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. Speaker under pressure to act over 'stupid woman' commentpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    John BercowImage source, hoc

    Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom asks why the Speaker did not apologise for calling her a stupid woman, asking "why was it when you called me a stupid woman in this Chamber you did not have to apologise?"

    The Speaker says he dealt with the matter months ago and that in meetings with Andrea Leadsom since it has been resolved: "It requires no further involvement from the chair whatsoever - the matter has been treated of and I am leaving it there," he concludes.

    Conservative MP Ms Soubry says if it was one of my male colleagues that had used that expression against the opposition, "you would take action immediately" urging the Speaker to take action "for women who are fed up of decades of being abused by men".

    The Speaker says he cannot be expected to deprecate the behavior of an individual he did not witness, to which Ms Soubry replies that "members can see the evidence on their phones", and asks if the Speaker will act if the footage is shown to him.

    "It is incumbent upon that person to recognise the misconduct and apologise for it," he says "if members produce what they believe is evidence it will be considered and I will take professional advice as fair minded people will expect me to do."

    Conservative MP Vicky Ford asks the Speaker to confirm that to call somebody "a stupid woman" is not appropriate language for the House "and I include the words, Me Too".

    Conservative MP James Cleverly says "I saw it" and calls for the Speaker to act, and the Speaker replies saying he "cannot be expected immediately to cast judgement".

  2. MPs 'queuing up to attack Bercow'published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  3. Can Speaker make Corbyn apologise?published at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Patrick McLoughlinImage source, HoC

    Conservative Sir Patrick McLoughlin says that during the PMQs exchanges, Jeremy Corbyn called Theresa May a "stupid woman". He asks if it is appropriate to call Corbyn back in to the Chamber and make him apologise.

    The Speaker, John Bercow, says he "saw no such thing". He says he "cannot be expected to pronounce" on a matter which he did not see and which was not seen by his advisers.

    He says it is "incumbent on all members of this House" to follow "best conventions". He says he cannot be expected to "pronounce a verdict" on something which he knows nothing about.

  4. Watch: SNP MP calls for no-confidence votepublished at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  5. SNP MP: Government 'cutting economy' through new immigration approachpublished at 12:59 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    SNP MP Peter Grant says immigration from the EU has significantly benefited the UK "economically, socially and culturally". He says the government has acknowledged the contribution immigrants make to the economy and that cutting it "cuts our economy".

    Yet, he says, this is exactly what the government is planning to do.

    He asks if the prime minister can identify "a single benefit" of lower earnings, lower standards of living and desperate staff shortages in public services.

    Theresa May says that if he looks at previous research it shows the numbers of people coming from the EU did have an affect on people already here and made it more difficult to find work.

  6. Is 'stupid woman' language appropriate?published at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Paul ScullyImage source, HoC

    Conservative Paul Scully asks if it "appropriate language" to call someone a "stupid woman" in the chamber.

    Mrs May says "I think that everybody in this House," particularly on the 100th anniversary of women getting the vote, should be encouraging women to get involved in politics.

  7. DUP MP urges PM to 'consider necessary changes' to EU withdrawal agreementpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The DUP's Westminster Leader Nigel Dodds urges the prime minister "to consider the necessary changes that need to be made - not just assurances - to have any realistic prospect of winning the vote."

    Theresa May says "we will look at all the options available for dealing with the issues that have been made."

    Analysis by Mark D'Arcy

    Important from the DUP’s Nigel Dodds, changes not mere assurances will be needed to secure his party’s vital 10 votes for the PM’s Brexit Deal.

    Just in case anyone was in any doubt.

  8. Tory MP asks for details on potential no deal payment to EUpublished at 12:56 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP Philip Davies says the prime minister originally said if the UK left without a deal no money would need to be paid, but has more recently said we would have to pay some money.

    "The prime minister must have taken some legal advice on this issue," he says, asking the Theresa May to set out this legal advice on how much money the UK would owe the EU if the UK leaves without a deal, and the detail of the treaty that outlines this.

    Theresa May says she does not have the information to hand and will write to Mr Davies.

  9. May v Corbyn 'trade snarks'published at 12:52 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Analysis

    Mark D'Arcy
    Parliamentary Correspondent

    We’re into trading snarks about Labour’s No Confidence manoeuvring as Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn clash.

    The PM poured on the ridicule in full panto style.

    It was an effective piece of theatre in answer to the last question from the Labour Leader, when he had no way to come back.

