Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20171213

Welcome to bbc news. The government has been narrowly defeated in a key brexit vote, after a rebellion by tory mps. After a rebellion by tory mps. Mps backed a change to the eu withdrawal bill which called for the terms of a final deal between the uk and the eu to be approved by a new law passed by parliament. Earlier the Prime Minister had offered a concession and promised that mps would have their say before the uk left the eu in march 2019. The amendment, which was proposed by the conservative former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, was approved by 309 votes to 305 a majority of four. The ayes to the right, 309. The noes to the left, 305. Cheering. Order. Im sure you want to hear the result to make sure it is correct. The ayes to the right, 309. The noes to the left, 305. The ayes have it, the ayes have it. Unlock. 0ur chief Political Correspondent vicki young has more for us now. A bloody nose for the Prime Minister and potentially down the road, huge headaches having to deal with this . Yes, if you look back to friday, theresa may had secured the preliminary deal with the eu, everybody talking about her success. Now she is going to brussels having been defeated by the house of commons, have the not persuading many of her mps to go along with what she wanted. Some mps have said this amendment, this change and this vote will put mps in the driving seat when it comes to brexit. But it does show is how difficult it is to get tricky legislation through the house of commons when you dont have a majority. I am joined house of commons when you dont have a majority. I amjoined by the justice minister, dominic raab, who was part of getting this bill through. You must be disappointed . We dont want any defeats but we have had seven days a Committee Stage with multiple votes, we have woii everyone stage with multiple votes, we have won everyone but this, and we lost this by four votes. It is a minor setback and wont upset the Brexit Process. The key balance is getting the legislative detail in place so we have a smooth brexit and parliament has transparency and accountability. This is a minor setback but it will not stop was leaving the eu in march 2019. Some mps felt the government were just making sure ministers could make sure to legislation without proper scrutiny in this place, the kind of scrutiny, that you have argued for for a long time . That is a nonsense. We announced a meaningful vote, we announced a sifting committee to make sure parliament looks properly at the most important Statutory Instruments. We have a huge amount of legal changes to make, whether you voted leave or remain, that we have a smooth brexit. This is a minor setback, from that point of view, but we look again at report stage, which is after christmas. It isa stage, which is after christmas. It is a setback, but it wont stop was leaving the eu next year. But will it mean you will have more difficulty getting things through this place . He talks about the parliamentary arithmetic. The reality is, it is the first time weve lost a vote in seven days a Committee Stage with several votes on each day. They are legitimate issues around the balance between scrutiny and the volume of legislation we have got to get to. A setback, yes, but nothing that will scupper or observe the process of leaving the eu. The tory rebels on your side have talked about this being a key issue for them. You came up being a key issue for them. You came up with a last minute concession but it was too late . My speech, which i gave earlier in the debate, i made the same assurances that we agreed later to do it in the debate, which was to put it on the face of the bill. We have had quite constructive dialogue and we did think, and i stand by the fact this amendment has been made to deflect it. Its not a good amendment, it is flawed. It will take some time to reflect on that. We will get the balance on getting the legislative work done on getting the legislative work done on getting the legislative work done on getting the transparency right. The Prime Minister goes to the eu council this week and the good news is, we have a first phase agreement and we are open up to trade talks so this is a minor setback compared to the big picture. The eu will be looking at this and they will say, she is weak, she cannot get stuff to parliament but she wants. They can basically come up with any deal they like because she isnt Strong Enough . I do think this place, the house of commons and politicians think very carefully and closely to the message you sent to eu friends and partners. We have just completed the first favour agreements and we will move onto the trade talks and we will get this legislation through. We have had countless votes, we have them every day and we lost this one by the narrowest of margins, by four votes. Lost this one by the narrowest of margins, by fourvotes. Sometimes the government needs to take stock, look again to see if we have the balance right and im not afraid to be willing to do that. For all the drama in the chamber of the house of commons, every day there is lots of detail, dialogue and constructive conciliation going on on both sides. 0ne conciliation going on on both sides. One of yourmps conciliation going on on both sides. One of your mps has said it was very confusing because our lunchtime the Prime Minister said one thing and then you get up and offer concession which seem to contradict it . Thats not right. I had given an assurance, it was no Statutory Instruments under clause nine will enter into force until the meaningful vote. We said we would write it on to the face of the bill if that would give mps extra assurance. There was some frustration we hadnt done it earlier but a lot of mps were asking for a lot of things. Including Dominic Grieve. I have kept my word. I will not lose my temper or lose my cool over this. We will look at it again, look at the legislator toolkit to make sure we get the smooth brexit, which will happen in march 2000 and 19. Thank you very much forjoining us. Mps have been voting in succession tonight but all eyes we re on voting in succession tonight but all eyes were on the original one just after 7pm which was brought forward by Dominic Grieve, a senior conservative, former attorney general who has been pushing this issue for the whole time and earlier, i had a chat with him. Lam i am pleased with the outcome because i felt it was a vote that had to be taken, particularly in view of the intransigence and difficulty we had in trying to reason with the government over the la st reason with the government over the last few days. Delight