07/09/2016 Daily Politics

Morning, folks, welcome to the Daily Politics.

PMQS is back but will it be back with a bang?

Teresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn across the Despatch Box

We're all talking Brexit strategy - or the lack of it.

But does that really interest the Labour leader?

Downing Street's keen-eyed photographers capture government

But is everyone in the cabinet behind the idea?

Labour MPs back plans allowing them to elect members

A pragmatic way of making the party work together

or an attempt to "hobble" Jeremy Corbyn's leadership?

And if your holiday reading was more Nick Hornby than Nick Clegg,

then we have just the thing to get you back in the mood.

Yes, political book season is upon us!

Did you read these books? Every single one. I'm glad, there will be

a test later. All that in the next 90

minutes of public sector And with us for the duration,

two politicians who declined to appear on Strictly Come Dancing,

the Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire Chief Secretary to the Treasury,

David Gauke, and Shadow Justice This afternoon the Chairman

of the Bank of England Mark Carney appears before the Treasury Select

Committee, where he'll be quizzed over that cut in interest

rates last month. Some are questioning

whether the governor was too hasty And whether he was to negative about

Brexit during the referendum. And yesterday, four big banking

beasts, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley, all abandoned

predictions of a post EU So, did you over egged the pudding

in the referendum, David Gauke? It is too early to tell, but there are

encouraging signs and there is always attempt Asian after a

referendum for both people to pick out things which confirmed their own

prejudices -- there is always an attempt after a referendum. But

speaking from the Remain camp, the last surveys of various businesses

are looking encouraging. When you say vote leave and the economy

suffers, you can't say you weren't warned? If there is a downturn, but

it was right for those of us who believed in a Remain vote that we

made clear what the risks were. But you didn't say a scum use said vote

leaves and the economy suffers -- but you didn't say if, you said vote

leave and the economy suffers. The risks are still to be played out,

but as a Remain voter, there are encouraging signs but I don't think

we can be complacent. These are early days, but we can have a look

at the figures. The major banks are basically admitting they were wrong,

in predicting an immediate recession, and the Chancellor also

predicted a recession, the former Chancellor, your former boss will

stop the implement rate is at its highest rate and consumer spending

is up -- the employment rate is at its highest rate. Even industrial

production, manufacturing fell in August, as predicted, but industrial

production was up overall in July. Where is the bit that you got right

about this? In terms of being a Treasury minister and hearing the

positive state of the economy is something which encourages me and we

all want the UK economy to succeed. The only point I would make, we

can't be complacent and there are still challenges because of

uncertainty as to exactly what the future relationship will be and

because we will need to adjust to the new circumstances. Did the

Remain campaign... And he is quite right, there's a long way to go, and

more figures to come out in the months ahead, but did they overdo,

from what we know so far, the gloom and doom? To be reasonable, we can

say both sides operated a kind of politics of fear and there were

things said which were all about frightening voters, on both sides of

the debate. What is worrying is a lack of a plan from the

Conservatives, they must have entertained the possibility... You

mean to get out, and we are going to come onto that. But are you

surprised that the British economy is reasonably robust? I say

reasonably. Overall industrial production was up, and German

industrial production is not at a 20 month low. Overall it is not bad. --

is now at a 20 month low. When I hear what Australia and Japan says

about trade deals, that is what concerns me. I'm just talking about

the figures at the moment. Were you enthusiastic about Remain? I was

definite about it. I have long-standing reviews about the

weaknesses within the European Union. -- long-standing views. But

when it comes to the choice of stay or leave, I believed we should stay

and I strongly held that view. If George Osborne has stayed as

Chancellor, on the figures we have so far, there would be no need for

his threatened punishment budget? Two points about the short-term and

long-term, and... I asked the question, he threatened a punishment

budget, if we voted to leave, but we can agree there is no case for that

kind of budget? George Osborne made it clear when he was Chancellor,

after the referendum, that he was not going to come forward with a

punishment budget. He made it clear he wasn't going to do that... He

would wait to see. Because he was wrong. You said he would wait to see

the economic impact. I don't want to fight the referendum campaign again.

No! LAUGHTER We are relieved about that. There

might be long-term consequences for the UK economy. Contrary to the

claims that there will be extra money knocking around, there might

be less and we will have to take action to deal with that. But the

economy has proven to be pretty strong and that is encouraging or

stop no recession? Growth has been downgraded, but we will wait to see

what we have in the Autumn Statement.

Now yesterday afternoon, Labour MPs and peers voted in favour

of reinstating elections to the Shadow Cabinet,

taking away the power to appoint from the leader,

So, if approved, would it be a pragmatic way of making

a seemingly divided party work together.

Did you back the proposal? I voted for the leader to retain the right

to appoint the Shadow Cabinet. Why? I think this is a distraction but

I'm relaxed either way and the party will decide shortly whether the

Shadow Cabinet is appointed in the same way or elected in some way. Is

this not going to go ahead, even though MPs have actually decided to

back that proposal? The National executive committee has got to look

at it. And you think they might not pass it? I don't know, but I'm

relaxed either way. However the Shadow Cabinet is put in place, the

key thing is for all Labour MPs, whoever is elected, is to get the

hind the elected leader, Owen Smith or Jeremy Corbyn, and take the fight

to the Conservatives. All the polls indicate Jeremy Corbyn is going to

win the leadership. It will not solve the problem that 172 MPs, your

colleagues, don't have confidence in Jeremy Corbyn as leader. The fact

they might elect themselves into the shower -- Shadow Cabinet when change

that. He appointed as Shadow Cabinet which reflected a wide spectrum of

people from across the political party. That is not my question.

Let's assume Jeremy Corbyn is the leader and we have 172 MPs who say

they have no confidence in him, they are elected to the Shadow Cabinet.

