House of Lords
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Lord Boswell of Aynho, who chairs the Lords EU Select Committee, external, says they have published over 40 reports on Brexit, and one thing that is "abundantly clear" is that these matters are complex and "don't lend themselves to simple policies or soundbite solutions".

Most of all, whatever was said on both sides isn't absolute. "What became of our British common sense and pragmatism?" he asks.

The UK is only at the first phase of a long period of negotiations, he warns, and there is no easy solution to the problems faced: "Every option open to us involves costs and compromises."

Regardless of what happens, the UK must not burn its bridges and must maintain its friendship with the EU, but, he warns, "if you decide to jump into the unknown, remember to pack a reserve parachute".

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Sajid Javid says his "first priority" has been "to safeguard the position of the three million EU citizens living in the UK and the one million UK nationals living in the EU".

"They are our colleagues, our neighbours, and we want them to stay whether there is a deal or not," he says, adding that even in the event of no deal, "individuals and families living in the UK before we leave the EU will be eligible to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme".

Conservative MP Justine Greening asks for an assurance that pay won't equate to skill level, as she is "concerned that many talented university lecturers will not be supported".

Sajid Javid says "we must take a careful look at salary levels", and also informs MPs that he has launched a pilot for a seasonal workers scheme "to make sure we can look carefully at how we can continue to meet the needs of this important sector".

"We need a system that welcomes talent and gives preferential treatment to highly skilled workers," he says, adding that he is "confident" the Home Office "can cope with this big change".

"In controlling migration, we should always look towards our own workforce first," he says, "for the first time in a generation we will be able to build an immigration system designed in Britain, made in Britain, and that serves only our national interests."

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Labour peer Lord Mendelsohn says his confidence has "strongly waned" in the ability to deliver Brexit, and now it is time to consider whether there should be another referendum.

The date for withdrawal was set before any plan was made, he says, and the deal is not remotely sufficient, it provides absolutely no certainty whatsoever, "a cake without its ingredients is basically a biscuit".

The agreement does not remotely reduce the "poisonous impact" that Brexit has had, and will only strengthen the "the sense of betrayal" on both sides.

It is not the only option, he says, the deal should be opposed and remaining in the EU should be considered.

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid says: "Whatever happens, Britain will continue to be one of the safest countries in the world."

He adds that when the UK has left the EU "we won't be participating in those kinds of foreign and security tools, we will have our own independent foreign and defence policy and the opportunity to align ourselves with the EU."

"Concerns on immigration were a large reason why many people voted to leave the EU in 2016," he says. "The deal will allow us to create an immigration system that will not be constrained by EU laws and which works in the national interest."

Sajid Javid says that "the UK will continue to be an open and welcoming country that is open to talent across the world" and that the government "has the intentions of applying the same rules to anyone regardless of their nationality, it will be based on skills and there will be no discrimination."

When pressured by the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper on when the immigration white paper will be released, Sajid Javid says "it is still my intention to provide information in December."

"This is the most significant change to our immigration in 45 years, and rather than rushing the white paper, it is important that we get it right."

Eight possible scenarios if Theresa May can't get her EU withdrawal deal through Parliament.

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While PMQs dominated the Commons, peers have been continuing to debate the EU withdrawal agreement.

Tory peer Lord Mackay of Clashfern says the peace and security of Northern Ireland has been very much a concern for him throughout his life, and he will do everything he possibly can to defend it.

Peace in Northern Ireland is not a temporary matter, so the steps taken to secure it should not be temporary, he says. The only way to eliminate a hard border is the backstop, and the only way to eliminate the backstop is with a new customs agreement with the EU.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Whatever else happened, that edition of PMQs did not heap further pressure on the prime minister.

On most occasions, I can see some point in Jeremy Corbyn’s approach of talking about bread and butter public services, rather than targeting the issue of the day in SW1 - but with Theresa May under massive pressure, having just lost three Commons votes, and apparently heading for defeat in a vote on the central policy of her government, it seemed rather an odd choice not to pile into the government’s woes.

So while his Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, was tweeting about the unhelpful things the government’s own lawyer was saying about her proposed Brexit deal, the Labour leader defaulted to poverty, austerity and universal credit.

Important issues, to be sure, but the right ones?

On this, of all days?

When Mr Corbyn’s avowed intent is to use its Brexit divisions bring down the government?

It is possible across six questions, to pivot from one subject to another, but Mr Corbyn chose not to do so.

The SNP’s Iain Blackford did ask about Brexit – and seemed to be shaping to ask whether Scotland could get the same deal as Northern Ireland, before rather running aground, when he implied (twice) that the prime minister had deliberately misled Parliament.

SNP MPs don’t tend to mind being pulled up for infringing this particular Westminster taboo, but it took the edge of a question which could have discomforted Scottish Conservatives, who’re already feeling a little vulnerable.

The prime minister has had several very uncomfortable interludes at the dispatch box – and this was not one of them.

