Summary

  • MPs debated new figures on homeless deaths in England and Wales

  • They also debated a UN report on the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar

  • Earlier: Andrea Leadsom outlined parliamentary timetable for after Christmas

  • She said MPs' debate on the Brexit deal will resume on January 9th

  • The House of Lords debated Islamophobia in the UK

  1. Pictures from the Commons todaypublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Commons tweets

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  2. Home Secretary: 'Frequent visitors from EU will require visa or visa waiver'published at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hilary BennImage source, HoC

    Chair of the Brexit Committe Hilary Benn asks if visitors who come to the country from the EU every year will in future have to apply for a visa or a visa waiver and how much this will cost them.

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid says "in the future under the new system all people coming to this country will require a visa or a visa waiver."

    He adds that this will "probably not" come into play in 2021, but will apply to all people.

    "We have not yet determined what the cost may be," Mr Javid says.

  3. Home secretary accused of 'slamming the door of opportunity behind him'published at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Future Immigration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    David LammyImage source, HoC

    Labour MP David Lammy says his and Mr Javid's parents would not have met the wage and skills threshold being introduced by the new immigration system.

    "How is he going to look his children in the face and say he slammed the door of opportunity behind him?" he asks.

    The home secretary says "the door was closed on my parents" and others from Commonwealth countries in 1967 by a Labour government.

    He says it's important to provide a system that allows for people from multi-skill levels to come to the UK, which the system does.

  4. What a picture...published at 13:55 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PA's parliamentary reporter tweets

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  5. Home secretary: 'Plenty of time to prepare for changes'published at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Ed DaveyImage source, HoC

    Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Sir Ed Davey asks how the Home Office is going to cope with all the visa applications.

    "Far from bringing back control, won't this just be chaos?" he questions.

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid says "we will be making the best of technology - expanding our E-gate usage, and the new system does not come into play until 2021 so there is plenty of time to prepare."

    When pushed by Conservative MP Justine Greening for an exact date for when the system will be introduced, Mr Javid says January 2021, although notes that this may change depending on the implementation period.

    "This won't be a sudden change and businesses will have time to prepare," he concludes.

  6. What about the 'brightest and best' who don't meet salary limit?published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Future Immigration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP and former immigration minister Damian Green says some of the "brightest and the best" aren’t paid the salary limit and asks how the UK will attract those people, such as in sectors like social care.

    Sajid Javid says they intend to take recommendations on shortage occupations, which will be reviewed regularly. Lower salary thresholds could be set where there are shortages.

  7. 'Proposals will make us poorer economically, socially and in terms of opportunity' - SNPpublished at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stuart C McDonaldImage source, HoC

    SNP spokesperson for immigration Stuart C McDonald says "these proposals will make us all poorer economically, socially and in terms of opportunity".

    "These do not resemble an outward looking Britain, but show a government still obsessed with threshold targets," he adds.

    Mr McDonald says the proposals are "degrading for workers, bad for employers and bad for community cohesion" and are unnecessary when "freedom of movement has worked perfectly well".

    He adds that the announcements will be "disastrous for Scotland" and says if this is the best the government to do, "it is a clear indication that immigration should be in the Scottish government's hands."

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid says Mr McDonald's logic "does not follow" and that freedom of movement cannot remain when the people of the UK voted to end it two years ago.

    "When determining skill level it is perfectly reasonable to take into account salary as one of the elements, and it should not be based exclusively on that," he concludes.

  8. Three second clip: What does Corbyn say?published at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Jeremy Corbyn appears to mouth "stupid woman" after Theresa May makes panto jokes about his bid to call a no confidence vote on her handling of Brexit.

    Read More
  9. Tory MP: Is government prepared to tackle businesses that abuse immigration?published at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Future Immigration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Iain Duncan SmithImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith says the white paper "moves in the right direction".

    He adds that one of the problems is with discussions about migration is that those in favour of reducing it are considered racist. Those who voted leave didn't want migration to end, they wanted it controlled, he says.

    Access to social security benefits is a big issue, he says, and many businesses have abused that by driving down wages for migrants. He asks "is he prepared to deal with that issue?"

