Transcripts For BBCNEWS The Week In Parliament 20200113

The week in parliament. Minister, David Cameron and this was before he called the referendum on our membership of the European Union whether he would meet us, because it was our argument that devolution was in very much Unfinished Business in the United Kingdom. We had devolved power in a very asymmetric way to Northern Ireland, scotland, wales, and london. We kind of finished and overlooked the rest of england. We started doing Coalition Years that the function of the house of lords is being a revising chamber hello and welcome. Was this the when no party had the majority was no longer working very effectively. And i remember literally saying to David Cameron, moment that mps are started to get irrespective of the outcome brexit done . Of the eu referendum, you are the Prime Minister of a deeply fractured nation. The ayes to the right, 330. And thats what we are trying the noes to the left, 231. To address, a new look of how the iran missile crisis. The Prime Minister lists the charge the four nations Work Together and hold together. Sheet against its military chief. And what is your solution and, of course, supplying explosive devices to terrorists who im afraid killed and maimed british troops. That man had the blood of british for the house of lords . We offer one option, which goes troops on his hands. For you have complete abolition. The end of the peers show but what should a Second Chamber do . Unless we start by saying what do and you really look very much like the german Second Chamber, we think the house of lords is for, where you have representatives of the regions who speak collectively. And once we have agreed on that, i think the options on how or you have a house of lords which has an element you compose that body will almost of being elected. Naturally flow from itself. And, how should the uk mark its departure from the eu . Will he make representations to the house of Commons Commission whose decision this is that big ben we ended up with a figure of 292 should bong for brexit . To be elected for 15 year terms, and 100 appointed. So we have a natural churning. But first, a big moment for brexit. The one thing we definitely decided we are now a step nearer leaving was that the house of lords should not be for life. The eu at the end of this month. Right, right. And havent we been here before . You were an mp back in 2003. The bill to put borisjohnsons brexit deal into law cleared the house of commons you will remember mps spent a whole day discussing voting on seven on thursday evening. Different options for the future the ayes to the right, 330. Of the house of lords, and they rejected them all. The noes to the left, 231. The problem is that people may agree there needs to be change, but they cant agree on the type so, the ayes have it, of change that there should be. Oh, i remember it well. The ayes have it. And theres nothing worse in the house of commons than when mps are not a government majority of 99 whipped on how to vote, thats what you might call and you have a whole a meaningful vote after all string of votes and. The failed attempts to get the brexit deal through the commons. Make up their own mind . And you go, what are we voting on . Is it 18, is it 100 . The Withdrawal Agreement bill covers but you identified divorce payments to the eu, the problem in your question. Citizens rights, customs there were so many options arrangements for Northern Ireland on the table, and i think that and the planned 11 month unless we start by saying, transition period. What do we think the house mps had spent three days of lords is for . Debating the details. But with a majority of 80, and once weve agreed on that, no opposition attempts to change it i think the options on how stood a chance of success. You compose that body will almost naturally flow from itself. That didnt stop them trying. Labour will continue to fight gisela stuart, thank you very much, indeed. To protect the most vulnerable. Pleasure. We may not win many votes the newly strengthened snp force in parliamentjust now but we can at westminster has wasted little time in making its presence felt. Win the moral argument. With 48 of the 59 seats in scotland, the snp dominated scottish questions and of course sir keir starmer hopes its mps making the same demand for scotland to have the power to do that as labour leader. Thursday also saw whats likely to hold another independence referendum. The partys westminster leader to be the last brexit questions drove home the message in the commons the department during Prime Ministers questions. Mr speaker, today the scottish for exiting the eu is due to be parliament will decline legislative wound up at the end of the month consent to the withdrawal vote we are deliberating later today. The brexit secretarys job why is this conservative government will disappear with it. Dismissing the will of the people of scotland, ignoring their voicing, and disregarding our parliament . There was a valedictory mr speaker, i think the real question is, why does the snp keep air to question time. During the three years going on about breaking up the most Successful Union in history . The department has been in place, to distract from their abundant it has had three secretaries of state and three permanent failures in government secretaries but since the first cheering. Departmental question, in spite of getting an extra £9 just one shadow brexit secretary. Without in any way wishing billion a year from the uk exchequer tojinx his next steps, may i. Place on record his contribution to the scrutiny of the government, which i am sure will continue in whatever role he plays which of course they would lose in the house moving forward. If they were to foolishly break away they are mismanaging their health care, and youll see, im afraid it is not the fault of scottish pupils, so no more knife edge votes at westminster, but youre seeing