Rolling coverage of all the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs
PMQs - Snap verdict
PMQs - Verdict
PMQs - Verdict from the Twitter commentariat
Lunchtime summary
Afternoon summary
4.25pm GMT
If we really want to see the right thing happen to people out there who try and get into work and stay in work, the allowances are critical.
And I would recommend and hope that my colleagues in government will think very carefully again about the decision to reduce those allowances.
I urge my colleagues, my honourable friends, to do just this, it is the right thing to do, it will be the thing to do that changes lives and improves the quality of those lives.
There was a very substantial difference by education in people’s willingness to vote leave or remain. This was a referendum which was essentially between the social liberals and the social conservatives in our society, which is rather different division from the one the opinion polls are usually trying to estimate, which is between left and right. That is a division which is centred much more around class than around education.
The manner in which the Chagossian community was removed from the Territory in the 1960s and 1970s, and the way they were treated, was wrong and we look back with deep regret. We have taken care in coming to our final decision on resettlement, noting the community’s emotional ties to BIOT [British Indian Ocean Territory] and their desire to go back to their former way of life.
This comprehensive programme of work included an independent feasibility study followed by a full public consultation in the UK, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
3.00pm GMT
Another Europe is Possible, which was set up as a progressive remain campaign during the EU referendum, and which was backed by Labour figures, has put out a statement this afternoon criticising the shadow chancellor John McDonnell for being too willing to accept Brexit in his speech yesterday.
Michael Chessum, the group’s national organiser (and a member of Momentum’s steering committee), said:
We would not support using parliament to directly block Brexit - but what is the point of our MPs having the right to vote on article 50 if they do not use it to extract concessions against hard Brexit? Labour must champion the progressive elements of EU membership: free movement, workers’ rights, the environment and human rights. Doing this is not about betraying the will of the people - it is about opening up the negotiating process to public scrutiny. And doing it effectively means retaining parliamentary leverage over article 50.
We are at a loss to know what kind of political strategy involves condemning your own people as ‘certain corporate interests’ against ‘the will of the British people’. At a time of rising nationalism and right wing populism this choice of language is irresponsible and wrong. The overwhelming majority of Labour members backed remain. They were joined by two thirds of Labour voters and 48 per cent of the country.
2.25pm GMT
All I can say to you, I’m afraid, is that such matters are normally never discussed in public.
You will have heard the prime minister talk in October about her views on the honours system and making sure that it recognises people who really contribute to society and their communities.
1.37pm GMT
And this is what political journalists and commentators are saying about PMQs on Twitter.
It’s mixed, but more pro-Corbyn than pro-May.
Clear Corbyn win. #PMQs
Clear win for Corbyn. Bad PMQs for May. (My latest for Reaction @reactionlife) https://t.co/OFTOrHU6MB
Snap verdict on #PMQs Heated Corbyn failed to dent May's armourhttps://t.co/Nag7MSxMhH
Corbyn lines could be quite effective if deployed by a more nimble debater... But May can just attack him for incompetence every time
One of Corbyn's better outings in recent #PMQs - well-focused questions on government's Brexit agonies
Jeremy Corbyn so far on sharp form by sticking to the one topic - Brexit and reminds Boris He said it would be a 'titanic' success #pmqs
Theresa May needs a new writer for her pre-planned PMQs jibes at Corbyn. Sounding a bit flat these days.
It's all relative of course, but no doubt that Jeremy Corbyn is getting better at #PMQs.
One of Jeremy Corbyn's better #PMQs: he asked thorny questions on current issues. But May effectively hit back on leadership competence
Don't watch #PMQs much anymore but who is this person who looks like @jeremycorbyn? He's pretty good at it.
