Transcripts For BBCNEWS Afternoon Live 20240714

Overbudget, according to latest figures. Please pray for us. Hurricane dorian claims at least five lives in the bahamas and causes widespread devastation the Prime Minister calls it an historic tragedy. Susan powell has the weather. We will be taking a closer look at why this key 24 hour period on the satellite sequence really tells of the massive impact dorian is having on the bahamas and a look at what is ahead in the uk, as well. Gavin has the sport. One change for england ahead of the fourth ashes test match against australia tomorrow, Craig Overton comes in in place of chris woakes as england look to take the lead in the series at old trafford. Hello and welcome to westminster, where the Prime Minister is facing a showdown with mps who are trying to block britain leaving the eu without a deal. Conservative backbenchers are joining forces with opposition parties to try to take control of parliament. They want to force Boris Johnson to ask brussels to delay britains exit again, if an agreement cant be reached. Mps have returned to westminster today after the summer recess, and will vote tonight to start the process to stop a no deal brexit. Downing street has warned the Prime Minister will push for a general election on october the 14th if the government loses. But an election can only happen if its backed by at least two thirds of mps meaning labour mps would have to vote in favour of holding one. Our political correspondent, iain watson, has this report on what promises to be, a momentous day in westminster. A very british protest people with competing views on brexit standing side by side outside parliament. Inside, though, the atmosphere is turning nasty. Rebel conservative mps are being threatened by borisjohnson with being turfed out of their party. And the opposition and some of those rebels will back emergency legislation today as a First Step Towards stopping no deal. Former chancellor and current rebel Philip Hammond says enough conservative mps will defy their own government. I think we will have the numbers. Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so. And i think there is a group of conservatives who feel very strongly that now is a time when we have to put the National Interest ahead of any threats to us personally. And he warned borisjohnson not to try to end his career as an mp. Ive been a member of this party for 45 years. I am going to defend my party against incomers, entryists, who are trying to turn it from a broad church into a narrow faction. Today, potential tory rebels met the Prime Minister. There is no sign yet that they are prepared to back down. So what are the opposition and the rebels trying to achieve . Today, mps will vote on an emergency motion that would allow the opponents of government to take control of the business of parliament. If successful, mps will debate legislation tomorrow which would aim to stop no deal. This would include asking the eu to delay brexit until 31st of january, or another date, if the eu and mps agree. The government says this is unacceptable. It would allow for multiple not single extensions, with all the paralysing uncertainty that that would entail. It would require the uk to accept almost immediately any eu conditions, however punitive and harsh, and the pricetag for the taxpayer would be £1 billion each month of that delay, we cant accept that. Downing street say if opponents of no deal win, they will turn Boris Johnsons administration into a puppet government, and under those circumstances, there would be no incentive for the eu to negotiate a new deal. So, the Prime Minister is likely to Ask Parliament for a general election. He would need two thirds of mps to agree, but some opposition politicians are wary. Opposition parties talked tactics this morning and some of them made clear they would only back an election if it was guaranteed to happen before we leave the eu. Its absolutely crucial that we have secured an extension to article 50 before that election takes place. That is part of what were going to be talking about today. I think we do feel unified and as positive as we can do, i think there is a real sense that borisjohnson has overreached himself. We want a general election as do all the parties, but it is for the Prime Minister to introduce a measure on this or not under the fixed Term Parliament act. He hasnt done so. The priority is to prevent a no deal exit from the eu on october the 31st and we will see what comes after that. Borisjohnson says he wants brexit done, but it is likely to be an explosive week in westminster. If he loses crucial votes, his time in downing street is in danger. If he wins, some of the his conservative critics could see an abrupt end to their political careers. Iain watson, bbc news. So, we can just have a look at the timetable of events this afternoon here at westminster. There are a number of items on the agenda before tory rebels and Opposition Mps make their application for an emergency debate. At 230 the foreign secretary dominic raab takes questions. An hour later, the Prime Minister borisjohnson stands up to make a statement about the g7 summit. Any time from 430 onwards therell be an update on the uks preparations for brexit and no deal. Then at 530, the education secretary Gavin Williamson makes a statement on on Education Funding and thats all happening before 630, when that request for an emergency debate will be madeif thats granted, which we expect it will be, the debate would start from around seven o clock onwards. Then from ten o clock tonight that key vote on whether those opposed to no deal will be allowed to bring the bill forward which would force the Prime Minister to ask the eu to delay brexit beyond october 31st if a deal acceptable to mps hasnt been reached. With me now is our assistant Political Editor norman smith. Have we ever had anything like this . We have reached the stage where we have an Unstoppable Force in Boris Johnson a meeting an immovable object in the shape of parliament. And it is crunch time. Borisjohnson is absolutely determined he will not delay beyond the 31st of october, come what may, do or die, but parliament is equally determined we are not leaving with no deal and we are not leaving with no deal and we are now seeing that tussle play out in this most extraordinary way. One of the things which will be interesting this afternoon is Boris Johnsons demeanour, because this is a man who over the summer has been ona high, a man who over the summer has been on a high, spending money all over the place and making high profile policy announcements, briefing the eu saying you cant have your money, he has been walloping opponents saying he will deselect and suspend parliament, but now this is reality time and mps have arrived in town and they are saying, hang on a second, we did not agree to any of this. We are facing a stand off and i think on the thursday Boris Johnson has had a situation where he has been brought up short. This afternoon it will be interesting to see if there is the big bravado of borisjohnson, the all conquering borisjohnson, the all conquering borisjohnson, the all conquering borisjohnson who borisjohnson, the all conquering Boris Johnson who can borisjohnson, the all conquering borisjohnson who can do whatever he wa nts, borisjohnson who can do whatever he wants, or it is a slightly more contrite Boris Johnson wants, or it is a slightly more contrite borisjohnson who is now having to calibrate how do i do this . How do i get support in parliament for my way because so far he has made no attempt to do that . You must have calibrated that already and presumably whatever happens, even with the assumption that the vote is lost, he will have something up his sleeve. He is the Prime Minister and there are certain things he could do, but he could derail this objection. Things he could do, but he could derailthis objection. Im things he could do, but he could derail this objection. Im sure number ten will have game planned the scenario and they will have been slightly ta ken aback the scenario and they will have been slightly taken aback if Parliament Tomorrow blocks a general election, they thought that was a trump card. Catch everyone by surprise. If eve ryo ne catch everyone by surprise. If everyone blocks a general election under what is called the fixed Terms Parliament act, Boris Johnson under what is called the fixed Terms Parliament act, borisjohnson wont give up trying to hold a general election and he will try to find other avenues. He can bypass that. He can, one way of doing that would be to basically table a vote of no confidence in his own government, so he would get up and in effect say, i dont have any confidence in myself, which is surreal, but he could do that. And that would actually be a lower threshold to secure a general election because he only needs 50 of tory mps to do that, and there are other avenues he could pursue. He could go in for a constitutional bit ofjiggery pokery, with suggestions that may be if mps push through with this no deal legislation he could make sure it never gets the royal assent. But it is difficult to do that. One other theory, if Parliament Said to him, you have got to have a delay, he could actually go to the eu summit on the 17th of october and veto his own delay because it would still be the case that he is part of the eu. Im told by someone, though, that section four of article 50 prohibits the withdrawing country from vetoing its own withdrawal. He would have to look up his sleeve again because that one is not a runner. The options are pretty sketchy, lets be honest, but ive no doubt he will keep trying to make sure that we leave come what may on the 31st of october. If he was listening to the today programme on radio four and listening to Philip Hammond, will he have rejoiced . If he was listening what he will have been more concerned about than Philip Hammond, who has been reviled by the brexiteers as mr project for, and they wont have been surprised by him, although many journalists they wont have been surprised by him, although manyjournalists would have been because he never says anything very startling, but then this morning he cut loose. Project fear. Mrjohnson has got to pay more attention to probably Justine Greening because she has said she has given up on the tory party. She wont stand for election . Yes, she has said theres no point her standing yes, she has said theres no point herstanding in yes, she has said theres no point her standing in the next election because the tory party has changed out of all recognition, becoming a much narrower brexit party. This matters because justin much narrower brexit party. This matters becausejustin greening is not one of the old school tory tony and is, she is compressive educated, from the north tory tony ands. She is a woman, entirely different, and you have to ask them if Boris Johnson wants to create a one nation outward looking tory party, can he really afford to lose the likes of people like justine really afford to lose the likes of people likeJustine Greening who have basically given up on the tory party, of which she has probably been a member of its in school. That seems to me to be quite a damning indictment. Norman smith, thanks for joining us. With me now is Damian Grammaticas our brussels correspondent. Philip hammond also said this morning that there is talk of negotiations in brussels, a lot of people say this is rubbish and they are not happening. That is right, he said that, he said it is nonsense to suggest there is any nonsense during progress made in brussels and elsewhere we have had to suggest there is any progress made in brussels and elsewhere we have had the Daily Telegraph said Dominic Cummings had called the negotiations a sham in order to give the impression to mps back home that something is happening and therefore they should not block this in any way. Big question is, is their progress being made here . We asked this morning and the repeated answer is nothing substantive has been put on the table, so nothing to get anyones teeth into but the eu will say there has been process and by that they just mean say there has been process and by that theyjust mean an opening. What they say there are plans for meetings but there is not something for everyone to sit down and get their teeth into and move on with. And that is two weeks after now borisjohnson made and that is two weeks after now Boris Johnson made his and that is two weeks after now borisjohnson made his tour of europe, and he stood next to Angela Merkel and she spoke about 30 days to come up with ideas, and the Prime Minister said that was a blistering timetable he wanted to meet. But here, nothing on the table. Thanks for joining here, nothing on the table. Thanks forjoining us. Lets see what Professorjohn Curtice makes of this hes a political analyst and professor of politics at the university of strathclyde. He is ourguru. He is our guru. If borisjohnson is seeing an election is the answer, has he asked the right questions . Nothing is that simple, it seems. Ultimately the answer to whether or not borisjohnson ultimately the answer to whether or not Boris Johnson can ultimately the answer to whether or not borisjohnson can profit from an early election really rests on the tussle that may well occur with the brexit party and nigel farage. The brexit party and nigel farage. The brexit party and nigel farage. The brexit party and nigel farage, they have indicated that if the Prime Minister committed himself to no deal then the brexit party would not stand and given that probably most of the Brexit Party Vote would go to the conservatives, the Prime Minister would find himself in a very strong position indeed, according to opinion polls. But that is not what the Prime Ministers official position is, and his position is that he only wanting to the possibility of no deal in order to be able to successfully strike a deal with the eu. And then the problem he faces therefore is that if it goes into an election and he hasnt delivered brexit it looks as though the brexit party will not find that satisfactory and meanwhile of course he will have to try to persuade leave voters that eventually his government would succeed in delivering brexit but dou btless succeed in delivering brexit but doubtless nigel farage may be inclined to say, you gave your votes to the tories once and they failed to the tories once and they failed to deliver, should you do so again . You may be other people will bring up you may be other people will bring up clips of recent days of some of those on the hard brexit end of the conservative party indicating they we re conservative party indicating they were not necessarily vote even for a deal that mrjohnson brings back. Mr johnson is going to have to countermand these potential risks, and of course he will doubtless be wanting to say to people, i am standing on your side, im trying to deliver brexit, but parliament has got in my way, but you need to vote for me to make sure it happens, and it will be the tussle between his arguments which could be crucial to his future. The dup will be looking to see if that would hurt them in a general election and in scotland the tories no longer have Ruth Davidson as the leader. There has been polling in Northern Ireland suggesting that the Alliance Party which did relatively well in the most which did relatively well in the m ost rece nt which did relatively well in the most recent election in Northern Ireland might take one seat off the dup with another couple of seats looking close, so maybe the dup might be wise to be circumspect about the prospect of a general election. North of the border, while since we have had any polling, but such as we have suggests that the tories are now weaker than they were two years ago but unlike the labour party, the snp is as strong if not stronger than it was in 2017, so therefore there is a risk that the Prime Minister will lose seats in that direction. The liberal democrats are back in business, they are running at 19 , which is 11 points up on what they got last time, so equally also borisjohnson has to factor in the fact he is quite likely to lose at least a dozen seats, may be more, to the liberal democrats along the way. Quite a few negatives that he needs to be aware of and the truth is he will have to be able to squeeze the leave voters so that he pushes far enough ahead from labour that therefore to resort to the early election is to his advantage. The possible date will be crucial, an election on the 14th of october will have a different result from one after the 31st . It is clear from polling that it comes back to those crucial leave voters who favour the brexit party, and some of them have said if Boris Johnson brexit party, and some of them have said if borisjohnson delivers brexit, no deal brexit, they would switch back to the conservatives, but as we have been discussing, if on the other hand basically Boris Johnson is inviting leave voters to promise to trust his note, the promissory note, that theresa may tried a couple of years ago, the extent of trust which leave voters have in the Prime Minister is as crucial as the level of trust tory mps have their Prime Minister, that could be crucial to the outcome of vote tonight. No one really knows what is going on. One of the things we do know, simon, two out of the last three elections saw dramatic changes to party fortunes and although i can describe to you at great length where the polls suggest on average where we are at i would also say it is certainly true we are talking about an election where we have at least four parties who have a substantial share of the vote and we have never been in this position at all, and in one part of the uk, there is a fit party doing well. It is certainly an election against the backdrop of a deeply disruptive time for conservatives and labour which has seen the lib dems and the brexit party profit from the brexit impasse, and this is frankly a situation where no one can say where we are going to be in five weeks time andi we are going to be in five weeks time and i would be the first person to acknowledge that. Professorjohn curtis, thanks for joining to acknowledge that. Professorjohn curtis, thanks forjoining us. Meanwhile, in the courts, legal challenges are underway to try to overturn the Prime Ministers plan to shut down parliament for five weeks from this weekend to the middle of october. Sirjohn major has been given permission to join the case brought by the businesswoman, gina miller, at the high court in london. And in edinburgh, ajudge at the court of session has been hearing from a Cross Party Group of parliamentarians who say borisjohnson is acting illegally. Our scotland correspondent, lorna gordon sent us this from edinburgh. It was claimed the uk government was showing breathtaking contempt for the constitution, suspending and based on parliament in this way and likened it to autocratic rule and he said the government was not stacking the cards, it was taking the deck and he argued this was not politics as usual, it was an attempt to upset the balance of power between the executive and the legislative, an attempt by the Prime Minister to roll back history in favour of some divine right. We have a Prime Minister who is seeking to hold Office Without accountability, it would seem the better to use power without responsibility, and that is not the situation which this court can permit. The Prime Minister, the court was told, declined a request to submita court was told, declined a request to submit a sworn statement to court but government documents submitted at the court of session this morning showed that in one document the Prime Minister is said to have written that a further sitting of parliament is simply a rigmarole that shows mps are earning their crust, in another it showed that arguments for proroguing