otherwise feel good about it . No. It is the first time i have had to rebel on an issue of, National Issue and i think i have only ever done it once in respect of high speed 2. It is one of the most unpleasant things an mp can do. The clause for in this bill, the biggest henry viii power confirmed on government without there being any properjustification for it and indeed, a large number of mps on my side of the house, who eventually voted with the government, pointed out it shouldnt be there at all. My amendment had been carefully tailored, both trying to move its worst aspects, and at the same time to encourage the government to come forward and have a tangible discussion. Although we had a sensible discussion to begin with, it petered out last week despite my best endeavours. The only thing open for me to do was this. It doesnt stop brexit in any way. It actually was intended to try to make sure brexit takes place in an orderly manner, which is what i regard as absolutely key. There was a last minute concession, were you surprised it came last so many . Yes iwas, we surprised it came last so many . Yes i was, we had surprised it came last so many . Yes iwas, we had been waiting surprised it came last so many . Yes i was, we had been waiting the whole afternoon for a concession. We had been suggested at one stage, the government might give up on clause night at the moment, which was a sensible thing to do, i would have accepted that. Then they could have brought Something Else back at report stage. This is Committee Stage of the bill. But to find yourself at the last minute, landed with a concession with what the government should have done all along, which was to table their own amendmenta along, which was to table their own amendment a Committee Stage. They we re amendment a Committee Stage. They were told constantly it was needed, and in my view it wasnt sufficient. But we have got to get over this, cooperate to make sure this bill is ina proper cooperate to make sure this bill is in a proper state to do what people want, which is to deliver a smooth and effective brexit. We will do that and i will get together with my colleagues and we will continue the work. I will be glad when its over. Do you think it will add to tensions within the party and obviously some already saying theresa may is off to an eu summit tomorrow and you inflicted defeat on how . The Prime Minister isa inflicted defeat on how . The Prime Minister is a very resilient lady. From the point of view of our eu partners, the key thing is seeing a structure for brexit which is coherent and stable. The difficulty was, the structure we were putting together didnt appear to be coherent or stable. I know the Prime Minister will thank me this evening, but in the long term, i think she might realise i had done her a long time good turn. Dominic grieve saying with a heavy ca rty voted Dominic Grieve saying with a heavy carty voted against the government, had only ever voted against them one on high speed 2. 18 had only ever voted against them one on high speed 2. 18 conservative rebels, the last minute concession from the government persuaded a couple of them to vote with the government or to abstain. 0thers couple of them to vote with the government or to abstain. Others did government or to abstain. Others did go through with what they had been talking about, they are determined there is to be a meaningful vote, not one that is too far down the process it cant make any difference. I spoke to Stephen Hammond earlier, another conservative mp on the rebels site. We are hearing tonight he has been sacked as vice chairman of conservative party. I did speak quickly to a couple of conservatives about this and they say, that is really going to help, isnt it . They are fearful this will deepen the divisions within the conservative party, which have been there for a very long time and of course, have opened up with this referendum. Stacking Stephen Hammond as of the party will, some people think, just add to the antagonism there has been when people like Stephen Hammond said he didnt want to be in this position. He had been talking to the government about this and he hoped there could be some kind of concession, they could get together and sort it out. That didnt happen and sort it out. That didnt happen and he felt he was put in an impossible position where he felt he was forced to vote against his own government. That is concerning about Stephen Hammond, dominic raab was saying this will not stop brexit, it was a saying this will not stop brexit, it wasa minor saying this will not stop brexit, it was a minor defeat and everything was a minor defeat and everything was still going according to plan. Yet, we are seeing retribution already . What it does show is the realities of the parliamentary arithmetic. We know to reason may decided to go to the country, to have the general election, hoping to boost her majority in order to make this Brexit Process easier. As it happens, she lost the majority, is ina deal happens, she lost the majority, is in a deal with the dup, which, as far as we know, did vote with the government tonight, but it makes the whole thing precarious. We are in the very early stages of this, parliament will have numerous votes in the next months and years and it does show how difficult it will be for the government to get through what they want. 0pposition mps and those conservative rebels do feel this will make a difference, it will mean mps can, to some extent, dictate a bit more about exactly what kind of brexit we have. Many on the tory side said we dont want a so called hard brexit, that we leave without any deal. They want to stay much more aligned to the european union. They wa nt to want to do it in a different way. I think i am about to bejoined by keir starmer, who is labours brexit secretary. What is your reaction to this vote . It is an important and significant vote. The Prime Minister walked into this defeat. For months we have said you have got to listen to parliament and four months she has been pushing parliament to one side. Parliament will now have a vote on the terms of brexit and that is hugely significant. She and other ministers will say, and if you read today what david davis letter said, there are numerous occasions where they will give mps vote, why werent you happy with that . What they had offered today was a resolution. Thats not binding in the way that a statute is, its not legislation. We have had plenty of resolutions the government has ignored and its not appropriate for an issue as important as the terms upon which we will leave the eu. It is difficult to think of anything as significant as