0:00:20 > 0:00:24Hello and welcome to The Week In Parliament.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27Is it finally Stage 1, "Peace in our Time?",
0:00:27 > 0:00:30after the Prime Minister's failed plan from Monday was attacked
0:00:30 > 0:00:35from all sides.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38If the price of the Prime Minister's approaches the break above the Union
0:00:38 > 0:00:44and reopening of the tour divide in Northern Ireland, the price is too
0:00:44 > 0:00:46high.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49But Theresa May insisted there will be no hard border
0:00:49 > 0:00:52between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55We aim to deliver this as part of our overall trade deal between the
0:00:55 > 0:01:01United Kingdom and European Union.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03Also on this programme: the Government says it's abandoning
0:01:03 > 0:01:06a planned cap on social care costs in England.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09And ministers are urged to take action following President Trump's
0:01:09 > 0:01:19decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23C Greene will the Secretary of State today completely brought a visit
0:01:23 > 0:01:25from President Trump and sent a clear message that his divisiveness
0:01:25 > 0:01:31is not welcome?
0:01:31 > 0:01:33But first, it was another high-stakes week for the Government
0:01:33 > 0:01:35as Theresa May attempted to secure an interim Brexit deal.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38The Prime Minister had travelled to Brussels on Monday in the hope
0:01:38 > 0:01:41of getting an agreement that would pave the way for
0:01:41 > 0:01:42the start of trade talks.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Mrs May and the President of the European Commission,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Jean Claude Juncker, gave a joint news conference
0:01:46 > 0:01:49at which they said their meeting had been "constructive."
0:01:49 > 0:01:52But the talks ran into the ground when the Democratic Unionist Party
0:01:52 > 0:01:56complained that a possible solution to the issue of the border
0:01:56 > 0:01:59between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic would mean
0:01:59 > 0:02:03Northern Ireland being treated differently to the rest of the UK.
0:02:03 > 0:02:11So on Tuesday, the Brexit Secretary came to the Commons to update MPs.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15We hold further talks in Brussels over the past two days and progress
0:02:15 > 0:02:20has been made. We have not yet reached a final conclusion. However,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24however, I believe we are now close to concluding the first phase of
0:02:24 > 0:02:28negotiations and moving on to talk about our future trade relations.Mr
0:02:28 > 0:02:35Speaker, what an embarrassment. The last 24 hours have given a new
0:02:35 > 0:02:40meaning to the phrase coalition of chaos. Yesterday morning, Number ten
0:02:40 > 0:02:44was briefing that a deal would be signed. There was high expectation
0:02:44 > 0:02:46that the Prime Minister would make a triumphant statement to the House.
0:02:46 > 0:02:53By tea-time to but we had 849 second press conference saying the deal
0:02:53 > 0:02:57off.Mr Speaker, the Government who said they would bring sovereignty
0:02:57 > 0:03:02back to Parliament is now being controlled by someone who is not
0:03:02 > 0:03:05even a member of this Parliament. A government that refuses to give
0:03:05 > 0:03:08Parliament any say in the development in negotiating position
0:03:08 > 0:03:15is valid and that negotiating position being dictated by the
0:03:15 > 0:03:17leader of a Parliament in the smallest of the four nations of this
0:03:17 > 0:03:22union.It should come as no surprise that the Dublin and Irish government
0:03:22 > 0:03:26wishes to advance its interests. Though it has about it in such an
0:03:26 > 0:03:33aggressive anti-union this way is disgraceful and has set back
0:03:33 > 0:03:35relations and damaged the relationship within Northern Ireland
0:03:35 > 0:03:40in terms of the devolution settlement.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43And in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, it was also made
0:03:43 > 0:03:53clear that a differential deal was not acceptable.
0:03:54 > 0:04:01In a continued with two Brexit... I think therefore it is time for all
0:04:01 > 0:04:05of us, but here in Scotland and across the UK, at this crucial time
0:04:05 > 0:04:08to speak out for what is in everybody's interest and reject a
0:04:08 > 0:04:13hard Brexit.We cannot allow different parts of the UK to be more
0:04:13 > 0:04:18favorably treated others. If one part of the UK is granted continued
0:04:18 > 0:04:20participation in the single market customs union, we expect the same
0:04:20 > 0:04:22offer.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Well, the state of the negotiations was raised the next day
0:04:25 > 0:04:31by the Labour leader at Prime Minister's Questions.
