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As it happenedended1521482057

Brexit - as it happened: David Davis hails 'significant step' as UK and EU strike draft transition deal

All the latest updates on the Brexit talks, as it happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Monday 19 March 2018 14:30 EDT
Comments
Michel Barnier has said there has been a 'decisive step' towards the UK's withdrawal from the European Union

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Brexit Secretary David Davis has hailed a "significant step" in negotiations as the EU and the UK agreed the terms of a transition period after Britain leaves the bloc.

Speaking alongside his EU counterpart Michel Barnier in Brussels, Mr Davis said the Britain would be allowed to sign its own trade deals during the transition but conceded that it would allow full free movement rights for EU citizens who arrive during the period.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also won support from EU leaders on a visit to Brussels after accusing Russia of breaching international law by secretly stockpiling a deadly nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack.

It comes as international inspectors arrived in the UK to examine samples used in the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, which ministers believe contain a Russian-made agent known as Novichok.

See below for live updates

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Kristin Hugo19 March 2018 16:06
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MPs are now listening to today's second Urgent Question, this one asked by Brexit Committee chair Hillary Benn, on the issue of customs arrangements at UK ports after Brexit.

He asks about remarks made by Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, to the BBC last week. 

Grayling said: "We don't check lorries now - we're not going to be checking lorries at Dover in the future."

Benn asks how this statement is consistent with the Government insisting it will leave the EU customs union.

Mel Stride, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, says there will not "in any circumstances" be a hard border in Dover that requires every lorry to be stopped. 

Kristin Hugo19 March 2018 16:29
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Tory MP Douglas Ross isn't happy with today's Brexit deal, saying it would be "easier to get someone to drink a pint of cold sick than try to sell this as a success"...

Kristin Hugo19 March 2018 16:33
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Kristin Hugo19 March 2018 16:52
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Make no mistake – Brexit will make it harder for us to combat Russian aggression in the future, writes Labour MP Chuka Umunna.

Both Trump and Putin are threatening the liberal world order, and they need to be robustly challenged. The Prime Minister was right to respond so strongly. But our best weapon against future international aggression is staying in the EU.

Read his column here:

Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:02
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MPs have moved onto the final urgent question of the day, which focuses on the alleged breach of Facebook user data by Cambridge Analytica. The firm allegedly mined the profiles of 50m people to create targeted adverts without their knowledge.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said the revelations were "clearly very worrying" and said the Information Commissioner was looking into the alleged breaches.

Canvassing voting intention is something that political parties do all the time, he said, but the public must be comfortable in how their information is being used.

Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:10
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Damian Collins, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said many people would be "shocked that their data can be harvested in this way", as ticking a box "does not sign away your rights".

He calls for a "broader investigation into Cambridge Analytica as a company" and says someone must have the authority to go behind the curtain to make sure powerful tech firms are complying with data protection laws.

Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:18
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Labour's Liam Byrne says the allegations are "an utter indictment" of the way the Government has allowed tech giants to be "careless and carefree".

He asks if Cambridge Analytica's directors are "fit and proper people" to hold these positions and demands powers for them to be struck off "forthwith".

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said data was a "goldmine for those who wish to break the law" and insisted the sanctions were "entirely inadequate".

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock said the existing fines were not insignificant and the information commissioners office had strong sanctions for specific actions. He said the point was worth listening to nonetheless. 

Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:26
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Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:32
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Lib Dem former Cabinet minister Ed Davey asks whether there will be a full public inquiry if any evidence emerges that there was interference in a UK election or referendum.

Matt Hancock says there is no evidence there has been successful interference in any elections but "we remain vigilant".

Lizzy Buchan19 March 2018 17:34

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