My first question to one of those MPs would be, do you have faith in

Jeremy Corbyn and they will say no. Some people have reconsidered the

hasty things they said in the aftermath of the referendum result,

but what I will say, if Owen Smith is elected leader of the Labour

Party I would serve him loyally and if Andy Burnham, for example,

had been elected from the last leadership election, I would have

supported him. Whoever wins, there is a responsibility from the

Parliamentary Labour Party to take the fight to the Conservatives and

to do the job we are elected to do. Sometimes in democracy we don't get

the job we want. You are expecting your colleagues, who said they'd

wouldn't have any confidence in Jeremy Corbyn, you are expecting

them to lie and say they have faith in him? -- who said they didn't have

any confidence in Jeremy Corbyn. If Jeremy Corbyn is elected as the

leader, I think they will focus on the job in hand, which is to say

that we want a Labour government with Jeremy Corbyn as leader and we

will work night and day for that. If they don't, what will happen to

them? I hope they will, and I think if Jeremy Corbyn is elected again as

leader, what proportion of the Labour Parliamentary party rolls up

their sleeves and gets on with the task at hand. Have you met enough of

your colleagues? Tristram Hunt, Emma Reynolds, Rachel Reeves, for

example, if they were elected to the Shadow Cabinet, with they serve

under Jeremy Corbyn? -- would they. There are people who are prepared to

serve if they are elected again and that includes people who are not

holding Shadow ministerial jobs at the moment. But they might not be

the one selected by their peers. We have got to see how the decision is

taken about how the Shadow Cabinet is put in place. The decision about

how it is put in place is rather inward, a distraction in a way. You

have got to serve as a Parliamentary opposition and a leader needs the

support of the MPs, though. If they are going to elect each other into

the Shadow Cabinet, it would be difficult for Jeremy Corbyn to be

able to command the Shadow Cabinet in a way which takes the fight to

the Tories? You must be worried about lap. Who is ever elected

leader, they would have a big mandate, 640,000 people have the

chance to vote in this election, that is a big responsibility. If

Owen Smith is elected, I will respect the mandate. I would

encourage my colleagues to do the right thing and do the same in the

event of Jeremy Corbyn being elected. You think this proposal has

been an attempt to hobble Jeremy Corbyn? There are issues, the lack

of a plan from the government in terms of the situation when Britain

leaves the EU. But the problem will be there is not a Parliamentary

party that is one. I would urge my colleagues to look outwards, there

is the caricature that it is those who are characterised on the left of

the party who are inward looking but I think we need to be outward

looking, and we should not be letting down the people who elected

us. They did not elect us to spend our time constitutional wrangling,

with Parliamentary plots, we are elected to hold the Conservative

government to account, and whoever is elected Labour leader will have a

huge mandate and should be supported. If they don't represent

the leader and the majority of the members, do you think they should be

deselected? The talk of deselection and other things is a distraction.

It has been talked about. Someone a few days ago was talking about how

to deselect your local MP. That is an inward looking distraction, and

I'm urging people to look outwards and take the fight to the

Conservatives and stop fighting amongst ourselves. Labour MPs have

more in common with each other than that which divides them ideological

way. It would be good if you could point to some of those examples.

We've got 20 of time exclaim macro -- we've got plenty of time!

So it's the start of a new term, we've got Theresa May's second PMQs

coming up shortly, where no doubt she'll face some tough questions

about her priorities for the coming months,

though leadership challenger Owen Smith doesn't think so.

He's sent Mr Corbyn his own list of questions to ask.

Anyway, what is clogging up the Prime Minister's in-tray,

and what can we expect her to focus on?

Top of the agenda is, of course, Brexit, with the all

important question being - when will Theresa May trigger

Article 50 and start formal exit negotiations with the EU?

She's got a trio of Brexit ministers on the case,

but the Prime Minister is keeping tight lipped

about what our future relationship with the EU might look like.

With Downing Street rebuking the Brexit Minister David Davis

for saying on Monday that it is "very improbable"

that the UK will remain a member of the single market, a spokesman

Other big decisions looming are whether to give the go-ahead to

and to a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Theresa May will personally chair a cabinet committee,

tasked with making the final decision on airport expansion.

We haven't been waiting long, of course!

The economy will take centre stage for Philip Hammond's

first Autumn Statement, when we'll get the first

official economic forecasts since the referendum.

And find out how the new Chancellor plans to 'reset'

As if that wasn't enough to be getting on with,

documents photographed being carried into Downing Street reveal a Cabinet

split over plans to create new grammar schools.

Theresa May is thought to be in favour, but Education Secretary

Justine Greening wants new grammars to be "presented as an option",

and "only pursued" once they have explored how to "avoid

disadvantaging those who don't get in".

Thank you. David Gauke, do you support the creation of new grammar

schools? There is a lot of press speculation at the moment about any

future announcement that may be made on education policy. In terms of,

I'm not going to comment on the specific, some of these specific

proposals. I know that, I am asking you a simple question, do you

support the creation of new grammar schools? What is important is we

have an education system that gives more people the opportunity to have

excellent education. Lets take that for granted. With the creation of

new grammar schools be part of that process? I think that's where we

start to get into details of announcements, and looking at, if

you like, a package of announcements. Should the creation

of new grammar schools be part of a package for education? The point I

would make is our objective is to ensure we can find ways in which

more people get a good education. Every politician... The question is

how do you do it? I will try one more time. Do you think that in

efforts to improve social mobility and help kids, brighter kids from

poor backgrounds, with the creation of new grammar schools be part of

that process? As I say, and you can ask the question again, we have to

look at the overall context of the announcements that could be made,

the reforms that could be made. The objective, we have been very clear

about that, is about increasing those opportunities. OK, the viewers

will come to their own conclusions with your answers to that question.

Europe and Brexit. David Davis made a comment to the Commons this week

about Brexit plans, what did he tell us we didn't know already? I think

it was a helpful update to Parliament, setting out some of the

thinking going into this. I think in terms of... Of the content, it

really was just helpful to outline to Parliament some of the engagement

going on, some of the things we are looking at. We are not rushing into

this. I think we have worked that out! What was new? It is now over

two months since the vote on the 23rd of June, well over two months,

coming up to three. What has he been able to tell us we didn't know

already? Well, I can understand from your perspective, always looking for

a news story. Two and a half months. We would like a clear idea of the

path ahead. What did he tell us that gave us a clear idea? I think he set

out information about the new government department that has been

set up to lead and coordinate this. What did he tell us about it? In

terms of practical points on the work they are doing, the staff they

have taken on and so on. He talked about being gay judgment with other

countries. This is one of the most complicated. -- he talked about the

engagement with other countries. We know all of that. It is ten weeks

since we voted to leave. Surely the Government... We are not asking for

the detailed blueprint, but surely the Government, after ten weeks

could give us a slightly clear indication of what that route is

ahead. So far you've been able to tell me nothing about this route

that we didn't know already this comes back to the wide appointment

of the plan Richard has touched on a couple of times. We will be engaging

in an important negotiation with the EU 27 member states. It is an

negotiation where we are seeking a unique deal for the United Kingdom.

