Here is a summary of this evening’s events:
- The government are defeated on Labour’s amendment 13 in the House of Lords. The amendment makes it an “objective” of the government during negotiations to pursue a free trade deal allowing the UK to stay “in a customs union” with the EU after Brexit.
- The government was defeated on amendment 12 which called for parliamentary approval of future trade agreements.
- Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) members in London voted to retain their links to the Labour Party while Manchester members of Jewish Labour also voted to stay in Labour and not disaffiliate.
- Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, had to issue a clarification in the Commons after appearing to say that none of the killings committed by members of the armed forces in Northern Ireland during the Troubles were unlawful.
- Prince Charles saluted the ”unparalleled bonds” between Britain and Ireland at a time of strained Anglo-Irish relations caused by Brexit at a St Patrick’s Day dinner at the Irish embassy in London.
Prince Charles hails "unparalleled bonds" between Britain and Ireland during Brexit
Prince Charles has saluted the ”unparalleled bonds” between Britain and Ireland at a time of strained Anglo-Irish relations caused by Brexit.
The Prince of Wales was attending a special St Patrick’s Day dinner at the Irish embassy in London where British and Irish politicians mingled amid continuing uncertainty and recriminations over the Irish border issue in the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
He told guests, which included members of the cabinet, that he wanted to visit each of the 32 counties in the island of Ireland before he would “drop dead”.
“Above all we are friends, we are partners and we are the closest of near neighbours, bound together by everything that we have in common – and by just how far we have come together, “ he told the 80 guests.
“This is precisely why it has been so important to my wife and myself that we too should visit Ireland so often over these past few years – to experience, and celebrate, as best we can, the unparalleled bonds between our two countries, and to highlight just what a fundamental difference they make to us all.
With just 22 days to go before the UK potentially crashes out of the EU, putting further strains on the economic and political relations between Ireland and the UK, the Irish embassy event was designed to demonstrate the resilience of relations between two countries with close historic and sometimes troubled bonds.
Among the guests invited were the deputy prime minister of Ireland, Simon Coveney, the head of the Democratic Unionist Party in the House of Commons Nigel Dodds, cabinet office minister David Lidington and other senior Westminster figures including the speaker of the house John Bercow.
Prince Charles, who visited Cork and Kerry with the Duchess of Cornwall last year, has been a frequent visitor to Ireland in the last 20 years despite the tragic deaths of the prince’s great-uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and three others who were killed in an IRA bombing in 1979.
“I must say I’m slightly amazed to find that we’ve managed to visit 15 counties already. I am quite determined before I drop dead and finally lose my marbles that I should get around to the remaining 17” he said in reference to the 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland and the six counties in Northern Ireland.
Sources have said he was determined to continue his visits to help mitigate the strains to the Anglo-Irish relations caused by Brexit.
“[As] our relationship evolves over the coming months and years, I have both the faith and the hope that the essential friendship between the people of Ireland and the people of the United Kingdom will not only endure but will renew itself for generations to come,” he said.
Speaking at the dinner, Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy prime minister said the many visits by Charles and Camilla in recent years had “created opportunities to strengthen” the friendship between communities on the two islands, “north and south, east and west”.
Charles was speaking amid a growing crisis over the UK’s departure from the EU with no sign of any deal on the Irish border to satisfy eurosceptics in the Tory Party or the DUP.
Downing Street said has insisted the meaningful vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal will go ahead as promised on Tuesday, despite negotiations in Brussels stumbling.
Prince Charles first visited the Republic of Ireland in 1995.
His visit was hailed as a success, and seen as a step on the way towards the eventual visit by the Queen in 2011.
Expert panels will advise the Government on developing alternatives to the Brexit backstop measures.
Trade and customs experts, business and trade union representatives and MPs and peers will form three groups, with the work overseen by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Treasury Financial Secretary Mel Stride.
The UK and European Union have agreed to consider a “joint work stream” to develop alternative arrangements to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.
The three panels will help influence the UK’s position in the talks, including looking at how other borders operate and the use of “cutting-edge” technology, officials said.
A Department for Exiting the EU spokesman said: “There is clear support for finding alternative arrangements to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.
“In adding business and technical expertise on top of civil service resource, we will ensure we are strengthening the Government’s efforts to identify the necessary facilitations and technologies.
“The creation of these advisory groups now will mean that we can move at pace once negotiations with the EU begin.”
Jeremy Corbyn has been warned that he needs to do more to tackle anti-Semitism after members of the Jewish Labour Movement agreed in an indicative vote to remain affiliated with the party, maintaining a link stretching back to 1920.
But the party’s leadership was given a month to act on the group’s concerns.
Labour MP Wes Streeting said it had been a “painful” meeting and warned the party was “on notice” to address concerns.
He hit out at colleagues for failing to sign up to a letter organised by fellow MP Stella Creasy expressing solidarity with Jewish members.
“I’m relieved that people are committed to staying and fighting but it is very clear, listening to what our Jewish colleagues and comrades and friends are saying, that we are so far away as a political party from having the trust and confidence of the Jewish community,” he told the Press Association.
Dame Margaret Hodge said it was an “emotional and angry but determined” meeting.
“I fought fascism on the right when I defeated the BNP, I will now fight fascism on the left,” the Barking and Dagenham MP said.
Updated
Brexit meaningful vote will go ahead, says No 10, despite talks stalling
Government sources keen to point out that MPs, who were promised the no deal vote by the PM herself, would be unlikely to let her get away with this...but there’s no doubt that there is a *lot* of scenario-planning going on... https://t.co/kkV2Yb1G6t
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) March 6, 2019
Jewish Labour Movement members back retaining their links to Labour
Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) members in London have voted to retain their links to the Labour Party.
Manchester members of Jewish Labour have also voted to stay in Labour and not disaffiliate.
JLM national secretary Peter Mason said: “The message from the Jewish Labour Movement this evening was absolutely clear.
“If the Labour Party fails to show solidarity to us, we will not show solidarity to it.
“That counts for MPs who do not sign their names to letters showing solidarity with us, that counts for Members of the Scottish Parliament, that counts for councillors.
“But we as a Jewish movement will make it very clear to the party leadership: we are not going anywhere, we are staying, we are standing and we are fighting against the corrupted anti-Semitism that has gripped our party.”
The issue of affiliation with Labour could be back on the table when the JLM has its full annual general meeting in April.
Response from @WilfStevenson following House of Lords vote tonight (207-141) for cross-party amendt to #TradeBill proposing a new #customsunion with #EU, post-#Brexit pic.twitter.com/GDKAA3BA4t
— LabourLordsUK (@LabourLordsUK) March 6, 2019
Labour withdraws amendment 15
International Trade Minister Baroness Fairhead says the amendment would require disputes to be heard by UK courts which “has the potential to undermine a successful and internationally accepted framework”.
She said the Trade Bill is not here to deal with future trade agreements and the fact there are processes already in place for complaints, Lord Stevenson should remove his amendment.
Lord Stevenson agrees to withdraw his amendment on the promise of further discussions with Baroness Fairhead.
The prospect of MPs being given an opportunity to force a softer Brexit were boosted by a government defeat in the House of Lords on the trade bill.
A cross-party alliance of peers defeated the government by 207 votes to 141 - a majority of 66 - on an amendment calling on the government to negotiate a customs union with the EU.
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, shadow international trade minister said: “The success of this cross-party Lords motion gives both the government and the House of Commons a chance to step back from the disaster of a ‘no deal’, and to deliver an outcome which would satisfy the clear majority of people in the UK.
“Ministers must now drop their red lines on Brexit and embark on a fresh approach to the negotiations with the EU – based around a new customs union that protects jobs, secures opportunities for our industries and removes the need for a hard border in Ireland.”
The bill is due back in the Commons before Brexit day - and if the government wants to remove the customs union amendment, it will have to persuade MPs to vote to do so.
Updated
Next on the agenda is Labour’s amendment 15, which calls for the involvement of judicial systems in trade disputes.
