This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29983651

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
European Arrest Warrant: Speaker John Bercow attacks handling of vote EU justice measures backed by MPs despite anger over procedure
(about 1 hour later)
Commons Speaker John Bercow has criticised the government's handling of the Commons debate over the European Arrest Warrant. The government has won its bid to sign up afresh to 35 EU justice measures - including the European Arrest Warrant - following a dramatic Commons vote.
He said the lack of a specific vote on the UK's use of the warrant had caused irritation among MPs and the public would view it with contempt. But ministers were accused of breaking a promise to hold a vote on the warrant itself.
Home Secretary Theresa May said MPs could still have a say on the warrant by debating other EU justice measures. The debate ended early when Labour lost its bid to use a rare Parliamentary procedure to postpone the decision.
Labour then tried to use Parliamentary procedure to postpone the debate. Earlier, Commons Speaker John Bercow said people would be "contemptuous" of the government's tactics.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper invoked a rare procedure to ask that the "question be not now put", asking Mrs May to come back with a motion which specifically included the warrant. BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said there were "scenes of chaos" in the Commons chamber.
'Sorry saga' Speaker's ruling
Earlier, the government was criticised by Mr Bercow and Conservative MPs as the Commons prepared to debate the EU justice measures the government wants to opt back into.
The government opted out of all 133 EU police and criminal justice measures measures in 2013, a decision that will take effect on 1 December.The government opted out of all 133 EU police and criminal justice measures measures in 2013, a decision that will take effect on 1 December.
Ministers want to rejoin 35 of the measures, including the European Arrest Warrant, before that deadline. Ministers plan to rejoin 35 of the measures, including the European Arrest Warrant, before that deadline.
There had been confusion over whether the debate and vote would cover the warrant, which is opposed by some Conservative MPs.There had been confusion over whether the debate and vote would cover the warrant, which is opposed by some Conservative MPs.
But Mr Bercow ruled that it would cover 10 of the other measures. Mr Bercow ruled that it would not. But Home Secretary Theresa May said MPs could still have a say on the warrant by debating the 11 other EU justice measures that required a vote by law before they could be adopted by the UK.
"There is not today to be a vote on the specific matter of membership of the European Arrest Warrant," he told MPs. The debate came to an end when shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper invoked a rare procedure to ask that the "question be not now put", asking Mrs May to come back with a motion which specifically included the warrant.
When MPs rejected Mrs Cooper's motion, the vote on the EU justice measures took place immediately, with MPs voting in favour by 464 to 38.
'Sorry saga'
Critics of the warrant say it is overused and a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK.
But supporters, including the government and law enforcement agencies, say it is a vital tool to protect the UK and bring criminals to justice across EU borders.
The government was criticised by Mr Bercow and Conservative MPs before the main debate started.
"There is not today to be a vote on the specific matter of membership of the European Arrest Warrant," Mr Bercow told MPs.
The speaker said he himself had expected a vote on the warrant, saying it was a "sorry saga" and that "the House should not be put in that position".The speaker said he himself had expected a vote on the warrant, saying it was a "sorry saga" and that "the House should not be put in that position".
"A commitment is a commitment to be honoured," he said, "rather than trying to slip things through some sort of artifice"."A commitment is a commitment to be honoured," he said, "rather than trying to slip things through some sort of artifice".
He said the public expected "straightforward dealing and they are frankly contemptuous, and I use the word advisedly, of what is not straightforward dealing".He said the public expected "straightforward dealing and they are frankly contemptuous, and I use the word advisedly, of what is not straightforward dealing".
Conservative MPs also wanted a specific vote on the warrant.
European Arrest WarrantsEuropean Arrest Warrants
Q&A: European Arrest WarrantQ&A: European Arrest Warrant
Despite the speaker's comments, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told the Commons the vote would be on all 35 of the EU crime and justice measures. Sir Richard Shepherd said the government's behaviour had been "sly" while Jacob Rees-Mogg called it "underhand".
Some Conservative MPs joined in the criticism, with Sir Richard Shepherd saying the government's behaviour had been "sly" while Jacob Rees-Mogg calling it "underhand". Bill Cash, who chairs the Commons European Scrutiny Committee, said: "This is a disgraceful way of going about a very, very important matter. It is tainted with chicanery, it is not the way this Parliament should be treated."
Mrs May said the government was not legally required to bring the measures to the House. There was a legal requirement to "transpose" some of them into UK law, she said, but this was usually done through a special committee of MPs. Despite the speaker's ruling, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told the Commons the vote would be on all 35 of the EU crime and justice measures.
She said it was possible for MPs to discuss the warrant, and the eventual vote would determine whether the UK opted into all of the measures. And Mrs May said the government was not legally required to bring the measures to the House. There was a legal requirement to "transpose" some of them into UK law, she said, but this was usually done through a special committee of MPs.
"The government is clear that the vote that will take place on the regulations will be the vote that determines whether or not we opt into these measures," she added.
MPs then narrowly voted to continue the debate, by 251 to 242.
'Safer'
Critics of the warrant say it is overused and a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK.
But supporters, including the government and law enforcement agencies, say it is a vital tool to protect the UK and bring criminals to justice across EU borders.
When the main debate got under way, Mrs May said she understood concerns over the warrant but said she had legislated to make it "better and safer".When the main debate got under way, Mrs May said she understood concerns over the warrant but said she had legislated to make it "better and safer".
Setting out the case to retain it, she told MPs more than 95% of people extradited from the UK were foreign nationals, including suspects wanted for 124 murders, more than 100 rapes, nearly 500 serious assaults and seven terrorism cases.Setting out the case to retain it, she told MPs more than 95% of people extradited from the UK were foreign nationals, including suspects wanted for 124 murders, more than 100 rapes, nearly 500 serious assaults and seven terrorism cases.
Labour called the situation a "shambles".
Mrs Cooper said she agreed with opting back into the warrant and the other 34 measures, but criticised the government for not holding a specific vote on the warrant.
She said: "It is just baffling that the home secretary is playing games with something that is so important to criminal justice."