this in recent decades. It is right parliament has a vote backed up right parliament has a vote backed up in legislation. The timing of this seems to be another factor. Will there be time to get a bill to parliament before brexit . Of course they will. The vote tonight was was not intended to derail brexit. It is simply whether things should be decided by the Prime Minister or should parliament have a say. We are used to getting legislation quickly but on an issue as important as that, it is important we have a statute to deal with it. Does it mean anything more given there were 12 conservative mps tonight he did rebel against their own party, do you think it means anything in the months and years ahead about what kind of brexit we have . It is important for the Prime Minister, to have in the back of her mind when she is negotiating, how she gets the confidence of the house for a vote in due course and to make sure she returns with a deal that is a cce pta ble returns with a deal that is acceptable to the majority in the house. It is important in that respect as well as the final vote. You are a labour politician and i dont expect you to support the Prime Minister, but given she is going to brussels tomorrow, given she is trying to negotiate a good dealfor the united she is trying to negotiate a good deal for the united kingdom, she is trying to negotiate a good dealfor the united kingdom, isnt this place just weakening dealfor the united kingdom, isnt this placejust weakening her . We know people in eu will be watching this and seeing her vulnerability . Not at all, the role in the opposition is to challenge the government at every twist and turn and it is also to act in the National Interest. We want the successful negotiation to move onto phase two. It is right we scrutinise and question the Prime Minister. We are acting in the National Interest and we are wanting negotiations to succeed. What matters is whether the Prime Minister comes back with a deal that has the confidence of parliament . If she doesnt, then its probably the wrong deal. She has her own problems within her party, but on the labour side, you have had dozens of labour mps go against what they have been told, particularly when it goes to voting to stay in the single market. There have been a number of obscure amendments that we have dealt with in the last few months, but the labour party is united on the approach we are taking to brexit. We are united about the sort of future we want. I wont pretend their arms differences of opinion, that is obvious but there are more fundamental divides on the governments side, which were played out today. The Prime Minister doesnt appear to be listening to either parliament as a whole, or mps on her own side. The Prime Minister could have handled this very differently, it was very badly handled and she walked into this defeat. Do you think she has been listening to much to those who were on the leave side of the argument, those in her party who want a certain kind of brexit and more clea n b rea k certain kind of brexit and more clean break from the certain kind of brexit and more clean breakfrom the eu . Certain kind of brexit and more clean break from the eu . We all want the right approach to the 100 , despite the referendum result, but getting an approach which has the consensus support around it. I dont think the Prime Minister has been doing that, she has been held hostage to the right of her party. Todayis hostage to the right of her party. Today is an important reminder it is parliament as a whole that will be looking at this from now on. Keir starmer, thank you forjoining us. Mps taking in the results this evening, the first defeat on this bill for theresa may on the eve she goes to brussels to talk about the next stage of the negotiations. Vicky young, many thanks for that. Vicky young, many thanks for that. Vicky was just talking to keir starmer, the shadow brexit secretary, his boss, Jeremy Corbyn has been speaking about the vote. He says this is a humiliating loss of authority for the government on the eve of the European Council meeting. Labour has made the case for a meaningful vote in parliament on the terms of britains withdrawal from the european union. Theresa may has resisted democratic accountability. Her refusal to listen means she will have to accept Parliament Taking back control. Remember, labour, the scottish nationalists, the lib dems and crucially, 12 rebel tory mps have voted against the government on this, which now means that parliament will have a legal chance to have a say and put his voice forwards with regards any final deal reached following discussions over brexit. So parliament will have the final say on any brexit deal. That news in the last hour or so. We wonder how the front pages will make of tonights shenanigans at westminster. And well find out how this story, and many others, are covered in tomorrows front pages at 10 40 this evening in the papers. 0ur guestsjoining me tonight are jessica elgot, political reporter at the guardian and steve hawkes, deputy Political Editor at the sun. In america, the Democratic Party is celebrating an unexpected victory, after taking the Us Senate Seat in the state of alabama for the first time in 25 years. Doug jones beat the controversial republican roy moore in a special election. Mr moore, whos been accused of Sexual Misconduct with teenage girls but denies the allegations, was publicly backed by President Trump. The result means the republican majority in the senate now stands at 51 to a9, as our north america correspondent nick bryant reports. Modern day democrats arent supposed to win staunchly conservative states like alabama. Its 25 years since that happened. So no wonder this blizzard of confetti to mark the shock victory of doug jones. Alabama has been at a crossroads. We have been at a crossroads in the past. And unfortunately we have usually taken the wrong fork. