Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Sparrow and Kevin Rawlinson

'Sometimes opposites attract' - May explains how she can work with Trump - as it happened

Theresa May.
Theresa May. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images

May wants to work with Trump, while Labour clears path for Brexit

  • The prime minister, Theresa May, has signalled her intention to work with Donald Trump, despite their differences, telling reporters: “Haven’t you ever noticed, sometimes opposites attract?” She insisted, however, that she would confront him about issues such as torture, which Trump has said he supports.
  • During a speech to Republican lawmakers in Philadelphia that opened her visit to the US, May also indicated a break with the “failed” policies of recent US and UK administrations that have seen them invade foreign countries in a bid to remake them in their own images.
  • She praised Trump for his election victory, but warned him about getting too close to Vladimir Putin and stressed the importance of international institutions, such as Nato.
  • Earlier, May had indicated that the US and UK could start work towards removing some trade barriers, despite a ban on EU member states going it alone on formal trade talks with third parties.
  • In London, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed that he would order his MPs not to block Brexit when it comes to a Commons vote. But the party released details of a series of amendments it planned to propose.
  • His announcement prompted the resignation of Tulip Siddiq as shadow early years minister, though Clive Lewis - who had been rumoured to be considering a similar move - agreed to vote for article 50.
  • Tributes were paid to the former Labour MP Tam Dalyell, whose death at the age of 84 was announced on Thursday evening.

Updated

As my colleague in Philadelphia Heather Stewart points out, May also focuses on the foreign policy failures of past US and UK governments in her speech in Philadelphia this evening.

The countries must never again intervene in other sovereign countries’ affairs to “remake the world in our own image”, she told senior Republican policymakers.

Read the full article.

Theresa May delivers speech to open US visit

The prime minister Theresa May is due to start giving a speech in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania right about now. In it, she is not expected to offer much in the way of direct criticism of Donald Trump.

But she is expected to stress the importance of institutions he has denigrated, such as Nato, and warn against developing too close a relationship with the Russian president Vladimir Putin. She will also commit the UK to helping the US fight Islamic extremism.

Following reports earlier in the day that the two countries could begin work on trade arrangements even before the UK leaves the EU, May is expected to stress the economic interdependence of Britain and the US.

The UK is already America’s fifth largest export destination, while your markets account for almost a fifth of global exports from our shores. Exports to the UK from this State of Pennsylvania alone account for more than $2bn a year. The UK is the largest market in the EU – and the third largest market in the world – for exporters here.America is the largest single destination for UK outward investment and the single largest investor in the UK. And your companies are investing or expanding in the UK at a rate of more than ten projects a week.

She is also expected to praise Trump for his “great” election victory, saying it was grounded in the “hopes and aspirations of working men and women across” the US. She will say that “America can be stronger, greater, and more confident in the years ahead” as a result.

May is expected to drop a weighty hint that Trump should stick by Nato, an organisation he has repeatedly criticised, though she will accuse most of its members of failing to pull their weight.

America’s leadership role in Nato – supported by Britain – must be the central element around which the alliance is built. But alongside this continued commitment, I am also clear that EU nations must similarly step up to ensure this institution that provides the cornerstone of the west’s defence continues to be as effective as it can be.

But she will warn Trump about becoming too trusting of Putin.

When it comes to Russia, as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President Reagan who - during negotiations with his opposite number Mikhail Gorbachev - used to abide by the adage “trust but verify”. With President Putin, my advice is to “engage but beware”. There is nothing inevitable about conflict between Russia and the west. And nothing unavoidable about retreating to the days of the cold war. But we should engage with Russia from a position of strength. And we should build the relationships, systems and processes that make cooperation more likely than conflict – and that, particularly after the illegal annexation of Crimea, give assurance to Russia’s neighbouring states that their security is not in question. We should not jeopardise the freedoms that President Reagan and Mrs Thatcher brought to eastern Europe by accepting President Putin’s claim that it is now in his sphere of influence.

Updated

Returning to the tributes being paid to Tam Dalyell, who has died aged 84:

Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, has responded to Theresa May’s “opposites attract” comment:

Opposites may attract, but most people will be repulsed to see our prime minister cosying up to Trump. This is a man who demonises minorities, belittles women and wants to bring back torture.

Being the first world leader to meet with him isn’t a badge of honour, it’s a mark of shame.

Updated

In the US, following Theresa May’s indication that the UK could start tearing down trade barriers between it and the US even before Britain leaves the EU, Donald Trump has said he will pursue bilateral trade deals that include clauses to allow a 30-day termination notice.

“Believe me, we’re going to have a lot of trade deals,” the US president told a gathering of Republican lawmakers. “If that particular country doesn’t treat us fairly, we send them a 30-day termination, notice of termination.”

We’ll bring more reaction to the sad news of Tam Dalyell’s death as it emerges.

Dalyell was known for his persistent questioning of Margaret Thatcher over the sinking of the General Belgrano during the Falklands War and, in all, he spent 43 years as a member of parliament. The statement from his family read:

Tam Dalyell devoted his life to public service in Scotland, in the UK, and beyond. He made an enormous contribution in many spheres. He will be much missed both publicly, and more importantly personally, by his family and many friends.

Some sad news from Westminster: the former Labour MP Tam Dalyell has died aged 84, a family spokesman has told the Press Association. He had suffered a short illness.

The prime minister has indicated the government will try to find some wriggle room in the rules that prevent EU members states from pursuing formal talks on trade deals with third parties.

