Summary

  • This morning: MPs questioned environment ministers

  • Followed by: Urgent question on sickness benefit underpayments

  • Exchanges over 'meaningful' Brexit vote for MPs dominate business statement

  • Later: Debates on supermarket supply chains and World Menopause Day

  • House of Lords debated cyber security and music education

  1. No debate on bill todaypublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Leader of the House tweets

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  2. Boris Johnson: Corbyn guilty of 'betrayal' by wanting to remain in customs unionpublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HOC

    Conservative MP Boris Johnson says the leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn is "guilty of a shameless u-turn and the betrayal of millions" by wanting to remain in the customs union.

    He asks Theresa May whether she can confirm that the very latest deadline by which the country will take back control of its tariffs and set them independently will be December 2021.

    The prime minister says Boris Johnson is "right in pointing out the u-turn" as Jeremy Corbyn "cannot hold both the decision that he wants to do trade deals around the world and be part of the customs union".

    She says she wants to see the UK taking back control of its tariffs on 1 January 2021, but the main concern should be "everyone working to ensure that the backstop never comes into place".

  3. SNP: Government showing 'open contempt' to people of Irelandpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    SNP MP Peter GrantImage source, HoC

    SNP Europe Spokesperson Peter Grant says the Scottish Parliament's paper, Scotland's Place in Europe, sets out the "least worst" possible future for Scotland.

    He asks if the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab went to Brussels "just to fail" and what went wrong last minute.

    He accuses the government of showing "open contempt" to the people of Ireland and calls for the UK to stay in the customs union.

    Theresa May says the UK wants a good deal with the EU and to be free to negotiate with other countries.

    The prime minister says the government's commitment to the people of Northern Ireland is why they are working to avoid a hard border.

    She concludes that the best option for Scotland is to remain in the UK.

  4. PM - 'I don't want to see Northern Ireland backstop used at all'published at 16:00 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Iain Duncan SmithImage source, HoC

    Tory Iain Duncan Smith urges the PM "not to listen to the groundhog opposite" and praises her commitment that the UK will not remain in the customs union.

    "That is a pledge that she made and that the British people voted for."

    He asks how long a temporary arrangement might last and who will make the decision for it to end.

    The prime minister says that the government has set out proposals of a UK-wide customs arrangement that "would end by December 2021", adding that "I don't want to see the the backstop having to be used at all."

    "What I want to is ensure that we deliver for the people of Northern Ireland on the future relationship and that that future relationship comes into place at the end of 2021 when the implementation period ends."

  5. PM: Labour has 'no firm proposals' on Brexit dealpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, HoC

    Theresa May says Jeremy Corbyn's accusation that backstop discussions are taking place to avoid questions of the future relationship are untrue, and that she has been clear "that good progress of structure and scope of future relationship has been made".

    On Jeremy Corbyn's call that a better deal is available, she says "we never hear from the Labour party what deal it is in favour of."

    "The Labour party constantly has no firm proposals on this particular issue," she says.

    The prime minister says the Conservative party is "clear on our commitment to the people of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom".

    "We are a government that is determined to deliver on the democratic vote of the people, not the opposition that wants to frustrate the people's vote," she says.

  6. A battle for the union?published at 15:54 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Do growing Brexit tensions mean a fight for the union?

    Read More
  7. Corbyn: Chequers 'dead in the water'published at 15:53 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy CorbynImage source, HoC

    Jeremy Corbyn says the statement is another "nothing has changed moment from a shambles of a government".

    He asks with less than six month to go until Brexit: "What have we got to show for it?"

    The Leader of the Opposition says "red line after red line has been surrendered" and calls Chequers "dead in the water".

    He calls for the prime minister to stand up to the "reckless voices" in her party to avoid a "race to the bottom" Brexit deal.

    Mr Corbyn calls for a "new" customs union with the EU with a say for Britain to protect jobs and manufacturing.

    He ask the prime minister to support Labour's six tests for an exit deal and to back a deal that can win support from the House of Commons and the country.

