0:00:38 > 0:00:41Morning, folks, welcome to the Daily Politics.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45I'm not a quitter, declares Theresa May 35,000 feet
0:00:45 > 0:00:47in the air en route to China.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50She says the government just needs to make more of its achievements.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Will that really satisfy her myriad Tory critics
0:00:53 > 0:00:56despairing of her leadership?
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Just 14 months until Britain leaves the EU.
0:00:59 > 0:01:06Maybe under 12 months if a deal is to be done.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07-- nine months.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10So is there any hope either Labour or Tory parties will let us know
0:01:10 > 0:01:13soon what the UK's future relationship with the EU should be?
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Labour's leader in the London Borough of Haringey stands down
0:01:16 > 0:01:18accusing her critics of "sexism, bullying and undemocratic
0:01:18 > 0:01:22behaviour".
0:01:22 > 0:01:28Did allies of Jeremy Corbyn force her out?
0:01:28 > 0:01:29And it's Prime Minister's Questions, without the Prime Minister.
0:01:29 > 0:01:37We'll bring you Lidington versus Thornberry live at midday.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47All that in the next 90 minutes of public service broadcasting
0:01:47 > 0:01:52at its very finest and it may be the B team in the Commons today,
0:01:52 > 0:01:57but it's the A team here in the Daily Politics studio.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00OK, A minus, or B plus!
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Foreign Office Minister Mark Field and Shadow Brexit
0:02:02 > 0:02:10Minister, Jenny Chapman.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13I'm glad you're not in China!
0:02:13 > 0:02:15So Theresa May's on her much anticipated trip to China
0:02:15 > 0:02:17with a 50-strong trade delegation in tow including BP
0:02:17 > 0:02:20and Jaguar Land Rover, as well as small firms
0:02:20 > 0:02:21and universities including Manchester and Liverpool.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23She's holding talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25they will talk about trade and investment, but the PM
0:02:25 > 0:02:32says she will also raise the issue of human rights.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36I'm sure the Chinese will look forward to that!
0:02:36 > 0:02:38Mrs May told reporters travelling with her to China that
0:02:38 > 0:02:41"I'm not a quitter."
0:02:41 > 0:02:43but that the Conservatives "need to ensure that we do speak
0:02:43 > 0:02:46about the achievements that we've seen".
0:02:46 > 0:02:51Here's what she had to say at a press conference earlier today.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56Yes, we do need to do more, and we do need to ensure
0:02:56 > 0:03:01that we are talking about what we have already achieved
0:03:01 > 0:03:03to those young people who worry about whether they'll
0:03:03 > 0:03:05get their own home, to those parents who are concerned
0:03:05 > 0:03:08about the education their children will be getting, to people
0:03:08 > 0:03:11who are worried about the jobs for the future for their children,
0:03:11 > 0:03:13and that's what we will be doing and I'm committed
0:03:13 > 0:03:17to delivering on that.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Let's talk to our political editor, Laura Kuenssberg who is in Beijing.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Exactly what achievements should you be talking about, Mark Fielding?We
0:03:28 > 0:03:31have got the lowest unemployed for 40 years, the highest number of
0:03:31 > 0:03:39people ever in employment, despite all of the clear uncertainty in the
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Brexit negotiations, we have now got a real growth, better growth than
0:03:44 > 0:03:48anticipated in the economy.But lower than might have been expected.
0:03:48 > 0:03:54I don't think that's the case at all...Lover growth than almost
0:03:54 > 0:03:57anyone in the G-7.We were heading into a massive recession, that was
0:03:57 > 0:04:08what we were told in advance. It was the government, --.It was the
0:04:08 > 0:04:12government, the Treasury who said that.And independent body. But we
0:04:12 > 0:04:18are paying down the deficit more quickly than we thought.So why
0:04:18 > 0:04:23aren't you talking more about it?I wish we were. There I say it, the
0:04:23 > 0:04:27one and only question that your correspondent asked Theresa May in
0:04:27 > 0:04:31Beijing was to do with the tittle tattle and triviality of British
0:04:31 > 0:04:35parliament, rather than the strong relationship of China, why she is
0:04:35 > 0:04:38there and bringing not just professional and financial services
0:04:38 > 0:04:44but people from education, it renders the important business in
0:04:44 > 0:04:49the future, we have 150,000 Chinese students in the UK. This is the good
0:04:49 > 0:04:53news story globally and in the UK. When she entered Downing Street, on
0:04:53 > 0:04:58the steps, she talked about tackling the burning injustices in Britain.
0:04:58 > 0:05:04What burning injustice have you extend grid? -- extinguished?What
0:05:04 > 0:05:09she says, the sense of that vision... What have you done? It is
0:05:09 > 0:05:15difficult without having a majority to drive legislation. She also said
0:05:15 > 0:05:19this was an issue for not just a short-term parliament, these are
0:05:19 > 0:05:23issues that we have to face for decades ahead. In relation to what
0:05:23 > 0:05:28we are trying to do to make work pay, all the controversy about
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Universal Credit, making work pay is an important part.In what way has
0:05:32 > 0:05:38the Commons stopped you crowds back from extinction burning injustice?
0:05:38 > 0:05:41This is a long-term programme, the notion that this would happen in a
0:05:41 > 0:05:46matter of months...So nothing has happened yet?A lot is going on
0:05:46 > 0:05:51behind the scenes, I speak to a lot of my colleagues in ministries and
0:05:51 > 0:05:54they have exciting plans and I hope we will be able to bring other
0:05:54 > 0:05:59political parties with us to get legislation through.You talk about
0:05:59 > 0:06:03the press concentrating on what you described article title, this is a
0:06:03 > 0:06:11serious question of the leadership of your party, by your party, an
0:06:11 > 0:06:15ex-Tory minister says policy making with the speed of a tortoise. Tory
0:06:15 > 0:06:19grandees Nicholas Soames, this government is dull, dull, dull.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Another Cabinet minister says, we are run by vision this mediocrity.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29That is your own site.Andrew, you will remember in the dim and distant
0:06:29 > 0:06:33past that I had my differences with the leadership, so I can understand
0:06:33 > 0:06:36colleagues being frustrated if they are known part of the team. Need to
0:06:36 > 0:06:42look beyond -- if they are no longer part of the team. We need to look
0:06:42 > 0:06:45beyond the tittle tattle of politics. We have a difficult
0:06:45 > 0:06:49process to get through Brexit which needs to happen, and the resilience
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and sense of duty which Theresa May shows, my constituents writes to me
0:06:53 > 0:07:00and they do not say, we want a leadership election, they admire her
0:07:00 > 0:07:04resilience and sense of duty.Let's come onto the labour problems with
0:07:04 > 0:07:10the leader leadership. Claire Kober is the leader of the Haringey
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Council, she is going to resign, local elections in May. She had
0:07:13 > 0:07:19talked about being the victim from within the own party of sexism,
0:07:19 > 0:07:25bullying, undemocratic behaviour and outright personal attacks. Why is
0:07:25 > 0:07:28there sexism, bullying, undemocratic behaviour and outright personal
0:07:28 > 0:07:34attacks into a's Labour Party?First of all I want to say that I'm very
0:07:34 > 0:07:39sad to see Claire Kober go in the way that she has. And her statement
0:07:39 > 0:07:44and the things that she said since submitting her resignation letter
0:07:44 > 0:07:48are very, very serious.These are serious allegations. So does there
0:07:48 > 0:07:53need to be a formal party investigation?I believe there does,
0:07:53 > 0:07:56there ought to be an investigation and we ought to get to the bottom of
0:07:56 > 0:08:02this and that is quite apart from the controversy around the housing
0:08:02 > 0:08:06project about which I know insufficiently to comment about. I
0:08:06 > 0:08:09think on the issue of her resignation and the circumstances
0:08:09 > 0:08:14around it, if there has been the behaviour that she alleges,...She
0:08:14 > 0:08:21wouldn't make it up, but she? She is the most prominent Labour woman, I
0:08:21 > 0:08:25think in the current climate, the fact that she is a woman subject to
0:08:25 > 0:08:31all this makes it more, poignant because we have a number of women in
0:08:31 > 0:08:35other fields being subjected to this from Hollywood to other areas of
0:08:35 > 0:08:41public life. She's the most dominant Labour woman in local government and
0:08:41 > 0:08:46she's effectively being handed out by people in her own party.So it
0:08:46 > 0:08:49needs to be investigated. I don't know what the nature of the bullying
0:08:49 > 0:08:55or any harassment may have been, if you can draw a parallel in things
0:08:55 > 0:08:59that have happened in other areas of work, I believe there ought to be
0:08:59 > 0:09:04robust physical debate and challenge in the Labour Party.No one is
0:09:04 > 0:09:09arguing with that.There is a dissension between that and what she
0:09:09 > 0:09:15is alleging.There should be a quick investigation. Who should do it?
0:09:15 > 0:09:23Which part of the Labour Party?The NEC.But the NEC is in the hands of
0:09:23 > 0:09:29people she has been on the wrong end of.They are responsible for making
0:09:29 > 0:09:32sure that this kind of behaviour does not take part anywhere in the
0:09:32 > 0:09:39party.Would you think that the NEC could do a proper investigation in
0:09:39 > 0:09:43this position? 21 Labour councillors have either been deselected or are
0:09:43 > 0:09:49standing down in May when the next elections take place. And they have
0:09:49 > 0:09:55been replaced, essentially, by Momentum coup, seemingly with the
0:09:55 > 0:10:01backing of the NEC.There is a big difference between challenge,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04deselection, the proper democratic processes of the Labour Party being
0:10:04 > 0:10:08used to alter a choice of candidate which happens, that is not and an
0:10:08 > 0:10:14usual thing to take place, maybe an usual to this extent. But I maybe it
0:10:14 > 0:10:19is unusual to this extent. There is a difference between that and what
0:10:19 > 0:10:23she has alleged.Do you think Claire Kober would be satisfied with an
0:10:23 > 0:10:26investigation led by today's NEC? That's for her to say. If it's not
0:10:26 > 0:10:34to be the NEC, it would you say should do it?She has criticised for
0:10:34 > 0:10:39this process, the NEC, for this process going on. The NEC had
0:10:39 > 0:10:44intervened in what her council has been doing, she has criticised that.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Surely it's hardly an impartial body to investigate what has been
0:10:47 > 0:10:51happening there in terms of sexism, bullying and personal attacks.