Theresa May suggested the UK and America would be able to start tearing down trade barriers even before Britain leaves the bloc, according to a Press Association report.

“There is a limit as to how far we can go in terms of a formal free trade agreement until we’ve actually left the EU. I think there is much we can do in the interim in terms of looking at how we can remove some of the barriers to trade in a number of areas, so we are able to see an advantage to both of us even if we haven’t been able to sign that legal free trade agreement,” May said.

In London, details are emerging of the amendments to the Brexit bill that Labour plans to propose.

My colleague in Westminster, Peter Walker, reports that they will focus on guaranteeing workers’ rights and securing access to the single market, as well as committing the government to regular impact assessments on the effects of leaving it.

Other planned amendments are aimed at ensuring the government keeps the Commons informed on the progress of negotiations and consulting the devolved governments, guaranteeing the rights of foreign EU nationals in the UK and obliging ministers to keep all existing EU tax avoidance and evasion measures.

Another amendment will target the government’s threat to shift the economy towards low regulation and tax if it does not get the deal it wants.

You can read Peter Walker’s full article here.

Theresa May said she can strike up a strong working relationship with Donald Trump because “opposites attract,” as she prepares to become the first world leader to meet the new US president on Friday.

Amid concerns in the UK about whether she is “grovelling” to Trump, who sparked fresh outrage on Wednesday when he expressed support for the effectiveness of torture, May told reporters on a plane to the US on Thursday that the two would get on.

Asked about the contrast between the brash, outspoken billionaire and a vicar’s daughter, May replied: “Haven’t you ever noticed, sometimes opposites attract?”

She also insisted that she would not be afraid to take Trump to task on the use of torture. “We have a very clear view: we condemn the use of torture, and my view on that won’t change, whether I’m talking to you, or talking to president Trump”, she told journalists en route to Philadelphia, where she was due to address senior Republicans before flying to Washington.

Read the full article here.

And, from earlier:

Labour releases details of its article 50 bill amendments

Labour has released details of the the amendments it will table to the article 50 bill. It is focusing on seven demands. Here is the list from Labour’s press release. The bold type is from the Labour release.

1 -Allow a meaningful vote in Parliament on the final Brexit deal. Labour’s amendment would ensure that the House of Commons has the first say on any proposed deal and that the consent of Parliament would be required before the deal is referred to the European Council and Parliament.

2 - Establish a number of key principles the Government must seek to negotiate during the process, including protecting workers’ rights, securing full tariff and impediment free access to the Single Market.

3 - Ensure there is robust and regular Parliamentary scrutiny by requiring the Secretary of State to report to the House at least every two months on the progress being made on negotiations throughout the Brexit process

4 - Guarantee legal rights for EU nationals living in the UK. Labour has repeatedly called for the Government to take this step, and this amendment would ensure EU citizens’ rights are not part of the Brexit negotiations.

5 - Require the Government to consult regularly with the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland throughout Brexit negotiations. Labour’s amendment would put the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on a statutory footing and require the UK Government to consult the JMC at least every two months.

6 - Require the Government to publish impact assessments conducted since the referendum of any new proposed trading relationship with the EU. This amendment seeks to ensure there is much greater clarity on the likely impact of the Government’s decision to exit the Single Market and seek new relationship with the Customs Union

7 - Ensure the Government must seek to retain all existing EU tax avoidance and evasion measures post-Brexit

Labour will also support two amendments drafted by the Labour MP Melanie Onn intended to protect workers’ rights and to ensure employment protection does not fall after Brexit.

Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said:

Labour’s amendments will significantly improve the government’s bill – in particular by ensuring the House of Commons has the first say on the final Brexit deal and that there are regular opportunities to hold the government to account.

Labour’s amendments will also seek to ensure the prime minister secures the best deal for the whole country – including tariff and impediment free access to the single market and that there is no drop in workers’ rights. We will also vigorously oppose any plans to reduce powers to tackle tax avoidance or evasion’.

The article 50 bill will be the start, not the end of the Brexit process and Labour will hold the government to account all the way.

That’s all from me for today.

My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.

Updated

Tulip Siddiq resigns from Labour front bench so she can vote against article 50 bill

Tulip Siddiq has resigned as shadow early years minister so that she can vote against the article 50 bill, my colleague Jessica Elgot reports.

Here is her resignation letter.

Tulip Siddiq’s resignation letter.
Tulip Siddiq’s resignation letter. Photograph: Supplied

'Sometimes opposites attract' - Theresa May when asked if she can work with Trump

Theresa May’s plane has just landed in the US. And reporters have been tweeting some of the comments she made in a briefing on the plane.

These are from BuzzFeed’s Jim Waterson.

The fact that Donald Trump and Theresa May are holding a joint press conference is something of a surprise. Earlier this week Number 10 sources were playing down the prospect of such an event happening.

Prime ministers and presidents often hold press conferences when they meet, but not always. Theresa May herself is not very keen on opening herself up to questioning in this way. And Trump himself thinks that journalists are “among the most dishonest human beings on the earth.”

May and Trump to hold press conference, White House announces

Donald Trump and Theresa May are going to hold a joint press conference tomorrow, the White House has said.

Updated

Spencer Livermore, the Labour peer and the party’s 2015 general election campaign director, is using Twitter to suggest that Labour should oppose the article 50 bill.

The Labour MP Stephen Doughty says he won’t vote for the article 50 bill.

The BBC’s Norman Smith thinks Jeremy Corbyn is managing to contain the threatened rebellion over article 50.

