House of Commons
Parliament

Labour MP Andy Slaughter asks what happens if the prime minister loses a second vote on the deal, following initial rejection of the deal by MPs.

He asks whether she would stand down, seek a general election or will that be when a so-called 'People's Vote' happens.

Theresa May says she's looking ahead to 11 December, when MPs will make a decision on the deal in the meaningful vote.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Conservative MP Andrew Murrison, who also chairs of the Northern Ireland select committee, congratulates the prime minister for introducing "alternative arrangements to the backstop" to the Brexit arrangements.

He says that "may just about cross the line for many of us". He asks what is being done to work up those arrangements, who will do it, what budget has been set and when they will be trailed.

Mrs May says she can't give immediate answers, but there have been proposals put to the government and they will consider them. They've spoken with the European Commission about ensuring they are able to discuss these options as soon as possible, she adds.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Labour peer Lord Howarth asks the leader of the Lords to confirm that if the withdrawal agreement is rejected by Parliament, a second referendum would not be an option.

He says a so-called 'People's Vote' would "strain the political divisions in society even more" and would be "a step backwards for democracy".

Leader of the House Baroness Evans says "we do not believe there should be or would be a second referendum."

Plaid Cymru peer Lord Wigley asks the minister that if the European Court of Justice rules tomorrow that Article 50 is revokable the government "will not rule out the possibility of a temporary pause to avoid unnecessarily crashing out with a shambolic no deal Brexit".

Baroness Evans says she "cannot comment on legal matters".

House of Commons
Parliament

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Independent MP John Woodcock mentions the prime minister's threat to her Brexiteer backbenchers, that if the deal is voted down there may be "no Brexit at all". He asks "if she can spell out with greater clarity how this fear may be realised".

Theresa May says many MPs have "clearly expressed the view" that remaining in the EU is preferable but she thinks it's important to reflect the referendum vote of 2016 and leave the EU.

Mrs May is in the difficult position of simultaneously threatening her Brexit supporting backbenchers with there being no Brexit at all if they fail to support her deal, while also threatening her Remain supporting backbenchers with a "no deal" Brexit.

House of Lords
Parliament

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Peers resume business after an hour's break, and Leader of the House Baroness Evans reads Theresa May's statement on leaving the European Union.

Labour's frontbench spokesperson Baroness Smith says "the prime minister's aim is to live for the moment with a carry on regardless approach," and that her deal is "an aspiration without guaranteed promises".

Baroness Smith says Labour will only accept a deal if there is a permanent customs union with long term stability for workers, businesses and citizens, and that "this deal does not deliver on the priorities".

Liberal Democrat leader Lord Newby says "even with the best negotiators, Theresa May could not have had the have your cake and eat it deal that so many wanted".

"There's no point in worrying about the details of the declaration as it's abundantly clear that it won't be accepted by the Commons," he says. "Clearly the offer of a knighthood has not done the trick."

Leader of the House Baroness Evans assures peers that "the deal offers the UK an independent trade policy and we will have a bright future going forwards."

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP Rachel Maclean expresses her support for the deal: "Not because it's perfect - it does involve compromises - but it's a matter of judgement."

She says people do not want to leave without a deal, and there is no precedent for leaving the EU, "this is a bespoke process".

She asks if the PM agrees that it has defied the critics on all sides and stood up on a number of issues.

Mrs May says the UK has stood up "rigorously" in a number of areas of the deal. Of course it isn't 100%, but that's the nature of negotiations, she says.

Despite that, she says it is a good deal for the United Kingdom and it's the right deal for the United Kingdom.

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Parliament

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Plaid Cymru MP Hywell Williams asks, if the Court of Justice rules tomorrow that Article 50 is revocable, will the prime minister introduce a "British Brexit pause" so she can "make a better fist" of resolving obvious disagreements.

Theresa May says the government will not revoking Article 50, nor will they be asking for an extension.

The UK will leave the European Union at the end of March next year, she insists.

House of Commons
Parliament

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SNP MP Pete Wishart says he's heard three "ringing endorsements" of the Brexit deal from MPs since the prime minister began her statement.