0:10:51 > 0:10:57Whatever the make-up of the NEC, those people serving the party in
0:10:57 > 0:11:02that capacity needs to step up and take responsibility and conduct a
0:11:02 > 0:11:05thorough, impartial investigation. If they cannot do that, the rest of
0:11:05 > 0:11:08the Labour Party will see that in a very dim light, no matter which side
0:11:08 > 0:11:12of the odd that they place themselves on.Final question, --
0:11:12 > 0:11:16which side of the argument that they place themselves on. Has any of the
0:11:16 > 0:11:20Labour Shadow Cabinet criticised this behaviour?Andrew Gwynne is
0:11:20 > 0:11:26going into try and mediate.He hasn't criticised the behaviour.I
0:11:26 > 0:11:30don't think that having anybody of prominence, casting their opinion
0:11:30 > 0:11:35about this at this stage, is especially helpful. I hope that
0:11:35 > 0:11:39Claire, and I think she is and I am sure she is, is getting support from
0:11:39 > 0:11:42colleagues in local government and I think the right thing for prominent
0:11:42 > 0:11:47people in the Labour Party to do now is to say yes, there needs to be an
0:11:47 > 0:11:50investigation to support that, make sure it's done thoroughly.I think
0:11:50 > 0:11:53she has been very fair, it's worth pointing out that this whole thing
0:11:53 > 0:11:57began essentially because the Labour council wanted to work with a
0:11:57 > 0:12:04private body to get 6000 more homes very urgently required for local
0:12:04 > 0:12:10people. Eventually ideology for Momentum has trumped the interest of
0:12:10 > 0:12:13local people.I think you are overstocking...Whether that is true
0:12:13 > 0:12:22or not.That is not the issue. Nothing justifies her issue. We all
0:12:22 > 0:12:26have robust debate but we do not go down this road. We have to move on.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Now, Labour are going to force a binding vote in the Commons today,
0:12:30 > 0:12:32calling on the government to publish the assessments of the economic
0:12:32 > 0:12:34impact of Brexit that were leaked yesterday.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36The vote would force the government to release the papers
0:12:36 > 0:12:38to the Brexit Select Committee.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40And the leak has prompted more soul-searching about Brexit on both
0:12:40 > 0:12:45sides of the House - here's Elizabeth Glinka to explain.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49Civil servants have been beavering away, and the leaked analysis
0:12:49 > 0:12:52suggests that under three different models of a future relationship,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56the UK's GDP in 15 years' time would be between two and 8% lower
0:12:56 > 0:13:00than if Brexit never happened.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05But Brexit Minister Steve Baker said the assessments didn't consider
0:13:05 > 0:13:09the implications of the bespoke deal the government wants with the EU.
0:13:09 > 0:13:14And he said that regardless, government forecasts were "always
0:13:14 > 0:13:18wrong, and wrong for good reasons".
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Labour has led calls for publication but the criticism
0:13:20 > 0:13:23was echoed by some Tories, including Justice
0:13:23 > 0:13:24Minister Phillip Lee.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27Who said "we can't just dismiss this and move on",
0:13:27 > 0:13:30adding that if the figures were anywhere near right,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32there'd be a "serious question" to be asked about the government's
0:13:32 > 0:13:35current Brexit policy.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38While former Brexit Minister Lord Bridges criticised the government
0:13:38 > 0:13:42for having no answers to "basic, critical questions".
0:13:42 > 0:13:45And saying he feared all we will get by October
0:13:45 > 0:13:49when both sides want a draft deal to be done is more
0:13:49 > 0:13:50"meaningless waffle".
0:13:50 > 0:13:54But it's not only Theresa May who is getting it from her own side.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57The Labour leadership has also been castigated in recent days
0:13:57 > 0:14:00for alleged fence-sitting on Brexit.
0:14:00 > 0:14:06With MPs from the Labour Campaign for the Single Market arguing
0:14:06 > 0:14:09that the party had so far "failed to reach a common and
0:14:09 > 0:14:10coherent position".
0:14:10 > 0:14:18Andrew, back to you.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Mark Field, these forecasts that were leaked, do we take them
0:14:22 > 0:14:27seriously?They are draft forecasts and they only had forecast
0:14:27 > 0:14:30fibrillation to an off-the-shelf model as opposed to the bespoke
0:14:30 > 0:14:35model...There were three different models.They are all off-the-shelf
0:14:35 > 0:14:40options that we have got him play. Given the range, from two to 8%
0:14:40 > 0:14:46drop, imagine six points the other way, that makes growth of four
0:14:46 > 0:14:51point.So we shouldn't take them seriously?It's not about that...
0:14:51 > 0:14:57With the point if we don't take -- what is the point if we don't take
0:14:57 > 0:15:00them seriously?I get a lot of opinions coming my way because I am
0:15:00 > 0:15:05a minister, some of them will be draft forecasts and you use your own
0:15:05 > 0:15:08judgment. Of course you take seriously everything that comes
0:15:08 > 0:15:11through.So should they be published when they are finalised draft so
0:15:11 > 0:15:15that we can use our judgment quite like we have a debate in the house
0:15:15 > 0:15:25today and we of course will.And we of course will...Will government
0:15:25 > 0:15:32oppose this?We are going to abstain, we will be in the debate
0:15:32 > 0:15:36but it will get through. It will be published and the big caveat is that
0:15:36 > 0:15:41these are draft they do not take account of the desired outcome, the
0:15:41 > 0:15:45bespoke deal.Will you publish the draft or publish when the draft is
0:15:45 > 0:15:50finished?It makes sense to try and get as much of the draft published
0:15:50 > 0:15:59as early avoid as possible. The difficulty with this...It's MS?It
0:15:59 > 0:16:06will look a mess because it will not look as
0:16:06 > 0:16:08look as though it's a government document that official.But we don't
0:16:08 > 0:16:12know what the government is trying to achieve. That's part of the
0:16:12 > 0:16:16problem. George Bridges, former Brexit minister, he said, there is
0:16:16 > 0:16:20no bridge to a clear destination, just a gangplank into thin air. And
0:16:20 > 0:16:26that your own sign.I'm sorry he feels that way because I think the
0:16:26 > 0:16:31Florence speech made it clear that we are a large country within the
0:16:31 > 0:16:34EU, the notion therefore of having a deal that is the same as Norway over
0:16:34 > 0:16:39the operation of 5 million, that recover the population of 5 million
0:16:39 > 0:16:45or Switzerland, or Iceland, is a nonstarter. We want a specific book
0:16:45 > 0:16:53deal.So what should that consist of? -- bespoke deal.There are whole
0:16:53 > 0:16:57range of services, financial services, close to my own heart, the
0:16:57 > 0:17:02importance of London as a whole sold...So what does the government
0:17:02 > 0:17:05want in financial services, what should we want as a country?Of his
0:17:05 > 0:17:12open to negotiation.I know that. But in any negotiation you make your
0:17:12 > 0:17:18demand, you put your position so what is it?I will not announce it
0:17:18 > 0:17:24on this programme because it is a fluid situation. We speak to people
0:17:24 > 0:17:26in the city and they are used to the idea of having almighty sessions
0:17:26 > 0:17:31before a deal gets done. We will have debate and discussion on this
0:17:31 > 0:17:35matter right through until March 20 19. I don't think we should be
0:17:35 > 0:17:44fearful of that. That is the way which negotiations are done.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48The on Soomin Lee important areas, you cannot tell us what the
0:17:48 > 0:17:55Government's end goal is. -- on so many important areas. Not
0:17:55 > 0:17:59necessarily the negotiations for what you're striving for.If you
0:17:59 > 0:18:03start telling everyone what the end goal was, you would give away
0:18:03 > 0:18:07your...You have to tell the other side or you can't negotiate itA
0:18:07 > 0:18:11huge amount of negotiation has gone on. If I were sitting moments ago,
0:18:11 > 0:18:15you would say it was all calamitous and everything was going to collapse
0:18:15 > 0:18:17and just before Christmas we submit got through stage one, there was a
0:18:17 > 0:18:22sense of making progress on the important areas that needed to get
0:18:22 > 0:18:26decided before stage two began. Labour's pushing this economic
0:18:26 > 0:18:34assessment to be published. Why do you put so much store on forecasts
0:18:34 > 0:18:39from people whose previous forecasts were so far out?We think of the
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Government has commissioned this work but it must be putting some
0:18:43 > 0:18:47store by. We expected to be of a reasonable quality, especially given
0:18:47 > 0:18:52that initially we were told it was in excruciating detail, then we were
0:18:52 > 0:18:56told it didn't exist, then something was published which was at best
0:18:56 > 0:19:00superficial. Now we find there is something, thanks to Buzzfeed, and
0:19:00 > 0:19:05we want to know what it is.That is the site that leaked it. Do you put
0:19:05 > 0:19:14much store... These are the people, the Treasury. They said that
0:19:14 > 0:19:18unemployment would rise - progress was their forecast- if we voted to
0:19:18 > 0:19:26leave, between 0.5 million and 820,000. That was the range. And it
0:19:26 > 0:19:31would be a quick rise. The 01 5 million would probably happen before
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Christmas of 2016 to adopt what actually happened?We want these
0:19:35 > 0:19:41papers...What actually happened?We all know what happened to.Just tell
0:19:41 > 0:19:48us for those who don't. An employment continued to fall.If you
0:19:48 > 0:19:51take that argument, you would never bother looking at any forecast or
0:19:51 > 0:19:55evidence. We want to be able to interrogate and challenge the
0:19:55 > 0:20:00forecasts and if we think the data used is incorrect or insufficient or
0:20:00 > 0:20:04been overinterpreted, we will be able to debate that but at the
0:20:04 > 0:20:09moment all we have is a partial leak and the Brexit ministers are saying,
0:20:09 > 0:20:13"Well, this is a partial league, doesn't really matter, isn't
0:20:13 > 0:20:18important," and in the very same breath are using...Let's come onto
0:20:18 > 0:20:24Labour's permit the whoa position. The Government has been criticised
0:20:24 > 0:20:28not being clear. You were asked on ITV about Labour's position and what
0:20:28 > 0:20:31once side user, "I do think people are capable of getting their heads
0:20:31 > 0:20:35around this. What we are saying is that we want the benefits of the
0:20:35 > 0:20:42single market but that we are uneasy about accepting all of the laughter.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45We want the benefits of the single market and our constituents and said
0:20:45 > 0:20:49very clearly in voting to leave that there are aspects of membership they
0:20:49 > 0:20:54are not content with, that's why it's a negotiation" it business you
0:20:54 > 0:20:58clarifying Labour's position. Would you like another go?No, I think
0:20:58 > 0:21:01that do the job very well. What we are saying is that we want the
0:21:01 > 0:21:04benefits of the single market and the is that we want the benefits of
0:21:04 > 0:21:07the single market and the customs union, but to ignore the fact that
0:21:07 > 0:21:09there was a clear message from many people about free movement of labour
0:21:09 > 0:21:13would be just to stick hands over our ears and pretend...Is it your
0:21:13 > 0:21:19position that we should stay as members of the single market?Well,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23without getting too legalistic about it, we are going to need a new
0:21:23 > 0:21:26treaty, so you can't just stay as members of the single market because
0:21:26 > 0:21:30we are members by virtue of our membership of the EU, which ends up
0:21:30 > 0:21:36the end of March next year, so we need a new treaty.Sure that new
0:21:36 > 0:21:40treaty include membership of the single market?Won't include
0:21:40 > 0:21:43membership of the single market because it will be a new treaty and
0:21:43 > 0:21:49we won't be members of the same way that we are now. How closely we dock
0:21:49 > 0:21:53the single market, for a better way of putting it, needs to be
0:21:53 > 0:21:55negotiated. There are some aspects of membership that I don't think the
0:21:55 > 0:22:00country is content with and that we would want to negotiate around.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Powers that different from the Government's position?Because the
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Government has taken membership of the single market and the customs
0:22:06 > 0:22:11union of the table and the Labour Party hasn't.So you might still be
0:22:11 > 0:22:15members of the single market?We have said we will accept a
0:22:15 > 0:22:19transitional period on the same terms have now it that is very
0:22:19 > 0:22:22different to what the Government same, although I will say it is very
0:22:22 > 0:22:28hard to square the circle of the end of the phase one negotiations and
0:22:28 > 0:22:31the very serious, solemn commitments that were made there, and the
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Florens speech, which says that we're not going to be part of these
0:22:35 > 0:22:39institutions. How can we have it both ways?I still don't have any
0:22:39 > 0:22:42idea whether Labour thinks we should stay members not after the
0:22:42 > 0:22:47transition period. On the transition period, will we stay members of the
0:22:47 > 0:22:51single market during the transition period?I don't noted that is
0:22:51 > 0:22:57something we are going to be debating.Government is about to
0:22:57 > 0:23:01begin negotiations. Don't you need to have your position determined?
