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. DUP abstains on votes in Finance Billpublished at 22:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    The DUP has abstained on a number of votes in the Finance Bill, currently being debated in the Commons.

    A senior DUP source said the abstentions were designed to warn the government that "it can’t be business as usual".

    They said the DUP was "sending a message to Theresa May that if she wants to continue down the road of the withdrawal agreement and its effect on the Union then there will be repercussions in the Commons. She could be leading them to a very bad place".

    The source continued: "Tory MPs need to realise that their jobs, their majorities, their careers depend on a good working relationship with the DUP and May doesn’t appear to be listening."

    The DUP signed a confidence and supply agreement with the government following the 2017 general election.

    The agreement hinges on them supporting the government in Budget and Brexit votes.

  2. That's it from us...published at 22:50 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The first day of consideration of the Finance (No.3) Bill at committee stage comes to an end, and MPs now move onto the adjournment debate, which tonight concerns UK entry visas and is led by SNP MP Patrick Grady.

    Committee stage of the bill will continue tomorrow.

    Before that however, MPs will question Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ministers and Conservative MP Bill Wiggin will table his Electric Vehicles (Standardised Recharging) Bill.

    Business begins at 11.30am, do join us then.

  3. MPs vote against SNP amendmentpublished at 22:49 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Following a division, MPs have voted against the SNP's amendment 7, with 41 voting in favour and 296 against.

  4. MPs divide over government Brexit statutory instrument powerspublished at 22:39 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs have voted against Labour's amendment 22.

    A total of 271 voted in favour and 295 against.

    They now divide to vote on the SNP's amendment 7, which aims to ensure no statutory instruments concerning minor amendments as a result of Brexit could be made without consulting MPs.

  5. MPs vote on Labour's amendment 22published at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour amendmentImage source, House of Commons

    MPs have divided to vote on Labour's amendment 22.

    The amendment concerns clause 89 and minor amendments made in consequence of EU withdrawal.

    It would require a review of the fiscal effects of the bill and of Brexit.

  6. Treasury forecasts would not consider opportunities of Brexit - Tory MPpublished at 22:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kevin HollinrakeImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake says he wasn't someone that campaigned to leave the EU, but the UK should not ignore the opportunities Brexit offers.

    He says a Treasury forecast, which the government has now committed to, would not consider these opportunities.

  7. Tory MP: Decisions should only be made 'with full analysis'published at 22:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Vicky FordImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Vicky Ford says EU tax decisions are very controversial "partly because decisions related to tax at a EU level are often decided unanimously so are hard for an individual state to change".

    She says decisions should only be made "when full analysis has been given and all members have read it".

    Vicky Ford adds that "a no deal would not be in this country's interest" but that the bill is "right to have minimal ability for ministers to edit the text in the event of no deal" to ensure that the country can function "on the best possible terms".

    She therefore calls for the amendments tabled against this clause to be withdrawn.

  8. SNP express concern over government preparatory expenditure motionspublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Kirsty BlackmanImage source, HoC

    SNP economy spokesperson Kirsty Blackman moves her party's amendments and expresses support for a number of other amendments.

    Amendment 7 concerns statutory instruments, she says, explaining that as part of the EU sifting committee she has seen that some of the Brexit statutory instruments put forward by the government have not been proposed in the way that they should have.

    She says the government needs to gain the trust of MPs and make information available with sufficient time for MPs to properly consider it, as well as publishing it in a public way so MPs can consider it in a way that suits them.

    Clause 90, which concerns preparatory expenditure of the emissions reduction trading scheme, is "just bizarre", she says. "I couldn't believe there would be a clause in this that would allow the government to spend as it likes...I was generally confused how a government could put that forward."

    "We think it's reasonable that if the government wants to spend money on something it should tell us how much it wants to spend", she says.

    The whole area "really annoyed me", she says, as there is no clarity. She doesn't understand how Parliament can be "taking back control...when we do not have control over government spend."

  9. Tory MP: 'Good policy making must have good facts at its heart'published at 21:47 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justine GreeningImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Justine Greening, who was a signatory to amendment 14, says "good policy making must have good facts at its heart".

    She says the analysis should go beyond what the Treasury gave "to understand what the impact on GDP might mean in terms of employment and jobs".

    "As we get into the most crucial debate in 60 years, MPs need the information to make an informed decision," she adds.

    Ms Greening says the assessment should look up to 15 years ahead.

    She adds that "this House is gridlocked" and that the government must consider every option to move forwards, "there are three choices facing out country with pros and cons all of them, and we need to have a measured debate not a divisive debate."

  10. MP expresses thanks for government concessionpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chuka UmunnaImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Chuka Umunna says his amendment sought to ensure MPs were provided with all the information they needed to come to an informed decision on the withdrawal agreement, the "biggest decision since the Second World War".

    He says the prime minister has now moved on from the "falsehood" that MPs have a choice between her deal or leaving the EU without a deal altogether, with the option of no Brexit at all recognised as a possibility.