It's not about taking an off-the-shelf particular route. We

are setting out we want to achieve that unique deal, we are negotiating

with other member states. I was doing better on grammar schools even

though I was getting nowhere there either! You don't think there is a

road map and it is clear from them what the minister said many might

agree, but do you think... When do you believe Article 50 should be

triggered? First of all I don't think that Labour or any party

should engage in any wrangling which makes it look like they are trying

to wriggle out of the decision the British people took. I said earlier

democracy does not always yield the result we want. Unlike Owen Smith,

you don't think, whenever we do finally do this deal to leave and

see exactly what the blueprint is, you don't think measure be a

referendum on that as Mr Smith has called for? My belief is a second

referendum would run the risk of making the British people feel the

self appointed elite is asking the same question again, to get the

answer they want. When do you think Article 50 should be triggered? We

do need a clear plan but I would like to make this point. I'd like

you to answer the question. I'd like to make this point. Wendy think

Article 50 should be triggered? I was disappointed the other day David

Davis didn't give a more comprehensive answer. They must have

entertained the possibility, at least when they called the

referendum, the British people might decide to vote to Leave. They were

telling department not to plan for it. I think we have established we

didn't learn very much that was new from David Davis, that is clear.

What I am trying to get from you is an idea of Labour's policy. When do

you think Article 50 should be triggered? The end of this year, the

beginning of next year, when? I think we need to discuss this in

great detail before any decisions are taken. Should Parliament have a

vote on it? On? Triggering Article 50? The onus is on the Government,

who got us into this situation, Australia are saying they won't

enter into a trade deal with Britain and we have left the EU. Japan...

They said they would be happy to begin a scoping exercise. I didn't

ask you about Australia. First I asked when Article 50 should be

triggered? The answer they came was nothing. Then should Parliament

focused on the Government says it doesn't need a vote of parliament to

trigger Article 50, what is your view? My view is the onus is on the

Government to set a path forward. OK. Early days! It is.

Now, we might have a new Prime Minister,

And I'm not talking about what you've just been watching!

Yesterday a senior civil servant accidentally leaked government

policy on grammar schools through the time-honoured method

of flashing a secret memo to photographers outside Number 10.

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I don't know. It's coming up to midday here -

just take a look at Big Ben - Not seen that for a while. There it

is. It is humid. Prime Minister's

Questions is on its way. And that's not all -

fresh from her trip to the G20 in China with Theresa May,

Laura Kuenssberg is here. Or Theresa May was with her! I'm

talking of Laura. Good to have you back. It is nice to be here. After

PMQs, the state Prime Minister will give a statement on the G20's. She

came under pressure about Brexit and what her plans are. What did you

take away from this? I think you had a really interesting thing happen in

the last 48 hours. Whether it is on one side of the world or here at

home, Theresa May is facing the same questions, what on earth is this

going to mean? And what does this phrase Brexit mean? That has gone

round the world. Even the White House press corps asked the Prime

Minister what Brexit means. There has been this decision by the

Government, whether it is because they don't know or they want to keep

it a secret, that they are just not going to be the kind of operation

where they are going to set up their goals publicly before they are sure

that they can get somewhere on them. It occurs to me there is a really

striking difference between Theresa May and her first month son David

Cameron. He was sort of decision first, headline first, details

later. She is the polar opposite. I think

in the statement she will give after Prime Minister's Questions, we will

get a strong message from her, you are just going to have to wait and

see. Of course, that comes with huge political risk. We saw that

yesterday when David Davis said it is not likely we will stay in the

single market. That created a huge backlash from number ten. When there

is a blank page, people filling the space for you. We will speak more

about Brexit after PMQs and whatever else is raised. At the G20's, was

there a sense of optimism or a sense of concern about the overall course

of the global economy? I think there was a thank goodness it isn't as bad

as we thought it might have been a couple of months ago. Before the

summer, bigger concerns about how bad things would be in China, how

shaky was the world? Were we looking at a significant slowdown or were we

looking at a change in tempo? There was a bit vague, we might have

missed something quite bad, but we still have concerns. Brexit was one

of the concerns lots of countries were talking about, the Japanese,

the Italians. President Obama making no secret at all... It wasn't good.

He basically said, I think you voted the long way. Maybe there is a bit

of, well you didn't listen to me, did you? But he's off in a couple of

months. He and there will be a new Congress and a new president. There

must be concern about a new Congress and President among the G20. There

is uncertainty on the global scene, not just with Brexit? Yes. What

happens in the US and how it unfolds must have been in the backs of

everyone's mind. That was one of the themes at the T20, talking about how

to guard against protection, which is something coming up the rails in

many questions around the world. -- at the G20. And in France and

Germany. Yes. And the Labour Party in Britain. It was one of the things

Theresa May was trying to use to mould this new USP for Britain as

being the global leader in free trade, and trying to push back at

the populism happening in other countries. But nothing like that new

brand coming out of Britain is going to have much impact until the much

bigger questions about what happens about leaving the EU are answered.

We never thought Mrs May cared very much on you very much about foreign

affairs. She was Home Secretary for six years. Do you think she enjoyed

this global stage? I think... In actual fact, these things are 36

hours gone, there was a difference in how she was at the end and the

very beginning. When she walked onto the stage with President Obama she

looked nervous, a little bit unsettled. They just had an hour

meeting, that we know was not an easy meeting at all. I have closing

press conference she looked ten times more relaxed and ten times

more at ease. Who wouldn't be nervous, turning up to see 19 of the

world's most powerful people? I'm not sure if she's going to be the

kind of person who will really enjoy these kind of grand occasions. You

can see how leaders handle themselves when the cameras are

there. Everyone rushes up to go and stand next to the American

president, give him a high five and stand next to the most important

person in the May didn't do that. That is not her style. She was

trying to find allies and friends. We saw her and Angela Merkel went

together at one point. Her and Christina Lang guard. Fascinating.

Laura, we can go straight to the Commons on the first Prime

Minister's Questions of the new season.

I would like to congratulate the British Olympic team on a great

medical -- medal haul, finishing second, in front of China. CHEERING

I know everyone would wish to give the very best wishes to our

Paralympic athletes and wish them the best of success. This morning I

had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, and I will

have further such meetings later today. May I add my warm wishes to

those, all Paralympians and those from Bristol in particular, they

will do us Brown. The whole house will be delighted that this house

houses a disproportionate number of the worlds finest university -- that

this country. However, some are being shutout in anticipation of

Brexit, this is so important for scientific, medical, engineering and

other research, and for our economic prosperity. Can the Prime Minister

please tell us what her strategy is? Can I first of all say come out very

good it is to see her in this house. We agree of the importance of

valuable adversities and the work they do and the research and

collaboration they have -- of the value of our universities. We have

given certain guarantees to universities in relation to funding

decisions which have been taken by the European Union and we are

standing by them because we recognise the value they bring to

the country. Neil Parish. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I welcome the statement

from the Chancellor on support payments for farmers after 2020, to

give confidence to farming and the countryside, but with trade deals

now being done, bridges farmers produce some of the best welfare and

friendly food in the world and we need to make sure they are not both

farming... We need to make sure the food industry is protected through

trade deals in the future and I seek reassurance from the Prime Minister.