0:04:31 > 0:04:40Two days after the original cost and money's channels, is the Prime
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Minister ready to clearly outline what the position is now with a
0:04:42 > 0:04:50burst to the Irish border -- with regards to.I'm very happy you
0:04:50 > 0:04:53outline my position on the Irish border. It is exactly the same
0:04:53 > 0:05:00position that I am telling I talked about in the Lancashire House
0:05:00 > 0:05:03speech. The glee have taken consistently in the negotiations,
0:05:03 > 0:05:10which is that we will ensure that there is no hard border between
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We will do that while we
0:05:13 > 0:05:20respect the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom. And while we
0:05:20 > 0:05:24respected the internal market and protect the internal market. Of the
0:05:24 > 0:05:31United Kingdom. And those Labour members who shout, "How", that's the
0:05:31 > 0:05:41whole point of the second phase of the negotiations. Because we will
0:05:41 > 0:05:45deliver this, we aim to deliver this as part of our overall trade deal
0:05:45 > 0:05:56between the United Kingdom and European Union.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57Theresa May.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00And on Friday morning, there were sighs of relief
0:06:00 > 0:06:02all round as Theresa May and the President of the European
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Commission Jean Claude Juncker announced a deal had been done,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07opening the way for the Brexit talks to move on to
0:06:07 > 0:06:09the crucial subject of trade.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11News of a breakthrough came after four days of intense
0:06:11 > 0:06:13negotiations between British, EU and Irish officials,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15and a frantic night of telephone diplomacy involving the
0:06:15 > 0:06:16Democratic Unionists.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Well, away from the immediate high drama of the Brexit talks,
0:06:19 > 0:06:23there was plenty of other Brexit business in Parliament.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26There was some surprise around Westminster on Wednesday
0:06:26 > 0:06:29when the Brexit Secretary admitted that the Government hadn't carried
0:06:29 > 0:06:33out formal assessments of how leaving the European Union
0:06:33 > 0:06:38would effect the UK economy.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40The Government has not undertaken any impact assessments on
0:06:40 > 0:06:43applications for leaving the EU for different sectors of the British
0:06:43 > 0:06:52economy? So there isn't one, for example, on the automotive sector?
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Not that I am aware of.Is the one on Aerospace?Not that I'm aware of.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01I think the answer would be no to all of them.No to all of them.
0:07:01 > 0:07:08Doesn't it strike you as rather strange given the Government
0:07:08 > 0:07:11undertakes impact assessments on also to things all of the time, that
0:07:11 > 0:07:16on the most influential change we are taking as a country, you've just
0:07:16 > 0:07:20told us the Government has not taken any impact assessments at all
0:07:20 > 0:07:25looking at the impact on individual sectors of the economy?The thing to
0:07:25 > 0:07:28say, Mr Chairman, is when these sectoral analysis are initiated,
0:07:28 > 0:07:36they were done to understand the effect of various options. What the
0:07:36 > 0:07:40outcome would be. You don't need to be an impact assessment, a formal
0:07:40 > 0:07:46impact assessment, to understand that if there is a regulatory hurdle
0:07:46 > 0:07:48between our producer and a market, they will have an impact. It will
0:07:48 > 0:07:54have an effect. The assessment of the effect, I think you I said that
0:07:54 > 0:07:59to you for poor, is not a straightforward as people imagine.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02-- I said that to you before.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Meanwhile in the main Commons Chamber, MPs
0:08:04 > 0:08:08continued their detailed scrutiny of the EU Withdrawal Bill,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11which puts all EU law into UK law to avoid a legislative black hole
0:08:11 > 0:08:14on Brexit Day.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17A Labour MP put forward an amendment that would give Parliament a say
0:08:17 > 0:08:20on the so-called divorce bill, the money the UK will pay
0:08:20 > 0:08:27on leaving the European Union.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30It seemed quite particular to me that it was for the British
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Government to tell Jean-Claude Juncker and the European Commission
0:08:33 > 0:08:39how much the Government and British taxpayers were prepared to be but