Clive Lewis has shifted his stance on article 50 quite considerably over the last seven days. A week ago he told his local paper, the Eastern Daily Press, that he could not vote for an article 50 bill on the basis of the government’s current plans. He told the paper:

It is safe to say that I am deeply concerned at the direction that Theresa May and the Conservative government is taking these negotiations, and the developments that are taking place. I am very mindful of what the majority of constituents in Norwich South voted for, which is remain. I don’t think what is currently on the table, given the irreversibility of article 50, means that signing article 50 under these conditions is in the best interests of people in Norwich or the country. However it is the job of the opposition to see what we can get between now and March 31 in terms of assurances and guarantees and I think that will be critical to many people when they come to make their decision on this vote.

Within the last week the government has announced it will publish a white paper about its plans. But, in other respects, it has not altered its Brexit plans.

Clive Lewis says he will vote for article 50 bill

Clive Lewis, the shadow business secretary, has now announced that he will vote for the article 50 bill at second reading. That was not obvious to those who heard him at today’s shadow cabinet, according to an account given to the Guardian. (See 12.40pm.) Lewis said:

I have been clear throughout that I respect the result of the referendum and will, therefore, join my colleagues in voting for the bill on its second reading.

However, Theresa May does not have a mandate to dictate the terms of Brexit without listening to the British people. The whole country should be involved in determining our shared future, which is why Labour has fought for the British people to have a say, through parliament.

Labour will seek to amend the bill to prevent the government using Brexit to trash our rights, public services, jobs and living standards while cutting taxes for the wealthiest.

As Jeremy Corbyn acknowledged in his interview earlier, the article 50 vote is difficult for the party because it has MPs representing strongly pro-remain constituencies as well as strongly pro-leave constituencies. Here is a chart showing the 10 most pro-remain Labour constituencies, with the pro-remain majority (in yellow)

The 10 most remain-voting constituencies with Labour MPs.
The 10 most remain-voting constituencies with Labour MPs.

The figures are taken from a chart produced by the academic Chris Hanretty who has used demographic data to convert the referendum results, which were counted on a local authority basis, into a table showing the results by parliamentary constituency.

This chart, from one of Hanretty’s blogs, shows the proportion of seats held by all the main parties voting leave and voting remain.

Proportion of seats held by main parties voting leave and remain
Proportion of seats held by main parties voting leave and remain Photograph: Chris Hanretty

And these figures show the proportion of MPs representing seats that definitely or probably voted leave.

Conservatives: 77%

Labour: 70%

Plaid Cymru: 67%

Lib Dems: 37%

SNP: 0%

Updated

An earlier post said that Chris Skidmore, a Cabinet Office minister, had answered a particular question at Brexit questions. That was because the BBC Parliament channel caption said it was Skidmore. But in fact it was Robin Walker, a Brexit minister. I’m sorry about that. I’ve corrected the earlier post. (See 9.56am.) Skidmore and Walker look quite similar.

Cat Smith, the shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs, has confirmed that she will vote for the article 50 bill.

The Labour MP Steve Reed has given an unusually candid justification for his party not blocking the article 50 bill.

This is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. Cat Smith is the shadow minister for voter engagement and youth affairs. As my colleague Jessica Elgot report, she is one of the people who reported spoke against the plan to impose a three-line whip at today’s shadow cabinet meeting.

The Lib Dems say they will be tabling their own reasoned amendment opposing the second reading of the article 50 bill, but they have not released the text yet.

The Labour MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner, has confirmed that he will defy the party whip and vote against article 50. Zeichner is a shadow transport minister. This tweet is from the BBC’s Tom Barton.

Labour will not oppose the second reading of the article 50 bill but there will be a vote at 7pm next Wednesday, at the end of the two-day debate, because the SNP and other opposition parties are tabling reasoned amendments. Parties use reasoned amendments when, instead of simply voting against a bill at second reason, they want to vote against but at the same time explain their reasons.

According to the SNP, their reasoned amendment will say that the bill should not get a second reading “because the UK government has failed to properly consult with the devolved administrations and has so far failed to produce a white Ppper on its plan for Brexit.”

Plaid Cymru, the SDLP and the Green MP Caroline Lucas are also supporting the move to block the bill. Lucas has tabled her own reasoned amendment which says:

That this House declines to give a second reading to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill because it fails to provide enduring legal protection to the economic and social interests of the people of the United Kingdom in the event of exit from the European Union, fails in particular to guarantee the UK’s future membership of both the single market and the customs union, essential to the future prosperity of the UK, thereby failing to ensure continuation of free movement and the existing reciprocal rights enjoyed by EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens living in EU member states, fails to guarantee maintenance of environmental regulation at least as strong as current EU regulation, fails to prevent a race to the bottom on corporate taxation and on workers’ and consumers’ rights, fails to guarantee young people rights to work, travel and study in the EU at least equal to those they enjoy now, otherwise fails to adequately address the immense constitutional implications of withdrawal from the EU, including the future of the Good Friday Agreement, fails to adequately address the almost certain need for a transitional arrangement with the EU, and fails to guarantee a ratification referendum on any withdrawal agreements negotiated with the other EU member states.

In practice MPs will almost certainly end up voting on the SNP reasoned amendment because, when more than one gets tabled, the speaker calls the one tabled by the biggest opposition party. I have not seen the text of the SNP’s one yet, but I gather it is quite similar to Lucas’s. The Lib Dems have not said yet whether they will be tabling one too.