Corbyn has travelled a long way from "people's questions". Punch and Judy back. #PMQs
Amazing and rare view of #PMQs from @bbc5live commentary box. @jeremycorbyn going for it... pic.twitter.com/rVoV0voh7N
1.17pm GMT
PMQs - Verdict: That was not an especially memorable PMQs but, as I argued earlier, it was one that saw Jeremy Corbyn expose some of the weaknesses in the government’s Brexit position (or non-position - the point is, there is no agreed strategy) reasonably effectively. Theresa May will not be losing any sleep about this yet, but today’s Ipsos MORI poll findings on how the government is handling Brexit (see 11.26am) ought to generate at least a little concern in Downing Street.
The main thrust of May’s response was that (and I paraphrase) the splits in her government are nothing compared to the divisions on Brexit in the shadow cabinet. In the chamber this attack line did not really work, but May is right to say there are tensions in Labour on this subject. In his economy speech yesterday John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, indicated that the party would oppose any move to demand a second referendum on the EU, even though some Labour MPs are in favour and the party conference (by mistake) passed a motion calling for a second referendum. The lawyer and Labour blogger Jolyon Maugham has written a strong blog today criticising McDonnell’s tactics. This has not erupted as a full-blown row yet, but at some point in the future it might.
12.54pm GMT
As usual, I missed the question from Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, because I was writing up a snap verdict. So here is a quick summary. He started by asking about the Institute for Government analysis saying the government’s Brexit plans are “chaotic and dysfunctional”. May replied:
The most important thing for this government to do is calmly and carefully get on with the job of preparing for complex negotiations and one of the most important things we can do is not give a running commentary.
12.44pm GMT
Labour’s Albert Owen says the port of Holyhead in his constituency benefits from free trade with Ireland.
May says the common travel area with Ireland started in 1923. She says the government recognises the importance of keeping it.
12.42pm GMT
The SNP’s George Kerevan asks if there have been any official discussions about giving Nigel Farage a peerage.
May says such matters are normally never discussed in public.
12.41pm GMT
Philip Shipley, a Conservative, asks if May will reverse the Labour rule saying prisoners could be released halfway through their sentences.
May says this is an issue that was of concern when she was home secretary. What is important is to rehabilitate ex-offenders, she says.
12.40pm GMT
The SNP’s Stewart Malcolm McDonald asks what the government will do to ensure social media companies are held to account for facilitating online bullying.
May says the Home Office is aware of this issue. It is best addressed by the terms and conditions of the companies themselves.
12.38pm GMT
Nigel Evans, a Conservative, asks what May will do to improve trade with Donald Trump’s America.
May says she wants to discuss this with Trump at “a very early stage”.
12.38pm GMT
Labour’s Lisa Nandy says the child abuse inquiry has lost three chairs and eight senior lawyers. And there are senior allegations that have gone uninvestigated, she says.
May says it is important that the inquiry must continue. Having seen the work Prof Alexis Jay did in Rotherham, she has absolute confidence in her ability to run the inquiry.
12.36pm GMT
Julian Lewis, the Conservative chair of the defence committee, says the BBC is planning to end its monitoring service. If it does that, that would be a disaster, he says. He says it only costs £20m.
May says the government recognises how important this service (monitoring foreign broadcasts) is for the government. The government is talking to the BBC about this, she says.
12.35pm GMT
Labour’s Judith Cummins asks May to bring about parity for people with dementia for end-of-life care.
May says the government has set a target to increase the number of dementia friends, and investment is going up. But the government is committed to improving end-of-life care.
12.33pm GMT
Alberto Costa, a Conservative, says his parents are Italian. They have been here 50 years, but have never naturalised. Can May assure him he will never be asked to vote for them to leave?
May says she wants EU nationals to be able to stay. But she must protect the rights of Britons living in EU countries. She says she hopes they can reach a deal “at an early stage”.
12.32pm GMT
The SNP’s Martin Docherty-Hughes says Ruth Davidson said during the EU referendum campaign that leave would not say what they would replace the single market with. Can May answer that question?
May says people voted to leave the EU. She will deliver on it, she says.
12.31pm GMT
Johnny Mercer, a Conserative, asks about the impact of the Iraq Historical Abuse Team on former servicemen.
