08/12/2017 The Week in Parliament

Hello and welcome to

The Week In Parliament.

Is it finally Stage 1,

"Peace in our Time?",

after the Prime Minister's failed

plan from Monday was attacked

from all sides.

If the price of the Prime Minister's

approaches the break above the Union

and reopening of the tour divide in

Northern Ireland, the price is too

high.

But Theresa May insisted

there will be no hard border

between Northern Ireland

and the Republic of Ireland.

We aim to deliver this as part of

our overall trade deal between the

United Kingdom and European Union.

Also on this programme:

the Government says it's abandoning

a planned cap on social care

costs in England.

And ministers are urged to take

action following President Trump's

decision to recognise Jerusalem

as Israel's capital.

C Greene will the Secretary of State

today completely brought a visit

from President Trump and sent a

clear message that his divisiveness

is not welcome?

But first, it was another

high-stakes week for the Government

as Theresa May attempted to secure

an interim Brexit deal.

The Prime Minister had travelled

to Brussels on Monday in the hope

of getting an agreement that

would pave the way for

the start of trade talks.

Mrs May and the President

of the European Commission,

Jean Claude Juncker,

gave a joint news conference

at which they said their meeting had

been "constructive."

But the talks ran into the ground

when the Democratic Unionist Party

complained that a possible solution

to the issue of the border

between Northern Ireland

and the Irish Republic would mean

Northern Ireland being treated

differently to the rest of the UK.

So on Tuesday, the Brexit Secretary

came to the Commons to update MPs.

We hold further talks in Brussels

over the past two days and progress

has been made. We have not yet

reached a final conclusion. However,

however, I believe we are now close

to concluding the first phase of

negotiations and moving on to talk

about our future trade relations.

Mr

Speaker, what an embarrassment. The

last 24 hours have given a new

meaning to the phrase coalition of

chaos. Yesterday morning, Number ten

was briefing that a deal would be

signed. There was high expectation

that the Prime Minister would make a

triumphant statement to the House.

By tea-time to but we had 849 second

press conference saying the deal

off.

Mr Speaker, the Government who

said they would bring sovereignty

back to Parliament is now being

controlled by someone who is not

even a member of this Parliament. A

government that refuses to give

Parliament any say in the

development in negotiating position

is valid and that negotiating

position being dictated by the

leader of a Parliament in the

smallest of the four nations of this

union.

It should come as no surprise

that the Dublin and Irish government

wishes to advance its interests.

Though it has about it in such an

aggressive anti-union this way is

disgraceful and has set back

relations and damaged the

relationship within Northern Ireland

in terms of the devolution

settlement.

And in the Scottish Parliament

and Welsh Assembly, it was also made

clear that a differential deal

was not acceptable.

In a continued with two Brexit... I

think therefore it is time for all

of us, but here in Scotland and

across the UK, at this crucial time

to speak out for what is in

everybody's interest and reject a

hard Brexit.

We cannot allow

different parts of the UK to be more

favorably treated others. If one

part of the UK is granted continued

participation in the single market

customs union, we expect the same

offer.

Well, the state of the negotiations

was raised the next day

by the Labour leader

at Prime Minister's Questions.

Two days after the original cost and

money's channels, is the Prime

Minister ready to clearly outline

what the position is now with a

burst to the Irish border -- with

regards to.

I'm very happy you

outline my position on the Irish

border. It is exactly the same

position that I am telling I talked

about in the Lancashire House

speech. The glee have taken

consistently in the negotiations,

which is that we will ensure that

there is no hard border between

Northern Ireland and the Republic of

Ireland. We will do that while we

respect the constitutional integrity

of the United Kingdom. And while we

respected the internal market and

protect the internal market. Of the

United Kingdom. And those Labour

members who shout, "How", that's the

whole point of the second phase of

the negotiations. Because we will

deliver this, we aim to deliver this

as part of our overall trade deal

between the United Kingdom and

European Union.

Theresa May.

And on Friday morning,

there were sighs of relief

all round as Theresa May

and the President of the European

Commission Jean Claude Juncker

announced a deal had been done,

opening the way for the Brexit

talks to move on to

the crucial subject of trade.

News of a breakthrough came

after four days of intense

negotiations between British,

EU and Irish officials,

and a frantic night of telephone

diplomacy involving the

Democratic Unionists.