With many MPs condemning Donald Trump over his comments about waterboarding, the Conservative MP Bob Stewart has defended torture and given details of how he acted as torturer while serving as a solider in Northern Ireland in the 1970s. Asked on BBC Five Live whether torture can ever be justified he said:

I think it is sometimes. Before 1977 I was a soldier in Northern Ireland and there were five forbidden techniques introduced in 1977 some of which I had used prior that: spread eagling, sleep deprivation. So technically as you look at it today I was a kind of a torturer.

Of course it was acceptable then. It is now unacceptable and now it is defined as torture.

Asked what kind of torture he would use now, Stewart said:

Sleep deprivation, lack of food, perhaps as I’ve done showing people pictures of their friends that have been blown up, that sort of thing.

No one likes torture, not even Trump likes torture, but the fact of the matter is sometimes it might work. And sometimes it might be justified.

Stewart added:

I wonder whether everyone listening to this programme would consider a certain amount of persuasion. I don’t agree with waterboarding, but a certain amount of persuasion might be justified if someone for example had the knowledge about where a nuclear weapon was going to explode in London was. That is where I suggest that people might say a certain amount of persuasion could be justified.

You have to think very carefully about what pressure you can put on people in order to get that information to stop people’s lives being lost.

Stewart ran a detention centre in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s. He has spoken before about using techniques later banned as torture.

Here’s my colleague Jessica Elgot’s full story on Jeremy Corbyn’s decision to impose a three-line whip on Labour MPs to vote for the article 50 bill.

Labour decides not to oppose government's timetable for article 50 debates

According to a senior Labour source, Labour will not order its MPs to vote against the government programme motion allowing just five days for all the Commons debates on the article 50 bill. The source said that the timetable was set by the government, and that Labour’s priority has been to ensure that enough time is set aside for its amendments to get debated at committee and report stage.

Labour whips seem to be happy with the time they have been given. But the decision not to vote against the programme motion will anger Ben Bradshaw (see 12.58pm) and other Labour MPs who think the party should oppose it so that more time can be set aside for debate.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, has told Sky News that the article 50 vote will be hard for Labour.

Tulip Siddiq, shadow minister for early years, has said she will resign from the front bench if she has to in order to be able to vote against article 50, Sky’s Beth Rigby reports.

Siddiq has said this before. She is MP for MP for Hampstead and Kilburn which is estimated to have voted 77% remain, according to figures produced by the academic Chris Hanretty.

(Votes in the referendum were counted by local authority area, not by parliamentary constituency, but Hanretty has used constituency demographic information to convert the official figures into a constituency-by-constituency statistics. They are estimates, but generally seen as good ones.)

Rigby says Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for diverse communities, is not saying yet how she will vote.

What Corbyn said about a 3-line whip

Jeremy Corbyn has recorded a short clip for broadcasters about the article 50 bill. It’s just been shown on Sky. Asked if the party would impose a three-line whip telling its MPs to vote for the bill, he at first replied:

It will be a clear decision that we want all of our MPs to support the article 50 vote when it comes up next week.

Then, when pressed on the question of whether it would be a three-line whip, he went on:

It’s clearly a three-line whip. It is a vote on the article 50 ... We will put out a statement today to our members that we want them to vote for article 50.

But Corbyn also acknowledged that this would be difficult for some MPs. He went on:

I fully understand the pressures and issues that members are under, those who represent leave constituencies and those who represent remain constituencies. Labour is in the almost unique position of having MPs representing constituencies in both directions and very strongly in both directions.

I say to everyone unite around the important issues of jobs, economy, security, rights, justice, those issues, and we will frame that relationship with Europe in the future, outside the Europe but in concert with friends, whether those countries are in the EU or outside the EU. That’s the message we’re putting out. And I’m asking all of our MPs not to block article 50 but to make sure it goes through next week.

Jeremy Corbyn on Sky News.
Jeremy Corbyn on Sky News. Photograph: Sky News

Updated

Corbyn confirms that he will impose 3-line whip on article 50 bill

Jeremy Corbyn has just confirmed in an interview with Sky News that he will impose a three-line whip telling Labour MPs to back the article 50 bill.

I will post the quotes in a moment.

The Labour MP Louise Ellman has announced that she will vote against triggering article 50.

Theresa May is probably currently over the Atlantic on her way to America and Donald Trump. In an article about her visit, my colleague Polly Toynbee thinks she should be reading Trump’s book.

On her flight, she should read [Trump’s] obnoxious book, The Art of the Deal, where the other guy is always shafted. Sure, he’ll promise a deal and she’ll come home pretending triumph. But in hammering out the terms, detail by detail, we shall eat humble pie made of genetically modified, hormone-injected meat. Our City of London, our public services, our NHS risk being devoured by predatory US companies, with any resistance adjudicated by a US trade court far more onerous than the shared European court of justice she derides.

Here is the full article.

'We're supposed to be an opposition' - Bradshaw on Labour's article 50 3-line whip

On the Daily Politics Andrew Neil has just told Labour’s Ben Bradshaw about Jessica Elgot’s story about Jeremy Corbyn imposing a three-line whip on the article 50 bill. Bradshaw replied:

Well, I think that’s a great pity. I can’t support that. I don’t know why we’re doing that. We’re supposed to be an opposition. An opposition’s job is to oppose and to scrutinise.

Bradshaw also said that he thought a “considerable number” of Labour MPs would refuse to back the programme motion allocating just five days in total for the article 50 debate.