0:23:01 > 0:23:06You're quite right, beginning negotiations, not ending.You can't
0:23:06 > 0:23:09begin negotiations if you don't know what you're going to us.I think it
0:23:09 > 0:23:12is clear that what will command the majority of the public is something
0:23:12 > 0:23:16that is compatible with the about to leave the EU and that means we
0:23:16 > 0:23:19cannot remain members of the single market or the customs...During the
0:23:19 > 0:23:27transition?Afterwards. Obviously, I think the public out there want to
0:23:27 > 0:23:31see as many of the benefits and advantages...You are both saying
0:23:31 > 0:23:36that but at least Labour has been, I think, still very unclear on the end
0:23:36 > 0:23:39stage but clearer than you are on the transition because you would
0:23:39 > 0:23:42stay in the single market for the transition as members and you do
0:23:42 > 0:23:46stay in the customs union. Will we stay in the customs union for the
0:23:46 > 0:23:53transition?I think there will have to be some issue around Ireland.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57After we joined the EEC in 1973 of the height of the troubles, Ireland
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and the UK came together and the interconnection between our two
0:23:59 > 0:24:04countries remains as strong as ever but then needs to be some, dare I
0:24:04 > 0:24:08say, fudged deal in relation to Ireland's.I'm very pleased to hear
0:24:08 > 0:24:11you say that.The Cabinet subcommittee that was meant to
0:24:11 > 0:24:14discuss this on Monday, the papers were withdrawn still we still don't
0:24:14 > 0:24:19know. One final thing. Will free movement as we currently have it
0:24:19 > 0:24:25continue for the transition period? I don't know. I suspect...You don't
0:24:25 > 0:24:33know? You are in the Foreign Office. It is part of a negotiation.I've
0:24:33 > 0:24:38done negotiations, I don't know if you have. So how it works is, one
0:24:38 > 0:24:42side says, "This is what we would like," and the other side says,
0:24:42 > 0:24:47"This is what we would like," and then you negotiate to try to bring
0:24:47 > 0:24:51the two sides together. But if you don't tell us, "This is what we
0:24:51 > 0:24:56would like," how do you negotiate? There was no settled position and it
0:24:56 > 0:25:02will be part parcel of the negotiations.A referendum was in
0:25:02 > 0:25:08June you triggered Article 50, up for a year ago, you've done phase
0:25:08 > 0:25:11one of the negotiations, based two is about to start and you still
0:25:11 > 0:25:17cannot tell us your position on some of the most fundamental issues?
0:25:17 > 0:25:20There was no settled position on the transition period, at which point
0:25:20 > 0:25:24free movement as we have it will then. It will end at some point
0:25:24 > 0:25:29between 2019 and the end of the transition period.We will have to
0:25:29 > 0:25:33end this conversation now. Probably a relief! 4-ball reporting and
0:25:33 > 0:25:37analysis Brexit, check out the BBC News website... -- for more
0:25:37 > 0:25:41reporting.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Now, you're having the builders in - but should you put up with the dust
0:25:45 > 0:25:48and rubble to keep and eye on them or move out and let
0:25:48 > 0:25:49them get on with it?
0:25:49 > 0:25:53Do you just move down the road or would a few years in the country
0:25:53 > 0:25:54widen your horizons?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56What about those elderly relatives in the House of Lords -
0:25:56 > 0:25:57should they stay put?
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Then there are all the interior finishes to decide on -
0:26:00 > 0:26:02should it be marble or granite in the bathrooms?
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Decisions, decisions.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Perhaps, when they vote on plans for the restoration
0:26:05 > 0:26:07and refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster this afternoon,
0:26:07 > 0:26:13MPs should just put the whole thing off until 2022, at least,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16and settle down to a nice cup of builder's tea in the classic,
0:26:16 > 0:26:23un-refurbished Daily Politics mug.
0:26:23 > 0:26:30All you need to do is tell us when this happened.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35MUSIC: Crazy In Love by Beyonce
0:26:35 > 0:26:39The quiet man is here to stay and he's turning up the volume.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:26:44 > 0:26:48MUSIC: Sound Of The Underground by Girls Aloud
0:26:48 > 0:26:50We've never, ever marched before.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53I've never been on a march before.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57# When the girls get down to the sound of the radio #.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00# I don't know what it is that makes me feel like this
0:27:00 > 0:27:02# I don't know who you are
0:27:02 > 0:27:07# But you must be some kind of superstar #.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10May the peace of God, our Father, be upon this House
0:27:10 > 0:27:14and upon this country.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17# Father, Father, Father, help us
0:27:17 > 0:27:19# Need some guidance from above
0:27:19 > 0:27:22# Cos people got me, got me questioning
0:27:22 > 0:27:25# Where is the love?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28# Where is the love?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30# Where is the love?
0:27:30 > 0:27:34# Where is the love #.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38# I think I'd better leave right now # Before I fall any deeper
0:27:38 > 0:27:41# I think I'd better leave right now
0:27:41 > 0:27:44# I'm feeling weaker and weaker
0:27:44 > 0:27:47# Somebody better show me out
0:27:47 > 0:27:50# Before I fall any deeper
0:27:50 > 0:27:57# I think I'd better leave right now
0:27:57 > 0:27:58# Yes, I will
0:27:58 > 0:28:01# I think I'd better leave right now #.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04To be in with a chance of winning a Daily Politics mug,
0:28:04 > 0:28:06send your answer to our special quiz e-mail address -
0:28:06 > 0:28:08that's dpquiz@bbc.co.uk
0:28:08 > 0:28:11Entries must arrive by 12.30 today, and you can see the full terms
0:28:11 > 0:28:14and conditions for Guess The Year on our website -
0:28:14 > 0:28:21that's bbc.co.uk/dailypolitics
0:28:21 > 0:28:27It's coming up to midday here - just take a look at Big Ben -
0:28:27 > 0:28:29and that can mean only one thing.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Yes, Prime Minister's Questions is on its way.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36It is without the Prime Minister because she is in China. She could
0:28:36 > 0:28:40have done it by Skype, I suppose! Probably the Wi-Fi is not strong
0:28:40 > 0:28:45enough in the House of Commons. Our deputy political editor jumpy and I
0:28:45 > 0:28:50see it. Laura Kuenssberg is with the Prime Minister. We will see what
0:28:50 > 0:28:56comes about PMQs. This vote on restoring parliament and there was a
0:28:56 > 0:29:01decision as to whether it closes down and they all move on for quite
0:29:01 > 0:29:04a long period, or do they try to do it while they are still in, which
0:29:04 > 0:29:08will probably be even more expensive. Either way, a
0:29:08 > 0:29:13multi-million pound project.And it decision as to whether you can
0:29:13 > 0:29:17quickly on spending millions of pounds on doing at the Palace of
0:29:17 > 0:29:19Westminster or you say, let's Paul Davison principle and then come back
0:29:19 > 0:29:26and talk about it later on.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28and talk about it later on. The government seems to be curiously
0:29:28 > 0:29:32reluctant to commit to billions of pounds in a hurry to this building.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Practically, it would be difficult to make such a movement but we are
0:29:35 > 0:29:40all aware that politicians and the Palace of Westminster is not the
0:29:40 > 0:29:44highest regard with a lot people now and so talking about spending
0:29:44 > 0:29:50billions on anything like a hurry will not go down well in this time
0:29:50 > 0:29:54of well, some disregard for politics and politicians.It is the most
0:29:54 > 0:29:59famous parliamentary building in the world, it is a UNESCO World Heritage
0:29:59 > 0:30:03site. For those who don't think we need to refurbish it, what would
0:30:03 > 0:30:07they have us do? Just let it crumble to dust on the banks of the Thames?
0:30:07 > 0:30:12What would that say of this country? There was no plan to leave it alone
0:30:12 > 0:30:16and just let it rotten to dust on the side of the River Thames. There
0:30:16 > 0:30:19was an idea to keep the rolling repairs going on, which been going
0:30:19 > 0:30:23on for so long. You walk around the Palace of Westminster and get into
0:30:23 > 0:30:26the sellers and attics and you can really see the state of the place. A
0:30:26 > 0:30:29lot of work really needs to be done and you can carry on doing that but
0:30:29 > 0:30:34it is a hugely iconic building, one of the most famous not just
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Parliamentary buildings but buildings on the planet. It is a
0:30:37 > 0:30:42source applied to the country. I'm at risk of sounding like an advocate
0:30:42 > 0:30:47of getting on and doing the job done. Bovo Blade Runner is pretty
0:30:47 > 0:30:51much exactly that. Let's bite the bullet and get on with it. It may
0:30:51 > 0:30:57not be passed but even if that is the case, we will carry on talking
0:30:57 > 0:31:04and watching.Is it a free vote or is it a government vote?It is a
0:31:04 > 0:31:08free vote, so Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, is
0:31:08 > 0:31:12putting down this, saying, should we captured up on web or do this big,
0:31:12 > 0:31:17big job, which as you carry on talking? Chris Bryant and some big
0:31:17 > 0:31:20Labour MPs are saying, enough faffing about, let's just commit now
0:31:20 > 0:31:27to what we should do.What would you do?I would commit to get with it. I
0:31:27 > 0:31:31don't fancy decamping. I think we should commit to doing it and we
0:31:31 > 0:31:36will work around it it up it will be a bit of a building site.I
0:31:36 > 0:31:41understand it is that imperative that John rightly points out of
0:31:41 > 0:31:47spending millions of pounds but it is iconic building.Not being a
0:31:47 > 0:31:50builder myself, I would take the advice that we are being given that
0:31:50 > 0:31:55we all need to clear out of it, do the work is clearly and sadly as
0:31:55 > 0:32:01possible.And then you can't go back in.Nobody agrees with me that we
0:32:01 > 0:32:04ought to move Parliament to the north-east of England that have a
0:32:04 > 0:32:12bit of out the glory.Nobody agrees with that. Wires that?I can't
0:32:12 > 0:32:18imagine. We seem to be stuck in London.Well, it is the capital.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22Given that, I am having to reconcile myself to moving out and then
0:32:22 > 0:32:26hopefully being elected again and going back in.There is a building
0:32:26 > 0:32:30that has been empty for a while, quite a new building, the Department
0:32:30 > 0:32:37of Health on Whitehall.There are one or two possibilities very near
0:32:37 > 0:32:41to where we are sitting now. Building over by the Supreme Court
0:32:41 > 0:32:46has been discussed, then there was was talk of going to Birmingham, and
0:32:46 > 0:32:49if there, why not Darlington, why not Chesterfield? There will be lots
0:32:49 > 0:32:54of voices calling for all sorts of movement and that argument is going
0:32:54 > 0:33:02to carry on.What is the cost? I've seen a figure, 6 billion.Roughly 6
0:33:02 > 0:33:05billion is the figure, if there is such a thing is roughly 6 billion. I
0:33:05 > 0:33:11remember when 6 billion was a lot of money but it is being discussed. The
0:33:11 > 0:33:14repairs on the Victoria Tower, the real cost was double the estimate.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17We will go straight over to the Commons for David Lidington and
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Emily Thornberry.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40A number of Carillion employ use and former in please live in my
0:33:40 > 0:33:47constituency and indeed, the company has a training centre in Gateshead
0:33:47 > 0:33:51-- Carillion employees. Will the government act now to correct a
0:33:51 > 0:33:54similar future corporate theft where private directors have siphoned off
0:33:54 > 0:33:59what should have been millions of pounds in pension contributions to
0:33:59 > 0:34:02pay bogus dividend and unearned corporate bonuses to themselves?
