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Twitter has created 'real problems' for left because it gives misleading view of public opinion, says Nandy - live news Twitter has created 'real problems' for left because it gives misleading view of public opinion, says Nandy - live news
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happenRolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, is making an announcement.
He says he is setting up a new system. If he takes a decision against the strong advice of clerks, the clerk will have the right to place a copy of his advice in the Commons library.
This system is modelled on the “ministerial direction” system that allows civil servants, if they feel they are being ordered to go ahead with a spending plan that cannot be justified, to insist on being given a written “ministerial direction”. It does not stop ministers doing what they want, but it serves as an incentive against rogue decision making.
Hoyle’s announcement is a response to the controversy generated by John Bercow when he over-ruled advice from his clerk, and effectively tore up the Commons rulebook, to allow a vote on an amendment opposed by Brexiters.
Speaker announces plan to reduce prospect of officials’ advice being ignored on procedural rulings.
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s leader at Westminster, says many people are not happy about Brexit. Will Johnson meet Plaid Cymru to discuss Wales’ prospects after Brexit.
Johnson says he agrees on the need for unity, but Wales voted for Brexit.
Johnson repeats the point about the HS2 announcement coming shortly.
An MP asks if the BBC is a moral enemy of the Conservative party, or a much-prized national institution.
That is a reference to what Dominic Cummings, the PM’s chief adviser, used to say about the BBC.
Johnson says the BBC is a much-prized institution. It is not a mortal enemy, he says.
The SNP’s Richard Thomson asks if Johnson will commit to keeping the UK in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme after Brexit.
Johnson says nothing in Brexit will stop students being able to pursue their hopes and dreams around the EU.
Labour’s Meg Hillier asks what Johnson is going to do now to ensure there are more GPs. She says just training more is not good enough, because that takes years.
Johnson says the government is training 6,000 more GPs.
The SNP’s Ronnie Cowan asks Johnson if he agrees that protecting Scotland’s care sector with tailor-made immigration policies are more important than his ideological obsession with cutting immigration.
Johnson claims existing plans take into account Scotland’s needs.
The DUP’s Gregory Campbell asks if Johnson backs plans for pensions for innocent victims of violence in Northern Ireland.
Johnson says the principle that victims must not be to blame for what happened must be maintained in these negotiations.
Andy Carter, a Conservative, asks if the government will hire more doctors.
Johnson says it will. This is the party of delivery and decision and democracy, he says.
Labour’s Karl Turner says seafarers are expected to work for less than the minimum wage. Will Johnson meet MPs to discuss this?
Johnson says he accepts this is a serious issue, and he is happy to take this up. He says the transport secretary will convene a meeting.
Caroline Lucas, the Green MP, asks Johnson if he agrees the government should avoid hypocrisy. She says the government is putting £2bn into fossil fuel programmes abroad.
Johnson says spending on climate change projects has been doubled, and the government is not spending a penny more on coal projects.
The SNP’s Angela Crawley says Scotland should have the power to decide its own immigration policy.
Johnson says he has the highest respect for Scotland and its people. But he has less respect for the SNP, he says.
Johnson says the government is considering whether and how to proceed with HS2. An announcement will be made “very shortly”.
Labour’s Sarah Champion asks if Johnson will make paying for sex illegal.
Johnson says he is willing to look at this idea.
Andrea Jenkyns, a Conservative, says in Yorkshire Brexiters will be celebrating Brexit on Friday.
Johnson says he wishes them well in at the Brexit bash.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, says Michael Gove once said Scotland would be able to decide its immigration policy after Brexit. On Monday the Scottish government published immigration plans. He asks Johnson why he objects to model three in the plan.
Johnson says the idea of having a Scotland-only visa is “fanciful”. Whatever the document says on the page Blackford referred it, it won’t say who would pay for it, he says.
Blackford says the Scottish plans have wide support. They would boost Scotland’s population, improve its economy and protect public services. Scotland was told it would be an equal partner. Will Johnson accept this plan?
Johnson says his points-based immigration system will help the whole of the UK. He says the Scottish parliament has not had a debate on education for two years. Yet today it is debating flying the EU flag, he says.
Sally-Ann Hart, a Conservative, asks for an asssurance that Hastings and Rye, her constituency, will not be overlooked in the PM’s levelling up programme.Sally-Ann Hart, a Conservative, asks for an asssurance that Hastings and Rye, her constituency, will not be overlooked in the PM’s levelling up programme.
Johnson says Hastings will benefit from the government’s infrastructure programme.Johnson says Hastings will benefit from the government’s infrastructure programme.
Corbyn says 100,000 people died in Yemen last year alone. When the PM goes to Saudia Arabia later this year, will he make it clear that any trade deal will be dependent on improvements in human rights?Corbyn says 100,000 people died in Yemen last year alone. When the PM goes to Saudia Arabia later this year, will he make it clear that any trade deal will be dependent on improvements in human rights?