The amendment introduces a UK-based investor-state dispute settlement mechanism with parliamentary oversight.
Updated
Government defeated on Labour's amendment 13
The government has been defeated on Labour’s amendment 13, by 207 votes to 141.
The amendment makes it an “objective” of the government during negotiations to pursue a free trade deal allowing the UK to stay “in a customs union” with the EU after Brexit.
Contents: 207
Not Contents: 141
Majority: 66
Peers vote on Labour amendment 13
Peers voting on #TradeBill amendt, led by @WilfStevenson with cross-party backing calling on Govt to take all steps to enable UK to participate, post-#Brexit, in a new #CustomsUnion with #EU
— LabourLordsUK (@LabourLordsUK) March 6, 2019
Result in 15mins
Updated
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara said amendment 13 will give MPs the opportunity to say whether they wish to remain in the customs union, potentially protecting jobs and livelihoods.
He added it would mean the rollover of trade agreements – “which isn’t going terribly well” – and would offer certainty to business and industry.
This amendment allows the Commons another chance to think about a really important issue.”
However, Liberal Democrat peer Lord Purvis of Tweed said if the amendment passes, it shows the Lords is committed to providing a level of certainty that the government is not.
“We must offer a higher level of certainty to businesses,” he concludes, arguing that the government “must avoid the disastrous impact that leaving the customs union would involve”.
Updated
The House of Lords is now discussing amendment 13 on the customs union.
This amendment would make it an “objective” of the government during the Brexit talks to pursue a free trade deal allowing the UK to stay in “a customs union” with the EU after it leaves the bloc.
If a vote on the amendment is called and the government is defeated, it would return to the House of Commons.
Updated
Government defeated on Labour's amendment 12
The government has been defeated on amendment 12.
The amendment passed by 215 votes to 168.
Contents: 215
Not Contents: 168
Majority: 47
Labour peer Lord Stevenson of Balmacara said he wishes to test the opinion of peers and will push his amendment 12 to a vote.
Peers are now voting on the penultimate amendment and the result is expected at around 8pm.
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara had earlier said if international trade minister Lady Fairhead thinks the government and the opposition are “as close as she thinks” on what the scrutiny role of parliament should be, she should return at third reading with a counter-proposal that would be accepted by all.
Updated
International trade minister Lady Fairhead has argued amendment 12 seeks to ensure that parliament has a role in approving negotiations of free trade agreements which “is an objective that the government shares”.
She said the government last week committed to publishing information about future trade deal negotiation and will work closely with committees “to ensure we can work closely from start to finish”.
Requiring an agreement of both houses for a trade agreement to be ratified goes against the function of the executive’s ability to present “a single unified voice”.
“We plan to consult Parliament at every stage of the negotiations,” Fairhead added, disagreeing with Lord Hannay’s statement that parliament’s scrutiny role has so far been ignored by the government.
Crossbench peer Lord Bilimoria also believes the government has “consistently tried to bypass Parliament” which is “not transparent”.
Updated
Labour peer Lord Stevenson of Balmacara moves amendment 12 which calls for parliamentary approval of future trade agreements.
He said he thought it was decided that royal prerogative had “had its day”.
Under royal prerogative, governments can make decisions without the backing or, or consultation with, parliament.
“Our country needs a modern system to approve trade agreements, rooted in reality not fantasy,” he added.
The arrangements involved in the white paper do not provide a proper role for Parliament, nor do they give Parliament the role it should have in ratifying any agreements.”
Rising to support the amendment, crossbench peer Lord Hannay of Chiswick said it is “a sad defect” that there is no clear role for parliament in the current arrangements.
Updated
Peers are now debating Labour’s amendment 12, the penultimate one, which calls for parliamentary approval of trade agreements and for the following rules to be followed before negotiations begin:
- A draft negotiating mandate must be laid and approved by “the appropriately constituted committee and both Houses of Parliament.
- The committee must have first produced a sustainability impact assessment on the trade deal to be negotiated.
- The text of the free trade agreement (FTA) must be laid and approved by the committee, and be discussed with all devolved administrations. Prior to approving the text, the committee must produce a report of recommendations which must be reviewed by both Houses.
- A free trade agreement may not be ratified unless the agreement has been laid before, and approved by an amendable resolution of, both Houses of Parliament.
Labour peer Lord Lea of Crondall stands to move his amendment 11 which seeks UK membership of the European Economic Area (EEA), stating that all other ideas are “falling by the wayside one by one like dominoes”.
The European Free Trade Association is a regional trade organization and free trade area comprising of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
The European Economic Area was established via the EEA Agreement, an international agreement which allows for the extension of the EU’s single market to non-EU member parties.
Lord Lea said this is a “sensible solution” and a UK membership of the EEA is supported by members from all parties and “this is the only way we can remain a member of an agreed group of rules.”
The peer admitted his proposal “is not problem free” but disagrees with “the main criticism” levelled at UK membership of the EEA that “the UK would be a rule taker and not a rule maker.”
Lea said the initiative is now with the House of Commons and on that basis he will not be pushing the amendment to a vote.
Updated
The Tánaiste Simon Coveney, the Irish deputy prime minister, is to meet with Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley this evening to seek clarification on the comments she made in the Commons earlier.
Bradley said that killings at the hands of the security forces were “not crimes”. Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill described the remarks as “offensive and hurtful”.
Coveney said there should be effective investigations into all deaths during the Troubles regardless of the perpetrator.
He added that Bradley’s reaffirmation this afternoon that “where there is evidence of wrong-doing it should always be investigated whoever is responsible” is important.
Bradley had returned to the House of Commons to make clear her position, saying: “The point I was seeking to convey was that the overwhelming majority of those who served carried out their duties with courage, professionalism and integrity and within the law.
“I was not referring to any specific cases but expressing a general view.
“Of course where there is evidence of wrongdoing, it should always be investigated - whoever is responsible.
“These are of course matters for the police and prosecuting authorities, who are independent of government.”
Updated
Lady Fairhead says the amendment raised from Lady Jones of Moulsecoomb has limitations, including its reference to “standards”, which she says is not clear.
She said protections over areas including agri-foods are secured by the bill and the UK strives to uphold the highest standards across food, agriculture and human rights.
Lady Jones has subsequently withdrawn her amendment.
Updated
Trade Bill vote at House of Lords
The big vote tonight is taking place at the House of Lords which is debating the Trade Bill at report stage including the customs union.
There are 13 amendments being discussed after months of delay which cover laws to prepare the government for its new trade powers after Brexit.
Opening the Trade Bill’s report stage, Minister for International Trade Lady Fairhead said scrutiny of future trade agreements is “very important”.
She said: “We hear concerns about transparency and a desire for Parliament to be involved at every stage of the negotiations.”
Updated
Jeremy Corbyn met senior Conservative MPs today backing a Norway-style relationship with the EU after Brexit.
The Labour leader held talks with former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Nick Boles, part of a cross-party group who support the so-called “Common Market 2.0” model of a close economic relationship, as disclosed earlier by my colleague Heather Stewart.
The meeting was also attended by Labour MPs Stephen Kinnock and Lucy Powell, who back the Norway-style approach for the UK to remain in the single market and customs union.
Boles said: “For months now we have been meeting with senior MPs from all parties in search of a cross-party Brexit compromise.”
Kinnock said they had a “very detailed and constructive conversation”, adding: “There is a strong and growing cross-party consensus for a pragmatic, bridge-building Brexit.”
A Labour spokesman said the meeting was to “discuss how to achieve a deal that would be good for jobs and could bring Leave and Remain voters together”.
Updated
The government has issued a response to demands to spell out which tariffs will be cut in the event of a no-deal Brexit ahead of next week’s Commons vote.
MPs reacted angrily after ministers said they only intended to release the new tariff schedules if they actually get to the point of a no-deal break.