The session defaulted into a pretty standard exchange of charges and counter-charges, and the subsequent Brexit questions from people like Labour’s Kevin Brennan and Plaid’s Liz Saville Roberts could not be pressed, because both were limited to a single intervention.

The overwhelming impression was of a beleaguered PM powering on, and taking no further damage.

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid opens the debate, saying he "can't think of any better way to celebrate my 49th birthday".

Mr Javid says the deal ensures that the UK takes back its borders, and ends the jurisdiction of the ECJ in the UK, and that "the deal on the table is the best deal for Britain".

He adds that "no-one can pretend this deal is perfect in any sense," and says "there are potentially other ways this (an open border and free trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) can be achieved, and it is right that we explore all possible arrangements."

Mr Javid says a no-deal Brexit would cause "an immediate and indefinite loss of some security capabilities", and "this is the most comprehensive security agreement the EU has with any other country."

"We will consider further arrangements that will help the exchange of information for wanted persons and criminal records," he adds.

On the effects of a no deal Brexit, Mr Javid says "setting aside the processes we have in place with our EU partners will have consequences, no matter how much we prepare."

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Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is appearing before the Treasury Committee.

He is being asked about the government's forecasts for the impact of Brexit.

"The analysis clearly shows that leaving the European Union under any scenario has a cost," he tells MPs.

But he says the cost is worth it because "we need something that heals the country".

"Divided countries are not successful countries," he said.

"The future success of this country depends on us executing the will of the British people and leaving the European Union," Mr Hammond said.

Both the Commons and the Lords are to spend the rest of the day debating the prime minister's Brexit deal, with a short intermission in the Lords so peers can hold their daily oral question session for ministers.

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Labour MP Tulip Siddiq is introducing her Immigration (Time Limit on Deportations) Bill as a ten minute rule motion, saying "this is an issue close to my heart".

Her bill calls for a maximum period of detention under the Immigration Act 1971 of 28 days.

She says she is "proud" of her immigrant history, but there is "a practice of indefinitely detaining people in this country which is something we should be ashamed of".

"If you’re a terrorist suspect you can be detained for 14 days and if you’re a criminal suspect you can be detained without charge for 28 days but we do not afford that same protection to refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants, which should put us to shame," she says.

Mark D'Arcy
Parliamentary Correspondent

Blistering from former armed forces minister Mark Francois.

The prime minister has repeatedly faced questions about the investigations into historic allegations against armed forces personnel.

The prime minister promises a response in due course – that will not satisfy the powerful lobby of Conservative backbenchers who point (as Mr Francois did) to the “letters of comfort” which protect former IRA members from prosecution.

This is an issue which corrodes confidence on the Conservative backbenches.

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Tory Mark Francois says "the legal witch hunting of military veterans is getting worse", telling MPs of one veteran being reinvestigated for something he was cleared of 40 years ago.

This person was easy to find, he says, as he is a pensioner at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.

"Why is it that alleged IRA terrorists are given letter of comfort and we go after Chelsea pensioners instead?" he asks.

Theresa May says that around 3,500 people were killed in the Troubles, with the majority murdered by terrorists. Many of these cases require investigation, and the government has committed to new mechanisms to do this.

She is concerned however that there has been a disproportionate emphasis on those who were serving in the forces or as military policemen at the time.

The government continues to look at the issue, will be consulting on it and will be responding in due course, but she recognises the strength of the feeling about the issue, she says.

MPs can exert more influence on what the government does following Tuesday's votes.

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Liz Saville-Roberts says the Welsh Assembly is the first to reject prime minister's deal and it is "clear it won't be the last".

The Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader accuses the prime minister of being intent on inflicting her government's Brexit harm on Wales.

She asks if Ms May will rule out a "no deal" Brexit before the House of Commons forces her to do so.

Theresa May replies if the Plaid Westminster leader is concerned about the possible effect of a deal, she should "accept the deal on the table".

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The DUP's Gregory Campbell says the Brexit legal advice published this morning describes the backstop plan to avoid a hard Irish border as a permanent arrangement.

However he says the plan is based on a "false assertion", and has been used as a "negotiating ploy" used against the UK by the EU.

"It is a practical, physical, political impossibility, under any circumstances, for a hard border to emerge on the island of Ireland," he adds.

In reply Theresa May rejects the idea has been used as a ploy.

People in Northern Ireland, she adds, want something "beyond a political assertion" that a hard border will be avoided.

House of Commons
Parliament

Tory MP Derek Thomas says should the deal not pass Parliament, "will the prime minister assure us that she will seek negotiations at the soonest time possible to raise the concerns of the members of this House?"

Theresa May says: "I believe the deal we have negotiated is a good deal but I recognise concerns have been raised, especially around the backstop.

"That is an issue which I am continuing to listen to colleagues on and am considering the way forward."

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The SNP's Patricia Gibson says the European Structural Fund, external is worth billions to Scotland and will be replaced by a UK shared prosperity fund.

She asks why there has been no detail or clarity on how it will designed or when it will begin.

The prime minister replies the fund will look at dealing with disparity between communities and nations.

She adds the government will be consulting by the end of the year.