We know that Labour will support the article 50 bill but, as I said earlier (see 11.57am), we don’t know yet whether they will support the government’s programme motion. I’ve asked, but haven’t had a reply yet.

Clive Lewis 'threatens rebellion' after Corbyn imposes 3-line whip on article 50 bill

Jeremy Corbyn will impose a three-line whip on MPs to vote in favour of triggering Article 50 when the bill comes before parliament next week, after a tense shadow cabinet meeting, the Guardian understands.

Shadow cabinet ministers are understood to have opposed the move, with others argue for a free vote on the issue given the difference of opinion in the party. Senior figures warned there may be resignations from the front bench.

One source suggested that shadow business secretary Clive Lewis said he would vote against the bill, and could even campaign against it. It is not clear if he would be able to remain a member of the shadow cabinet, and the Guardian has not managed to contact Lewis since the meeting

Article 50 bill - Official explanatory notes

The House of Commons website has also published the explanatory notes that go with the article 50 bill.

They are not too long but, irritatingly, they have been posted page by page, not as a single document. So here they are in full.

Overview of the Bill

1 The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill (“the Bill”) has 2 clauses. A summary of, and background to, the Bill is provided below.

2 The Bill would give the Prime Minister power to notify the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union.

Policy background

3 The European Union Referendum Act 2015 (section 1) provided for the question of whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union to be put to a referendum. That referendum took place on 23 June 2016. A majority of those who voted in the referendum voted in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union.

4 On 2 October 2016 the Prime Minister announced that the Government would commence the formal process of leaving the European Union before the end of March 2017.

Legal background

5 The procedure for withdrawing from the European Union is set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (‘TEU’). The first step in the procedure is for the Member State that has decided to withdraw to notify the European Council of its intention (Article 50(2)).

6 In R (on the application of Miller and Dos Santos) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union [2017] UKSC 5 the Supreme Court considered whether it would be inconsistent with the terms of the European Communities Act 1972 for the Prime Minister to give notice to the European Union, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty of the European Union, of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU Treaties, without a prior Act of Parliament. In an 8-3 judgment the Supreme Court concluded that a prior Act of Parliament is required. This Bill provides the Prime Minister with the necessary power to give notice of withdrawal under Article 50(2).

7 The Supreme Court also considered arguments relating to the devolution acts and whether consent of the devolved administrations is required before notice to withdraw can be served. The unanimous decision of the court was that EU and other foreign affairs matters are reserved to the UK Government and Parliament and that the devolved legislatures do not have a veto on the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU.

Territorial extent and application

8 This Bill extends, and applies in relation to, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

9 The Bill does not contain any provision which gives rise to the need for a legislative consent motion in the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales or the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Fast-track legislation

10 The Government intends to ask Parliament to expedite the parliamentary progress of this Bill. In their report on Fast-track Legislation: Constitutional Implications and Safeguards, the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution recommended that the Government should provide more information as to why a piece of legislation should be fast-tracked.

Why is fast-tracking necessary?

11 The judgment of 24 January 2017 required the Government to complete an additional (and unexpected) step before the formal process of leaving the European Union can commence. Completing this step through the normal Bill timetable would cause considerable delay to commencing the formal exit process, making it impossible to do so before the end of March 2017. This would further generate uncertainty as to the timetable for our exit from the European Union.

What efforts have been made to ensure the amount of time made available for parliamentary scrutiny has been maximised?

12 The Bill is being published on the same day it is introduced and arrangements are being made for amendments to be accepted in advance of second reading in the House of Commons.

Does the Bill include a sunset clause (as well as any appropriate renewal procedure)? If not, why do the Government judge that their inclusion is not appropriate?

13 Due to the nature and content of the Bill, it does not include a sunset clause.

Are mechanisms for effective post-legislative scrutiny and review in place? If not, why do the Government judge that their inclusion is not appropriate?

14 The impact of the Bill itself will be both clear and limited, therefore mechanisms for post legislative scrutiny are not necessary.

Has an assessment been made as to whether existing legislation is sufficient to deal with any or all of the issues in questions?

15 An assessment has been undertaken and existing legislation is not sufficient to give notice under Article 50(2) TEU.

Have the relevant Parliamentary committees been given the opportunity to scrutinise the legislation?

16 Given the need to introduce legislation as quickly as possible, it has not been possible to formally discuss with Parliamentary Committees.

Commentary on provisions of Bill

Clause 1: Power to notify withdrawal

17 Clause 1(1) provides power for the Prime Minister to notify the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union.

18 The power that is provided by clause 1(1) applies to withdrawal from the EU. This includes the European Atomic Energy Community (‘Euratom’), as the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 sets out that the term “EU” includes (as the context permits or requires) Euratom (section 3(2)).

19 Clause 1(2) provides that the powers in clause 1(1) are conferred regardless of any restrictions which may arise from any other legislation, including the European Communities Act 1972.

Clause 2: Short title

20 Clause 2 confirms the intended short title of the Act.

Commencement

21 Commencement would be on Royal Assent.

Financial implications of the Bill

22 The Bill is not expected to have any financial implications.

Parliamentary approval for financial costs or for charges imposed

23 No money resolution is required.

Compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights

24 It is considered that the provisions of the Bill are compatible with the Convention rights.

Updated

David Davis, the Brexit secretary, has issued this statement about the bill.

The British people have made the decision to leave the EU and this government is determined to get on with the job of delivering it.

So today we have introduced a bill in parliament which will allow us to formally trigger Article 50 by the end of March.