It followed a report that tariffs across a large majority of imported goods could be reduced by between 80% and 90% in an attempt to prevent prices in the shops soaring, while signalling the UK is an open economy.
But the claim prompted renewed warnings that removing tariffs could leave domestic producers exposed to a flood of cheap imports, threatening profitability and jobs.
A Government spokesman said: “If we leave the European Union without an agreement, our tariffs will need to strike a balance between protecting consumers and businesses from possible price rises and avoiding the exposure of sensitive industries to competition.
“We will communicate a decision on what is market sensitive information to stakeholders and the public as soon as possible.”
Afternoon summary
- The government is expected to be defeated in the Lords later night on an amendment to the trade bill saying the UK should aim to stay in a customs union with the EU after Brexit. The Conservatives do not have a majority in the Lords and the amendment, which has cross-bench support, is very likely to be passed. Ahead of the debate Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, the shadow international trade minister, said:
With the Brexit negotiations reaching a critical point, we believe the government should be focused on avoiding a no deal outcome. Their own figures, published last week, show that such an outcome is not in the national interest. It would also cause lasting damage to the UK economy.
Labour has consistently made the case for the UK to negotiate a new customs union with the EU – one that would protect jobs and secure opportunities for our industries, as well as remove the need for a hard border in Ireland. This approach commands wide support around the country and would give everyone some much needed certainty about our future should we leave the EU.
It is surely time for ministers to abandon their red lines and for the government to back this proposal.
- Public support for EU nationals being able to work in the UK has gone up sharply since 2016, the Office for National Statistics has revealed. (See 4.06pm.)
That’s all from me for tonight.
My colleague Nadeem Badshah will be taking over now.
A recall petition for Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya will be launched on March 19, Peterborough city council has announced. As the Press Association reports, voters in the constituency will each be allocated to one of 10 signing stations where they can add their names to the petition. A byelection will be triggered if 10% of eligible voters - around 7,000 people - sign the petition before it closes at 5pm on 1 May.
Karen Bradley withdraws claim that all military and police killings during Troubles were lawful
Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, had to issue a clarification in the Commons earlier, after appearing to say that none of the killings committed by members of the armed forces in Northern Ireland during the Troubles were unlawful.
During Northern Ireland questions she said:
Over 90% of the killings during the troubles were at the hands of terrorists. Every single one of those was a crime. The under 10% that were at the hands of the military and police were not crimes; they were people acting under orders and instructions, fulfilling their duties in a dignified and appropriate way.
This provoked fury in Northern Ireland where members of the armed forces have been successfully prosecuted for unlawful killings during the Troubles, and many other cases are outstanding. Sinn Fein said Bradley’s comments were “outrageous and offensive”.
Bradley subsequently returned to the Commons to clarify what she meant. She told MPs:
The point I was seeking to convey was that the overwhelming majority of those who served carried out their duties with courage, professionalism and integrity and within the law.
I was not referring to any specific cases but expressing a general view.
Of course where there is evidence of wrongdoing, it should always be investigated - whoever is responsible.
These are of course matters for the police and prosecuting authorities, who are independent of government.
And here is my colleague Robert Booth’s take on the ONS wellbeing report. (See 4.06pm.)
And here is an extract.
It’s official: life in Britain was getting better before Brexit. In the years up to 2016 people in the UK were on average feeling better about their lives, enjoying better mental health, feeling less lonely and more connected with their neighbours.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has concluded that on all these measures between 2011 and 2016, things were improving and the happiness of the UK population was in line with that of its European Union neighbours, staying steady at a respectable 7.4 out of ten ...
Since the end of 2017, six years of improvements in average happiness, life satisfaction and feelings that what people do in life is worthwhile have levelled off in line with recent trends in net household financial wealth and household disposable income per head. Anxiety levels rose in the run-up to Brexit and kept rising afterwards before falling back from September 2017.
The Labour MP Geraint Davies has published his EU terms of withdrawal bill. It says there should be a referendum on Brexit before the end of 2019, with a question saying:
Do you approve the agreement for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union or Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?
Under this plan, the agreement could be the one agreed at the end of last year, or a subsequent one. The UK would only leave the EU if people voted in favour.
Davies says he will table an amendment to the meaningful vote motion on Tuesday next week that would give time for his bill to be passed.
Davies’s plan is very similar to another one, saying the agreement should be subject to a confirmatory referendum, proposed by the Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson.
EU Terms of Withdrawal (Referendum) (no.2) Bill PUBLISHED TODAY so a PUBLIC VOTE on the Deal can be enacted next week by passing the bill facilitated through an amendment to the Exit Deal on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/IzmCViICHo
— Geraint Davies MP (@GeraintDaviesMP) March 6, 2019
The European commission has published a very useful document explaining what individual EU governments have said they will do about protecting the residence rights of Britons living in their countries in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The Tory MP Nick Boles has posted this on Twitter about his meeting with Jeremy Corbyn to discuss “Norway plus” earlier. (See 1.27pm.)
Oliver Letwin and I were happy to join @LucyMPowell and @SKinnock in this meeting with Jeremy Corbyn to discuss our Common Market 2.0 proposal. For months now we have been meeting with senior MPs from all parties in search of a cross party Brexit compromise. https://t.co/dNKpLbEQXR
— Nick Boles MP (@NickBoles) March 6, 2019
Support for EU nationals being able to work in UK has risen sharply since 2016, ONS says
The Office for National Statistics has published an interesting paper today on wellbeing, and comparisons between the UK and the EU. Here are three of the most interesting findings.
1) There has been a sharp increase in support for EU free movement in the UK since 2016.
As the Press Association reports, some 57% of people surveyed in spring 2016 said it was a good thing for EU citizens to have the right to work in the UK. By spring 2018 this figure had jumped to 68% - the biggest increase reported by any of the EU’s 28 member states.
This shift is probably related to the fact that, since the EU referendum, there has been a sharp fall in immigration from the EU. (People might be more inclined to say they favour EU workers being able to come to the UK if they see fewer of them.) Equally, since the vote for Brexit, people may have been been more exposed to arguments from remainers about the positive contribution EU workers make to the economy.
2) People in the UK are less likely to say they have difficulty making ends meet than the EU average.
This is from the ONS report.
In 2017, of households in the UK, 14.1% were making ends meet with difficulty or great difficulty, according to the EU-SILC survey data. This was a similar proportion to Estonia (14.3%) and was lower than the EU-28 average of 21.6%. In the UK, this proportion has decreased each year since 2013 (21.1%).
The highest-ranking country was Germany, with 6.1% of households reporting making ends meet with difficulty or great difficulty. The lowest-ranking country, with the highest proportion of households struggling to make ends meet, was Greece (77.2%), as has been the case each year since 2011.
3) People in the UK tend to be marginally more satisfied with their lives than the OECD average.
Updated
Laura Murray has not been made acting head of complaints at Labour, the party is now saying. (See 3.14pm.) This is from my colleague Heather Stewart.
Am told Laura Murray has *not* been made acting head of complaints, and the staff member who told Labour MPs that, "made an error". The post will be advertised in due course...
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) March 6, 2019
Michael Gove, the environment secretary, was drinking from a biodegradable cup when he gave evidence to the Commons environment committee this morning - not a conventional plastic one, as I and others reported at the time. (See 11.52am.) I’m sorry about that.
The Press Association explains:
Compostable, plant-based cups were introduced to the Houses of Parliament last year to replace existing single-use plastic items.
The cup Gove used was made from polylactic acid, PLA, a renewable alternative to plastic.
But environmental campaigners say reusable cups are still better for the planet and critics point out that many products that are labelled biodegradable cannot just be thrown onto a compost heap with food waste.
Louise Haigh, the shadow policing minister, Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and various Labour police and crime commissioners have signed an open letter to Theresa May urging the government to recruit 10,000 more police officers. It includes this line.
It was therefore remarkable to hear you claim again on Monday that “there is no direct correlation between certain crimes and police numbers”. Regrettably, this shows that you are in complete denial and senior officers across the country have said so.