Well, away from the immediate high

drama of the Brexit talks,

there was plenty of other Brexit

business in Parliament.

There was some surprise around

Westminster on Wednesday

when the Brexit Secretary admitted

that the Government hadn't carried

out formal assessments of how

leaving the European Union

would effect the UK economy.

The Government has not undertaken

any impact assessments on

applications for leaving the EU for

different sectors of the British

economy? So there isn't one, for

example, on the automotive sector?

Not that I am aware of.

Is the one

on Aerospace?

Not that I'm aware of.

I think the answer would be no to

all of them.

No to all of them.

Doesn't it strike you as rather

strange given the Government

undertakes impact assessments on

also to things all of the time, that

on the most influential change we

are taking as a country, you've just

told us the Government has not taken

any impact assessments at all

looking at the impact on individual

sectors of the economy?

The thing to

say, Mr Chairman, is when these

sectoral analysis are initiated,

they were done to understand the

effect of various options. What the

outcome would be. You don't need to

be an impact assessment, a formal

impact assessment, to understand

that if there is a regulatory hurdle

between our producer and a market,

they will have an impact. It will

have an effect. The assessment of

the effect, I think you I said that

to you for poor, is not a

straightforward as people imagine.

-- I said that to you before.

Meanwhile in the main

Commons Chamber, MPs

continued their detailed scrutiny

of the EU Withdrawal Bill,

which puts all EU law into UK law

to avoid a legislative black hole

on Brexit Day.

A Labour MP put forward an amendment

that would give Parliament a say

on the so-called divorce bill,

the money the UK will pay

on leaving the European Union.

It seemed quite particular to me

that it was for the British

Government to tell Jean-Claude

Juncker and the European Commission

how much the Government and British

taxpayers were prepared to be but

somehow, members of Parliament are

in a grown-up I love to hear about

it, never the British public,

finding the real settlement.

The

payment would be part of an

agreement. And the Government has

already, rightly in my view, said

that Parliament will have a vote on

the agreement. You cannot vote on an

agreement without voting on the

financing of an agreement. Because

the agreement will stipulate the

finances.

We cannot have the

devolved administrations having to

pay money towards the divorce bill.

It is absolutely ridiculous this

Parliament might come in any

circumstances, suggest that the

devolved administrations should have

to pay for something which people in

Scotland didn't vote for, people in

Northern Ireland didn't vote for as

countries stop with these ornaments

to the Bill show an understandable

desire to protect the role of this

House but they are not necessary --

these amendments to the Bill.

The

Government has always been clear

this House will be given a vote on

that agreement. The Secretary of

State, Mike right honourable friend,

for exiting the European Union was

very clear on the 13th of November

when he announced the withdrawal

agreement and implementation bill.

And that is one of the principal

elements of our agreement with the

EU, we expect that legislation will

include authorisation to pay any

financial sediment negotiated with

the EU. The Bill we are debating

today is about ensuring the statue

book is operational on exit day, not

about paying any settlements.

Steve

Baker.

A Foreign Office Minister has

repeated the government's

disagreement with United States

President Donald Trump

over his decision to recognise

Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

President Trump's decision reversed

decades of US policy on one

of the thorniest issues

between Israel and Palestinians.

There's been a growing

chorus of condemnation

over the announcement.

But the Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it

as "historic", and said

he was sure that more

countries would follow suit.

In the Commons, Labour asked

an urgent question on the decision,

and the Minister made it clear

where the UK stood.

We disagree with the decision to

move the capital to Jerusalem. We

believe it is unhelpful in terms of

prospects of peace in the region.

The British Embassy is based in Tel

Aviv and we have no plans to move

it.

There was a reason before

yesterday that no other country

would recognise Jerusalem as

visual's capital. Because to do

either thing, let alone both at the

same time, compares legitimacy on

Israel's occupancy of East

Jerusalem, eight occupation with no

basis in law...

Would you share the

values of inclusion and respect

across these islands. Taking this

into consideration, will the

Secretary of State today completely

rule out the state visit from

President Trump and send out a clear

message that his divisive and

reckless actions are not welcome

here?

Alistair Burt said an invitation had

been made, but no date had been set.

Is the reality that the peace

process has been stalled for 24

years? Since 1993. And what we do

need now, following this

announcement, is direct peace talks

between the state of Israel and

Palestinian representatives? If we

can get from the United Nations a

brokered position whereby those

peace talks start, actually this

could end up being quite a good

decision.