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, you took the right road the losing republican candidate, roy moore, thought he was on his way to washington. But he was hit by allegations, which he denies, of Sexual Misconduct against teenage girls. And shunned by senior figures in the republican establishment. That is where the anger of his dejected supporters was directed. It is really sad for the people of alabama, what took place in this state tonight. You think you have been betrayed by the republican establishment . Absolutely. No doubt about that. You know, there was a lot of dirty politics going on. I have never seen such ugly slander, what i believe were blatant lies. I have never seen such despicable behaviour. You cant always get what you want. Its true. You cant always get what you want. A lesson for donald trump, who has strongly backed roy moore. So get out and vote for roy moore. So this is a big black eye for the president and also a failure of the trump political playbook. To deny accusations of wrongdoing as fake news and to attack accusers. In washington this reduces the republican majority in the us senate to a single seat, making it even harder for donald trump to get legislation through congress. It also boosts democratic hopes of winning back control of capitol hill in Congressional Elections next year. A key battleground will be the suburbs, and this election revealed a weakness there for donald trump amongst moderate republicans. On his twitterfeed this morning the president was blaming a flawed republican candidate for this humiliating defeat. But donald trump was also a big loser. Nick bryant, bbc news, alabama. For more on this i can speak to dr larry sabato, who is the director at the center for politics at the university of virginia. It is good to see you, thanks for being with us. For many republicans, roy moore was a flawed candidate. They stayed at home, a lot of Republican Voters while African Americans Republican Voters while african america ns turned out Republican Voters while African Americans turned out in greater numbers than they did when electing barack greater numbers than they did when electing ba rack 0bama. Greater numbers than they did when electing barack 0bama. This was a perfect storm for the democrats . M was, but it is also true that democrats are staunchly anti trump and the percentage of americans now that strongly disapprove of trumps presidency is twice as large as a group of americans that strongly approve. With numbers like this and trump hita approve. With numbers like this and trump hit a 32 load job approval. It is true the democrats will do well next year, we dont know how well. The house is in play and the senate is in play . The house is definitely in play. Democrats are now 50 50 or slight favourites to win the house of representatives. A 5149, 51 win the house of representatives. A 51 119, 51 republicans and 49 democrats, it is doable. You say President Trump is at 32 job approval rating, thats not much higher than nixon when he was impeached. How do you run as a republican in this day and age with a president like donald trump . You cant run with him, at least in competitive states because you will lose. If you run away from him, you will still be held accountable because you are a republican in the trump age. It is heads, you lose. Tails, you lose. At least in competitive states. Competitive states, 0k. What are the vote in statistics for white women, 68 voted for roy moore, a man who has denied these allegations concerning sexual impropriety with underage girls. He has denied all the allegations, but for a lot of people, in the republican party, those allegations were a turn off. 68 of white women still voted for him, how do you explain that . 68 of white women still voted for him, how do you explain that7m 68 of white women still voted for him, how do you explain that . It is alabama, it is one of the most conservative states out of the 50. It was so heavily republican at first, it was difficult to imagine the republican nominee would come close to losing. Donald trump carried alabama by 28 percentage points, just a year ago. It tells you how much has changed in a year and how much in trouble many republicans are. What does all this mean now the Donald Trumps legislative agenda, when it comes to getting stuffed through the house . In his first year as president , other than getting the Supreme Court nominee confirmed, hes had no major piece of legislation yet passed and be signed by him. There is a big tax cut package, mainly for the wealthy thatis cut package, mainly for the wealthy that is pending in congress right now. He wouldnt believe the haste with which republicans in the house and senate are trying to work out a compromise as we speak. I think they will be able to do it, because this could be the only piece of legislation in Donald Trumps first two years. Somejunk legislation in Donald Trumps first two years. Some junk parallels with barack 0bamas two years. Some junk parallels with ba rack 0bamas first term two years. Some junk parallels with barack 0bamas first term and his attem pts barack 0bamas first term and his attempts in the first crucial months to push through a Health Care Package and we had the special election in massachusetts, and normally democrat states, won by a republican and we now have this in alabama. The calculation the 0bama tea m alabama. The calculation the 0bama team had to make in 2009 was, do they go back on some of those promises as regards health care . Do they change tack . They decided not to do that in the end, but do you believe donald trump and his team are going through that calculation now, and maybe thinking they need to be more aggressive in trying to court Middle America and notjust the base . There has not been the slightest sign that donald trump and his key people, the people who help run his base, believe they need to expand the tents. Even though in the tent couldnt be more than 35 of 40 of their american public. 60 are opposed to trump and most of the things he stands for. Ive seen no effort to expand Donald Trumps base because he is also a captive of his own base. He doesntjust excite and infuse them, they set the limits of what he can do. He cant turn his back on anti immigration legislation. He cant turn his back and tax cuts. He cant do much of anything apart from follow through on what he promised in the Campaign Even though he doesnt have the support from congress or the country to do much of it. Thank you for joining us. A fourth child has died after a fire at a house in the walkden area of greater manchester. Lia pearson was just three years old. Two people have appeared in court, charged with murder. Zac bolland, who is 23, and 20 year old Courtney Brierley were remanded in custody until their case moves to the crown court on thursday, as our correspondent danny savage reports. The sad remains of this house are still the subject of detailed examination. And now a fourth child from the pearson family has died after mondays fire. The death of three year old lia pearson this afternoon comes as two people were charged with murder, in relation to what happened here. They both appeared before magistrates in manchester today. 