Westminster today - as it happened: Theresa May says Russia 'highly likely' behind poison attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May has said it is "highly likely that Russia was responsible" for the Salisbury nerve agent attack.
The Prime Minister has been been updating MPs on the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, following warnings from a senior Tory MP that the incident amounted to "state-sponsored attempted murder".
This live blog has now ended.
Prime Minister Theresa May will make a statement to MPs about the nerve agent attack on ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia at around 4.30pm.
David Davis is yet to personally visit Brussels for Brexit talks this year, in an apparent change of approach by the British government to the EU withdrawal negotiations.
Story here:
Speaker John Bercow has allowed time for a discussion in the Commons about his conduct following accusations of bullying.
Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas has been granted an urgent question about the treatment of House of Commons staff, following claims by BBC Two's Newsnight about alleged bullying of women officials responsible for running the business of the House.
Separately, critics of the Speaker are also considering whether to table a Commons early-day motion calling for an inquiry into the allegations.
Ms Lucas is expected to ask Leader of the House Andrea Leadsom for an investigation and for the new independent complaints system announced last month to be extended.
The Brighton Pavilion MP said: "This is not about settling old political scores."
She added: "People working in Parliament should be able to work without fear of intimidation or bullying - and today I'm calling for every member of staff to be given the best possible protection.
"It's clear that all of those working in these buildings should be afforded equal protection - and I'm demanding that changes are made to urgently move all workers onto the new independent complaints and grievances procedure.
"It's also crucial that historic complaints of bullying are heard under the new procedures too - and that decisions on sanctions are not in the hands of MPs."
Mr Bercow has denied the allegations against him, as have the two other MPs named by the programme - Labour's Paul Farrelly and Conservative Mark Pritchard.
Tory MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan writes for the Indy on her quest to give up plastic for Lent.
Easter draws a little closer, and if I had committed to giving up chocolate or alcohol then the prospect of relief from my abstinence would be coming into view. But my personal challenge has been to try to stop buying or using single-use plastic.
Commons Clerk David Natzler has sent a letter to staff of the House apologising for his response to bullying and harassment allegations.
Here's the full text:
Dear Colleague,
The last few days have been an upsetting time for many of us in the House service. Thursday and Friday’s BBC Newsnight programmes and subsequent media reports have carried allegations of bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, of our colleagues by Members.
Some of you have expressed to me and to others your dismay at the tone of our statement to Newsnight and the subsequent email we sent to you on Friday morning and in particular at the implied view that there were no problems to address and that we had all the issues sorted. I assure you that this is not what we believe. But I acknowledge that we got it wrong in giving the impression that we were in denial. I wholeheartedly apologise for that.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are unresolved issues over bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment, which need to be addressed. The public testimony of colleagues confirms that.
We lay great emphasis on using the Respect procedures agreed by the House in 2014 because, for the first time, they offered a route which could end in genuine sanctions, ultimately including suspension of a Member from the House. I appreciate that raising a complaint is not easy, especially where you are in continuing contact with the Member concerned. A number of you from various parts of the House service have in fact raised complaints under this process and have had a response under the informal stages of this policy which you as the complainant regard as satisfactory. So I hope that those of you with grounds for complaint will follow the example of those who have used the Respect procedures, drawing on the support of your managers and colleagues.
The policies agreed in 2014 improved the protections offered to staff. But I have listened to the views expressed over the last few days and I recognise that we must look at our policies to see how we can improve them. We acknowledge, for example, that complaints of sexual harassment demand a separate process. So in consultation with you, the TUS and Members, we will revisit and renew the Respect policy.
I am also conscious that these events have upset those of you whose bad experiences may date back some years but which continue to affect you. None of us is immune to that sickening feeling. The Health and Wellbeing Service is there for you and I urge you to use it. I am in addition taking steps to ensure that the independent face to face service we offered to Members’ staff shortly before Christmas will be similarly available to you.
Let me close on a personal note. The only ultimately acceptable outcome will be a workplace culture free of bullying and harassment. I am conscious that revised procedures and processes are no substitute for cultural change. I believe that we are moving in the right direction. The majority of working relations between Members and you are harmonious, mutually respectful and professional, and Members have a high regard for the House service. I also recognise that where things have gone wrong in the past they have not always been properly dealt with. They must, and will, be properly addressed in future.
David Natzler
Clerk of the House
Proceedings have started in the Commons, where MPs are questioning Housing Secretary Sajid Javid.
There are lots of statements coming up. Here are the rough timings:
3.30 An urgent question on hate crime in the light of inflammatory letters inciting a "Punish a Muslim day" on April 3
4.15 An urgent question on treatment of House of Commons staff
5.00 A statement from Theresa May on the Salisbury incident
6.00 A statement from Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley on Northern Ireland finance
6.45 A statement from International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on US imposition of tariffs
7.30 A statement on the protection of civilians in Afrin
There have been reports of a "suspicious substance" found on the Parliamentary estate.
A Parliamentary spokeswoman said today: "We are aware of a potential situation involving a suspicious substance which the Met Police are investigating.
"There has been no evacuation, but the affected area has been cordoned off."
Police say two people have been taken to hospital as a precaution, according to Reuters.
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