I have no sense that

yesterday's decision made a

contribution to advancing the peace

process.

The Foreign Office Minister

Alastair Burt.

Now, the news was announced

in the week of the death

of the 1960s model Christine Keeler,

the last of the principal players

in one of Britain's great

political sex scandals.

She became famous for her part

in the Profumo scandal, which shook

Harold Macmillan's government.

Duncan Smith explains.

In 1963, the Secretary of State for

work, John Profumo, was forced to

resign after admitting lying to the

House of Commons after admitting his

affair. Also sharing a bed with a

Soviet spy. When Keeler began

attracting press attention, the

story started to beat out, they can

become from us, Profumo Limited all

to his wife in the country. He never

returned to the world of politics.

Duncan Smith.

So why was the Profumo

affair quite so damaging?

In 1963, Lord Carrington

was a fellow Defence Minister

with Jack Profumo.

For a special programme four years

ago that marked 50 years

since that tumultuous time,

he told me he'd asked

Profumo why he'd lied

to the Commons about the affair,

triggering his downfall.

He said, well you see I was accused

of being too close to people who

knew the Soviet... The height of the

Cold War, this is very important and

can be very dangerous. I thought

that I had to defend myself about

that. And I thought whatever I had

done was quite unimportant compared

with my relations with the Soviets.

I think you matter. If you told the

truth he would have been in the dog

has for a few months and he would

have been back in the government

before long. He was in admirable

person, Profumo, he worked his guts

out after that. Lord Carrington

speaking to me and 2013.

Now, let's take a look at some

of the news from around

Westminster in brief.

A new report has concluded

that the intelligence service, MI5,

and the police had opportunities

to prevent the Manchester Arena

bombing earlier this year.

22 people were killed in the attack

carried out by Salman Abedi in May.

The report which was commissioned

by the Government says information

had been received about him

at the start of the year.

Had an investigation been opened at

the time, it cannot be known whether

his plans could have been stopped.

MI5 assessed that it would have been

unlikely. Across the attacks,

including Manchester Arena, David

Anderson notes that MI5 and other

policing got a great deal right.

However, in relation to Manchester

he also commented that quote it is

conceivable that the attacker might

have been ever did had the cards

fall indifferently.

The Government's been urged

to take emergency action

to tackle homelessness.

The founder of the Big Issue

magazine argued that,

with the festive season on the way,

there was only so much

charities could do.

Wherever you go in our cities,

whenever crises and there are people

out there, many of them distressed

and mentally ill. It is an absolute

disgrace, it is nothing to do with

human rights, we really have to move

very quickly. Because these people

are dying before our eyes.

The last two general elections

and the European referendum have one

thing in common: They were not happy

events for some pollsters.

Anxious to find out why,

the Lords Committee

on Political Polling have been

holding an inquiry.

But its star witness had

a question of his own.

Was there a risk that an industry

that is middle-class and

London-based and where the

Zeitgeist... Thinking known be daft

enough to leave the European

Union... Yaps would have to be sure

this is right because otherwise the

rest of the London profession middle

class... They will crucify us.

The Environment Secretary,

Michael Gove, says the Government

will make an announcement

within days on recognising that

animals can feel emotion and pain,

providing stronger welfare

protection in UK law.

There'd been a row with some

campaigners over whether animals

would still receive legal protection

when we leave the EU.

It is absolutely the case that we

are committed to and sharing app

that we just recognise the principle

of animals Ontarians that we provide

appropriate stronger protection in

UK law and will be for bringing

forward puzzles for that protection.

The Environment

Secretary Michael Gove.

Now, what's been happening

in the wider world of Westminster?

Here's Alex Partridge

with our countdown.

It was a late might, that the

comments but conservative Peter

still showed up at 1am to present a

petition on behalf of his

constituents.

This dreadful proposer

for a factory style American chicken

farm.

Conservative Michael is a man

of many talents, this week he gave

us his unique take on an accent all

stop I believe that is the correct

pronunciation... Falling out of the

week is between Philip Hammond and

the Art AF to ban them from using

their jets official visits until an

unpaid bill was settled. During a

debate on the Irish border and

Brexit, he enthusiastically

explained how popular Irish drink is

made.

