0:00:11 > 0:00:14Hello and welcome to Wednesday in Parliament, our look at the best
0:00:14 > 0:00:18of the day in the Commons and the Lords.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20On this programme, there's only one topic
0:00:20 > 0:00:23at Prime Minister's Questions - the EU referendum.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26David Cameron pleads for support for Remain.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29On all those issues, stronger, safer, better
0:00:29 > 0:00:32off, the arguments are on the Remain side.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35But a campaigner for the UK to leave the EU says it's time
0:00:35 > 0:00:39for the British people to rhse up against the political class
0:00:39 > 0:00:42that's been in thrall to the whole European project.
0:00:42 > 0:00:48It must be disappointing for them to see so much ingratitude `nd anger
0:00:48 > 0:00:51boiling up amongst the Brithsh people against the project
0:00:51 > 0:00:55in which they have invested so much.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58And the former owner of British Home Stores,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Sir Philip Green, vows to sort out the pensions mess that followed
0:01:02 > 0:01:04the collapse of the retail chain.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07Me being bullied into saying something I'm being asked to say,
0:01:07 > 0:01:08I'm not going to say it.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11I want to address it in terls of how we've been dealing with it.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14I think it's very important you hear all the things that have
0:01:14 > 0:01:18been going on and not going on at the same time.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21But first, a bit like hurricanes in Hertfordshire, a single-themed
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Prime Minister's Questions hardly ever happens.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28But with Parliament about to go into its latest recess,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31and with the nation a week `way from the momentous decision
0:01:31 > 0:01:34on whether we should be in or out of the EU,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37PMQs was always certain to be dominated by the huge
0:01:37 > 0:01:40European question.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43As 12 noon approached, there was a reminder we werd living
0:01:43 > 0:01:47in unusual times when a flotilla of fishing boats, with
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Ukip's Nigel Farage on board, sailed up the Thames at Westminster
0:01:51 > 0:01:54with a message urging Parliament to take back
0:01:54 > 0:01:58control of British waters.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01The so-called Brexit armada was greeted by a rival Remahn fleet,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05carrying, among others, Sir Bob Geldof.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Inside the Commons, Jeremy Corbyn said Labour was supporting
0:02:08 > 0:02:11the Remain side in the referendum so that jobs and public
0:02:11 > 0:02:14services would be preserved.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16The Labour leader quoted relarks once made by the former
0:02:16 > 0:02:18London Mayor, Boris Johnson, a leading force in the Leavd
0:02:19 > 0:02:22campaign.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25The honourable member for Uxbridge said, "If people have
0:02:25 > 0:02:30to pay for NHS services, they will value them more."
0:02:30 > 0:02:33Both he and the honourable lember for Surrey Heath are members
0:02:33 > 0:02:37of a government that has put the NHS into record deficit.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42These people are now masquerading as the saviours of the NHS.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44Wolves in sheep's clothing.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47David Cameron praised Sarah Wollaston's switch
0:02:47 > 0:02:51of allegiance from Leave to Remain.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56I was delighted with what my honourable friend,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58the member for Totnes, said about wanting...
0:02:58 > 0:03:00By changing her mind, which is a brave thing
0:03:00 > 0:03:02for politicians to do, and saying that she thought
0:03:02 > 0:03:05that the NHS would be safer if we remain inside
0:03:05 > 0:03:07a reformed European Union.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Jeremy Corbyn said Labour MPs wouldn't be supporting any dmergency
0:03:11 > 0:03:14Budget as proposed by the Chancellor in the event of a Leave
0:03:14 > 0:03:17win in the referendum.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We would oppose any post-Brdxit austerity Budget, just as wd have
0:03:20 > 0:03:26opposed any austerity Budget put forward by this government.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30So will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to condemn
0:03:30 > 0:03:36the opportunism of 57 of his colleagues who are pro-Leave,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39these are members who backed the bedroom tax, backed cutting
0:03:39 > 0:03:43disability benefits and slashing care for the elderly,
0:03:43 > 0:03:46who suddenly have now had a Damascene conversion
0:03:46 > 0:03:49to the anti-austerity movemdnt?
0:03:49 > 0:03:50Does he have any message for them?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Does he have any message for them at all?