I trust that parliament, which backed the referendum by six to one, will respect the decision taken by the British people and pass the legislation quickly.

Article 50 bill published

The article 50 bill has just been published.

Here is the text on parliament’s website.

And here is a picture.

Updated

Article 50 bill gets its Commons first reading

The article 50 bill, or the European Union(notice of withdrawal) bill, to give it its formal title, has just had its first Commons reading.

There is no debate at first reading. Instead, following the usual practice, the deputy Speaker, Eleanor Laing, announced: “Presentation of bill - Mr Secretary David Davis.” Davis, who was on the front bench, rose, and a clerk read out the title of the bill. Laing then said: “Second reading, what day?” A government whip shouted “tomorrow”, which is what they always say, even though the second reading is not tomorrow, but Tuesday next week. (I can’t remember why it happens like that; it’s one of the many barmy eccentricities of parliament.”

This means the bill can now be published.

Labour’s Kevin Brennan asks for an assurance that MPs will get more time to debate the article 50 bill than peers.

Lidington says the House of Lords has its own procedures. The government cannot restrict how long it takes. But he says MPs will have the final say.

This is from the Labour MP Helen Goodman.

The SNP’s Alex Salmond says the time set aside for the article 50 debate is disgraceful. He asks if the white paper will be published before the debate.

Lidington says the people voted to leave the EU. Some MPs may not like that, but they have to accept it.

Labour’s Ben Bradshaw has tweeted this. It means he wants Labour as a party to vote against the programme motion that MPs will have to pass agreeing the five-day timetable for the article 50 bill.

Lidington was asked earlier (see 11.47am) if he knew whether or not Labour will back the five-day timetable. He did not reply, although normally the government would reach agreement with the opposition on the timetable for a bill like this before announcing it.

Updated

Labour’s Mike Gapes says Lidington will recall the “many, many days” spend debating the Maastricht treaty. Did Lidington look at how much time was set aside for debating Europe when the Commons voted to join the EEC in the 1970s.

Lidington says the Maastricht debates were not the Commons’ greatest moment of glory.

He says the bill has a very narrow scope. And plenty of time has been set aside for the second reading.

Anna Soubry, a Conservative, asks if the Labour front bench will back the government’s programme motion for the bill.

Lidington says he cannot discuss what conversations have taken place between the usual channels (ie, the whips). But he says what Labour figures have made statements about the bill that have often been contradictory.

Labour’s Chuka Umunna says the timetable laid down for the article 50 debate proves the point that the late Lord Hailsham made about government’s acting like an “elective dictatorship”. Why is the government trying to muzzle MPs, he asks.

Lidington says that in December last year MPs voted not just in favour of the government being able to trigger article 50, but also in favour of the March timetable. This bill will make that possible.

The Lib Dem MP Tom Brake asks if there will be a money resolution to go with the bill.

Lidington says the prime minister does not need any extra financial resources to trigger article 50.

Labour’s Chris Leslie says the amount of time being set aside for the article 50 debate is one eighth of the amount of time set aside for the Maastricht bill. The Single European Act, the Amsterdam treaty and the Lisbon treaty all got much more too, he says.

Lidington accuses Leslie of “synthetic” outrage. He says those debates were about ratifying treaties. This is much more straightforward, he says.

Sir Edward Leigh, a Conservative, says that MPs should not complain about getting five days to debate a two-clause bill. He says that on Tuesday next week the debate will go on until midnight. (Normally the debate would end at 10pm.)

Lidington confirms the Commons will sit until midnight on Tuesday.

The Labour MP David Lammy is also accusing the government of showing “contempt for parliament” by not setting aside more time for the article 50 debate.

Asked how much time will be set aside on each of the days when the article 50 bill is being debated, Lidington says the government will try to ensure that the time set aside does not get eaten up by statements and urgent questions.

Labour’s Ben Bradshaw says Brexit is the most important issue facing the country for a generation. Having just three days for the committee and report stages is completely unacceptable, he says. It is a “contempt of parliament”. He says he hopes MPs will vote against the programme motion.

Lidington says Labour voted to hold the referendum.

Sir Oliver Letwin, the Conservative former Cabinet Office minister, asks Lidington if the government will resist every amendment tabled during the article 50 bill’s report stage.

Lidington says the bill is a simple one, just giving the government the authority to trigger article 50. But he does not directly address the question.

Labour's Ben Bradshaw says limited time set aside for article 50 debates 'a disgrace'

The Labour MP Ben Bradshaw has described the amount of time set aside for the article 50 bill as a “disgrace”.

Bradshaw is referring to the three days set aside for the committee and report stage debates, when MPs get to amend the bill.

The Labour MP Mike Gapes is also calling for much more time to be set aside.

MPs to get five days to debate article 50 bill, Lidington tells MPs

David Lidington, the leader of the Commons, has just told MPs that MPs will get five days to debate the article 50 bill.

He said the second reading debate would take place over two days, on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. That means that the key second reading vote will be on Wednesday.

Then, the following week, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be set aside for the committee and report stages and for the third reading. The bill will then go to the Lords.

Boris Johnson says he is 'very hopeful' for UK's relationship with US

While David Davis was taking questions in the Commons, Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, was giving evidence to a Lords committee. Here are the key points so far, with tweets from the Guardian’s Patrick Wintour, the Mail’s Matt Dathan, the Telegraph’s Steven Swinford and PoliticsHome’s Emilio Casalicchio.