The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole says Haigh is being hypocritical, because only last year she herself said there was no direct correlation between police numbers and crime figures.
Labour's @LouHaigh accuses PM of "complete denial" over correlation between crimes and police numbers. She told Today last year: “We do not say that there is a direct correlation or a direct causal factor between the number of officers on the ground and the number[s] of crime.”
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) March 6, 2019
This is unbelievable.. Left - @LouHaigh letter to PM accusing her of being in denial over no link between officer numbers and crime rates... Right - @LouHaigh saying exactly the same thing on Today programme on 9 April 2018: pic.twitter.com/bXnbUwepTq
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) March 6, 2019
This is from Sky’s Tamara Cohen.
Exc: Labour MPs have been told that Laura Murray is now *acting head of complaints* for the party.
— Tamara Cohen (@tamcohen) March 6, 2019
Far cry from admin support.
Confirmed by Jenny Formby’s representative to the parliamentary committee meeting which is ongoing.
MPs are furious.
This appointment is controversial because Laura Murray has been working in Jeremy Corbyn’s office, as a stakeholder manager. Her father, Andrew, is chief of staff to Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, and a part-time adviser in Corbyn’s office.
UPDATE: Subsequently Labour said the parliamentary committee had been misinformed.
Am told Laura Murray has *not* been made acting head of complaints, and the staff member who told Labour MPs that, "made an error". The post will be advertised in due course...
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) March 6, 2019
Updated
Former Met commissioner John Stevens says he does not trust May to deal with knife crime problem
Former Metropolitan police commissioner John Stevens has accused Theresa May of failing to heed warnings about the impact of cuts to policing budgets.
Stevens said May ignored a commission he chaired which called for guaranteed police budgets when May was home secretary.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One, Stevens, who now sits in the House of Lords, said:
It has been really frustrating not to be listened to. The Home Office for the last five or six years has not been listening. The commission which I chaired wasn’t listened to. This [the rise in violent crime] has been predicted for a while. And all you’ve got from the Home Office, and particularly from the home secretary at that time who is now the prime minister, was ‘our reforms are working’. She hasn’t listened to what has been going on and it not good enough.
Stevens, who led the Met from 2000 to 2005, added:
There has been a decimation and destruction of neighbourhood policing which we know is essential. Resources are needed, the political leadership is needed ... otherwise it is just going to continue in the dreadful way it is at the moment.
Stevens was asked if May was capable of addressing the knife crime problem now. He said:
I don’t like criticising people when they have got massive problems and they are down, but I doubt it.
He added:
The person who I think has got the ability is the present home secretary. He has got the personality, he has got the empathy, he understands the difficulties on the streets and he understands the difficulties the police are facing. If anyone chairs it [a Cobra style committee on violent crime] it should be him, but you don’t want her above him getting in the way.
Last night’s historic joint vote by the Welsh and Scottish legislatures attacking Theresa May’s Brexit plans seems to have exposed what could politely be described by Labour’s opponents at Holyrood as double-standards.
Last week Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard was attacked by rival anti-Brexit parties and Europhile Labour MPs after confirming he would rather see Brexit take place on Jeremy Corbyn’s terms or a new general election, before a second EU referendum. But if a second vote did take place, Leonard said he would back remain.
That puts Leonard at odds with a majority of Scottish voters, who rejected leave in 2016 and now back a second vote in large numbers, Scottish Labour supporters and potentially a majority of his parliamentarians, but his stance is, nonetheless, UK party policy – the orthodox Corbynite position.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, said it was “cynical triangulation”; George Adam, an SNP MSP, said Leonard’s stance made Labour’s “apparent embrace of a second referendum look cynical in the extreme.” Ian Murray, the staunchly pro-EU Scottish Labour MP, told the Herald: “There is no good Brexit, no jobs-first Brexit, and no better Labour Brexit.”
Fast forward to Tuesday evening, where the SNP, Lib Dems and Scottish Greens voted along with Labour, and against the Tories, to back a motion drafted in collaboration with the Welsh government attacking May’s failure so far to take no deal off the table, and also demanding an extension to article 50 to allow more time for a better deal.
Negotiated by Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, and the Welsh Labour first minister Mark Drakeford, it was the first time since devolution 20 years ago both legislatures have voted on the same motion.
But what was noticeably absent in the joint motion agreed to by Sturgeon was a demand for a second EU referendum. Why? Because Welsh Labour would not back it. Drakeford agrees with Leonard’s position.
Here’s what Drakeford’s office said last night:
As a government our policy has always been that there are steps we would like to see taken before a second referendum – so rule out no deal, get extension, agree a better deal that supports economy and jobs. This is our preferred option to a second referendum.
A second EU referendum was excluded from the motion to maximise cross-party support, the Welsh government said. One man’s cynical triangulation is another man’s pragmatic compromise.
Here is the business department policy paper (pdf) containing the draft clauses for inclusion in the forthcoming EU withdrawal agreement bill implementing the pledges made by Greg Clark. (See 1.56pm.)
Clark is responding to Long-Bailey.
He says he knows the TUC and Labour would like the UK to automatically match new EU rules boosting workers’ rights. But that is not the government’s position, he says. He says the government does not think there would be any point leaving the EU if that were the case.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, is responding for Labour.
She says these proposals do not go far enough.
She says there are many examples of the UK resisting EU efforts to strengthen workers’ rights.
Updated
Greg Clark's statement on workers' rights
Greg Clark, the business secretary, is now making a Commons statement about the Brexit announcement on workers’ rights. (See 9.20am.)
He says the UK has a proud record on workers’ rights. In some areas it is ahead of the EU, he says. He says on one measures it is the second best place in the EU for conditions in the workplace, behind Sweden.
He says the PM has said that Brexit will not be allowed to diminish workers’ rights.
But the government wants to provide guarantees. So today it is publishing draft clauses for the forthcoming EU withdrawal agreement bill.
These have two aims, he says.
First, they will ensure that when the government publishes new employment legislation, ministers have to give a written assurance that existing EU rights are not being watered down.
Second, they will ensure that MPs get regular updates when the EU passes new legislation in this area, and that they will get to vote on whether the UK should match these new laws.
Clark also says the government intends to create a single labour market enforcement body. It will carry out roles currently shared between HMRC, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.
Updated
PMQs - Verdict from Twitter commentariat
This is what political journalists and commentators are saying on Twitter about PMQs.
The consensus is that Jeremy Corbyn won, although quite a few people are also arguing that, overall, the exchanges were pretty feeble.
From the Daily Mirror’s Jason Beattie
My snap verdict on PMQs: The Tories should be worried when Jeremy Corbyn wins on law and orderhttps://t.co/aVl186Ypab
— Jason Beattie (@JBeattieMirror) March 6, 2019
From the New Statesman’s Patrick Maguire
The Conservatives are losing on knife crime, and three other lessons from this week's PMQs https://t.co/UjMHZqyA6v
— Patrick Maguire (@patrickkmaguire) March 6, 2019
From PoliticsHome’s Matt Foster
#PMQs win for Corbyn, that, with Labour leader focusing on open goal of rising knife crime. PM could only point to recent cash increases but v easy for Labour to argue that won't offset longer-running cuts. And fighting on turf of who would spending more is where Lab wants to be.