0:03:54 > 0:03:58What I'd say to the right honourable gentleman is there are very few
0:03:58 > 0:04:02times when he and I are on the same side of an argument and this must
0:04:02 > 0:04:07say to people watching back at home than when you've got the le`der
0:04:07 > 0:04:09of the Labour Party, and indeed almost all
0:04:09 > 0:04:11of the Labour Party, a Conservative government,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the official Ulster Unionists
0:04:14 > 0:04:17and the Scottish National P`rty all saying we have huge
0:04:17 > 0:04:21disagreements, but on this vital issue for the future of our country,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24the best option for Britain is to vote to remain
0:04:24 > 0:04:28and reform the European Union, that really says something.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32If we vote out, the experts warn us we will have a smaller economy,
0:04:32 > 0:04:36less employment, lower wages and therefore less tax recehpts
0:04:36 > 0:04:40That's why we would have to have measures to address a huge hole
0:04:40 > 0:04:43in our public finances.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47Nobody wants to have an emergency Budget, nobody wants to havd cuts
0:04:47 > 0:04:50in public services, nobody wants to have tax increases.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53I'm looking forward to the British people giving me the opporttnity
0:04:53 > 0:04:58to vote against the vindicthve emergency Budget.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Will my right honourable frhend explain that if the governmdnt
0:05:02 > 0:05:04is so strapped for cash, why is it still intent
0:05:04 > 0:05:11on spending ?50 billion on HS2?
0:05:11 > 0:05:16The point is that we will bd strapped for cash if you believe
0:05:16 > 0:05:18the Institute for Fiscal Sttdies or the National Institute
0:05:18 > 0:05:22of Economic and Social Rese`rch both impeccably independent,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25who say there'd be a hole in our public finances of bdtween
0:05:25 > 0:05:27?20 billion and ?40 billion.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30There's an easy way to avoid getting into that situation and that's
0:05:30 > 0:05:34to vote to stay in a reformdd European Union next Thursdax.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38If, as I hope, despite the panic-driven negativity
0:05:38 > 0:05:40from the Remain camp and Downing Street,
0:05:40 > 0:05:42the British people vote next week to become a free,
0:05:42 > 0:05:47independent nation again...
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Will my right honourable frhend join me in embracing the optimism
0:05:51 > 0:05:53and opportunity for our country and our people such
0:05:53 > 0:05:59a momentous decision would be?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03What I'd say to my honourable friend, as I said at the CBH,
0:06:03 > 0:06:06of course Britain can survive outside the EU.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08No one is questioning that.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10The question is, how are we going to do best?
0:06:10 > 0:06:13How are we going to create the most jobs?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15How are we going to create the most investment?
0:06:15 > 0:06:18How are we going to have thd most opportunities for our children?
0:06:18 > 0:06:21How are we going to wield the greatest power in the world
0:06:21 > 0:06:22How are we going to get things done?
0:06:22 > 0:06:24And all all those issues, stronger, safer, better
0:06:24 > 0:06:26off, the arguments are on the Remain side.
0:06:26 > 0:06:282,500 people are employed in the ceramics industry
0:06:28 > 0:06:29in my constituency.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Their jobs are dependent on EU trade, their rights are protected
0:06:33 > 0:06:35by the EU social chapter and their town centres have been
0:06:35 > 0:06:39rebuilt with EU funds.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42With his friends in the Leave campaign producing more spin
0:06:42 > 0:06:50than a potter's wheel...
0:06:50 > 0:06:54Does the PM share my fear that despite Europe's flaws,
0:06:54 > 0:06:58a Brexit vote could leave us picking up the pieces of a broken economy
0:06:58 > 0:07:02for years to come?
0:07:02 > 0:07:06I'm going to nick that soundbite, that's a good ond!
0:07:06 > 0:07:08The honourable lady is right.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12If we leave the single markdt and the European Union,
0:07:12 > 0:07:15the council president has s`id very clearly that process probably takes
0:07:15 > 0:07:18two years and after that, you then have to negotiate ` trade
0:07:18 > 0:07:21deal with the European Union.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23If it was a trade deal like Canada's, that
0:07:23 > 0:07:24could take seven years.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28So we're looking at a decadd of uncertainty for our economy.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Given the government's recent enthusiasm for making forec`sts
0:07:32 > 0:07:36and predictions, can the Prime Minister please tdll
0:07:36 > 0:07:41the House in which year will we meet our manifesto
0:07:41 > 0:07:45commitment to reduce immigr`tion to the tens of thousands?
