was "limitless" and came from "goodness knows what source". He adds this is a "cloud" over the UK's democracy.

    Ms Smith says that his "story" ends with "this investigation". She adds that the Electoral Commission is accountable to Parliament on how it does investigations and how quickly they take.

  2. Call to 'put synthetic outrage into context'published at 13:08 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory Brexiteer Sir Christopher Chope calls on the government to "put the synthetic outrage of some Remain campaigners into some kind of context".

    He says that many of those Remainers tried to change the Electoral Commission rules on referendums themselves.

    Cabinet office minister Chloe Smith says "arguments cut both ways".

  3. Doing the Trade Bill maths...published at 13:06 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Telegraph deputy political editor tweets

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  4. Campaign based on 'half truths and lies'published at 13:06 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tommy SheppardImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Cabinet Office spokesperson Tommy Sheppard says that the campaign was based on "half truths and lies" and says that Ms Smith's responses are "woefully inaccurate". He says that the UK is heading towards "self harm".

    He asks for assurances that the government will not have anyone on its payroll who was involved in this organisation.

    Ms Smith says she will not give commitments on this today.

  5. Rudd: We need to protect confidence in democracypublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Amber RuddImage source, HoC

    Former Conservative home secretary Amber Rudd says the government should not let their commitment to delivering the result of the referendum to obfuscate from "the real questions" and "serious accusations", and protect the public confidence in the country's democracy.

    The Cabinet Officer minister agrees, and says it may be something that the House needs to come back to in future, but preserving confidence in democracy is exactly what the government is doing by responding to the Electoral Commissions report in this way.

    "This matters, and that is why we should all be prepared to look at this report and other on-going investigations in the the round."

  6. Government refuses to say if early recess motion will be withdrawnpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Recess debate

    The prime minister’s spokesman has refused to say whether the government is planning to withdraw a motion calling for an early start to Parliament’s summer recess.

    Labour, the SNP and some Conservative MPs have indicated they’ll vote against the plan to end sittings this Thursday (19 July) rather than next week, as had been planned.

    Downing Street says it suggested an early recess “following discussions with other parties” and it is listening to all views.

  7. Vote Leave showed 'contempt' for the lawpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris MathesonImage source, HoC

    Shadow Cabinet Office minister Chris Matheson says that the report is a "devastating indictment" of Vote Leave's conduct during the referendum.

    He adds that Vote Leave "showed a contempt for the law". He adds that the government has outed a whistleblower over this and Theresa May still has not sacked her advisor over this.

    The Vote Leave campaign "cannot be trusted", he states, and he asks if members of the Cabinet have been referred for investigation.

    The government is "dumping its own Euro civil war on the rest of us".

    Ms Smith says that in 2016 the Labour Party was fined for breaching spending rules for the 2015 general election. She adds that she will not comment on investigations that are ongoing.

    The Electoral Commission is independent and can "undertake any investigation it deems necessary".

    The government are "getting on" with implementing the result of the referendum, she adds.

  8. Tory MP: 'Whole damn thing needs to be blown up'published at 12:52 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Nicholas SoamesImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames says that the electoral and democratic system was "one of the great glories" of the UK, and that today's example "is gross".

    "If we are to retain the integrity and the trust of the voting public, the whole damn thing needs to be blown up and started all over again."

    Ms Smith says democracy is underpinned by rules, and that that the rules were revealed to have been broken highlights "the quality of our democracy".

  9. Peer calls for parliamentary return in Augustpublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Labour peer tweets

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. This is 'an affront to our democracy'published at 12:48 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chuka UmunnaImage source, HoC

    Chuka Umunna says the findings of the Electoral Commission are "shocking" and "an affront to our democracy". The legal counsel has said that Vote Leave has refused to co-operate and has forced the Electoral Commission to use powers to compel evidence.

    He says that as the result was so close, this overspending may have impacted the result. He asks what Leave-voting members of the Cabinet, who were connected to the Vote Leave campaign, knew about the overspending.

    He says it calls into question the "legitimacy" of the "whole Brexit process" which is "preoccupying this House".

    Ms Smith says she will "not enter into discussions" on members of the Cabinet or into ongoing investigations.

    She adds that Mr Umunna does not "believe" in the public's "ability to choose" in a referendum.

  11. 'Not appropriate' for government to comment on Vote Leavepublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chloe SmithImage source, HoC

    Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith is responding to the urgent question on Vote Leave, and says that as the results of the investigation have been referred to the police it would not be appropriate for the government to comment.