-- British farmers. You are right, the announcement I referred to just

now, to answer the first question the Chancellor gave, gave guarantees

to the farming industry about the support available to them after 2020

but we need to recognise the very significant role that the food and

farming industry plays in the United Kingdom and we will be looking to

work with the sector. The Environment Secretary will be doing

that to see how we can develop those industries looking into the future.

And looking at the trade deals we will be doing and how they will play

their part. Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you. Can I join the Prime Minister

in congratulating the entirety of the Olympic team for their fantastic

achievements at the Olympics in Rio and wish the Paralympic team all the

best and can she tell us, did this set the visit off to China in a good

way or was there a bit of tension? If bragging rights were allowed. The

average house price in Britain is now ?215,000 and over eight times

the average wage. The average price of a first-time buyers home has

risen by 12% in the past year. Isn't the dream of home ownership for many

people just that? A dreamer? First of all, in response to the first

point, I actually... The Chinese president congratulated me on the

success of the United Kingdom in the Olympic Games. He raises the issues

of housing which he has raised on a number of occasions with my

predecessor and also with me before we broke for the summer recess. Of

course it is important for us to look at helping people get their

first... Their step on the first rung of the housing ladder or stop

that is why I'm pleased that house-building has been up under a

Conservative government compared to Labour, but we are not complacent

and we will be doing more. We will have more houses being built under

this Conservative government and also providing support for people to

make sure they have the financial support which helps them to own

their own home. House-building under this government is 45,000 a year

less than it was under the last Labour government. And for those who

are desperate to get their own place, I referred the Prime Minister

to an note I received from a lady called Jenny, her partner and

herself work in a supermarket, they are trying to get a mortgage and

they have been told they can borrow ?73,000. Not much hope for them,

then. The former Prime Minister promised there would be a wonderful

one replacement for every council house that is sold under right to

buy -- there would be a one for one. Sadly there is only one for every

five that are sold. Will the prime to give us a commitment on the one

for one replacement and when will it be a reality? Can I say to Jenny

that I fully understand and appreciate the concerns that

individuals have about wanting to be able to have their own home and to

set up that home and I recognise the difficulties that they are after

some people in doing that. I have to say, in relation to the figures on

council houses, he is wrong, we have delivered on the one for one

replacement on leave to buy. I'm very interested. I noticed that the

right honourable gentleman had asked his Twitter followers what questions

he should ask me this week and I thought I would love to see what

responses he would receive, and I thought the first one was quite good

-- I would look. He might want to stay sitting down. Lewis writes,

does she know that in a recent Paltan who would make a better Prime

Minister, -- does she know that in a recent poll on who would make a

better Prime Minister, don't know rated higher than Jeremy Corbyn. We

do know that we're not going to let Labour anywhere near power again.

The number of first-time buyers has halved in the last 20 years and the

average age has increased a great deal. There is a housing crisis in

Britain. 10 million people now live in the private rented sector and

many are forced to claim housing benefit to cover costs of rents.

Devastating figures released over the summer show that ?9.3 billion of

public money is paid through housing benefit directly into the pockets of

private landlords. Does the Prime Minister think this ?9.3 billion

into the private rental market is really money well spent? I have to

say, he talks about the importance of people being able to buy their

own homes and then challenge is one of the measures which helps people

to get into their own homes through housing benefit, support in the

private rented sector, so it might be that he has an ideological

objection to the private rented sector, but what this government is

doing is making sure that what we are doing is looking across the

board so we will see more houses being built. We are looking to make

sure there is a diversity of opportunity for people in terms of

getting their own home, but I have to say, everything he says tells us

all we need to know about modern Labour, the train has left the

station, the seats are empty, the leader is on the floor, and even on

rolling stock they are a laughing stock. CHEERING

Mr Speaker... Mr Speaker... Her predecessor... Mr Speaker, her

predecessor in discussing this issue said the simple point is that every

penny you spend on housing subsidy is money you can't spend on building

houses. And if landlords rent outhouses in a very bad state, such

as heavy damp wet walls, no working toilet, they need to be getting

fined. The government has got to regulate, that is what choice wrote

to me, and the citizens advice bureau says one sixth of housing

benefit goes to private sector landlords renting out on safe homes,

is this really a satisfactory state of affairs gridlock -- on safe. What

I would say, if he thinks housing benefit is actually such a bad

thing, why was it that when we change the rules on housing benefit

the Labour Party opposed those changes that we took? He talks about

bad landlords, we have changed the rules on selective licensing and we

are making changes and we have given councils free reign to impose

burdens of the Chrissy on landlords -- burdens of bureaucracy on

landlords, we think that will lead to problems in the market with high

costs on tenants and landlords. We are looking at all of these issues.

I recognise as every MP does the problems that people have when they

are living in accommodation that is not up to the standard that we would

wish to see people living in. That is why we are looking and changing

the rules and we are making sure that the regulations are there. That

is extremely interesting. Only a year ago the Prime Minister voted

against a Labour amendment to the housing bill which simply said all

homes for rent in the private rented sector should be fit for human

habitation. Just over a year ago the Treasury estimated that it is losing

half ?1 billion per year on unpaid tax on landlords renting in the

private rented sector. ?9.5 billion in housing benefit, half a billion

not being collected and a large number of homes not really fit for

human habitation. Does this require government intervention on the side

of the tenant and those in housing need? The right honourable gentleman

asks for the government to intervene, and the government has

the housing and panning act introduced further tough measures --

planning act. Banning orders for serious offenders and repayment

orders, we have provided money so local authorities can conduct more

inspections of properties, people's homes, we have seen more people and

more properties being inspected, we now have thousands of landlords

facing further action. Far from not taking action in this area, the

government has. But I say to the right John -- honourable gentleman,

he might have a vision of society where he doesn't want private

landlords and he would like the government deliberating on

everything about that is not what we want. We want opportunities for

people -- but that is not what we want. They're big difference between

him and me is that we want people to take opportunities. We want to make

sure that those living in the private rented sector are properly

treated and not having to pay excessive levels of rent. Womens Aid

has said that two thirds of women refugees are going to close because

of the benefit cap when it comes into force and that 87% of women and

children who are in those refuges will suffer as a result and most of

those refuges require an income level which comes mainly from

housing benefit, 90% from vat. Does the Prime Minister recognised that

these are very vulnerable women in those refuges and the closure of

them would be devastating for them and very dangerous for the most

vulnerable people within our society? Will should take action to

make sure the cat doesn't apply to Womens Aid refuges? -- the cap.