  8. 'Negotiated deal remains the best outcome for both sides' - PMpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, HoC

    Prime Minister Theresa May continues that she does "not believe the EU and the UK are far apart" in the negotiations, that both sides agree that Article 50 cannot provide the legal basis for a permanent relationship, and that the backstop must be temporary.

    She says negotiations are necessarily technical, but it all matters "to the future of our country."

    "It is about what kind of country we are and about our faith in our democracy."

    She says it is frustrating that the disagreement has occured over a backstop that may never be needed and would only be temporary, but "we cannot let this disagreement derail the prospects of a good deal, and leave us with a no deal outcome that nobody wants."

    She repeats that a "negotiated deal is the best outcome for the EU and the United Kingdom", stating that she will continue to work to achieve this.

  9. What does 'backstop to the backstop' mean?published at 15:51 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    John Campbell explains the new phrase that has entered the Brexit negotiations.

    Read More
  10. PM: 'any backstop arrangement must apply to the UK as a whole'published at 15:51 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Prime Minister Theresa May takes the stand to update MPs on Brexit negotiations which she says "are nearing the end", with laughter from the opposition bench.

    "This is the time for cool, calm heads to prevail," she says.

    She pays tribute to both negotiating teams, noting that in March citizens' rights and the financial settlement had been sorted, and she says "now, the majority of outstanding issues have been negotiated."

    "The terms of our exit are now clear and a broad agreement on the structure of our exit on issues like security are set," she says.

    She says progress has been made on Northern Ireland to ensure the Good Friday Agreement is protected and that life continues in Northern Ireland and Ireland "essentially as it does now".

    She acknowledges that the future economic partnership must be in place by the end of the implementation period, but accepts "there may be a gap between the two which requires the need for a backstop to ensure no hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and no break of the Union."

    "This will act as an insurance policy," she says.

    Theresa May says the EU have "positively responded to agreeing to explore a UK wide customs union to this backstop", and says "any backstop arrangement must apply to the UK as a whole."

    The prime minister says two problems remain. The first is the lack of time to work out a UK-wide deal which means a backstop to the backstop is required, like an insurance policy to the insurance policy, which the EU want to be their preferred option of the Northern Ireland policy.

    "We can't accept anything that threatens the integrity of the United Kingdom," she says.

    The second problem is the need for the backstop to be temporary.

    "We are not going to be trapped permanently in a single customs territory unable to do trade deals," she says.

  11. Brexit talks hit 'real problem' over borderpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Theresa May faces MPs as UK and EU fail to resolve the Irish border issue ahead of a crucial summit.

    Read More
  12. Has consideration of today's bill been pulled?published at 15:37 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    BBC's political editor and Times's deputy political editor tweet

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  13. Theresa May is updating MPs on Brexit talkspublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Union Flag and the European Flag flyingImage source, EPA

    Prime Minister Theresa May is making a statement to the House of Commons on Brexit negotiations.

    Hopes of a breakthrough were raised when the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab made an unscheduled trip to Brussels on Sunday but negotiations broke down over the Irish border issue.

    Ahead of a key summit in Brussels, the EU is believed to be seeking further reassurances to prevent a "hard border" involving physical checks.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel said earlier today that the EU single market is of decisive importance and must not be damaged by Brexit.

    Ms Merkel told the association of foreign traders that the EU wants a relationship with Britain that was unencumbered by bureaucracy. She added that time was of the essence.

  14. Employment Minister: opposition 'must stop scaring people' over UCpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Alok SharmaImage source, HoC

    Shadow work and pensions minister Marsha de Cordova asks whether disabled people will be up to £80 worse off a week under Universal Credit by losing their premiums.

    She questions whether the prime minister's claim last week that one million people would be better off through Universal Credit was truthful.

    Employment Minister Alok Sharma says a million disabled households will gain on average £110 a month on Universal Credit compared to legacy benefits, and says the shadow minister should "accept the facts".

    "I do wish members of the opposition would stop scaring people with untruths when it comes to Universal Credit," he says.

  15. Government 'behind the pensions dashboard'published at 15:33 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Asked about steps the government is taking to ensure the pensions dashboard is deliverable, Minister Guy Opperman says the government will report shortly on its viability and feasibility.

