0:00:19 > 0:00:21Hello and welcome to the Week In Parliament.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25And much of it was dominated by Donald Trump and his
0:00:25 > 0:00:26notorious retweets.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The Home Secretary was, to use one of the Government's
0:00:29 > 0:00:34favourite words, clear.
0:00:34 > 0:00:42President Donald Trump was wrong to read Tweet videos posted by far
0:00:42 > 0:00:44right group Britain First.
0:00:44 > 0:00:49Some called for the President's state visit to be cancelled.
0:00:49 > 0:00:55We cannot simply roll out the red carpet and give a platform for the
0:00:55 > 0:01:03resident of the United States to also sow discord in our communities.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09And, Brexit-wise, the knives were out for David Davis.
0:01:09 > 0:01:15Whether he is in contempt of Parliament is to be debated but he
0:01:15 > 0:01:18is certainly treating it with contempt.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20But first, at the end of Prime Minister's Questions
0:01:20 > 0:01:24there's always a bit of a scramble as MPs head for the doors before
0:01:24 > 0:01:25the next debate starts.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28But on Wednesday many stayed in their seats as news reached them
0:01:28 > 0:01:30of the notorious Donald Trump retweets of three inflammatory
0:01:30 > 0:01:31anti-Muslim videos.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33A couple of Labour MPs asked the Speaker for a statement
0:01:34 > 0:01:35from the Home Secretary.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37He said he wouldn't expect a response immediately.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39But the next day Amber Rudd was called to the House,
0:01:39 > 0:01:47where she had to steer a tricky diplomatic course.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49President Donald Trump was wrong
0:01:49 > 0:01:52to retweet videos hosted by the far right group, Britain First.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55When we look at the wider picture, the relationship between the UK
0:01:55 > 0:01:57and America, I know how valuable the friendship is
0:01:57 > 0:02:01between our two nations.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04As Home Secretary, I can tell the House that the importance
0:02:04 > 0:02:06of the relationship between our countries - the unparalleled
0:02:06 > 0:02:08sharing of intelligence between our countries
0:02:08 > 0:02:12- is vital.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16It has undoubtedly saved British lives.
0:02:16 > 0:02:26That is the bigger picture here and I urge people to remember that.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Although the Labour Party appreciates the importance
0:02:32 > 0:02:35of realpolitik, we also call on the Government to make it clear
0:02:35 > 0:02:38that, in no way and at no time, do they give any support whatever
0:02:38 > 0:02:40to the distasteful views of the 45th President on race,
0:02:40 > 0:02:50migration and Muslim communities internationally.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55To do anything else would be an affront to voters in this
0:02:55 > 0:03:05country, whichever side of the House they support.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14One of the advantages of having such a special relationship
0:03:14 > 0:03:17with the United States is that when a friend tells us we have done
0:03:17 > 0:03:19something dreadfully wrong, we tend to listen.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Would not the world be a better place if the Prime Minister
0:03:21 > 0:03:23could persuade the President of the United States
0:03:23 > 0:03:29to delete his Twitter account?
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Several MPs felt strongly that the President's state visit
0:03:31 > 0:03:41should not go ahead.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46We have absolutely no idea what the President will say or tweet
0:03:47 > 0:03:48next and before he visits?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51What does he actually need to say or tweet before the idea of a state
0:03:51 > 0:03:53visit is ditched once and for all?
0:03:53 > 0:03:55An invitation for the visit has been extended and accepted,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58but the dates and the precise arrangements have yet to be agreed.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01That means that - no matter what diplomatic route
0:04:01 > 0:04:04we find to do this - we cannot simply roll out a red
0:04:04 > 0:04:06carpet and give the President of the United States a platform
0:04:06 > 0:04:10to also sow discord in our communities.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13Putting aside the question of a state visit, should he even be
0:04:13 > 0:04:14allowed to enter our country?
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Unprecedented actions require unprecedented responses.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I point out to the honourable lady that the Prime Minister has robustly
0:04:21 > 0:04:31replied to the President and made her views absolutely clear.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40On the honourable lady's other proposal, we do not routinely
0:04:40 > 0:04:41comment on individual exclusion cases.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Is the Home Secretary satisfied that President Trump's behaviour -
0:04:44 > 0:04:47this is not an isolated incident - does not undermine our important
0:04:47 > 0:04:49security and co-operation relationship with the United States?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51May I also say that just because somebody stops
0:04:51 > 0:04:54using Twitter, it does not mean that they cease to be a twit?