Johnson says Corbyn is a supporter of the Iranian regime, which has exacerbated the situation in Yemen he claims. He says the government will continue to support human rights.Johnson says Corbyn is a supporter of the Iranian regime, which has exacerbated the situation in Yemen he claims. He says the government will continue to support human rights.
Corbyn says he has defended human rights around the world, including in Iran and Russia. He says prisoners in Saudia Arabia are being tortured. Britain is at a crossroads, he says. He says the signs are that Johnson wants to sell out this country, and the NHS, in a trade deal with President Trump. When will Johnson stand up for the fight against climate change, and promote peace?Corbyn says he has defended human rights around the world, including in Iran and Russia. He says prisoners in Saudia Arabia are being tortured. Britain is at a crossroads, he says. He says the signs are that Johnson wants to sell out this country, and the NHS, in a trade deal with President Trump. When will Johnson stand up for the fight against climate change, and promote peace?
Johnson says Corbyn stood up for Tehran, and for President Putin when he poisoned people in Britain. Corbyn wants to abolish the armed forces, he says. And he does not support Nato, he says. He says his government is standing up for efforts to educate girls around the world.Johnson says Corbyn stood up for Tehran, and for President Putin when he poisoned people in Britain. Corbyn wants to abolish the armed forces, he says. And he does not support Nato, he says. He says his government is standing up for efforts to educate girls around the world.
Corbyn says Johnson voted against action on climate change on every occasion before be became PM.
He says President Trump’s Middle East peace plan is not a peace plan. When Johnson meets Mike Pompeo, will he call for a genuine peace plan?
Johnson says this problem has bedevilled the world for years. He says this plan is a genuine peace plan, and it could lead to a two-state solution.
Corbyn says he has met Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian authority many times.
He asks if Johnson will stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia while the crisis in Yemen continues.
Johnson says Corbyn should be supporting the British negotiator trying to bring both sides together.
Jeremy Corbyn starts with a tribute to a solider who died this week, and to Nicholas Parsons.
He says COP26 will be one of the biggest tests for the UK after Brexit. Should the UK be financing oil and gas projects across the world?
Johnson says the UK will continue to compaign against carbon emissions around the world. The government has just banned the use of aid money for coal projects.
Corbyn says the government is still financing other carbon projects. The government is currently on track to meet the net zero carbon target by 2099, he says.
Johnson says the UK has reduced CO2 emissions by 42%, while the economy has grown.
Johnson says he wants to assure people that the UK will have the access to the best technology available. But it won’t do anything to imperil intelligence cooperation with the US either.
The SNP’s Carol Monaghan says the UK was a beacon of hope during the second world war for Jews. But when the government rejected the Dubs amendment, the beacon dimmed. Will the government devolve power over immigration to Scotland?
Boris Johnson says the UK can be proud of its record on refugees.
PMQs is starting soon.
Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.
Boris Johnson is due to hold another “People’s PMQs” on Facebook this afternoon at 5pm. For a taste of what to expect, it is worth watching this video he posted on Twitter yesterday.
Newsnight’s Lewis Goodall posted a good thread on Twitter factchecking Johnson’s comments. It starts here.
As British MEPs arrived in the European parliament in Brussels this morning, they were greeted by a sign above the chamber could be seen reading: “It’s not goodbye, it’s au revoir.” As the Press Association reports, the message had been put up by the S&D, a coalition of socialist parties.
Here are the main points from Lisa Nandy’s LBC phone-in.
Nandy said Twitter had created “real problems” for the left because it gave activists a misleading view of what the public thought. She said that she had taken Twitter off her phone. She explained:
She said that the government’s support for President Trump’s Middle East peace plan was “disgraceful”. She said that, as someone who had been vice chair and then chair of Labour Friends of Palestine, she was “horrified” by the plan because it could end any prospect of a two-state solution. Referring to a Foreign Office statement describing the plan as “a serious proposal”, she said that was “disgraceful”. She went on:
Q: People are calling Nandy blue Labour. Why is that?
Nandy says the only time she has rebelled recently in the Commons was when the party was backing tax cuts for the wealthy. So in that regard she is to the left of Jeremy Corbyn, she says.
Q: What is your view of Trump’s Middle East peace plan?
Nandy says she is “horrified” by it. It closes of any hope of a two-state solution, she says. She says that is bad for Israel.
She says Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said the Trump plan should be taken seriously. “That is disgraceful,” she says.
And that’s it. The phone-in is over.
Q: Which part of the party does the rancour come from most?
Nandy says she has friends in every part of the Labour party. It is family to her. There are people in parliament she is good friends with, despite not agreeing with them much on policy.