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| MPs debate China's human rights record – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.00am BST11:00 | |
| Labour’s former acting leader Harriet Harman says this debate is very important and she’s sure it will be watched in China. She criticises the government’s attack on the Human Rights Act and the use of the term “Labour’s Human Rights Act”. | |
| Frankly, you cannot stand up for human rights abroad if you regard them as a nuisance at home. | |
| 10.56am BST10:56 | |
| Tory minister Tim Loughton asks about Tibet and the reports that “Chinese state sponsored cheer leaders” were given ‘I love China’ t-shirts and pushed to the front of the crowd, in front of protesters, during the procession along the Mall on Tuesday. | |
| 10.52am BST10:52 | |
| Labour MP Catherine West asks whether UK ministers have had any opportunity to raise issues of freedom of religion in China with the Chinese president. She asks specifically about Zhejiang province and the case of the persecution of christians there. | |
| Swire says that the situation in Zhejiang has been raised before in parliament and is worrying. | |
| Conservative MP Edward Leigh says that the persecution of christians in China is the sort of thing that happened in the UK in the 16th century and that the UK must not be afraid of raising these issues with the Chinese because they are trying to develop economic relations. | |
| 10.46am BST10:46 | |
| Fiona Bruce is responding to Swire’s answer by listing a string of cases of Chinese citizens being prosecuted for speaking out against the Chinese state. Bruce is the chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission. She quotes Martin Luther King: | |
| In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. | |
| 10.42am BST10:42 | |
| Fiona Bruce MP is asking her urgent question about the case of lawyer Zhang Kai. | |
| Hugo Swire, minister of state for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is answering saying that the UK government is in the middle of a “hugely positive” state visit from China’s President Xi. The strong relationship which the government is building allows the UK to discuss all issues, he says. The government is concerned about the case of Zhang Kai and that his whereabouts are unknown, he says. | |
| 10.38am BST10:38 | |
| Chris Grayling, leader of the House of Commons, has written for ConservativeHome about the EVEL question: | |
| Issues like health and education have long since been the province of the assemblies and parliaments in Cardiff, Belfast and Edinburgh. We are now moving to a new stage of devolution, with responsibilities also passing for parts of our taxation system as well. Local decision making is at the heart of our strategy in this Parliament. | |
| But England has to be a part of this as well. It cannot be in any of our interests to see English people becoming cynical about the Union. That is why it has been so important to secure what most reasonable people would think to be a fair settlement across the United Kingdom... | |
| It’s simply a question of fairness, of creating fairer Parliaments and Assemblies. We need to give the English a stronger voice on English matters. | |
| 10.22am BST10:22 | 10.22am BST10:22 |
| Bercow grants urgent question on China | Bercow grants urgent question on China |
| The House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has granted an urgent question on China’s human rights record to Conservative MP Fiona Bruce. | The House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has granted an urgent question on China’s human rights record to Conservative MP Fiona Bruce. |
| Bercow has been stirring trouble for Cameron during the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping, making a series of references to human rights and democracy on Tuesday during Xi’s visite to parliament. | Bercow has been stirring trouble for Cameron during the visit of Chinese president Xi Jinping, making a series of references to human rights and democracy on Tuesday during Xi’s visite to parliament. |
| A Foreign Office minister will respond to Bruce’s question, which will focus on reports that human rights lawyer Zhang Kai faces a severe prison sentence and a possible death penalty for defending civil liberties. | A Foreign Office minister will respond to Bruce’s question, which will focus on reports that human rights lawyer Zhang Kai faces a severe prison sentence and a possible death penalty for defending civil liberties. |
| Bercow's overly firm handshake from yesterday is still making me laugh https://t.co/yRnFQcKg55 | Bercow's overly firm handshake from yesterday is still making me laugh https://t.co/yRnFQcKg55 |
| 10.09am BST10:09 | 10.09am BST10:09 |
| George Osborne has just started giving evidence to the Treasury select committee on the Bank of England Bill. You can get live updates on our business live blog here. You can also watch the meeting here. | George Osborne has just started giving evidence to the Treasury select committee on the Bank of England Bill. You can get live updates on our business live blog here. You can also watch the meeting here. |
| Updated at 10.12am BST | Updated at 10.12am BST |
| 10.00am BST10:00 | 10.00am BST10:00 |
| The Fabian Society’s general secretary Andrew Harrop has written a blog post about what EVEL will mean for the Labour party, pointing to the organisation’s Mountain to Climb report, which set out what it will take for Labour to win in 2020. | The Fabian Society’s general secretary Andrew Harrop has written a blog post about what EVEL will mean for the Labour party, pointing to the organisation’s Mountain to Climb report, which set out what it will take for Labour to win in 2020. |