May says she acknowledges the problem. IHAT should proceed quickly, and weed out weak cases. But proper allegations need to be invested, she says.
12.30pm GMT
The SNP’s Stephen Gethins asks what guarantees will be given to universities over research funding and on free movement.
May says research funding has only been guaranteed. And the government wants the brightest and the best to be able to continue to come to the UK. She says the SNP was campaigning in 2014 for Scotland to leave the EU.
12.29pm GMT
May praises the World Service, and says an extra £289m is being invested in it.
12.28pm GMT
Labour’s Lucy Powell asks about the Social Mobility Commission’s report.
May says the commission says more working-class youngsters are in higher education than ever before. And the attainment gap has narrowed, she says. She says a Labour council in Knowsley said grammar schools could be transformative for working-class areas.
12.27pm GMT
Richard Bacon, a Conservative, asks what message of reassurance May has for fat middle-aged white men who may feel they have been left behind, in the light of the progress made by women and ethnic minorities.
May says Bacon (who would not be mistake for a rake) should come and see him.
12.26pm GMT
The SNP’s Neil Gray asks a closed question about employment and support allowance. After May responds, he asks how she will respond to the 70 organisations who want the ESA cuts to be halted.
May says ESA is being focused on those most in need. Extra support is being given to these in the work-support group who could get into the workplace. She says the Scottish government has new powers to increase benefits.
12.24pm GMT
Chris Philp, the Conservative MP for Croydon South, asks if any recommendations from the investigation into the tram crash will be rapidly implemented.
May says we can never be complacent about safety. If there are lessons to be learnt, they will be learnt.
12.22pm GMT
Ukip’s Douglas Carswell says Brexit does not mean rejecting free trade. Will any free trade deals be based on mutual recognition of standards, and not overly-prescriptive rules.
May welcomes Carswell’s support for free trade. She says the UK can become a global leader for free trade.
12.21pm GMT
PMQs - Snap verdict: May was poor, not weak enough for this to register as a disaster, but deficient in authority and credibility, and Corbyn can head for lunch with a sense of “job done”. It wasn’t a classic victory - there weren’t any especially memorable put-downs and, although his final question contained a good soundbite, the pay-off line was flat - but Corbyn was asking all the right questions, and May ‘we won’t reveal our negotiating stance’ line is sounding increasingly more like an excuse than a strategy. You could tell that she was on the defensive because she ended up lashing out at Corbyn, without the nastiness that Cameron often deployed in these circumstances, but equally without fully explaining her case. So, as Labour-bashing goes, it was rather lame.
12.13pm GMT
Corbyn says these are the most complex negotiations ever undertaken by this country. But the civil service has been cut down to its lowest level since the war. If the supreme court decides to reject the government’s appeal, will the lord chancellor defend the judiciary.
May says there have been two cases. The Northern Ireland court found in favour of the government, the high court found against. The government believes in the independence of the judiciary. But democracy is underpinned by a free press, she says.
12.10pm GMT
Corbyn quotes the Italian minister saying no one knows what the government’s position is.
May says revealing the government’s hand would lead to Britain getting the worst possible result.
12.07pm GMT
Jeremy Corbyn starts by expressing his condolences to those who lost loved ones in the Croydon crash.
He asks about the Chagos Islanders and today’s report saying they will not be allowed to return. And he says Boris Johnson said the UK would probably leave the customs union. Is that right?
12.03pm GMT
Wendy Morton, a Conservative, asks about the fall in the unemployment figures.
May says the employment figures show the strength of the fundamentals of the economy. Unemployment is lower than it has been for a decade, and employment has never been higher, she says.
12.02pm GMT
Theresa May starts by expressing condolences to the families of those killed in the Croydon tram crash.
12.01pm GMT
There are six SNP MPs down to ask questions. This is from an Institute for Government fellow, Akash Paun.
6 SNP MPs out of 15 on the list for PMQs today. Seems unlikely unless Labour and Tory backbenchers aren't bothering to put their names down https://t.co/BmalQdk13U
11.56am GMT
Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question at PMQs.