were being developed by the government two weeks before the plan became public, and e mail detailing the timings of that was ticked by the Prime Minister who added just one word, yes. Lawyers acting for the government say the government is acting within its powers to Prorogue Parliament and it is lawful, legitimate action, they will expand their actions at the court of session this afternoon. Joining me now is anand mnon from the uk eu Relations Research company, uk in a changing europe. Here we go again, but none of us know what the next few ourselves. Yes, the weeks, days, months, indeed, the number is a very tight in parliament, the Prime Minister had a meeting with some of the potential tory rebels this morning and it will be interesting to know how that went. At the moment it is very close and i would not like to call it, and i thought this morning there would be enough votes behind this to see the government defeated but im not so sure anymore. If he was able to convince them that we are negotiating brussels he might have been able to peel them off but theres a of mood music around suggest that is not the case and that he is not telling the truth. Number ten it says that a shift going on in the eu position and they desperately want a deal and its a window of opportunity but everything you hear from brussels window of opportunity but everything you hearfrom brussels and window of opportunity but everything you hear from brussels and from the journalists who watch brussels closely say otherwise and the eu have said to Withdrawal Agreement has to remain as it is, but what is happening is that borisjohnson is positioning himself so that if he loses the vote is first argument would be that he would have got a deal and things were moving, you have chopped the feet from under our position so it is your fault we are not going to leave with a deal. So the blame game, then he can say the eu has been a movable and so it is theirfault. Eu has been a movable and so it is their fault. Where does that take us . Toa their fault. Where does that take us . To a departure without a deal . My us . To a departure without a deal . My assumption is that it takes us to a general election, Prime Minister will position himself in such a way that he could say the eu were being unreasonable and parliament was being disloyal, and reluctantly because as he said last night and he doesnt want a general election, he will say this is the only way he can deliver brexit, but he does not get to say lets have an election, he needs two thirds of mps to vote for the election. Unless, he stands up and says, i want a vote of confidence in the government and then he only needs half the mps to say we have no confidence and then he can do it. It is a dangerous game because under that same fixed Term Parliament act you have two weeks during which the commons can try to find a majority to support a government led by someone else, and i suppose the nightmare for those who want leave, they rally around someone who want leave, they rally around someone who who want leave, they rally around someone who wants a who want leave, they rally around someone who wants a softer brexit, and that is the great unknown, but we could end up in a odd situation whereby he loses the vote today and he asks for an election and is denied it by parliament, and then faces the choice of either asking foran faces the choice of either asking for an extension he said he will never ask for or who knows, resigning perhaps . Or ignoring parliament altogether. Thanks for joining us. There is other stuff going on. Some of todays other news the transport secretary, grant shapps, has confirmed that hs2 the new high speed rail line connecting london to birmingham, leeds and manchester cannot be delivered within the current budget, while the first stage in a written statement to parliament, mr shapps said significant concerns had been raised about the scheme since the budget was established. Lets now speak to our Business Correspondent theo leggett. The whole project has a question over it . The whole project has had a question over it for some time, and in fact last month the government commissioned a far reaching cross party review commissioned a far reaching cross party review aimed at finding the information to decide whether it should be go or no go on this hugely ambitious scheme, which for those who are not completely aware will connect london to birmingham first of all and then onto manchester and leeds in a second phase. The budget of the project has risen before and has now risen again, and according to figures which came from alan cook the chairman of hs2 limited, the cost has risen from £62 billion to between 81 and £88 billion, and the first phase of the project was due to open up in 2026 but no trains will be running until 2028 at the earliest and the second phase of the project is seven years behind schedule. This shows in graphic terms just how much trouble the project is in at the moment and it plays very much into the hands of critics of hs2, and there are many people within the government who believe the entire project should be canned and it would save taxpayers money and this would provide them an excuse to do so, but on the other hand the poor to say it will bring Major Economic benefits. On the other hand the supporters of the project say it will bring Major Economic benefits. Thanks for joining us. Now we can have a look at the weather well be reporting later on the hurricane thats hit the bahamas susan whats happened there these storms seem to be much more frequent is that right . This satellite sequence from the last 2a hours is so key to the story of why dorian has caused so much damage, unlike simon said it hasnt moved, it has gone throughout wrote one mile per hour normally we would expect it to be moving at 50 mph, so the period of sustained winds and the period of sustained winds and the storm surge and the heavy rain would be much shorter, and the system has now been downgraded a category but make no mistake that is toa category but make no mistake that is to a major hurricane and moving slowly as it is now set to do along the length of the florida coast, it is no less of a threat than it was really when it was a category five. Manchester united are not as strong but this is the winds are not as strong but this is still a powerful storm. Closer to home, it is quieter as you would anticipate, but changes afoot, mostly to the way things feel, and at the moment we have some rain and sunshine further south, but this cloud is part of the area of low pressure and notice the difference in colours when we look at the air mass. You have mild atlantic air at the moment but give it 48 hours and in comes this blue finger which is airfrom the arctic in comes this blue finger which is air from the arctic and it is going to start feeling much cooler. Today the highs, getting up to 22,23 to start feeling much cooler. Today the highs, getting up to 22, 23 in the highs, getting up to 22, 23 in the south, and a bit better across the south, and a bit better across the north of scotland, wrecked but in the mid teens. Wet. This band of rain sliding south tonight is a cold front and the cool air will follow behind it from the north west. It is a wet start to wednesday for the south east, mild enough, though, 14 15, but the rain falls away, sunshine will follow, showers around the low, but notice the arrows to the north, they are shooting straight down from the arctic and that is a northerly wind, strong gusts and a windy afternoon across the uk but to the north the northerly wind will make it feel pretty bitter in the likes of stornoway as here we first moved into the arctic air, and to the south it will be cooler than today, 17 in the sunshine in london. We plumb directly into the arctic for thursday, slight exception, the warm front tickles its way into scotland and Northern Ireland, and thick cloud will keep things mild here, but elsewhere we stay on the colder footing. Good afternoon. Our latest headlines in the house of commons the foreign secretary, dominic raab, is about to take questions from mps, ahead of a crucial brexit vote this evening. Conservative rebels say they can defeat the government to win a vote to stop a no deal brexit. Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so. Downing street says if they lose they will push for an election on october the 14th. Labour say they are ready for an election, but want a no deal brexit blocked first. Lets see what happens after this legislation has gone through. If the election is called, i am absolutely ready to fight it. Welcome to westminster. Were waiting now to go over to the commons where mps are back from their holidays, theyre back on the benches and the foreign secretary, dominic raab, is due to take questions. Thats going to happen any time now. It isa it is a busy day and there is a lot on the agenda today. Any time from 4 30pm, there will be an update on the uk. Preparations for brexit and no deal. At 5 30pm, a statement on Education Funding. That is all happening before 6 30pm when that request for an emergency debate will be made and if that is granted, which we expect it will be, the debate would start from around seven oclock onwards. From ten oclock tonight, that key vote on whether those opposed to no deal will be allowed to bring the bill for that would force the Prime Minister to ask the eu to delay brexit the on 3ist ask the eu to delay brexit the on 31st of october if a deal acceptable to mps has not yet been reached. We are waiting for the mps to start back from their summer holidays, still so still no sign of that but as soon as that gets under way, we will return to the house of commons with that. In other news, forecasters have warned that Hurricane Dorian, one of the most powerful atlantic storms ever recorded, will continue to batter the bahamas for hours to come. Five people are so far confirmed dead and the countrys Prime Minister has called it an historic tragedy. He said the devastation on the abaco islands, which bore the brunt of the storm, was unprecedented. Richard galpin reports. Never before have the people of the bahamas faced anything like Hurricane Dorian. The unprecedented damage done to these, the worst hit islands, abaco and grandma harmer, now becoming clearer. Clinging to the side of her damage apartment and holding onto her baby, gerthjoseph cries for help amid winds which have been gusting up to 200 mph. The damage done to these, the worst hit islands, abaco and grand bahama, is unprecedented. Homes ripped open and then flooded by a huge storm surges. The water rising more than five metres here around this government ministers house. According to an initial assessment, at least five people have been killed. We are in the midst of a historic tragedy in parts of northern bahamas. Our mission and focus now is search, rescue and recovery. I ask for your prayers for those in affected areas and for our first responders. Overnight, the United States coast guard got involved in that search and rescue operation, bringing some of the injured here to the capital from abaco island. Much more help will be needed in the coming days. Although Hurricane Dorian is still sitting over abaco and grand bahama, it is now being ground down graded to a category three hurricane. But that can still bring the sustained winds of up to 130 mph. As people on these islands start assessing the damage to their homes, they will be hoping aid agencies will be able to get on the ground as quickly as possible. 0k, ok, lets head into the chamber. The mps are back at work and Dominic Raabis mps are back at work and dominic raab is taking questions and it is his first outing at the dispatch box as foreign secretary. It is the first chance we have had a chance to hear from first chance we have had a chance to hearfrom mps first chance we have had a chance to hear from mps since they came back from their summer break. If the situation is not resolved, what steps will the government take to sort it out . I thank the honourable memberand he is sort it out . I thank the honourable member and he is quite sort it out . I thank the honourable memberand he is quite right to sort it out . I thank the honourable member and he is quite right to talk about not just a theoretical nature of the did dispute but what it means for communities in kashmir. It is important internationally recognised human right are respected and fully respected and the answer the way through the tensions is through critical dialogue. The dispute in relation to kashmir is fundamentally to resolve as recognised in Un Security Council resolutions and the agreement. Mr speaker, the Kashmiri Community in Stockton South are understandably concerned about the safety and human right of the people of kashmir. Can i ask whether he believes there is a role for the United Nations or other independent parties to monitor and report on the alleged human right abuses, so we can report on the alleged human right abuses, so we can ensure report on the alleged human right abuses, so we can ensure the kashmiri people are protected . thank the honourable gentleman. You will know there has been Security Council resolutions on the situation in kashmir in the past. It is something the General Assembly has been looking at. Fundamentally, they also recognise that the dispute over kashmir between stan and india is for them to resolve but he makes the point and others will, there are internationally recognised human rights at stake and we certainly will be scrutinising and looking carefully to see that they are respected. Pakistan. Carefully to see that they are respected. Pakistan. There was a big protest in sheffield on saturday of people who felt the response to the crisis has not been good enough. Will he commit to working through the United Nations and the commonwealth to strengthen International Pressure on india to restore kashmirs special status and to work with both india and pakistan to work with both india and pakistan to secure a long Term Solution based on the 19118 resolution of the un for a plebiscite for the people of kashmir to determine their own future. I thank the honourable gentleman. I understand how keenly his feelings are found. I have referred not just to the resolutions but the similar agreement, it is not correct to say we have not seized this issue. The Prime Minister spoke to the indian Prime Minister and the pakistani Prime Minister on the 7th of august. I raised concerns about the situation with the Indian Forest minister foreign minister and we will be carefully monitoring the situation and talking to International Partners in relation to it. The large Kashmiri Community in Glasgow Central are deeply concerned about their friends and relatives, particularly with the media blackout and the curfew that has been imposed. Can i ask what he has been imposed. Can i ask what he has done to raise both of those issues and what he intends to do to ensure the kashmiri people have the right to Self Determination . ensure the kashmiri people have the right to selfdetermination . I thank the honourable lady on both of those issues that she has raised, and in relation to detentions, potential mistreatment and the communications blackout, i have raised both of thoseissues blackout, i have raised both of those issues with the Indian Foreign minister. The Indian Government has made clear they are only temporary and we have because once to hold them to that undertaking. In whickham, events in kashmir are of the most profound and immediate importance to thousands of my constituents because british kashmiris often have family and friends on sometimes both sides of the line of control and they are in frequent facetime e mail and skype contact like anybody else. Will my right honourable friend agree that in such circumstances, they must have active representation, notjust from their mps but from the government and will he therefore join the insanely time has come to reassure on the human right of their family and friends to ask for independent invert observers in kashmir in saying . Independent invert observers in kashmir in saying . I know the scale of the community he has in wycombe, i believe it is over 10,000. Ii wycombe, i believe it is over 10,000. I i understand how keenly it is felt across the country. It is notjust a bilateral is felt across the country. It is not just a bilateral issue for india or pakistan or a domestic issue, it is an International Issue and he is right to say we should expect internationally recognised standards of human right to be complied with and respected. Following the action by the Indian Government in kashmir, on 15th august, the day of indian independence, a group of ink British Indians gathered outside the Indian High Commission in london. However, they were attacked by members of another community. Would my right honourable friend confirm that the violence and abuse targeted towards the British Indian community on this occasion is completely unacceptable, as it would be against any community on the streets of the uk . I thank my honourable friend. He is absolutely right. Any violence is deplorable and it should not be conducted in this country or anywhere else, any individual communities, what we need to do is reduce those tensions but also in a Positive Side build up confidence Building Measures to allow proper dialogue between the communities in kashmir but also between india and pakistan. I met with my Pakistani Community and indian committee, who are very concerned about the situation. The revocation of article 370 without involving the kashmiri people was pitifully heinous and if Amnesty International is to be believed and i think it is, we should learn from the Rohingya Crisis to know that this is another crisis to know that this is another crisis emerging now. We must take the firm steps to can condemn it and do what we can. I thank my honourable friend. We are aware of the implications of the revocation of article 370. It has caused interest and concern notjust of article 370. It has caused interest and concern not just within india and pakistan, but amongst communities throughout the uk and internationally. It is a bilateral issue for india and pakistan but it issue for india and pakistan but it is also an International Issue, given the human rights act stake. Is also an International Issue, given the human rights act stakem has been a long standing policy of the government that the situation is a bilateral issue. It has also been this house that stands up for human rights act the protection of minorities. Does my right honourable friend agree with me that the abolition of article 370 which tim scriven its against women and minority religions is to be welcomed discriminates. Minority religions is to be welcomed discriminates. My honourable friend makes the point that there are different sides to this but the reality is there has been widespread reports and concerns around detentions and mistreatment, the communication blackout, there has been discussion on kashmir on the 16th of august at the United Nations. As well as wanting to respect the constitutional arrangements within india and in relation to kashmir, they also do have imprecations internationally, especially as they touch on internationally respected human right. I refer members to my register of interests. I have stored in this place and warned members of the ongoing persecution and injustice that the sons and daughters of kashmir face on a daily basis and that situation has now escalated as a result of the revocation of article 370 and 35 a and the humanitarian situation as a result of the blockade, the reality is we see up to 10,000 people arrested without due process, we are seeing food shortages, medicine shortages, this is a humanitarian crisis and the United Nations Security Council to meet and not even agree a condemnation is not something that this house should