The right honourable gentleman raises a very important issue. On

the issue of domestic violence we should come across this house, do

all we can to stop these crimes taking place and provide support to

the victims and survivors of these crimes. We are working on exempting

refuges from the cap. I would also remind him of the very good record

that we have on domestic violence. It was a Conservative government

that introduced the new offence of coercive control, that put into

practice those laws, that putting ?80 million to support domestic

violence victims in the period up to 2020. We are listening to these

problems and we are responding to them and we all take this very

seriously indeed. But I say to the right honourable gentleman, it is 50

days since he and I last met across this dispatch box. It would be nice

to see you, he said. It is nice to see him sitting in his place.

LAUGHTER And I have to say, if we just look

at the contrast is what -- of what has been done over the summer, the

Conservative government has been working tirelessly to support

everyone. Yanuyanutawa ?250 million of loans

to small businesses, introduced the racial disparity audit, looking at

public services and how they treat people and setting the groundwork

for new trade deals around the world.

What we have seen, what a contrast. What a contrast with the party

opposite, divided amongst themselves, and I'm capable of

uniting our country. What we do know is there is only one party that is

going to provide a country, a government, and economy, a society

that works for everyone, and that's the Conservative Party! CHEERING

. Last week the children Society published a report that showed 10%

of children feel their lives have little meaning or purpose. I know

the Prime Minister understands the importance of tackling mental

health, because she raised in her Downing Street speech. What further

action does she propose to increase mental health support in our

schools? My honourable friend raises a very

important point. I think there has been a collective concern about the

issue of the way in which mental health is dealt with. That is why we

put a record ?1.4 billion into transforming the dedicated mental

health support available to young people across the country. That

includes ?150 million for services to support children and young people

with eating disorders. There are other things, we are publishing a

blueprint for school counselling services. The role schools play is

very important in this. I know that my right honourable friend the

Education Secretary will be looking very closely at the report to see

what more we can do. May I join with the Prime Minister and leader of the

Labour Party in praising all Olympians. This is the first day of

the Paralympics, an inspiration to us all. Mr Speaker, there is very

real concern and worry about the prospect of Brexit, especially in

Scotland, where the of people voted Remain in the EU. The UK Government

has had all summer to come up with a plan, to come up with a strategy. So

far we've just had waffle. Can I ask the Prime Minister a very simple

question, she want the UK to remain fully in the single market?

What I want the UK is we put in place, into practice the vote taken

by UK people to leave the European Union. That we get the right deal

for the trade in goods and services with the European Union, a new

relationship we will be building with them and we also introduce

control of the movement of people from the European Union into the

United Kingdom. I say we can approach the vote that took place on

the 23rd of June in two ways. We can try and go back neck, have a second

referendum, say we didn't really believe it. Actually, we are

respecting the views of the people. -- we can go back on it. But more

than that, we will be seizing the opportunities that leaving the

European Union now gives us, to forge a new role for the United

Kingdom in the wild. We on these benches respect the

views of the people of Scotland who voted to Remain. The European single

market... One mast be heard, and he will be heard. Mr Angus Robertson.

The European single market is the biggest market in the world and it

really matters to our businesses and it really matters to our economy. I

asked the Prime Minister a very, very simple question. It's either in

or out answer. Let me ask again, does she want the United Kingdom to

remain fully part of the European single market? Yes or no?

The right honourable gentleman doesn't quite seem to understand...

What the vote on the 23rd of June was about. The United Kingdom will

leave the European Union and we will build a new relationship with the

European Union. That new relationship will include control of

the movement of people from the EU into the UK and it will include the

right deal for trade in goods and services. That is how to approach

it. I also say this to the right honourable gentleman, in looking at

negotiations it would not be right for me or this government to give a

running commentary on negotiations. Or... Order, order. Just as the

right honourable gentleman must've been heard, the Prime Minister's

answer be heard. It would not be right for us to

prejudge those negotiations. We will be ensuring we achieve opportunities

for growth and prosperity across the UK, including growth and prosperity

in Scotland. As we saw from figures released this summer, what gives

growth and prosperity in Scotland is being a member of the United

Kingdom. Thank you Mr Speaker. Last week

hundreds of local residents and businesses attended my faster

broadband fair. Many of those with the very slowest speeds a ?500 about

voucher to fund an alternative broadband connection capable of

delivering at least 10 megabits per second. Will the Prime Minister join

me in congratulating Somerset County Council on this excellent scheme and

confirm the Government remains committed of delivering a service of

10 megabits a second by 2020? I am happy to give my assurance and join

with him in paying tribute to his council and the work they are doing,

and all those involved in that innovative scheme. High-speed

broadband is an important part of 21st-century infrastructure. We will

be doing everything we can to ensure it is there and available for

people, because that will enable us to have jobs and prosperity in this

country. Penman engineering established in

1859 was forced into administration in my constituency this week. I

can't name the debtor, it is an impossible decision. They have to

continue to trade with this debtor as well as pursuing the debt. Will

the Prime Minister put me in touch with the Business Secretary to

discuss support that can be given on how we can ensure these companies,

who receive enormous amounts of public money, don't hold our supply

chain to ransom and pay bills on time?

First of all, I said the honourable gentleman that of course our

thoughts are with all those families who are affected by what has to

Penman engineering. The administrator has a role in ensuring

any sale of the business protects the maximum number of jobs and my

right honourable friend the Scottish Secretary has made clear that that

is his priority. I hope the Scottish Government will offer their support

of this long-standing business. Our thoughts are with all those who have

been affected and the administrator will be looking to ensure the best

possible options are found for the company.

In adding my congratulations to the Prime Minister, can I say following

the EU referendum and under her leadership, I feel more confident

about the future of this country than ever in my lifetime.

And we'll surely beware of those who are trying to make leaving the

European Union ever more complicated and protracted, and to that end.

Order, order. Progress is very slow. There is too much noise.

The honourable gentleman will be heard. Will she confirm there is no

basis in law to require the Government to seek the permission of

parliament before invoking Article 50?

Prime Minister I thank my honourable friend for his comments.

He is absolutely right. The Government's position is very clear.

This is a prerogative power. It is a power that can be exercised by the

Government. As he alludes to in his question I don't think anyone should

be in any doubt that those people who are trying to prolong the

process by their legal references in relation to Parliament are not those

who want to see us successfully leaving the European Union, they are

those who want to stop us leaving the European Union. The Prime

Minister seems less keen than her predecessor on the northern

powerhouse, but she also says post Brexit Britain is open for business.