Who's asking the Qs at #PMQs today? https://t.co/OhMExlQz0T pic.twitter.com/Enpl4Ab80e
11.54am GMT
In a speech this morning Damian Green, the work and pensions secretary, announced that jobseekers who are homeless or suffer from a mental health condition will now be able to access hardship payments immediately if they receive a benefit sanction.
This came in a wide-ranging speech in which Green also set out some general thoughts on the future of welfare. The most interesting passage came when he said he wanted a “welfare system”, not just a “welfare state”, because the government should not be the sole provider of welfare. He told the Reform thinktank.
A welfare state is not enough—we need a welfare system, involving many players – health professionals, employers large and small, a whole range of voluntary organisations ...
A welfare state, is not enough for today’s world. What we need is an entire system of welfare.
11.45am GMT
Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, says the Social Mobility Commission’s findings are a damning indictment of the government’s record.
This damning report today from the government’s own Commission on Social Mobility should make for sobering reading for the Tories. Under their government, there’s a growing sense of two nations: the lucky few at the very top and the millions who make up ‘everyone else’.
Since they came to power in 2010 we have seen our country go backwards on the progress the Labour Government made on social mobility. The educational attainment gap between lower-income children and their wealthier classmates is getting bigger, and these children still have little chance of going into high-level professions. And under Theresa May we can expect more of the same: grammar schools for a select few, overcrowded classrooms for the many.
It is truly shocking that in the 21st century young people’s life chances are determined not by their ability but their parents wealth. Tackling this must start with government action. We cannot go on reducing spending on the things young people need without doing serious damage to our society.
Yet instead of supporting the next generation the government’s priority is bringing back the deeply divisive 11 plus, while failing to invest in the housing, education and sustainable jobs of the future.
11.30am GMT
Among those who think the UK government is doing a bad job on Brexit seems to be Guy Verhofstadt, head of the liberal group in the European parliament and the parliament’s lead negotiator on Brexit. This is what he tweeted yesterday after reading what Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, said about free movement not being a founding principle of the EU.
Can't wait to negotiate with @BorisJohnson, so that I can read him Article 3 of the Treaty of Rome https://t.co/UOUfVjMb3Z #Brexit pic.twitter.com/UlD42v0v9w
11.26am GMT
More people think that the government is doing a bad job of handling Brexit (48%) than a good job (37%), according to an Ipsos MORI poll for the Evening Standard.
11.06am GMT
Here are 10 of the key findings in the Social Mobility Commission’s report. The text has all been lifted from the commission’s news release, but I’ve selected and numbered 10 of the bullet points from the much longer list in the release.
1 - People born in the 1980s are the first post-war cohort not to start their working years with higher incomes than their immediate predecessors.
10.55am GMT
The Social Mobility Commission’s annual state of the nation report has just come out and its conclusions are withering. Social mobility is getting worse, it says.
Here is an extract from its news release.
Britain has a deep social mobility problem which is getting worse for an entire generation of young people, the Social Mobility Commission’s State of the Nation 2016 report warns today.
The impact is not just felt by the poorest in society but is also holding back whole tranches of middle, as well as low income, families - these treadmill families are running harder and harder, but are standing still.
The rungs on the social mobility ladder are growing further apart. It is becoming harder for this generation of struggling families to move up.
The social divisions we face in Britain today impact many more people and places than the very poorest in society or the few thousands youngsters who miss out on a top university. Whole sections of society and whole tracts of Britain feel left behind.
10.40am GMT
At the Brexit committee hearing Sir Simon Fraser said that it was “inevitable” that a post-Brexit deal with the EU would be a “mixed” agreement, meaning part of it would be concluded with the EU and part with member states. This is from my colleague Patrick Wintour.
"Inevitable" post-Brexit deal will be mixed agreement, so national & regional approval needed, ex-FCO PSec Simon Fraser to Brexit sel com.