0:08:39 > 0:08:43somehow, members of Parliament are in a grown-up I love to hear about
0:08:43 > 0:08:49it, never the British public, finding the real settlement.The
0:08:49 > 0:08:55payment would be part of an agreement. And the Government has
0:08:55 > 0:09:01already, rightly in my view, said that Parliament will have a vote on
0:09:01 > 0:09:05the agreement. You cannot vote on an agreement without voting on the
0:09:05 > 0:09:11financing of an agreement. Because the agreement will stipulate the
0:09:11 > 0:09:13finances.We cannot have the devolved administrations having to
0:09:13 > 0:09:17pay money towards the divorce bill. It is absolutely ridiculous this
0:09:17 > 0:09:24Parliament might come in any circumstances, suggest that the
0:09:24 > 0:09:28devolved administrations should have to pay for something which people in
0:09:28 > 0:09:33Scotland didn't vote for, people in Northern Ireland didn't vote for as
0:09:33 > 0:09:36countries stop with these ornaments to the Bill show an understandable
0:09:36 > 0:09:40desire to protect the role of this House but they are not necessary --
0:09:40 > 0:09:47these amendments to the Bill.The Government has always been clear
0:09:47 > 0:09:50this House will be given a vote on that agreement. The Secretary of
0:09:50 > 0:09:54State, Mike right honourable friend, for exiting the European Union was
0:09:54 > 0:09:58very clear on the 13th of November when he announced the withdrawal
0:09:58 > 0:10:02agreement and implementation bill. And that is one of the principal
0:10:02 > 0:10:08elements of our agreement with the EU, we expect that legislation will
0:10:08 > 0:10:11include authorisation to pay any financial sediment negotiated with
0:10:11 > 0:10:18the EU. The Bill we are debating today is about ensuring the statue
0:10:18 > 0:10:22book is operational on exit day, not about paying any settlements.Steve
0:10:22 > 0:10:26Baker.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28A Foreign Office Minister has repeated the government's
0:10:28 > 0:10:30disagreement with United States President Donald Trump
0:10:30 > 0:10:32over his decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35President Trump's decision reversed decades of US policy on one
0:10:35 > 0:10:40of the thorniest issues between Israel and Palestinians.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42There's been a growing chorus of condemnation
0:10:42 > 0:10:46over the announcement.
0:10:46 > 0:10:53But the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it
0:10:53 > 0:10:55as "historic", and said he was sure that more
0:10:55 > 0:10:56countries would follow suit.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58In the Commons, Labour asked an urgent question on the decision,
0:10:58 > 0:11:04and the Minister made it clear where the UK stood.
0:11:04 > 0:11:12We disagree with the decision to move the capital to Jerusalem. We
0:11:12 > 0:11:15believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects of peace in the region.
0:11:15 > 0:11:22The British Embassy is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move
0:11:22 > 0:11:26it.There was a reason before yesterday that no other country
0:11:26 > 0:11:30would recognise Jerusalem as visual's capital. Because to do
0:11:30 > 0:11:34either thing, let alone both at the same time, compares legitimacy on
0:11:34 > 0:11:40Israel's occupancy of East Jerusalem, eight occupation with no
0:11:40 > 0:11:50basis in law...Would you share the values of inclusion and respect
0:11:50 > 0:11:54across these islands. Taking this into consideration, will the
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Secretary of State today completely rule out the state visit from
0:11:57 > 0:12:01President Trump and send out a clear message that his divisive and
0:12:01 > 0:12:06reckless actions are not welcome here?
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Alistair Burt said an invitation had been made, but no date had been set.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13Is the reality that the peace process has been stalled for 24
0:12:13 > 0:12:18years? Since 1993. And what we do need now, following this
0:12:18 > 0:12:21announcement, is direct peace talks between the state of Israel and
0:12:21 > 0:12:27Palestinian representatives? If we can get from the United Nations a
0:12:27 > 0:12:29brokered position whereby those peace talks start, actually this
0:12:29 > 0:12:39could end up being quite a good decision.I have no sense that
0:12:39 > 0:12:44yesterday's decision made a contribution to advancing the peace
0:12:44 > 0:12:50process.The Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Now, the news was announced in the week of the death
0:12:52 > 0:12:55of the 1960s model Christine Keeler, the last of the principal players
0:12:55 > 0:12:57in one of Britain's great political sex scandals.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00She became famous for her part in the Profumo scandal, which shook
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Harold Macmillan's government.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07Duncan Smith explains.