0:04:54 > 0:04:58My honourable friend puts his finger on it, if I may say so,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01in the first half of his comment when he talks about the importance
0:05:01 > 0:05:03of that close relationship.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06However strongly honourable
0:05:06 > 0:05:08members feel about the President, we must protect the particular
0:05:08 > 0:05:11relationship that we have with the US, which does so much
0:05:11 > 0:05:21to keep British people safe.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34Is true to tackling hate crime, it should not be opposed to taking down
0:05:34 > 0:05:38the President's Twitter added whenever anyone else who preached
0:05:38 > 0:05:41hate crime.Homophones are racist who stood up hate crime in this
0:05:41 > 0:05:48country will not be allowed -- homophobic people. That's what
0:05:48 > 0:05:53everyone knows, just say it.I would say to the honourable gentleman
0:05:53 > 0:05:58there is no pretence. We are clearing the action we will take
0:05:58 > 0:06:00against people who propagate hate.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01The Home Secretary.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Now, do we need all 650 of our MPs?
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Could we do without 50 of them?
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Six years ago an Act of Parliament was passed to reduce the number
0:06:10 > 0:06:13to 600 and they're still consulting on how this should be done.
0:06:13 > 0:06:19But a Labour MP wants to reverse that change and hang on to all 650.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Afzal Khan's bill has just started its journey through Parliament.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28I asked him what he was aiming to do.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33I'm trying to get a consensus with a view that was going through. There
0:06:33 > 0:06:37isn't a consensus in Parliament. What the public think about this? I
0:06:37 > 0:06:41suspect some would say there are too many MPs and we could manage with
0:06:41 > 0:06:46fewer and it would be popular. Have you can't just public opinion?It's
0:06:46 > 0:06:55important that we do a good job so they elected people are the voices
0:06:55 > 0:07:01of the people, unelected people are not, if we are getting more and more
0:07:01 > 0:07:07special advisers, how much does that cost? Why don't be cut on that side?
0:07:07 > 0:07:10Equally important is constituency level work. As an MP I spent half
0:07:10 > 0:07:14the week here doing the legislation site and the other half is working
0:07:14 > 0:07:19with the people in the constituency. What they are proposing, it will be
0:07:19 > 0:07:24bigger constituencies which means community is broken up and added on,
0:07:24 > 0:07:30which doesn't have the same effect and accountability. They want to do
0:07:30 > 0:07:37a review every five years, building this stability. And the cost, which
0:07:37 > 0:07:42I'm saying we could do in ten years which would give stability as well.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46We could do 7.5% which gives us more flexibility to maintain the
0:07:46 > 0:07:54community link and a link with MPs. Boundary changes would affect the
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Conservatives. Is this not a party political issue and a good thing for
0:07:58 > 0:08:03the Labour Party to keep the number 650?When we were in power, we went
0:08:03 > 0:08:09ahead with the boundary review even when it was against us. This overall
0:08:09 > 0:08:15is about levelling it so levelling the principle isn't a are idea. --
0:08:15 > 0:08:23bad idea.What part of the job would suffer if there were 50 less MPs?
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Number one is accountability and balance between the Executive and
0:08:27 > 0:08:34Parliament because what you will have is less backbench MPs and mode
0:08:34 > 0:08:38of them in ministerial posts and that balance is also important.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Second is the workload. It will have an impact will stop if there is more
0:08:42 > 0:08:46work with the bigger constituency and if you add in the Brexit impact
0:08:46 > 0:08:51as well and if you add in the future of how we reach out to the world,
0:08:51 > 0:08:58and if you add to the point that 73 MEP jobs will vanish, that work will
0:08:58 > 0:09:03be done, so you can see endlessly there will be much more.What chance
0:09:03 > 0:09:07do you think the bill has going through?I think there's a pretty
0:09:07 > 0:09:10good chance that we will have a huge support in the debate.Thank very
0:09:10 > 0:09:12much.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And Afzal Khan opened the debate in the Commons.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16The public already see politicians as remote,
0:09:16 > 0:09:18self-interested and unaccountable, and the current boundary changes
0:09:18 > 0:09:26would make that worse.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28The bill would preserve the MP-constituency link,
0:09:28 > 0:09:30the power to scrutinise the Executive and the strength
0:09:30 > 0:09:40of our communities.
0:09:43 > 0:09:50We are probably the only people who drive around and see boundaries.