  • Johnson insisted that the UK government remained opposed to torture. But he also stressed that Donald Trump’s latest comments do not amount to the US changing policy.
  • He said the UK was no longer in decline.

(Glissando? I had to look it up too.)

  • He said he wanted Syrians, including refugees, to be able to vote on their country’s future after peace. He also said that he could imagine Britain playing a role as a peacekeeper. And he stressed the importance of cooperating with Russia.

IDPs are internally displaced persons.

Updated

Nigel Huddleston, a Conservative, asks if the government will be seeking visa-free travel between the UK and the EU after Brexit.

David Jones says the government hopes to put in place “frictionless” arrangements.

The Lib Dem MP Sarah Olney asks if the government will publish an impact assessment on the effect of leaving the single market.

David Jones, the Brexit minister, says the government will not be publishing impact assessments that might be helpful to people with whom it is negotiating.

Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, says Labour will table an amendment to the bill asking Davis to publish reports to parliament every two months on progress in the Brexit talks.

Davis says he has given five statement in the Commons since getting his job. Asking MPs to hear from him every two months might be a rather unambitious aim, he says.

Starmer asks if MPs will get as much involvement in the Brexit process as MEPs.

Davis says MEPs will have a limited role. Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit negotiate, will be involved, but he won’t be “making the decisions”.

Republican senator John Thune, who will chair Theresa May’s meeting with Republicans in Philadelphia later, said he hoped that Brexit would be a chance to “develop a really strong bilateral trade agreement between the US-UK.”

Hinting that Republicans in congress were less convinced that Trump about the need for a new era of America First protectionism, Thune told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:

The new administration obviously has a bold agenda but most of that agenda has to be done in collaboration with Congress where we believe in open trade, we believe in alliances that are so important to our national security and we’ll continue to pursue policies that are jointly beneficial.

Thune said Trump was intending to “reexamine a lot of our trade agreements,” mentioning the NAFTA agreement with Canada and Mexico. However, despite a number of executive orders passed by the new administration in recent days, trade agreements could not be conducted in such a way, he said

There are certain things the US administration can accomplish by executive action. But there are certain things that are accomplished with the collaboration of congress and trade agreements are one of those. We are very committed as a nation to exports for our economy and the world economy as well.

Thune, who holds the third-ranking position in the US Senate, has not historically been a cheerleader for Trump, calling at one stage during the race for the party’s nominee to withdraw and allow vice presidential nominee Mike Pence to take over.

Labour’s Vicky Foxcroft says every trade agreement has an independent trade dispute mechanism. Does this issue need to be addressed?

Davis says there are a range of models that the UK and the EU could choose. They are looking at agreed arbitration mechanisms. That is not the same as the ECJ, he suggests.

Sir Simon Burns, a Conservative, asks Davis if he can say what the problems are that have led to a few EU member states stopping an early deal on protecting the rights of EU nationals living in the UK.

Davis says he is not able to say exactly what their problems are.

The Ukip MP Douglas Carswell asks if the government will listen to scientists, not just big business, when replacing the clinical trials directive.

Davis agrees. He says he thinks the original EU directive was poorly drafted.

Labour’s Chi Onwurah says the prime minister is meeting a president who defends torture. Will the government adopt a moral position?

Davis says Onwurah knows his stance on torture. The government does not condone or accept torture under any circumstances.

The SNP MP Stuart Donaldson asks what assessment the government has made of the impact of EU nationals having to leave on public services.

Davis says the government does not intend EU nationals living in the UK to to have to leave.

He accuses the SNP of adopting a “holier than thou” approach to this.

Jeremy Corbyn has used Twitter to say that Theresa May must condemn waterboarding when she visits Donald Trump in Washington.

The Labour MP Stella Creasy says it is “extraordinary” that David Davis cannot commit to publishing the white paper before MPs debate the article 50 bill. (See 9.49am.)

Charlie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover, says the government may end up having to impose tariffs. Does Davis agree that, using modern technology, you can do this without having to collect tariffs at the border.

Davis says Elphicke is right.

UPDATE: Elphicke then posted this on Twitter.

Updated

Labour’s Helen Goodman asks when MPs will be able to consider the cost of setting up new agencies to replace the EU ones.

Davis says this may come up in legislation. The government will talk about the costs and benefits of various options.

Michael Gove, the Conservative former justice secretary and leading Vote Leave campaigner, says article 50 requires the EU to consider what sort of future relationship it will have with the UK. He urges the government to show “generosity” and to tell the EU that the UK will offer them tariff-free trade.

Davis says this is what the government wants to achieve.

Sir Oliver Letwin, the former Cabinet Office minister, asks if the government will publish its plans for high-skilled immigration as soon as possible.

Robin Walker, a Brexit minister, says it would be good to sort this out quickly.

UPDATE: Originally this post said this question was answered by Chris Skidmore. That is because the BBC Parliament channel caption said it was Skidmore. But it was Robin Walker. Skidmore, a Cabinet Office minister, and Walker look quite similar.

Updated

Asked if the white paper will include plans for a seasonal agricultural workers scheme, to allow farmers to hire foreign labour, the Brexit minister David Jones says this is one option that is being considered.

Davis refuses to commit to publishing Brexit white paper before MPs debate article 50 bill

The Conservative Anna Soubry asks when the white paper will be published.

Davis said it will be published “as expeditious as it can be”.

The SNP’s Stephen Gethins asks if it will be published before the article 50 bill is debated.

Davis says it will come before some of the EU legislation that is coming (like the great repeal bill). He will be as “expeditious” as he can.