| To win a majority in England under EVEL, an anti-Conservative alliance would need to gain 71 seats. For Labour to win these seats alone, without any gains by the Liberal Democrats, it would require a swing in the key English Lab/Con marginals of 7.5 percentage points. The task would be easier if the Lib Dems and Labour were each able to make gains in England, in seats where they face the Conservatives. If both parties achieved a swing of around 6.5 points this would be sufficient for them to achieve a combined majority in England (Labour would gain around 55 seats; and the Lib Dems 16). This suggests that it is strongly in Labour’s interests for the Lib Dems to stage a recovery in those parts of England where Labour is not competitive, such as the South West. | To win a majority in England under EVEL, an anti-Conservative alliance would need to gain 71 seats. For Labour to win these seats alone, without any gains by the Liberal Democrats, it would require a swing in the key English Lab/Con marginals of 7.5 percentage points. The task would be easier if the Lib Dems and Labour were each able to make gains in England, in seats where they face the Conservatives. If both parties achieved a swing of around 6.5 points this would be sufficient for them to achieve a combined majority in England (Labour would gain around 55 seats; and the Lib Dems 16). This suggests that it is strongly in Labour’s interests for the Lib Dems to stage a recovery in those parts of England where Labour is not competitive, such as the South West. |
| Looking at these numbers, it is clear that the task of eliminating the Conservative majority could be relatively achievable, even after the boundary changes; while the task of winning a UK Labour majority will be very difficult. This means there is a good chance that no party will win a UK majority in 2020: Labour will need to give careful thought to the many possible scenarios arising from a future hung parliament. EVEL hugely complicates the picture, because it creates the possibility of an anti-Conservative alliance being able to secure a UK majority but not an English majority. | Looking at these numbers, it is clear that the task of eliminating the Conservative majority could be relatively achievable, even after the boundary changes; while the task of winning a UK Labour majority will be very difficult. This means there is a good chance that no party will win a UK majority in 2020: Labour will need to give careful thought to the many possible scenarios arising from a future hung parliament. EVEL hugely complicates the picture, because it creates the possibility of an anti-Conservative alliance being able to secure a UK majority but not an English majority. |
| Updated at 10.00am BST | Updated at 10.00am BST |
| 9.42am BST09:42 | 9.42am BST09:42 |
| Today’s Guardian editorial focuses on the EVEL question. Here’s an extract – | Today’s Guardian editorial focuses on the EVEL question. Here’s an extract – |
| The main item on the agenda for the House of Commons on Thursday may seem drily procedural, Westminster-bubble stuff. But the motion “to approve standing orders relating to English votes for English laws”, to be moved by the leader of the Commons, Chris Grayling, plays with constitutional fire. Within the thickets of subclauses and the jungle of parliamentary drafting of these new standing orders lurks a potentially explosive question. Is the Commons becoming the parliament of a state whose constituent nations are now inexorably and antagonistically moving apart from one another? | The main item on the agenda for the House of Commons on Thursday may seem drily procedural, Westminster-bubble stuff. But the motion “to approve standing orders relating to English votes for English laws”, to be moved by the leader of the Commons, Chris Grayling, plays with constitutional fire. Within the thickets of subclauses and the jungle of parliamentary drafting of these new standing orders lurks a potentially explosive question. Is the Commons becoming the parliament of a state whose constituent nations are now inexorably and antagonistically moving apart from one another? |
| For a few English voters, English votes for English laws is not a dry phrase. For most Scots, not just nationalists, it certainly isn’t one. David Cameron’s promotion of Evel on the morning after Scotland’s vote to stay in the UK was an incendiary and irresponsible act. In many Scots’ eyes, it instantly undermined the credibility of pro-UK political parties and promises – with consequences that continue to this day. Tory and press fear campaigns against the SNP in the general election added to this further. The standing orders on which MPs will vote on Thursday are not in fact particularly objectionable in themselves. However, in the context of post-referendum distrust they can all too easily be represented, as they are being, as a destructive and hostile partisan act. | For a few English voters, English votes for English laws is not a dry phrase. For most Scots, not just nationalists, it certainly isn’t one. David Cameron’s promotion of Evel on the morning after Scotland’s vote to stay in the UK was an incendiary and irresponsible act. In many Scots’ eyes, it instantly undermined the credibility of pro-UK political parties and promises – with consequences that continue to this day. Tory and press fear campaigns against the SNP in the general election added to this further. The standing orders on which MPs will vote on Thursday are not in fact particularly objectionable in themselves. However, in the context of post-referendum distrust they can all too easily be represented, as they are being, as a destructive and hostile partisan act. |
| 9.17am BST09:17 | 9.17am BST09:17 |
| Oh dear ... | Oh dear ... |
| The good news for @timfarron is he has a whole page piece in @TheSun. The bad news is they've got his name wrong: pic.twitter.com/1rC4cwt2NF | The good news for @timfarron is he has a whole page piece in @TheSun. The bad news is they've got his name wrong: pic.twitter.com/1rC4cwt2NF |