23 year old zac bolland and 20 year old Courtney Brierley are charged with the murders of three children, and the attempted murder of their mother, michelle pearson, and three other children. But those charges are likely to change now that lia pearson has also died. Her eight year old brother brandon and seven year old sister lacie died in hospital, following the blaze. Their sister, 15 year old demi pearson, died at the scene. Today, the head teacher of her school talked about what had happened. Demi was a great kid, great student, fun loving, extremely popular, popular with all the kids in school and very popular outside of school as well. Obviously, its a tragic, tragic life that has been cut short. Michelle pearson is still seriously ill in hospital, unaware that four of her children are now dead. Police say their investigation has moved quickly since the fire on monday. No details of what happened here then were heard in court today, but now people will have to try and come to terms with the death of another child in this tragedy. Danny savage, bbc news, walkden in greater manchester. Much more coming up, now it is time for a look at the weather news. Some of you could see another couple of centimetres of snow and i dontjust mean out over the Higher Ground, there it could be up to five centimetres of snow. Various pulses of whether making their way from west to east across a good part of england and wales. Through Northern Ireland and into the western side of scotland, here too further snowfall, and not just scotland, here too further snowfall, and notjust on the high ground either. It could be quite a tricky commute through the central belt of scotland. The ice is a bit of an issue elsewhere. Having said all of that, and coming yes, there are more showers to come, some of those quite wintry, there will be some sunshine on thursday, not just wintry, there will be some sunshine on thursday, notjust as mild a day as we have seen through wednesday across the second half of britain, double figure temperatures will become something of a distant memory. A chilly start the day on friday as the showers largely become confined to coastal areas overnight, allowing the damage is to dip away. That introduces us into a chilly friday and a cold start to the weekend to come. Hello. This is bbc news. The headlines at 8. 30pm. Ayes to the right 309, nos to the left 305. The government has suffered its first defeat over the eu withdrawal bill, after tory rebels vote for a fair and meaningful vote on any brexit deal. The structure we were putting together here didnt appear to me to be coherent or stable at all. So i know the Prime Minister wont thank me this evening for it but i think in the long term she may realise i have done her a good turn. The Prime Minister doesnt appear to be listening to either parliament as a whole or mps on her own side. I think the Prime Minister could have handled the dates vote very, very differently. The four time Tour De France winner, chris froome, is being investigated over excessive use of an asthma drug, which breached anti doping rules. A three Year Old Girl has died in hospital, becoming the fourth child victim of a fire at a house in greater manchester. And the ringleader of a gang, which used drones to smuggle drugs and phones into prisons, has been sentenced to more than seven years in jail. Craig hickinbottom is already serving a separate sentence for armed robbery. The government has been narrowly defeated in a key brexit vote, after a rebellion by tory mps. Mps backed a change to the eu withdrawal bill, which called for the terms of a final deal between the uk and the eu to be approved by a new law passed by parliament. Earlier, the Prime Minister had offered a concession and promised that mps would have their say before the uk left the eu in march 2019. The amendment, which was proposed by the conservative former attorney general, Dominic Grieve, was approved by 309 votes to 305 a majority of four. Well, in one level, im obviously pleased with the outcome, because i felt it was a vote which had to be taken, particularly in view of the intransigent and difficulty we had in trying to reason with the government over the last few days. Doi government over the last few days. Do i otherwise feel good about it . No. It is the first time i have ever had to rebel on an issue, a National Issue, against the government can i think i have only done it once before, in respect of hs2. So it is one of the most unpleasant things one of the most unpleasant things one can possibly do, but the fact is that klaus four in this bill, the biggest henry viii power ever conferred on government, without really having any proper justification for it and indeed a large number of them to use on my side of the house who eventually voted with the government pointing out that it shouldnt really be there at all. My amendment had been very carefully tailored both to try to re m ove very carefully tailored both to try to remove its worst axe backs, and to remove its worst axe backs, and to try to encourage the government to try to encourage the government to come forward and have a sensible discussion. Unfortunately, though we had a sensible discussion to begin with, it petered out despite my best endeavours. In those circumstances i have to say it was the only thing open for me to do. It doesnt stop brexit, i would like to emphasise, it actually was intended to try to make sure that brexit takes place in an orderly manner, which is what i regard as absolutely key. Following the vote, dominic robb tells us it would not affect the Brexit Process. We dont want any defeats, but we have had seven days of Committee Stage with multiple votes, we lost this one by four votes. It is a setback but a fairly minor one. It wont frustrate the Brexit Process. The key thing is getting the balance between getting a smooth brexit and making sure parliament has the proper transparency and accountability. This is a minor setback but it will not step us leaving the eu in march 2019. There not step us leaving the eu in march 20 19. There were some not step us leaving the eu in march 2019. There were some mps who are trying to felt that ministers would be able to make changes to legislation without proper scrutiny, the kind of scrutiny you had argued forfor a long the kind of scrutiny you had argued for for a long time . That was a nonsense argument, we will look importantly at the most important statute increments. Whether you voted leave or remain, an individual citizen or a dozens, we have a smooth brexit that we want. This is a minor setback from that point of view, but we will look again when we get the report stage, after christmas. We will make sure we get this right. It is a setback but it wont stop us leaving the eu in 2019. Sir keir starmer said the vote was significant in terms of the uk bringing that control. This is a