Summary

  • Three MPs leave the Tory party to join breakaway group

  • Anna Soubry says Tory Eurosceptics 'running Conservative party'

  • Government's working majority reduced to nine MPs

  • In the Commons: MPs hold debate on modern anti-Semitism

  • Former UK ambassador to the EU gives evidence to Lords committee

Live Reporting

  1. Labour questions no-Brexit impact on defence spending

    Defence questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith says that a no-deal Brexit would cause "serious and lasting damage to our GDP".

    She says the hit to the UK economy would lead to a 9.3% cut to the budget of the Ministry of Defence.

    Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson says that the UK will "continue to succeed and thrive as a nation" whether the country leaves the EU with a deal or not.

  2. Labour: Army size has fallen 'every year' under Tories

    Defence questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Nia GriffithHoC

    Shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith says the size of the Army has fallen "every year since the Conservatives came to power".

    She asks what the strength of the Army will be at the end of the current Parliament, if current trends continue.

    Defence Minister Mark Lancaster says he is "confident" that the strength of the Army "will be higher than it is now".

    Ms Griffith says that doesn't "give us very much reassurance". She adds that if the rate of decline continues at current levels, the Army will be down to 68,000 by May 2022.

    Mr Lancaster adds that the reserves give the Army a combined strength of about 112,000.

  3. Tory MP questions ministers over Army recruitment

    Defence questions

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mark FrancoisHoC

    Conservative MP Mark Francois questions defence ministers about Capita - the private firm which was given a £495m contract for Army recruitment in 2012.

    The company has failed to hit soldier recruitment targets every year since.

    Mark Francois says the poor recruitment figures constitute "a threat to one element of our national security".

    In reply, Defence Minister Mark Lancaster says "the signs are positive" as Sandhurst is now "100% full", which is an improvement.

    "While applications are up, the conversion rate is getting better," for people becoming recruits, he adds.

  4. Bercow pays tribute to Paul Flynn

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Speaker John BercowHoC

    Opening the sitting, Speaker John Bercow pays tribute to Paul Flynn - the veteran Labour MP who has died after a long illness.

    Mr Bercow says Paul Flynn was "every inch an exemplar parliamentarian".

    "He spoke his mind, he did it his way, he did it with eloquence, with knowledge, with character...Paul will be greatly missed," he adds.

  5. Where will ex-Labour MPs sit?

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  6. Good afternoon

    Hello and welcome to our coverage of Parliament today – after seven MPs resigned from the Labour Party this morning in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

    The day will be getting underway shortly, when Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson will face a scheduled departmental scrutiny session.

    It follows reports that he had angered Beijing with a speech last week in which he indicated the UK's intention to send an aircraft carrier to the Pacific.

    Parliament was meant to be on a break this week – but it was cancelled to deal with legislation related to Brexit.