welcome. What is the minister doing to end the draconian blockade at the very least . I think as much as i sympathise with his concerns and understand the heartfelt way with which he makes his point, we cannot alone and that blockade. There has beena alone and that blockade. There has been a discussion about it within the United Nations Security Council and the point i would make is that when any allegations of human rights allegations violations are deeply concerning, they must be investigated thoroughly. Like the honourable memberfor thoroughly. Like the honourable member for wycombe, i have thoroughly. Like the honourable memberforwycombe, i have many constituents that are highly concerned about this. The revocation of article 35 actually affects the Property Ownership and rights in kashmir and many of my constituents are very frightened this could lead toa are very frightened this could lead to a dramatic transformation from majority muslim to majority hindu. The new majority muslim to majority hindu. The new new Prime Minister is famed for being robust. Can he be robust in defending the rights of these people and their families . My right honourable friend has raised an issue in the way that others have but i think in a poignant way, the reality is, the issues around human right we have raised and we have been both clearing our direct dealings with the Indian Government but also at an International Level that any reports of allegations of human right, must be dealt with transparently and rigorously and thoroughly and those standards must be respected. Alongside the revocation of article 370, the indian authorities have detained more than 4000 kashmiris without charge in the last month. Notjust political activists but ordinary citizens. There are white but allegations of torture and many families do not know where their loved ones are being held. This is no way for the largest democracy in the world to behave, let alone a member of the commonwealth. Can the minister of state tell us what protests he has made to india about those detentions . As i explained to the house and i am happy to repeat again to the honourable lady, the concerns and issues she has raised are very serious. I raised them directly with the foreign minister and to answer the point, yes, specifically the issue of detention, as well as the blackouts. We have made clear our concern and we need to see internationally recognised human right respected. Minister of state. Thank you, mr speaker. I will a nswer state. Thank you, mr speaker. I will answer questions two, five and 15 together. On the 27th of august, my right honourable friend, the foreign secretary, spoke to the brazilian foreign minister. I will also be seeing the brazilian ambassador tomorrow to reaffirm our commitment tomorrow to reaffirm our commitment to working in partnership with brazil on a range of issues, including the environment. In response to the very serious fires, the Prime Minister at the g7 announced £10 million protection and restoration of the rainforest, and thatis restoration of the rainforest, and that is in addition to the £120 million of funding we provide through our other programmes. Whilst we welcome the £10 million the uk government has committed to helping restore amazonian rainforest, this is paltry compared with the amount spent on advertising for a brexit to battle. Can the foreign secretary tell me of the money spent by local partners ina tell me of the money spent by local partners in a way that ensures Indigenous People will take hold of the process and what further funding is he willing to pledge today . welcome the honourable gentlemans passion for the issue. I can confirm that we spent £120 million through our International Climate finance programme. That goes to help deforestation, it goes to help sustainable farming, and it compliments the training activities that we have with brazil which ensure the brazilian economy grows and prospers, including for those farmers. This is the scene live in the house of commons and i know what you are thinking, it is most be fireworks. But this was always on the agenda. This is the foreign and Commonwealth Office questions. Dominic raab coming to the dispatch box for the first time as foreign secretary and a relatively sedate start to the return to parliament for mp5. That is going to be changing very shortly. Lets talk to our reality check correspondence. This is the calm before the storm. It has gone quiet here as well. Yes, as you say, dominic raab was all was going to be the first warm up all was going to be the first warm up act of the day arent actually kashmir, other big issues around the world, a reminder of what we are not talking about on the news and in parliament because brexit is dominating everything. Follow nothing Foreign Office questions and then we will see the swearing in of the new lib dem mp, jane dodds. The swelling of the Rebel Alliance by one. And then the next warm up act is the man himself, borisjohnson. He went to the g7 summit last month and he has to report back to parliament on that and they will be a couple of hours debate. There will be questions which will be brexit related because of course he met Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, leaders of the eu institutions, when he was there. After the Prime Minister is done, we will then talk about no deal preparations. I think that is with michael gove. Once Boris Johnson has given that statement, there is often a rebuttal. Jeremy corbyn might have questions. We are going to get into the nitty gritty. Questions. We are going to get into the nittygritty. Oh, yes. There will be some pretty test questions about node your preparations but the thing we are all attempting women are waiting for is this attempt by a group of mps to take over the Parliamentary Business tomorrow for battle reckon we have we reckon thatll happen at around 6 30pm. It may culminate in a vote just before ten oclock this evening. They succeed, tomorrow they have a chance to push through this bill which they have proposed which will instruct the Prime Minister to extend the Brexit Process until the 31st of january. One will presumably people we re january. One will presumably people were prepared to vote for them to ta ke were prepared to vote for them to take over the business, they will also be prepared to vote for that bill which would they have seen the text of when it comes before Parliament Tomorrow. At the moment the mood music seems to be that the field of rebels will win tonight. But close though. It is all about numbers. And people are having their arms twisted behind the scenes until the very last minute. Arms twisted behind the scenes until the very lastminute. Philip hammond was on radio four this morning and he said any talk that borisjohnson is after a deal, that there are negotiations on making progress in brussels, he said that was nonsense and that chimes in with what people are saying as well. That mayjust swing it for the rebels. are saying as well. That mayjust swing it for the rebels. I was speaking to someone on Michel Barniers team yesterday and he said there has not been any progress because we have not had any formal proposal submitted by the uk. There has been plenty of talk about alternative arrangements for the backstop in Northern Ireland but they say, where is the detail . Their suspicion is that there isnt any and there is a hard and fast plan that can do exactly what the backstop sets out to do, which is and all circumstances to keep that border as open as it is now. Of course, there are things that can facilitate trade that can make things easier, that can speed up checks and so forth, but is there a plan that will be in place on october the 31st to make it exactly the same as it is now and the answer to that is probably not. Thank you very much, chris. You will be with me throughout the afternoon. Back to you later. Lets find out what is happening in the business news. N0 sound. The pound has sunk below 1. 20. The last time it was this low was when a technical hitch in 2016 caused a one off so called flash crash. Before that the last time the pound traded below 1. 20 was in 1985, 34 years ago. The uks construction sector has seen the sharpest fall in new orders in a decade, according to a new survey, as developers put off making decisions on projects due to brexit uncertainty. Apologies therefore a slight glitch in oursound. Ourthose apologies therefore a slight glitch in our sound. Our those markets react in . The pound has been falling further today. The pound is now at its weakest against the dollarfor the pound is now at its weakest against the dollar for three years. That is when a Technical Trading glitch caused it to slump. Take that out of the equation and it is the lowest Exchange Rate for 34 years but what do investors and other in other parts of the world make for Current Events here . We are all gripped by what is going on but do Americans Care on wall street and beyond . For the americans and american investors here, the concern really is not so much with the process but it is with the final outcome. There is not as much looking towards what is happening day by day in westminster but what is really of great concern to investors is how this exit will actually happen. And if there is a crash out, well certainly we will probably see a pretty big reaction with investors here but as it stands right now, investors in the ups us are ongoing worried about the ongoing trade war between the United States and china. A new round of paris went into effect over the weekend and that is putting pressure on investors right now. Tariffs. There is concern as to how long this trade dispute will go on between the United States and china. While we have been grappling with political twists and turns, it has been a long weekend in the us and wall street playing a bit of catch up as well. Yes, it certainly is. Although it was in pretty good terms that usually spills over into economic terms, a fairly quiet weekend. I think there were some people that we re think there were some people that were hoping these tariffs would not go into effect but they certainly have. What is helping investors in terms of their confidence just a little bit is the sort of nice words we we re little bit is the sort of nice words we were hearing from china last week, heading into the weekend, that they are not interested in escalating this trade war. We will have to see if words translate into action. Thank you. Lets see what the Financial Markets are up to as we speak right now. A bit of a mixed bag. The pound is doing pretty weak against the euro. Could we see the pound heading down to 112, thatll quite painful indeed. House builders as well doing quite badly. Time now for the weather forecast. A very good afternoon. We have a change afoot in our weather for the next few days. It will become notably colder. At the moment, an area of low pressure to the north of the uk. These prints are pushing their way in. Decoder area sitting up their way in. Decoder area sitting up across their way in. Decoder area sitting up across iceland at the moment but look at how this mass, the temperature of the heirs sitting across is, shift away from mild atla ntic across is, shift away from mild atlantic air mass into cold arctic air across the uk by the time we get into thursday. That is going to make quite a big difference. This afternoon, temperatures 22, 23 in the south east and in the mid to high teens across parts of scotland despite the rain. But this front overnight tonight is a cold weather front and comparatively chilly air. Not a massive plunge at first. Overnight lows of 14 or 15 degrees. Nine orten in overnight lows of 14 or 15 degrees. Nine or ten in the north. Much colder air sitting behind the showers here. Notice how we pick up a northerly air stream. Lots of showers tomorrow. , Northern England and Northern Ireland. The rain clears away from the south east of the temperature only gets up to 70 degrees. Already cool about cold across stornoway 17 degrees. Just watch the isobars on wednesday into thursday. Lining up directly north to south. That is the arctic air flow i was talking about. A warm weather front just leaking flow i was talking about. A warm weather frontjust leaking into the far north and that would bump the temperatures up a little bit. But further south, just 16 in birmingham. That is going to feel on the chilly side. For the end of the week, low pressure diving south across the uk and that will mean a pretty wet story for all of us at some stage and a little bit of sunshine to the south first thing but the rain will sweep across england and wales macro. We will still sit in comparatively cooler airthan we still sit in comparatively cooler air than we have been used to. Definitely a feel of autumn in the next three days. Next few days. Hello, youre watching afternoon live im simon mccoy at westminster. Today at 3 showdown in parliament. Mps have just returned from their summer recess straight into a major battle with the government over its pledge to leave the eu at the end of october, come what may. The commons will vote tonight on whether to give itself the power to compel borisjohnson to seek a further delay to brexit. Conservative rebels say they can defeat the government. I think we will have the numbers. Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so. Downing street says if they lose they will push for an election on october the 14th. Labour say they are ready for an election but want a no deal brexit blocked first. Lets see what happens after the legislation goes through, and if an election is called, im absolutely ready to fight it. Well have all the latest from this developing story at westminster. The other main headlines the high speed rail link hs2 faces years of delays and is running more than £20 billion overbudget, according to latest figures. Hurricane dorian claims at least five lives in the bahamas and causes widespread devastation the Prime Minister calls it a historic tragedy. Susan powell has the weather. Indeed, and we will be looking at dorian and why the slow moving nature of the storm has made its impact so great and wide. It is now bearing down on forehead and is still slow moving even though it has been downgraded to a category three hurricane, its potential to do damage is still great. It is finally poised to head of the fourth test match tomorrow between england and australia, as england look to take the lead in the series. Craig overton replaces chris woakes for england. Hello and welcome to westminster, where injust half an hour the Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to address mps in the commons at their first afternoon sitting since the summer recess. Hes facing a showdown tonight with Opposition Mps and rebel tories who are trying to prevent a no deal brexit at the end of next month. They want to force Boris Johnson to ask brussels to delay britains exit again, if an agreement cant be reached. Mps vote tonight to start that process of instructing the Prime Minister to ask the eu for another delay to the brexit deadline. Downing street has warned the Prime Minister will push for a general election on october the 14th if the government loses. But the government can only win a vote to hold an election if its backed by at least two thirds of mps meaning labour mps would have to vote in favour of holding one. Our political correspondent, iain watson, has this report. A very british protest people with competing views on brexit standing side by side outside parliament. Inside, though, the atmosphere is turning nasty. Rebel conservative mps are being threatened by borisjohnson with being turfed out of their party. And the opposition and some of those rebels will back emergency legislation today as a First Step Towards stopping no deal. Former chancellor and current rebel Philip Hammond says enough conservative mps will defy their own government. I think we will have the numbers. Many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so. And i think there is a group of conservatives who feel very strongly that now is a time when we have to put the National Interest ahead of any threats to us personally. And he warned borisjohnson not to try to end his career as an mp. Ive been a member of this party for 45 years. I am going to defend my party against incomers, entryists, who are trying to turn it from a broad church into a narrow faction. Today, potential tory rebels met the Prime Minister. There is no sign yet that they are prepared to back down. So what are the opposition and the rebels trying to achieve . Today, mps will vote on an emergency motion that would allow the opponents of the government to take control of the business of parliament. If successful, mps will debate legislation tomorrow which would aim to stop no deal. This would include asking the eu to delay brexit until 31st of january, or another date, if the eu and mps agree. The government says this is unacceptable. It would allow for multiple not single extensions, with all the paralysing uncertainty that that would entail. It would require the uk to accept almost immediately any eu conditions, however punitive and harsh, and the pricetag for the taxpayer would be £1 billion each month of that delay, we cant accept that. If this bill is voted through today it removes negotiating leverage so it removes negotiating leverage so it is critical that he wins to date, that we have a situation whereby we actually can make some progress win today. Downing street say if opponents of no deal win, they will turn Boris Johnsons administration into a puppet government, and under those circumstances, there would be no incentive for the eu to negotiate a new deal. So, the Prime Minister is likely to Ask Parliament for a general election. He would need two thirds of mps to agree, but some opposition politicians are wary. Opposition parties talked tactics this morning and some of them made clear they would only back an election if it was guaranteed to happen before we leave the eu. Its absolutely crucial that we have secured an extension to article 50 before that election takes place. That is part of what were going to be talking about today. I think we do feel unified and as positive as we can do, i think there is a real sense that borisjohnson has overreached himself. We want a general election, as do all the other parties, but it is for the Prime Minister to introduce a measure on this or not under the fixed Term Parliament act. He hasnt done so. The priority is to prevent a no deal exit from the eu on october the 31st and we will see what comes after that. Borisjohnson says he wants brexit done, but it is likely to be an explosive week in westminster. If he loses crucial votes, his time in downing street is in danger. If he wins, some of his conservative critics could see an abrupt end to their political careers. Iain watson, bbc news. So, we can just have a look at the timetable of events this afternoon here at westminster. There are a number of items on the agenda before tory rebels and Opposition Mps make their application for an emergency debate. At 330, the Prime Minister borisjohnson stands up to make a statement about the g7 summit. Any time from 430 onwards therell be an update on the uks preparations for brexit and no deal. Then at 530, the education secretary Gavin Williamson makes a statement on on Education Funding. Thats all happening before 630, when that request for an emergency debate will be made. If thats granted, which we expect it will be, the debate would start from around seven o clock onwards. Then from ten o clock tonight that key vote on whether those opposed to no deal will be allowed to bring the bill forward which would force the Prime Minister to ask the eu to delay brexit beyond october 31st if a deal acceptable to mps hasnt been reached. Joining me now is vicki young, our chief political correspondent. The mood music