Where better in 2025 than the great city of Manchester to host the world

Expo, where the atom was split and where graphene was invented, to

showcase the best of Britain's world. Will she back our bid?

I say to the honourable gentleman I'm interested to hear the lobby he

is making for Manchester. And can I say how pleased I am Manchester will

be hosting the parade for are Olympic athletes.

In this process Brexit world, will the Prime Minister agree with me

that Nato is more important cornerstone than ever, particularly

article five that lays down an attack on one is an attack on all.

Any politician who will not sign up to that commitment or even worse,

who tells Nato they should give up, go home and go away, is recklessly

risking the defence of all? I absolutely agree on all the points

my right honourable friend made. We must never forget the importance of

Nato, is the cornerstone of our defence and security and that

strength is based on the fact that all of those partners within Nato

have committed to article five and operating under the basis of article

five. Anybody who says, rejects that, is rejecting that security on

that defence, they'd be undermining our national security and the

National security of our allies. What we know from the Labour Party

is far from delivering stronger defence, they would cut defence

spending, undermine Nato and they've scrapped the nuclear deterrent.

Prime Minister, I have just had a debate in Westminster Hall on the

police ombudsman's report into the Northern Ireland massacre, in which

six men were shot dead by the UVF in a period of direct rule in my

constituency. I have a letter from my predecessor in which he

acknowledged this unspeakable evil and said the Government accepts the

police ombudsman's report and any allegations of police misconduct are

taken very seriously. Will the Prime Minister detail what action she will

take to ensure prosecutions are pursued, an apology is forthcoming

from the Government and compensation is provided for lost lives?

I say to the honourable lady she is absolutely right. What happened was

a terrible, terrible evil. I am sure that everybody across the House will

want to join me in expressing our sympathies to all of those who were

affected by the appalling atrocity. As she has said, and as my right

honourable friend for Whitney said, the Government accepts the

ombudsman's report. It is important that where there are allegations of

police misconduct they are taken seriously, and properly looked into,

if there has been wrong doing it must be pursued. Obviously it is a

matter for the PSM eye, although I would remind the Chief Constable has

been very clear he wants to be sure he is determined where there is

wrongdoing people will be brought to justice. A long-running review into

hospital services in Bedford and Milton Keynes was an abject failure.

By publishing recommendations for significant changes to services and

refusing to answer any questions. Can the Prime Minister assure me

their sustainability and transformation plans for

Bedfordshire and elsewhere, to be released by NHS England will be

subject to proper local accountability and for local

decision authority? I say to my honourable friend it is

it is absolutely the point of these plans, that they should be locally

driven, that they will be considered locally, they should be taking into

account the concerns and interests locally, not just by commissioning

groups but Local Authorities and the public. These must be planned that

are driven from the locality. I give my honourable friend that assurance.

Nearly 2 million people signed up to vote in the European Union

referendum earlier this year. It surely right that constituency

should be based on the actual electorate that want to vote. Is the

Prime Minister concerned the review going ahead next week without

including those 2 million voters? I'd say to the honourable gentleman

all parties across this house supported the proposal that the

commission would follow this timetable, bring forward these

proposals and by 2018 those commission proposals would be put in

place. All parties supported that and I continue to support that. Does

the Prime Minister share my anger that on the weekend of the 23rd of

July, up to 250,000 people on the road to Dover were stuck in gridlock

in the sweltering heat for up to 17 hours without food, water or even

able to go to the toilet and will she support my campaign to make sure

we get better infrastructure to the Channel ports, starting with a lorry

car park and getting some proper motorways to Dover? I say to my

honourable friend he has been a passionate advocate for the support

for his local area, given some of the pressures that Dover finds

itself under as a cross Channel port. It is an important issue. We

are committed to providing support. The money for the lorry park was

announced last November. The site was announced in July and I believe

consultation is taking place on the design for that particular site. On

the issue of the possible dualling of the A2-macro, we do want to

support local infrastructure to handle the growth in traffic,

particularly given their right expansion plans for the port. I

assure him Dover will be considered as part of that plan.

As many children return to school this week I am sure the Prime

Minister will join me in wishing them all the very best of the school

year ahead. Will she also provide reassurance to my constituents and

to children across London that the objectives of changes to the

school's funding formula will be achieved by levelling up, not

levelling down on funding for schools in London will not be cut by

up to 20%? I join the honourable lady in

wishing all those going to school, many for the first time, well in

their education. I hope what we will be aiming to do is ensuring every

child has the education right for them and the opportunities that are

right for them. It is right that we look at the National funding

formula. That will be done carefully to see what the impacts will be

across the country. Our world leading universities are one of our

country's great assets. When I next meet with the Vice Chancellor of

York University, to discuss Brexit and higher education, what

assurances can I pass to him from my right honourable friend the Prime

Minister that our universities will continue to receive the vital

funding they need to thrive beyond 2020?

I say to my honourable friend again he raises an important point about

the relevance and significance of our universities. My right

honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer was able to give

confidence and reassurance to universities in the summer about the

funding arrangements that will continue while we are still members

of the European Union and while we are members of the European Union we

will maintain our full rights of obligation and obligations of

membership and expect others to deal with us on that same basis. Looking

ahead we have a higher education Bill going through this house, which

is about how we can ensure we are seeing the places, the university

places available in this country, to provide the education we want to

provide. We have a great record on higher education in this country, we

want to build on that and develop it for the future. I would like to put

to the Prime Minister a request I know she will think is reasonable.

My local hospital, Saint Helena Hospital, which delivers, which is a

high performing hospital and delivers excellent care, built in

the 1930s and is in need of very substantial investment, will she

agree to earmark the first two weeks of the ?350 million is going to be

available each week post Brexit to spend on the reconstruction of my

hospital? I have to say to the honourable

gentleman his question tempts me to go down a number of routes and

answering him. What I would say is I recognise the importance of his

local hospital trust. I'm pleased to say that over the last six years

we've seen more doctors and nurses in that trust able to provide more

services and more facilities and since 2010 the capital spend on the

trust has already gone up. ?72.7 million. We will be looking to

ensure we provide the health service that is right for everyone in this

country. At the moment there rather AET

vulnerable elderly patients in Kettering General Hospital awaiting

delayed transfer to social care. The national guideline says there should

be 25. In the next few weeks the number is likely to rise to 200, the

highest in the country, with a similar number in Northampton

General Hospital, because of proposals by Northamptonshire County

Council to extend it from three days to four weeks. In order to prevent

this crisis, will the Prime Minister organise a joint meeting of

government and ministers, the local NHS and Council to bang heads to

prevent this crisis happening? What I will say to my honourable friend

is ensure the health Department is aware of the request he has put

forward. Everybody I think in this house is well aware of the challenge

we have in relation to the interaction of social care with

hospitals. This is an issue we have already looked at. We've put money

into the better care fund. We've been looking at the better working

together of health services and social care and social services and

Local Authorities. It is one of the challenges we see. There are some

areas where this has been done very well and I think it's right we look

at those and try to spend, spread that good practice. I will make sure

the health Department is aware of that concern.