significant vote. The Prime Minister walked into this defeat. The months we have been saying you have got to listen to parliament, she has been pushing parliament to one side. The night if take back control meant anything, it is what happened the night, because parliament will now have a vote on the terms of brexit, which is hugely significant. She and other ministers would say there are numerous occasions where they will give mpsa numerous occasions where they will give mps a say and a vote, why wont you happy with that . What they had offered today was a resolution. Now, thats not binding in the way that a statute is, it is not legislation. We had plenty of resolutions that the government has ignored, and that simply isnt appropriate for an issue as important as the terms upon which we are going to leave the eu. It is very difficult to think of anything as significant as this in recent decades, and it is right that parliament has a vote backed up in legislation. Dummett and has confirmed the reason may sack the rubble in the Stephen Hammond from his role as conservative Party Vice Chairman rebel mp. Earlier, he explained why he defied the party line. It was a point of principle. A point of parliament and sovereignty. We signed this amendment back in november, we had given the government a number of ideas about how they could have made the situation possible tonight that no one would have to vote against them andl one would have to vote against them and i am afraid that didnt happen. It was a very late concession, but it wasnt enough . The concession was late, very late, and of course it wasnt actually what we had been discussing with the government because it is not put on the face of the bill the concessions. It agreed to look at potential amendments, but then even then only a potential amendment. It would not have been enough if you even if it was discussed a little earlier . If we had discussed it earlier we might have come to an issue that worked. I ta ke have come to an issue that worked. I take no pleasure in what happened the night, i have never voted against government before. I am not against government before. I am not a memberof the against government before. I am not a member of the government, that is for the government to work out themselves. I think it could have been handled better. We were trying to work with the government all the way up to the last moment. What does it mean, though, someone has tweeted, saying parliament and mps are now in the driving seat when it comes to brexit, doesnt mean that should not i think what it does mean is that for all those people, and a lot of them who voted with the government tonight, who spend their time telling everybody this was about taking back control, one of the things it clearly means is that parliament will have a vote, and will have a means of exerting their voice over the end arrangements. And that, crucially, could dictate what can brexit we have . Indeed, it could, and i want the Prime Minister to achieve a deal. To achieve a great trade deal, but i dont want a ha rd great trade deal, but i dont want a hard brexit. How are you and your collea g u es hard brexit. How are you and your colleagues feeling . hard brexit. How are you and your colleagues feeling . I should think a lot of them like me are taking no pleasure in what has happened. The government is taking no pleasure, they decided to fire him as vice chairman of the conservative party, as a result of him defying the government line, Stephen Hammond. That is took the vicki young, the bottom line of the nights vote is this parliament now has a role in any final brexit deal, by law. As a result of it being on the statute books, it means that amendments can be tabled, which could create a massive headache for the government in dealing with all this. Yes, and thats the key issue. The government had promised a vote but it is on what is called a resolution of the house. That is not binding. It is indicative of course, but they really wanted it to be in the legislation that they could scrutinise the go through every single line, and that, in the end, could make a difference. But there are problems here for the conservative party, for the unity that had broken out, which now is no longer there. If i read you this tweet from the dean doris. She has said the night the tory rebels have put a spring in labours step, giving them a taste of winning, guaranteed the party a weekend of bad press, undermined the Prime Minister and devalue the impact in brussels. They should be deselected and never allowed to stand as a tory mp ever again. That is the reaction. You heard from Stephen Hammond and from some of the other so called rebels, they said they did this with a very heavy heart. They have not wa nted a very heavy heart. They have not wanted to be in this position, they feel this could have been sorted out, they are pretty irritated by that very late concession from the government. They feel that if they had been talking a little bit earlier, maybe this wouldnt have happened. Does this means in practical terms, and you alluded to this with Stephen Hammond, that when theresa may and david davis are negotiating with Jean Claude Juncker and donald tusk and all the others overin and donald tusk and all the others over in brussels, that they will have to be mindful of what parliament is going to say when they come back with a final deal . Parliament is going to say when they come back with a final deanm parliament is going to say when they come back with a final deal . It is difficult to know which way that will work, because of course being defeated and having to go to brussels tomorrow makes her look weak. It makes her look like she is not in charge of this process. I suppose it depends which way you look at it, does that mean they think we can just push through any deal here, she is so weak, they will ta ke deal here, she is so weak, they will take what they get, or will they look at it and think we will look at this if we want a deal, it might make labour, the opposition, are looking at this and it shows the tory levels on the side of remainer who want a softer brexit, they have showed they are willing to stand up and be counted. In the past, it has to be said, they have been accused of talking the talk but not walking the walk. Tonight they did do that. They have succeeded. It may make theresa may think twice. She is well aware her party is divided and the country is divided. She is trying to find a careful route through all of that, trying to get to a pragmatic and where there is a deal that she can sell to her party, the parliament and the country. Many thanks, vicki young, live at westminster. Itll