is very much looking as though the Prime Minister could lose this vote. Last time a similar measure got through by one vote and the difference now is that there are severalformer members the difference now is that there are several former members of the cabinet like Philip Hammond and others who are now the back benches and who are willing to vote against the government on this because they feel this is their last chance to try to prevent no deal. That is the key thing. There are those wavering in the tory party who have seen the Prime Minister today and crucial to them, are they convinced when Boris Johnson says he is trying to get a new deal and that there is progress with the eu . One of them said he used to be convinced that was Boris Johnsons First Priority but he now isnt so sure so that will be the question for them. So he will vote against . Hasnt decided yet. But it looks as if they have around 20, if they vote against the government and if everything stays the same on the other side, and there are six labour mps and three independents who voted with the government, then it would bea with the government, then it would be a defeat for the government. The government are preparing for that and the big question is, what do they do . How do they react . As Boris Johnson hinted at yesterday and then briefed by senior officials, his plan is to say, ok, i will never do this, i will never go to the eu and ask for another delay, therefore i wa nt ask for another delay, therefore i want a general election and in the old days he could have done that but he cant do that because of the fixed Term Parliament act, so it will be more tricky for him. There are procedures by which you could get round that . The first one is the two thirds of mps to vote for it and thenit two thirds of mps to vote for it and then it comes down to the Opposition Mps, are they willing to go for it . If not, the second option is to bring forward a very simple bill saying regardless of the fixed Term Parliament act the next election will be on and then give the date. I think it will try to keep trying until he gets a general election. He will try. The suspicion is once 14th of october is ok, the Prime Minister can say he has changed his mind on that and the date will be after the 31st of october and that is what the labour party are looking at closely. They dont trust Boris Johnson on this and that is because things have not been going by the rules and you can see how the downing street operation since Boris Johnson became finalist has not done the things the usual way, they are trying to wrong foot people and make their opponents think they might do anything. It would be completely extraordinary for a Prime Minister to say one thing and then when parliament is not setting, then say ive changed my mind. It would be unprecedented and it would cause peoples feathers to be ruffled, but the fact his opponents cant rule that out means the uncertainty is making everyone on their guard about what is going to happen, but if you areJeremy Corbyn, he spent two yea rs areJeremy Corbyn, he spent two years and sankey want a general election, and he thinks he will win a general election he spent two yea rs a general election he spent two years saying he wants a general election. They are saying and Jeremy Corbyn is saying we will only go for an election once we know no deal is off the table, and that is very difficult to take no deal off the table, even if this bill goes through tomorrow. What if Boris Johnson wins the election on the 14th . He could change the law if he wins. Very difficult for labour to get what they want. It is very quiet here at the moment, but this is the calm before the storm. Tonight there will be a huge vote at about ten oclock and tomorrow as it tries to go to parliament, and then who knows after that . May an election . Dont go too far. Thanks forjoining us. May be an election. Lets hearfrom Damian Grammaticas our brussels correspondent. The interview with Philip Hammond has reinforced the suspicion amongst many that Boris Johnson is has reinforced the suspicion amongst many that borisjohnson is gung ho for a no deal departure, what do they think in brussels . This is a question which has been put today repeatedly in the session, the daily session here at the European Commission, and Philip Hammond this morning said on the radio, that it was nonsense to suggest any progress had been made in brussels, responding to Boris Johnson had been made in brussels, responding to borisjohnson there, and we had in the telegraph several sources saying that the Prime Ministers special adviser Dominic Cummings had described the negotiation process here is a sham, but we put that to the European Commission, that this was just a front to show mps a sign of movement, and they said we are an honest broker. They believe that any opportunity to keep the door open to negotiations is worth keeping open, but the European Commission went on to say that there has been, and i quote, they cannot report any concrete proposals being made in the negotiations. So in effect you have a meeting or meetings planned possibly from tomorrow, but nothing actually on the table. You can read actually on the table. You can read a couple of things, the uk site has not had anything to put on the table, the other possibility that everything and everyone is holding back because the uk side may not wa nt to back because the uk side may not want to put something on the table, because fearing if it leaks, it will because fearing if it leaks, it will be shot down straightaway by hardline brexiteers back in the uk, and the eu equally might not want to put something on the table in terms of whether they have any compromises. So who has been speaking to Boris Johnson . Compromises. So who has been speaking to borisjohnson . There was talk about movement from Angela Merkel, and the meeting with Emmanuel Macron left Boris Johnson feeling buoyed, but then Michel Barnier poured cold water on all of that. These things are not incompatible, but what you did have come a couple of weeks ago, Boris Johnson on his tour of european capitals meeting Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and everyone emerged pretty positive from those meetings and the g7 summit that followed. There was a sense amongst european capitals that borisjohnson was someone european capitals that borisjohnson was someone they could engage with and who was talking about wanting a deal, so there was a positive momentum there, but what that has led to is as the European Commission says, is a channel, which simply says, is a channel, which simply says an opening for talks, and at the same time the eu outside have not budged their position and that is what Michel Barnier was stressing again the eu side. He has said the red lines remain intact for the eu and the irish border provisions, something has to deliver the same benefits. And we havejust something has to deliver the same benefits. And we have just heard from the irish Prime Minister, speaking, saying he had to stand and defend those irish border ideas, likely backstop, to keep the board open, so nothing has shifted in the position of the eu, other than they are sitting ready to discuss any new ideas coming from the uk government, but nothing table jet the board are open. Thanks forjoining us. Alistair burt has said that he will not seek re election if there is another election, following on the heels ofjustine another election, following on the heels of Justine Greening. Another election, following on the heels ofJustine Greening. We can now move on. Joining me now is mo hussein a former special advisor to amber rudd during her time as home secretary. Hes also worked in the downing Street Operations of both David Cameron and theresa may. Do you think downing street was fairly confident that they were going to not lose this vote . Im not sure they were. The wider game being played is actually to lose the vote and then to trigger a general election because that does a few things for the Prime Minister, it gives him a bigger majority ofjust one hopefully, for them, they more sustainable majority, the idea of deselecting mps, mps who have been in the party many years, deselecting them and then replacing them with more pliant candidates, which gives a sense of certainty to the Prime Minister and his agenda Going Forward , minister and his agenda Going Forward, and also it may well change the numbers and their reliance on the numbers and their reliance on the dup which is quite integral to what happens with the backstop. Borisjohnson turns what happens with the backstop. Boris johnson turns up what happens with the backstop. Borisjohnson turns up and says eve ryo ne borisjohnson turns up and says everyone is against me it is me against the world, but there is a brexit party which is snapping at his heels, because he has got very little ground to manoeuvre over this 3ist little ground to manoeuvre over this 31st of october date. This is the do ordie 31st of october date. This is the do or die matter that the Prime Minister has been speaking about and clearly there is concern about being outflanked by the brexit party and thatis outflanked by the brexit party and that is why you are seeing everything we are seeing now, red meat to the erg and the brexiteers, doing everything he can to get brexit by the day, proroguing parliament, lessening to deselect mps who dont agree with the way forward threatening. This is a way to court those votes, therefore you go into the Election Committee like the conservatory is fast becoming the brexit party light most into the election, it feels like the conservative party is fast becoming the brexit party lite. Philip hammond on the radio was vicious about Dominic Cummings, i wonder if are going to be focusing on personalities like that, which we have not done since the days of alistair campbell. I do think this isa alistair campbell. I do think this is a bit ofa alistair campbell. I do think this is a bit of a copout to blame people behind the scenes, but it would be the Prime Minister who calls the shots for top does this have the fingerprints of Dominic Cummings all over it . Theres an element of that. If you look at the double standards and the rank hypocrisy which i dont think and go unanswered, there are members of the cabinet who voted against the party line on the issue of brexit and voted against getting a deal and voted withJeremy Corbyn to inflict one of the biggest parliamentary defeats any government has ever seen, parliamentary defeats any government has ever seen, now parliamentary defeats any government has ever seen, now they are saying, that people who voted for the deal to leave the eu, they will be deselected, and they are going to lose the weight. If borisjohnson had lost the whip for voting against the then Prime Minister he would not have been able to stand in the conservative Party Leadership race they are going to lose the whip. So that lack of trust between mps and the executive, this is not a good state of affairs for the party Going Forward. The future of the conservative party is at stake. Its a big existential question and the Biggest Issue facing the country is brexit but Going Forward there are Big Questions and big challenges for the party, who is it appealing to . Who is it trying to court as candidates Going Forward . If you become a very narrow base rather than a broad church where you have different people bringing different ideas to the table, that does not speak well of electoral success Going Forward either. What about borisjohnson himself . Going forward either. What about Boris Johnson himself . If Going Forward either. What about borisjohnson himself . If the gamble fails he will be the shortest serving Prime Minister in conservative history. That is true, and to an extent that may well have been one of the risks which would have been factored in. In your previous role, you will sit round a table, and you game play and take each scenario. You war game and you think about what would happen if this were to happen and if that were to happen, and there was an election, if there was an election, if there was an election, the idea that the government would have a clear message, a clear narrative on brexit, the calculation is that well win the day, and you look at what the government has been talking about, the bread and butter issues of crime and disorder and education and health, these other things where the calculation has been taken, people want to talk about these things and they want to see results, and that will have been factored in. The calculation has also been made that if you try to appeal and try to win the election on the back of the brexit party, to neutralise them, or labour leave voters because labour is becoming a party of remain, you could win the election on that but you would have to sacrifice tory remain seats which may go to the lib dems and this will have been thought through with a view to having a bigger majority, and the key thing, having more pliant mps who are less likely to hold a gun to your head and less likely to rebel, then that calculation is probably worth it. Thanks forjoining us. Lets speak to the conservative mp steve baker now hes in central lobby in the houses of parliament. Regarding hypocrisy, on the way the tories are dealing with their enemies at the moment within the party, regarding deselection, you would not have a seat either because you voted against the government three times . Enemies is not a strong dash enemies is a strong work of these are just colleagues who have a different view, but theres a in terms of voting against the government to take power away from the government to govern, and these rebels would be voting against the conservative party and their ability to govern. It has always been the case that some votes are confidence issues, votes on the budget and so on, these have always been confidence issues, because they are fundamentally about the covenants ability to govern, the governments ability to govern, but i have voted against particular issues. If we are going to go into a world where we lose the whip for voting on different issues, that will be a different kind of democracy, but it is right to take the whip away from these rebels because they are voting to undermine the government. If people want to read my article about this in the sun, you can find read my article about this in the sun, you canfind it on read my article about this in the sun, you can find it on my twitter feed. You voted against your government, against what theresa may had put forward . I voted against the government many more three times but it was against particular policies and that is the difference i would like your viewers to understand. When you voted to take away from the government the power to govern, that is categorically different, it is like voting down a budget, or voting no confidence in your own government, and if a colleague wishes to do that, that is fine, but they should lose the whip for doing it, it is a different category of vote. This vote just delays the exit of the uk from the eu . Voting against a budget would also not bring down the government but it would take the power of the government away, and in the end of the public to get the government they voted for and they should not get the government they did not vote for. If colleagues vote for this bill, the power to control the business of the house of commons will be transferred toJeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition, an unaccountable group of cross party opposition, an unaccountable group of cross party m ps opposition, an unaccountable group of Cross Party Mps and we dont know what they will do, it is fundamentally wrong, it undermines the principle that when you vote at the principle that when you vote at the ballot box you get the you voted for. This whole business of leaving the eu is about this principle, that you get the government you voted for, and not a form of government you didnt vote for. These guys are totally undermining that principle. Hang on, we are looking at a Prime Minister no one voted for, and theres a lot of criticism of that. And a suggestion of proroguing parliament, if anyone is bringing the idea of who rules into disrepute, surely it is him. The Prime Minister is in charge in a purely constitutional way, he is entitled to be the Prime Minister, and in terms of what he is doing the mandate for that is very clear, we came to power in 2015 promising a referendum and we have the referendum and we have the referendum on a lawful basis, we then had two major parties standing for election manifestos which contained everything he needs to do which he is doing, we have had several acts of parliament passed in the normal way, everything he is doing is necessary to fulfil a democratic mandate, within the terms of our constitution, and he is right and the rebels are wrong. Is Philip Hammond is wrong when he says the conservatives are becoming a narrow base and he is talking clearly about you and the erg who have created this new movement within the conservative party which appears to be taking over . It is very silly what people have said and the erg has become a cinema eurosceptic synonym for eurosceptic mps, but the reality is the public voted and they voted to leave and we need to get on with it, and Philip Hammond, what he said, that is out of character for someone said, that is out of character for someone who used to be a safe pair of hands, he isnt any more. I have tried to help Philip Hammond work with eurosceptics including being on the phone with him when he flew from one south American Country to another, i was honoured to be on the phone with the chancellor, helping him to understand what was going on, andi him to understand what was going on, and ifind him to understand what was going on, and i find these him to understand what was going on, and ifind these remarks him to understand what was going on, and i find these remarks quite wrong. Im a Classical Liberal in the old english tradition, what could be more british than that . But im subjected to these insults were standing upfor im subjected to these insults were standing up for what the public voted for which is quite wrong and quite offensive. What about those who are offended by the threat of a purge by a Prime Minister who tells tory mps we will deselect you if you dont agree with me and theres another election . We have covered this, if you vote to take from the government the power to government you should lose the conservative whip because you have expressed no confidence in the government, albeit indirectly. It should not be tolerated before and it should not be tolerated today, this is about whether as a conservative mp you wa nt whether as a conservative mp you want a conservative government governing the country and this is a fundamental point. The conservative party was elected with a manifesto and a mandate for the things which are being done and conservative mps should get on and support this Prime Minister who has been elected in a perfectly proper manner. If i was theresa may i would be forgiven for saying this is rank hypocrisy. know you would love to track me in rank hypocrisy which people live in the media but it isnt. There are different categories of vote, individual policies where i have rebelled and confidence votes when you vote to take away your confidence in the government to govern the country, these have a lwa ys govern the country, these have always been different categories of vote and i have never voted against the government on a confidence issue andi the government on a confidence issue and i am never going to, i will never vote to take away the power of the Prime Minister to govern. This isa the Prime Minister to govern. This is a vote that will delay our departure from the eu for three months, untiljanuary, meaning there will be a no deal brexit which is