    Mr Javid says he emphasises need for control, which was a clear message from the referendum. He says the white paper sets out that those entering through the short term workers route will have no access to benefits.

  10. Home Secretary: £30,000 earnings threshold 'not set in stone'published at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sajid JavidImage source, HoC

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid thanks shadow home secretary Diane Abbott "for always treating these issues with courtesy and respect".

    Mr Javid says "whatever happens, when it comes to immigration, all parties are united to ensuring we remain a welcoming country to migrants across the world."

    He adds that the UK should celebrate what migrants have contributed to UK society "to make it the place it is today", and notes that there is "still more work to do" on immigration policy.

    "There are no targets in this white paper," he says, noting it is "crucial that the new system is about an individual's skills and not their nationality - what matters is what they have to contribute, and that is in the heart of these proposals".

    On the salary thresholds, Mr Javid says the Advisory Committee has suggested £30,000: "We have listened to this figure but it will not be set in stone at this point as we need to do more work to ensure we get this right."

    Mr Javid adds that a transition period is beneficial for businesses, as the current immigration system is "easy" in comparison to the new paperwork needed.

  11. 'Disgrace' that immigration paper has taken this longpublished at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Diane AbbottImage source, HoC

    Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says that since the 2016 referendum, politics has been "convulsed" by conversations on Brexit. "At the heart of the debate" are "issues around migration".

    She says it is a "disgrace" that it has taken the government this long to produce a white paper on immigration. It is "entirely because of internal disputes in cabinet," she adds.

    She asks if the government is going to continue with the "bogus and unachievable target" of reducing migration to tens of thousands. "The House will wait to see what the home secretary's attitudes to targets means in practice," she adds.

    Brexit "ought to produce a system" which moves away from "unfairness" of preferential treatment of EU citizens, she states. She asks when the Commons will know "what the minimum salary threshold will be".

    She says a £30k minimum salary threshold for immigrants will be "damaging" as many social care workers and hospital workers are employed at salaries less than that.

    "On immigration, rhetoric about global Britain is not enough," she adds.

    The system proposed will not give migrants certainty, nor employers a skilled workforce, she says.

  12. Javid announces new 'short term workers route' for seasonal workerspublished at 13:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Future Immigration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mr Javid says the government is acting to make the future immigration system work for "those coming to the country, for businesses, for public services and the UK as a whole".

    The approach maintains protections for British workers whilst cutting bureaucracy, he says.

    Here's some of the detail outlined by Mr Javid:

    Skilled workers

    He announces a new route for skilled workers, with no cap on numbers and no requirement for high skilled workers to take a resident labour market test. There will be a minimum salary threshold.

    Seasonal workers

    There will also be a short term workers route for seasonal workers and others, which will be kept under review to so it can be improved where needed. Those who come on this scheme will have no rights to access public funds, settle or bring dependants, and can come to the UK for 12 months at a time.

    This provides protection for British workers, whilst recognising that immigration alone cannot be be the solution for businesses, he says, and the government will continue to invest in improving skills in the UK.

    International students

    He adds that there will be no limit on the number of international students, and it will be made easier for them to stay.

    'Streamlined' bureaucracy

    The approach is "about opening Britain up to business, rather than creating red tape", and includes a "streamlined application" process. They will also make it possible for more people to use e-gates and phase out use of insecure national identity cards.

    The system will operate from 2021, he says, and phased in to give time to adapt, so there is no need for immediate changes or rushed through plans.

    It is the "biggest change to immigration system in a generation", but "not the final word", he says, announcing a year long programme of engagement across UK to ensure all views are heard.

    He says the new system is one that is "fair and sustainable" and addresses the concerns raised during the Brexit referendum.

  13. PMQs: what did we learn?published at 13:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    It will probably be overshadowed by the row over whether Jeremy Corbyn muttered the words “stupid woman” after the Prime Minister’s panto-style attack on his failure to put a no-confidence motion against her, but we learned a couple of interesting things from this session of PMQs.

    First, the prime minister does continue to believe that immigration can be reduced to “tens of thousands,” a fact which could discomfit the home secretary, who repeatedly refused to offer that pledge.