0:13:07 > 0:13:13In 1963, the Secretary of State for work, John Profumo, was forced to
0:13:13 > 0:13:16resign after admitting lying to the House of Commons after admitting his
0:13:16 > 0:13:24affair. Also sharing a bed with a Soviet spy. When Keeler began
0:13:24 > 0:13:28attracting press attention, the story started to beat out, they can
0:13:28 > 0:13:33become from us, Profumo Limited all to his wife in the country. He never
0:13:33 > 0:13:40returned to the world of politics. Duncan Smith.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42So why was the Profumo affair quite so damaging?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44In 1963, Lord Carrington was a fellow Defence Minister
0:13:44 > 0:13:45with Jack Profumo.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48For a special programme four years ago that marked 50 years
0:13:48 > 0:13:50since that tumultuous time, he told me he'd asked
0:13:50 > 0:13:52Profumo why he'd lied to the Commons about the affair,
0:13:52 > 0:14:02triggering his downfall.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05He said, well you see I was accused of being too close to people who
0:14:05 > 0:14:14knew the Soviet... The height of the Cold War, this is very important and
0:14:14 > 0:14:17can be very dangerous. I thought that I had to defend myself about
0:14:17 > 0:14:24that. And I thought whatever I had done was quite unimportant compared
0:14:24 > 0:14:35with my relations with the Soviets. I think you matter. If you told the
0:14:35 > 0:14:38truth he would have been in the dog has for a few months and he would
0:14:38 > 0:14:46have been back in the government before long. He was in admirable
0:14:46 > 0:14:52person, Profumo, he worked his guts out after that. Lord Carrington
0:14:52 > 0:14:57speaking to me and 2013.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Now, let's take a look at some of the news from around
0:15:00 > 0:15:01Westminster in brief.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03A new report has concluded that the intelligence service, MI5,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06and the police had opportunities to prevent the Manchester Arena
0:15:06 > 0:15:07bombing earlier this year.
0:15:07 > 0:15:1022 people were killed in the attack carried out by Salman Abedi in May.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12The report which was commissioned by the Government says information
0:15:12 > 0:15:21had been received about him at the start of the year.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24Had an investigation been opened at the time, it cannot be known whether
0:15:24 > 0:15:29his plans could have been stopped. MI5 assessed that it would have been
0:15:29 > 0:15:35unlikely. Across the attacks, including Manchester Arena, David
0:15:35 > 0:15:42Anderson notes that MI5 and other policing got a great deal right.
0:15:42 > 0:15:48However, in relation to Manchester he also commented that quote it is
0:15:48 > 0:15:52conceivable that the attacker might have been ever did had the cards
0:15:52 > 0:15:54fall indifferently.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56The Government's been urged to take emergency action
0:15:56 > 0:15:57to tackle homelessness.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59The founder of the Big Issue magazine argued that,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02with the festive season on the way, there was only so much
0:16:02 > 0:16:06charities could do.
0:16:06 > 0:16:12Wherever you go in our cities, whenever crises and there are people
0:16:12 > 0:16:16out there, many of them distressed and mentally ill. It is an absolute
0:16:16 > 0:16:22disgrace, it is nothing to do with human rights, we really have to move
0:16:22 > 0:16:25very quickly. Because these people are dying before our eyes.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27The last two general elections and the European referendum have one
0:16:27 > 0:16:30thing in common: They were not happy events for some pollsters.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Anxious to find out why, the Lords Committee
0:16:32 > 0:16:36on Political Polling have been holding an inquiry.
0:16:36 > 0:16:41But its star witness had a question of his own.