Nine months after signing the Paris climate agreement the Government

still hasn't ratified the treaty. According to the committee on

climate change it lacks half the policies it needs to reach its

climate targets. With the delayed carbon induction plan and the risk

of missing our energy targets, or will the Prime Minister take this

opportunity to reassure people it remains committed to climate action

and follow the example of 26 states that have ratified, will it give us

a firm date for ratification before the follow-up negotiations in

November. What I'm happy to give the honourable lady is the assurance we

will be ratifying the Paris agreement. My right honourable

friend, the current Home Secretary, then as energy secretary, played a

key role in ensuring that Paris agreement was actually achieved. I

would also hope the honourable lady will want to congratulate the

Government. We've been identified as being the second best country in the

world for tackling climate change. I would have hoped she would have

congratulated us on that. Today is the day designed to bring

attention to the muscle wasting disease. Will the Prime Minister

join me in welcoming the recent announcement that a drug is now

going to be available to these young boys in NHS England and will she

congratulate my constituent Archie hill, Mustard dystrophy UK and all

the colleagues in this house. -- muscular dystrophy. I am very happy

to join my right honourable friend in congratulating all of those

involved in making sure this innovative drug available. I thank

her for weight raising awareness of an important issue. I know the right

honourable member for Whitney as Prime Minister met Archie, the young

man with muscular dystrophy and was inspired by him. I am sure all

members across this house will welcome the fact that this

innovative drug is now available on the NHS. We are committed to making

sure that patients with rare conditions get access to the latest

medicines and are taking some bold steps to speed up the process. Will

the Prime Minister join me, and I'm sure the rest of the House, in

sending our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the family

and friends of Roseanne Cooper and her ten-year-old nephew, who were

mown down by a stolen car last week in Penge. And send best wishes to

the three young girls also involved. Whilst enquiries by the police and

the Independent Police Complaints Commission are undertaken on the

matter is now before the courts, I will say no more about this specific

case, other than to ask the Prime Minister, if she is aware of the

widespread public concern that the law on causing death by dangerous

driving is wholly inadequate, and will she undertake a review, both of

its suitability and its applicability as the courts enact

it? Can I first of all join the

honourable member in expressing our sympathies to all those who were

involved in this terrible accident that took place, this terrible

tragedy, when this stolen car mowed down two people and affected others

as well. I'm aware of the concern that there is about the law in

relation to dangerous driving. I've had a particular case about the

daughter of someone in my constituency, who was killed as a

result of dangerous driving and they have raised concerns with me

specifically about their case. This is a matter I believe the Justice

Department is looking at. Order. I thought Jeremy Corbyn might well

go on the continued sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, after the war

continues in Yemen and the abuse of human rights, but that was not to be

the case. Jeremy Corbyn went on housing, using all six questions on

house prices and house-building, housing benefit, very important

subject, but not one right on the agenda. Since foreign affairs did

not feature as it really does in Prime Minister's Questions, we have

big news out of Texas. The Dallas morning News has endorsed Hillary

Clinton for president in November. That is big news because the Dallas

morning News has not endorsed a Democrat since 1945. 1944, to be

exact. We will see what our panel thought of PMQs in a moment. Martin

Jamieson said from Stockport said, housing, housing, I know it is

important, but Brexit, G20, the future of the nation, Jeremy, anyone

in? This one says it is good to see Jeremy Corbyn is in June with the

needs of vulnerable people and their housing predicament stashed tune. It

is good that he sticks to real issues. Martin Bristow says he

doesn't know how Jeremy Corbyn is going to get any traction and he

seems to be suggesting social housing is the answer to the housing

crisis, but he is not speaking to a big enough constituency to win a

general election. Another one says I see the prime in a star has already

resorted to ridicule of her opposite number -- the Prime Minister has

already resorted. Another one says, Theresa May says people voted for

some control, but we wanted control, what does she mean by it some

control? That is it. Any reason for going for housing? We are hardly

likely to see big headlines about what Jeremy Corbyn raised in Primus

's questions even though housing is a big issue and it has always been

one of his favourite subjects -- raised in Prime Minister's

Questions. But given that Parliament is just back in Theresa May is back

from China and there are questions about leaving the European Union,

picking housing is not going to land Jeremy Corbyn with a huge boost in

terms of the political cycle, it's just not. He ignored the advice of

Owen Smith. Funny, that. He wanted him to ask questions about Europe

and Brexit. Maybe he avoided that because, if Theresa May was a

reluctant remain campaigner, so was Jeremy Corbyn, times two. That is

right. There might be another opportunity for Jeremy Corbyn to ask

questions about Brexit next time, but maybe he won't. Angus Robertson

was the person asking the questions about the trade-off between the run

it and the freedom of movement. -- between the single market. Which she

couldn't quite answer. It was interesting, Angus Robertson asking

the biggest question of the day. Rather than Jeremy Corbyn. He

ploughed his own furrow. But in terms of getting traction, he didn't

get far. He chose to go with housing with all six questions and you would

assume he would do all his homework on housing. Why did he allow the

Prime Minister to save the Conservatives were building more

homes than Labour? -- to say. Jeremy Corbyn was correct to focus on one

topic and it keeps the pressure on Theresa May, the Conservatives have

failed on housing, but what I thought was so good about the

questions, it linked what happens in Parliament what happens in people's

constituencies. MPs with their weekend surgeries, I know housing is

usually the biggest issue that comes up. I understand that. But if you

have done your homework and if the Prime Minister says something which

is believed not to be true, why would the Leader of the Opposition

not come straight back? Why does he simply move on to the next question?