    Suggestions that the publication of impact assessments would damage the UK's negotiating position are "ridiculous", he says, whilst the suggestions that Treasury forecasts are "rigged" or "doctored", along with with the "routine denigration of our civil servants", are a "complete and absolute disgrace".

    He points out those making those arguments do not have a good record of honesty or making predictions themselves.

    Ultimately, the amendment was an "assertion of parliamentary sovereignty", he says.

  11. The DUP's Brexit message to Theresa Maypublished at 21:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    By refusing to support the government on a series of Budget votes, the Democratic Unionists have shown, loudly and clearly, that they are not on board with the PM over Brexit.

    Read More
  12. Jo Johnson endorses amendment 14published at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jo JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Jo Johnson says "it's vital we take these decisions in light of the facts" and that he believes "amendment 14 will let us do that".

    Mr Johnson reiterates the message from his resignation letter last week that "to present the British people with this narrow choice is a failure of British statecraft on a scale unseen since the Suez crisis."

    He says he's "worried and concerned" that it has taken an amendment "to secure the commitment from the government that this full appraisal will be published in time to be considered before the meaningful vote"

    "The impact will vary sharply around the country, and we also must know which groups in society will suffer the most," he adds, "this is a debate that has been full of falsehoods and misinformation from day one."

    He says amendment 14 is "better late than never" and "will go some way to righting this wrong".

  13. Labour move 'check-and-balance' amendmentspublished at 21:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jonathan ReynoldsImage source, HoC

    Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury Jonathan Reynolds says the government's proposed Brexit deal proposes no certainty, and the UK is "teetering close to a no deal Brexit" as a result.

    He expresses concern at reports Downing Street was going to use a fall in the markets after a defeat on the withdrawal agreement to put pressure on Tory MPs.

    With clause 89 of the Finance (No.3) Bill ministers are giving themselves "the power to make amendments to tax law outside the normal allowances", he says, and Labour are therefore moving a series of amendments which provide checks and balances on this.

    "The government has spent the past two years seizing all manner of tax powers," he says.

    "It is very welcome" that the government has conceded and agreed to publish comparative economic impact assessments around Brexit, he adds.

    Labour have also moved amendments to assess whether changes lead to disparity between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, he explains - calling for the DUP to support this amendment - as well as a new clause that requires a review to be published on whether carbon emission targets will be met after Brexit.

    Leaving the European Union cannot be "used as an excuse to take a step back" on climate action, he says.

  14. What has government promised?published at 21:26 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Concession on amendment 14

    The government says it will publish an economic analysis comparing the costs and benefits of its Brexit deal with those of the UK staying in the European Union.

    A cross party group of MPs had proposed amendment 14 to the Finance Bill calling on ministers to publish the forecasts.

    Treasury Minister Robert Jenrick said MPs would be given the analysis before the meaningful vote on the final deal.

    He said, "the analysis will consider the long term costs and benefits of moving to new trading relationships with the EU and the rest of the world. And having considered the amendment .... I am happy to confirm that the baseline for this comparison will be the status quo, that is today's institutional arrangements with the EU".

    The analysis will look at a no deal scenario, a free trade agreement and the government's proposed deal.

  15. Celebration over win for amendment on economic comparisonpublished at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 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
  16. Government concession on amendmentpublished at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Parliamentary reporters tweet

    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
  17. Government to concede on economic impact amendmentpublished at 21:08 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No. 3) Bill

    Robert JenrickImage source, HoC

    Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Robert Jenrick is now introducing the next group of amendments to be discussed on clauses 68 to 90.

    He says: that "the Budget announced essential provisions to ensure the country is ready for any Brexit outcome", and the carbon emissions tax, which clause 68 introduces, would seek to initially replicate the EU model as closely as possible and would "enable businesses to make decisions with confidence".

    "It is important in a no deal Brexit that we can maintain the situation as closely as possible to the present one," he adds.

    Concessions on cross-party amendment

    On amendment 14, posed by Labour MP Chuka Umunna and Conservative MP Anna Soubry - which would force the government to publish an economic impact assessment comparing the withdrawal agreement deal with the current situation as an EU member state - Mr Jenrick confirms the government will concede on the amendment.

    He says: "MPs will get a range of data including the long term costs and benefits...and having considered the amendment I'm happy to confirm the baseline will be the status quo."

  18. What do the DUP say about tonight's abstentions?published at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    BBC 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
    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 2

    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 2
  19. Whipping operation in full swing...published at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Buzzfeed senior political correspondent 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
  20. MPs vote against SNP amendmentpublished at 20:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 November 2018

    Finance (No.3) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs have voted against the SNP amendment new clause 19, with 34 MPs voting in favour and 290 against.

    Committee stage of the Finance (No.3) Bill now turns to the second group of amendments, which are being tabled by Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury Robert Jenrick.

    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