Summary

  • MPs continue debate on the government’s Brexit deal

  • They will vote on whether to approve the deal next Tuesday

  • MPs usually debate private members' bills on a Friday

  1. MPs resume Brexit debatepublished at 12:09 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Protesters outside ParliamentImage source, Reuters

    The business statement comes to an end – MPs will now continue their debate on the government’s Brexit deal, which began yesterday.

    This will be the second day of debate, before MPs are due to vote on the deal next Tuesday.

    It comes amid reports that ministers are considering giving extra protections to workers and the environment in order to win support for its deal.

    The proposals have been put forward in the form of an amendment to the government's main approval motion, from Labour Leave supporter John Mann.

  2. Disabled people 'not been listened to enough' on Brexitpublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Masham of IltonImage source, HoL

    Crossbencher Baroness Masham of Ilton says that disabled people have not been listened to enough in the Brexit debate, and she warns that those taking part in clinical trials are moving to Amsterdam.

    She says that research means that you have to attract the "brightest and best" and says 40% of researchers and 55% of post-doctoral researchers are Europeans.

    "At the moment, they have no idea how funding for post-docs will be guaranteed," she adds.

  3. World is 'laughing at' the UK - Lib Dem peerpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Purvis of TweedImage source, HoL

    Lib Dem international trade spokesperson Lord Purvis of Tweed says that a political friend of his in the Middle East-North Africa region has told him that the world is "laughing at" the UK.

    He warns that jobs are moving to Europe, and HMRC has been advising pharmaceutical companies to stockpile drugs.

    "There is finally the crashing reality of what leaving means," he says, adding: "We simply now cannot achieve an orderly exit".

    He says it is unclear what Labour wants, because if there were to be a general election Labour would have a manifesto commitment to leave the EU.

    He accuses the party of not having "real opposition" to Brexit.

  4. Regulation of medical services 'so vital to the UK' - Labour peerpublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness ThorntonImage source, HoL

    Labour's health spokesperson Baroness Thornton rises to speak on the impact of Brexit on health.

    She says that conduct and regulation of medical services "is so vital to the UK". She adds that research programmes are only protected until 2020, but most research programmes "take years".

    She states that Brexit is already having an effect on the future of research and development in the UK.

    "Clinical trials take years to plan and run," she says, adding that there is "no plan" of how clinical trials will continue after the UK leaves the EU.

  5. 'Please not another vote' - former Lords leaderpublished at 11:50 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord StrathclydeImage source, HoL

    With the conclusion of Lords oral questions, peers move to their debate on the Brexit deal.

    Conservative former leader of the Lords, Lord Strathclyde says that in the upper chamber, very few come up with "practical solutions" which might "help the prime minister".

    "This stage of Brexit was always going to end in a compromise," he states.

    He adds that there has to be "another solution" if the Commons cannot pass the deal, but, he pleads, "please not another vote," referring to the division of the first referendum.

  6. Speaker: I'll do my job, other people can seek to do theirspublished at 11:48 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour's Luciana Berger says Andrea Leadsom did not "categorically guarantee" that there will be a motion scheduled for Monday 21 January if ministers lose the vote on their Brexit deal.

    She also asks where MPs can access the advice Ms Leadsom received on the Grieve amendment, as she suggested she would share it previously.

    Ms Leadsom says "my advice was that the amendment selected yesterday would not be in order, it would not be selectable", adding that the government will abide by the amendment.

    Speaker John Bercow intervenes to add: "the responsibility for the selection of amendments is of course a matter for the Chair.

    "It is for the representative and champion of Parliament, it is not a matter for a representative of the executive branch, who is the executive's representative in the chamber of the House of Commons."

    "I'll do my job, and other people can seek to do theirs."

  7. What impact are benefit reforms having?published at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Bishop of GloucesterImage source, HoL

    The Lord Bishop of Gloucester asks what assessment the government has made of the effects of benefit reforms on families with children.

    Work and Pensions Minister Baroness Buscombe says "this is a government that supports families". She adds that "these reforms are working" as 3.3m more people are now in work.

    The Bishop of Gloucester says that poverty among families with two or more children is rising, even when a parent is in work. She asks for reconsiderations on the two-child limit to benefits.

    Baroness Buscombe says that the UK spends more than any other nation on family benefits.

    She adds that the two-child policy is for "fairness" for taxpayers. She adds that those in work would not expect to see a rise just because of the birth of a child.

  8. Leadsom accuses Labour MP of 'mansplaining my job for me'published at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Chris LeslieImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Chris Leslie suggests Andrea Leadsom keeps space free on Monday 21 January, so MPs can debate "what comes next" if the PM's Brexit deal is defeated next week.

    Ms Leadsom says she's "disappointed" that Mr Leslie is "mansplaining my job for me".

    "I am perfectly able to carry out my job, and I have already answered the question", she says.

    "The prime minister will of course abide by the terms of the Grieve amendment."

  9. Peer raises China human rights concernspublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Alton of LiverpoolImage source, HoL

    Crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool asks what the government's assessment is of the human rights situation in China, including of political activists, religious adherence, forced organ harvesting and restrictions on free speech.

    Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon says the government is "deeply concerned about restrictions" on freedoms in China.

    He adds that the government raised these concerns publicly in November 2018.

    Lord Alton says that the deterioration of human rights in China has led to the arrest and torture of up to 3,000 human rights lawyers in China.

    He asks for assurances that the government will question these accusations publicly next time there is a review.

    Lord Ahmad reassures him that last time he raised some of these issues directly, and Foreign Office officials are working through the organ harvesting accusations.

  10. MPs continue debate over Brexit ruling yesterdaypublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Pete WishartImage source, HoC

    SNP MP Pete Wishart picks up on the procedural wrangle yesterday over John Bercow's decision yesterday to approve a vote on the PM's 'Plan B' response, which ministers lost by 11 votes.