0:34:02 > 0:34:08What action does the government propose to take?First of all, Mr
0:34:08 > 0:34:13Speaker, I completely understand the anxiety that must be affecting the
0:34:13 > 0:34:17apprentices and their families in the honourable gentleman's
0:34:17 > 0:34:21constituency. He probably heard me say Jerry last week's debates that
0:34:21 > 0:34:26the construction industry training board had taken responsibility for
0:34:26 > 0:34:31finding alternative employers to enable all those in apprentices who
0:34:31 > 0:34:36were with Carillion to continue and complete their qualifications. They
0:34:36 > 0:34:40are making good progress in that work but I shall certainly insure
0:34:40 > 0:34:44that the particular concern he has concerned about Gateshead is brought
0:34:44 > 0:34:49to their attention. On the broader question, the House will understand
0:34:49 > 0:34:55that it will be wrong for me to pre-empt findings by an independent
0:34:55 > 0:34:59inquiry by the official receiver but we have already made clear that we
0:34:59 > 0:35:03will be publishing proposals later this year to stop directors being
0:35:03 > 0:35:11able to siphon off pension funds in any way that he described.Mr
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Speaker, my right honourable friend will be aware that the country faces
0:35:14 > 0:35:19significant cyber threats from other countries and from non-state actors.
0:35:19 > 0:35:24He will also be aware that we are protected from those by our security
0:35:24 > 0:35:27and intelligence services including the men and women at GCHQ in my own
0:35:27 > 0:35:32county of Gloucestershire. When the government publishes the results of
0:35:32 > 0:35:37the security review, will he confirm that we will continue as we have
0:35:37 > 0:35:43since 2010 two invest in those capabilities to keep our country
0:35:43 > 0:35:47safe?Mr Speaker, my right honourable friend is absolutely
0:35:47 > 0:35:50correct and I'm happy to give him that assurance on behalf of the
0:35:50 > 0:35:55government. The sad truth is, in this country, we face a growing
0:35:55 > 0:36:00threat of cyber attacks from States, serious crime gangs and hacking
0:36:00 > 0:36:08groups. We do have a robust strategy to protect services such as our
0:36:08 > 0:36:13democratic process is underpinned by 2 billion in government investment.
0:36:13 > 0:36:17Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me start by welcoming the minister back to
0:36:17 > 0:36:22his role but diving from the Prime Minister. Last time he did so in
0:36:22 > 0:36:26December 2016, his party was 17 points ahead in the polls, and he
0:36:26 > 0:36:31told the House that the Labour Party was, I quote, quarrelling like the
0:36:31 > 0:36:38film mutiny on the Bounty, reshot by the team who made carry on. Well,
0:36:38 > 0:36:47what a difference a year makes!Oh, how the tables have turned!
0:36:47 > 0:36:52how the tables have turned!But I'm not going to intrude further on the
0:36:52 > 0:36:55government's private grief because I genuinely hope that we can reach
0:36:55 > 0:37:00consensus across this house today on a very important issue. Next Tuesday
0:37:00 > 0:37:03will beat the centenary of women gaining the right to vote in
0:37:03 > 0:37:07Britain, followed later in 1918 by a second right, to stand for
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Parliament. I'm sure the minister will agree that we have a long way
0:37:11 > 0:37:16to go in regard to the second right. After all, I am the only Emily
0:37:16 > 0:37:24elected since 1918, and he is one of 155 Davids. And the women behind me
0:37:24 > 0:37:28on these benches represent one quarter of all the women elected in
0:37:28 > 0:37:32the last 100 years but it is still not good enough. So does the
0:37:32 > 0:37:38Minister think, will the Minister tell us how he can best increase
0:37:38 > 0:37:48female representation in this house? Mr Speaker, can I first of all thank
0:37:48 > 0:37:51the right honourable lady for her worlds of welcome and clearly my
0:37:51 > 0:37:57previous remarks struck a chord with her to have been treasured in the
0:37:57 > 0:38:01way that they clearly have. It's a delight to me to see the right
0:38:01 > 0:38:08honourable lady still in her place when no fewer than 97 members of her
0:38:08 > 0:38:20front bench have either been sacked or resigned since we took office.
0:38:21 > 0:38:27JEERING. You know, I play credit to her
0:38:27 > 0:38:31sticking power though she must sometimes whisper to myself, surely
0:38:31 > 0:38:38I'm a celebrity, please get me out of here!
0:38:41 > 0:38:48The point that she raised is a serious one. And I think that all
0:38:48 > 0:38:53political parties represented here, she's right to seek to make this
0:38:53 > 0:38:59conceptual, wants to encourage more women candidates to come forward. I
0:38:59 > 0:39:04am played that my party, since I was first elected to 25 years ago, has
0:39:04 > 0:39:07made very considerable progress but I also accept that there is more to
0:39:07 > 0:39:14be done. I hope that she for her part will accept that we have now
0:39:14 > 0:39:16had two women leaders and by minister so they have a bit of
0:39:16 > 0:39:23catching up to do.I've got to say, Mr Speaker, that if the party
0:39:23 > 0:39:28opposite is so proud of having a female leader, why are so many of
0:39:28 > 0:39:32them trying to get rid of her? And why has she had to run away to China
0:39:32 > 0:39:37to get away from them? But I thank him for that answer and I totally
0:39:37 > 0:39:45agree with your sentiment. But let me ask him also about the first
0:39:45 > 0:39:50right that I mentioned. I write that million to Mecca of women received
0:39:50 > 0:39:55100 years ago this week, the basic right to vote. It was originally
0:39:55 > 0:39:58restricted to women with property over the age of 30, then 90 years
0:39:58 > 0:40:02ago was extended to all women over 21, then 50 years ago, to all men
0:40:02 > 0:40:07and women over the age of 18. So can I ask the minister of simple
0:40:07 > 0:40:12question? How many more years to be have to wait until the vote is
0:40:12 > 0:40:18extended to everyone over 16?
0:40:18 > 0:40:22extended to everyone over 16?Mr Speaker, the age of 18 rather than
0:40:22 > 0:40:2516 is widely recognised as the age at which one becomes an adult and
0:40:25 > 0:40:32that is when full citizenship rights are attained. There's only a handful
0:40:32 > 0:40:35of countries in the world that have a nationwide voting age below 18 and
0:40:35 > 0:40:44we believed that the age of majority, 18, should continue to be
0:40:44 > 0:40:47the age at which people become eligible to vote.The honourable
0:40:47 > 0:40:50gentleman makes international comparisons but I have to say to the
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Minister that it was this country and a Labour government that led the
0:40:53 > 0:40:57way in Europe and India speaking world in reducing the -- and the
0:40:57 > 0:41:03English speaking world and reducing the age of vote to 18 and where we
0:41:03 > 0:41:07lead others followed, and it will be the same here. Let me move on to the
0:41:07 > 0:41:11second question I would like to ask the honourable gentleman. I have
0:41:11 > 0:41:14listened carefully to his answer but I didn't hear any logical
0:41:14 > 0:41:18explanation for the different rights that we give 16-year-olds in this
0:41:18 > 0:41:22country. At 16, we are free from parental control, we can leave home
0:41:22 > 0:41:28and start a family, get married, start work, pay taxes, join the
0:41:28 > 0:41:32forces, so can the minister give us a logical explanation why a
0:41:32 > 0:41:3916-year-old should not have the right to vote?
0:41:39 > 0:41:43right to vote?Mr Speaker, I am, I have to say, slightly baffled by the
0:41:43 > 0:41:47honourable lady's comments when compared with what her party did in
0:41:47 > 0:41:53office. Because it was the last Labour government that raised the
0:41:53 > 0:41:59legal age for buying cigarettes to 18, raised the age of selling knives
0:41:59 > 0:42:04to 18, raised the age to buy fireworks to 18, and raised the age
0:42:04 > 0:42:11for using a sunbed to 18. LAUGHTER
0:42:11 > 0:42:15I think that if she wants a lesson in inconsistency, she might want to
0:42:15 > 0:42:22examine the mirror. Mr Speaker, he mentions a range of
0:42:22 > 0:42:26restrictions that we have until the age of 18 but those are for the most
0:42:26 > 0:42:28part to do with public health, public sector data and the
0:42:28 > 0:42:33prevention of crime. They are not the same as the basic right to vote
0:42:33 > 0:42:37on issues that affect your life. What a heart considered old enough
0:42:37 > 0:42:41-- once you are considered old enough to make other decisions on
0:42:41 > 0:42:44your life such as leaving school, leaving home, getting married. Let
0:42:44 > 0:42:51me give the Minister of specific example.Order, I'm sure it will not
0:42:51 > 0:42:55have escaped public notice and it is rather a sad irony, that when a
0:42:55 > 0:43:03woman is addressing the House, quite a lot of noisy boorish and in one
0:43:03 > 0:43:07case rather stupid individuals are trying to shout the Right Honourable
0:43:07 > 0:43:14lady down. Cut it out.Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I wanted to
0:43:14 > 0:43:17give the Minister of specific example to illustrate what I'm
0:43:17 > 0:43:21talking about. According to the government's own figures, the number
0:43:21 > 0:43:25of 16 and 17-year-olds receiving carer's allows for looking after
0:43:25 > 0:43:30disabled relatives at home has risen by more than 50% in four years. --
0:43:30 > 0:43:36carer's allowance. Over 2016 and 17-year-olds last year gave up their
0:43:36 > 0:43:42youth and -- 2000, 1617 -year-olds last year gave up their youth and
0:43:42 > 0:43:46education to look after relatives. How can it be fair to expectancies
0:43:46 > 0:43:50take on the responsibility because of failures of the state and deny
0:43:50 > 0:43:55them the say on how that state is run?Mr Speaker, the logic of the
0:43:55 > 0:44:00honourable lady's arguments is that she wishes to lower the age of
0:44:00 > 0:44:07majority from 18 to 16. She listed a number of areas in which she
0:44:07 > 0:44:13supported the age at which activity should be allowed at 18 on grounds
0:44:13 > 0:44:16that only then could people be expected to have sufficient maturity
0:44:16 > 0:44:23and responsibility to have those rights. My argument to her is that
0:44:23 > 0:44:28the age of majority should be set matching both rights and
0:44:28 > 0:44:33responsibilities. And I think that it is perfectly reasonable to say
0:44:33 > 0:44:39that from the age of 18, we entrust young men and women to exercise
0:44:39 > 0:44:46those rights and responsible if he's in full. On Havard Nordtveit -- on
0:44:46 > 0:44:50her final point, it is right that sensible local authorities have
0:44:50 > 0:44:54particular care for the role of young carers, and in my experience,
0:44:54 > 0:44:57local authorities, whichever party runs them, makes every effort to do
0:44:57 > 0:45:02that.I'm genuinely surprised at the Minister's response because after
0:45:02 > 0:45:05all, this is what he said two years ago speaking to the youth
0:45:05 > 0:45:11Parliament. And let me quote him. When the voice and the vote of young
0:45:11 > 0:45:13people is absent, decisions are made that affect young people's lives
0:45:13 > 0:45:19that they have not always chosen. So not for the first time in these
0:45:19 > 0:45:22exchanges, I've got to say, Mr Speaker, I agree with the Minister.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26All of us on this side agree with the Minister. So why does he no
0:45:26 > 0:45:34longer agree with himself?Well, if she had been with me at the youth
0:45:34 > 0:45:37Parliament which was indeed a memorable and enjoyable occasion,
0:45:37 > 0:45:41she would have discovered that a significant number of the young men
0:45:41 > 0:45:46and women there were actually over voting age. But I fully support the
0:45:46 > 0:45:52role that the youth Parliament does, the role that their members do
0:45:52 > 0:45:56throughout the country, the role that organisations like school
0:45:56 > 0:46:00councils do, in getting young people used to the idea of exercising
0:46:00 > 0:46:03democratic responsibility. That seems to me and excellent training
0:46:03 > 0:46:06for the full adult responsibility is that they will inherit when they are
0:46:06 > 0:46:1418, and I hope and encourage more young people to go out and vote.
