MPs bid to force government to act over ban on abortion in Northern Ireland
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MPs will try to force the government to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland when the Commons votes this evening on a motion tabled by Labour MPs.
The amendment, which would force ministers to ensure that the law in the region is compatible with human rights legislation, has been tabled by Labour backbenchers Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn but has the backing of a number of Tories.
Both the Conservatives and Labour are expected to give their MPs a free vote on the matter, raising the prospect that it could pass.
It comes after the Commons yesterday voted by 208 to 123 in favour of a largely symbolic motion to scrap the 157-year-old laws that make abortion illegal in Northern Ireland. It was backed by several Tory ministers, including women and equalities minister Penny Mordaunt, piling pressure on Ms May to act.
Proposing her amendment, Ms Creasy told the Commons: "This amendment would not create a new law in Northern Ireland but what it would do is recognise that there are thousands of people in Northern Ireland whose lives right now are affected by two key human rights issues.
“They are human rights issues because the are issues on which our courts are currently discussing, ruling and indeed appealing."
She added: “They refer in particular to the right of somebody to be able to marry who they love and the right of women to have bodily autonomy. To make the choice, if they wish, to not continue with an unwanted pregnancy.”
Follow the action as it happened...
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen, a vocal critic of Theresa May, has claimed that anonymous threats to topple the prime minister might have come from...No 10.
The backbencher claimed unattributed quotes at the weekend suggesting Ms May was on the verge of being "knifed" could have been a Downing Street ruse to foster sympathy for her.
The comments were criticised for being overly violent, as they included references to Ms May being stabbed and hung.
But Mr Bridgen told Sky News:
“The only people that suited those kind of comments, which were very unhelpful, bad politics, and I’ve got a lot of sympathy for the Prime Minister, is Number 10.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if Number 10 didn’t put those words out themselves knowing exactly how the press and the public would react.”
BREAKING: Sir Jeremy Heywood, the head of the civil service, is standing down due to ill health.
The cabinet secretary stepped back from the role earlier this year but has now announced his retirement as he battles with cancer.
Sir Mark Sedwill, the acting cabinet secretary, will take the job on a permanent basis while also continuing as Theresa May's national security adviser.
Sir Jeremy said:
"35 years ago I joined the Civil Service as an enthusiastic young economist in the Health and Safety Executive, full of ideas and keen to make change happen. Today, I still have all that desire to serve my country and to make a positive difference. It is with great sadness therefore that, on medical advice, I must now retire.
Since joining the Civil Service, I have had the privilege of supporting, at close quarters, four prime ministers, two Conservative and two Labour, and the first Coalition government for decades, with its first full-time deputy prime minister."
He added:
"I would like to pay tribute to Mark Sedwill for holding the fort so admirably over the summer months as acting cabinet secretary, and to congratulate him today on his well-deserved promotion. I would also like to thank all my brilliant permanent secretaries who have shown what a great team they are. I know they will give Mark the support he needs to do this job.
On a personal level I have very much appreciated the support of the Prime Minister over the last few months and all the messages of goodwill received from so many current and former colleagues, friends and acquaintances.
Above all, I would like to thank all the hard-working civil servants across the UK who keep this country moving forward. Thank you for allowing me to be your leader for the last six and a half years. It has been the greatest privilege of my career."
Paying tribute to Sir Jeremy Heywood, Theresa May said:
“Jeremy has given exemplary service to the public in his civil service career. He has worked constantly to improve our country’s future and to deliver for the public, serving prime ministers and ministers of all parties with distinction in the finest traditions of the Civil Service.
I am personally grateful to him for the support he has given me as prime minister. He has made an enormous contribution to public life in our country and will be sorely missed.”
Sir Jeremy's successor, Sir Mark Sedwill, said:
“The whole public service will want to thank Jeremy for his tireless and outstanding service to our nation, and for the values he exemplifies. He has had a profound, positive and lasting impact and will be greatly missed."
Here we go. Theresa May starts with a further tribute to Sir Jeremy Heywood, who she calls "an exemplary public servant".
Sir David Amess asks about a new jazz centre that has opened in his Southend West constituency.
Referring to her now (in)famous dancing, Theresa May quips that she "has been known to move to a little bit of music myself".
Jeremy Corbyn is up. He asks about austerity and when it will be over, as Theresa May has promised.
The prime minister says:
"People need to know that their hard work has paid off and, because of their sacrifices, there are better days ahead."
She says the government will lay out its plans during next year's spending review, but that debt will go down and support for public services go.
She adds:
"Unlike Labour we will continue to live within our means and we won't go back to square one."
Jeremy Corbyn quotes Conservative local government leaders talking about huge cuts to their budgets.
May highlights the government's economic record, saying there are record numbers of people in work.
Corbyn hits back, saying the prime minister failed to mention the record number of people on zero-hours contracts and in in-work poverty. Wages are lower in real terms than they were eight years ago, he says, while local councils have seen their budgets cut by 49 per cent.
Jeremy Corbyn moves onto universal credit, saying May is "completely out of touch with what universal credit is about". He demands to know whether people on the benefit will be worse off than under the current system.
May defends the policy, unsurprisingly.
Corbyn then moves onto the NHS, asking whether the ending of austerity will mean more funding for the health service.
May says the government is investing more in the NHS than Labour called for.
Corbyn replies saying saying applications for nurse training have dropped by 12 per cent, blaming removal of nurse bursaries.
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