10.32am GMT
Another senior EU politician has criticised the UK’s stance on Brexit. In an interview with Bloomberg, Carlo Calenda, the Italian economic development minister, said the UK government’s stance was chaotic. He told Bloomberg:
Somebody needs to tell us something, and it needs to be something that makes sense. You can’t say that it’s sensible to say we want access to the single market but no free circulation of people. It’s obvious that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever ...
There’s lots of chaos and we don’t understand what the position is. It’s all becoming an internal UK debate, which is not OK.
[Johnson] basically said, ‘I don’t want free movement of people but I want the single market. I said, ‘no way.’ He said, ‘you’ll sell less prosecco.’ I said, ‘OK, you’ll sell less fish and chips, but I’ll sell less prosecco to one country and you’ll sell less to 27 countries.’ Putting things on this level is a bit insulting.
10.05am GMT
Barnard says trade deals are not just about tariffs. They are only the tip of the iceberg. Other issues, like standards, are key.
And there is an issue with services, says Barnard.
10.03am GMT
At the Brexit committee Michael Gove, the former justice secretary and lead Vote Leave campaigner, is asking the questions now.
He says there is a tendency for civil servants to think any problem requires more civil servants. But let’s apply Occam’s razor, he says. What do we need to do for a quickie divorce?
9.50am GMT
Unemployment has fallen to a 10-year low, the Press Association reports.
Unemployment has fallen to a 10-year low, but there are signs that the jobs market might be “cooling”, official figures showed.
The jobless total was cut by 37,000 in the quarter to September to 1.6m, the lowest since 2006, giving an unemployment rate of 4.8%.
9.36am GMT
The Brexit committee has started. Sir Simon Fraser, the former permanent secretary at the Foreign Office (or permanent under-secretary, to give him is former title, although most people leave the “under” out) is giving evidence, alongside Dr Hannah White from the Institute for Government and Prof Catherine Barnard from Cambridge University.
Fraser, who left the Foreign Office last summer, told the MPs that he did not think the government yet had a “central plan” for Brexit.
My understanding is that it is indeed proving to be a very considerable challenge in Whitehall to do this [drawing up a Brexit plan], that the government has not yet reached the point where - it is still in information-gathering mode and is not yet at the point of integrating that into a central plan. And that, I assume, will have to happen before the triggering of article 50 next year.
And I agree that this is a huge burden, a huge additional load, for the civil service. This is an extraordinary complex range of activity across a wide range of domestic and international policies and it will definitely impose a great burden on the civil service.
9.16am GMT
During the EU referendum campaign Michael Gove, the leading Vote Leave campaigner, scored a good hit during a Sky News “debate” when he said that the EU was led by five presidents and that hardly anyone knew who they all are. He had a point. Most politically-aware people know that Jean-Claude Juncker is president of the European commission, and Donald Tusk is president of the European council, but the presidents of the European parliament (Martin Shulz) and the European Central Bank (Mario Draghi) are harder to name. And the one that flummoxed even the editor of the FT is the president of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
Britons may not know much about Dijsselbloem, but he knows quite a lot about us and he was on Newsnight last night criticising the government’s stance on Brexit. In particular, he attacked Boris Johnson, the foreign secretary, saying he was offering a vision of life outside the European Union that is “intellectually impossible” and “politically unavailable”.
I think he is offering to the British people options that are really not available. To say ‘we could be inside the internal market, keep full access to the internal market, but be outside the customs union’ - this is just impossible, it doesn’t exist.
The opposite does exist. We have a customs union with Turkey but Turkey is not part of the internal market. So he is saying things that are intellectually impossible, politically unavailable, so I think he is not offering the fair approach that gives the British people a fair view of what is ahead.
In the best case - if we set aside all emotions and try to work out an agreement which is least damaging to the both of us - we can minimise the damages for the UK economy and for the European economy.
Britain and British companies and international companies in the UK have full access to the European markets without any hindrance or customs duties, etc. So some of that will disappear.
Wednesday's Telegraph front page:
Merkel signals key concession on Brexit#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/MF9a5xaVdc
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