Brexit news: Grayling interrogated by MPs over botched no-deal ferry contracts as Labour says it will order MPs to back second referendum
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Your support makes all the difference.Chris Grayling has been branded a "departmental wrecking ball" by MPs after the government paid Eurotunnel £33m to settle legal action over its botched no-deal Brexit preparations.
The transport secretary dismissed renewed calls for him to quit in the wake of a fiasco over ferry contracts, in a fractious appearance in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon.
The clash came as attorney general Geoffrey Cox and Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay travelled to Brussels to seek concessions to the Irish backstop ahead of a critical vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal next week.
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor John McDonnell gave fresh hope to supporters of a second referendum when he indicated Labour would whip its MPs to support an amendment on the subject next week.
To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below
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Here's our quick take on the defeat of Fiona Onsanya's appeal. Released last week after serving on month, Onasanya continues to serve as an MP but could now face a challenge from her constituents in Peterborough.
In Treasury questions, Philip Hammond has claimed "a huge amount of pent-up" investment will be unleashed if MPs back Theresa May's Brexit deal.
The Chancellor told MPs: "I will be making a Spring Statement to the House next week (March 13) in the context of some very important decisions that the House will be making about our exit from the European Union, and I will be setting out my vision for Britain's future."
After Independent Group former minister Chris Leslie raised concerns about the impact of a "disastrous" Brexit on the UK's new technology sector, Mr Hammond replied: "My view is that we have a huge amount of pent-up investment that has not gone ahead over the last two-and-a-half years because of uncertainty.
"Once we can provide clarity to British business about our future and we do that by supporting the deal that the Prime Minister will be bringing forward next week, we will unleash that investment and we will allow Britain to achieve its rightful potential as one of the world's leading technology powers."
SNP economy spokeswoman Kirsty Blackman asked if chancellor Philip Hammond was preparing an emergency budget for a no-deal Brexit, as 62 per cent Scottish businesses "did not feel ready" for Brexit.
She said: "Will the Chancellor bring forward an emergency budget to provide support for SMEs in order to cope with the Brexit he is proposing?"
Finance Minister Mel Stride said in the event of no deal "we will take stock of the situation at that time" and "take whatever measures are necessary to ensure we protect and support businesses throughout the UK."
Independent Group MP Sarah Wollaston has raised a point of order in the Commons, where she condemned Labour whips for trying to replace TIG MPs on select committees.
She particularly points to the case of Luciana Berger, the ex-Labour MP, who is off on maternity leave. Ms Berger sits on the Health committee and has been a committed campaigner on mental health issues.
The longest section of this morning’s cabinet was devoted to knife crime as Theresa May sought to show her government is responding to concerns over the series of recent teenage deaths, writes political editor Joe Watts.
Pressure is mounting on the PM after her comments on Monday arguing that cuts to police budgets have no direct link to the increase in stabbings, something Met police commissioner Cressida Dick has challenged.
Ms May’s spokesman reported from the meeting with her ministers this morning: “The prime minister said she will ask the Home Office to urgently co-ordinate a series of cabinet level ministerial meetings and engagements to accelerate the work the government is doing in support of local authorities the police and others.
“The PM said that tackling knife-crime requires a whole of government effort in conjunction with the police. The wider public sector and local communities.”
There was no discussion of specific programmes, and also an attempt to mitigate the reaction to Ms May’s comments from the day before.
Asked about the Met chief’s response, the spokesman said that the PM had been making the point that there were lots of different things the government should be doing, including giving the police resources they need, but also looking at tackling problems around drugs, gang culture and mental health.
While there was confirmation that Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and attorney general Geoffrey Cox will be going to Brussels today for talks, the UK’s withdrawal took something of a backseat.
There was a heavy emphasis on there still being “lots of work” to do, but Mr Barclay and Mr Cox will dine with the chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier this evening for the first time since this latest series of meetings began.
There was no answer given over whether the PM is heading to Brussels this weekend either, with the meaningful vote on a new deal due by Tuesday next week.
Brexit development klaxon - Labour will order its MPs to vote for a backbench motion that would trigger a fresh Brexit referendum, John McDonnell has said.
Chris Grayling is now speaking in the emergency debate in the Commons. He says the SNP is only criticising him because they don't believe in preparing for a no-deal Brexit.
MPs shout, 'Take it off the table'.
'We can only take no deal off the table, either by reversing Brexit or by backing a deal,' Mr Grayling says, in an increasingly rattled tone.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has been preparing for 'months and months and months' for a no-deal Brexit.
Brexiteer Tory Mark Francois intervenes and blames Philip Hammond for poor no-deal preparations. He says the chancellor should have released money more quickly.
Grayling will not be drawn on this - says he won't comment on workings of government.
He carries on with his speech. He says theses contracts were brought in to boost capacity to guarantee a smooth supply of medicines if Britain leaves the EU without a deal.
They spoke to all the ferry operators, he said.
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