0:16:41 > 0:16:48Was there a risk that an industry that is middle-class and
0:16:48 > 0:16:55London-based and where the Zeitgeist... Thinking known be daft
0:16:55 > 0:17:01enough to leave the European Union... Yaps would have to be sure
0:17:01 > 0:17:07this is right because otherwise the rest of the London profession middle
0:17:07 > 0:17:11class... They will crucify us.
0:17:11 > 0:17:13The Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, says the Government
0:17:13 > 0:17:15will make an announcement within days on recognising that
0:17:15 > 0:17:18animals can feel emotion and pain, providing stronger welfare
0:17:18 > 0:17:21protection in UK law.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24There'd been a row with some campaigners over whether animals
0:17:24 > 0:17:31would still receive legal protection when we leave the EU.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35It is absolutely the case that we are committed to and sharing app
0:17:35 > 0:17:39that we just recognise the principle of animals Ontarians that we provide
0:17:39 > 0:17:43appropriate stronger protection in UK law and will be for bringing
0:17:43 > 0:17:47forward puzzles for that protection.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48The Environment Secretary Michael Gove.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Now, what's been happening in the wider world of Westminster?
0:17:50 > 0:17:59Here's Alex Partridge with our countdown.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05It was a late might, that the comments but conservative Peter
0:18:05 > 0:18:08still showed up at 1am to present a petition on behalf of his
0:18:08 > 0:18:15constituents.This dreadful proposer for a factory style American chicken
0:18:15 > 0:18:21farm.Conservative Michael is a man of many talents, this week he gave
0:18:21 > 0:18:28us his unique take on an accent all stop I believe that is the correct
0:18:28 > 0:18:34pronunciation... Falling out of the week is between Philip Hammond and
0:18:34 > 0:18:40the Art AF to ban them from using their jets official visits until an
0:18:40 > 0:18:45unpaid bill was settled. During a debate on the Irish border and
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Brexit, he enthusiastically explained how popular Irish drink is
0:18:48 > 0:18:55made.The milk that is taken from cows in the south and from the
0:18:55 > 0:18:59north, put together in the same factory, and then it is mixed
0:18:59 > 0:19:06together with whiskey and it comes out as Bailey's.This week departed
0:19:06 > 0:19:12of the late to Bernie... You became one of the first black MPs elected
0:19:12 > 0:19:26to the comments on long said Diane Abbott and... Alex Partridge.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29MPs have been told that a cap on social care costs in England due
0:19:29 > 0:19:32to come into effect in four years' time is to be scrapped.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35The cap of £72,500 on an individual's care costs was brought
0:19:35 > 0:19:37in following the recommendations of the Dilnot commission in 2011
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and had already been put into an Act of Parliament,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42but the Government says there will now be a fresh
0:19:42 > 0:19:48consultation on the future system of social care.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50The Minister was making the statement following a vote
0:19:50 > 0:19:56by MPs earlier in the year.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59The Prime Minister has been clear that the consultation will include
0:19:59 > 0:20:05proposals to place a limit on the care costs individuals face. To
0:20:05 > 0:20:08allow for further engagement and development of the approach we
0:20:08 > 0:20:14afford the care system and... We will not be taking forward the
0:20:14 > 0:20:20previous plans to independent a cap on care costs and Twenty20.This is
0:20:20 > 0:20:24a shameful waste of taxpayers money. Over £1 million at today's money was
0:20:24 > 0:20:29spent in commissioning the dill review and it is a waste of
0:20:29 > 0:20:34parliamentary time. It is all good for the Minister to see their
0:20:34 > 0:20:38consulting, they consulted on it during the general election and
0:20:38 > 0:20:42their proposals were rejected by the electorate.Will my children be
0:20:42 > 0:20:47suffering the same level of misery about my care costs in the next 30
0:20:47 > 0:20:52years?In the absence of provision that I may make and indeed bill not
0:20:52 > 0:20:56have been encouraging me to make, is it reasonable to expect my social
0:20:56 > 0:21:05care costs to be paid for by the state and you might heirs to have to
0:21:05 > 0:21:14take my data?In a nutshell one of the debates have to have the space
0:21:14 > 0:21:18is how about we ensure that people can achieve care when they need it
0:21:18 > 0:21:21and that it will be paid for a while at the same time achieving
0:21:21 > 0:21:22intergenerational fairness?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Tuesday evening saw the annual Political Studies Association awards
0:21:24 > 0:21:27presented by Jon Snow of Channel 4 News.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29The Award for Backbench MP of the year went
0:21:29 > 0:21:32to Labour's Stella Creasy, who led what turned out to be
0:21:32 > 0:21:34a short but highly successful campaign to allow women
0:21:34 > 0:21:36from Northern Ireland who travelled to Britain for abortions to have
0:21:36 > 0:21:38them paid for by the NHS.