| 9.08am BST09:08 | 9.08am BST09:08 |
| The Herald has an interesting quote from Scotland secretary David Mundell on the ‘EVEL’ plans. He admits that the current proposals wouldn’t technically prevent Scottish MPs from voting down England-only legislation at the final stage. | The Herald has an interesting quote from Scotland secretary David Mundell on the ‘EVEL’ plans. He admits that the current proposals wouldn’t technically prevent Scottish MPs from voting down England-only legislation at the final stage. |
| Ultimately, Scottish MPs will potentially have the final say as to what the arrangements are for fox-hunting in England, Sunday shopping in England, for the arrangement of the northern powerhouse in England, because all MPs will continue to have all the votes that they currently have. | Ultimately, Scottish MPs will potentially have the final say as to what the arrangements are for fox-hunting in England, Sunday shopping in England, for the arrangement of the northern powerhouse in England, because all MPs will continue to have all the votes that they currently have. |
| Updated at 10.10am BST | Updated at 10.10am BST |
| 8.59am BST08:59 | 8.59am BST08:59 |
| MPs will debate the government’s English votes for English laws plans at around 11.30. | MPs will debate the government’s English votes for English laws plans at around 11.30. |
| The plans to be debated today are a watered down version of the proposals that were presented to parliament in July. The government decided to dilute its plans – including allowing for more time to debate them – after Tory whips warned Downing Street it faced defeat because rebel Conservatives had joined forces with the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). | The plans to be debated today are a watered down version of the proposals that were presented to parliament in July. The government decided to dilute its plans – including allowing for more time to debate them – after Tory whips warned Downing Street it faced defeat because rebel Conservatives had joined forces with the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). |
| The debate was delayed until now because there were no more free days to debate before parliament rose for the summer recess on 21 July. | The debate was delayed until now because there were no more free days to debate before parliament rose for the summer recess on 21 July. |
| The ‘EVEL’ plans would introduce a new parliamentary stage for laws that only affect England or England and Wales. English and Welsh MPs would have a chance to scrutinise proposed legislation alone first and all MPs would then continue to debate and vote on the legislation at second reading, third reading and report stage. | The ‘EVEL’ plans would introduce a new parliamentary stage for laws that only affect England or England and Wales. English and Welsh MPs would have a chance to scrutinise proposed legislation alone first and all MPs would then continue to debate and vote on the legislation at second reading, third reading and report stage. |
| The SNP’s Pete Wishart has just been on the BBC’s Today programme with Chris Grayling, leader of the House of Commons. | The SNP’s Pete Wishart has just been on the BBC’s Today programme with Chris Grayling, leader of the House of Commons. |
| Wishart repeated the argument that the plans would render Scottish MPs “second class in the unitary parliament”, politicise the office of the speaker of the House of Commons and increase the work load of parliament. He also complained that the plans were being “rushed through” in the form of a standing order. | Wishart repeated the argument that the plans would render Scottish MPs “second class in the unitary parliament”, politicise the office of the speaker of the House of Commons and increase the work load of parliament. He also complained that the plans were being “rushed through” in the form of a standing order. |
| Chris Grayling responded to the criticism that the new plans would politicise the commons speaker – who would have to decide whether legislation effects England only – saying he didn’t think such a judgement call would be “complicated at all”. Grayling said John Bercow would be given recommendations by the civil servants who had drafted the bill as to which parts of the United Kingdom they affected. | Chris Grayling responded to the criticism that the new plans would politicise the commons speaker – who would have to decide whether legislation effects England only – saying he didn’t think such a judgement call would be “complicated at all”. Grayling said John Bercow would be given recommendations by the civil servants who had drafted the bill as to which parts of the United Kingdom they affected. |
| Wishart said: | Wishart said: |
| Why not do it yourself? Get an English parliament. Then we can come together in a UK parliament in a federal system and consider all the big issues. What is being proposed is to turn the unitary parliament of the UK into a quasi-English parliament and that’s surely unacceptable. | Why not do it yourself? Get an English parliament. Then we can come together in a UK parliament in a federal system and consider all the big issues. What is being proposed is to turn the unitary parliament of the UK into a quasi-English parliament and that’s surely unacceptable. |
| I’m covering for Andrew this week, bringing you breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. | I’m covering for Andrew this week, bringing you breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web. |
| If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @fperraudin | If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @fperraudin |
| Updated at 10.11am BST | Updated at 10.11am BST |