0:46:14 > 0:46:20He says he was only talking about 18-year-olds but you were there. He
0:46:20 > 0:46:26was talking to 370 under 18s. But what these discussions have revealed
0:46:26 > 0:46:31is that there is no logical principled objection to votes at 16.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34That is why the Welsh and Scottish Government support it, that is why
0:46:34 > 0:46:40every single political party in this House supports it, except, of
0:46:40 > 0:46:44course, the Conservative Party and the DUP. Once again, joined in
0:46:44 > 0:46:50opposition to change. They're not the Coalition of chaos, Mr Speaker,
0:46:50 > 0:46:57they are the Coalition of cavemen. But does the Minister... And does
0:46:57 > 0:47:04the Minister not realise the lesson...Order! Order! One member
0:47:04 > 0:47:08who thinks he knows what he is talking about is gesticulating at me
0:47:08 > 0:47:12and the answer is, it is a matter of taste, not of order, and it
0:47:12 > 0:47:16shouldn't escape somebody of great intelligence.I was talking about
0:47:16 > 0:47:21cavemen and what I wanted to say was this... Why doesn't the Minister
0:47:21 > 0:47:27realise the lesson that we women taught his predecessors 100 years
0:47:27 > 0:47:31ago - when changes it cannot be resisted for ever, and this is a
0:47:31 > 0:47:39change time has come.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41change time has come.Mr Speaker, I think my advice to the right
0:47:41 > 0:47:47honourable lady is to wean herself off the habit of watching old
0:47:47 > 0:47:53versions of the Flintstones on the relevant cartoon channel. I just
0:47:53 > 0:48:00think that we ought to salute the fact that not just the parliament
0:48:00 > 0:48:04but many schools and other youth organisations throughout the country
0:48:04 > 0:48:08are working hard to get young people use to the idea that as they grow
0:48:08 > 0:48:13up, they should take an interest in current affairs and then when they
0:48:13 > 0:48:16reach the relevant age exercise the full rights and responsibilities of
0:48:16 > 0:48:22an adult by participating in elections and in political
0:48:22 > 0:48:25campaigning. But the situation we have here, Mr Speaker, with the
0:48:25 > 0:48:32national voting age at 18, is one that is followed by 26 out of 27
0:48:32 > 0:48:38other members of the European Union, by the United States, Canada, New
0:48:38 > 0:48:44Zealand and Australia. Unless she is going to denounce all of those
0:48:44 > 0:48:50countries as somehow inadequate to her own particular standards, then
0:48:50 > 0:48:55quite honestly, Mr Speaker, I wish she ought to grow up and try and
0:48:55 > 0:49:01treat the subject with a greater degree of seriousness.Thank you, Mr
0:49:01 > 0:49:09Speaker. The government's attacks has made what the UK one of the most
0:49:09 > 0:49:11competitive basis to do business so does my right arable friend agree
0:49:11 > 0:49:17that raising tax would damage the UK economy, as we have seen in
0:49:17 > 0:49:24Scotland, where growth has fallen behind the rest of the UK?Mr
0:49:24 > 0:49:28Speaker, I'm very happy to agree with my rubble friend. We did
0:49:28 > 0:49:31devolve promise has new powers to Hollywood and it is obviously for
0:49:31 > 0:49:35the Scottish Government to determine how to use them. It is a matter of
0:49:35 > 0:49:40great regret that they have chosen to use those powers to break their
0:49:40 > 0:49:46promises and penalised aspiration in Scotland's. In our own budget, we
0:49:46 > 0:49:51increased the Scottish Government's spending power by £2 billion, so the
0:49:51 > 0:49:56SNP have no excuse for hiking the taxes of hard-working people,
0:49:56 > 0:50:02including public servants, and penalising businesses. The leader of
0:50:02 > 0:50:05the Scottish Nationalists in Westminster used to champion wealth
0:50:05 > 0:50:08creation and free enterprise. I hope he will ask the First Minister of
0:50:08 > 0:50:13Scotland to think again.
0:50:18 > 0:50:22Thank you, Mr Speaker. Can I welcome the Minister to his place. If
0:50:22 > 0:50:27reports are true, he may be auditioning for a new role and I
0:50:27 > 0:50:33wonder if he is sending out a heart-warming letter. And if you are
0:50:33 > 0:50:40single market is essential to the Government's agenda for trade and
0:50:40 > 0:50:46competitiveness. Since Buzzfeed published the analysis, does the
0:50:46 > 0:50:49Minister recognise that the single market is essential for jobs and
0:50:49 > 0:50:57prosperity? Mr Speaker, when we leave the EU next March, we will, as
0:50:57 > 0:51:04a matter of legality, leave the single market and the EU customs
0:51:04 > 0:51:08union. The Prime Minister and the entire Government have set out in
0:51:08 > 0:51:12both the Lancaster House and Florence speeches, also making it
0:51:12 > 0:51:17clear that we are seeking a new partnership with our neighbours in
0:51:17 > 0:51:20the European Union that ensures that we continue to have frictionless
0:51:20 > 0:51:25trade, which is the interest of not just our people but the people of
0:51:25 > 0:51:32every one of the 27 EU countries. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I must say I
0:51:32 > 0:51:37am surprised at the Minister because it is not a question... Or we are
0:51:37 > 0:51:42going to be an transitional deal and will still be in the single market.
0:51:42 > 0:51:49This is a Government in crisis and an international embarrassment. The
0:51:49 > 0:51:53Chancellor, the Scottish Secretary, the Scottish Conservatives, the Home
0:51:53 > 0:51:57Secretary have all supported membership of the single market.
0:51:57 > 0:52:01Despite this, the Government is still prepared to make everyone
0:52:01 > 0:52:07poorer. Where is the leadership?
0:52:08 > 0:52:11poorer. Where is the leadership?Mr Speaker, the leadership which the
0:52:11 > 0:52:15right honourable gentleman wants was set out very clearly both that
0:52:15 > 0:52:18Lancaster House and then again in Florence, and by right on oral
0:52:18 > 0:52:21friend the Prime Minister will be making further speeches on these
0:52:21 > 0:52:27issues in the weeks and months to come. But can I just say to the
0:52:27 > 0:52:32honourable gentleman that the most important single market to the
0:52:32 > 0:52:41people of Scotland is the single market of the United Kingdom, which
0:52:41 > 0:52:47is worth nearly £50 billion every year to the Scottish economy, four
0:52:47 > 0:52:52times more than trade with the European Union. It is our deep and
0:52:52 > 0:52:56special partnership with the EU in the future that will help deliver
0:52:56 > 0:53:00prosperity to Scotland, not the separatist policies pursued by the
0:53:00 > 0:53:07Scottish National Party.I know my right honourable friend shares my
0:53:07 > 0:53:12passion for ensuring that all children get opportunity to succeed,
0:53:12 > 0:53:16regardless of who they are or where they come from. Can he confirm what
0:53:16 > 0:53:19progress the Government has made in reducing the attainment gap between
0:53:19 > 0:53:25less well off second risk pupils and their peers, and that positive
0:53:25 > 0:53:32impact of when the next preschool applications will open?He is
0:53:32 > 0:53:35absolutely right and the Government's clear ambition and
0:53:35 > 0:53:42purpose is to ensure that our school system works for every child in
0:53:42 > 0:53:47every community in this country. Our reforms have already raised school
0:53:47 > 0:53:50standards. We are seeing now nearly 2 million more children attending
0:53:50 > 0:53:55good and outstanding schools and the attainment gap between disadvantaged
0:53:55 > 0:54:01pupils on their peers has shrunk by 10% at GCSE and 10.5% at key stage
0:54:01 > 0:54:06two since 2011. I know education ministers will be happy to talk to
0:54:06 > 0:54:09my honourable friend about their plans further to improve standards
0:54:09 > 0:54:17in schools.Mr Speaker, last Sunday in my constituency, 17-year-old was
0:54:17 > 0:54:24stabbed with life changing results. The knife crime across our country
0:54:24 > 0:54:31is not being driven by my nose and young people but driven by
0:54:31 > 0:54:35gangsters, organised criminals and dirty money. -- driven by miners.