— Matt Foster (@mattlpfoster) March 6, 2019
From the Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh
A fascinating PMQs, underlining why Labour wants Brexit to be resolved, and how little support May has when she tries to talk about the long term. Corbyn leaves May struggling for coherence as he presses her on police cuts + rising violent crime. Tory benches muted throughout
— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) March 6, 2019
From the Independent’s John Rentoul
Theresa May crushed by Corbyn at #PMQs on police cuts & crime: video comment from Andrew Grice & me https://t.co/z3q2rVdwbB pic.twitter.com/cHSSsYkuNw
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) March 6, 2019
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg
“PMQs there really did descend into a very angry exchange of stats, and did not really move us very further forward” @bbclaurak on the knife crime exchanges between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn#politicslive https://t.co/sGOYPAX2Yy pic.twitter.com/A2TIwWlZXv
— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 6, 2019
From ITV’s Robert Peston
Depressing #PMQs exchange between @theresa_may and @jeremycorbyn. Yes, funding cuts matter, and causes of austerity. But young people are being killed, lives ruined by social breakdown, crime, drug addiction. Our children deserve better than the same old tit-for-tat. No? #PMQs
— Robert Peston (@Peston) March 6, 2019
From Channel 4 News’ Krishnan Guru-Murthy
A week before crucial votes, three weeks from No Deal Brexit and in the midst of terrible crimes affecting young people that was a pathetic PMQs. It’s no wonder so many people tune out of mainstream politics. My teacher would have written in bold red ink MUST DO BETTER!!!!
— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) March 6, 2019
From the Spectator’s Katy Balls
Corbyn’s decision to go on police funding at PMQs makes life difficult for May - plenty of her ministers and MPs agree with Opposition leader that police cuts have played a role in rise in violent crime #pmqs
— Katy Balls (@katyballs) March 6, 2019
From ITV’s Carl Dinnen
Corbyn and May sparring over Cressida Dick's comments on police numbers and knife crime.
— Carl Dinnen (@carldinnen) March 6, 2019
Corbyn is on strong ground, PM having to finesse her position.#PMQs
From Sky’s Lewis Goodall
Even by the standards of the May/Corbyn years, that was a woeful #pmqs
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) March 6, 2019
Updated
Corbyn to meet Tory MPs backing 'Norway plus' Brexit plan
This, from my colleague Heather Stewart, is very interesting.
New - Jeremy Corbyn will meet Oliver Letwin and Nick Boles this afternoon to discuss plans to try to secure a close ongoing relationship with the EU, that could satisfy leave and remain voters, a Labour spokesman says.
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) March 6, 2019
Nick Boles is a prominent supporter of the “Norway plus” or “Common market 2.0” plan for Brexit, which would involve the UK staying in the customs union and the single market.
In the past Labour has always ruled this out, on the grounds that it would mean accepting free movement and EU state aid rules, although, interestingly, in his recent letter to Theresa May setting out his five demands for Brexit, Corbyn did not mention his desire to end free movement.
Here is Full Fact, the factchecking organisation, on one of May’s claims at PMQs.
Theresa May says more money is being put into schools. This is technically correct, but when you’re talking about education funding you need to account for inflation and rising pupil numbers https://t.co/BIHVv0qC6J [1/2]
— Full Fact (@FullFact) March 6, 2019
Spending per pupil in England will be held constant in real terms from 2017/18 to 2019/20. It fell by 8% in real terms from 2009/10 to 2017/18. Read more here: https://t.co/BIHVv0qC6J [2/2]
— Full Fact (@FullFact) March 6, 2019
Corbyn accuses May of trying to keep communities 'safe on the cheap'
Here is the start of the Press Association story about PMQs.
Jeremy Corbyn claimed Theresa May is trying to keep communities “safe on the cheap” as he warned of surging violent crime.
The Labour leader challenged Theresa May to explain if she had any regrets over cutting police officer numbers and criticised the impact of “systematically” stripping away public services to support young people.
He added that austerity has driven the rise in violent crime as PMQs occurred amid concerns over knife attacks.
May began by saying any deaths through violence are an “appalling tragedy” and a “growing number” of young people are dying in a “growing cycle of violence that has shocked us all”.
She reiterated she will hold a summit in Number 10 in coming days and meet victims of the “appalling crimes” to explore what can be done.
But Corbyn accused her of not doing enough to tackle the “root cause” of the rise in knife crime, and pointed to the recent deaths of 17-year-olds Jodie Chesney and Yousef Makki.
He said 285 people were stabbed to death last year, the “highest level ever”, before asking: “Does the prime minister now regret cuts in police numbers and will she undertake that under this review they will be restored to the level they were formerly at?”
May replied: “We are putting more resources into the police this year - it’s no good members on the opposition benches standing up and saying ‘no you’re not’, it’s a fact more money is being put into the police this year, that more money is being put into the police next year.
“The real question is not are we putting more money into the police, because we are - the real question is why did the Labour party oppose that money going into the police?”
The Times’ Sam Coates is having a good run with leaked emails about Labour’s handling of antisemitism cases. Here is his latest scoop.
Times leak
— Sam Coates Times (@SamCoatesTimes) March 6, 2019
Last year, Labour decided not to suspend a member after they published an antisemitic image from a far right website. A party official recommended suspension - but a Corbyn ally directed differently
Read the email here in full
Story: https://t.co/KZtp3zKnR4 pic.twitter.com/oocQjYcdfF
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, asked about Brexit in his two questions. He raised the case of an 87-year-old woman brought up under Nazi occupation in Denmark who has lived in Scotland for 59 years. Why does she have to registered for settled status to be able to stay in living in the country she calls home, he asked.
May said the government wanted EU nationals to be able to stay living in the UK after Brexit.
Blackford said this was a disgrace. He said the women has children and grandchildren. She has friends here, and has build her life her, he said. Why must she register, he asked. He said May should end “this heartless policy”.
May said the government has consistently told EU nationals they will be able to stay. Blackford should accept that, she said.
This is from the i’s Nigel Morris.
Is 55mins a record for #PMQs ? (Supposed to be 30mins)
— Nigel Morris (@NigelpMorris) March 6, 2019
And this is from the Mail’s Jason Groves.
Two qs about Brexit in 55-minute session of #PMQs. 23 days to go...
— Jason Groves (@JasonGroves1) March 6, 2019
PMQs is over, but Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, rises to make a point of order. Theresa May said the SNP do not have a mandate for an independence referendum, he says. But it does, he says.
Sir Vince Cable, the Lib Dem leader, asks about the court ruling criticising government plans to make landlords responsible for immigration controls.
May says it is right that, when people access services, checks are carried out to make sure they are eligible. The government is appealing against the court ruling, he says.
Vicky Ford, a Conservative, asks May to support MPs giving up single-use plastics.
May says the government will match up to £2m money raised by Tearfund for this campaign.
The SNP’s Chris Stephens asks about reports that the police were involved in the blacklisting of trade union activists. Does May agree there should be a public inquiry?
May says the government has responded to this proposal in the past. She will write to Stephens, she says.
The SNP’s Alan Brown asks about a constituent with a very rare condition that causes epilepsy and autism. He cannot access cannabis medicinal products because his case is so rare.
May says the government has changed the rules to allow medicinal cannabis products. Clinicians decide if they can be used, she says.
May congratulates a school that has encouraged children to cycle to school.
Labour’s Marsha De Cordova says the DWP are carrying out five reviews into how disabled people have lost benefits because of the way PIP is paid. She says people have died because they have been refused PIP. Some 70% of people who appeal win their case. When will May follow Labour and commit to abolishing the PIP assessment process.
May says the DWP is taking this very seriously. More than 1,000 staff are working on correcting errors with payments.
The DUP’s Paul Girvan says his party is concerned about attempts to prosecute members of the armed forces who protected Northern Ireland.
May says the current system for dealing with crimes from the past in Northern Ireland is not working for everyone. She says around 3,500 people were killed in the Troubles. Most of them were killed by terrorists, she says. They must be held to accounts, she suggests. She says the MoD will be publishing plans to ensure former servicemen are not prosecuted unfairly.
