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PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Jeremy Corbyn in first Commons clash of 2020 – live news
PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Jeremy Corbyn in first Commons clash of 2020 – live news
(32 minutes later)
The day’s political developments, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen
The day’s political developments, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, asks who should decide the future of Scotland - the PM, or the people of Scotland.
Labour’s Karl Turner asks about a constituent serving a life sentence. But the constituent was also one of the people who tackled the terrorist in the London Bridge attack. Will the PM congratulate him?
Johnson says the people of Scotland decided to stay part of the UK.
Johnson says he hopes this gallantry is respected in the usual way.
Blackford says this is about democracy.
And that’s it. PMQs is over.
That provokes some laughter from MPs.
The SNP’s Douglas Chapman says the SNP’s mandate is much stronger than Johnson’s. He says the Scottish government has an “oven-ready” plan for an independence referendum. When will discussions begin?
Blackford says people voted for the SNP. Why is the Tory government dismissing the will of the people of Scotland?
Johnson says he has already addressed this.
Johnson says the real question is why the SNP keeps going on about breaking up the most successful union in history to distract from its appalling domestic record.
Asked what he has done to restore the Iran nuclear deal, Johnson says the UK still thinks the JCPOA is the best way forward. He says he thinks that way forward will remain. It is a shell at the moment. But it is a shell into which substance can be put.
Penny Mordaunt, a Conservative, asks how many people are being held in inappropriate adult social care settings, like Winterbourne View.
Labour’s Colleen Fletcher asks Johnson to support a new walk-in centre for Coventry.
Johnson says the number is 2,190, but it is coming down.
Johnson refers this one to the health secretary too, saying he is sure he will be able to do something about it.
Corbyn says he asked if the UK would respect the sovereignty of Iraq. He says Johnson did not answer.
Dehenna Davison, a new Conservative MP, asks about the NHS.
He says the UK has not been putting the interests of the UK first. He says Johnson has been prioritising his relationship with President Trump. He is not standing up for the UK because he has prioritised a trade deal with the US.
Johnson congratulates Davison on her election victory. He says the health secretary is looking into the matter raised by Davison.
Johnson says he was waiting for the “little green men” to come out at the end of Corbyn’s contribution, implying that Corbyn is reciting a conspiracy. He says Corbyn took £10,000 from Iranian TV. He says he is surprised the Corbyn has yet to condemn Suleimani’s activities.
Shailesh Vara, a Conservative, asks the PM if he agrees that overseas companies would invest in Northern Ireland if the assembly were revived.
Johnson says the British government should be doing everything it can to protect the integrity of Iraq.
Johnson says the UK is the third highest recipient of inward investment in the world. Northern Ireland could get more with the assembly up and running, he says.
Corbyn asks what evidence there is that the killing of Suleimani was legal.
David Morris, a Conservative, says the north of England needs an Eden project. Does the PM support it going to Morecombe?
Johnson says it is not for the UK government to provide this evidence. But he refers to Suleimani’s record. He says Suleimani helped orchestrate bomb attacks on British troops in the region. He had the blood of British troops on his hands, he says.
Johnson says Sajid Javid, the chancellor, tells him the Eden project is “very likely” to come to Morecombe.
Corbyn asks what representations the PM will make to President Trump to make sure the Iranian foreign minister can attend the UN in New York.
The SNP’s Brendan O’Hara says Margaret Thatcher and other Tory leaders accepted the union with Scotland would only survive by consent. What mechanism is available to the Scottish people to give their consent to maintaining the union, he says.
Johnson says the US is obliged to let people attend the UN.
Johnson says the Scottish people had a mechanism, they used it in 2014, and it was a once-in-a-generation vote, he says.
Jeremy Corbyn starts by paying tribute to Andrew Miller, the former Labour MP who died on Christmas Eve.
Labour’s Ian Murray asks Johnson to accept that he will be responsible for any negative consequences from Brexit.
He says the Australian fires are a warning of what climate change does.
Johnson says, contrary to the claims of doomsters, unemployment is at a record low. He will get Brexit done, he says.
He asks the PM to confirm that he opposes any further retaliation or violence in the Middle East.
Johnson says he will chair a new cabinet committee to drive forward change on climate change.
Johnson says of course he can confirm that. He says the UK has been working with its EU allies to urge a de-escalation. But he says the EU three criticised the “baleful” role played by Qassem Suleimani. He says Corbyn has not condemned Suleimani in the same way.
Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams asks what the PM’s vision is for the relationship between Wales and England.
Corbyn ignores this, and asks Johnson if is he confident that UK personnel in the region are safe.
Johnson says he wants it to go from strength to strength.
Johnson says non-essential personnel have been moved. The government wants to de-escalate this, he says.
Paul Holmes, a Conservative, asks about a Lib Dem housing plan for Eastleigh.
Andrew Lewer, a Conservative, asks for a review of the rules affecting benefit claimants with terminal illnesses.
Johnson says the government wants more home on brownfield sites.
Johnson says the DWP is reviewing these rules.
Fiona Bruce, a Conservative, asks what the government will do to support troubled families?
Boris Johnson starts by condemning the Iranian attacks on US bases. He says Iran should not pursue these attacks.
Johnson says it was thanks to Bruce that “family hubs” were proposed in the Tory manifesto. They will be introduced, he says.
He offers condolences to those affected by the Australian bushfires, and by the crash of a Ukrainian airliner.
Boris Johnson is taking PMQs now.
Q: Would it be possible to negotiate parts of a trade deal this year, and then conclude it after 2020? Or is it all or nothing?
Von der Leyen says it will be “impossible” to conclude a comprehensive deal by the end of this year.
She says therefore they should prioritise negotiating on issues where, if there is no deal by the end of 2020, there is a fall-back that does not involve “no deal”.
Von der Leyen says getting a comprehensive UK-EU trade deal by the end of 2020 will be “impossible”.
She says she would like both sides to consider where they are before the summer, so that they can “reconsider the timeframe”.
Von der Leyen says she does not want to rule out extending the trade talks beyond 2020. Johnson has ruled this out.