Why does he not replied to the replies he gets? Why doesn't he

think on his feet? I think he does, but he doesn't want to get involved

in the kind of tit-for-tat political theatrics which goes on. Theresa May

really delivered very well pre-scripted joke about trains but

doesn't interest people. Yes, that is the work of a scriptwriter, but

I'm talking about house-building. Do you believe the government is

building more homes than the last Labour government? No, I don't,

there is a crisis can we have reached a situation where getting a

council house or a mortgage is a pipe dream for so many people. What

would you do about it? We need house-building programme of council

houses and truly affordable homes. How would you do that? We need to

get the economy moving by investing and we need to put as a priority

truly affordable homes. The way they are defined at the moment is the 80%

of the market value and that is not affordable for most people watching

this programme. It is untrue to say, David Gauke, that the government is

building more homes than the last Labour government? They are building

more council homes. That is not what she said. In terms of

house-building, following the crash there was a significant fall but

we're now seeing a recovery terms of more planning permission being

granted and more homes starts as I understand it. But there is more

work to be done, as I acknowledge. You are not building more homes in

the last Labour government. I have got the figures. Sticking with

completions. Early 2000, 140,000 houses a year, not enough, no one is

saying the last Labour government's policy regarding housing was great.

It then came down after the crash. Under the Conservatives it has

stayed flat, only by 2014 did it start to rise and only now after you

have been in power for six years, 140,000, you are still 20,000 below

per year where it was under the last Labour government. These are your

official government figures, so it is not true to say you are building

more homes than the last Labour government. It is true to say that

we are building more homes than the level we inherited when we came to

office. You inherited a crash. Yes, there is more for us to do, that is

why we had one of the biggest housing packages in the last Autumn

Statement. In terms of our ambition on things like right to buy... In

the last 12 months you have only started 140,000 more homes and you

are still way below the start rate of 180,000 before the crash. Eight

years since the crash and you are still way behind even the starting

of new building than you were compared to the Labour government in

2008. Not a great record. In terms of planning permission being

granted. It is not showing up in the starts. I'm quite happy to

acknowledge that there is more that we need to do. There was a big

announcement with the Autumn Statement last year in terms of a

number of things and that will not come through immediately. When will

it come through? We would hope to see that over the next few years,

but that depends upon the state of the economy. As Theresa May was very

clear, we are not complacent, there is a need to do more. We have made

reforms to the planning system which was the biggest problem we have.

Just today we are publishing a planning Bill which will make

further house-building easier. There is progress which we are making. Let

me come back to this issue regarding the Brexit timetable. You have

briefings with G20 and you are mixing with government ministers. Do

we have any clear idea of what will happen between now and the New Year?

Article 50 will not be triggered this side of the New Year, I

understand. Can it go beyond the first quarter? It is very difficult

to imagine that it will be a case that we are sitting here at Easter

and nothing has happened, because the political pressure will make it

on tenable and I think by the time you get to party conference that the

Prime Minister will give more detail about what she plans to do. -- on

tenable. Although Jeremy Corbyn did not go on this, there was question

after question from various MPs about universities, Angus Robertson

talking about the single market and immigration, so she will have to

reveal her hand. She was a time and again that is not what they want to

do, but ambition and political reality often smashed up against

each other, she has three ministers who are not exactly wallflowers who

are in charge of this will stop or best friends. The idea that they can

all keep their powder dry for five months seems for the birds. Someone

said they will have to invent a new whipping system for those three

ministers to make sure they behave. There is a serious point. You can't

deal with a vacuum in politics for very long time. OK, we will leave it

there. The other 27 members of the European Union will be meeting next

week to discuss their own negotiating positions. Formerly we

will not be in the room, but informally it is a different picture

-- formally. And elections next year in France and Germany. Thanks for

joining us. So Party Conference season

is round the corner, Yes, it is the time that politicians

like to release their memoirs. So which will be the best sellers

of the season? The Guardian's John Crace

has been having a read. First up we have

Nick Clegg's Politics. This is the story of basically how

Nick Clegg thinks the Lib Dems were Let's hope that their seven

remaining MPs buy the book. Next we have Malcolm Rifkind's

Power And Pragmatism. This one is very much

for the political nerd only. He also omits his most recent claim

to fame, which is being caught in a sting

over cash for access. Now we come to Chris Mullin which

is my own particular favourite. He is also one of the few

politicians who is able And finally we come

to Ed Balls's Speaking Out. The underlying subtext

of the book is that Ed Balls But the two biggest stars

of the political season The first is Margaret Hodge,

who was chair of the Public She was famous for holding the rich

and powerful to account. So let's hope that the lawyers

and his editors haven't got to him. And let's hope our next guest is

equally indiscreet. And Andrew Gimson, who's latest book

The Adventures of Boris Johnson, Welcome to the Daily Politics. Your

book is an updated version of Boris, the adventures of Iris Johnson.

Three tremendous surprises that basically no one predicted. The

referendum result, then Boris in pole position, knocked out by the

very person he had been campaigning with the six months and then people

thought he might scrape back into the Cabinet if he was lucky and

Boris as Foreign Secretary. The most exciting political summer in living

memory. What was your take on it, because it was incredible? My take

is Boris has benefited. Boris and Theresa May needed each other. Which

ever one won, the other one had to be in there at the top, because

otherwise the Tory party would be permanently split into these two

factions. There was an interest between them that did not emerge,

but they were in touch the weekend after the referendum and Boris...

Michael Gove made the decision from Boris, you can't win. Boris had the

guts to retreat, as though he was scorned. We did the prudent thing,

didn't fight to the death. He didn't. How many books do think you

will sell of this tumultuous summer? I would think well into double

figures! Ten? LAUGHTER Customer I could buy one it 11. More

than Malcolm Rifkind's memoirs. People want Boris to sign it and say

it's rubbish. The attraction of writing a political book in this

instance was obvious, a bit like the opening days of the coalition. But

generally, what is the attraction of writing a political book that is not

really going to get red? Vanity, that's why people buy books. Is that

it? No but mostly. My wife informed me on a number of occasions I was on

the cusp of becoming an old and forgot and unless I thought I'd

start writing books. May be that is for me! The BBC is fortunately still

a well funded organisation. That is not the only reason. Is it all about

serialisation? It's not. The author is quite annoying in a way. Isn't

that what really promotes it? What's in the book is much more than what

can be serialised. Serialisation, although it is nice if you get paid

money for Anya pleased by the attention, if you care about the

book it's sort of a distraction. Which book looking at this little

selection are you going to read? From this handsome choice of

books... Ed Balls' autobiography? It is here. I will have a read of that

one. Very loyal. And you? The same. Having been in the opposite Treasury

team for many years I would be very interested to read what Ed Balls has

to say. A lighter celebrity memoir, it might be quite good! Ken Clarke

will be wonderful, I think. Thank you for coming in.

There's just time to put you out of your misery and give

David press that big red buzzer there and pick the winner.

Mark Lynch from Huddersfield. Well done, you have won the mug.

The one o'clock news is starting over on BBC One now.

Joe will be on her own tomorrow. And with Ed Balls. He has a book to

plug, that's why he's coming on. Goodbye.