Summary

  • It's private members' bill day in the Commons

  • First bill is Stalking Protection Bill - Tory MP Sarah Wollaston's bill

  • MPs also debate Parking Bill

  1. Attempt to ban foie gras fails in Parliamentpublished at 20:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    A Labour call for imports of the controversial product to end after Brexit is voted down by MPs.

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  2. Labour peer: I have sympathy for the PMpublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    Baroness QuinImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Baroness Quin says the deal presented is clearly better than no deal, but it does not offer the same benefits the UK already has, even though that was promised by former Brexit secretary David Davis.

    "I have sympathy for the prime minister in her current situation," she says, as she has worked hard in negotiations to get a deal that honours the outcome of the referendum whilst also considering the best interests of the UK.

    "We're in a very difficult situation," she says, with Parliament not showing signs that they can find a solution. She also advocates another referendum on the issue.

  3. Proposed deal 'a flimsy wish list'published at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord WigleyImage source, HoL

    Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley says that he wishes "with all my heart that we were not leaving the EU".

    There are considerable concerns about the impact of Brexit on Wales and Scotland, he says. It is therefore "regrettable" that the Scottish and Welsh first ministers were not allowed to see the draft withdrawal agreement before it was published.

    He says the deal is a "flimsy wish list", and whilst Plaid recognised the need to compromise, "we can't possibly support what is now being proposed".

    "If this is meant to be a bridge over troubled waters, it's only half a bridge. It takes us to mid-air. We have no idea what follows after 2020. It is a blind Brexit."

    The decision should be put to the British people, he says, between leaving on these terms and on remaining in the EU.

    "Nobody in the right mind wants a no deal", he adds, and this should not be an option.

  4. Peer warns of 'plunging into abyss' of no dealpublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Tory peer Lord Cormack appeals to all parliamentarians to "consider very carefully what the prime minister has negotiated".

    "She's probably got the best deal that she could," he says, "and before we dismiss it, we should think very carefully about the abyss in which we would be plunging with no deal."

    He expresses concerns that a second referendum would create further divisions in the country.

    He appeals for the PM to follow Edward Heath and grant a free vote on the deal, as well as speaking "to the nation on the television...and explain face to face just what the issues are and how we can best face them together."

    "The one thing that must happen is that when all this is over we must be together as a nation."

  5. Are government avoiding chance of defeat?published at 19:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

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  6. That's it from the Commons...published at 19:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns is now introducing her adjournment debate on supporting British exports.

    Earlier today Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ministers answered questions on how businesses will be supported in all potential Brexit outcomes, before Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable asked an urgent question on Interpol's Presidency election.

    He urged the government to condemn the potential appointment of the former head of Russia's interior ministry, Alexander Prokopchuk.

    After this, there were two ministerial statements updating MPs on the Ebola crisis and on the new data, ethics and innovation centre, before MPs debated the Finance Bill in the second day of its committee stage.

    The Finance Bill passed committee stage, with the government accepting SNP and Labour amendments and avoiding any votes.

    Our coverage of the Commons will continue tomorrow with questions to department of international trade ministers at 11.30am, before what is sure to be an interesting PMQs.

    After this, MPs will debate the Fisheries Bill in its second reading.

    The bill creates the powers the UK needs to operate as an independent coastal state after leaving the EU and gives the UK the power to implement new deals negotiated with the EU and with other coastal states and manage fisheries more effectively and sustainably in future.

  7. DUP peer makes maiden speechpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and CookstownImage source, HoL

    Making his maiden speech, newly appointed DUP peer Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown says "we are proud to be a part of the United Kingdom, but the deal put forward threatens the integrity of our precious union."

    The "nominal excuse" is to avoid a hard land border, but the reality is that the deal would establish a border in the Irish sea , he says - adding that there is no need for a hard border.

    "Northern Ireland is the hostage to prevent GB leaving, or the sacrifice if it does," he says.

    He criticises those calling for another referendum, questioning whether the same people would be saying that had the vote gone the other way.

    The UK must leave on equal terms, he says, and the present proposals will not do. The DUP "will do the honorable thing and vote against them".

  8. 'This is what happens if you continually kick the can down the road'published at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    Lord Kerr of KinlochardsImage source, HoL

    Crossbench peer Lord Kerr of Kinlochard says "it didn't have to be like this and the drafters of Article 50 didn't expect it to be like this".

    "Where are the agreed architectural blueprints?" he asks, suggesting the draft agreement is just "a seven page check list" of ideals and desires.

    "This is what happens if you continually kick the can down the road", he says, and avoid honest debate on the real trade off between sovereignty and well being.

    We need to stop and think, he says, and put the decision back to the country now it is known what leaving would actually mean.

  9. MPs pass all Finance Bill amendments without divisionpublished at 19:07 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Financial Secretary to the Treasury Mel Stride sums up the debate on the second group of amendments to the Finance Bill being discussed today.

    He says the Conservative party will not be opposing SNP's new clause 14 which calls for a review of effectiveness of provisions on tax avoidance.

    The government also accepts Labour’s amendment 13 and new clause 5, avoiding any votes.

    With that, the committee stage of the Finance Bill concludes.

  10. UKIP peer: I hate to say I told you sopublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Pearson of RannochImage source, HoC

    UKIP peer Lord Pearson of Rannoch says he hates to say "I told you so", but the government didn't listen.

    The media and the civil service "have come to resembled a flock of headless chickens" in response to Brexit, he says, "except headless chickens don't squawk".

    He says the UK should stop negotiating with the EU Commission, whose only interest is "keeping it's project of Europe afloat".

    Instead a deal should be offered "directly to the people of Europe, through the Council of Ministers". Only when the UK's terms have been accepted should discussions be had on what money will be exchanged, "if any".