    It was widely reported over the summer that the pensions dashboard could be scrapped.

    Tory David Warburton asks for a commitment that the pensions dashboard will remain in place. Mr Opperman says the dashboard will "transform" the way people keep track of pensions and help plan for their retirement.

    Labour's Jim Cunningham asks for a date on full implementation of the dashboard. Mr Opperman suggests he should wait for the release of the report on the matter.

    Shadow work and pensions minister Jack Dromey says it's "nothing short of astonishing" that the work and pensions secretary sought to "pull the plug" on the scheme, which had "received cross-party support".

    He asks for a commitment that "there will not be renewed attempt to thwart the pensions dashboard".

    Mr Opperman says the Labour party failed to suggest the pensions dashboard, yet they are crticising the government's introduction of it. "Can I make it accutely clear... all the members of the DWP team are behind the pensions dashboard."

  16. Analysis: Speaker's position as Brexit process continuespublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    The Spectator's political editor tweets

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  17. Labour peer: Damage to DNA from toxins at Grenfell Tower must be tested immediatelypublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Private Notice Question

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord O'ShaughnessyImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Lord Kennedy now asks the government his private notice question. He asks what steps the government will take in response to concerns over the level of toxins found at the Grenfell Tower site and calls for survivors, firefighters and local residents to undergo immediate tests to monitor any damage to their DNA.

    Minister for Health and Social Care Lord O'Shaughnessy says: "Environmental monitoring continues to take place surrounding the Grenfell tower site on the advice of Public Health England."

    Lord Kennedy says many residents gained "the Grenfell cough", which suggests the high level of toxins, and these people should be tested immediately for any harmful lasting effects.

    The minister says there has been ongoing monitoring and weekly reports on the area by the air quality network, an arm of King's College London, who have found "the levels of toxins are at no higher levels than the average for London".

    "All accusations of public health threats will be looked into seriously," he says.

    Liberal Democrat peer Lord Shipley says given harmful toxins have been found miles away from Grenfell tower, NHS England should be investigating this as a matter of urgency.

    Lord O'Shaughnessy says it is not about waiting for the report, but there is "a need to get good and reliable information", and "no one is waiting around on this, there is extensive investigation going on."

  18. Link between Universal Credit claimants and food bank use questionedpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Work and Pensions questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Alison McGovern says the government suggests Universal Credit is improving, but the number of people coming to her office for food bank vouchers is "constantly increasing".

    She asks how many using foodbank vouchers are lone parents with children.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey says that under the previous Labour government the number of households in which no one had ever worked doubled, "and this is where the problem started".

    "Now we're changing that," she continues. "We've got to help people get a higher income, that we're doing."

    Conservative MP Richard Drax says there is no precise way of comparing the number of people on Universal Credit with those using food banks. He adds that the number of foreigners claiming food bank vouchers is "quite high".

    Ms McVey says the government has met food poverty charities on the issue but repeats that "the best way to support a family out of poverty is to work".

  19. Cox inquiry into Parliament staff abuse: will MPs address in the Commons?published at 15:19 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Journalists from The Guardian, the Sun and parliamentary reporter tweet

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  20. Home Office minister: Government 'committed to ensuring police attracts future leaders'published at 15:17 British Summer Time 15 October 2018

    Oral Questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour peer Lord Hunt asks what assessment the government has made of the concerns raised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council about Police and Crime Commissioners and their impact on applications for chief constable positions.

    Home Office Minister Baroness Williams says the government are "committed to ensuring that the police attracts the leaders that are needed for the future".

    Liberal Democrat peer Lord Paddick asks why there is not a wider board to ensure more accountability and discussion on decision making for chief constable decisions, and notes the rapid turnover of PCCs.

    "Even Lord Sugar has a panel of experts to help him decide who his next apprentice will be."

    Labour peer Lord Cach, a Police and Crime Commissioner, says the police and Police and Crime Commissioners come together in thinking "the cuts have gone too far and have harmed the ability of the police anywhere in the UK to do their job."