ruled out and the uncertainty over where we are at the moment is removed for a while, that has considerable. This is why the bbc is accused of bias, the idea that voting for further extension removes uncertainty is quite ridiculous, the idea that we can keep going on handing the power to be eu to choose how long the extensions are, the idea that would remove uncertainty is quite ridiculous, we will remove uncertainty by doing what the Prime Minister has said, leaving on the 3ist minister has said, leaving on the 31st of october. I have always wa nted 31st of october. I have always wanted a deal which i have meticulously researched and published with colleagues and when it was published, borisjohnson supported, but it is not a deal based on this Withdrawal Agreement and ive never voted for the Withdrawal Agreement and im never going to, because it subordinates our legal system to be eu, and the whole point of leaving the eu is so that we can control our laws in this parliament through the usual constitutional means and todays vote overthrows those usual constitutional means, it is quite wrong and it is about confidence in the government and people should lose the whip over it. The issue of bbc bias, we get this all the time, and im giving you questions which reflect a view, it is not my necessarily, but im allowing you to a nswer necessarily, but im allowing you to answer it and i hope that deals with theissue answer it and i hope that deals with the issue of bias, but i want to pick up on what borisjohnson may do next because he may say i want an election, that is what your message is, and then he may change the date, or you dont think you might . Change the date of the election. There is a problem with the date that has been floated, it is a jewish holiday which is treated as a sabbath and people would not consider picking up so people would not consider picking up so many. Many would not consider voting, and so i dont think the election should be held on that day, thatis election should be held on that day, that is a problem which a jewish colleague expressed to me earlier, and given that anti semitism will be and given that anti semitism will be an issue i do not think we should hold the election on a jewish holiday. There are postal votes . Yes, but if i was standing here, so, dont worry, you have got a postal vote, they would be a different row, and people should be able to vote as they see fit within the law in the usual way. The date needs to be a different one and on a particular religious holiday where people would not normally pick up a pen to vote. The reality is, if we go for a general election or if we are forced to go for a general election before we have left the eu, the brexit party are highly likely to end the conservatives, they are not going to tolerate the Withdrawal Agreement which i have always voted against, they are not going to tolerate a suggestion it might be agreed with minor tweaks, they would stand candidates virtually everywhere and as we have seen in peterborough and south wales, we would see what happens is that neither the brexit party or the conservatives won we would end up with a chaotic lib dems and labour were remain coalition, which would be ironic, because i remember being interviewed with Jeremy Corbyn, and the only thing we agreed upon with our euroscepticism. The labour party is in a strange position. Today is a day of trepidation and anxiety but not on the question of whether people should lose the weight for taking away their confidence in the government. Lose the whip. Away their confidence in the government. Lose the whip. Steve baker, thanks for joining government. Lose the whip. Steve baker, thanks forjoining us. New mp has been swollen and as the parliaments newest mp. As we have been on air, the new site Alistair Burt has said he will not be standing in another election, following on the heels ofjustin, who announced on the radio this morning that she would not run. Alistair burt has written a letter and said, it has become clear i have and said, it has become clear i have a fundamental and unresolvable disagreement with their Party Leadership in the manner in which we leave the eu. He says, and the consequences Going Forward doing so are very likely to be at the root of the next election, and i believe it is unfairof me the next election, and i believe it is unfair of me to prevent with the conflict of interest with my views and those of the party at an election, even if the current circumstances do not result in my having the prep removed. Lets talk to chip corresponding vicki young. Justin greenings announcement this morning, another announcement not to stand as a toady. Will that be about problem . I think it would have voted against him tonight either way. I think the broader point is they have chosen to leave the tory party after decades in the party. Our little party vetera n, decades in the party. Our little party veteran, former minister, and they just dont feel the tory party veteran, former minister, and theyjust dont feel the tory party isa theyjust dont feel the tory party is a place for them anymore. They feel it is becoming a brexit party, and they dont want to be there. Lets go, because borisjohnson is taking to the election. 80 years today that this country entered the second world war, and the horror of that conflict surpasses all modern controversies. It is also true that this country still stands then as now for democracy, for the rule of law, for the fight against racial and religious hatred, and mr speaker, i know that this whole houseis speaker, i know that this whole house is united in defending those values around the world. I will make a statement about the g7 summit in biarritz. As i speak, vast tracts of the amazon rainforest are on fire, free trade is in retreat, 130 million goals worldwide are not an education, our oceans are being polluted, and so it has never been more important for Global Britain to use our voice as an agent for change and progress. It is only by exerting influence at a global level, only by sticking up for our values and beliefs, that we can create the International Contacts for britain to prosper and to ensure that this is the greatest place on earth to live, to work, to start a family, open a business, trade and invest. So, at the g7, i made the case for free trade as an engine of prosperity and progress that has lifted millions out of poverty, and yet the reality is that trade is a sheet of the World Economy has been stag na nt sheet of the World Economy has been stagnant for the last decade. In the latest regulation, the g7 yunus malli and doors open and fair world trade, and we are determined to reform the wto and Reach Agreement next year to simplify regulatory barriers. Britain is on the verge of taking back control of our trade policy and restoring our independent seat end of the wto for the first time in 46 years. Our exports to give the United States. Order order, order reserve your seat. Thank you, Prime Minister. I ask the house to have some regard to how our proceedings are viewed by people outside the chamber. I will always facilitate the expression of opinion by this house. Order meanwhile, the Prime Minister is making a statement, and that statement should be heard, kinski will be hard as well every member. And of subject. The Prime Minister. Britain is on the verge of taking back our trade policy. On the verge. And we could achieve even more in our trade with United States by using the powers we will regain to do a comprehensive free trade deal, a deal in which both President Trump and i have agreed that the nhs is not on the table. And unlike some in the house, i consider the United States to be a natural ally and a force for good in it the world, and i recoilfrom natural ally and a force for good in it the world, and i recoil from the visceral, juvenile anti americanism that will do such profound damage to this countrys interest. Mr speaker, i know that the whole house broke share my concern about the gravity of the situation in hong kong. As a nation with a deep belief in freedom of expression and assembly, we stand firm in rob holding hong kongs way of life, guaranteed by one country, two systems. And i welcome the unwavering support of my g7 cou nterpa rts unwavering support of my g7 counterparts on this vital matter. Mr speaker, the uk is at the forefront of a new campaign to end the tragic loss of species around the tragic loss of species around the world. Cannot be create a planet where the Sumatran Tiger and the African Elephant and entire ecosystems like the Great Barrier reef lived in the shadow of destruction. So, iam reef lived in the shadow of destruction. So, i am delighted that the g7 accepted uk proposals for more ambitious targets to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Britain is responsible for 2. 6 million square miles of ocean, the fifth largest maritime estate in the world. Our Blue Belt Programme would ensure the marine protected areas on campus1. 5 ensure the marine protected areas on campus 1. 5 million square miles, and at the g7, iron is a further £7 million for this vital effort. I also announced another £10 million to protect the rainforest in brazil, 441,000 fires have raised so far this year. More than twice as many in the same periods in 2018. Britain is bidding to host that you ands 26 Climate Change conference next year. If we succeed, we shall focus on solutions that harvested power of nature, including reforestation. And there is one measure that would erase all those issues, mr speaker. And if they think that is a waste of money, i think that tells you all you need to know about the modern labour party. One measure that will address all those issues, and that is ensuring that every girl in the world receives the education that is ha rd world receives the education that is hard right. That would not only carve infant mortality, eradicate illiteracy and reduce population pressures , illiteracy and reduce population pressures, it will strike a blow for morality and justice. In biarritz, the g7 therefore endorse the uks campaignfor12 the g7 therefore endorse the uks campaign for 12 years of quality education for every girl in the world. I announced education for every girl in the world. Iannounced new education for every girl in the world. I announced new funding so that 600,000 children in countries are torn by conflict, where girls are torn by conflict, where girls are twice as likely as boys are to be out of the classroom, get the chance to go to school full stop and as well as my g7 college, i was delighted to meet other leaders, including the south african president , the engine president , and mr morrison of australia, who heroically musters emotions in the face of the historic innings of ben stokes. In every conversation, i was struck by the enthusiasm of my collea g u es struck by the enthusiasm of my colleagues to strengthen their relations with this country, whether on trade, security and defence, science and technology. Mr speaker, i was also able to use the g7 to follow u p i was also able to use the g7 to follow up my conversations in berlin and paris with chancellor merkel, and paris with chancellor merkel, and president macron on brexit, as well as other members of the eu. I have since spoken to president junker and i was able to make clear to them all that everyone in this government wants a deal. We do, we do. But it is a reality that the house of commons has rejected the current Withdrawal Agreement three times, and it simply cannot be. And that is why. Arter, i look to you as a senior and distinguished elder statesman in the house to set an example of good behaviour, analogies to the buddha like calm of the father of the house, which is exhibited at all times. The Prime Minister. That is why i wrote to president tusk on the 19th of august to set out our arguments, by any future agreement must include the abolition of the anti democratic backstop. We have also been clear. Which is, by the way proposed on site. We have also been clear that we will need changes to the political declaration to clarify that our future relationship with the eu will be based on a Free Trade Agreement and giving us full control over our regulations, our trade and are foreign and defence policy. This clarity has brought benefits, far from jeopardising negotiations, it is making them more straightforward. In the last few weeks, i believe the chances of a deal have risen. This week, we are intensifying the pace of meetings in brussels. Our european friends can see that we wa nt european friends can see that we wantan european friends can see that we want an agreement, and they are beginning to reflect that reality in their response. President macron said, iquote,. Mr speaker, their response. President macron said, i quote,. Mr speaker, they dont want to hear the words of our cou nterpa rts dont want to hear the words of our counterparts across the channel. They dont want to hear about any progress we might be making. Order i want to hear everything said. He is mumbling. Well, i have never had any difficulty heeding the Prime Minister, but if it is necessary for him to speak up, i am certain that you will overcome his natural shynessin you will overcome his natural shyness in order to do so mr speaker, i think they are wilfully closing their ears to the reality that our reality and friends and partners are increasingly seeing the possibilities of an agreement. Again, i quote president macron of france. If there are things, he said, which is part of what was negotiated by Michel Barnier can be adapted, and are in keeping with the two objects is that i had mentioned, stability in ireland, which we all support, and the integrity of the single market, we should identify them in the coming months. Is that them in the coming months. Is that the negative spirit of the opposition . No, it is on and speaking in berlin, positive alternative to the backstop, chancellor merkel of germany said, once we say and say this could be a possible outcome, this could be a possible outcome, this could be a possible arrangement. This backstop isa possible arrangement. This backstop is a sort of place which is no longer necessary. That is a positive spin which we are not, im afraid, hearing echoed on the other side of the house today. And i believe there are indeed. They fleeing already there are indeed solutions. They dont want to hear about solutions, mr speaker. They dont want to hear about solution. They dont want to hear about any of it. There are practical arrangements that we can find which avoid anyone putting infrastructure on the irish border. I set to the honourable members departing, these would have been well worked out, and involve measures such well worked out, and involve measures such as well worked out, and involve measures such as trusted traders schemes, transit provisions, frontier zones, reduce bureaucracy, is and many others. In particular, recognise elapse us advise members opposite opposite to pay attention. We recognise that for reasons of geography and economics, agro food is increasingly managed on a common basis across the island of ireland. We will find ways forward to recognise the reality provided a clearly enjoys the consent of all parties and institutions with an interest. We will also be discussing with the eu shortly, and i will be discussing it with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar when i see him in dublin on monday. Mr speaker, it is simply wrong to say we are not making progress. There is a lot to do in the coming days, but things are moving. Ona the coming days, but things are moving. On a major reason for that is that everyone can see that this government is utterly determined to leave the eu on october the 31st come what may come up with out a deal if necessary. And that is why over the summer at my right honourable friend did chancellor has been accelerating our preparations for this possibility. And he will be making a statement on that subject shortly. My right honourable friend the chancellor has made all the necessary funds available. We have already reached agreements with our partners to roll over trade deals worth around 89 billion of export and import. We have secured air Services Agreements around the world. We have increased the capacity of our border force, string theory resilience of our first, but also ourfreight theory resilience of our first, but also our freight capacity, and work with meticulous detail to ensure the uninterrupted supply of critical goods, including medicines. We will be ready, mr speaker. We will be ready. Mr speaker, i returned from the g7 with a real momentum in the brexit discussions. I want to return from next months European Council ina similarway from next months European Council in a similar way with a deal that this house can debate and scrutinise and endorse in time for our departure on october the 31st. But mr speaker, there is one step that would jeopardise all the progress that we have made in the g7 and around the capitals of europe, and thatisif around the capitals of europe, and that is if this house were to decide that is if this house were to decide that it was simply impossible for us to leave without a deal. To make that step illegal, to force us. Thats what they want. To undermine our division, to force us, thats what they want, to force us to beg for yet another pointless delay if that happens, all the progress that we have been making will have been for nothing. Yesterday, mr speaker, a deal was published, a bell that the leader of the opposition has spent all summer working on. And this is not a bill in early normal sense of the world, it is without precedent in our history. It is a bill that, if passed, would force me to go to brussels and beg an extension. It would force me to accept the terms offered. It would destroy accept the terms offered. It would d estroy a ny accept the terms offered. It would destroy any chance of negotiation for a new deal. Would be destroyed. And it did when it would enable our friends in brussels to dictate the terms of a negotiation. Thats what it does. There is only one way to describe this deal it is a Jeremy Corbyns surrender bill. Thats what it is. It means running up the white flag. And i want to make clear. I wa nt to flag. And i want to make clear. I want to make clear to everybody in this house, there are no circumstances in which i would ever accept anything like it. I will Never Surrender accept anything like it. I will Never Surrender the control of our negotiations in the way the leader of the opposition is demanding. Mr speaker,. Order people must not keep ranting from a sedentary position. The statement must be heard, and the responses will be heard. That is the reality. Mr speaker, we promise to people who get brexit, promised to respect the results of the referendum, and we must do so now. Enough is enough. The country wants this done, and they want the referendum respected. We are negotiating a deal, and though i am confident of getting a deal, we will leave by october the 3ist deal, we will leave by october the 31st in all circumstances. There will be no further pointless delay. This house has never before voted to force a Prime Minister to surrender such a crucial decision to the discretion of her friends and neighbours overseas. Because what this bill would mean is that unless we agree to the terms of our friends and partners, they would be able to keep us in the eu for as long as they want, and on their terms. I arch, therefore, this house to reject this bill tonight, so that we can get the right deal for our country, deliver brexits, and take the whole country forward. And i commend the statement to the house. Thank you. Order for the avoidance of doubt, there is no vote on a deep villa tonight. There is a vote on emotion. If that much is successful, there would be a bill tomorrow. I say this is simply because the