0:54:35 > 0:54:44Cocaine alone is driven £12 million in this country, so I asked the
0:54:44 > 0:54:48Minister, why are we cutting our Border Force, why are we cutting our
0:54:48 > 0:54:52police and why has London been offered only in their violence
0:54:52 > 0:54:58reduction strategy a community fund of more 5p. You could not buy a
0:54:58 > 0:55:06house for not .5 million in London. --Can I first say that I, like
0:55:06 > 0:55:11every other member of this House, would have nothing but the most
0:55:11 > 0:55:18heartfelt sympathy for the victim himself and for his family and
0:55:18 > 0:55:22friends at the most appalling experience that they have endured
0:55:22 > 0:55:26and are still living through. The honourable gentleman is right to say
0:55:26 > 0:55:32that there are complex causes to what we are seeing in terms of knife
0:55:32 > 0:55:36crime. There is no doubt, I agree with him, that organised crime is
0:55:36 > 0:55:44contributing to this, and organised crime is exploiting young people who
0:55:44 > 0:55:49they try to groom to attract into criminal gangs and the Government is
0:55:49 > 0:55:55to publish later this year a violent crime strategy that will be not just
0:55:55 > 0:56:01to look at the criminal justice system but how we work effectively
0:56:01 > 0:56:06with all other agencies to ensure that young people are diverted away
0:56:06 > 0:56:09from that sort of activity in the first place. But it is also true
0:56:09 > 0:56:15that we have... If you carry a knife, you can expect to end up in
0:56:15 > 0:56:18jail. We have toughened and sentences and we have protected,
0:56:18 > 0:56:23despite what he said, police budgets. A quarter of all police are
0:56:23 > 0:56:31in London.Demand full school places in the London Borough of Bromley are
0:56:31 > 0:56:37forecast to grow by some 20 present over coming years but repeatedly
0:56:37 > 0:56:40proposals for much-needed schools have been delayed in no small
0:56:40 > 0:56:44measure because of concerns at the way the educational schools funding
0:56:44 > 0:56:49agency has handled the planning application process. On behalf of
0:56:49 > 0:56:52the Prime Minister, will my right honourable friend agreed to meet me
0:56:52 > 0:56:57to discuss the very real concerns that local parents have out of the
0:56:57 > 0:57:01competency of the agency?Can I say either I or my right horrible friend
0:57:01 > 0:57:06the Education Secretary will be happy to talk to him. The purpose of
0:57:06 > 0:57:09the education and Skills Funding Agency formed at the start of this
0:57:09 > 0:57:13financial year was to provide a more joined up approach to funding,
0:57:13 > 0:57:18covering schools, colleges and other providers. I do note that Bromley
0:57:18 > 0:57:22has increased both primary and secondary school capacity by more
0:57:22 > 0:57:29than 6300 places since 2010 and the ESF a is delivering nine schools in
0:57:29 > 0:57:32Bromley but there is more work to be done and ministers will gladly talk
0:57:32 > 0:57:36to my honourable friend about that. Recent research shows that
0:57:36 > 0:57:41international students are worth a staggering £20 billion to the UK
0:57:41 > 0:57:43economy. That research was commissioned by Nick Hillman, who
0:57:43 > 0:57:48was the Conservative Party candidate in green ridge in 2010 and a former
0:57:48 > 0:57:51adviser to Lord Willets, yet the policies of the Prime Minister have
0:57:51 > 0:57:54stopped that steady increase of a number of international students
0:57:54 > 0:57:59commit our country. Does he agree with me this is a touch careless of
0:57:59 > 0:58:01the Prime Minister to have squandered the billions of pounds
0:58:01 > 0:58:07that could have been available to our schools and hospitals?Mr
0:58:07 > 0:58:09Speaker, what the facts actually say is that we are the second most
0:58:09 > 0:58:15popular destination in the world for students, and university sponsored
0:58:15 > 0:58:21these applications are up by nearly one fifth since 2010 so I would
0:58:21 > 0:58:25argue that contrary to what he alleges, we are doing a good job in
0:58:25 > 0:58:30attracting international students. South Dorset is the most beautiful
0:58:30 > 0:58:40constituency in the whole of the United Kingdom.No, it is not!So
0:58:40 > 0:58:43improving the infrastructure is difficult, to create jobs and
0:58:43 > 0:58:47prosperity. What we can do is improve our rail links on the
0:58:47 > 0:58:51Salisbury line and Yeovil Junction to get faster trains to Weymouth.
0:58:51 > 0:58:55Will my right honourable friend reassure my constituents and me that
0:58:55 > 0:58:59the Government is behind this scheme to do exactly what the Government
0:58:59 > 0:59:04wants, to create more wealth and prosperity in South Dorset?Mr
0:59:04 > 0:59:08Speaker, as my honourable friend will know, the Chancellor last year
0:59:08 > 0:59:16set aside a very considerable sum of money, more than £20 billion, to
0:59:16 > 0:59:20finance infrastructure improvements, rail, road and broadband, in order
0:59:20 > 0:59:24to generate growth around the country and to facilitate housing
0:59:24 > 0:59:28development. I know my honourable friend's constituency is one that
0:59:28 > 0:59:32has seen considerable housing development in recent years. I will
0:59:32 > 0:59:36ensure that transport ministers talk to him about the particular concerns
0:59:36 > 0:59:40he has expressed.On the 25th of January 1985, the Conservative
0:59:40 > 0:59:44government promised there would be no nuclear waste dumped in
0:59:44 > 0:59:48Billingham on a mine. Will be confirmed that that promise still
0:59:48 > 0:59:55stands?He will have to forgive me if I say that my memory for
0:59:55 > 1:00:01statements that were given in 1985 is a little bit rusty. It was seven
1:00:01 > 1:00:05years before even I was first elected to this House. I will look
1:00:05 > 1:00:08into the point that he has raised and I will write to him to set up
1:00:08 > 1:00:16the position.To secure our future prosperity and to meet the
1:00:16 > 1:00:19employment challenge posed by artificial intelligence, this
1:00:19 > 1:00:24country has an urgent need to improve its digital skills base.
1:00:24 > 1:00:27Will my right honourable friend therefore congratulate the open
1:00:27 > 1:00:31University in my constituency for securing a leading role in the
1:00:31 > 1:00:36Government's new Institute of coding?Can I first of all join my
1:00:36 > 1:00:39honourable friend in congratulating the open University for securing
1:00:39 > 1:00:43that lead role in the Institute of coding. I think the Institute is
1:00:43 > 1:00:46going to be a very important new initiative to get universities to
1:00:46 > 1:00:51work together closely with businesses to develop specialist
1:00:51 > 1:00:56coding skills, and the Government is investing £84 million to deliver a
1:00:56 > 1:00:59comprehends a programme to improve the teaching of the computer
1:00:59 > 1:01:03curriculum. We look forward to working closely with the University
1:01:03 > 1:01:08and the Institute.
1:01:09 > 1:01:12After ten years of this country, my constituent missed out on the right
1:01:12 > 1:01:18to indefinite leave bite into two days when she went away from the
1:01:18 > 1:01:23country and broke a leg making it unable for her to come back. She has
1:01:23 > 1:01:27to wait ten years to apply again which means that she will be unable
1:01:27 > 1:01:30to adopt a child which might be the only way she could have family in
1:01:30 > 1:01:34this country. Can we have a meeting to discuss this in Justice when she
1:01:34 > 1:01:38returns?
1:01:38 > 1:01:42returns?I don't know more about the detail about the case went the
1:01:42 > 1:01:48honourable gentleman has just described in the House, but like
1:01:48 > 1:01:52many members, I have immigration casework my constituency so I'm
1:01:52 > 1:01:55familiar with the type of problem that he has described. If you would
1:01:55 > 1:01:59like to write to me after these exchanges, setting out the details,
1:01:59 > 1:02:02I will discuss that with my right honourable friend the Home Secretary
1:02:02 > 1:02:10and the relevant minister will meet him.Last week, I visited RNAs
1:02:10 > 1:02:15called Rose as part of the Armed Forces polymer tree scheme and was
1:02:15 > 1:02:20delighted to see an outreach programme to promote skills to the
1:02:20 > 1:02:26local community in STEM. Does he agree that these initiatives to
1:02:26 > 1:02:28inspire the skills of the Armed Forces and the country will need to
1:02:28 > 1:02:37succeed in the future and their approach at cold the area should be
1:02:37 > 1:02:43defended?He raises an important point, I did know about the
1:02:43 > 1:02:48important role that STEM plays in the life of Cornwall but he has
1:02:48 > 1:02:53highlighted the
1:02:53 > 1:03:00highlighted the work of Culdrose in the science and mathematics skills
1:03:00 > 1:03:04that we will need in the growing economy highlighted in the
1:03:04 > 1:03:08government strategy and what he has described as happening at Culdrose
1:03:08 > 1:03:16will go towards that.It is an extraordinary fact that this year,
1:03:16 > 1:03:21last year, every for over a decade, one London Borough, the London
1:03:21 > 1:03:29Borough of Islington, has received more arts Council funding than the
1:03:29 > 1:03:34entirety combined of the Midlands and Northern X coalfield
1:03:34 > 1:03:45communities. Who is going to be brave enough to reverse this is
1:03:45 > 1:03:49equity so that my constituents, especially young constituents, can
1:03:49 > 1:03:55have fair and equitable access to arts funding?Well, I'm not sure
1:03:55 > 1:04:00whether that was meant as an attack directed on the Right Honourable
1:04:00 > 1:04:08member for Islington North or Islington South. But what I can say,
1:04:08 > 1:04:11to the honourable judgment, is this, obviously if there is a particular
1:04:11 > 1:04:18bid that he feels was unfairly treated, he is welcome to take that
1:04:18 > 1:04:21up with the new arts minister who I know will want to examine that case
1:04:21 > 1:04:25carefully. But in general terms, more than half of the arts funding
1:04:25 > 1:04:34in England is awarded to arts activities outside Greater London.
1:04:34 > 1:04:37Mr Speaker, holiday homes in Cornwall are a mixed blessing. They
1:04:37 > 1:04:42provide important support our local economy but they also take up
1:04:42 > 1:04:46vitally needed housing stock and push up prices beyond the reach of
1:04:46 > 1:04:51many local people. In addition, many of them avoid paying council tax by
1:04:51 > 1:04:55switching to business use and enjoying the benefits of small
1:04:55 > 1:04:57business rate relief. Does my right on role boyfriend agree with me that
1:04:57 > 1:05:01this
1:05:01 > 1:05:04-- does my right honourable friend agree with me that this situation is
1:05:04 > 1:05:09unsustainable and he will find a way to post this loophole?He raises a
1:05:09 > 1:05:13valid point, it is clearly right that holiday owners should pay the
1:05:13 > 1:05:19correct tax. The individual decisions on council tax and
1:05:19 > 1:05:25business tax rates on the properties rests with the department which is
1:05:25 > 1:05:30independent of ministers, but if a property is available for rent for
1:05:30 > 1:05:33140 days or more year it is subject for business rates, and if he does
1:05:33 > 1:05:39not meet this test, council tax is due. If an individual provides false
1:05:39 > 1:05:42information to seek business rate relief, that person is liable to
1:05:42 > 1:05:49summary conviction or a fine or both.Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister
1:05:49 > 1:05:52wants to bring forward legislation to tackle domestic violence and
1:05:52 > 1:05:57abuse. But her government is currently taxing the same survivors
1:05:57 > 1:06:02for using the child maintenance service. For survivors of domestic
1:06:02 > 1:06:08abuse, using the collect and pay service is not a matter of choice,
1:06:08 > 1:06:11it is a matter of safety. Will he urged the Prime Minister to commit
1:06:11 > 1:06:15to using this bill to scrap the tax for survivor Primakov domestic
1:06:15 > 1:06:24abuse?-- survivors of domestic abuse? There is a government
1:06:24 > 1:06:28consultation imminent and I would urge her to make representations to
1:06:28 > 1:06:34that.