0:07:45 > 0:07:49Yes, we need to do more to control migration from outside the DU,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51and we are doing that with the closure of bogus
0:07:51 > 0:07:55colleges and other measures, and we are doing more insidd the EU,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57not least saying that people who come here,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01if they don't get a job aftdr six months, they have to leave.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05If they do work, they have to work and contribute for four years before
0:08:05 > 0:08:07they get full access to the welfare system.
0:08:07 > 0:08:08Those are big changes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Can I congratulate my right honourable friend for honouring our
0:08:11 > 0:08:17manifesto pledge and delivering this historic referendum?
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Unfortunately, we have heard some hysterical scaremongering
0:08:21 > 0:08:22during this debate.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25And there are those in this House, and in the Other Place,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28who if they...
0:08:28 > 0:08:30They believe if the British people decide to leave the EU,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33there should be a second referendum.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Can he assure the House and the country that whatevdr
0:08:35 > 0:08:40the result on June 24, his government will carry ott
0:08:40 > 0:08:43the wishes of the British pdople?
0:08:43 > 0:08:46If the vote is to remain, wd remain, and if the vote is to leave,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49which I hope it is, then we leave.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52I'm very happy to agree with my honourable friend.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55In means we remain in a reformed European Union.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58Out means we come out.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01And as the Leave campaigners have said, and others have said,
0:09:01 > 0:09:05out means out of the Europe`n Union, out of the European single larket,
0:09:05 > 0:09:10out of the Council of Ministers out of all of those things.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13And it then means a process of delivering that,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16which would take at least two years, and then delivering a trade
0:09:16 > 0:09:19deal, which could take as many as seven years.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21David Cameron.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23The former owner of British Home Stores,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27the billionaire Sir Philip Green, has apologised to staff
0:09:27 > 0:09:29at the firm's collapse and promised to try to secure
0:09:29 > 0:09:32their pension scheme.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37Last month came news that BHS would be closing all its 160 stores
0:09:37 > 0:09:41when administrators failed to find a buyer for the famous retahl chain.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46BHS had debts of ?1.25 billhon.
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Sir Philip, who sold the company last year for ?0,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52faced an intense six hours of questioning
0:09:52 > 0:09:54from a parliamentary committee.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58He began by reflecting on what had gone wrong.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03Nothing is more sad than how this has ended.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08And I hope during the morning you'll hear there was certainly no intent
0:10:08 > 0:10:12at all on my part for anythhng to be like this, and it didn't
0:10:12 > 0:10:15need to be like this.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I just want to apologise to all the BHS people who h`ve
0:10:18 > 0:10:20been involved in this, and are involved, and I hopd that
0:10:20 > 0:10:24by the end of the morning they'll hear everything and we can find some
0:10:24 > 0:10:26sensible solutions to some of the issues.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29There were some tetchy exch`nges as Sir Philip defended the way
0:10:29 > 0:10:31he ran his businesses.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35I think we've got a pretty good track record as a company.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Our existing business, the average stay in our head office
0:10:37 > 0:10:41is 11 or 12 years.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Do you mind not looking at le like that all the time?
0:10:44 > 0:10:47It's really disturbing.
0:10:47 > 0:10:48Sorry?
0:10:48 > 0:10:51You just want to stare at md, it's just uncomfortable, th`t's all.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I wasn't quite just staring at you, but I don't want to make
0:10:54 > 0:10:55you uncomfortable.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Sorry?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I don't wish to make you uncomfortable.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00It's just uncomfortable, sort of staring at me.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03One of the key issues has bden the pension scheme.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Sir Philip said his attempts to get a meeting with the pensions
0:11:06 > 0:11:09regulator had failed until recently.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11I tried to lead through the history...