intelligibility of those proceedings to those preserving them is important, andl to those preserving them is important, and i am sure all sides of the house would recognise that. Jeremy corbyn thank you, mr speaker. And i thank the Prime Minister for speaker. And i thank the Prime Ministerfor an speaker. And i thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of his statement. And ijoin with him in recognising the great human suffering of world war ii, the great human bravery that took place during that war in that awful conflict, which began 80 years ago, but was essential in defeating the disgusting ideology of the nazis and fascism at that time. Mr speaker, the Prime Minister met eu leaders over the summer, and the Eu Council President tusk at the g7. After these meetings, the Prime Minister struck an optimistic note, saying the chances of a deal work, in his words, improving. His optimism was not shared by those who have been at the same meetings. The Prime Minister may claim progress is being made, but eu leaders report that the government has so far failed to present any new proposals. Can the Prime Minister clear this up . Can he tell us if the uk has put forward any new proposals in relation to the backs . If so, while he published them so that these proposals can be scrutinised by parliament and by the public . It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a reckless government only has one plan, to crash out of the eu without a deal. The reality is exposed today in the in housejournal of the reality is exposed today in the in house journal of the conservative party, otherwise known as the Daily Telegraph, which reports the Prime Minister chief of negotiations a sham. Reports that the strategy is it to, quote, run down the clock, and that the proposal to alter the backstop is a complete fantasy, and those are the boards of the attorney general. No deal, mr speaker, will meal food general. No deal, mr speaker, will mealfood shortages, reduced medical supplies, and chaos at airports. Not me saying that, the governments on a says, and it warns of chaos all across the board. Today, we had expected the publication of the governments no deal preparations. This government is hiding from scrutiny, hiding from the people, and are trying to hide us from their true intentions. This isntjust a government in chaos, but a government in chaos, but a government of cowardice. Thankfully, some in whitehall are putting these vital documents into the public domain. But we shouldnt have to rely on sporadic leaks, so will the Prime Minister set out today when these documents will be published so that the people and parliament can scrutinise and to debate them . Many on the benches opposite would relish a no deal. They see it as an opportunity to open up britain to a one sided trade deal which puts us at the mercy of the donald trump and the United States corporations. That would increase the wealth of a few at the expense of the many. When it comes to the crunch, mr speaker, too many on the government benches he once opposed a no deal outcome are now putting their own careers before the goods of the people of this country. Just look at all those tory leadership candidates who said it would be wrong to suspend parliament in order to make a no deal a reality, or more likely. But to sit passively as their principles of just a few short weeks ago were cast aside. I dont know what they were doing over the holidays, but something changed. And it gets worse. Not only have they all stood by while the premise minister launches his latest attack on democracy, some have repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility that the government could ignore any law passed by parliament which was attempting to stop a no deal brexit. So, build a Prime Minister, when he responds in a moment, take the opportunity to assure the country that his government will abide by any legislation passed this week by this apartment . The attack on our democracy in order to force through a disastrous no deal brexit is unprecedented, anti democratic, and unconstitutional. Labour will do all we can to protect our industry, protect our democracy, protect our people, against this dangerous and reckless government. I condemn the rhetoric the Prime Minister used when he talked about eight surrender bill. I hope you will reflect on his use of language. I really do hope he will reflect on his use of language. We are not so venting because we are at war with europe, they are surely our partners. If anything, it is a no deal exit that would mean surrendering our industry, ourjobs, surrendering our industry, ourjobs, surrendering our industry, ourjobs, surrendering our standards of protection in a trade deal with it donald trump and the United States. Mr speaker, the uk should be using its position in the g7 to promote policies to tackle the Climate Emergency. The Climate Emergency is real, but instead of standing up to President Trump to save his blushes this time, it was in fact agreed that there would be no joint communique on this at the g7. This is not leadership, this is a video link for the arm is the situation across the masonic should be a wake up call to this Prime Minister, who once described Global Warming as, primitive fear without foundation. As we watch fires rage not only across the amazon, but angola and the democratic republic of congo, but does he stand by the sentiments . While the funds to protect and restore the amazon ra i nfo rest protect and restore the amazon rainforest are welcome, the Prime Minister knows this is merely a drop in the ocean, so when more money be players for the amazon, and are additionalfunds be players for the amazon, and are additional funds be made players for the amazon, and are additionalfunds be made available to tackle fires in sub Saharan Africa . And to tackle fires in sub Saharan Africa . And will to tackle fires in sub Saharan Africa . And will he be introducing measures to stop uk companies from aiding, abetting and profiting from the destruction of the amazon ra i nfo rest the destruction of the amazon rainforest and indeed today ra i nfo rest rainforest and indeed today ra i nforest in rainforest and indeed today rainforest in west africa . The Uk Parliament, on may the 1st, became the first step parliament anywhere in the world to declare a Climate Emergency, and i was proud to make that much we must continue to show Global Leadership on this issue. On iran, mrspeaker, it Global Leadership on this issue. On iran, mr speaker, it is notable that the Prime Minister failed iran, mr speaker, it is notable that the Prime Ministerfailed to condemn President Trump us decision to unilaterally tear up the internationally agreed Iran Nuclear Deal. Creating this crisis which now risks a slide into even deeper conflict. Does the Prime Minister plan to work with European Partners to restore the advanced nuclear deal and to de escalate tensions and in the gulf . We are clear that in government, labour would work tirelessly through the un for a negotiated reinstatement of the nuclear deal, and to defuse the threat of war in the gulf. Effective diplomacy, not threats and bluster, must prevail. And for the Prime Minister call on the iranian authorities to enter the unjust detention of nazanin ratcliffe, and what actions has she taken so far to ensure her release from the terrible situation that she has been funds into . Mr speaker, we are all concerned about the situation in hong kong. No government anywhere should get to shut down rights and freedoms, or to pick and choose which laws introduced to. We urge the Chinese Government to stick to the Chinese Government to stick to thejoint declaration of the Chinese Government to stick to the joint declaration of 1984 and stand up for the rights of citizens in hong kong. Mr speaker, later today, this house has a last chance is to stop this government from riding roughshod over constitutional and democratic rights in this country. So that a cabal in downing street can crash us out without a deal, without any democratic mandate, and against the majority of public opinion. He isnt winning friends in europe, he is losing friends in europe, he is losing friends at home stock is as a government with no mandate, not morals, and as of today, no majority mr speaker, the right honourable gentleman knows full well this country has engaged actively with our european friends and partners to make sense of the Iran Nuclear Deal and to ensure that deal continues, and to ensure that deal continues, and he will now the foreign secretary continues to work actively to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe, but all the sad consular cases were currently dealing with in iran. I pay tribute to him in the work of all his officials. He will observe the strength of the g7 statement regarding hong kong. Frankly, when it comes to the bill he has insisted on bringing forward tomorrow with the procedure are coming forward tonight, let us be in no doubt, this isa tonight, let us be in no doubt, this is a former bear night opposite. He voted against every single piece of eu legislation. He voted against maastricht and lisbon. Time and time again, he has said we must uphold the result of the eu referendum. He has said he is on the side of democracy and vindicating the will of the people. And what do we see now . He has been converted with his hordes of momentum activists trying to ta ke hordes of momentum activists trying to take over the streets, converted into an agent of those who would subvert democracy and overturn the will of the people. That is what he wa nts to will of the people. That is what he wants to do. He wants to entrust the decision about how long this country remains in the European Union to our friends and partners in brussels, and not with this house. That is not democracy, mr speaker. Iam and not with this house. That is not democracy, mr speaker. I am afraid the right honourable gentleman opposite, inadvertently or not, has become the agent of further delay, further confusion, further uncertainty for business in this country and abroad. That is what he is prescribing. That is what he stands for. That is the result of his policy. And i urge everybody on all sides of the house not to support this approach. Let us go forward and not back with the honourable member opposite. Mr Kenneth Clarke the extraordinary Performance Today confirms to me the obvious strategy of the Prime Minister. To set conditions which make no deal inevitable. To make sure as much blame as possible is attached to the eu and to this house for that consequence. Then as quickly as he can fight a flag waving general election before the consequences of no deal become too obvious to the public. Perhaps my right honourable friend would let me know whether that clear explanation of his policy is what he a cce pts . Explanation of his policy is what he accepts . And does he also accept that if he gets his way and gets no deal, we then have to begin years of negotiations with the europeans and the rest of the world about getting new trade, security and other arrangements in force. Does he seriously think that this approach will obtain from any other country in the world of free trade arrangement which is half as good as the Common Market which conservative governments have helped to put together over the years . Mr speaker, as he knows, i am a keen fan. Order. Sit down. I want to hear what the Prime Minister has to say in response to the question. It must be heard. As the father of the house knows, im a long standing admirer of the member for rushcliffe. Knows, im a long standing admirer of the memberfor rushcliffe. I knows, im a long standing admirer of the member for rushcliffe. I was the only member of the 2001 uptake to vote for him as leader of the conservative party. A fact which i dont think you much thanked me for at the time. I have long been a fan of his. In many ways, i agree with him. I dont want an election. We dont want an election. I dont think he wants an election, by the way, as far as i can make out. We wa nt to way, as far as i can make out. We want to get the deal done. And the best way, mr speaker, to get a deal is to support the government in the lobbies tonight. Ian blackford. Thank you. Can i thank the Prime Minister for thank you. Can i thank the Prime Ministerfor advance thank you. Can i thank the Prime Minister for advance sight of his statement . My goodness, this is the second time the Prime Minister has been at the dispatch box. This must been at the dispatch box. This must be the shortest lived honeymoon in parliamentary history. He may say he doesnt want an election, his collea g u es doesnt want an election, his colleagues certainly dont want one, but i will let him into a secret, we do we want the people of scotland to be able to have their say on this shambolic government. The leader of the host talks about the strategy of the host talks about the strategy of the Prime Minister, and i have to say to him, respectfully, when we hear use of the word collaborators, and surrender, the Prime Minister should have some dignity and show some respect. One of the most remarkable things that took place during the statement was to see the memberfor bracknell during the statement was to see the member for bracknell across the floor. Prime minister, you have lost your majority. Mr speaker, overthe weekend, we saw commemorations across the world to mark the 80th anniversary of the second world war, when brave citizens came together. My when brave citizens came together. My thoughts and those of my parties are with those who suffered and those of the veterans. We should recognise the European Union is the legacy of two world wars that had ripped europe apart. The European Union has been an important vehicle for peace and stability in europe. Turning to the g7 summit, mr speaker, i wish to express my shared concern about the unrest in hong kong. I associate worked myself with the actions on Climate Change on protecting the amazon rainforest. But i take issue with President Trumps comments in relation to russia. It is not acceptable to condone russias military and cyber aggression around the world. Furthermore, the summit declared progress for the uk, but the president of the United States failed to challenge russias violation of International Law in ukraine. Utterly disgraceful lack of leadership from the president of the United States. Following the summit, the Prime Minister displayed his own lack of leadership by moving to Prorogue Parliament and struck power away from elected representatives. Closing down parliament by sending three privy counsellors to instruct the queen to sanction the closure of parliament. Three privy councillors acting on the instructions of the Prime Minister to shut down parliament. Where is the democracy in that . And how we can dance around and profess to speak for the people, mr speaker, we all know the truth. He is in fact doing the opposite. I prorogue in parliament, the Prime Minister is robbing the people of power. He is acting more like a tinpot dictator than a democrat. He talks of the will of the people, but what about the will of the people of scotland. Prime minister the scottish people did not vote for brexit. They did not vote for a no deal brexit. They did not vote for the tory party and they certainly did not vote for this Prime Minister. The people of scotla nd Prime Minister. The people of scotland voted to remain in the European Union. The scottish people voted overwhelmingly against the tory party and this government. The people of scotland made their choice. And they chose that the snp should be their voice. So i asked the Prime Minister, are you a democrat or not . Do you respect the will of the scottish people are not . And will you, Prime Minister, if you believe yourself not to be the latter, then will you give the people back there see and allow parliament to have it see, respect the will of parliament in stopping a no deal brexit, a no deal brexit there would be devastating forjobs and communities . Mr speaker, the right honourable gentleman makes a serious point about the us attitude towards russia. May i gently remind him that the United States expelled 16 diplomats after the incident in salisbury. To show their revulsion at russian behaviour. As for whether or not it is right to have a queens speech, the opposition have been calling for a queen speech just about every week. Finally they get one and the protest. On the eu, it remains the policy of the scottish nationalist party, once we have come out of the European Union on 31 october, to go back into the eu, to submit to the whole panoply of eu law, to scrap the pound in favour of some unknown currency hitherto unbaptised, some unknown currency hitherto unba ptised, the salmon some unknown currency hitherto unbaptised, the salmon or the sturgeon of whatever it happens to be. And to hand back control of scotlands fisheries to the eu, just as they have been reclaimed by this country. What an extraordinary policy, what an extraordinary policy, what an extraordinary policy, mr speaker. Sirjohn redwood. Will the Prime Minister confirmed that from the 1st of november, it will be the uk government and all authorities in control of our ports like dover . Will he confirm it will be the governments policy to ensure the smooth transit of food and pharmaceutical products into our country . And that will be the policy so country . And that will be the policy so there are no shortages . country . And that will be the policy so there are no shortages . I am grateful to my right honourable friend and i can confirm that is exactly what the chancellor and others have been preparing for months. Those measures are now well in trek. The Prime Minister has lost his majority, with the honourable memberfor bracknell his majority, with the honourable member for bracknelljoining his majority, with the honourable member for bracknell joining the liberal democrats. Doctors like him tell me they want to stop brexit because it will plunge our nhs into deep crisis. Haemorrhaging vital staff and threatening access to life saving medicines. When will the Prime Minister stopped playing with peoples lives and stop brexit . Prime Minister stopped playing with peoples lives and stop brexit . I am glad that the honourable lady has reminded the house that there are 700 more doctors in the nhs since the vote to leave the eu and in the last six weeks we have been able to announce another 1. 