scottish but the uk government has failed schools falling behind in the educational sense. Concentrate on what youre doing, to win the backing of the scottish parliament. And stop going on about breaking up the union msps voted by 92 votes to 29 against giving formal consent to the Withdrawal Agreement bill. The scottish governments brexit now whats been happening in the wider world of secretary said scottish voters had politics this week . With our countdown, heres najiba feroze. Shown repeatedly that they dont at five pronouncing place names that are not spelled phonetically want to leave the eu. Can be tricky sometimes. That message has been related here is how the leader time and time again. That message to the Prime Minister of the house of commons, jacob rees mogg, dealt with it. Is as clear today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. Let me put it this way Prime Minister, we said no to brexit and we mean it. But presiding officer, the Prime Minister is not listening to the scottish people, just as his party in scotland, as we hear, is not listening. Because, in three weeks time, it is virtually certain that scotland will be taken out of the European Union against our will. And we will, each of us, be forcibly stripped of our european for starters, its rhondda. Citizenship against not rhon da, rhon the. Our specific wishes. That is an intolerable situation, the honourable gentlemen, and this parliament, the memberfor. Very generously, as the voice of when i was newly elected, scotland, must say so. And waless first minister mark took me to the smoking room and gave me a couple glasses drakeford says Assembly Members should vote down the bill when it of scotch from his finest produce to help me learn how to pronounce his constituency. Comes before the senedd. The fact of brexit is undoubtedly now there. Nobody should believe that that means somehow that is a blank cheque for a uk government to do things in a way that would cause enormous at four the scottish brexit damage to the welsh economy secretary, michael russell, and conservative msp murdo fraser. And to welsh interests. You used to be opposed to brexit, and we will continue to argue, wherever we can, to make sure so at least i am consistent. That those interests well, i am a democrat. We had a referendum, and i believe we should honour are properly defended. The outcome of the referendum. But lets not get into this, mark dra keford, with a hint of trouble ahead. Because its a matter of debate. So, lets take stock you used to be opposed to brexit, so at least i am consistent. Of where we are with a real life well, i am a democrat. We had a referendum, and i believe we should honour expert, professor anand menon the outcome of the referendum. Of the uk in a changing europe but lets not get into this, think tank at kings because its a matter of debate. Well, i know its embarrassing for you. Oh, im not the one embarrassed, college, london. Cabinet secretary commissioner. The bill sailed through the commons at three oh, what kind of tea should you drink in scotland . What did we learn along the way . Well, i think that older people have a listen to what lord duncan of springbank says. Like me have remembered and younger on a bizarre point, i was criticised people will have heard what it was over the Christmas Period for not to have a majority government. Will have because all of a sudden, drinking scottish tea, but yorkshire tea. Even on these issues this government is going to win in scotland, grievances all the votes. Can be found. Laughter. At two was this a freudian slip from the treasury minister, rishi sunak . Weve committed to finding 20,000 new Police Officers by the end and you see opposition parties wondering about amendments of 2023 to help keep our but knowing that ultimately, seats streets safe. Unless they get the support laughter. Of the government, they are not going to go through. And we have just learnt what power borisjohnson has at his disposal, and at one away from the commons, laura smith, a former mp at the moment at least. So, its going his way so far. Who lost her seat in the general the bill will now go election has been photographed at the localjobcentre. To the house of lords. Could anything go wrong there . The house of lords will grumble and quibble, im sure about that. But, remember, all the key elements she tweeted her response. Of what is in this bill were part najiba feroz reporting. Of the conservative manifesto so i find it very hard to believe now, the brexit arguments may be that the lords are going to kick on hold in the commons up too much of a fuss, at least for now but theres and even if they do, plenty of Unfinished Business there. Going back to that majority again, mps are still divided over how they can be overruled by the house. If at all to mark the uks and what are the sort of thing departure from the eu is that they would grumble about . At the end of the month. Well, several things. For instance, this version a party, or a wake . Of the Withdrawal Agreement bill has removed parliamentary scrutiny over certain things, and i think that has caused some concern in parliament, a celebratory drink, or a dram to drown your sorrows . But again, well, on the one hand, or should a famous bell you can wonder why a government currently silent be centre stage . With a majority of 80 would bother doing that, on the other, there is not much that opponents can do. There is some slight concern, interestingly, in brussels, about some phraseology in the bill as we leave at a precise, that says the institution being created to monitor eu specified time, those who wish Citizens Rights could be replaced to celebrate will need by another one. To look to a clock to and youve heard some rhetoric mark the moment. From the other side of the channel that actually they are a bit laughter. Concerned about this. I wouldnt be at all surprised it seems inconceivable to me if you dont hear that being debated