0:11:11 > 0:11:14You're trying to lead me to say things I'm not going to say.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16With respect, allow me to finish the question.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19Trying to lead through the history of the pension scheme so th`t
0:11:19 > 0:11:21everybody, including the 20,000 members of the pension schele,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24can understand exactly what happened and where we are today.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Yeah, but...
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Could I plead to you, sir?
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Can we go to the pension scheme and therefore instead
0:11:31 > 0:11:34of this man beating me up, which is unnecessary, right,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I'm here voluntarily, and I'm happy to address
0:11:37 > 0:11:40the pension issue, OK?
0:11:40 > 0:11:43At whatever time you're ready during this meeting.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Me being bullied into saying something I'm being asked to say,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I'm not going to say.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I want to address it in terls of how we've been dealing with it.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55I think it's very important you hear all the things that have bedn
0:11:55 > 0:11:59going on and not going on at the same time.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Then I think it will give everybody a much clearer picture.
0:12:02 > 0:12:09We want to find a solution for the 20,000 pensioners.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11We still believe that money into the PPF
0:12:11 > 0:12:12does not resolve it.
0:12:12 > 0:12:13It's a complex...
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Without getting into it, I don't want to get into spdcifics,
0:12:16 > 0:12:19the schemes are quite compldx, but from what I've seen,
0:12:19 > 0:12:26I would say it's resolvable, sortable, we will sort it,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29we will find a solution and I want to give an assur`nce
0:12:29 > 0:12:31to the 20,000 pensioners, I'm there to sort this
0:12:31 > 0:12:35in the correct way.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39The committee moved on to the sale of BHS to Dominic Chappell,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42who was running the firm at the time it went into administration.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46What happened is beyond horrible.
0:12:46 > 0:12:47Please.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48Sad.
0:12:48 > 0:12:55There was direct intention.
0:12:55 > 0:12:56There was zero intention.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59I said when I leave here today you'll either think I'm a lhar
0:12:59 > 0:13:02or I'm telling you the truth, but I'm not a liar, OK?
0:13:02 > 0:13:03Unfortunately, we found the wrong guy.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05And during that corporate governance and board arrangement,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08did anyone challenge you or the subgroup on this point?
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Which point?
0:13:09 > 0:13:10In terms of selling to Chappell
0:13:10 > 0:13:12I think you've heard...
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Whether we got misled, whether we got duped,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19unfortunately there seems to be a lot of people that acceptdd
0:13:19 > 0:13:21this guy at face value.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Right?
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Lawyers, accountants, all sorts of other people,
0:13:26 > 0:13:30happy to take shares in his company, banks prepared to write letters
0:13:30 > 0:13:31whether they're good or not, right?
0:13:31 > 0:13:34These are the facts.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Unfortunately, sadly, it was the wrong owner.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39We could keep going over...
0:13:39 > 0:13:42You said you don't want to be here all day, you could be
0:13:42 > 0:13:44here for the rest of your life.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Would I do that deal again? No.
0:13:46 > 0:13:47Am I sorry we did it? Yes.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50One of the things I'm reallx interested in about corporate
0:13:50 > 0:13:52governance is it's very cle`r, I've never met you before,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55but three and a half hours in you seem a very
0:13:55 > 0:13:56dominant personality, but you seem extraordinarilx...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58There's ten of you and one of me.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01And you're holding your own, believe me, you're holding xour own.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03But you seem extraordinarilx thin-skinned to quite
0:14:03 > 0:14:05courteous questions, as if you don't want
0:14:05 > 0:14:08to be challenged in any way, shape or form...
0:14:08 > 0:14:10Like what?
0:14:10 > 0:14:11Let me finish.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13In terms of that wider corporate governance point, in respect
0:14:13 > 0:14:16of the selling of BHS.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Did anybody, particularly a nonexecutive director, sax,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Phil, I'm not entirely certain this is correct,
0:14:21 > 0:14:22can we challenge you on this?
0:14:22 > 0:14:25That doesn't seem to be the culture of the organisation.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27That's your opinion.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28Thank you.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30The latest in the saga of BHS.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33You're watching our round-up of the day in the Commons
0:14:33 > 0:14:34and the Lords.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Still to come, why are therd so few women at the top
0:14:37 > 0:14:38of the civil service?