8 billion worth of hospital upgrades around the country. I am grateful to herfor allowing me to point that out. Mr Philip Hammond. My right honourable friend has assured me he was keen to get a deal with the European Union, but last friday chancellor merkel of germany observed that nine days into the 30 days the Prime Minister had requested during his visit to berlin, she hadnt yet seen any proposals from the United Kingdom. Could the Prime Minister now make a commitment to publish this afternoon the uks proposals, so that those of us were the uks proposals, so that those of us were considering what to do later today can have had the benefit of seeing them . And will he commit to transmitting those proposals without delay to the European Union . As i told my right arm a friend this morning, chancellor merkel was making an elementary point which is that we could easily do a deal within 30 days. And we certainly shall. She also said is that there is no point about what my friends across that you have said is that there is no point in having a negotiation, beginning formal talks, as long as there is a risk that parliament will make that negotiation impossible by taking away the ability of this country to negotiate. So every time we set out ideas, the first thing they ask is what will parliament do . I urge my friends and colleagues tonight to give us the leeway to get the deal that we need to. It is very clear, the deal that can be done, the outlines are clear. If members were listening to my statement earlier, they would have heard the rough shape of what that deal can be. Both in getting the alternative arrangement and in solving the problem of the iris backstop. I am afraid that by her actions, they are making the chances of that deal less likely. We are working flat out to secure it. The measures of past tonight will make the prospect of success much less likely. Hilary benn. Thank you. Its notjust chancellor merkel who has confirmed those substantive proposals have been put forward. Last weekend, the irish deputy Prime Minister said nothing credible has come from the British Government on alternatives to the backstop. Its also reported the attorney general told the Prime Minister at the beginning of august that if he insisted on the removal of the backstop, it would inevitably result in no deal. Is that true . If it is true, can he explain to the house white is credible to argue that progress has been made in negotiations . A growing number of members have come to the conclusion that what he really wants is a no deal exit. That is why we are working hard to prevent that. There are many members in this house, im afraid including the right honourable gentleman opposite, who simply want to block brexit. That is the reality. They are using the discussion that a so called no deal brexit to conceal their real intentions. And by their measures tonight and tomorrow they will be fatally undermining this governments ability to negotiate a deal. That is the reality. We can get ideal. We can remove the backstop. He knows very well for this country needs to do. It is agreed on all sides the house. The problem is the backstop. As long as this house is proposing motions such as the ones tonight and tomorrow, im afraid we have no chance of getting progress from our eu friends. What discussion did my right honourable friend have about the Climate Change fund . What progress has been made and can he give us an update . I am gratefulto my honourable friend. We are indeed, asi my honourable friend. We are indeed, as i said at the g7, if my memory serves me correctly, we are making a contribution of another £1. 4 billion to the Green Climate fund and it is a high priority of this government. Mr nigel dodds. Thank you. Can i welcome what the Prime Minister has said about the backstop, because he knows as well as the entire house knows as well as the entire house knows that that is one of the fundamental reasons why the Withdrawal Agreement could not get through this house . Not only is it anti democratic that laws would be made for the economy of Northern Ireland and nobody in belfast or london would have any say at all in the making of them or even ask questions about them, but its also contrary to the principles that people say they believing in the belfast agreement and the st andrews agreement which requires the consent of both communities. No Unionist Party in Northern Ireland supports the backstop. Can i support his commitment to a deal . We are committed to getting a good deal for Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. When he meets the irish Prime Minister on monday, which i welcome, can he convey to the Prime Minister, as we have tried to convey to him, that it would be entirely sensible and reasonable for him to sit down with us and other representatives of unionists in Northern Ireland, for direct discussions which would be very helpful in the current atmosphere, but which the Irish Government has consistently, amazingly, refused to do. At the same time, preaching to others about the need for conciliation and the movement for progress. I appeal to the Prime Minister to try to get some momentum into discussions between the irish republic and unionist parties. He perfectly understands the issues and he knows that he and i are at one in seeking to get rid of the backstop. I believe we can get rid of the backstop. You see, they dont want to. They dont want to do it. We can make progress. We can make progress, but not if we take away the possibility of no deal, which is what the right honourable gentleman is proposing to do. And not to forgive the power infinitely to extend uk membership of the eu to brussels, which is what his bill would do. Patrick mclaughlin. Will the Prime Minister reflect on the fa ct the Prime Minister reflect on the fact that when the house of commons debated the European Union referendum bill, it was passed with a majority of six to one. When the house debated the notification of withdrawal, it was passed for 21. What does he think another three or six month delay would achieve, other than delaying those people in those votes we have already had . passionately agree with what my right honourable friend has just said. Iurge right honourable friend has just said. I urge all those thinking tonight and tomorrow of voting to extend again beyond 31 october exactly what they are seeking to do. The people of this country want to get on with it and want to come out. Angela eagle. I am sure completely inadvertently, the Prime Minister failed to answer a question my right honourable friend put to him earlier and that is that if a bill passes which makes it illegal to leave without a deal, will him and his government abide by the rule of law . Iam government abide by the rule of law . I am grateful. Under the constitution, we will of course obey the law. Given the huge amount of political repression going on in russia at the moment, does my right on the friend agree with President Trump that now is the right time to bring russia back into the g7 . No, andi bring russia back into the g7 . No, and i made that point very clearly in biarritz. Joanna cherry. Its good to hear the Prime Minister see that he will uphold the constitution and the rule of law, because its essential United Kingdom upholds the rule of law for effective working with the g7 and future. So will give this house has word that he and his government will respect legislation passed by this house and decisions made by the two legaljurisdictions of this union, the jurisdictions and of scotland and the jurisdictions of england. I refer her to the a nswer of england. I refer her to the answer i gave a moment ago. John whittingdale. Will my right honourable friend confirm his the determination to keep up the pressure on russia, which continues to illegally occupy crimea and his involvement led to further deaths this weekend . Can i strongly welcome his statement from the dispatch box just now, that he agrees it is not appropriate for russia to rejoin the g7 and will he give full support to the members of the Ukrainian Parliament . I note the great interest my writable friend has taken in ukraine and the fortunes of that wonderful country. The president rang me before the g7, particularly to insist on his continued concerns about russian activities. I am sure those concerns are shared across this house. The Prime Ministers answer to the foreign miller former chancellor of the exchequer, he referred only to the rough shape of an alternative deal. Does he have any detailed proposals . Can he confirm he has not sent any detailed proposals to the eu . We have been in extensive talks, but as the right honourable lady will appreciate, doesnt make sense to negotiate in public. It has been clear from what ive said already that the backstop is unacceptable and so is the declaration is currently written. We have detailed proposals on how to address these issues. We are making progress. I respectfully say to friends on all sides of the house that now is the time to allow negotiators to get on with theirjob. In his discussions with theirjob. In his discussions with theirjob. In his discussions with the german chancellor and the french president , was their discussion around the need for compromise . It is this issue of the backstop. It is resolvable by compromise on all sides. Many people in this house, moderate brexiteers and remainers wish to compromise. If this house will not pass a present deal, can ask the Prime Minister to reflect on the Vienna Convention and the conditional unilateral declaration, which would allow us to unilaterally state our determination to exit from the backstop . unilaterally state our determination to exit from the backstop . I am grateful to my right honourable friend, and he has pursued this line of thinking for many months now. I must say that actually i think there isa must say that actually i think there is a better and more elegant way of doing this. We can exercise the offending bits of the treaty. We can make a great deal of progress. We can have a new treaty which would be a vast improvement. I think members opposite should look forward to it and support the efforts of this government in getting us out of the eu ina government in getting us out of the eu in a way that they voted for time and time again. The Prime Minister insists the uk will be ready for no deal. While at the same time, duplicity using threat to force European Union to cave into his nonexistent alternative arrangements. He admit that a no deal scenario would be catastrophic . Or will he continue to face both ways, deceive the public and use no deal for face both ways, deceive the public and use no dealfor his own electoral gain . Im afraid i dont agree with what she has said about no deal. I think there will be bumps on the road. This is a great country, a great economy and we will get it done. I am afraid the most fatal thing to getting a deal is for this country to show that it is so apprehensive to comment on other terms, as to accept anything that the eu prescribes. That is the core stone which the right honourable gentleman opposite is beckoning us to go and i think that would be a disaster. Can i warmly welcome the announcement that the Prime Minister made at the g7, to give more money to education . It cannot wait. The leadership he has consistently shown on the importance of Girls Education around the world. Can he commit to championing this cause and to seek that more of our budget be spent on Global Education . I thank my right honourable friend for everything she has done, both on the Development Fund and the fco to champion female education around the world. I believe it is the most effective policy for solving many of the ills of the world. The Prime Ministers made a number of wild and unsubstantiated claims about negotiations. Can i ask him directly, did the chief negotiator ina directly, did the chief negotiator in a subcommittee meeting leak talks to domestic political handling reasons . Yes or no . I dont comment on leaks. Even if i did, i have no idea. I think its highly unlikely. The Prime Minister will be aware that many of us are concerned that we are currently on course to leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 october, that we wont have time to negotiate and legislate for a new deal. Those concerns were not allayed by reports in the Daily Telegraph this morning that suggested that in a strategy meeting on 29july it was stated that suggested that in a strategy meeting on 29 july it was stated that the government was going to run down the clock. Nor are our concerns are laid by the suggestion that the attorney general on 01 august said that removing the backstop altogether would mean we would not be able to reach a deal. Are those reports are accurate . Mr speaker, i dont comment on leaks. Even in pages as hallowed as the ones described. What ican hallowed as the ones described. What i can tell my writable friend my right honourable friend is that we are working for a deal and i believe we will get a deal. I think everybody in this house would want to support a deal. As with their constituents. We want this business to be over and for us to leave the eu on 31 october. Further to the question asked opposite, could the Prime Minister confirmed that Dominic Cummings described it renegotiations as a sham, and could he also tells us how isa simple sham, and could he also tells us how is a simple yes or no, whether it is true that she rang the editor of the Daily Telegraph and remonstrated with him about those reports, of which we have all are now hard . Yes or no, Prime Minister. Did you ring him up . I am gratefulto the right honourable lady, but i have to say, i saw the story on the front of the telegraph this morning. It seemed to me wholly implausible, but i have not seen. I can happily answer her question. I have not seen fit to rank any journalist today on question. I have not seen fit to rank anyjournalist today on any matter, because as you can imagine, i have been working flat out to get out of the eu on october the 31st. When it comes to alternative arrangements to the backstop, the commission that i co chair we are making real progress. We published yes to a revised Withdrawal Agreement anti political declaration. We are hosting a conference in dundalk next week, bringing together parliamentarians from across these islands. Can i thank the Prime Minister for the meetings that i have had with his team, and can i assure him that our proposals are in very good shape Going Forward. I want to thank my right honourable friend for the fantastic work he has done with many colleagues. To prepare for the alternative arrangements, that really do hope that the prospect of a solution to the problem of the Northern Irish open order. And if the gentleman opposite was clear to study the report, i think you might elucidate himself on that matter. There are a number of a number of proposals that have been made, and indeed many others, thats all that real hope of progress. But those are not the only areas, mr speaker, and which we are making progress. There are several which we are making progress. There are several areas which we are making progress. There are several areas in which we are now discussing how the uk can retire whole and perfect from the eu post retaining the integrity of the market in ireland. And that is a ha rd market in ireland. And that is a hard thing to achieve, but it can be done. Mr speaker, can i first of all apologise to the Prime Minister, because i did make my expose a little when he said something about loyalty, and i thought about the loyalty, and i thought about the loyalty that sometimes is deficient when we had a different Prime Minister, the right honourable lady from maidenhead. So, my apologies on that, but can i welcome the one thing i really welcome out of the g7 statement that he made, was when he said about Girls Education. My daughter was a special adviser to the foreign secretary, could you tell me today, is it right that a special adviser could be treated like the young woman was in at number ten, to be sacked on the spot, to be marched out of number ten by an armed Police Officer . Is that the way to treat women in work or is it not . I thank the right honourable gentleman for the support he gives to our campaign and to the uk because anti of education for every girl in the world, and indeed i thank members of his family for what they have done also to support that campaign. But on these matters, i will not comment, as he would expect. Mr speaker, most of us in this place would prepare for a good trade deal to no deal at all, but there is a Prime Minister reflect on there is a Prime Minister reflect on the fact that of the top ten of the eus the fact that of the top ten of the eus trading partners, half are trading on a wto no deal terms. With the premise so therefore continue to put to the sword this ludicrous suggestion that britain would be incapable on trading on such terms . We would prosper. My right honourable friend is totally right, because there is a huge opportunity for the uk to recover its standing, which used to have, before 1973, is a great and actor for global free trade. That is what we are going to do. Notjust for the trade. That is what we are going to do. Not just for the great free trade. That is what we are going to do. Notjust for the great free deal with their eagerfans, do. Notjust for the great free deal with their eager fans, which will be the centrepiece of a negotiated, but also the free deals around the world. Ten mugging pans to protect the rainforest is welcome, but far more effective would be to stand up to president also narrow, is deliberately accelerating and encouraging these fires to open up more of the amazon, threatening communities and accelerating the climate crisis. While you do the right thing and refuse any future trading agreements with brazil u nless trading agreements with brazil unless and until environment and human rights standards are properly and fully enforced . Human rights standards are properly and fully enforced . I would be relu cta nt to and fully enforced . I would be reluctant to encourage any measure now that that anything to reduce trade, free trade around the world. And much, much better to support the reforestation of brazil in the way that we are, and we have a campaign to plant 1 trillion that we are, and we have a campaign to plant1 trillion trees, mr speaker. My constituents are passionately pro deal, and i think the Prime Minister is too, in fact i know he is. He has told me that person. But can ijust passed one of the most dishonest myths talk of all, that you can respect the referendum result and be in favour of leaving with a deal. And that is what i think all of my constituents are. The Prime Minister said today, the chances of a deal have increased. I wonder, the chances of a deal have increased. Iwonder, what the chances of a deal have increased. I wonder, what evidence can he put before the house . Before the votes to speak, because it really could be critical for people like me from where we go . Mr speaker, i would just make one point, which was that before we began our efforts, it was Common Ground with the eu 27 that every dot and comma of the Withdrawal Agreement was immutable and could not be changed. That is now no longer the case. And we are all really shifting them both in ireland and in berlin, and also in france. Progress is being made. And now is not the time to slacken that work. Lets just pull out of what is a very lively house of commons, first day back, of course, and let mejust assure you a moment of high drama. This is what happened at the start, as borisjohnson was making a statement on the g7 summit. One have his mps, and this is a moment it happen. This is doctor phillip lee, he crossed the chamber and joined the liberal democrat, where they will sitting. He sat next to leader jo swinson. That is as dramatic a defection as you will see, and of course, the ramifications of that meant that the government lost its working majority. There he is sitting next to the leader of the liberal democrats. He said that the party he had a chance, the conservative party, in 1992, is not departed i am leaving today. He has published a letter. That is why today i am joining jo swinson and the liberal democrats. I believe they are best placed to build a unifying and inspiring Political Force needed to heal our divisions, unleash our talents. And he says, i wa nt to unleash our talents. And he says, i want to leave our country and our world in a better place for the next generation. Lets talk to vicki young, our chief correspondent who joins me now. Apart from the drama of it, the practical effect of this is, borisjohnson of it, the practical effect of this is, Boris Johnson no of it, the practical effect of this is, borisjohnson no longer has a majority. That is an important moment in all of this. But i think worth remembering phillip lee on brexit has not voted with the government for some time, along with several others. That working majority has not been realistically working in practice for quite some time. Phillip lee, people have speculated he was going to defect to the liberal democrats. Maybe he was waiting to do it live on air at this moment during borisjohnsons speech. It is interesting that he said in his letter that brexit has turned the