0:21:38 > 0:21:48The award was presented by the Speaker John Bercow.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54She is from my vantage oinked in the chair, one of the most outstanding
0:21:54 > 0:21:59backbenchers I have met. Ladies and gentlemen I am very proud to tell
0:21:59 > 0:22:04you what you've already worked out for yourselves, namely that the
0:22:04 > 0:22:08political studies Association backbencher of the year 2017 is
0:22:08 > 0:22:18Stella!
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Is absolutely wonderful to receive this award on today of all days when
0:22:22 > 0:22:28I think I would like to think in June we first showed that even in
0:22:28 > 0:22:31seemingly impossible circumstances, when getting the government and the
0:22:31 > 0:22:34DUP to agree to abortion rights in Northern Ireland it is possible to
0:22:34 > 0:22:42achieve regulatory alignment.The person who is going to win campaign
0:22:42 > 0:22:46year has shown great dignity and grace in the face of personal abuse
0:22:46 > 0:22:52that she faced and her campaign, and that was a successful campaign, Dave
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Eagle flight to make sure it was bagel parliament that was sovereign
0:22:55 > 0:22:58and the decision over whether we should leave the European Union, and
0:22:58 > 0:23:15the winner is Juno Miller. -- June. I was stunned when I got the letter
0:23:15 > 0:23:19because I still think I didn't really do anything that special, I
0:23:19 > 0:23:24just asked a question. If a simple question to my mind. But that this
0:23:24 > 0:23:30award is not for me, it is an award for all of us who value democracy.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32And I... Accountability and scrutiny. It makes our country
0:23:32 > 0:23:41strong. It is a we value. Our final award of the evening is could to our
0:23:41 > 0:23:44thing culture, and award to an individual who has made a this
0:23:44 > 0:23:47outstanding card to be sure to be arts and culture and thereby helped
0:23:47 > 0:23:49the public better understand and interpret politics over a sustained
0:23:49 > 0:23:55period.The conversion to the arts and culture award goes to an
0:23:55 > 0:24:00individual whose illuminating body of work has reinvigorated political
0:24:00 > 0:24:04drama, establishing him as an of the most lithic and critically acclaimed
0:24:04 > 0:24:10playwrights in modern Britain with the house, ink and a labour of love
0:24:10 > 0:24:17of love to name but three I'm delighted to announce the award to
0:24:17 > 0:24:27James Graham.
0:24:28 > 0:24:40Thank you. The joy of being a theatre maker or a screenwriter of
0:24:40 > 0:24:44TV drama or film is that we do not have to do the hot tag, we don't
0:24:44 > 0:24:48have to do the immediate response. They can sit back and try to take a
0:24:48 > 0:24:53longer view. I'm absolutely amazed that there is an audience for this,
0:24:53 > 0:24:58a cited riding a really unfashionable political plays when I
0:24:58 > 0:25:04was 21. For fringe theatres in London. I was always told there was
0:25:04 > 0:25:09no audience for it. I was totally baffled and surprised and thrilled
0:25:09 > 0:25:13at this year to have the political plays in the West End with audiences
0:25:13 > 0:25:19coming. It proved to me at least or Alyssa but I am doing, it proved
0:25:19 > 0:25:22that just because people are angry or disillusioned it doesn't mean
0:25:22 > 0:25:27that they are disengaged and they want to make that sense of things.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30That is it from the Week in Parliament, a week which really
0:25:30 > 0:25:31did mark "The end of the beginning".
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Looking forward to Stage 2 already.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Do join Keith MacDougall for a round up of of all
0:25:36 > 0:25:38the Parliamentary news on Monday, but from me, Alicia
0:25:38 > 0:25:46McCarthy, goodbye.