Summary

  • Speaker addresses MPs saying in last night's debate "culture was toxic"

  • Labour MP Jess Phillips questions government about use of political language

  • Boris Johnson says in an interview, that "tempers need to come down"

  • MPs vote not to adjourn for the Conservative party conference

  • Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman call for an inquiry into parliamentary culture

  • Boris Johnson's sister says he uses the Commons as a "bully pulpit"

  1. MPs discuss Hong Kongpublished at 11:12 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    MPs have had a brief respite from discussing Brexit as matters in Parliament turned to Hong Kong.

    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called for political dialogue between the Hong Kong authorities and protesters, and not to have any issues "crushed by force".

    Mr Raab said he has spoken to Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam about the concerns.

    Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, Mr Raab said: "I have also made clear our concern about human rights and in particular the mistreatment of those exercising the rightful to lawful and peaceful protesters.

    "The concerns of those peaceful protesters should be addressed by political dialogue, not crushed by force."

  2. MP to report government to ASApublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Get Ready for Brexit campaignImage source, Getty Images

    An MP has told the government he is going to report them to the Advertising Standards Agency over its "Get ready for Brexit" campaign.

    Independent Group for Change MP Chris Leslie said the £100m campaign, including billboards, telling people "get ready, October 31, here we come" was "inaccurate" and "misleading.

    He told the Commons: "Nowhere, not even in the small print, does it mention that the law of the land may prevent a no-deal Brexit.

    "Shouldn't the government be honest with businesses and consumers?

    "And isn't it time - as I certainly will be writing to the Advertising Standards Authority - that the government should be honest in its advertising and not mislead the public in that way?"

    Brexit minister James Duddridge replied: "Let's be honest, no-deal is a very real possibility even if this House extends - whether that's through this [act] or some other mechanism - it still might be in the same position at the end and a deal might not be done, and we'd be in a no-deal position.

    "It's right that every responsible business prepares for no-deal despite the fact we want a deal."

  3. Later in the Lords...published at 11:05 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

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  4. MP 'hugged' by Tory minister over languagepublished at 11:05 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Sky's political correspondent tweets...

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  5. Baldwin: 'Different response' from PM 'more appropriate'published at 11:03 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Harriett Baldwin.

    There was a "wall of invective" from the opposition benches in the Commons yesterday, says Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin.

    But she believes a "different response" would have been "more appropriate" from Boris Johnson when Labour MP Paula Sherriff raised the issue of abuse towards MPs - rather than to call her comments "humbug".

    Speaking about the atmosphere in the Commons broadly, she says: "We do need, all of us, to agree to move on from that kind of hostile rhetoric to something that is constructive, grown up - and find a way either to heal things through a [Brexit] deal, or to heal things by asking the people."

  6. 'The language we are hearing across the board isn't helping'published at 11:01 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Jo Cox's sister also urged politicians and the media to "think about how we speak to each other, because it does matter and it does make a difference".

    Ms Cox who was killed by a right-wing extremist days before the EU referendum in 2016.

    Kim Leadbeater told BBC Radio 5 Live that "politicians didn't do themselves any favours last night" and that "we all need reign things in a little bit in terms of the language and tone of the debate."

    She said: "Some things said last night weren't helpful. This combative and aggressive nature of doing things is a dangerous game [especially] when politicians are speaking out in genuine fear about death threats."

    She said Jo's family don't want her name to be used to silence debate as "she was an advocate for robust discussion", adding: "The language we are hearing across the board isn't helping and it's not moving things forward. Shouting at each other, that's not helping and the PM saying 'humbug' was not helpful."

  7. Jo Cox's sister: PM should reflect on his commentpublished at 10:58 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Jo Cox outside Parliament
    Image caption,

    Jo Cox

    The sister of murdered MP Jo Cox says the prime minister should reflect on his comment to MPs on Wednesday that the best way to honour the late MP was to get "Brexit done".

    Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Kim Leadbeater told presenter Emma Barnett: "I hope Boris Johnson has had a chance to reflect on that comment and realise that wasn't the most useful or accurate thing to say.

    "We all say things we don't mean [in the heat of the moment].

    "But to be fair to him I think he meant the way to move forward is to find a solution to this - but I kind of wish he hadn't used Jo's name in that context."

    She added that while her parents and family were upset by the conversation, "we have to live and breathe this day in and day out."

  8. Urgent Question on Hong Kongpublished at 10:47 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Catherine West has asked an urgent question on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong which have entered their 16th week.

    The BBC World team have written an explainer to take you through why the protests are taking place.

    You can read more here.

    Media caption,

    Hong Kong protests: Why people are taking to the streets

  9. Watch: Commons fury at Boris Johnson's languagepublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    MPs have accused Boris Johnson of using "dangerous" language after he said a "surrender act" had been passed to stop Brexit.

    Watch Wednesday's exchanges from the Commons here.

    Media caption,

    Backlash in Commons over Boris Johnson's language

  10. Wilson: 'Scaredy cats running away from electorate'published at 10:38 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sammy Wilson

    The DUP’s Sammy Wilson is a rare voice in the Commons backing the government in a debate dominated by opposition parties.

    He says: "The prime minister hit the nail on the head last night when he described this bill as he did.

