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 9 Version 10
EU justice measures backed by MPs despite anger over procedure EU justice measures backed by MPs despite anger over procedure
(about 1 hour later)
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. The government has won its bid to sign up again to 35 EU justice measures - including the European Arrest Warrant - following a dramatic Commons vote.
But ministers were accused of breaking a promise to hold a vote on the warrant itself.But ministers were accused of breaking a promise to hold a vote on the warrant itself.
The debate ended early when Labour lost its bid to use a rare Parliamentary procedure to postpone the decision. The debate ended early when Labour lost its attempt to use a rare Parliamentary procedure to postpone the decision.
Earlier, Commons Speaker John Bercow said people would be "contemptuous" of the government's tactics.Earlier, Commons Speaker John Bercow said people would be "contemptuous" of the government's tactics.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said there were "scenes of chaos" in the Commons chamber.BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said there were "scenes of chaos" in the Commons chamber.
Speaker's rulingSpeaker's ruling
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 plan 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.
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. Mr Bercow ruled that it would not.
Mrs May said only 11 of the EU justice measures needed to be "transposed" into UK law. But she told MPs the Commons' verdict on these measures would be treated as a vote on the whole package of 35.
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.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.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''Sorry saga'
Critics of the warrant say it is overused and a threat to the liberties of Britons and the sovereignty of the UK.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.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. The government's approach 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."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.Conservative MPs also wanted a specific vote on the warrant.
European Arrest WarrantsEuropean Arrest Warrants
Q&A: European Arrest WarrantQ&A: European Arrest Warrant
Sir Richard Shepherd said the government's behaviour had been "sly" while Jacob Rees-Mogg called it "underhand".Sir Richard Shepherd said the government's behaviour had been "sly" while Jacob Rees-Mogg called 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."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."
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.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.
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. And Mrs May said the government was not legally required to bring the measures to the House. Transposing some into UK law would usually be done through a special committee of MPs, she said.
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.
The home secretary said "harmful individuals" could walk free and escape justice without the "vital" regulations, saying the process had to be completed by 1 December to avoid an "operational gap".
But Mrs Cooper, who said she supported the European Arrest Warrant, nonetheless said Mrs May had presided over a Parliamentary "shambles".
She said: "You have effectively said ministers are just going to make it up because the Speaker has been very clear that this does not include a vote on the European Arrest Warrant, you are just going to reinterpret it in any way you choose."