  10. Tory MP: No 'responsible Conservative PM' would consider no deal Brexitpublished at 12:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Anna SoubryImage source, hoc

    Tory MP Anna Soubry says "no responsible Conservative prime minister" would be "so reckless" as to take the UK out of an EU without a deal.

    She asks for the PM - when the Brexit deal is rejected by MPs - to commit to allowing MPs to consider all alternative options.

    Theresa May says the meaningful vote will happen, and it will be based on deal agreed.

    She says she recognises her concerns about no deal, but adds "the only way to ensure that we don't leave with no deal is to ensure that we leave with a deal".

  11. Watch: Corbyn calls for guarantee over Brexit vote datepublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  12. Government will reduce immigration 'to the tens of thousands'published at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Chris Elmore asks Theresa May if it's the government's intention to reduce immigration "to the tens of thousands".

    Theresa May says "yes".

  13. UK has 'Brexit crisis and no decisions' - Greeningpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justine GreeningImage source, HoC

    Conservative Justine Greening says that the UK "has a Brexit crisis and no decisions". She says that constituents want them to be represented in Parliament. She says that the message to the British people is "crisis? What crisis?"

    Mrs May says "we're in a very simple situation" and she adds that the government are having further discussions on the Northern Irish backstop.

    Once those concerns have been dealt with "we will bring the vote back to this House".

  14. Tory MP urges PM to stop 'haemorrhaging billions' on no deal preparationspublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the Health Committee, says many more staff could be recruited for the NHS if the government stopped "haemorrhaging billions preparing for a disastrous no deal".

    She asks the uncertainty to be ended by ruling out no deal, and asks for the publication of the NHS Ten Year Plan before Christmas.

    Mrs May says the simple way to ensure the UK doesn't leave the EU without a deal, "and that is to back the deal".

  15. Constituent loses job after no-deal Brexit planning - Creasypublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Stella CreasyImage source, HoC

    Labour's Stella Creasy says that within hours of no-deal preparations being stepped up, her constituent received a redundancy notice due to business uncertainty. She asks how the prime minister anticipates the government will fix the "hole" in the public finances from Brexit.

    Mrs May says that the government are planning to enact the deal that has been agreed, and adds that employment has grown over the past eight years.

  16. Labour MPs question government policy to reduce homelessnesspublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    PMQs

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds says homelessness is "a national emergency and a national disgrace".

    He questions how "with our resources, talent and wealth" can there be 320,000 people classed as homeless, and says "whatever the government thinks it is doing, it is not doing enough," he says, urging the prime minister to "try and do better next year".

    Theresa May says Mr Reynolds is "confusing homelessness and rough sleeping", and that years of reduced house building has led to increased homelessness levels.

    "Nobody should have to sleep on the streets and that is why the government is doing something about this," she adds, saying "it is this government that has ensured the highest number of houses built in the last 31 years."

    Labour MP Dan Jarvis says the ONS winter mortality figures show that in the UK over the last 10 years 313,000 people have died because of the cold, with 50,000 of these dying last winter "the highest figure since 1976".

    Mr Jarvis says the homelessness situation is "a shameful indictment on our country to not protect our elderly and most vulnerable people", and asks the prime minister what she is doing this winter "to prevent people from dying needlessly".

    Theresa May says it is important people are able to heat their homes which is why the government are helping those who are stuck on tariffs higher than they should be.

    "This will save 11 million households an average of £76," she adds.

  17. Watch: 'Oh no he isn't!'published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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  18. Why should Parliament be recalled?published at 12:40 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    Prime Minister's Questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Roger GaleImage source, HoC

    Conservative Sir Roger Gale asks why Parliament should be recalled early, particularly given the cost of security and other functions on the estate when Parliament is in recess.

    Mrs May says that the government have set out the timing for the vote on the withdrawal agreement.

  19. PM: 2019 must be the year people stand against anti-Semitismpublished at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP John Mann says 2018 saw many Jewish people questioning whether the UK was still a place of safety and security for them, and questioning whether they should remain.

    He asks if the PM agrees that next year must be a year "that we all stand up and be counted" and ensure Jewish people want to stay, to contribute and no longer fear for the future.

    Mrs May agrees that Jewish people should be able to feel safe and secure in the UK, and that she "never thought I would see the day" when this could be in question.

    It is a "terrible state of affairs".

    "There is no place for racial hatred in our society," she says, agreeing that it is absolutely right that 2019 must be the year that people stand up and say there is no place for antisemitism in society.

  20. What did the Labour leader mutter?published at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 19 December 2018

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