0:14:46 > 0:14:47The arguments over staying in or departing from
0:14:47 > 0:14:50the European Union continued later in the day in the Commons as MPs
0:14:50 > 0:14:53debated and backed a Labour motion saying the UK
0:14:53 > 0:14:55was better off inside the ET.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58MPs calling for a Remain vote heavily outnumbered
0:14:58 > 0:15:01those supporting Leave, warning that exiting
0:15:01 > 0:15:05would hit the economy.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08But those in favour of Brexht rejected that, saying we'd be
0:15:08 > 0:15:09better off out of the EU.
0:15:09 > 0:15:11Opening the exchanges, the Shadow Chancellor said dveryone
0:15:11 > 0:15:18should be clear that Labour was for Remain.
0:15:18 > 0:15:26It is about jobs, investment, trade with our largest markdt
0:15:26 > 0:15:28and the protection of emploxment rights for workers,
0:15:28 > 0:15:30so that they can secure the benefits of participation in the market.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34But for many of us, it's also about creating another Europe.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36A Europe that is more democratic, that promotes social justicd
0:15:36 > 0:15:39as well as prosperity, a Europe that is more equal
0:15:39 > 0:15:42and sustainable economicallx and environmentally.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45He asked Labour voters if they would trust the leaders
0:15:45 > 0:15:48of the Leave campaign with jobs and public services.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We have witnessed in the last 7 hours the reaction of the world
0:15:51 > 0:15:59markets to just shifts in the bowls pointing towards a possible Brexit.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02markets to just shifts in the polls pointing towards a possible Brexit.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05100 million has been knocked off the value of shares and the value
0:16:05 > 0:16:06of the pound has dropped.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09The Brexit campaign in four days have done more damage to capitalism
0:16:09 > 0:16:13than the Socialist Workers Party in 40 years.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16It is difficult to see how dven the most upbeat Brexiteer couldn't
0:16:16 > 0:16:18see that we are likely to face months, years,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22perhaps a decade of confidence sapping, investment and job
0:16:22 > 0:16:25destroying uncertainty that will take this country back
0:16:25 > 0:16:27to the dark days of 2008.
0:16:27 > 0:16:33And I for one, Mr Speaker, never want to go there again.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36All the gloomy and bogus forecasts we've been getting from the people
0:16:36 > 0:16:42who wish to Remain in are b`sed on the assumption that the single
0:16:42 > 0:16:45market is some precious and virtuous body we can belong to,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49which has fuelled our prospdrity and manufacturing growth so far
0:16:49 > 0:16:59and which would no longer bd available to us if we left.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03And of course they are wrong on both counts.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Our membership of the singld market has not helped our manufacttring,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08and when we Leave we will still have access to the single market,
0:17:08 > 0:17:12just as the 165 other countries around the world have access to that
0:17:12 > 0:17:14market daily without being lembers and having to accept the frdedom
0:17:14 > 0:17:16of movement provisions, without having to accept thd taxes
0:17:16 > 0:17:20and laws that are imposed on us on a wide range of issues that have
0:17:20 > 0:17:22nothing to do with trade wh`tsoever.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25I tell you what will happen.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27That pound will plummet.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Inflation and prices for ordinary people will go up.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32We will be caught in a whirlwind, an economic whirlwind,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34which these people irresponsibly want to inflict on millions
0:17:34 > 0:17:37of our citizens.
0:17:37 > 0:17:47It is a scandalous view to take
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Inside the single market, we ran a monumental trade ddficit
0:17:52 > 0:17:54and we have an enormous trade surplus with the rest
0:17:54 > 0:17:56of the world which is growing.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57That is the future.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59That is the vision, that is the means by
0:17:59 > 0:18:00which we will get jobs.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03That is the means by which we will ensure the future
0:18:03 > 0:18:04of our children and grandchhldren.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06And, to conclude, Mr Deputy Speaker, it is very simple.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08It is about who governs us.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12And if we get this wrong we will not be able to organise and to dstablish
0:18:12 > 0:18:14a democracy in this country which is what the people fotght
0:18:14 > 0:18:17and died for not just in ond world war, but twice.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19The SNP warned of a right wing Tory power grab.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22You cannot trust them with social protection, you cannot trust them
0:18:22 > 0:18:24with our environment and you certainly cannot trtst them
0:18:24 > 0:18:26with workers' rights.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30This is a Tory excuse for more austerity and it is what is coming
0:18:30 > 0:18:33if you vote to Leave.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35There are no economic benefhts to the UK fishermen from melbership
0:18:35 > 0:18:37of the European Union.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Around 92% of fishermen are calling for the UK to Leave.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47I say, let's throw them a lifeline and Vote Leave.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49The referendum debate in the Commons.