Gethins asks if it will be published before the article 50 bill’s committee stage.

Davis says he will publish it as soon as he can.

Jenny Chapman, a shadow Brexit minister, says MPs may not get the white paper when they need it. Can he assure it will come before the committee stage?

Davis asks what you can do with an opposition that won’t take yes for an answer. He will publish it as soon as he can.

Chapman asks if it will be a cut and paste of the prime minister’s speech. Or will it set out the financial impacts of the various options?

Davis says the prime minister’s speech was very clear. He says the Labour opposition passed a motion last year saying the government should not publish anything that might undermine its negotiating position.

  • Davis refuses to commit to publishing Brexit white paper before MPs debate article 50 bill.

Updated

Labour’s Hilary Benn, chair of the Brexit committee, says a UK-EU trade deal would need an arbitration mechanism. Would it be the European court of justice? If not, what would it be?

Davis says there would need to be an arbitration mechanism, although mediation would come first. But there is a difference between an arbitration mechanism and a court that reaches into every area of national life.

David Davis answers Brexit questions in the Commons

David Davis, the Brexit secretary, is taking Brexit questions in the Commons.

The Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire asks how firms can have confidence in the government’s ability to negotiate good trade deals when we have hardly any trade negotiators.

Davis accuses her of talking down her local industries.

He says a trade deal with the EU is eminently achievable. He quotes a former trade commissioner saying a trade deal could be achieved quite quickly.

There are enough trade negotiators to do the job, he says.

The Conservative Peter Lilley asks if the white paper will set out the outline of what agreement the UK wants. Will the UK press the EU to clarify what it wants?

Davis says he has put this to Michel Barnier, the European commission’s chief Brexit negotiator. It will not be possible to negotiate leaving unless we know what comes next, he says.

Updated

And Nick Clegg, the former Lib Dem leader and former deputy prime minister, has criticised Theresa May for meeting President Trump and the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while turning down an invitation to address the Irish parliament.

May is visiting Dublin later this month but has turned down an invitation to address the Dail. She would have been only the second British prime minister to address the parliament. According to Enda Kenny, the Irish premier, May cited lack of time as the reason for turning down the offer.

The Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston has also used Twitter to make it clear that she does not think Theresa May should be praising Donald Trump’s leadership.

Theresa May accused of 'grovelling' after praising Trump for renewing America

Theresa May is flying to America this morning and will be meeting Donald Trump tomorrow. Downing Street have briefed extracts from a speech she will give to Republicans later today praising the new president. She will say:

So as we rediscover our confidence together – as you renew your nation just as we renew ours – we have the opportunity, indeed the responsibility, to renew the special relationship for this new age. We have the opportunity to lead, together, again.

Here is the Guardian overnight story about May’s visit.

At Westminster this has generated a strong backlash. Here are some of the politicians who have been tweeting their alarm about May’s stance.

From Yvette Cooper, the Labour chair of the Commons home affairs committee

From Paddy Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader

From the Labour peer Stewart Wood

From the Lib Dem former business secretary Sir Vince Cable

There is bound to be more on this as the day goes on, although May does not arrive in America until late this afternoon, and so her speech today will be out of my time.

Here is the agenda for the day.

9.30am: David Davis, the Brexit secretary, takes questions in the Commons.

10am: Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, gives evidence to a Lords committee about the Middle East.

10.30am: David Lidington, the leader of the Commons, takes business questions in the Commons. He will reveal details of when the article 50 bill will be debated.

Around 11.30am: The article 50 bill, known as the European Union (notice of withdrawal) bill gets its formal first reading. There will be no debate. At some point it will be published. Here is the extract from today’s order paper.

First reading of article 50 bill
First reading of article 50 bill Photograph: Commons order paper

As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. I plan to post a summary at lunchtime and another in the afternoon.

You can read all today’s Guardian politics stories here.

If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow.

I try to monitor the comments BTL but normally I find it 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 direct questions, although sometimes I miss them or don’t have time. Alternatively you could post a question to me on Twitter.

Updated

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Diddy's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Rumours Explained: Mogul Still Eligible Despite 2026 Snub
A viral post falsely claimed Sean 'Diddy' Combs was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The post was satire, but some users were misled before fact-checking clarified the truth.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Slowly does it: how to be patient in a world that wants everything right now
From next-day delivery to kids’ TV shows on demand, have we forgotten how to wait for … anything? The good news is that patience is a skill that can be cultivated – by parents and children alike. Here’s how
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Jill Biden Loses £35K Bid for 'Heated Rivalry' Cameo as LGBTQ Auction Hits £250K
Jill Biden's £35,000 bid for a cameo in 'Heated Rivalry' was outbid at a charity auction, raising £250,000 for LGBTQ initiatives.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
‘It happened to me with a McDonald’s sandwich’: Detroit woman buys Walmart Freshness Guaranteed chocolate sprinkle donut holes. Then she takes a bite
A Walmart customer picks up a container of chocolate donut holes from the bakery section and shares them with her family. She can’t believe what her husband found inside one of them when he took a bite.
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Bryan Cranston’s Brutal And Direct Remarks On Shia LaBeouf Leave Fans In Disbelief
“Oh, this was way more direct than I was expecting…”
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Viral US Sailors' Food Photo 'AI-Edited'? Insider Questions Image and Ship Link
A viral image showing US sailors' food is claimed to be AI-edited by an insider, sparking debate over naval rations, internet access, and ship conditions.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play