0:09:50 > 0:09:58When I good on the M4, I go through the constituencies of the Prime
0:09:58 > 0:10:05Minister and may Honourable friends, but let's be frank, that is a bit of
0:10:05 > 0:10:09a thing that only us involved in politics C. Normal people,
0:10:09 > 0:10:15constituents that we represent, don't see the country as a
0:10:15 > 0:10:21succession of Government boundaries. The Government has said it is with
0:10:21 > 0:10:25legislation but according to three senior sources quoted in The Times,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29the plan is likely to be scrapped due to a lack of support from the
0:10:29 > 0:10:38Conservative benches. Perhaps demonstrating that this is going to
0:10:38 > 0:10:41be the latest casualty following the Prime Minister's failure to win a
0:10:41 > 0:10:46majority in June, Madam Deputy Speaker, if the review is going to
0:10:46 > 0:10:52be ditched, I say to the Government, stop wasting public money! This is a
0:10:52 > 0:10:59Charente! -- charade! Lets start a fresh review based on the principles
0:10:59 > 0:11:06that we can all agree on.Just as a parent loves all the children
0:11:06 > 0:11:10equally, I love all the areas they represent equally. I would be sad to
0:11:10 > 0:11:14lose any of them. I could no more choose between any of them that I
0:11:14 > 0:11:21could between my daughters. But my belief in democracy is stronger,
0:11:21 > 0:11:26ensuring fair representation and that a port in north Oxfordshire
0:11:26 > 0:11:32counts the same as it does anywhere else -- a vault in north
0:11:32 > 0:11:39Oxfordshire.The bill passed a second reading but stands little
0:11:39 > 0:11:41chance of becoming law without support.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Well, let's take a look at some of the other news in brief.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Rail firms which operate passenger services would also manage
0:11:46 > 0:11:48the tracks their trains run on, under new Government plans.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50And some routes lost under Richard Beeching
0:11:50 > 0:11:52in the 1960s could be restored.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54The closing of some 4,000 miles of track,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57mainly in rural areas, became known as the Beeching cuts.
0:11:57 > 0:11:58Chris Grayling said rail lines would be re-opened
0:11:59 > 0:12:03if they eased congestion.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06And his plans also give us a chance to show you these lovely pictures.
0:12:06 > 0:12:11The move is part of a new government rail strategy.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Despite the improvements in the real since privatisation, we are still
0:12:15 > 0:12:18some way away from a high-performance, customer focused
0:12:18 > 0:12:24industry. That is why we must continue to reform and invest in the
0:12:24 > 0:12:26railway and maximise the contribution that both public and
0:12:26 > 0:12:28private sectors make to improve services.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31The Health Secretary has told the Commons he wants to halve
0:12:31 > 0:12:35the number of baby deaths and injuries during childbirth.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Jeremy Hunt said the NHS in England must do more
0:12:40 > 0:12:42to learn from mistakes because each year around 1,000
0:12:42 > 0:12:44babies die unexpectedly or are left with severe brain injuries.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48MPs welcomed the plans.
0:12:48 > 0:12:56It is easy to spot the woman who has a past history of difficult births.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01It is easy to spot the women with obesity and diabetes but anyone who
0:13:01 > 0:13:04has been involved in birth knows that even a healthiest pregnancy can
0:13:04 > 0:13:06go wrong at the last minute.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08MPs have accused the Government of sending mixed messages
0:13:08 > 0:13:11on the environment after a planned rise in fuel duty was
0:13:11 > 0:13:13scrapped in the Budget.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Things got a bit tetchy in the Committee Room,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20when the Treasury minister was challenged over whether his
0:13:20 > 0:13:22department had analysed how well pollution-reducing measures
0:13:22 > 0:13:23were working.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27You are the Treasury Minister and you don't know if there is a cost
0:13:27 > 0:13:28benefit analysis inside government
0:13:28 > 0:13:32on the benefits of taking measures
0:13:32 > 0:13:39to tackle air pollution on public health.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Mr Bradshaw, you are only suggesting you would want to take
0:13:41 > 0:13:46action on the basis of cost benefits.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47That is not the case.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49We recognise the public health challenge.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51That is why we have been working on it.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52We are revising the figures.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54We are seeing a downward projection in the medical statistics
0:13:54 > 0:13:55of avoidable deaths.
0:13:55 > 0:13:57But nevertheless, we are very keen to
0:13:57 > 0:14:00work on air quality because we know that poor qir quality
0:14:00 > 0:14:01affects...