party into something akin toa turned the party into something akin to a narrow faction, infected with the 20 teasers or populism and english nationalism. This comes on a day when adjusting greening, former education secretary has said that she is no longer going to stand as a conservative, she is going to stand down because she doesnt feel that the party is a party for her. I think that is the Crucial Point about what these people are saying. Of course, there are differences in pressure, but on the orders, people had differences, give us the same party, you would be fun eventually. But this issue of europe is yet again wrecking the party. It is pulling it apart. Extraordinary scenes of the former chancellor, Philip Hammond, who this morning on the reader suggested he be willing to ta ke the reader suggested he be willing to take his own party to court if they try to deselect in. David gauke, getting up and quizzing the Prime Minister, saying to him, what are your proposals . You say you want are your proposals . You say you want a deal, you are making progress, but proposals have you put to the eu . They dont believe it. They dont believe what borisjohnson is telling him, that he is serious about a deal. No sign of a chastened borisjohnson. He about a deal. No sign of a chastened Boris Johnson. He described about a deal. No sign of a chastened borisjohnson. He described emotion thatis borisjohnson. He described emotion that is Going Forward tonight as a Jeremy Corbyns surrender bill. He saidi Jeremy Corbyns surrender bill. He said i will Never Surrender. Language is important, and at a time when we are commemorating 80 years since the start of the second world war, and it was picked up in the commons. Boris johnson seems war, and it was picked up in the commons. Borisjohnson seems to know what direction he at least wants to go. He made it very clear yesterday. He said again today that he will not ask the eu for another delay to brexit, even if they change the law. He contradicted that, because you then as another question about what you do, which he broke the law . And he said he would uphold the constitution and follow the law. There is a contradiction there. But he doesnt want to do it, he says he wont do it. You want a general election. Tonight, if he loses in this vote, if we know the mps are going to take over the commons tomorrow and try and get this bill through, it is possible that as early as tonight he will stand up in the house of commons and say, i want to it, i want a general election. Over to you, but labour vote for that . Because he is still working on a deal. This has been the subject of a deal. This has been the subject of a lot of question. Philip hammond unassuming the same interview this morning on radio four saying that doctor Boris Johnson morning on radio four saying that doctor borisjohnson was interested ina dealwas, doctor borisjohnson was interested in a deal was, in his words, nonsense. This is what it has come to. Those mps who are considering voting against the government tonight, this button to tumour camps. There are those who are willing to give borisjohnson a chance, in other chance, because you think you are serious about trying to get a deal, and another parliament will be back on the 14th of october, and so they feel there is another chance to stop no deal. And if there is another group who simply dont believe that he is serious about it. They think that it is true that those attempts at a renegotiation are indeed a sham. And thatis renegotiation are indeed a sham. And that is what is dictating where those mps vote tonight. It does look as if there is around 20 tory mps willing to defy the government. That may well be enough, although it could be pretty close, depending on what does and independent mps do, and labourmps. What does and independent mps do, and labour mps. We are looking at ten p and labour mps. We are looking at tean and labour mps. We are looking at ten p m for that to take place . Yeah, nine or ten. Ten p m for that to take place . Yeah, nine orten. That ten p m for that to take place . Yeah, nine or ten. That is an emergency debate. It wouldnt normally be binding, but the speaker, we think, is going to make it so. There will be a vote, and that will allow mps, if it is past, to ta ke that will allow mps, if it is past, to take up a business in house of commons tomorrow, and then try and get the bill through in wonder, which would see that the Prime Minister, if no deal has gone through parliament by the 19th of october, to seek an extension, a delay to brexit, until the end of january. You mentioned it already, but one of the biggest cheers came one borisjohnson said he would uphold the constitution obey the law. As he boxing himself and here, because one of the ways out of the possibility of losing tonight was that you could turn his back on whatever is voted on go his own way . That would be extraordinary, a Prime Minister breaking the law. I mean, brought does not end up . I dont think anyone really thinks its possible. The fact that people are even talking about it shows that his opponents are in quite your what downing street is willing to do next, how far they are willing to go. But downing street today, the Prime Ministers official spokesman has tried to calm things down on that, and on the solar possibility to have been talking about, which is that the election date is given as the 14th of october, and then Boris Johnson changes it once parliament is dissolved. The Prime Ministers spokesman saying that that is not the case. The 14th of october is what you want. But it is not easy to achieve. You cant say he wants an election, he has one short of a working majority, and in the past, when the law hadnt changed, a Prime Minister would have called an election at this point, tonight. He cant do that, he needs two thirds of mps to back to do that, or he could try and bring in, a second option, try and bring in a short bill soon, we want an election on the 14th of october. Thatjust requires a simple majority. Lets return to the house of commons. Borisjohnson has return to the house of commons. Boris johnson has been return to the house of commons. Borisjohnson has been back on his feet. He is now taking questions. But during the proceedings now. But often exceed them. Why should anyone ta ke often exceed them. Why should anyone take on the by minister when he he has been so reckless with peoples livelihoods. We are working with all sectors including Automotive Supply Chain is to protect their interest, but of course, the best way to ensure that we dont have a no deal brexit is to support the government and to oppose the measures that the leader of the opposition is putting forward. Thank you, mr speaker. Can i thank my right honourable friend for mentioning ben stokes in his speech was that i was lucky enough to be there that day, and it did remind me that sometimes, even the most difficult challenges can be achieved. I do believe it will be possible to achieve an agreed negotiation with the eu, though it is difficult. If it is achieved on october the 17th, is there sufficient time for this house to approve all the necessary legislation before the end of that . Yes, mr speaker, indeed there is time, and we have gone thoroughly over this. I am delighted by. Time, and we have gone thoroughly over this. Iam delighted by. She speaks at some are well acquainted with the ways of brussels and the eu. She will that the deals are a lwa ys eu. She will that the deals are always done on the steps of the court, in the final furlong. That is where we will get the deal. Can the Prime Ministerjust completely set the record straight on this if Parliament Passes legislation requiring him to request an extension of article 50 beyond october the 31st, bulky abide by the law . I have answered this question twice before, mr speaker. We will abide by the law. But i have to say, i think it is a quite incredible thing to propose, deleterious to the interests of this country and this government, and which will make it impossible to get the deal this country needs. Mr speaker, when my right honourable friend explained in greater detail the steps taken at the g7 to protect endangered species . I think my honourable friend. I can indeed expand. You will recall that under the kyoto protocol, targets were set for the reduction of Greenhouse Gases stop at the world now wants to see a set specific targets for the protection of endangered species, whether flora orfauna, and it is a tragedy of endangered species, whether flora or fauna, and it is a tragedy that the number of elephants is down at about 300,000 in the wild, the number of limestone to perhaps 15,000. We are seeing the tragic reduction of species around the world, and the world is to Work Together to prevent that loss of habitat. The number of lions. That is what we agreed to do at the g7. The people in this country care passionately. They care passionately about what is happening to animals around the world. She is totally indifferent, but to live in my constituents certainly, they are not. Mr speaker, the Prime Minister tells us he is going to dublin on monday to see the taoiseach, were no doubt he will be asked, as he has been asked today, about his proposals for the backstop. Can i ask here if he had seen the comment from former members of this house gavin barwell, who said that he has had the same reports regarding sham negotiations from multiple government sources, and he says that if its not true, the government should publish its proposals to replace the backstop. should publish its proposals to replace the backstop. I want to do that . Mr speaker, we dont negotiate in public, but i think i have given the house quite a lot already about what we want to do. The one thing that will stop us achieving this, mr speaker, as if negotiating ability is new church and neutralised by this house of commons. Is neutered. In order to get deliberated to get this great deal through that the Prime Minister is on, he has said any member on these benches who doesnt vote with the night in support of the current were those of the web and did not be able to stand again as a conservative mp. Working on that basis, and the event that a deal is a great, for that treatment apply to those mps who dont vote for his great deal . Treatment apply to those mps who dont vote for his great deal . Mr speaker, what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Thank you, mr speaker. Your argument seems to be that you have a plan, but you just cant share it with the horrors, or indeed with chancellor merkel, and that we just have to trust you. And the parliament, which has a mandate, unlike your government, which no longer has a majority, shouldnt legislate against it no deal, because that will somehow scupper your plans, which nobody knows. Why, Prime Minister, should we trust you that you have a plan, and indeed that you can deliver it . Mr speaker, i will tell you why, because the alternative is more delay, more chaos, more confusion and uncertainty for british business, and the infinite protection of uk membership of the eu. At the behest of the eu themselves. That is what the right honourable gentleman opposite is proposing. Does my right honourable friend agree that in europe are willing to give government time to bring forward a new proposal for leaving the eu with a deal ahead of the crucial summit october the 17th, so should this house . Thank you. I think that my honourable friend is completely right. We need time to get this deal over the line. I think the crucial summit will be on october the 17th. That is gentle when it is expected to be done. I would kindly ask you house not to fetter the ability of art negotiators to do that deal. Thank you, mr speaker. In response to the suggestion by chancellor merkel that a deal could be done in 30 days, the Prime Minister said, you rightly say the onus is on us to provide the solutions. You have set a blistering timetable of 30 days. Ifi a blistering timetable of 30 days. If i have understood you correctly, iam more if i have understood you correctly, i am more than happy with that. Given that the Prime Minister accepted the 30 day challenge, said that the onus was on this place and this country to come up with solutions, why then pretty not a nswer solutions, why then pretty not answer questions that my honourable friend from winchester and provides. Wait for it. They wait for it, Prime Minister, because it isa for it, Prime Minister, because it is a question we are all asking, which is where is the evidence that halfway through his only deadline, he has done anything at all . really think the honourable lady should learn to count, mr speaker, because the 30 day timetable they have begun, but it has not elapsed. And what our friends and partners wa nt to and what our friends and partners want to see it at the house of commons is not going to block brexit. They are not going to make a concession to the side, to our country, until they know that the house of commons is not going to block brexit. We will be bringing forward our proposals in due course. Long before the 30 days are up. But what we want to see is that the Uk Parliament stands behind our negotiators. That is what they want to see in brussels. I voted for the Withdrawal Agreement three times, and im pleased to hear the Prime Minister expects to make progress throughout september and october. You will know it was a policy of the previous prime ministry to keep this house regularly updated. For those of us considering how to vote on it, to reconsider his decision and make state m e nts to reconsider his decision and make statements throughout the whole of september and october, that would be a material factor. I am september and october, that would be a materialfactor. I am gratefulto my friend. We have battled together on many fronts, and i was. I can commit, of course, to updating the house regularly on this matter. I think it is highly unlikely that you could keep me away from that, when the house is sitting, mr speaker. That is what i will do. But you can expect a statement right now from the chancellor of the duchy of lancaster. He doesnt have to wait until september. The Prime Minister is describing consequences of it no deal as a few bumps on the road. If that is the case, isnt the right time to have a general election after his a few bumps and the road have been implemented, when he can fully on the consequences rather than relying on his statements about them before they actually happen . dont want an election, i want to deliver brexit on october the 31st. I think that is what the people of this country one. The United Kingdom already has very close links with india, not least because of the valuable contribution made by the 1. 6 million British Indian diaspora. In his conversations at the g7 with the Prime Minister, what discussion did my right honourable friend have in terms of strengthening those ties post brexit . Mr speaker, i did indeed have an extremely good conversation with the Prime Minister, and be in to strengthen our cooperation not just minister, and be in to strengthen our cooperation notjust on the security side, were clearly the uk and india stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terror, but also in military cooperation and the asia pacific region, per week share many interests, as well as in free trade. I think my right honourable friend for everything that he does to promote that incredibly important relationship. Cani incredibly important relationship. Can i thank the Prime Ministerfor his statement. The g7 have deliver great things for the Global Health ca re great things for the Global Health care fund to combat aids, and saving some 27 million lives worldwide, but does about melissa not agreed that the g7s primary function is to have countries come together for mutual benefit. What benefit does the Prime Minister believe the g7 summit 2019 brought for britain or Northern Ireland . As i said in my opening statement, the uk depends on a Global Trading system that is open, and one of the most important thing is we agreed at the g7, in the face of rising tensions between china and america was to support the wto, to support the rules based international system, and i was delighted that washington actually made a commitment, but i hope will be followed through, to return their member to the appellant board of the wto in geneva, which is very important for global free trade. Further to the question from our honourable friend from chelmsford, could the Prime Minister explain that when he brings this deal to us next month, as i very much hope and iam sure next month, as i very much hope and i am sure he will come up there are plans to put in place all the legislation between october the 19th and october the 31st, because that seems an awful lot to do in that time, but it is vital that we get that assurance. Of course, and other honourable members have asked exactly the same question today. And ican exactly the same question today. And i can certainly make this offer, that i would be very happy to brief him on exactly how that can be done, and we are sure it cant be done. When there is a conflict between what the people of this country voted for after being given and asked a question by this parliament, and many members in this parliament who seem to want to stop those peoples decision been implemented, whose side is he on . Let me tell you, iam whose side is he on . Let me tell you, i am grateful. And the right honourable eddie has been valiant on this issue for many years, and i support and agree with her, because it was entirely right too, after 45 yea rs of it was entirely right too, after 45 years of eu membership, it was right, when that institution had to change very radically from when the british people were last consulted, it was like to ask the people about the thought that their future belongs in that fertilising, tightly integrating body. And they did return. Because it went to the questions of their identity and their future, questions of their identity and theirfuture, and questions of their identity and their future, and what they thought of the country. When they returned a verdict, it was absolutely right for us to agree and to implement that strategy. And this house of commons has promised many times to do so. I hope we now get on and do it. Thank you, mr speaker. My constituency voted 60 to leave under incredibly dismayed about what they see as shenanigans to stop brexit. Does my right honourable friend not agree that if we did not deliver brexit by the 31st october, constituents across the country will have incredible mistrust in parliament on democracy . My right honourable friend. You are watching bbc news. We believe the comments now as a Prime Minister continues fielding questions. Michael gove is due to give a statement on no deal brexit. The Prime Minister is working working majority evaporated even as he set up come up with the defection of phillip lee. He took a seat next to the liberal democrat leaderjo swinson. A number of conservative say they will vote for the Opposition Party tonight, beginning a process they believe can prevent a no deal brexit. Huw edwards is standing by in westminster with bbc news at five, up next. Today at five were live at westminster where mps are set to debate a bill designed to prevent a no deal brexit as the government loses its working majority in the commons. The Prime Minister making his way to the commons today has already hinted he will try to call a general election if hes defeated in tonights parliamentary vote. Iurge i urge therefore that size to reject this bill so we can get the right deal for our country, deliver brexit and take the whole country forward, and take the whole country forward, andl and take the whole country forward, and i commend the statement to the house. The attack on our democracy in order to force through a disastrous know they