Theresa May, who is soon to be replaced as leader of the Conservative Party and UK prime minister by either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt, will answer questions from leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn and other MPs in the Commons this afternoon. It will be the first time Mrs May has made a Common’s appearance since US President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack against her handling of Brexit, describing it as a “mess”. The President criticised the acting prime minister for not listening to him about the best way to proceed with the UK’s exit from the EU.
But Mrs May’s Brexit “mess” isn’t the only policy under scrutiny at the moment, as Mr Corbyn’s party has recently backed a colossal Brexit U-turn by pledging to back Remain in a second EU vote.
The Labour leader finally announced the Labour party’s Brexit policy this month and explained the party’s new position on Twitter.
He said: “ “Whoever becomes the new Prime Minister should put their deal, or No Deal, back to the people in a public vote.
“In those circumstances, Labour would campaign for Remain against either No Deal or a Tory deal that does not protect the economy and jobs.”
The announcement was welcomed by Tom Watson, the Labour Party’s deputy leader, who claimed “Remain is who we are”.
But not everyone approves the new policy, with Martin Daubney, a former Labour Party supporter and Brexit Party MEP, describing the move as “the final betrayal”.
Mr Daubney also accused the Labour leader of abandoning the working classes.
SEE BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES:
12.27pm update: Labour MP urges the PM to draw up a proper plan to help victims of trafficking and modern slavery
Labour’s Alex Cunningham raises the county lines scandal and the impact it has on children.
He urged the prime minister to draw up a proper plan to help the victims of trafficking and modern slavery.
Mrs May responded by saying the Government is continuing its work on modern slavery.
12.23pm update: SNP’s Ian Blackford criticises Jeremy Hunt for not doing enough for Sir Kim
SNP’s Ian Blackford has criticised the foreign secretary for not standing up for Sir Kim Darroch before he quite as US ambassador.
12.22pm update: Tory MP says SNP should ‘prioritise’ the interests of Scotland
Tory MP Kirstene Hair criticises SNP for running public services into the ground in Scotland, and says the party should “prioritise” the interests of Scotland.
The prime minister responded by saying the Scottish government is ignoring its people by focusing on a referendum.
12.19pm update: May says Labour’s new sloagan is ‘Tax, tax, tax, injustice, injustice’
While continuing her condemnation of anti-semitism within the Labour party, Mrs May quotes former secretary Lord Triesman, who resigned yesterday condemning anti-Jewish abuse in Labour.
She says it’s an “injustice” to force people to pay more tax to pay for Labour’s spending plans.
She says Labour’s new slogan is: “Tax, tax, tax, injustice, injustice”.
12.17pm update: Corbyn accuses the Tories of ‘consorting with’ and ‘sucking up’ to racists around the world
Mr Corbyn continues his attack of Mrs May, saying the Tories “consorts with” and “sucks up” to racists around the world.
He also pins the blame for Windrush directly on the prime minister.
12.14pm update: Corbyn asks if the Windrush scandal would have happened if legal aid hadn’t been ‘so drastically cut’
In response to Mrs May’s anti-semitism comments, Mr Corbyn brings up the Windrush scandal and asks if it would have happened if legal aid had been “so drastically cut”.
Mrs May responds by saying she has been “very clear” and apologised for the Windrush “mistakes”.
She also points out that some people were deported under Labour.
The prime minister then continues to attack the issue of anti-semitism within the Labour party.
12.12pm update: May brutally puts down Corbyn’s criticism by stating Labour needs to ‘deal with antisemitism injustice!’
Mrs May says if Labour is really interested in tackling injustices they should “deal with anti-semitism’ within the party.
The Labour leader responded by saying Labour is “totally” committed to wiping out anti-semitism.
12.10pm update: Corbyn says legal aid is an ‘essential pillar’ of the welfare state but cuts have led to legal aid ‘deserts’
Mr Corbyn has criticised the Tory’s approach to legal aid, saying that cuts have led to shrinking of law centres and the creation of legal aid ‘deserts’.
Mrs May responded by saying that a quarter of the Ministry of Justice’s budget is spent on legal aid, but that it is only “one part of the picture”.
12.08pm update: Jeremy Corbyn said Sir Kim’s resignation is ‘deeply unfair and wrong’
The Labour leader joined Mrs May’s praise of the British ambassador and said it was “deeply unfair and wrong” that he felt he had to resign.
12.06pm update: Alex Sobel kicks off the session by asking about her climate change commitment
The prime minister responded by saying the Government is on track to deliver climate change performance and said the UK is “leading the world on climate change”.
12.03pm update: Theresa May starts PMQ’s by giving her regret that Sir Kim has resigned
Mrs May said she and her Government owes him “a debt of gratitude” and said of the importance of defending the country’s principles.
She said: “Mr Speaker, this morning I have spoken to Sir Kim Darroch. I have told him that it is a matter of great regret that he has felt it necessary to leave his position as Ambassador in Washington.
“The whole Cabinet rightly gave its full support to Sir Kim on Tuesday.
“Sir Kim has given a lifetime of service to the UK and we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude. Good government depends on public servants being able to give full and frank advice.
11.58am update: US ambassador to the US, Sir Kim Darroch has resigned
Sir Kim Darroch has resigned from his position as US ambassador to the US following the revelation he made damning comments of President Trump.
Mr Trump was enraged by a memo where Sir Kim described his administration as “inept” in leaked advice.
Relations between the two countries worsened as President Trump wrote a damning Tweet of the British ambassador, and uninvited him to a state dinner.
11.48am update: MPs are currently putting questions to David Lidington and Kevin Foster
Kevin Foster, the Cabinet Office Minister, and David Lidington, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, are currently answering questions from MPs in the Commons.
