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David Cameron facing Queen's Speech revolt over TTIP deal David Cameron moves to head off TTIP rebellion
(35 minutes later)
Conservative MPs are threatening to inflict a Commons defeat on David Cameron over his Queen's Speech. Downing Street has agreed to sign up to a cross-party move to exclude the NHS from the terms of a controversial EU-US trade deal known as TTIP.
The critical amendment, signed by 25 Tory MPs, centres on the controversial EU-US trade deal, known as TTIP. The move is aimed at heading off a possible Commons defeat for David Cameron.
The MPs - led by former cabinet minister Peter Lilley - want the government to ensure the NHS is protected from US multinationals. Tory rebels were threatening to join forces with Labour and the SNP to force through an amendment to the Queen's Speech to safeguard the health service.
Downing Street insists the NHS is "completely protected" in the TTIP negotiations. But Downing Street has denied them the chance by saying they will back it.
Mr Cameron's Queen's Speech was seen as being designed to avoid further revolts ahead of the EU referendum. A Number 10 spokesman said: "As we've said all along, there is no threat to the NHS from TTIP. So if this amendment is selected, we'll accept it."
The rebel amendment expresses regret that the government has not brought forward a bill to protect the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal, currently being negotiated between the EU and the US. The rebel amendment - signed by 25 Tory MPs - expresses regret that the government has not brought forward a bill to protect the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal, currently being negotiated between the EU and the US.
Although it would be a purely symbolic vote, no government has suffered a defeat on a Queen's Speech, which sets out its legislative programme for the year ahead, since 1924. Although it would have been a purely symbolic vote, no government has suffered a defeat on a Queen's Speech, which sets out its legislative programme for the year ahead, since 1924.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has long opposed TTIP, has said he will back the Conservative rebels. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who has long opposed TTIP, had said he would back the Conservative rebels.
It is understood the SNP and other minority parties are also likely to support the amendment. It is understood the SNP and other minority parties were also likely to support the amendment.
'Completely protected''Completely protected'
Sources in the Vote Leave campaign have predicted the government will face defeat unless it backs down. Sources in the Vote Leave campaign predicted the government would face defeat unless it backed down.
The BBC's assistant political editor, Norman Smith, said such a result would be a humiliation for Mr Cameron after he was also forced to back down over reforms to disability benefits in the Budget. The BBC's assistant political editor, Norman Smith, said such a result would have been a humiliation for Mr Cameron after he was also forced to back down over reforms to disability benefits in the Budget.
Peter Lilley said that although he supports free trade, TTIP would introduce "special courts which are not necessary for free trade, will give American multinationals the right to sue our government (but not vice versa) and could put our NHS at risk".Peter Lilley said that although he supports free trade, TTIP would introduce "special courts which are not necessary for free trade, will give American multinationals the right to sue our government (but not vice versa) and could put our NHS at risk".
What is TTIP?What is TTIP?
TTIP is primarily a deal to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers to trade between the US and EU countries, making it potentially easier for companies on both sides of the Atlantic to access each other's markets.TTIP is primarily a deal to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers to trade between the US and EU countries, making it potentially easier for companies on both sides of the Atlantic to access each other's markets.
Industries it would affect include pharmaceuticals, cars, energy, finance, chemicals, clothing and food and drink.Industries it would affect include pharmaceuticals, cars, energy, finance, chemicals, clothing and food and drink.
The government says shoppers would benefit by the removal of EU import tariffs on popular goods, such as jeans and cars.The government says shoppers would benefit by the removal of EU import tariffs on popular goods, such as jeans and cars.
In the UK, attention has focused on the potential impact on the NHS, with critics saying TTIP would allow private firms running NHS services to sue the government if it chose to return the services to the public sector.In the UK, attention has focused on the potential impact on the NHS, with critics saying TTIP would allow private firms running NHS services to sue the government if it chose to return the services to the public sector.
What is the future for UK-US trade?What is the future for UK-US trade?
Labour MP Frank Field, who is backing the amendment, said: "We can't have kangaroo courts, operating only to America's advantage, deciding how we should trade in respect of the NHS." Labour MP Frank Field, who backed the amendment, said: "We can't have kangaroo courts, operating only to America's advantage, deciding how we should trade in respect of the NHS."
Former Labour foreign secretary Lord Owen, of the Vote Leave campaign, said the prime minister had a problem because "millions of people in the country do not want the health service dragged into this EU-US trade agreement".Former Labour foreign secretary Lord Owen, of the Vote Leave campaign, said the prime minister had a problem because "millions of people in the country do not want the health service dragged into this EU-US trade agreement".
SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: "The SNP have been at the forefront of the campaign to protect the NHS and other public services from the potential consequences of TTIP, and so we welcome any opportunity to ensure that the Tory government keep the promises they have already made."SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh said: "The SNP have been at the forefront of the campaign to protect the NHS and other public services from the potential consequences of TTIP, and so we welcome any opportunity to ensure that the Tory government keep the promises they have already made."
"With this in mind, the SNP group will vote in favour of protecting Scotland's NHS from TTIP a Westminster next week."
But former Labour minister Rachel Reeves, writing on the Labour List website, said: "Those who want Britain to leave the EU need to stop preying on British peoples' love for the NHS by cynically pretending that TTIP poses a threat. It does not.But former Labour minister Rachel Reeves, writing on the Labour List website, said: "Those who want Britain to leave the EU need to stop preying on British peoples' love for the NHS by cynically pretending that TTIP poses a threat. It does not.
"They are demeaning their own campaign by arguing a case they know to be untrue.""They are demeaning their own campaign by arguing a case they know to be untrue."
She added: "What it will do is open up the American market to British companies, creating opportunities for business that will boost jobs and growth here at home."She added: "What it will do is open up the American market to British companies, creating opportunities for business that will boost jobs and growth here at home."
'TTIPs on steroids''TTIPs on steroids'
EU officials had stressed that health services would not be affected by the TTIP deal, she argued, and the NHS Confederation, which represents health providers, had concluded the NHS would be protected from privatisation.EU officials had stressed that health services would not be affected by the TTIP deal, she argued, and the NHS Confederation, which represents health providers, had concluded the NHS would be protected from privatisation.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who like Ms Reeves is backing the Remain campaign, said she would vote for the Conservative rebel amendment.Green Party MP Caroline Lucas, who like Ms Reeves is backing the Remain campaign, said she would vote for the Conservative rebel amendment.
"The Tory government is a major driving force for TTIP - and David Cameron is one of the deal's top cheerleaders," she said."The Tory government is a major driving force for TTIP - and David Cameron is one of the deal's top cheerleaders," she said.
"If we left the EU, then we could be left with the government negotiating trade deals with the rest of the world. What then?"If we left the EU, then we could be left with the government negotiating trade deals with the rest of the world. What then?
"With the Tories still in charge, we could then expect the roll out of multiple TTIPs on steroids as Britain negotiated trade deals with countries across the world.""With the Tories still in charge, we could then expect the roll out of multiple TTIPs on steroids as Britain negotiated trade deals with countries across the world."
She added: "That doesn't sound like safety for our NHS to me."She added: "That doesn't sound like safety for our NHS to me."