    "That electoral rules have been breached is rightly a cause for concern," she says, "but that does not mean that rules themselves are flawed."

    She says the government will work to ensure that the laws are enforced, but also that the referendum result is implemented.

  12. Urgent question asked on Vote Leavepublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Vote Leave urgent question

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Vote Leave signImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    Labour MP Chuka Umunna has been granted an urgent question requesting a statement on the Electoral Commission's investigation of Brexit campaign group Vote Leave and subsequent £61,000 fine.

    The watchdog says the group broke electoral law and avoided spending limits by funneling cash through pro-Brexit youth campaign BeLeave.

    Darren Grimes, who founded BeLeave, and Vote Leave official David Halsall have each been fined £20,000 and reported to the police.

    Vote Leave, who won the contest to be the official Leave campaign in the referendum, said the report was "wholly inaccurate" and politically motivated.

  13. MP calls for inquiry into Brexit referendumpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Labour MP tweets

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  14. Call for help for low paid workerspublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Business questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mike WoodImage source, HoC

    Conservative Mike Wood asks what steps are being taken to ensure that low paid workers are remunerated appropriately.

    Business Minister Claire Perry points to the employment figures and says workers on minimum wage are better off due to personal allowance changes. The government has identified 15.6m workers who have not been paid properly, she says.

    Mr Wood asks for the government to investigate employers, rather than for individual employees reporting their problems.

    Ms Perry says that HMRC are undertaking "risk based" work to identify employers not paying people correctly by assessing the types of work these companies do.

    Employers "must pay" the national living and minimum wage, she states.

  15. Labour to oppose government plan for early summer recesspublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Recess debate

    The shadow cabinet has decided to oppose the government's motion to bring forward the parliamentary summer break.

    The government's motion see the summer break start five days earlier than planned, on Thursday.

    But Labour says:

    Quote Message

    With the NHS in crisis, the Tory's Brexit negotiations descending into farce and local councils on the brink, the last thing Theresa May should be trying to do is send her MPs on holiday early to try and escape them bringing her down. We'll be voting against her latest desperate move.

    Labour source

    This means Labour is joining the SNP in voting against the government.

    The motion is expected after votes on the Trade Bill tonight, but the motion may not be voted on until tomorrow.

    Commons motion on the order paperImage source, HoC
  16. What about the future of the British motor sector?published at 12:01 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Business questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's John Spellar asks what discussions have been had with manufacturers on the future of the British motor sector.

    Business Minister Richard Harrington says he has recently met Unite the union on how manufacturers can best work with the government, and regularly meets representatives from the motor industry.

    Mr Spellar thanks the minister for his answer and asks what is being done to get the policy "back on track" across government, suggesting "lurches in policy by Transport department" are failing the British motor sector, comparing it to "Soviet Union ten year plans".

    The minister says the government's approach has been "generally welcomed" by industry.

  17. MP quits as minister over Brexit votepublished at 12:00 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Guto Bebb was angry at concessions Theresa May was giving to Brexiteers over future trade policy.

    Read More
  18. What will happen after the closure of feed-in tariffs?published at 11:51 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Business questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeff SmithImage source, HoC

    Labour's Jeff Smith asks what the government plans to do for small and medium sized energy producers after the planned closure of the feed-in tariff scheme.

    Business Minister Claire Perry says that the feed-in tariff scheme has been "hugely successful", meaning that costs in the technology have "dropped dramatically" but costs to the government rose.

    Mr Smith says that the government has promised an update on their feed-in tariff plans by the end of last year, but this didn't happen. He asks for the government to start the consultation on the plans.

    Ms Perry says she shares this desire to "get on with it", adding that the government will provide "certainty for investors" soon.

  19. 'A lot more listening needs to be done'published at 11:48 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Brexit-backing Clwyd West MP David Jones says the UK government needs to listen more after it backed a series of Brexiteer amendments to its customs bill.

    Read More
  20. What is the government doing to promote growth in offshore wind?published at 11:40 British Summer Time 17 July 2018

    Business questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs are putting questions to the business secretary, Greg Clark, and his ministerial team.

    Conservative Peter Aldous asks what the government is doing to promote growth in the offshore wind sector.

    Mr Clark says offshore wind has been a great success and created many jobs, and the government wants this to continue.

    Mr Aldous asks him to give priority to training opportunities for workers in the sector, and Mr Clark agrees this will be done.

    Labour's Mary Creagh asks how the environment will be protected post-Brexit, once the EU's regulations are not in force. Mr Clark says the government has made a firm commitment to protecting the environment.