    "The fact of the matter is he has got two choices: Go in all sincerity and negotiate a deal, which we know will be voted down by those who don't want us to leave the clutches of the EU, or crawl to Brussels begging to be allowed to stay at the cost of £1bn a month."

    Mr Wilson adds: "If there is such disgust, the courageous thing to do would be allow a general election, allow the people of the UK to decide what they think of this humiliating piece of legislation.

    "And if it wasn't for the fact the scaredy cats on this side of the House were running away from the electorate, they would do that today."

  11. Lucas: 'Feels like Alice in Wonderland'published at 10:28 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Caroline Lucas

    An exasperated Caroline Lucas says it "feels like we've entered into surreal world, like Alice in Wonderland".

    The Green Party MP criticises the answers from the minister, saying the government will both obey the law and not ask for an extension for Brexit.

    She adds: "Anybody watching this will just think this government has lost leave of its senses.

    "It can't claim two incompatible things and compatible."

    James Duddridge replies: "I didn't quite keep up with all the Alice in Wonderland references, but I am happy to discuss it over a cup of tea - as long as we are not considered two mad hatters."

  12. Sherriff: PM 'inciting hatred'published at 10:27 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Victoria Derbyshire

    Paula Sheriff

    Boris Johnson was "inciting hatred towards MPs" in the House of Commons on Wednesday, says Labour MP Paula Sherriff.

    "I don't say that lightly - but I know that feeling is shared by many of us, not just in the Labour party," she says, noting that she has received support from a number of MPs.

    Ms Sherriff referred to murdered MP Jo Cox in when addressing the House, saying MPs faced death threats from people using similar language.

    She says that MPs, including herself, are "really frightened" by the abuse they receive, and that Mr Johnson's response "demeans the office of the prime minister".

    "We absolutely urgently need to dial down the rhetoric," she adds. "We do have far more in common. Let's try and resolve this in a way that doesn't make people fear for their safety."

  13. Nandy: 'Clear electoral strategy' from PMpublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Lisa Nandy

    Back to today's proceedings in the House of Commons.

    Labour MP Lisa Nandy, who has been pushing for a deal for Brexit, says she has been trying to work cross-party to achieve one.

    But she tells Brexit minister James Duddridge: "We can see what is happening here. We can see what the prime minister was doing with that horrendous, divisive language yesterday.

    "We can see that this is a clear electoral strategy to whip up hate and try to divide us, and to whip up the hate of people against Parliament.

    "For those of us who do want to work cross party to achieve a deal this is making it much, much more difficult."

  14. What happened yesterday?published at 10:13 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    If you're struggling to keep up or just want to refresh your memory of yesterday's events in Parliament, BBC Political Correspondent Jonathan Blake rounds up the day's events here.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced anger in the House of Commons on Wednesday, as MPs returned to the chamber a day after the Supreme Court ruled his prorogation of Parliament unlawful.

    He said the court was "wrong" to rule on the suspension, ignoring calls to apologise and challenging opposition MPs to back a general election.

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the PM was "not fit for office, and bitter exchanges went on late into the evening as the prime minister accused his challengers of blocking Brexit.

  15. Boles: ‘I must do better’published at 10:12 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    The MP, who quit the Tory Party over Brexit, tweets…

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  16. Watson: Jo Cox could have 'healed a divided nation'published at 10:12 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Labour deputy leader Tom Watson tweeted, external: "I've been thinking very deeply about Jo Cox in the last couple of days, not least because I spent time with her sister yesterday.

    "Jo was a future party leader and potential prime minister.

    "She could have healed a divided nation and we would have been proud of her."

  17. 'About to tell the kids'published at 10:11 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    Jo Cox's husband, Brendan Cox, tweets...

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  18. Benn: 'Anxiety on both sides'published at 10:11 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hilary Benn

    Hilary Benn, who led the bill through Parliament, says he is "grateful" for the minister's answers, "but it should not need saying".

    He adds: "The fact the minister is here today having to answer is a sign of anxiety on both sides of the House, and many in the country, on how the government is conducting this matter."

    But James Duddridge says the government is focused on getting a deal, saying his day "is being filled" with work on it.

  19. No deal 'that much more likely'published at 10:09 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    BBC News Channel

    Boris Johnson's language could increase the chance of a no-deal Brexit, says Tony Travers, director of LSE London.

    "I suspect this will, at the margin, [have] made it less likely that some Labour MPs might support a version of a withdrawal deal, if Boris Johnson can negotiate one with the EU," he says.

    He adds: "His very precise way of deliberately rattling the opposition last night in the House of Commons could be read as him saying, 'I might not get a deal, and if I don't, so what?' It makes no deal that much more likely, I suspect."

  20. Duddridge: 'We will use every bit of wiggle room for a deal'published at 10:06 British Summer Time 26 September 2019

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    James Duddridge

    The Liberal Democrats' Tom Brake asks about a more specific scenario...

    "If the prime minister fails to secure a deal and refuses to send a letter, as he is required by law, is his intention to resign or stand down temporarily and let someone else in the government sign the letter for him?"

    He gets a short, sharp answer from James Duddridge: "The prime minister will obey the law."

    Former Tory Justine Greening says what the minister was trying to do was "leave the government significant wiggle room", adding that it "does this country a real disservice".

    But Mr Duddridge says he will use "every bit of wiggle room" to get a deal with the EU.