    Second the PM sidestepped a request form Jeremy Corbyn to confirm that the (already postponed) Meaningful Vote on her Brexit deal would take place in the week beginning 14 January – the timetable she set out just days ago. Is she, therefore, already contemplating a further postponement?

    Third, the hostile questions from her own side came not from the hard Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen, but from a series of pro-Remain figures: Sarah Wollaston, Justine Greening and Anna Soubry.

    In the PM's recent Commons appearances, the No Deal wing of the Conservative Party seems to have dialed down its rhetoric…..but that seems to have provoked an equal and opposite reaction from the “People’s Vote” wing, illustrating the continuing strategic dilemma she faces in keeping her party together.

    The PM had some well-rehearsed fun with Jeremy Corbyn’s recent tactics, and her “behind you” jibe that he should beware of his disgruntled troops struck home.

    But her own troops were not happy either – Brexiteer Tim Laughton’s jaunty invitation to spend the proceeds of a No Deal Brexit, where no divorce settlement is paid to the EU, making billions available, was also a delicate reminder of an alternative Brexit agenda that many Tory MPs would prefer.

    No-one can really be said to have “won” or “lost” this encounter (except perhaps the Speaker) but for once some useful nuggets of information were exposed.

  14. Labour leader accused of calling PM 'stupid woman'published at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  15. Home Secretary outlines Immigration White Paperpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Statement on Immigration White Paper

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sajid JavidImage source, HoC

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid says there were concerns about immigration on both sides of the Brexit debate.

    "The referendum result means we can end freedom of movement; for the first time in 40 years we will be able to say who can and who cannot come into this country."

    Mr Javid says the UK has "a proud history of being a welcoming nation - and this will not change", and says that, as the son of immigrant parents, "this cannot be over stressed".

    He adds that Britain is going to be "open for business" and that for individuals already settled in the UK "deal or no deal, we want you to stay".

    "We are not shutting our doors, we are simply making sure we have control over who comes through them," he adds, announcing that the immigration white paper is being released today.

    Mr Javid outlines the three key parts of the white paper:

    • Free movement will come to an end under the Immigration and Social Security Coordination EU Withdrawal Bill to be published tomorrow, which means "in future, everyone other than UK or Irish citizens will need to get permission to come here"
    • The existing automatic preference for EU citizens will end "leveling the playing field to welcome the most talented people from anywhere in the world"
    • Immigration will move to a skills based system "ensuring that we can attract the most talented individuals", a system endorsed by experts in the field.

    "This is fair and it will help drive up wages and productivity and the economy across the UK," Mr Javid says.

  16. Row over 'stupid woman' comment bad for Speakerpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    That was ugly for Mr Speaker – red-faced and hoarse, he was under attack from any number of Conservative MPs (Dame Margaret Becket called it an “orchestrated riot”) who cheered direct assertions that he would not have tolerated a Labour MP being called a “stupid woman”.

    Wisely, the Speaker did not react to direct accusations of bias, or attempt to peer at video clips on anyone’s smartphone, but this sustained attack eroded his authority.

  17. Reality Check: How has immigration changed since the referendum?published at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    The government is due to consult on a new immigration system for after Brexit.

    Read More
  18. Home Secretary sets out post Brexit immigration rulespublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Future of Immigration Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Home Secretary Sajid Javid is now delivering a statement on the much-delayed immigration white paper which sets out the proposed new immigration rules for after the UK leaves the EU.

    The white paper - a document setting out proposed new laws before they are formalised in a government bill - is due to be published later today.

    Under the proposed new rules, low-skilled workers from EU countries will no longer have the automatic right to work in the UK after Brexit.

  19. Watch again: row over Corbyn's alleged 'stupid woman' commentpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  20. Open challenge to the Speaker from Tory MPspublished at 13:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    Wow!

    Open challenge to the Speaker from the Leader of the House – and Conservative MPs openly derisive about the Speaker.

    This is escalating nastily, with Anna Soubry accusing him directly of bias against the government side.

    The Speaker insists he treats both sides equally. He’s looking uncomfortable now.