He asks if she will resign if MPs do not back the deal.

Mrs May says her focus is ensuring MPs see the benefits that the deal presents, "it is a good deal for the UK".

Every MP has a decision to make when it comes to considering their responsibility to deliver a Brexit that's good for the UK, she says.

House of Commons
Parliament

DUP Brexit spokesperson Sammy Wilson notes comments by President Macron that France would attempt to leverage greater concessions from the UK on fishing.

He asks if the PM recognises that the agreement is effectively "handing the EU a cudgel which it will use to mug us for a second time" when it comes to negotiating the future relationship.

Theresa May says she disagrees, and says that if the backstop is implemented, the UK would have control over its fishing waters.

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Parliament

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Labour MP Caroline Flint says the prime minister has made it very clear that "at all costs, she wants to avoid a no deal", and the leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn has also said that is also his position.

"Given there are 80 Conservative backbenchers who will vote down any deal, in the national interest, will the prime minister sit down with Jeremy Corbyn and have a meaningful discussion about how we make sure that when it comes to workers rights and health and safety we do not fall behind and build a sustainable customs arrangement moving forwards?" she questions.

Theresa May says the political declaration ensures that the UK "do look for that free trade area" and that the deal will deliver on jobs for people.

The prime minister adds that previously Jeremy Corbyn "had said he'd vote against any deal this government brought back".

Westminster Hall

Labour MP Helen Jones is leading a debate in Westminster Hall on an e-petition calling for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public.

The petition, external, signed by more than 290,000 people, says fireworks are a "nuisance to the public" and cause distress to children and animals. The petitioners say that fireworks should only be available for licenced displays.

Fireworks in England, Wales and Scotland can only be sold by licensed traders outside periods around major festivals Chinese New Year, Diwali, Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve, when they can be sold unlicensed. In Northern Ireland a license is needed to buy, possess and use fireworks.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour MP Rachel Reeves, who chairs the Business Committee, says part of the issue since the Brexit result has been that those who campaigned to leave had no blueprint on what they would do if they won the referendum.

She says the government is now making the same mistake.

She asks what plans are being put in place if MPs vote against the deal, and what plans are being put in place for an extension of Article 50 or a People's Vote on the deal.

Mrs May says her focus is on this deal and the fact that this deal is good for the United Kingdom in a way that protects jobs.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Dominic Grieve says reading the prime minister's open letter has caused him to "worry" because it "sets out a picture of the future at clear variance with any rational analysis of the text" of the agreement.

You can read the letter here: Brexit: Theresa May's 'letter to the nation' in full - BBC News

He says the backstop limits the UK's "freedom of action" and that the European Court of Justice will "continue to play a major part in our lives".

He says "informed debate" needs everyone to be "completely transparent" and it seems that, even when the UK leaves the EU as scheduled "our problems have hardly begun".

Theresa May says the political declaration is a "set of instructions to the negotiators" and is "ambitious" on trade terms, unlike anything the EU has given to any third country.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael says the official note of yesterday's council statement states "a fisheries agreement is a matter of priority and should build on existing reciprocal access and quota shares".

Mr Carmichael says "you can understand why our fishermen are anxious" when you compare that statement with the prime minister's words today.

He says "this situation only arises because the prime minister agreed to include fisheries policy in the transitional arrangements," and asks with the benefit of hindsight, if Theresa May will admit "that was a mistake".

Theresa May says "other member states do have concerns in relation to a number of these issues because they were not able to arrive at the position they would have preferred to have in the political declaration."

"We have resolutely stood up for our fishermen," she adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative MP and chair of the Treasury Committee Nicky Morgan says it's easy for people to criticise any deal reached and to stick to the same opinions.

"The braver thing and the right thing for this country is to challenge our views."

It's important the deal gets proper scrutiny from MPs, she says, but it's more important to recognise the risk presented by a no deal Brexit, "which would cost us far more than £38bn".

Theresa May says this is a very important moment for the country, and MPs need to look at the details and recall the need to deliver the vote, but to also consider constituents jobs and economic stability.

"This is a historic moment for our country and it's right we approach it in the right way."