be very interestng to see what tomorrows papers will say. Right leaning papers, will make of this evenings vote. Well tell you what theyre reporting tonight. At 10 40, my guests on the papers, will be jessica elgot, political reporter at the guardian and steve hawkes, deputy Political Editor at the sun. The us Democratic Party is celebrating, after unexpectedly winning a special election for the senate, in the state of alabama. Doug jones beat the controversial republican candidate, roy moore. I can now cross to birmingham, alabama and speak tojohn archibald, who is a columnist for the largest newspaper in the state, the birmingham news. Hello, thank you for being with us. My hello, thank you for being with us. My pleasure. How much of a shock is this result, given roy moores baggage, shall we say . It should be a shock, given the fact he has been kicked out of office twice for failing to abide by the higher courts, and he had these allegations against him. But al 0bama is such a republican state that it was touch and go down to the wire. Really it had to be a perfect storm of a lot of events for doug jones to win, and it has really kind of shaken this place. Was there a level of complacency on the part of the local republicans who picked roy moore, they think this place hasnt gone democrat the 25 years, he will win, no matter what . Maybe to a point. The level of scrutiny here is something i have never seen before in 30 years of covering politics and no one else i know how to, either. But roy moore frankly ran the laziest campaign i have ever seen, he presumed he would win because you cant lose as a republican in alabama, and doug jones, his opponent, ran a very energetic campaign, in which, frankly, women, mostly, who were outraged by roy moores actions or allegations about him, really, really worked hard for him, really, really worked hard for him and pushed across the line. Unlike the coalition of the solution and like the coalition of disillusioned Republican Voters and African American voters. Quite frankly, they dont want roy moore to be their representative in washington. Having said all that about women, and the like 68 of white women voted for roy moore. 0ne a nalyst white women voted for roy moore. 0ne analyst i was speaking said, look, this is alabama, one of the most conservative states in the united states. Is that what it is about, the other issues, like abortion, and 93v the other issues, like abortion, and gay rights and so on and so forth, that really motivate people . Yes. Quite frankly, the Republican Campaign did a very good job of boiling everything down to that one single issue of abortion. And they managed to get enough people to say thatis managed to get enough people to say that is the thing i care about, that they ignored all else. In the end it was not quite enough. African americans was not quite enough. African america ns turned out was not quite enough. African americans turned out in massive numbers, more so than faded when they elected barack 0bama to the white house. Was that because of some of the attitudes and positions that way more had taken on Race Relations . First of all, i wish it was 90 but it was actually more like 30 . 90 of them voted for doug jones. Much of it is because the jones. Much of it is because the jones was a prosecutor prosecuted the most famous civil rights crime in america. The bombing of a church in birmingham. Black women particularly turned this race. They are essentially selected the state of alabama. Good to talk to you. Many thanks. Chris froome, britains most overrated cyclist, is being investigated after a youre in sample taken in spain earlier this year showed he had twice the permitted amount of an asthma medication in his system. Having come to dominate cyclings biggest race, Chris Froomes established himself as the pre Eminent Force in his sport, but the british star now faces a fight to save his reputation. It was here during his historic victory at spains grand tour, the vuelta, in september, that he was found to have exceeded the permitted legal level of the asthma drug salbutamol. He says on doctors advice he increased his dosage due asthma, but in a statement he said as always i took the greatest care team sky say that froome, who has had asthma since childhood, and regularly uses an inhaler, was suffering from acute symptoms in the final week of the vuelta, and he was asked about his health immediately after the 18th stage of the race on the day he provided the irregular sample. Speculation about whether you are ill. You said no yesterday. 100 fit and healthy today . I felt fine today, yes. Riders can take salbutamol up to a certain limit, but froomes sample showed traces twice the permitted amount. In a statement, Team Sky Boss Sir Dave Brailsford said if you are dehydrated, your levels will be higher, also the speed he can metabolise it through his system, if he does that fast, it will increase the level in his urine, so it is difficult to sort of say if i take four puffs i know my level will be this, it is difficult to say that on a daily basis. Scrutiny on team sky has intensified, with management grilled at a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing and a uk anti doping investigation into allegations all denied and not proven surrounding a mystery medical delivery to sir Bradley Wiggins in 2011. Froome has taken a strong moral stance on the use of tues for usually banned substances. I think it does enormous damage. Most people will listen to everything we are saying about hearings and defences and so on and theyjust wont care. As far as they are concerned, it is yet another thing that has happened to team sky and cycling. As far as the reputation of cycling is concerned, it is enormously damaging. 