Summary

  • MPs debated government efforts to roll over EU trade deals

  • They debated Holocaust Memorial Day and treating ME in afternoon

  • Prisons minister made statement on report about sexual offenders

  • Andrea Leadsom announced future parliamentary timetable

  • House of Lords debated threats from climate change

  1. MPs debate Healthcare Billpublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    DoctorImage source, Getty Images

    MPs have now moved on to the report and third reading stages of the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill.

    This is another Brexit bill which establishes the legal framework for reciprocal healthcare schemes and data sharing after the UK leaves the EU.

    There are only two amendments tabled to the bill which is likely to pass its final stages swiftly.

  2. Labour MP introduces Bill to extend Article 50published at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Presentation of Bill

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Yvette CooperImage source, European Photopress Agency

    Labour's Yvette Cooper has just introduced a bill to the Commons to extend Article 50.

    The Bill would mean that if it gets to the end of February and the end state of negotiations is no clearer, then Parliament can vote on whether or not to extend the Article 50 leaving process.

    The Bill does not revoke Article 50, it seeks to give Parliament more time to avoid a no-deal, and would need to go through both Houses, whilst also requiring time to be allocated to it.

    You can read Yvette Cooper's explanation for the Bill here, external.

    Earlier today, Ms Cooper suggested that Theresa May herself does not want no-deal, external.

  3. Attack 'example of violence filling a political vacuum'published at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Northern Ireland security situation statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Owen SmithImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Owen Smith - who is a previous shadow Northern Ireland secretary - says this is an "example of violence filling a political vacuum", and asks what Karen Bradley is going to do to kick-start peace talks with all the main parties in Northern Ireland to find a common ground.

    Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says she is working to find an appropriate framework to restore government in Stormont that "will be effective".

  4. May pressing on with DUP backstop talkspublished at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    The prime minister continues talking to the DUP and others who have Irish border backstop concerns.

    Read More
  5. Events 'separate from Brexit and absence of government in Stormont' - DUPpublished at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Northern Ireland security situation statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Nigel DoddsImage source, HoC

    DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds says he wants to praise the emergency services and PSNI for the work they have done.

    Mr Dodds says the events of the weekend are separate from Brexit and the absence of government in Stormont.

    "Let us not legitimise this," he says, "these people have no agenda."

    Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says Mr Dodds is right that these people "wanted to cause damage" and that she agrees with what he said about the quick response of the emergency services.

  6. People of NI do not want to see this on their streets - Bradleypublished at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Northern Ireland security situation statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Karen BradleyImage source, HoC

    Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says there is no desire to reopen the Good Friday Agreement.

    The attack on Saturday was a result of a threat which has existed since before the Brexit vote, she adds.

    She states that the people of Northern Ireland do not want to see this on their streets.

  7. Return of Northern Ireland Assembly 'would help situation'published at 18:13 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Northern Ireland security situation statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tony LloydImage source, HoC

    Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Tony Lloyd asks how the government are supporting businesses that were affected by the attack.

    He says he welcomes the 300 extra officers in Northern Ireland, however notes that these were Brexit related appointments, and asks if there will be more police officers deployed to the area.

    Mr Lloyd says "symbols and words make a difference in Northern Ireland" and that a no-deal and hard border across the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland "cannot happen" and would harm the area more.

    He calls for the Stormont Assembly to "get itself up and running", and says the government must show "some urgency" with regards to this.

    A return to the normalcy of politics in the area would help the situation, he says, offering to accompany Ms Bradley to Derry to show the Commons is united in wanting to improve the situation.

  8. Bombers 'have absolutely no regard' for Londonderrypublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Northern Ireland security situation statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Karen BradleyImage source, HoC

    Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley says that a "truly sickening outcome" was "only narrowly avoided" as there were no deaths from the event.

    Those who placed the device "have absolutely no regard for the people who live and work there," she says.

    There are "a number of security alerts" in Derry Londonderry today, she says. Those behind the attack "will never succeed" as Londonderry is a city which "continues to thrive".

    "These people and these actions have no place in their city," she continues.

    "This is intolerable violence which has absolutely no place in our society," she adds.

    The government "has made it clear that terrorism will not succeed" and tackling it is a "high priority", she states.