PMQs - Snap verdict
PMQs - Snap verdict: It is hard to see how the government can win on knife crime – it is a story that understandably and rightly dominates the news headlines, and where parents are easily persuaded that there is a clear link between a rising risk to their children and government cuts – and so today’s exchanges offered something of a free hit for Jeremy Corbyn. He did not exactly wipe the floor with Theresa May, but he was comfortably ahead on most of the exchanges and he succeeded in his key goal; linking knife crime to austerity, and hanging responsibility around May’s neck. When he was elected Labour leader, even his most ardent supporters would have hesitated before predicting that he would outperform the Tories on law and order, but it happened at the general election, when the terrorist attacks made police cuts a headline issue, and it may well be happening again. Perhaps he could have gone harder on May’s own responsibility for falling police numbers because of decisions she took as home secretary. It was hard to tell whether he choose not to because he did not want to personalise this too much, or whether it was because he just wasn’t being forensic. For May, it could have all been a lot, lot worse. Downing Street’s decision to refine its line yesterday meant that she did not really get the hammering on “no direct correlation” between police numbers and violent crime that some might have expected, and her summit announcement, and patient explanation of the linked-up factors explaining knife crime, deserved a hearing. She was advocating just the “holistic” approach that Corbyn was demanding in his final question. Her points about Labour’s voting record struck home too. But she was less persuasive on her generalised claims about spending going up; Labour MPs were jeering loudly because in some respects she seemed to referring to little more than standard, inflation-driving spending increases, not real-terms ones. (Government spending is always going up, in other words.) In her final response, May launched into a wider attack on Labour’s economic plans. But her argument that “spending more to end austerity will cause more austerity” needs a bit more work. You know what she means, but as she set out this case today, it just sounded contradictory.
Updated
Corbyn says crime went down under Labour. There are just not enough officers. The LGA says local services face a funding gap of £3.2bn. That is double what the stronger towns fund is offering over three years, he says. Does May now accept that privatising the probation service has been a disaster?
May says, when the government looks at probation, what matters is reducing reoffending. That is something that was not being done under Labour. She says she welcomes the fact that dealing with knife crime requires working across a number of areas. That is what the government is doing in a number of areas, she says. In just two weeks, there have been 1,000 arrests, and more than 1,000 individuals being safeguarded.
Corbyn says violent crime has doubled. The rise has been driven by austerity – something that May said recently was over. But the issues are wider. The privatisation of probation services has been a disaster. Youth centres have been closed, youth workers have lost their jobs, public services have been stripped away. Does May realise there has to be a holistic response to this. You cannot keep communities safe by cuts and privatisation.
May says the government has put more money into the police, and Labour voted against this. More money has gone into schools, and local authorities too. Corbyn stands up talking about austerity. If he is that concerned about that, you would think he would want to ensure it would never happen again. But Corbyn’s policy would mean more spending and higher borrowing, and would take us right back to austerity.
Updated
Corbyn says the police clearly don’t have enough resources. He quotes the former chief prosecutor in Manchester, who lost a relative to knife crime. He said cuts in police numbers meant they did not get the right intelligence. Will May reverse those cuts?
May says more money is going into the police this year, and next year. Labour opposed that, she says.
Corbyn says violent crime has doubled under the Tories. He quotes from Mike in Gosport. Mike says the town has become unsafe, because there is no police presence. Mike speaks for many people. When are the police going to get the resources they need?
May says the government is not just putting more resources in, it is giving the police more powers. When the government did this, to give the police more powers to deal with people carrying knives, Corbyn voted against it, she says.
Updated
Corbyn says many MPs will have sat with families who have lost people to knife crime. They will never forget that. Yesterday the Met commissioner said of course there was a link between police numbers and knife crime. If police numbers are high enough, why was the defence secretary yesterday offering to send in the army?
May says the Met commissioner made the point that the causes of this are complex. She said the police cannot arrest their way out of this, she says. She summarises government initiatives on this. The government is ensuring the police have the right resources. More money is being spent on the police. But it is also about understanding the use of drugs.
Jeremy Corbyn says tomorrow is international women’s day. He says Labour wants to close the gender pay gap.
He congratulates Luciana Berger for giving birth to a son.
He sends his condolences to the families of those who have lost young people to knife crime. What extra funding is being provided to address the root causes of knife crime?
May joins Corbyn in congratulating Berger. And he says he is pleased today marks the launch of Rachel Reeves’ book on women who have changed Westminster.
On knife crime, she says any of a young person is a terrible tragedy. Responsibility does lie with the perpetrators, she says. But we will only defeat the scourge of violence if we address the root causes. That means ensuring the police have the right resources, tacking drug crime, and turning young people away from violence. That is what the government is doing, she says.
Updated
Simon Hoare, a Conservative, says Lent is becoming a time for doing something new and positive. Would it be a good idea for MPs to take up supporting the government?
Yes, says May. Then MPs could give something up - EU membership.
Tim Farron, the former Lib Dem leader, says the UK spent £27bn bailing out the banks. They have repaid the country by closing thousands of branches. Does May agree they have taken without given, and failed to tackle fraud?
May says, as people’s behaviour changes, banks have responded to that. They have taken commercial decisions. She says the financial services ombudsman has been looking at banks’ behaviour.
Updated
May announces she is to hold summit on knife crime at Downing Street
Theresa May says she is reminded of when John Howard, another Australian PM, visited the Commons. He said, however lively PMQs was, it was a vicarage tea party compared to what happens in Australia.
She turns to knife crime. The death of any young person is a tragedy.
- May says she will hold a summit on knife crime at Number 10 in the next few days.
Updated
John Bercow, the Speaker, says Malcolm Turnbull, the former Australian PM, is in the chamber to watch PMQs.
Updated
PMQs
PMQs is about to start.
Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.
Michael Gove also told the committee that the Easter recess could be cancelled, the Sun’s Steve Hawkes reports.
Michael Gove tells the EFRA Committee
— steve hawkes (@steve_hawkes) March 6, 2019
"The Chief Whip reminds Conservative MPs there may not be an Easter recess."
AAARRRRGGHHH !
Michael Gove, the environment secretary, told the environment committee this morning that he has pledged to cut his use of single-use plastics for Lent - while using a plastic cup. This is from the Daily Mirror’s Derek Momodu.
Stop press!
— Derek Momodu (@DelMody) March 6, 2019
Environment Secretary Michael Gove using a plastic cup while appearing before the Commons Environment Committee in Portcullis House, London where he pledged to cut his use of single-use plastics for Lent. #awkward pic.twitter.com/7Wr74aTtyj
UPDATE: Actually, it was a biodegradable cup. See 3.33pm for more details.
Updated
Scottish Labour’s former leader, Kez Dugdale, has attacked her successor Richard Leonard for his stance on Brexit for failing to celebrate the work of Labour’s two Scottish MEPs at this weekend’s party conference, and for allegedly censoring their pro-second referendum remarks from the programme.
In a letter to Leonard, leaked to the Herald on Sunday political editor Paul Hutcheon, Dugdale lodged a formal complaint there would be no chance for David Martin, the party’s longest-serving MEP, or Catherine Stihler to speak in Dundee this weekend or for conference to applaud “for their combined 55 years of electoral service to the party”. That was “a considerable insult”, Dugdale said.
Ooft. Kezia Dugdale sent this to Richard Leonard today. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ADh57CfTCH
— Paul Hutcheon (@paulhutcheon) March 6, 2019
Stihler, an MEP for 20 years, has already stood down in advance of Brexit while Martin, who has been an MEP since 1984, will stop serving on 28 March unless article 50 is extended. He could stand again for the European parliament if article 50 is extended before the European elections in June.
Dugdale, one of Scottish Labour’s most openly Europhile parliamentarians, claimed Leonard had also excised pro-people’s vote quotes from a foreword on Stihler and Martin’s in the conference handbook. She wrote:
I was shocked to discover from Catherine that her statement in the conference guide was amended without her consent. When that was challenged, she was told it was on your direction and that you had the final say on what was printed.
Dugdale said the deleted section said: “Brexit is a tragedy for our country and for the workers and communities the Labour party represents. That’s why David and Catherine fully support a people’s vote with the option to remain in the EU.”
Leonard said last week he supports Jeremy Corbyn’s stance, that Labour wants a Brexit on their terms, or a general election; he would only back a second referendum if it was the last option open.