    "We can do it if we have the political will and the common sense."

  11. Tory MP: 'Nothing to be ashamed of in being a tax competitive economy'published at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris PhilpImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Chris Philp says there's "nothing to be ashamed of in being a tax competitive economy".

    He says if there is a tax haven in Europe it is Luxembourg and not the UK.

    "This Budget says austerity is over," he adds.

    Mr Philp says "a number of large corporate are using intellectual property charges to spirit away profits, such as Starbucks" and that this is the type of property charge the government is trying to combat in clauses 15 and 16.

    "I strongly commend clauses 15 and 16 for taking direct action to combat this," he says.

  12. Brexit decision based on a 'central self delusion'published at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Labour Lord Reid of Cardowan says the whole Brexit decision ultimately comes down to the "central self delusion" that the UK could have all the benefits of EU membership, without the obligations that come with being a member.

    "Everybody in every land knows that's a delusion," he says. "You can't have your cake and eat it."

    The UK remains in gridlock as a result of this, he says, and the only way of breaking the gridlock is by putting the decision back to the British people.

    "Let us admit that has been a mess and will continue to be a mess as long as we deprive the people of the democratic right, in light of the information known now, to make that decision."

  13. Second Brexit referendum would undermine UK's position in Europepublished at 18:43 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Conservative Lord King of Bridgewater says that whilst he is a Remainer, "I simply don't think it's realistic to have a second referendum."

    The UK's previous position in Europe, which he suggests was leading those opposed to a "much closer union", would be totally undermined if the decision were to be overturned.

    "Everybody can find something wrong with this deal," he says, but he was largely impressed by its basis, which "did seem to show evidence of sensible negotiation".

  14. DUP peer: Draft agreement would nuture calls for a united Irelandpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    DUP peer Lord Morrow says it is "patently obvious" that Northern Ireland is to be treated differently under the terms of the agreement, which fails to deliver the referendum result in every part of the United Kingdom.

    "The draft agreement if implemented as printed would threaten the future of the union", he says.

    The treatment of Northern Ireland should "ring alarm bells", he adds, as it will nuture calls for a united Ireland and weaken links with the rest of the UK.

    A backstop agreement may be harder to leave than leaving the EU, he says.

    "That's not taking back control in my opinion".

  15. Tory MP: 'Bill will effectively combat tax evasion'published at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP John Lamont says "this Budget builds on the Conservative's strong track record", adding that he strongly supports the digital service tax, which will "make tax system more fair and more suitable for the digital age".

    Following Mr Lamont, fellow MP Luke Graham says "there are many clauses which will effectively combat tax evasion in this bill."

    "We believe that taxes should be low, work should be rewarded and companies should pay their way," he adds.

  16. Bishop of Leeds: Government must repair divisions created by Brexitpublished at 18:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Bishop of LeedsImage source, HoC

    The Bishop of Leeds questions whether getting behind the Brexit deal will "bring our country back together" as some have suggested.

    "I'm not making a case for leaving, remaining, wishful thinking or dreaming," he says, but the whole debate around Brexit has been aggressive and fracturing.

    The government needs to do far more to bring the country back together, he says.

    The split down the United Kingdom is being ignored and "will not be healed by mantras of a glorious future".

  17. Crossbench peer: Conservatives have become anti-business and Far Rightpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Crossbencher Lord Dykes says it is "heartwarming" to see the Lib Dems at least supporting the remain option, compared to the Conservatives who have become anti-business and embraced Far Right ideology.

    The priority must be thinking about the younger generation, he says, and by leaving the EU the government ensures that people will lose the protection granted by EU citizenship and the European Court of Justice.

  18. Lib Dems: Brexit decision 'riddled with deceit'published at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness LudfordImage source, HoC

    Lib Dem Baroness Ludford says the deal agreed by the prime minister is a bad deal, but "that does not mean that no deal is better".

    "Only remaining in the EU is a good deal", she says, and that is what the public should be presented with as an option.

    The Brexit decision has been "riddled with deceit", she adds, with potentially criminal actions by the Leave side, and "a habit of deception and dishonesty" shown by the prime minister.

    The deal is "barely more than a shopping list of mantras to be covered", she says, not an outline of progress on a future relationship as the government suggests.

  19. Labour: Brexit agreement 'a dereliction of duty'published at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Debate on Brexit Statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness HayterImage source, HoL

    Labour peer Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town says both Brexiteers and the government repeatedly claimed that Brexit would be "smooth and orderly...smooth and orderly it has not been".

    She says the government should have worked with Parliament to agree the objectives of the negotiations, but instead the prime minister "lay down red lines before she even understood the task".

    It was also a mistake to appoint Brexiteers to key positions, she says, "who refused to heed any evidence that countered their blinkered view".

    She quotes that "David Davis was a terrible secretary, he could hardly be bothered to go to Brussels and rapidly lost respect there".

    The clock is ticking, she says, with business desperate to "know where we're heading" and no deal fast approaching. The Conservative party are making decisions to prevent "an implosion of their own party".

    The government's approach has shown "a dereliction in duty", offering "only an outline" on the future relationship. Parliament must have a bigger role in the future relationship with the EU, she says.

    "Take us with you over these negotiations. Build a proper consensus for the sake of the whole country at this highly momentous time."

  20. 1922 Committee Chair makes an appearance in the Commonspublished at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    Helen GoodmanImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Helen Goodman asks what progress ministers have made on voluntary work with the crown dependencies.

    "Having impact assessments will help to keep track of what officials are up to, and would also be in the government's interest," she says.

    Meanwhile, chair of the 1922 committee Sir Graham Brady appears in the chamber and seemingly has a brief chat with the whips on the frontbench.