  9. MPs turn focus to Northern Ireland security situationpublished at 17:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Statement on Northern Ireland Security Situation

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    A bomb exploded in a car on Saturday nightImage source, HoC

    That's the PM's Brexit statement complete, and MPs now turn their attention to Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley, who is giving a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

    This follows a car bomb explosion outside the courthouse in Londonderry on Saturday night.

    Army bomb disposal experts also carried out a controlled explosion on a hijacked van this morning, with police currently dealing with another security alert in the city.

  10. 'We could be doing this for weeks to come' - former No 10 chiefpublished at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Former director of legislative affairs at Downing Street Nikki da Costa says if Theresa May does not secure a victory over her plan B Brexit motion next Tuesday "we could be doing this for many weeks to come".

    Ms da Costa says the removing of the £65 settled status fees demonstrates the government "taking away some of those little thing which might be an impediment".

    She adds that Tory MP Dominic Grieve's amendments "are often very successful", but that there's "a lot of debate around" about whether his reported orchestrating efforts to secure more power for backbench MPs, which would see them gain control of the timetable in the Commons, can be achieved.

    Ms da Costa says the concerns of ruling out a no-deal Brexit are two-fold, noting that the government will have to consider how it would effect Brexit policy more widely, and how it would affect the government itself - potentially taking power away from them.

  11. How can Parliament 'reset the relationship'?published at 17:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dan JarvisImage source, HoC

    Labour's Dan Jarvis asks how Parliament can "reset the relationship between Westminster and the rest of the country".

    He asks what the prime minister can do to ensure that people can "take control of their own lives and their own futures".

    Mrs May says that the government have "already been exploring" with various regional and city mayors as to what can be done. She adds that he can add views to consultations on the matter of regions getting their say.

  12. Views from MPs supporting second referendumpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  13. Lib Dem MP calls for 'People's Vote'published at 17:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tom BrakeImage source, HoC

    Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake asks the prime minister why she will not admit that there is a third way forwards which is for a 'People's Vote' with the option to remain in the EU.

    Theresa May says when it comes to the possibility of a second referendum, there are those who say they want remain on the ballot paper, those who say they want it to be the deal or no-deal, and those who say there should be a combination of all three options.

    The prime minister says people voted to leave the EU in 2016.

  14. PM words 'softening' on Brexit daypublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  15. TUC responds to workers' rights commitments from governmentpublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Earlier today, Theresa May gave assurances to the Commons that workers' rights would not be impacted under her Brexit deal.

    Responding to these remarks, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said that the PM was "trying to shore up her failed deal, with more empty rhetoric on workers' rights".

    "Trade unions have been clear all along that working people need a long-term, legally binding guarantee that their rights will keep pace with those across Europe after Brexit," she added.

    She urged the government to keep the UK aligned with the single market and customs union, and to "immediately" secure an extension of Article 50.

  16. Failing to deliver Brexit will cause 'irreparable damage' - Tory MPpublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Michael TomlinsonImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Michael Tomlinson asks Theresa May if she acknowledges that failing to deliver Brexit will cause "irreparable damage".

    Theresa May says a second referendum would damage the trust between Parliament and the people.

    Labour MP Anna McMorrin calls on Theresa May to "stop running down the clock and put this decision back to the people".

    Theresa May reminds Ms McMorrin that she stood on an election manifesto which promised to deliver on the result of the Brexit referendum.

  17. Scottish government welcomes scrapping of registration feespublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    Earlier, the prime minister announced that the government would be scrapping the £65 registration fee for EU nationals in the UK after Brexit.

    The Scottish government has responded to the news, with External Affairs Secretary in the Scottish government, Fiona Hyslop, saying she is "pleased" that the fee has been scrapped, which "should never have been suggested in the first place".

    EU citizens "should not be asked to apply simply to retain the rights that they already have", she says.

  18. Brexit deadline approaching fastpublished at 17:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  19. 'Backstop the problem where focus must lie' - DUPpublished at 17:21 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement from DUP

    The DUP's Westminster Leader Nigel Dodds says he welcomes the commitment by the prime minister to rule out extending Article 50 and the waiving of the £65 fee for EU nationals seeking post-Brexit settled status.

    In a statement released by the DUP, he says it is "encouraging" to see the prime minister "focusing on the core issues with the withdrawal agreement in a serious manner".

    Mr Dodds says the deal must work for the UK, the EU and Ireland, and that "the backstop is the problem and is where the focus must lie".

  20. Corbyn's rejection of talks 'a gift for May'published at 17:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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