House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Commons moves on to consider the Lords' amendment to the Energy Tariff Cap Bill, which would ensure that there must be an ongoing "tariff differential".

The amendment explains that this would ensure that the differences between the most and least expensive tariffs are proportional.

Business Minister Claire Perry is introducing an alternative amendment, which promises a review into the differential in tariffs.

She says that the Lords amendment, as it currently stands, would introduce an "indefinite price cap".

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour MP Madeleine Moon is introducing her ten minute rule bill on amending the definition of terminal illness in the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

"The current definition of terminally ill" is that a disease gets progressively worse and a death is expected within six months, she states.

In all, 3,618,000 people claim PIP, she says, but only 3% claim under the special rules for those expected to pass away within the six month time frame.

The rules, as they currently stand, she says, are too "restrictive".

The current tests by JobCentres do not take into account diseases which may get worse in unpredictable ways, she states.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Mr Johnson says "proper free trade deals... the Brexit we fought for", is a "prize that is still attainable".

"If the prime minister can fix that prize once again before us then I believe that she can deliver a great Brexit for Britain.

"With a positive, self-confident approach we can unite this party, unite this House, and unite this country as well."

His speech ends, and is met by both cheers and jeers across the House.

Select Committee
Parliament

Mr Benn continues to question Mrs May about her white paper. He suggests that Parliament would not really be free to change EU rules under the "common rule book" proposal, because this would automatically lead to a hard border in Ireland.

She says this is not the case.

The SNP's Angus Brendan O'Neill shows Mrs May a front page from the Irish Times which calls a hard border "inevitable" and asks her if that is true. She responds that the Chequers deal and white paper set out the ways the government will prevent this.

Mr O'Neill asks if there is enough time to get the Brexit deal done, given that her objectives have changed. "Yes," she says.

"Yes," she says again when asked if a trade deal with the US is still possible. She says the government does not want to replace European trade, but add to it.

Mr O'Neill says that the prime minister's "quite hard Brexit" leaves the UK with a "second hand car" on trade, as it replaces EU trade with smaller agreements.

Select Committee
Parliament

The question session with the prime minister starts with Labour's Hilary Benn asking if it would not strengthen Mrs May's hand to put the Brexit White Paper to a Commons vote.

She responds that many pieces of legislation have been put through Parliament, and the EU knows what her government's position is.

He asks if she can confirm that a no-deal Brexit would lead to a hard border in Ireland.

She says that there is no simple answer, and in the event of no-deal the situation at the border would depend on decisions made by the government.

Mr Benn argues that a hard border would be inevitable in these circumstances, and asks why she believes that this would still be better than a 'bad deal'.

The prime minister says she still wants a deal and remains committed to the back-stop on the border. She says work is on-going on the nature of this back-stop.

House of Commons
Parliament

The Chancellor was asked to identify the biggest opportunity from Brexit, Mr Johnson goes on - he said regulatory innovation.

It won't be from the UK, we are volunteering for vassalage, Mr Johnson says.

"We all want high standards, but it is hard to see how the Conservative government of the 1980s could have done its side side reforms with those freedoms taken away," he says.

We have less scope to do free trade deals, he says, as the Chequers paper acknowledges. And if we don't acknowledge that, then we say one thing to us and another to the public.

Mr Johnson says he is unable to support it and is happy now to speak out against it.

"It is not too late to save Brexit," he says.

"We have time in this negotiations."

The problem is not that we have failed to make the case for the Lancaster House agreement, but we haven't even tried and we must try now.

Remember the enthusiasm for Mansion House, and Lancaster House, he says, and he points out there is no majority in the House for a return to the customs union, following last night's votes.

Let us aim for that glorious vision of Lancaster House - not that miserable, permanent limbo of Chequers, he says.

We need to take one decision now, before all others: "To believe in this country and in what it can do."

The UK's admirers are expecting us to do what we said "and to take back control", he says.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is now making a personal statement following his resignation over the Chequers agreement.

He thanks those that worked with him at the department and lists the achievements made in that time, which he says would not be possible without the support of the prime minister.

He praises the PM's words at Lancaster House on free trade and not remaining part of a customs union, but says "in the 18 months that have followed, it's as if a sense of fog of self doubt has descended".

He turns from "the bright certainties of Lancaster House to the Chequers agreement."

"Lancaster House said laws shall once again be made in Westminster... Chequers makes us rule takers," he says.

"We are now claiming that we must accept every jot and tittle for our economic health, with no say of our own and no way of protecting our businesses."