0:14:01 > 0:14:03The question the question was to the Treasury Minister.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04Thank you, chairman.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06The Commons' second debating chamber, Westminster Hall,
0:14:06 > 0:14:08made a little bit of parliamentary history on Thursday afternoon.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12The moment was heralded by the Labour MP, Jim Fitzpatrick,
0:14:12 > 0:14:17who chairs the all party group on deafness and hearing loss.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Our debate is being translated into sign language
0:14:19 > 0:14:21which I believe is a parliamentary first.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23So, we are making history in this debate.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26It is great for all of us who are here to
0:14:26 > 0:14:30participate in this event.
0:14:30 > 0:14:31Well, Prime Minister's Questions looked a little
0:14:31 > 0:14:33different on Wednesday - no Prime Minister.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35Theresa May was on a visit to the Middle East,
0:14:35 > 0:14:38so the First Secretary of State, Damian Green, was understudying.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40And taking the role of Jeremy Corbyn was Emily Thornberry,
0:14:40 > 0:14:42the shadow Foreign Secretary.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44She opened with a few jokes.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47See if you can get the references.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50And congratulating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54That is one Anglo-American couple we on this side
0:14:54 > 0:14:56will be delighted to see holding hands.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00LAUGHTER.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03I'm sure that Prince Harry...
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I'm sure that Prince Harry, the patron of rugby football league
0:15:05 > 0:15:10will be joining all of us in supporting
0:15:10 > 0:15:12will be joining all of us in supporting the England team
0:15:13 > 0:15:14in the World Cup final on Saturday.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And I, for one, will be waving my St Georges flag.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18LAUGHTER.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21That was a reference to the tweet she sent in 2014
0:15:21 > 0:15:22about a terraced house flying three England flags
0:15:22 > 0:15:24for which she was sacked by Ed Miliband.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27And the hand-holding was of course Donald Trump taking Theresa May's
0:15:27 > 0:15:29hand at the White House.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31But it was her first question which raised eyebrows.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Damian Green is currently being investigated by the Cabinet Office
0:15:34 > 0:15:44over allegations about his past behaviour.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Can I ask the First Secretary of simple point of principle?
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Is he happy to be held to the same standards in government
0:15:50 > 0:15:52that he required of others when he was in opposition?
0:15:52 > 0:15:53The Secretary.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Yes, I am.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56I think all ministers should respect and obey
0:15:56 > 0:16:00and I actually think that that is a very
0:16:00 > 0:16:03important part of that in public life.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05I merely wondered if he remembered the question asked at
0:16:05 > 0:16:15Prime Minister's Questions almost 17 years ago, when John Prescott
0:16:15 > 0:16:17stood in for Tony Blair, and whether he could answer that same
0:16:17 > 0:16:19question today. So, what is the question?
0:16:19 > 0:16:22The question is this, what percentage of new nurses recruited
0:16:22 > 0:16:24in the past 12 months are now working full-time?
0:16:24 > 0:16:25LAUGHTER.
0:16:25 > 0:16:26The Secretary.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29I can't remember...
0:16:29 > 0:16:32I can't remember asking the question then and I'd
0:16:32 > 0:16:35love to know what the then Deputy Prime Minister answered then.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40What I am happy to assure the right honourable lady is that we have more
0:16:40 > 0:16:42nurses, more midwives, more doctors working...
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Working in the health service now.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49The health service is performing more operations now,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53certainly than it was 17 years ago.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58And, in particular, in the Budget last week, my right honourable
0:16:58 > 0:17:01friend the Chancellor was able to announce more than £6 billion
0:17:01 > 0:17:04extra on health spending which will make
0:17:04 > 0:17:08the health service even stronger in the future than it is now.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Damian Green.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12This week, there was no discussion of the EU Withdrawal Bill
0:17:12 > 0:17:14because MPs were occupied with the Budget.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15So were we Brexit-free?
0:17:15 > 0:17:17No.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20There were two issues - the size of the exit bill and those
0:17:20 > 0:17:21controversial impact statements.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24You'll remember they're the papers setting out how Brexit
0:17:24 > 0:17:28would affect 58 sectors of the economy.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31MPs wanted those papers to be shown to the Brexit committee,
0:17:31 > 0:17:32and voted accordingly.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Ministers said they'd hand them over.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36And they did.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37But not in their complete form.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Cue the Shadow Brexit Secretary.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42It is simply not open to the Secretary of
0:17:42 > 0:17:51State to choose to ignore it and to pass
0:17:51 > 0:17:54State to choose to ignore it and to pass to the select committee
0:17:54 > 0:17:55the documents that he chooses.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Whether he's in contempt of Parliament is a
0:17:57 > 0:17:59matter that we will come to at some later date.