A Scottish Labour spokesman said they were preparing a response.
Updated
EU confirms 'difficult' talks in Brussels failed to identify solution to backstop problem
The European commission has admitted that last night’s talks with Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, and Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, were “difficult” and that no solution to the backstop problem has yet been identified. This is from the Sun’s Nick Gutteridge, quoting the European commission’s spokesman, Margaritis Schinas.
Commission spokesman: 'Barnier informed Commissioners that while the talks take place in a constructive atmosphere discussions have been difficult. No solution has been identified at this point which is consistent with the WA including the protocol on NI which won't be reopened.'
— Nick Gutteridge (@nick_gutteridge) March 6, 2019
Updated
US ambassador criticised for wrongly claiming America has lowest level of food poisoning
On the Today programme this morning Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, defended American farming practices. Building on the arguments he made in a recent article in the Daily Telegraph (paywall), he said those criticising US farming standards were protectionist. The US had the “lowest level” of food poisoning, he said, insisting that any UK-US trade deal would have to include American farm products.
My colleague Rowena Mason has a story about his comments here.
The People’s Vote campaign, which wants a second referendum, has accused him of lying and bullying. It released this statement in response from the Labour MP Jo Stevens.
Under Donald Trump the US government excels at two things: telling lies and bullying.
Both characteristics were on display this morning when Trump’s personal appointment as ambassador to the UK used the BBC to promote his president’s agenda of forcing British consumers to eat chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef.
The US ambassador must know that his claim that the US has ‘the lowest level’ of food poisoning was utter garbage. In fact, around 3,000 Americans die every year as a result of food-borne diseases – 450 from salmonella alone. It is precisely because their animal hygiene standards are so poor that Americans have to wash their chicken carcasses in chlorine.
We neither need nor want food from the United States’s charnel houses on our shelves. It is not as though the US’s food industry produces such a volume of cheap and healthy food that Americans are better fed – more of their babies are born underweight and more of their children are obese.
Updated
At the international trade committee Liam Fox was asked about reports that the Department for International Trade spent more than £100,000 on a podcast that was downloaded fewer than 9,000 times. Was that value for money? Fox replied:
It depends how many of the businesses who listened to it became exporters.
If all the 9,000 who listened to it became exporters, I would say that’s a successful project. If none of them did, I would question its value for money.
More on the Brexit talks in Brussels last night. This is from the BBC’s Adam Fleming.
To add: sources say the UK side couldn't guarantee that whatever might end up being agreed in Brussels would even get through Parliament. https://t.co/Wn5xRaX5XK
— Adam Fleming (@adamfleming) March 6, 2019
Q: Is it true that the cabinet has signed off its tariff plans in the event of a no-deal Brexit?
Fox says that is correct.
Back in the international trade committee, Liam Fox says, if there is a no-deal Brexit, the government will publish its plans for tariffs.
He says the government will take into account three factors when drawing up its plans; the cost to the UK, the impact on business, and what effect the loss of preferential treatment would have.
On the subject of the backstop, as the Irish Times reports, this is what Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister, told the Irish parliament yesterday.
The position as of today is that we have no texts or draft texts to consider or get legal advice on. I am not entirely sure what MPs are looking at in London but we have no legal texts or draft legal texts to consider, to propose amendments to, or to seek legal advice on. What happens a lot in London, as deputies will be aware, is internal negotiations.
Cox says backstop talks with EU were 'robust', implying no breakthrough yet
This is from Sky’s Sophia McBride.
.@skynewsmichelle asks AG @Geoffrey_Cox whether he has a text to take back to the UK following “not easy” talks with @SteveBarclay & @MichelBarnier last night pic.twitter.com/run7h6mm8K
— Sophia McBride (@sophiacmcbride) March 6, 2019
And this is what Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, told Sky News about his talks last night with Michel Barnier.
These are very sensitive discussions. We are into the meat of the matter now. We have put forward some proposals, very reasonable proposals. And we are now really into the detail of the discussion.
Asked if he had a text to take back to the UK, Cox went on:
I can’t reveal the discussions. These are private and confidential discussions. But we are into the meat of the matter now. Both sides have exchanged robust, strong views. And we are now facing the real discussions. Talks will be resuming soon.
Here is my colleague Daniel Boffey’s take on what this means.
“Robust” talks last night, Cox says. Diplomatic language for massive scrap. Blood on the carpet. Everyone feeling sensitive this morning in all sorts of places. https://t.co/CYIbCT0Zr4
— Daniel Boffey (@DanielBoffey) March 6, 2019
Updated
Back in the committee, Liam Fox is asked about reports that the government will cuts most tariffs to zero in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Q: If that is the case, why would any country want to roll over their trade deals with the UK, when they could benefit from zero tariffs with the UK anyway in the event of no deal?
Fox says he will not comment on media speculation.
Here is more on what happened in Brussels last night when Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, and Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, met Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator.
From my colleague Daniel Boffey
Brexit talks last night were said to be pretty rough. No meeting of minds. Appears that Geoffrey Cox unable to nudge things even to the point where he can rethink his legal advice..
— Daniel Boffey (@DanielBoffey) March 6, 2019
From the Times’ Bruno Waterfield
Just bumped into Barnier. He was downbeat to the college of commissioners this morning after difficult talks failed to get there last night. All he would say is, "I'm determined"
— Bruno Waterfield (@BrunoBrussels) March 6, 2019
From the Telegraph’s James Crisp
Hearing similar.
— James Crisp (@JamesCrisp6) March 6, 2019
When both sides can't even agree to say talks were constructive as is usual form... https://t.co/fhwZQKFs2i
Q: Can you assure us that the largest seven EU trade deals are ready to be rolled over in the event of a no-deal Brexit?
Fox says the UK is making good progress on this front. The UK is ready to roll over these deals. But it is reliant on other countries to be ready too. He says some of these deals may be agreed only very late in the day.
Liam Fox does not rule out backing no-deal Brexit
At the committee Chris Leslie, the Independent Group MP, asks Liam Fox whether he would back a no-deal Brexit on Wednesday next week, if MPs vote down Theresa May’s deal.
Fox says he wants May’s deal to pass. He refuses to say how he would vote if it falls, and the Commons has to vote on a no-deal Brexit, but he does not rule out voting for no deal.
- Liam Fox does not rule out backing no-deal Brexit.
Leslie quotes from what David Sterling, the head of the civil service in Northern Ireland, said in his letter to Northern Ireland’s political parties. Sterling said:
The consequences of material business failure as a result of a ‘no-deal’ exit, combined with changes to everyday life and potential border frictions could well have a profound and long lasting impact on society.
Updated
Liam Fox's evidence to international trade committee
Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, is giving evidence to the Commons international trade secretary now.
At some point he is likely to be asked about this story from Sky’s Ed Conway, saying the government would cut up to 90% of all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Conway says:
The government will slash Britain’s trade tariffs to more than at any point in history if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, Sky News has learnt.
The Department for International Trade (DIT) intends to cut 80-90% of all tariffs imposed on goods imported into Britain, according to Whitehall sources.
The cuts, which will be outlined in documents published if the prime minister fails to get parliamentary backing for her EU withdrawal bill next week, represent a bombshell for many manufacturers and farmers in the UK.
Since tariffs are a charge on thousands of types of goods entering the country, they protect domestic producers from overseas competitors.
Momentum fined £16,700 by Electoral Commission for inaccurate spending return
Momentum, the pro-Corbyn Labour group, has been fined £16,700 for “multiple breaches” of electoral law, the Electoral Commission has said. As the Press Association reports, the commission said the fines related to an inaccurate spending return for the 2017 general election as well as failures to report donations. It is the first time the group has been investigated by the commission and the penalties include the highest fine to be levied on a non-party campaigner for not submitting a complete and accurate spending return.
Louise Edwards, director of regulation at the commission, said:
Non-party campaigners are essential for a healthy democracy. But just as crucial is that after a poll, voters can see complete and accurate spending data.