0:18:49 > 0:18:53A last-minute rush of peopld to get registered to vote in the ET
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Referendum caused a governmdnt website to crash last week.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00The deadline for registration was extended by 48 hours.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04Some members of the Leave c`mp saw the extending of the deadline
0:19:04 > 0:19:08as a ploy to get more peopld likely to vote Remain on to the register.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12At Lords Questions, two Labour peers said the addition of extra dlectors
0:19:12 > 0:19:16on to the list might also m`ke the map of re-drawn Commons
0:19:16 > 0:19:19constituencies out of date.
0:19:19 > 0:19:27Of course, it is well known that substantially increased numbers
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Of course, it is welcome th`t substantially increased numbers
0:19:29 > 0:19:31of people have registered to vote in recent weeks.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Doesn't this have clear implications as far as the work
0:19:34 > 0:19:35of the parliamentary boundary commission is concerned?
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Due to report in September but now likely to report on the bashs
0:19:38 > 0:19:46of substantially out of datd electoral registration figures.
0:19:46 > 0:19:56We have now perhaps as many as million new people on the rdgister,
0:19:56 > 0:19:58arising out of what has happened in the referendum.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Surely those people on thesd registers should now be takdn
0:20:00 > 0:20:02into account in the setting of boundaries?
0:20:02 > 0:20:10Otherwise the boundaries ard false boundaries, they're not reldvant.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13And isn't the fact that if the government don't do this
0:20:13 > 0:20:15it shows that they are showing political bias.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17I repute the final point thd noble Lord makes.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Unless you have a defined d`te and a set of registers to assess,
0:20:20 > 0:20:21it's impossible to run a review
0:20:21 > 0:20:28And registers for a boundarx review are necessarily a snapshot.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29As regards the number of registrations, no,
0:20:29 > 0:20:35it is always the case that this has always been conducted like this
0:20:35 > 0:20:40And I would further like to say that we need to wait for thdse
0:20:40 > 0:20:43registers to be compiled to see how many of those who have applhed
0:20:43 > 0:20:45to register to vote are exactly duplicates or not.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46Lord Bridges.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49And soon after that the Lords also debated the arguments over leaving
0:20:49 > 0:20:55or exiting the European Union.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57The one-time leader of Ukip, Lord Pearson of Rannoch, has
0:20:57 > 0:21:00for years been deeply critical of the workings of the EU and has
0:21:00 > 0:21:02long argued Britain would be better off out.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05He took a swipe at the political class which, he said,
0:21:05 > 0:21:06was largely pro-EU.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Your Lordships House is a vdry Europhile place.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09Well-stocked with former government ministers,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Members of Parliament and servants of the EU,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15who between them have been responsible over long
0:21:15 > 0:21:19and what they no doubt regard as successful lives for bringing
0:21:19 > 0:21:22this country to its present state of subservience to the corrtpt
0:21:22 > 0:21:28octopus in Brussels.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31My Lords, it must be disappointing for them to see so much ingratitude
0:21:31 > 0:21:33and anger boiling up amongst the British people against
0:21:33 > 0:21:39the project in which they h`ve invested so much and in
0:21:39 > 0:21:43which they so fervently belheve
0:21:43 > 0:21:47My Lords, that's why during this referendum campaign you havd seen
0:21:47 > 0:21:54Project Octopus turning into Project Fear.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56And we are told to be fearftl of leaving the clutch
0:21:56 > 0:21:57of its tentacles.
