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. Labour calls for more information on trade planspublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Trade Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Smith of BasildonImage source, HoL

    Labour Leader of the House Baroness Smith, who tabled the motion which would halt further consideration of the Trade Bill, says "this is not an amendment to disrupt proceedings".

    "We want to have the committee stage and report stage but in an informed way."

    She says for peers to consider with the report stage straight away without the necessary information would be "utterly irresponsible".

    On Lord Taylor's argument that Labour are using delaying tactics, Baroness Smith says they are not the ones who have delayed Brexit for so long.

    She moves the motion for peers to vote.

  2. 'Disturbing' to see reports of changes to Good Friday Agreementpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ian BlackfordImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Westminster Leader Ian Blackford says that he shares the "abhorrence" of the bombing in Northern Ireland at the weekend.

    He says it was "disturbing" to see media reports about the opening up of the Good Friday Agremeent. He asks for assurances that there will be no changes made to the Good Friday Agreement. He accuses the government of "running down the clock".

    Mrs May says "this government will not reopen the Belfast agreement" and she insists that she has "never" considered doing so.

    "We're not running down the clock, I brought a deal to the House," she states.

  3. Government calls for Labour not to halt billpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Trade Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Taylor of HolbeachImage source, HoL

    Responding to Baroness Smith's amendment, the government's Chief Whip Lord Taylor of Holbeach says the amendment is "to delay the passage of the bill" which is "odd".

    "I do not expect the passage of this bill to be an easy one," he adds, but notes that "at face value, I have come to the conclusion that this is a tactic of disruption."

    He adds that he hopes Baroness Smith will not push the amendment to a vote, and says that if she does this, he asks peers to "consider carefully the effects".

  4. Tory MP urges flexibility on customs union with EUpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ken ClarkeImage source, HoC

    Veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke says he welcomes the PM's acknowledgement of a need for compromise, as well as her comments that she will will not compromise on a permanently open border on the island of Ireland.

    Mr Clarke suggests reaching out to remainers, at least by relaxing her "normal rejection" of a customs union and regulatory alignment. He questions whether other trade deals will fill the void left by the EU.

    The prime minister says the government put forward ideas of regulatory allignment last summer, and some MPs said they would not support or consider it.

    She says had lunch with the PM of New Zealand today, and they discussed a trade agreement then, along with UK membership of the CPTPP trade agreement , external(an Asia-Pacific trade agreement).

  5. 'It's like last week never happened' - Tory MPpublished at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  6. Watch: Labour leader calls talks 'PR sham'published at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  7. 'PM trying to sound more inclusive'published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  8. May calls for Corbyn to 'reconsider' attending Brexit talkspublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa May says it would be nice "just to have some talks with him on this issue" rather than talking about "no phoney talks".

    She says progress has been made in the talks, but "he doesn't know, because he didn't turn up to the talks".

    She says the government wants to know what it is that can enjoy the support of MPs from across the House.

    She says that only revoking Article 50 and agreeing a deal with the EU will avoid a no-deal scenario.

    She hopes Mr Corbyn will "reconsider" his decision not to attend talks, she adds.

    The government is spending money to prepare for both having a deal and also having no deal with the EU, she states.

  9. Peers continue debate on Labour Trade bill movepublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Trade Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord StratchlydeImage source, HoL

    Conservative peer Lord Strathclyde says Baroness Smith is asking peers to "stop work" which is "disappointing" and an "extraordinary procedure".

    He says he hopes Baroness Smith will withdraw her motion, as "this should not be decided in this way".

    Conservative peer Lord Lansley says the bill is not a bill to provide a power for establishing new trade agreements, "it is a bill to ensure existing trade agreements are able to be continued in law after Brexit."

    "This is a continuity bill and should seen in that light only," he adds.

    Crossbench peer Baroness Deech adds that it is "essential" that procedures are stuck to and "not paid fast and loose with", and calls for peers to not uphold proceedings on important Brexit legislation for any longer.

  10. Watch: Corbyn says May 'in denial'published at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  11. Corbyn: 'No more phoney talks'published at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Corbyn says Labour's position of seeking a new comprehensive customs union with the EU and a strong single market access agreement would be supported a majority of MPs.

    He says the party will back amendments that seek to rule out no deal, and will not rule out the option of a second referendum.

    "No more phoney talks," he says. Parliament will debate and decide: "This time I hope the government will listen."

  12. 'Time is running out' - Labour peerpublished at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Trade Bill

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness Taylor of BoltonImage source, HoL

    Conservative peer Viscount Hailsham urges his front bench to comply with the amendment and provide information about how the government plans to make international trade agreements after Brexit.

    "The public interest must be put first," he says, adding that the country will "not forgive this government" if they "crash out of Europe without a deal".

    Labour peer Baroness Taylor of Bolton says "time is running out" and calls on the government to "reconsider their approach", in relation to a lack of information being provided to the House in good time.

    "We must be able to do our job and scrutinise this bill thoroughly," she concludes.

  13. Scrapping £65 fee 'will go down well in Brussels'published at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Sun's Brussels reporter tweets

    The European Parliament called for the settled status scheme to be free of charge in a motion it passed in December 2017, external...

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  14. Parliament cannot take Good Friday Agreement 'for granted' - Corbynpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, HoC

    Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn condemns the car bomb in Londonderry at the weekend.

    He says that Parliament "cannot take for granted" the Good Friday Agreement.

    He accuses the prime minister of going through the "motions" of trying to seek consensus but he says she is still "in denial".

    He asks which of her red lines is "she prepared to move on".

    He states that there was "no flexibility, no negotiations" in the cross-party talks that were held last week.

    He welcomes the commitment that the fee for settled status will now be waived by the government.

    "There is a clear majority in the House to support a deal and to respect the referendum result," he says, but he says the PM needs to work across the House.

  15. Labour leader outlines responsepublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is responding to the PM's statement now.

  16. EU settled status fee to be waived - PMpublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    Brexit Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    A number of MPs have made representations about the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and UK citizens in the EU, she says.

    The government have already committed to protecting these rights "broadly the same terms" as now, in both the event of a deal and no deal.

    She announces that the government has decided to waive the £65 application fee for those that wish to apply for settled status, so that there is no financial barrier for any EU nationals who wish to stay. Anyone who has already applied will have their fee reimbursed.

    In addition to today's statement, she says she will table a neutral motion on the statement, which will be amendable. It will be debated and voted on next week.

    She says this is not a "rerun" of the agreement reached with the EU, but a follow up to the process of the rejection of that motion.

    Focus continues to be on winning support for the deal, she says.

  17. Brexit fee for EU citizens scrappedpublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  18. Watch: EU unlikely to extend Article 50 'without a plan'published at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  19. Sessions to update MPs offeredpublished at 15:50 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

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  20. PM 'consulting range of voices' on next stepspublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2019

    EU Withdrawal Statement

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, HoC

    Theresa May says that the "substance of the deal" can still have further "progress".

    Government benches continue to express "concern" on the Northern Ireland backstop, she says, while the government must respect the Belfast agreement, external- or the Good Friday Agreement.

    The government "will not reopen the Belfast agreement, I have never even considered doing so and neither would I," she states.

    She says she wants to provide "assurance to the House" that the government is now seeking advice from a "range" of voices independent of Parliament on what the next steps should be on the UK's future relationship with the EU.

    The government will consider giving private committee sessions, she says, allowing Parliament to remain updated but without undermining negotiations.

    She adds that MPs are concerned that environmental and workers' rights should not be eroded due to Brexit, but Parliament should be able to consider any future changes by the EU in these areas in the future, she says.