0:17:59 > 0:18:01But he is certainly treating Parliament with contempt.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03We have not edited or redacted reports.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06At the time the motion was passed, and subsequently we were
0:18:06 > 0:18:08clear that the documents did not exist in the form requested.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10We have collated information in a way that
0:18:10 > 0:18:13doesn't include some sensitive material but the documents which he
0:18:13 > 0:18:15freely admits he hasn't seen do not contain reductions.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17If the government wished to resist the
0:18:17 > 0:18:25publication of the papers it had, it should have voted against the
0:18:25 > 0:18:28motion, and if it wished to qualify or to edit the papers that it had,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31then it should have sought to amend the motion.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34And we cannot allow post Brexit to start reducing
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Parliamentary sovereignty to a slightly ridiculous level.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41Can I remind the Minister that the
0:18:41 > 0:18:45question of what the government will provide the select committee is
0:18:45 > 0:18:55not for the government or indeed for the select committee to decide.
0:18:55 > 0:18:56This Parliament has decided.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58I made it very clear to the Secretary of
0:18:58 > 0:19:04State what procedure the select committee would use
0:19:04 > 0:19:05to consider the report.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09And if I may put it like this, I do object to any suggestion
0:19:09 > 0:19:11that the select committee, and I as chair, cannot be
0:19:11 > 0:19:12trusted to do our job.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Does the Minister share my concerns as to how a letter
0:19:15 > 0:19:18sent by the Secretary of State to the select committee managed to
0:19:18 > 0:19:20reach journalists at the Daily Mirror before
0:19:20 > 0:19:23it was considered by the committee?
0:19:23 > 0:19:25Does that encourage him or discourage him
0:19:25 > 0:19:27when it comes to sharing confidential information?
0:19:27 > 0:19:30To meet this motion, it is not at the
0:19:30 > 0:19:33discretion of the government to decide what to take out, it is now
0:19:33 > 0:19:34at the discretion of the select committee.
0:19:34 > 0:19:41And I would therefore urge the government either to meet
0:19:41 > 0:19:45the terms of the motion in full all to seek to put down a new motion.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46And after that debate, the Speaker suggested
0:19:46 > 0:19:49in quite a forceful way that the Brexit Secretary should
0:19:49 > 0:19:51have a chat with the Brexit Committee "within days".
0:19:51 > 0:19:52In fact, it'll be on Wednesday.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The other talking point this week was the so-called divorce bill.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And the talking got louder once it was reported that the bill might
0:19:58 > 0:19:59reach 50 billion euros.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02But it did produce an unlikely meeting of minds.
0:20:02 > 0:20:0470% of the people that voted in Bolsover voted to leave.
0:20:04 > 0:20:14But can I also say this to you?
0:20:15 > 0:20:21Those same people in Bolsover, I believe, would expect me
0:20:21 > 0:20:31the honourable lady from the finance department that if they'd got
0:20:31 > 0:20:34£60 billion to spare, it should go to the National
0:20:34 > 0:20:43Health Service and social care.
0:20:43 > 0:20:46For the first time in my parliamentary career, I'm
0:20:46 > 0:20:48going to agree with the honourable member for Bolsover.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49He is absolutely right.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51The 60 odd percent of people in Wellingborough who
0:20:51 > 0:20:54voted to leave want to know what we were doing with £60 billion.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58They want it spent on the NHS, social care, and defence.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00They would not want it given to the European Union.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03Would the minister agree such a move would be betraying the trust
0:21:04 > 0:21:11of the British people?