    He commends the Speaker for ensuring that the views of the House always come first, adding that ministers will be "on the losing side" if they start a battle with MPs.

    Andrea Leadsom says the events yesterday did not represent Parliament "taking back control".

    She calls on members to review Erskine May, a guide to parliamentary practice, and repeats her view that the amendment to the business motion should not have been selected for debate.

    "The role of the Chair is to uphold the rules that Parliament has made for itself, not to change those rules," she adds.

    In reply, John Bercow says there was "nothing arbitrary" about his ruling yesterday and he "requires no lectures or obligations" about how to fulfill his duties.

    The criticism, he says, is "water off a duck's back" to him.

  11. Lib Dem peer questions time to scrutinise Brexit lawspublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord BeithImage source, HoL

    Liberal Democrat Lord Beith asks how much time is being allowed to scrutinise statutory instruments , external(SIs) - a kind of secondary legislation - arising from Brexit.

    Brexit Minister Lord Callanan says the government "has a full understanding of the time required" for SIs. He says the government is confident there is enough time.

    Lord Beith says that there are 200 currently under scrutiny, and 300 will be necessary by exit day.

    He says that even if the Lords sat for eight hours a day each working day until exit day, each SI wouldn't get one hour each.

    Lord Callanan replies that the government "remains confident" that the legislation can be delivered in time.

  12. Ministers will ensure 'clearer framework' for election rules - Leadsompublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Craig MackinlayImage source, HoC

    There's a first intervention in the Commons from Tory MP Craig Mackinlay since he was yesterday cleared of breaking election expenses law during the 2015 election.

    He says there is a "fundamental need" to change election law, adding that there are "huge grey areas" in the current legislation, whilst guidance is "confused" and "sketchy".

    "I would not want anybody from this House to go through what I have been through...it is in the interest of all members that we have clear and unambiguous law", he adds.

    Andrea Leadsom welcomes Mr Mackinlay back to the Commons, she says it is "fantastic that he has been found not guilty of any offence".

    She says it has become "apparent" that election law on spending in 2015 was "fragmented and unclear", and the government will be taking steps with the Electoral Commission to ensure a "clearer and transparent framework" for future elections.

    "It's in everybody's interest we get this right, the government is committed to protecting and strengthening electoral integrity", she tells MPs.

  13. Peer asks for stair safety guarantees for new homespublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Oral questions

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord JordanImage source, HoL

    Labour's Lord Jordan asks how new properties are being designed in order to try and avoid accidents in the home.

    Housing Minister Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth says that the government wants to build homes that are "safe and secure" and is developing a programme to "review the guidance" on safety in homes.

    Lord Jordan says almost 40% of accidental injuries in hospitals are from home accidents. He adds every five days there is a "fatal fall on the stairs of a newly built home".

    He states there is a "voluntary code" of practice for safe stairs, but it is not compulsory. He asks for the 300,000 homes planned by the government to meet these voluntary guidelines.

    Lord Bourne says that the most prevalent cause of death in the home is on the stairs; he adds that the government "can give the reassurances" that Lord Jordan is seeking on this.

  14. Leadsom: No-deal Brexit 'legal default position'published at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Andrea LeadsomImage source, HoC

    Andrea Leadsom says a no-deal Brexit is the "legal default position", but MPs have an opportunity to avoid that by voting next week for the deal agreed with the EU.

  15. Labour seeks 'categorical' confirmation Brexit vote will go aheadpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Valerie VazImage source, HoC

    Shadow leader of the House Valerie Vaz says the government is "without a majority and in crisis, and in denial about the crisis."

    She urges ministers to rule out a no-deal Brexit, suggesting their failure to do so means "this government can't be trusted".

    The government pulled the previous vote on its Brexit deal, she says, and seeks "categorical" confirmation that the vote will indeed take place next Tuesday, as scheduled.

    She says nothing has changed with the agreement, just "warm words and reassurances".

    She asks whether a new agreement will be tabled, or whether MPs will be voting on "the same old agreement".

  16. No Friday sitting - extra time for PM?published at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

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  17. Today in the Lordspublished at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    In the Lords from 11am, there are questions on human rights violations in China and the impact of benefit reforms on families with children.

    Following that, the Lords will continue their debate of the EU withdrawal agreement. This will be the second of the three days the Lords have scheduled on it.

  18. Next week's business announcedpublished at 10:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Business Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Andrea LeadsomImage source, HoC

    Opening the business statement, Andrea Leadsom pays tribute to Lord Ashdown and Lord Foster, who passed away recently.

    She says next week's business will be:

    • Monday - fourth day of debate on the Brexit deal
    • Tuesday - final day of debate on the Brexit deal
    • Wednesday - debate on Immigration and Social Security (EU Withdrawal) Bill
    • Thursday - backbench business, including debate on mental health first aid
  19. Leadsom announces parliamentary timetablepublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    That's questions to transport ministers finished.

    Next up today, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has joined MPs to announce next week's timetable in the House of Commons.

    This announcement, which normally takes place on Thursday mornings, is known as the 'business statement'.

  20. Greening: Brexit amendments 'directly contradict' withdrawal dealpublished at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 10 January 2019

    Point of Order

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justine GreeningImage source, HoC

    After transport questions end, there's a point of order from former education secretary Justine Greening about amendments to the government's approval motion on the Brexit deal.

    She says the government has already accepted some amendments, and these appear to "directly contradict" the withdrawal agreement negotiated with the EU.

    But Speaker John Bercow replies that no amendments have been "accepted by anyone", since he has not yet officially selected any of them.

    He points out that, under the motion setting out the procedure for the debate, he can't select any amendments until the final day of debate next Tuesday.