Summary

  • Five-week suspension of Parliament will begin shortly

  • MPs reject for a second time government calls for a snap election

  • John Bercow announces he is standing down as Speaker on 31 October

  • MPs vote for ministers to release correspondence relating to prorogation and no-deal Brexit plans

  1. But first...published at 14:28 British Summer Time 9 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Before all of that, today's Commons sitting will begin very shortly with an hour of questions to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

    This is the first time Mr Williamson will face questions from MPs in his new role. He was appointed in July, the day before MPs went on their summer recess.

  2. Good afternoonpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 9 September 2019

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Parliament's last day before a five-week suspension.

    Downing Street has now confirmed that the suspension - officially known as prorogation - until 14 October will begin at the end of today's sitting.

    In what is shaping up to be a rather busy final day, MPs are expected to once again reject the government's call for a snap general election on 15 October.

    Before that, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will request an urgent debate on the rule of law, amid concerns No 10 may seek to get round opposition-backed legislation to block a no-deal Brexit.

    And Dominic Grieve, a Tory MP until he was kicked out last week, will apply for an urgent debate of his own - it is not yet clear what the subject will be.