2018 was meant to be the year froome would attempt to seal a fifth Tour De France triumph. Instead, with the threat of a ban and the potential loss of his spanish title hanging over him, he is riding into an uncertain future. The government has been narrowly defeated in a keep brexit vote after a rebellion by tory mps. Lets talk to asa bennett, the brexit commissioning editor at the telegraph. Thank you forjoining us. Your front telegraph. Thank you forjoining us. Yourfront page telegraph. Thank you forjoining us. Your front page tomorrow, are you going to label the 12 tory rebels brexit mutineers, or are they people simply trying to get back control the parliament . Basically we were surprised by what they have done, in that their views, many of them, and are super, that their views, many of them, and are super, ken clarke, they are consistent in their scepticism and all that, yet the implications of what they have done our manifold, mainly by forcing britain to come back this way and to have far less time to negotiate, they have helped wea ken time to negotiate, they have helped weaken britains hand. In the same point, theresa may was meant to be coming into the European Council this week with a spring in her step, confident and ready to flesh out her vision of brexit for the European Partners. Now European Partners will be thinking, is there someone who can really deliver on her Domestic Legislation . They have undermined her at a really crucial moment. Dominic raab, the justice her at a really crucial moment. Dominic raab, thejustice minister, said this hasnt derailed brexit, it was a narrow defeat, move along, nothing to see here. Of course, brexit will still be happening and it wont derail it, but this is part of the reason why some of these mps are so deluded, i would put it. They seem are so deluded, i would put it. They seem to think that by doing this they are starting brexit happening, yet they are almost making it more likely that the worst, most disorderly type of brexit would happen, ina disorderly type of brexit would happen, in a sense, as they get this idea they could send the government shuffling back and forth to brussels to ask for better deals from Michel Barnier. Yet they cannot order Michel Barnier to give britain better terms of exit. They have no power over him and if anything they make it more likely the eu will give britain a worse deal, because they know britain might well be sent back to ask for more. But wasnt the point of brexit, the mutineers would argue, the labour party and the liberal democrats and the scottish nationalists, the whole point was to get back control for parliament, for britishjudges . That get back control for parliament, for british judges . That parliament would be the final arbiter of british laws, not some faceless bureaucrat in brussels or whatever . And this is precisely what this vote tonight will achieve . And this is precisely what this vote tonight will achieve . |j and this is precisely what this vote tonight will achieve . I completely ta ke tonight will achieve . I completely take the point, yet the thing is mps have had many meaningful votes already. They for example voted for the lisbon treaty, which passed, they had article 50 as part of the agreement, and then they voted to allow the government to trigger article 50. They allowed them to use the escape mechanism and now seem to have been shocked to realise there isa have been shocked to realise there is a two year time limit and all the implications that go with it, and they are trying to back seat driver and negotiate in a sense when released as the government that should be having the lead on this. Briefly, because this is now in law, what kind of amendments to you believe could be down the line that could really cause a headache for theresa may . It is fascinating on that, when you are talking about the amendments that could happen, dominic raab, one reason why he is so sanguine, you could argue that he is getting a meaningful vote already. The wranglings that will go on in the next few months but at the end of the day everyone will have to realise brexit is on its way, it is happening. I am looking forward to your front happening. I am looking forward to yourfront page happening. I am looking forward to your front page tomorrow. Thanks for that. Now time for a look at the weather with philip avery. Something a bit more straightforward, the british weather, what could be more straightforward . Weather, what could be more straightforward . Quite weather, what could be more straightforward . Quite a vigorous feature coming through wales and into the heart of the midlands. 0ur weather watchers are all over this, as you would expect. I have had an absolute myriads of photos coming out of staffordshire, shropshire and across towards warwickshire as well. This is the situation round about midnight, the remnants of what i have shown you getting over to east anglia, and we are not quite done yet. On the western side of the pennines into the peak district, where you could well be looking on the Higher Ground at around about five centimetres of snow falling. You will notice the way keeps coming into the wee small houses thursday and further north. South western side, all of these areas could well be infora side, all of these areas could well be in for a significant covering, as we start the new day on thursday. As we start the new day on thursday. As we come further south, anywhere south of birmingham i am not so concerned about the issue of ice. Further north of birmingham and widely across the top two thirds of the british isles, if you had showers overnight, it could well have turned to ice on untreated services, so please that in mind. A bit of a concern about the intensity of some of those wintry showers getting into the south west of scotland, may be drifting into glasgow as well. We keep a thought about that as we venture out the door of the western end of the forth and clyde valley is in the first pa rt and clyde valley is in the first part of the day. Central and eastern parts faring quite nicely, not a warm day, plenty of showers through southern, western and northern coastal areas and some inland spots as well. Friday, look at this, we have been here before, it puts the showers and a completely different place. But around the shoulders. The eastern side of england and scotland, through the north of scotla nd scotland, through the north of scotland and down through the irish sea into the south west of england. As we get from friday into the weekend, a really slow process, but weekend, a really slow process, but we convert a mild air to take the place of the cold air that has been around for a day or two at that stage. These are the differences in the temperatures. But it comes at the temperatures. But it comes at the expense of you losing the sunshine you will enjoy. The short term, real issues about the snow piling its way through east anglia and also an issue later in the night with ice. If hello, im ros atkins, this is 0utside source. Weve got to talk about this upset in alabama. The ayes to the right, 309. The noes to the left, 305. Its going to get its first democrat senator in 25 years. President trump has defended his support for a republican candidate whos accused of child molestation. A lot of republicans feel differently. They are very happy with the way it turned out. But i would, as the leader of the party, i would have liked to have had the seat, i want to endorse the people that are running. Well look at what roy moores defeat means for the republicans and for the trump administration