1:06:34 > 1:06:37that.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Following last year's terrorist
1:06:37 > 1:06:40attack in Manchester, the government has committed £24 million to the
1:06:40 > 1:06:45city. The effect being felt across the area and in my constituency,
1:06:45 > 1:06:47will the government give an assurance that they will continue to
1:06:47 > 1:06:53support Manchester?We will certainly continue to support
1:06:53 > 1:06:58Manchester, right across government. Through the various agencies and
1:06:58 > 1:07:04spending programmes that government has a available. And I think that
1:07:04 > 1:07:09the Manchester area demonstrated last year its resilience and strong
1:07:09 > 1:07:12sense of community identity and purpose, and I think that will serve
1:07:12 > 1:07:18it well economically and socially in the years ahead.The whole house
1:07:18 > 1:07:23will warmly welcome the fantastic news which has saved thousands of
1:07:23 > 1:07:31news at bombardier in Northern Ireland. And we should pay tribute
1:07:31 > 1:07:40to the management of Bombardier in Northern Ireland and Canada, the
1:07:40 > 1:07:44workforce and unions who worked well together, the honourable members on
1:07:44 > 1:07:48this bench and the government who went in very strongly to support the
1:07:48 > 1:07:55company. Can I I urge the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to get
1:07:55 > 1:07:59behind improving manufacturer
1:07:59 > 1:08:00of the Duchy of Lancaster to get behind improving manufacturing in
1:08:00 > 1:08:05Northern Ireland? , gently urge the government, which I know always
1:08:05 > 1:08:13listens very carefully, to get on with it?Can I first of all thank
1:08:13 > 1:08:17the right honourable gentleman for his word and although it is a few
1:08:17 > 1:08:24years ago since I had the opportunity to visit Bombardier in
1:08:24 > 1:08:29Belfast, Ireland how important that enterprise is for the provision of
1:08:29 > 1:08:36high-quality -- I remember how important it is for the provision of
1:08:36 > 1:08:40high-quality work in the area. The government worked closely with
1:08:40 > 1:08:47leaders and politicians, in Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister rate --
1:08:47 > 1:08:51rate this with President Trump and Justin Trudeau in Canada and we have
1:08:51 > 1:08:56been very active, we are pleased by the outcome. You can rest assured
1:08:56 > 1:09:01the government will remain a strong supporter of business in Northern
1:09:01 > 1:09:05Ireland but I would perhaps add that the sooner we can get back to
1:09:05 > 1:09:09devolved government in Northern Ireland, the easier it will be to
1:09:09 > 1:09:16ensure the practical benefits flowing back to Northern Ireland.
1:09:17 > 1:09:19flowing back to Northern Ireland.A vibrant high Street is critical in
1:09:19 > 1:09:22traditional market towns like Knaresborough in my constituency
1:09:22 > 1:09:28where there has been a market since 1310. In this age of Internet
1:09:28 > 1:09:31shopping, will my right honourable friend confirmed the government
1:09:31 > 1:09:33support for traditional markets and policies that will boost our high
1:09:33 > 1:09:40streets?Mr Speaker, my honourable friend is right to speak up on
1:09:40 > 1:09:43behalf of his constituents, I know he is a tireless campaigner for
1:09:43 > 1:09:49Harrogate and Knaresborough. And markets like the one in
1:09:49 > 1:09:53Knaresborough are part of the local fabric and tradition of towns right
1:09:53 > 1:10:01across this country. The government wants to help those markets and town
1:10:01 > 1:10:06centres to prosper in what is at the same time a rapidly changing retail
1:10:06 > 1:10:10environment, and I'm sure the right honourable friend the community
1:10:10 > 1:10:14Secretary will write to him with further details.Lincoln's walk-in
1:10:14 > 1:10:18centre will close in a few weeks despite the fact that there is
1:10:18 > 1:10:22inconsistent and inconsistent service provision in place to
1:10:22 > 1:10:26mitigate the closure. Will the Minister pass on to the Prime
1:10:26 > 1:10:31Minister my request to meet meet to discuss review of that closure?If
1:10:31 > 1:10:38she would like to set out a bit more detail, than she has had the time to
1:10:38 > 1:10:45do today, I will ensure that a minister sees her about this.Thank
1:10:45 > 1:10:50you, Mr Speaker. Next Wednesday, we will be assessing and voting on the
1:10:50 > 1:10:53local government finance settlement. A group of us from the shire
1:10:53 > 1:11:01counties are very concerned that there is not enough money for rural
1:11:01 > 1:11:09counties like ours when adult social care costs are spiralling out of
1:11:09 > 1:11:13control, in my own county we have a black hole the £10 million. What
1:11:13 > 1:11:19message should I take back to the leader of my counsel?That is
1:11:19 > 1:11:25thicker, I think one -- Mr Speaker, I think one message to send to my
1:11:25 > 1:11:31honourable friend is the government has made an extra £2 billion in
1:11:31 > 1:11:34funding available to local authorities, particularly for social
1:11:34 > 1:11:38care. And local authorities are obviously deciding at this moment
1:11:38 > 1:11:44whether they use the more flexible powers that they have in respect of
1:11:44 > 1:11:49social care. I know my honourable friend met my right noble friend,
1:11:49 > 1:11:57the community secretary a few days ago, and I would encourage him to
1:11:57 > 1:12:00continue to talk to the community secretary and other ministers in
1:12:00 > 1:12:05that department about the particular circumstances in Shropshire.The
1:12:05 > 1:12:09current edition of the Economist magazine carries an article which
1:12:09 > 1:12:16says that the hostile takeover bid for GKN by Melrose, quote, costs
1:12:16 > 1:12:20down not only on the survival of GKN, Britain's third largest and
1:12:20 > 1:12:25independent aerospace defence firm, but the rest of the industry as
1:12:25 > 1:12:29well. The honourable gentleman knows that when national security issues
1:12:29 > 1:12:32are involved, ministers have the power to intervene to protect the
1:12:32 > 1:12:38public interest. Will they do so in this case?As I understand it, the
1:12:38 > 1:12:48bid for GKN is being examined by the relevant independent authorities,
1:12:48 > 1:12:52clearly this is something that the appropriate ministers in defence and
1:12:52 > 1:12:55business departments will be monitoring closely. It would be
1:12:55 > 1:12:59wrong of me to spec in more detail about this case for now.--
1:12:59 > 1:13:04speculate in more detail. My constituency of Chelmsford is a very
1:13:04 > 1:13:09popular place to live. And this week, we've had very good news that
1:13:09 > 1:13:15there are more first-time buyers getting on the housing ladder than
1:13:15 > 1:13:19any time in the past decade. Can my right honourable friend update us on
1:13:19 > 1:13:23the progress the government is making to help people to buy a
1:13:23 > 1:13:30house?Mr Speaker, I'm pleased to be able to say that the number of
1:13:30 > 1:13:33first-time buyers is now at the highest level for about ten years.
1:13:33 > 1:13:40And that is a tribute to the various initiatives that both the community
1:13:40 > 1:13:43secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer have put in place to
1:13:43 > 1:13:47introduce us time buyers, things like the cut in stamp duty -- Raqqa
1:13:47 > 1:13:54first-time buyers, things like the cut in stamp duty which will benefit
1:13:54 > 1:13:5895% of first-time buyers. We need to improve housing supply and
1:13:58 > 1:14:00constituencies like hers and mine are showing the way to the rest of
1:14:00 > 1:14:04the country about the need to build houses to meet the legitimate
1:14:04 > 1:14:07demands and expectations of young people who are working incredibly
1:14:07 > 1:14:13hard and want to get a foot on the housing ladder.To order.
1:14:19 > 1:14:21Prime Minister's Questions comes to women without the prior minister,
1:14:21 > 1:14:27who is in China. We watched David Livingstone and Emily Thornberry for
1:14:27 > 1:14:31Labour, the Shadow Foreign Secretary. Emily Thornberry
1:14:31 > 1:14:36surprised us all by going on... First aborted at about the centenary
1:14:36 > 1:14:43of women's votes, then about increased female representation. --
1:14:43 > 1:14:47first she talked about the Centenary... Shoot talked about why
1:14:47 > 1:14:50the Government was against cutting the voting age from 18 to 16 for
1:14:50 > 1:14:58Westminster elections. It is more in some of the devolved government in
1:14:58 > 1:15:03Scotland and Wales but she wants, as is Labour policy, to cut the voting
1:15:03 > 1:15:07age to 16 but Mr Lidington was having nothing of it. He said there
1:15:07 > 1:15:13were a lot of rights you didn't get on to you 18, including the right,
1:15:13 > 1:15:20which I didn't know, to rent a sunbed.
1:15:20 > 1:15:24sunbed. Ms Thornbury snapped back saying there were young carers who
1:15:24 > 1:15:30have had to love after relatives. We didn't see that coming and it was
1:15:30 > 1:15:34different. Whether or go any further is another matter. We will talk
1:15:34 > 1:15:39about it with our panel. We have...
1:15:39 > 1:15:40Foreign Office Minister Mark Field,
1:15:40 > 1:15:42and Shadow Brexit Minister Jenny Chapman.
1:15:42 > 1:15:44And our deputy political editor John Pienaar is also here.
1:15:44 > 1:15:49It was an unusual thing to go on. Not unimportant but unusual, since
1:15:49 > 1:15:54it is not on the agenda at the moment so it probably won't make any
1:15:54 > 1:15:58of the newscasts later in the day and tonight but you talked about how
1:15:58 > 1:16:05this was playing to social movement and this would do well for Labour.
1:16:05 > 1:16:10I'm sure it will, with Theresa May away and Jeremy Corbyn having a
1:16:10 > 1:16:14break or working in his office, as the case may be, we saw Emily
1:16:14 > 1:16:18Thornberry making the most of the dimmed spotlight by going to target
1:16:18 > 1:16:23audience and this stuff is, as we speak, being and put together to be
1:16:23 > 1:16:28put out online, it isn't already, I suspect it is. When it comes to the
1:16:28 > 1:16:32audience, a young audience is a large part of the audience for that
1:16:32 > 1:16:36and we know that Labour is very keen to reach a younger audiences. There
1:16:36 > 1:16:40was a statistical dispute about how far younger voters move the market
1:16:40 > 1:16:44the last election. But we do know it is thought to be a more fertile act
1:16:44 > 1:16:50of political territory for the Labour Party than other parties. So
1:16:50 > 1:16:54this stuff of Emily Thornberry going hard for a cut in the voting age
1:16:54 > 1:16:59will look good on social media to a lot of people.It is interesting, if
1:16:59 > 1:17:02you are right that this was a conscious decision to go down this
1:17:02 > 1:17:07route, because it involves saying, we know this isn't going to make the
1:17:07 > 1:17:10main news tonight on any of the channels, maybe not make much of the
1:17:10 > 1:17:1624 hour news either after mid-afternoon, but we don't care,
1:17:16 > 1:17:20because it will go big on social media and for this week, if not for
1:17:20 > 1:17:26others, that is what is going to matter to us and we get directly to
1:17:26 > 1:17:30the people that we want to appeal to, to young voters who may not be
1:17:30 > 1:17:36watching traditional terrestrial television.I think that is exactly
1:17:36 > 1:17:39right it took a lot of the time on Wednesday afternoon at about this
1:17:39 > 1:17:43time in various studios in this building, we may say, Jeremy Corbyn
1:17:43 > 1:17:48took on too many blows that session. I don't think they care. It is about
1:17:48 > 1:17:51getting out what they want to the media they want you to the people
1:17:51 > 1:17:56they want to reach and on many measures, it is working for them.