0:21:57 > 0:22:05A former EU Trade Commissioner criticised the Leave campaign.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Their plans would pitch Britain in my view, into limbo,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12a state of ill-defined economic legal uncertainty that would be
0:22:12 > 0:22:14a state of ill-defined economic and legal uncertainty that would be
0:22:14 > 0:22:17I think the most serious self-inflicted damage to thd UK
0:22:17 > 0:22:27economy since the three-day week, which I remember being imposed
0:22:27 > 0:22:29in December 1973.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33But one of the things that we know about divorce in the real world
0:22:33 > 0:22:36is that it is usually expensive and it is very often acrimonious.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39So even if a couple think that they will be happier
0:22:39 > 0:22:44apart than together, it's very rare to have a divorce
0:22:44 > 0:22:46that doesn't include lawyers, who benefit probably
0:22:46 > 0:22:48more than anybody else.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51And it doesn't end up being costly.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54Migration both into Europe and across Europe intensifids
0:22:54 > 0:23:01resentment and generates extremism.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03The governing structures of the EU threaten to be as disastrous
0:23:03 > 0:23:06as the euro.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09The system is an aggregation of democracies but it is not
0:23:09 > 0:23:10itself democratic.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12It was never intended to be so by its authors.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Rational public servants who were horrified at what they had
0:23:15 > 0:23:21seen weak democracies and populist fascism do.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Policy initiative continues to rest with the unelected commission,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28the Council of Ministers as such has no accountability.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33I just want to say how dism`yed I am by the way in which the pied pipers
0:23:33 > 0:23:38of Leave are attempting to lead the people of this country
0:23:38 > 0:23:41into a dark mountain, from which we can only emerge
0:23:41 > 0:23:45reduced and poorer.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48The Lords debate on Europe.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51The Prime Minister has been accused of having re-assembled the so-called
0:23:51 > 0:23:55glass ceiling in Whitehall, with just one in five of top senior
0:23:55 > 0:23:58roles going to women.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Latest figures show that 80$ of permanent secretaries,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03the highest-ranking civil servants, are men.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07As a result, Labour is callhng for the shortlists from
0:24:07 > 0:24:12which permanent secretaries are appointed to be made public
0:24:12 > 0:24:14In 2011, 50% of permanent secretaries were female
0:24:14 > 0:24:15for the first time.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20Since then, and since the Prime Minister took control
0:24:20 > 0:24:22the glass ceiling has been painstakingly reassembled.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25If he can't be trusted to appoint women, then isn't it
0:24:25 > 0:24:30about time we introduce some positive discrimination?
0:24:30 > 0:24:33We have in fact appointed a range of permanent secretaries
0:24:33 > 0:24:37who are women in the last fdw months and I am glad to be able to tell
0:24:37 > 0:24:39the honourable member that we are also doing a grdat deal
0:24:39 > 0:24:43to try to make sure that thd pool from which we draw the perm`nent
0:24:43 > 0:24:45secretaries in the first pl`ce, obviously the directors gendral
0:24:45 > 0:24:48is significantly improving.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51As the minister has just confirmed, since the Prime Minister gave
0:24:51 > 0:24:53himself the power to appoint, 80% of permanent secretaries
0:24:53 > 0:24:55are now men.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57In the spirit of open government, will the minister commit
0:24:57 > 0:24:59to publishing the shortlists from which the Prime
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Minister has appointed?
0:25:01 > 0:25:06I will go back and talk to colleagues about the methods
0:25:06 > 0:25:10by which we publish what happens in that procedtre.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14But I would like to point ott to the opposition spokesman
0:25:15 > 0:25:17that the pool from which we...
0:25:17 > 0:25:23Spokesperson.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25The pool from which we draw the permanent secretaries
0:25:25 > 0:25:26is the secretaries general.
0:25:26 > 0:25:27Oliver Letwin.
0:25:27 > 0:25:28And that's it for this programme.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31MPs and peers are now off for a week and a half,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34enabling them to play a full part in the final, remaining days
0:25:34 > 0:25:37of the Referendum campaign.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Voting is, as we all know, on Thursday the 23rd.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43This programme returns on the day that Parliament is scheduled
0:25:43 > 0:25:45to return, Monday 27 June.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49In the meantime, do join me for the best of this week's events,
0:25:49 > 0:25:52in The Week in Parliament, at 11pm on Friday night.
0:25:52 > 0:25:58Until then, from me Keith Macdougall, goodbye.