and many colleagues that that clock in the house of lords as well. Should not be the most iconic and closer to home, the signs timepiece in the world are that the scots and the welsh big ben. Will withhold their consent from this bill. Is that a practical problem or a political one . It is more of a political one. I dont think weve had a piece of legislation go through without the consent of both will he make representations the scottish and the welsh before. To the house of Commons Commission, whose decision this is, and the main political issue that big ben should bong for brexit . Here is the scots because the snp can the government confirm whether or not it will request for the chiming of big ben are obviously pushing this line to mark 11pm on 31 january . That we have a mandate for another because this is not going to be referendum because of the outcome a moment of celebration for many of the general election, and they will use brexit to try people across the uk, but a moment of considerable concern, not least my constituents who are citizens nationals of the European Union. And strengthen that cause. And perhaps they should be asking on that side of the house, if they do want to hear and if we think as far back as last the bells chime, is for month, there was a queens speech, whom the bell will toll . Ministers are sympathetic and there were other bills in that to the idea, but itll be up queens speech that focused to the commons authorities to decide. On life after brexit. Thats it for the week the government will presumably need in parliament. To get these past this year. I hope you canjoin mandy baker the government will need to get them on Bbc Parliament at 11pm on monday past this year but until we reach night for the latest from the commons and the lords. The end of the year, we are essentially in the single thank you for watching. From me, david cornock, bye for now. Market, in the customs union, we still have freedom of movement, all those things about trade bills and all those things to do with our new immigration policy will need to be in place for after that. So, we are talking about things like immigration, environment. Agriculture. Fisheries. Yes, agriculture, fisheries. There are many areas of Public Policy where essentially the eu has substituted for westminster, fisheries, agriculture, immigration when it comes hello. To europeans, we will need to devise sunday was a pleasant day policies of our own in those areas, across many parts of we might need to devise new policies the british isles. And new spending commitments for things Like Research for things like regional spending. All the things where the eu used plenty of sunshine around things to play a large role. And, of course, not being in the eu will change markedly indeed. Storm any more, depending on the deal we negotiate, they might not play that role in the future. And a lot of those things will need brendan living in. A deep area of to be done by december the 31st. Low pressure and that means strong yes, absolutely. Because there is still a very real winds. Prospect we will end up leaving the European Union with no trade deal in place. If they cant Reach Agreement the wind freshening all the while or if the agreement cant be ratified, then ultimately we are ahead of the system pushing the rain trading with the European Union into many Western Areas accompanied bya on wto terms, and there are no into many Western Areas accompanied by a very strong perhaps special arrangements for anything. Professor menon, thank you very much. It was a week dominated disruptively strong wind. Gusts up by International Tensions by whats been called to 45 miles an hour but up to 70 the iran missile crisis, prompted by the killing of the iranian army chief qasem miles around the irish sea coast. Soleimani. On tuesday night, Ballistic Missiles were fired at two air bases in iraq also on the eastern side of where us and uk scotland. Perhaps before the day is forces are stationed. Done, as much as 85 horsepower irans revolutionary guard said through the Western Isles so again the strikes were in retaliation for the assassination that will be speed restrictions, of general soleimani on the orders of donald trump. Travel disruption and ferries could the crisis and how to respond have a real problem. At least the rank lose weight but the wind is an to it dominated the first ever present feature. A bright start Prime Ministers questions since the general election. To tuesday in central and western mr speaker, i should begin by saying scotla nd to tuesday in central and western scotland but not very long into the that we of course condemn the attack morning, the next pulse of mild air on Iraqi Military bases from the atlantic so that means a hosting coalition forces. Iran should not repeat these lot of cloud and rain gradually reckless and dangerous attacks but must instead pursue pushing its way up towards the central part of scotland. It is urgent de escalation. Mailed to the south but further north, that rain may fall into cooler air. North of the central the labour leader wanted the Prime Minister to confirm his opposition to any retaliation belt that could be some snow so very busy start to the week. The wind is or further escalation of the crisis. Seal that is a feature across the northern half of scotland into following the governments support for the United States over the assassination of general wednesday. Showers, a weatherfront soleimani, is the Prime Minister confident that United Kingdom troops to get away from the south east and and civilians are not at further then a decent sort of day. Still risk in the region and beyond . Mastery but nowhere near the strength we saw on monday and tuesday. The answer must begin to mr speaker, i can of course confirm, squeeze up on thursday again so and that is an important question, another windy day from the south. A that as far as we can tell, there were no casualties last night new