1:17:56 > 1:18:01What you make of that?It is interesting but I know this is an
1:18:01 > 1:18:04issue Amelie cares deeply about and has campaigned on for a very long
1:18:04 > 1:18:07time so she doesn't get the opportunity to deputise for Jeremy
1:18:07 > 1:18:11that often and I'm not surprised that she should choose that issue on
1:18:11 > 1:18:16a day when... Well, period of time when we're marking the expansion of
1:18:16 > 1:18:20the franchise, the anniversary of women getting the vote. I think it
1:18:20 > 1:18:25is a good issue, it is important. People care about it. I have many
1:18:25 > 1:18:28young people in my constituency right to me insubordinate, so fair
1:18:28 > 1:18:33play to Emily for actually not going on was the predictable issues and
1:18:33 > 1:18:35setting out her stall and campaigning on something that
1:18:35 > 1:18:42matters to her.It would seem from Mr Lidington's responses that the
1:18:42 > 1:18:47Government policy is to say, no, we are going to stay at 18.I think
1:18:47 > 1:18:51that is right and because in part David Lidington has was possible to
1:18:51 > 1:18:54the Cabinet office, it was a constitutional issues that made
1:18:54 > 1:18:58sense and the fact he had all his facts at his fingertips made me
1:18:58 > 1:19:02wonder whether he had actually been tipped off in advance.He wouldn't
1:19:02 > 1:19:09have been. By Labour.I think wider discussion was had. I am totally
1:19:09 > 1:19:14behind the Government's position and I think David put it very clearly
1:19:14 > 1:19:19that actually, at a time when, if anything, there is a move towards
1:19:19 > 1:19:22regularising at 18 in terms of smoking, drinking, there was talk of
1:19:22 > 1:19:28a driving licence, or be blue drivers aged 17 having restrictions
1:19:28 > 1:19:30until they are prospecting birthday, it makes sense that you have that
1:19:30 > 1:19:36age. WillYou can try that under 18. There has been some talk about...
1:19:36 > 1:19:49You definitely can colour 17.My driving test was 36 years ago! To be
1:19:49 > 1:19:54candid with you, while I agree with the Government's position of this, I
1:19:54 > 1:19:57think the movement of history will be against it. Will happen at some
1:19:57 > 1:20:02point and I suspect what Labour will do as part of their next election
1:20:02 > 1:20:05manifesto, they will make more of this issue. And what they're doing
1:20:05 > 1:20:12today is appealing to 14-year-olds who will be that age of the next
1:20:12 > 1:20:17election and it will be part of their constitutional modernising. I
1:20:17 > 1:20:20often say, until relatively recently, virtually every single
1:20:20 > 1:20:25general election, the Tories have done Dikili whelp with women voters
1:20:25 > 1:20:32and we were very much against the suffragette movement.I thought
1:20:32 > 1:20:35there were leading tourism the suffragette movement.Eventually
1:20:35 > 1:20:45Emily Pankhurst was a great admirer of Stanley Baldwin.Mark Field is
1:20:45 > 1:20:55against it but things it will be inevitable.I think it would be good
1:20:55 > 1:21:01if the Tories in front of the inevitable and I know many Labour
1:21:01 > 1:21:03backbenchers agree with their party on this.You would reduce the
1:21:03 > 1:21:09overall turnout, wouldn't you?Wires that?Because the turnout among
1:21:09 > 1:21:13younger votes, take the 18 to 25 group, is the lowest of any
1:21:13 > 1:21:19demographic.Let's seated we've had many predictions about declining
1:21:19 > 1:21:23turnout in elections over the years and I think the tide is starting to
1:21:23 > 1:21:27turn. I think the Brexit debate on the referendum and everything that's
1:21:27 > 1:21:30happening that is of great interest to young people are changing that.
1:21:30 > 1:21:35We saw the referendum of Scotland, where 16-year-olds good vote and
1:21:35 > 1:21:43took part on mass. I wouldn't accept that. I think we need to see...
1:21:43 > 1:21:49Turnout in referenda is far than general elections.Absolutely but we
1:21:49 > 1:21:53believe 16-year-olds take it seriously and take it as a
1:21:53 > 1:21:57responsibility and they did take part in Scotland.In-out referendum.
1:21:57 > 1:22:05WillWell, they can't take part in other votes so we don't know.Don't
1:22:05 > 1:22:1016-year-olds have the vote in Holyrood?Participation in regional
1:22:10 > 1:22:13and local elections is very small anyway so it is not really a fair
1:22:13 > 1:22:19comparison.John, when the cat is away the mice will play. Mrs May
1:22:19 > 1:22:27headed to China with a very bad weekend of press, I think we can all
1:22:27 > 1:22:30agree, with lots of criticisms, son named, some not named, gives her
1:22:30 > 1:22:38leadership. But am I right in thinking that it is, for the moment,
1:22:38 > 1:22:41given that she is away, the leadership speculation has not
1:22:41 > 1:22:48gained any momentum?The speculation runs on its own momentum but my
1:22:48 > 1:22:51feeling for it is that there is no imminent danger, imminent danger, to
1:22:51 > 1:23:00Mrs May. No sign of anything happening any time. The government
1:23:00 > 1:23:05side are in a state of study, settled instability. They are like a
1:23:05 > 1:23:10volatile compound that could go off at any moment and like a tube of
1:23:10 > 1:23:13nitroglycerin, which can sit Beverly peacefully on a shelf for quite a
1:23:13 > 1:23:17wow, it hasn't gone off, until the time comes to blow up the entire
1:23:17 > 1:23:24building. There will need to be a catalyst, whether it is a failure of
1:23:24 > 1:23:28command at Downing Street, whether it is the May local elections, which
1:23:28 > 1:23:32are a problem, worry for the Conservatives, especially when it
1:23:32 > 1:23:35comes to London, and if we are still talking about it further down the
1:23:35 > 1:23:40track, the autumn, when we start to see or do not see some direction of
1:23:40 > 1:23:43travel on Brexit, something which the Government is on the suit trying
1:23:43 > 1:23:49to get agreement that they can use as a basis for detailed
1:23:49 > 1:23:52negotiations. If we do not get that in the autumn, assuming we get
1:23:52 > 1:23:56there, we will see panic in the Conservative Party, the Brexit side
1:23:56 > 1:23:58in particular, and they are the force behind this present
1:23:58 > 1:24:05volatility. They were near to taking, blowing off before Christmas
1:24:05 > 1:24:09and only bad deal on stage one the talks.Now everything is quietened
1:24:09 > 1:24:18down. Even despite the reshuffle but wasn't.There are sharks in the
1:24:18 > 1:24:21water and it could blow at any moment itBut for all the huffing
1:24:21 > 1:24:27and puffing and increasing frustration among many Tories about
1:24:27 > 1:24:32Mrs May's leadership, what keeps her there is the complete lack of any
1:24:32 > 1:24:36consensus on who should replace. There was nobody who is active now
1:24:36 > 1:24:40in trying to get her doctorate at there was no campaign organised or
1:24:40 > 1:24:44disorganised just at the moment. We are still nowhere near the stage of
1:24:44 > 1:24:47Tory grandees meeting in drawing rooms in this neighbourhood and
1:24:47 > 1:24:50deciding what to do about the problem of Theresa May. That
1:24:50 > 1:24:54happened at the end of Margaret Thatcher's time and is not happening
1:24:54 > 1:24:57now. Although when those meetings happen, they don't rush to tell the
1:24:57 > 1:25:00likes of me but I get no feeling that that is happening now. But it
1:25:00 > 1:25:06could kick off and there are people who would like the prize. When you
1:25:06 > 1:25:12talk to Tory MPs, you hear more top now that, we got past Boris and
1:25:12 > 1:25:15David Davis, maybe even Amber Rudd, who is biding her time quietly, and
1:25:15 > 1:25:19there is more talk of, let's just think about it and go for it with
1:25:19 > 1:25:28names like Tom Tugendhat.Jumping a generation?Yes, not in a lot of way
1:25:28 > 1:25:32but in the kind of conversation we engage in almost every day of our
1:25:32 > 1:25:36lives.One of the disincentives for a leadership election is your
1:25:36 > 1:25:40party's procedures for lecturing a new leader. There was to be a
1:25:40 > 1:25:43leadership contest there would be more runners and riders than you
1:25:43 > 1:25:51would get at Aintree. I've heard 18 names that would throw their hats,
1:25:51 > 1:25:56in fact London could run out of hats!The difficulty is, anything I
1:25:56 > 1:26:00say we'll just have to speculation so I'm one to say nothing, other
1:26:00 > 1:26:03than I am willing to speak for my constituents who want us to get on
1:26:03 > 1:26:08and do the job, a job which needs to be done. One thing I would say is a
1:26:08 > 1:26:14lot of the speculation about stalking horses, the rules do not
1:26:14 > 1:26:18accept that. There was an issue that would go to confidence of the Prime
1:26:18 > 1:26:24Minister but I speak for many MPs, not just government, but many of my
1:26:24 > 1:26:27colleagues in the government, they despair of hearing colleagues either
1:26:27 > 1:26:35on social media, on the TV or airwaves... It is a tough job to do,
1:26:35 > 1:26:40we all know that, and Mrs May is a very resilient woman who has put
1:26:40 > 1:26:43duty first and I find voters across the political divide writing to me
1:26:43 > 1:26:47saying that they very much admire... Resilience is certainly a
1:26:47 > 1:26:50characteristic. There are many other words you could use as well but I
1:26:50 > 1:26:56think even her critics would agree the way she hangs on in their...
1:26:56 > 1:27:00This breezy to the question I wanted to ask you. When we spoke to Labour
1:27:00 > 1:27:06people after the election was out, after the party conference and even
1:27:06 > 1:27:10at various prices during Mrs May's leadership, you got the beer you had
1:27:10 > 1:27:14to be ready could be election at any time. Is that still the feeling
1:27:14 > 1:27:19Labour or are you now beginning to think, this could just stumbled from
1:27:19 > 1:27:24pillar to post for quite a while?I think we would be better with Labour
1:27:24 > 1:27:28led negotiations on the Brexit issue and I think we would be better with
1:27:28 > 1:27:32a Labour government so we are ready, we would be very happy to take the
1:27:32 > 1:27:36reins, should that be the country's wish or should this minority
1:27:36 > 1:27:43Government decide to stand aside. How would you rate the chances of a
1:27:43 > 1:27:46general election this year?You are kidding if you think I'm going to
1:27:46 > 1:27:49try and predict what is going to happen in politics this year! Last
1:27:49 > 1:27:55year I got it all wrong.Did do predict what is going to happen next
1:27:55 > 1:28:03week?That is the thing.That the times we live in now.I once said
1:28:03 > 1:28:10that in December I said after the blaze negotiations Wortley vitiated
1:28:10 > 1:28:14-- phase one negotiations were completed, Theresa May's position
1:28:14 > 1:28:17was secure up. Now you could say she has got very little chance of making
1:28:17 > 1:28:22it an summer recess, so who knows? OK, we shall see.
1:28:22 > 1:28:25There's just time to put you out of your misery and give
1:28:25 > 1:28:26you the answer to Guess The Year.
1:28:26 > 1:28:27The year was...2003.
1:28:27 > 1:28:31We have lost the buzzer! We can't find it anywhere. I'm looking
1:28:31 > 1:28:36around, there is no sign of the buzzer. It has gone. So I'm just
1:28:36 > 1:28:43going to go... Oh, we've found the buzzer!
1:28:45 > 1:28:53buzzer! Stephen Holloway, there is the buzzer! You have won. The mode
1:28:53 > 1:28:58here says the one o'clock news is coming up on BBC One. Jo will be
1:28:58 > 1:29:05back tomorrow with another edition of the Daily Politics. Bye-bye.