The fines that we have levied reflect Momentum’s repeated revisions to their spending return, poor record keeping and failure to follow advice given by the commission prior to the election.
Wilson goes on to accuses David Sterling, head of the civil service in Northern Ireland, of scaremongering in his letter sent to Northern Ireland political parties yesterday.
We’ve got from David Sterling in his letter, it’s a scare tactic ...
I don’t care if he’s head of civil service or Santa Claus, it really doesn’t matter, the fact of the matter is, he’s got it wrong.
Wilson says that, even if a no-deal impact did have a negative effect on the Northern Ireland economy, there would be things that the government could do to compensate for this.
And that’s it. Wilson has finished his evidence.
Updated
DUP would not accept enhanced arbitration process as solution to backstop, says Wilson
Q: What if the backstop were subject to an enhanced arbitration process?
Wilson says that would not be acceptable to the DUP. The UK would not necessarily be able to get out of it. And any arbitration process could drag on for years.
- Wilson says the DUP would not accept an enhanced arbitration process as a solution to the backstop.
Hermon points out that, according to some reports, this is what Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, is likely to come back with from Brussels.
Q: Would you be willing to accept no deal?
He says, if there is a no-deal Brexit, “it will be a result of the intransigence of the EU”.
If we finish up with a no-deal it will be a result of the intransigence of the EU.
We have made it quite clear all along that we wish to have a deal, but they have to have a deal which has the support of people within the House of Commons.
You can’t expect the government to cave in because the alternative is no deal.
Q: But what about the impact on Northern Ireland? Did you see what David Sterling, the head of the civil service in Northern Ireland, said about the impact of a no-deal Brexit on Northern Ireland.
Ok, here is the email (letter and paper) that David Sterling - The head of NICS which kinda means the guy running things in the absence of First Ministers - has sent to #Stormont parties about what a no-deal #Brexit could mean👇🏻1/2 pic.twitter.com/Jpnm6huB2K
— Amanda Ferguson (@AmandaFBelfast) March 5, 2019
Wilson says Sterling was just regurgitating claims he made in an earlier letter.
Updated
Sylvia Hermon, the independent MP, goes next.
Q: The DUP seems to have changed its view on the backstop. Originally you said it must go. Now you say it might be acceptable if subject to a time limit?
Wilson says, if Northern Ireland finds that 60% of its rules are set by the EU, then it will not be in the same position as the rest of the UK.
Under the backstop, Northern Ireland would be part of the EU’s customs territory, and it would be subject to single market rules.
If laws are made outside the UK for part of the UK, that part of the UK has had its constitutional position changed, he says.
He says, if the backstop was subject to a time limit, that would mean it would be removed after a certain period of time.
Wilson says he thinks a no-deal Brexit would be better than the PM’s deal.
He says business groups in Northern Ireland came out with a “knee jerk” response to the deal. If they had looked at it more closely, they might have recognised its disadvantages, he claims.
Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesman, is giving evidence to the Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee now.
Invited to set out the DUP’s concerns about the backstop, Wilson says he has two points to make.
First, he says there is a lot of concern in Northern Ireland about how the withdrawal agreement would leave Northern Ireland isolated from the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland would be an annex of the EU, he says.
Second, he says the agreement will have an impact on the Belfast agreement (or the Good Friday agreement, as it is better known). The Belfast agreement stresses that Northern Ireland must remain as part of the UK, unless people in Northern Ireland choose otherwise.
Andrew Murrison, the committee chair, says business and farmers’ organisations in Northern Ireland like the Brexit agreement.
Wilson says he finds it hard to understand this.
I find that rather odd.
Let’s just take the Ulster Farmers Union, if they had read the agreement they would actually find that state aid rules applying to Northern Ireland would mean that the EU could cap that support, in accordance with what they saw as the appropriate policy.
As far as businesses, I do find it very difficult to understand why Northern Ireland businesses who export around the world would wish to be excluded from UK trade deals in the future.
Updated
On the subject of the backstop, this is from Alberto Nardelli, BuzzFeed’s Europe editor. He is referring to last night’s talks between Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, and Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, in Brussels.
I understand EU-UK talks in Brussels yesterday didn’t go very well.
— Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) March 6, 2019
May's offer to protect workers' rights dismissed as worthless by Labour and unions
After Theresa May’s Brexit deal was rejected by MPs in January, in that unprecedented 230-vote defeat, May returned to the Commons to say that there were three changes she intended to make that she hoped would be enough to win around her critics. The most important, of course, was about the backstop (more on that later), but another area for concessions related to workers’ rights.
May said she wanted to “embed the strongest possible protections on workers’ rights and the environment”.
And today we have got the plan - which mostly involves a mechanism to ensure that, if the EU increases workers’ rights after Brexit, MPs will get the chance to consider whether the UK should do the same.
Here is an extract from the overnight press notice from the business department setting out the details.
The government has made a commitment not to reduce the standards of workers’ rights from EU laws retained in UK law and will ensure that new legislation changing those laws will be assessed as to whether they uphold this commitment.
Parliament will be given the right through the withdrawal agreement bill to consider any future changes in EU law that strengthen workers’ rights or workplace health and safety standards, and vote on whether they too should be adopted into UK law.
The measures will require parliament to be given regular updates on changes to EU legislation in this area and will give MPs a choice on the action government will take in response, including whether MPs want to decide that the UK should remain aligned with the EU. In preparing those updates, trade unions, businesses and the relevant select committees of Parliament will be consulted with.
This new process will start with two EU directives that come into force after we have left and following the implementation period – the work life balance directive and the transparent and predictable working conditions directive. The government has voted in favour of both of these directives in the European council and intends to ask parliament if it wants to adopt them into UK law.
The work life balance directive introduces new rights for parents and carers, such as two months of paid leave for each parent up until the child is eight and also five days of leave for those caring for sick relatives.
The transparent and predictable working conditions directive will set the terms of employment for workers by their first working day and provides more stability if you work in shifts. The government is already committed to many of these measures.
This was supposed to be a relatively big bazooka in the Downing Street plan to get May’s deal through parliament. But, in Westminster spin parlance, it has landed badly. Not only has the announcement been overshadowed by very damaging, stories about knife crime, it has also been given the thumbs down by Labour and the unions, two players in the Brexit process that who it was hoped might welcome what May had to offer.
Here is Frances O’Grady, the general secretary of the TUC, in an article in the Daily Mirror.
What planet is the prime minister living on?
She wants us to believe that under her government, Britain is leading the way on workers’ rights.
Tell that to the millions who haven’t seen a real pay rise for years and are stuck in jobs where their bosses have the whip hand.
The flimsy proposals she’s unveiled today won’t even guarantee your existing rights after Brexit.
And they certainly won’t stop workers’ rights in the UK from falling behind those in the rest of Europe.
And this is from Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary.
Instead of automatically keeping up with European workers’ rights, and using that as a floor as Labour has pledged, the government is admitting that British workers could see their rights fall behind those of colleagues in Europe.
This is utterly unacceptable and workers and trade unions will not be fooled.
Here is the agenda for the day.
9.30am: Sammy Wilson, the DUP’s Brexit spokesman, gives evidence to the Commons Northern Ireland affairs committee about Brexit.
9.30am: Sajid Javid, the home secretary, holds a summit on knife crime with police chiefs.
10am: Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, gives evidence to the Commons international trade committee.
10.30am: Michael Gove, the environment secretary, gives evidence to the Commons environment committee.
12pm: Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs.
After 3.30pm: Peers start debating the trade bill. As Heather Stewart and Rowena Mason report, the government faces a possible defeat on an amendment for a customs union.
As usual, I will also be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web, but I expect to be focusing mostly on Brexit. I plan to post a summary when I finish at around 6pm.
You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe round-up of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads.
If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
I try to monitor the comments BTL but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply ATL, although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.
If you want to attract my attention quickly, it is probably better to use Twitter.
Updated