0:21:11 > 0:21:13The money that we have been reading about in the
0:21:13 > 0:21:19press is speculation.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24These negotiations are ongoing, discussion is ongoing,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and we want to secure value for money for the
0:21:27 > 0:21:28British taxpayer.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Now, the funeral has taken place of Carl Sargeant.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32The Labour Welsh Assembly member died last month days
0:21:32 > 0:21:34after being sacked from the Welsh government amid allegations
0:21:34 > 0:21:35over his conduct.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37On Wednesday, Labour members of the Welsh Assembly blocked
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Conservative moves for an inquiry into bullying allegations
0:21:39 > 0:21:40against the government.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43The Tory motion was backed by Plaid Cymru and UKIP.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45It would've triggered an inquiry by the committee for the scrutiny
0:21:45 > 0:21:51of the First Minister Carwyn Jones.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55There has been talk in recent weeks about delivering natural justice
0:21:55 > 0:21:58in an enquiry that is set in the government's own terms
0:21:58 > 0:22:08behind closed doors does not set that agenda.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12A public, transparent forum is one of the vehicles to deliver that
0:22:12 > 0:22:15and so it is entirely appropriate that this motion is allowed to pass.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18In the, the assembly has always prided itself in being an open
0:22:18 > 0:22:23and transparent forum and it is crucial that we continue
0:22:23 > 0:22:25to operate in this manner.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27I would just like the government party to consider this.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Do you think it is a good look to be seen to be looking as though
0:22:31 > 0:22:32you are avoiding for scrutiny?
0:22:32 > 0:22:33I would argue that it isn't.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39In two days' time, we are going to be burying our colleague and friend.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42And I think it is unseemly to be having this nature of debate
0:22:42 > 0:22:43while that still hasn't happened.
0:22:43 > 0:22:49I find it reprehensible, the way people have used this
0:22:49 > 0:22:52tragedy to settle scores from their time in government.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54I think the First Minister, to his credit, has set up two
0:22:54 > 0:22:57separate independent processes, which is unprecedented.
0:22:57 > 0:23:03Those need to be given time to draw their conclusions.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Well, what's been happening in the wider world of politics?
0:23:05 > 0:23:15Here's Simon Vaughan with our countdown.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19It's Christmas time in Washington.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21The White House turned into a winter wonderland,
0:23:21 > 0:23:22complete with tree made from green books.
0:23:23 > 0:23:30Will anyone actually read them?
0:23:30 > 0:23:32It is a game of two halves.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Ex Lib Dem leader Tim Farren gave a speech to the
0:23:34 > 0:23:36religious think tank Theos.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38He put the ball somewhere with an extended
0:23:38 > 0:23:39football metaphor.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42..which in the Richmond Park in the local elections results,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45in which you could say I had an impressive and morale boosting FA
0:23:45 > 0:23:46Cup run.
0:23:46 > 0:23:56Now is the winter of our discontent.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Made glorious summer by this son of YOrk.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04Jeremy Corbyn went to Edinburgh on Monday
0:24:04 > 0:24:07to congratulate the new leader of Scottish Labour Richard Leonard from
0:24:07 > 0:24:08sunny Yorkshire.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Labour MP Fiona Onasanya smuggled in a quote from
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Big Shaq, Man's Not Hot comedy rap into her speech in the Budget
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Big Shaq, Man's Not Hot comedy rap into her speech in the
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Budget debate.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21It is not as simple as two plus two is four minus three is one, quick
0:24:21 > 0:24:22maths.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Other MPs were slow to spot the reference.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26In her 12th debate on the effects of state pension changes
0:24:26 > 0:24:29on women, says her election in only 2015, Mhari Black
0:24:29 > 0:24:30struggled to keep it
0:24:30 > 0:24:32on women, says her election in only 2015, Mhari Black
0:24:32 > 0:24:33struggled to keep it clean.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36My honourable member eloquently said, they've got a brass neck.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Now, I am have to say, I'm happy to apply the Brasso on that.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Honest to God, how shiny it is for the amount of rubbish that
0:24:42 > 0:24:45has been spoken in this chamber today by those members is appalling.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49Other metal polishers are available.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53Simon Vaughan.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56This week saw the final days of the debate on the Budget
0:24:56 > 0:24:57and the votes to approve it.
0:24:57 > 0:25:02But after four days of discussion, the excitement can wane slightly.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03Order!
0:25:03 > 0:25:07The question is as on the order paper.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09As many that are of the opinion say, "Aye!"
0:25:09 > 0:25:10QUIETLY: Aye...
0:25:10 > 0:25:13LAUGHTER.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16You're not in very good form.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Well, they had another go and although the response
0:25:18 > 0:25:23was still a bit lacklustre, the Speaker decided that it
0:25:23 > 0:25:26did amount to approval and the Budget went through.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30And that brings us to the end of this edition of the programme.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33But do join Keith Macdougall on Monday night at 11 for a full
0:25:33 > 0:25:34roundup of the day at Westminster.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36But for now, from me, Mandy Baker, goodbye.