The Commons has an illustrious history of resignation speeches.

These speeches have their own rules. They cannot be intervened on - and they are meant to be heard in silence.

Resignation speeches can have a devastating impact. In 1990, Sir Geoffrey Howe gave a resignation speech which, ultimately, precipitated the fall of the Thatcher government... and it was about Europe, too.

Boris Johnson is in the chamber where Sir Geoffrey Howe sat then.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HOC

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson begins his resignation statement to the Commons.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Lib Dem Jamie Stone welcomes the announcement that the space port will be in his constituency and thanks the government for making the decision.

He says it will be "a boost" for the local economy, which will "take off".

He asks about apprenticeships and whether the government will make the most of the opportunity to raise revenue by encouraging other countries to launch satellites through the space port.

Mr Gyimah thanks Mr Stone for his support.

Select Committee
Parliament

The prime minister is about to appear before the Liaison Committee - made up of the chairs of all the other select committees - just as Boris Johnson prepares to give his resignation speech in the Commons.

The committee is free to question Mrs May on any aspect of her job, and is expected to concentrate on Brexit and her relationship with President Trump.

The committee is chaired by Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who has recently criticised some of Mrs May's harder stances on Brexit and the government's plans - now dropped - for an early parliamentary recess.

House of Commons
Parliament

Shadow industrial strategy minister Chi Onwurah asks why the minister is making the statement today, when news of the space policy was "briefed to the press three days ago".

"I hope the minister does not see the sector as merely a means to positive headlines for a beleagured government," she adds

She welcomes the investment, but suggests the funds are much less than the "£1bn over four years" suggested by the government's industrial strategy.

She asks when further funds will be announced and whether this will be impacted by the cost of Galileo replacement.

Mr Gyimah says there is far more going on with space policy than was announced on Monday and today's statement goes beyond that announcement.

He says the European Space Agency is not an EU institution, and the UK "will continue to be a leading member".

The funds announced will be separate to any Galileo costs.

"Our first preference would be to continue in all elements of the Galileo system."

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, hoc

Science Minister Sam Gyimah gives a statement on the government's space policy.

This week the government launched the 2018 space survey, with A'Mhoine in Scotland to host the UK's first space port to launch satellites into polar orbit.

He says "space is a fundamental part of our economic future".

There is excitement in the sector, he says, which is an opportunity for the UK to thrive.

Whilst the House has this week has been focused on Brexit, he says "space is an area where we are leading new international partnerships".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Jess Phillips says there seems to be a lot of "whataboutery" from Conservative MPs since the issue of baby leave has emerged.

She asks how many times MPs, particularly Tory MPs, had raised with Ms Leadsom the issue of sick members needing a new system prior to baby leave being raised.

"It seems to me they've become incredibly committed to sick members of Parliament... since we suggested this need for a new system. Did anyone ever raise it before?"

The Leader of the House says "a good number of people" had raised the issue.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Labour's Emma Reynolds says she was "hauled into vote" on a number of occasions last year, "sometimes late at night", whilst on maternity leave and was unable to represent her constituents.

Andrea Leadsom says her pair was maintained during that time, so if she came into Parliament it was "her own decision".

Tory MP Nigel Huddleston suggests he knows of a number of people who have been put off from standing as parliamentary candidates because of fears over the impact of family life, and that more needs to be done to change this.

Ms Leadsom agrees and says it is vital this issue be overcome, especially as part of attempts to encourage more women to become MPs,

Lib Dem Jo Swinson says the Tory chairman broke an agreement not to take part in a Brexit vote.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz says "last night's events don't reflect well on the whole House" and were "simply not good enough".

She questions whether the debate on proxy voting could take place next week rather than in September, suggesting the Procedure Committee had put forward sufficient proposals.

She asks if proxy voting could be even introduced today without debate, on public agreement, for those on baby leave, asking if Ms Leadsom will meet with her to discuss this.

The Leader of the House says she doesn't agree that proxy could be introduced today without voting.

She adds that it would be possible to have a debate sooner, but Ms Vaz would compain if the debate was moved to "say Monday" for not giving enough notice.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The SNP's Commons business spokesperson Pete Wishart says that what happened last night "was nothing short of appalling".

He asks why Brandon Lewis voted in just some votes, but not in others. He says there is so much time wasted in the voting lobbies.

"We need reform now," he states.

Ms Leadsom says she will bring forward this debate "at the earliest opportunity".