The milk that is taken from

cows in the south and from the

north, put together in the same

factory, and then it is mixed

together with whiskey and it comes

out as Bailey's.

This week departed

of the late to Bernie... You became

one of the first black MPs elected

to the comments on long said Diane

Abbott and... Alex Partridge.

MPs have been told that a cap

on social care costs in England due

to come into effect in four years'

time is to be scrapped.

The cap of £72,500 on an

individual's care costs was brought

in following the recommendations

of the Dilnot commission in 2011

and had already been put

into an Act of Parliament,

but the Government says

there will now be a fresh

consultation on the future system

of social care.

The Minister was making

the statement following a vote

by MPs earlier in the year.

The Prime Minister has been clear

that the consultation will include

proposals to place a limit on the

care costs individuals face. To

allow for further engagement and

development of the approach we

afford the care system and... We

will not be taking forward the

previous plans to independent a cap

on care costs and Twenty20.

This is

a shameful waste of taxpayers money.

Over £1 million at today's money was

spent in commissioning the dill

review and it is a waste of

parliamentary time. It is all good

for the Minister to see their

consulting, they consulted on it

during the general election and

their proposals were rejected by the

electorate.

Will my children be

suffering the same level of misery

about my care costs in the next 30

years?

In the absence of provision

that I may make and indeed bill not

have been encouraging me to make, is

it reasonable to expect my social

care costs to be paid for by the

state and you might heirs to have to

take my data?

In a nutshell one of

the debates have to have the space

is how about we ensure that people

can achieve care when they need it

and that it will be paid for a while

at the same time achieving

intergenerational fairness?

Tuesday evening saw the annual

Political Studies Association awards

presented by Jon Snow of Channel 4

News.

The Award for Backbench

MP of the year went

to Labour's Stella Creasy,

who led what turned out to be

a short but highly successful

campaign to allow women

from Northern Ireland who travelled

to Britain for abortions to have

them paid for by the NHS.

The award was presented

by the Speaker John Bercow.

She is from my vantage oinked in the

chair, one of the most outstanding

backbenchers I have met. Ladies and

gentlemen I am very proud to tell

you what you've already worked out

for yourselves, namely that the

political studies Association

backbencher of the year 2017 is

Stella!

Is absolutely wonderful to receive

this award on today of all days when

I think I would like to think in

June we first showed that even in

seemingly impossible circumstances,

when getting the government and the

DUP to agree to abortion rights in

Northern Ireland it is possible to

achieve regulatory alignment.

The

person who is going to win campaign

year has shown great dignity and

grace in the face of personal abuse

that she faced and her campaign, and

that was a successful campaign, Dave

Eagle flight to make sure it was

bagel parliament that was sovereign

and the decision over whether we

should leave the European Union, and

the winner is Juno Miller. -- June.

I was stunned when I got the letter

because I still think I didn't

really do anything that special, I

just asked a question. If a simple

question to my mind. But that this

award is not for me, it is an award

for all of us who value democracy.

And I... Accountability and

scrutiny. It makes our country

strong. It is a we value. Our final

award of the evening is could to our

thing culture, and award to an

individual who has made a this

outstanding card to be sure to be

arts and culture and thereby helped

the public better understand and

interpret politics over a sustained

period.

The conversion to the arts

and culture award goes to an

individual whose illuminating body

of work has reinvigorated political

drama, establishing him as an of the

most lithic and critically acclaimed

playwrights in modern Britain with

the house, ink and a labour of love

of love to name but three I'm

delighted to announce the award to

James Graham.

Thank you. The joy of being a

theatre maker or a screenwriter of

TV drama or film is that we do not

have to do the hot tag, we don't

have to do the immediate response.

They can sit back and try to take a

longer view. I'm absolutely amazed

that there is an audience for this,

a cited riding a really

unfashionable political plays when I

was 21. For fringe theatres in

London. I was always told there was

no audience for it. I was totally

baffled and surprised and thrilled

at this year to have the political

plays in the West End with audiences

coming. It proved to me at least or

Alyssa but I am doing, it proved

that just because people are angry

or disillusioned it doesn't mean

that they are disengaged and they

want to make that sense of things.

That is it from the Week

in Parliament, a week which really

did mark "The end of the beginning".

Looking forward to Stage 2 already.

Do join Keith MacDougall

for a round up of of all

the Parliamentary news on Monday,

but from me, Alicia

McCarthy, goodbye.