set of whether front with cloud sustained by the us, and no british personnel and rain into scotland. Widely were injured in the attacks. The government has said that it is sympathetic to the assassination across Western Areas and later on in of general soleimani. What evidence has the Prime Minister the afternoon some pulses working got to suggest that this attack on him and his death was not their way further towards the east. An illegal act by the United States . You have to go as far ahead as well, mr speaker, clearly, friday to see something a bit quieter moving in from the atlantic the strict issue of legality is not as that ridge of High Pressure begins to quieten things down. For the uk to determine since it was not our operation. But i think that most reasonable people would accept that the United States has a right to protect its bases and its personnel. And i would remind the house that the individual concerned, qasem soleimani, was not only responsible for many years, amongst other things, arming the houthis with missiles with which they attacked innocent civilians, arming hezbollah with missiles, which again they used to attack innocent civilians, sustaining the assad regime in syria, one of the most brutal and barbaric regimes in the world, and of course supplying improvised explosive devices to terrorists whom im afraid killed and maimed british troops. That man had the blood of british welcome to bbc news. Im james reynolds. Our top stories troops on his hands. Irans leaders under pressure after more protests over the shooting down of a passenger jet. Canadians were among the victims Prime Ministerjustin trudeau paid his respects and promised justice. We will not rest until mr speaker, if we stand by international law, there are answers. As im sure the government we will not rest until there does and would want to, then surely killing somebody in a foreign territory is an illegal is justice and accountability. Act and should be condemned as such . This governments response is not putting the interests of this Queen Elizabeth and other Senior Country first but instead seems more interested in prioritising royals are to hold talks over prince harry and the Prime Ministers relationship with President Trump over the security of the region and of this country. Meghans future role. Isnt the truth, mr speaker, that this Prime Minister is unable to stand up to President Trump warnings of a further eruption force thousands to leave their homes because he has hitched his wagon to a trade deal with near to a volcano the United States and that in the philippines. Prioritises Everything Else and Serena Williams celebrates her that he ought to be considering . First title in three years, well, mr speaker, i was waiting for the little green men thing to come out at the end of that, about the trade deal. This is absolute fiction. But what i will say is that the uk will continue to work for de escalation in the region. I think we are having a great deal of success in bringing together a European Response and in bridging that, the European Response with that of our american friends, and working both with the iranians and with the iraqis to dial this thing down. Later, in a phone call, the Prime Minister told the iranian president Hassan Rouhani there should be an end to hostilities. That was before evidence emerged that suggested an iranian surface to air missile brought down a ukrainian passenger plane that crashed near tehran. Four britons were among the 176 people who died in the crash shortly after take off. Borisjohnson said information suggests the plane was shot down, but this may well have been unintentional. Lets have a look at some westminster news in brief now. And where better to start than with some election news . Three new deputy speakers have been elected by mps nigel evans, dame rosie winterton, and dame eleanor laing. Dame eleanor is the most senior of the three, and will chair budget debates. The first one to be elected is dame eleanor laing. Cheering. Was elected the first ever woman to be first woman to be elected chair of westminster. Cheering. Youre clapping whatever we do no clapping, said the speaker, but he did call it a historic occasion. You intend to do a lot to bring this place into the 21st century, and to restore faith in our democracy. And i look forward to doing all i can to helping you. Thank you very much. Cheering. Dominic cummings, the Prime Ministers controversial adviser, prompted a stir with a government recruitment drive launched on his personal blog. The debate spilled over into treasury questions. The Prime Ministers special adviser now wants a Civil Service packed in the cabinet comprised of weirdos and misfits with odd skills. So. Laughter. So as a member of that cabinet, what weird explanation does the chancellor have as to why, according to the office of national statistics, productivity is falling at its fastest annual pace for five years . Mr speaker, weve just had an unprecedented decade of growth. Its the first decade of uninterrupted growth only the third time since 1700 that weve had an uninterrupted decade of growth, thanks to the work of this government and when it comes to weirdos and misfits, i know there are many on that side of the house, but they need not apply. And an mp accused a member of the house of lords of abusing security staff at westminster. The snps Hannah Bardell raised the alleged behaviour of lord maginnis a former ulster unionist mp with the commons speaker. Yesterday on re entering the building for the first time after christmas, i witnessed one of the worst cases of abuse of security staff i have seen in my time here. One of the members of the other place, who i will name so as to not incriminate anybody else, lord ken maginnis, had forgotten his pass something weve all been guilty of. 00 17 02,835 2147483051 45 16,132 however, instead of taking 2147483051 45 16,132 4294966103 13 29,430 the advice of the security staff