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As it happenedended

UK politics - as it happened: House of Commons suspended as Theresa May's new Brexit plan published in chaotic scenes

Read all the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Thursday 12 July 2018 11:00 EDT
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House of Commons suspended while government hands out copies of Brexit white paper

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The publication of Theresa May's new Brexit plan descended into chaos when speaker John Bercow had to suspend the Commons to allow MPs to see copies of the white paper.

Labour described it as an "utter shambles" that MPs were unable to read the 98-page document until Brexit secretary Dominic Raab appeared to give a statement on the plans, which could allow some EU migrants preferable treatment as part of future trade deals.

It comes as Tory rebels ramped up pressure on Ms May to scrap her new Brexit plan, which has already caused the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis, as well as several other Tory Eurosceptics.

In a show of strength, Eurosceptic backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg and allies have tabled a string of amendments to the government’s trade and customs bill, raising the threat of Commons defeats on Monday.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump was due to face major protests after he arrived in the UK for his much-anticipated working visit.

See below for live updates

Labour is kicking off about the fact the government has not shared the Brexit white paper with them ahead of publication.

It is due at around 12.30 today.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 11:50

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has confirmed the key Brexit bills - customs and trade - next week.

Tory backbenchers have tabled a string of amendments which would derail Ms May's Chequer's plans, raising the threat of crunch votes.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 12:02

Donald Trump has dramatically undermined Theresa May’s Brexit plan, saying: “I'm not sure that's what people voted for”.

In an extraordinary intervention in British domestic politics, the US president told reporters at the Nato summit that her proposals would leave the UK “partially involved with the EU”. 

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 12:11

Another breaking story here.

The government has removed the final obstacle to Rupert Murdoch's takeover of Sky after granting clearance to 21st Century Fox's proposed purchase.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 12:24

Brexit secretary Dominic Raab is speaking in the Commons about the new Brexit white paper.

Here's our new story on proposals that could allow some EU migrants preferable treatment as part of any future trade deal.

Ministers insist the EU’s system of free movement will end, but their plans set out in a white paper show Britain would make a “sovereign choice” to remove restrictions for Europeans coming in where it is in the UK’s economic interest.

More here:

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 12:53

MPs are furious about the fact that they weren't able to see the white paper before it was published.

In a highly unusual move, the Commons has now been suspended for five minutes to distribute copies of the document.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 13:01

Eurosceptic MP Steve Baker, who quit the government over Brexit, is signing copies of the white paper at the moment. 

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 13:06

MPs listening in rather ominous quiet as Dominic Raab sets out the statement on the Brexit white paper. He only took on the job as Brexit secretary on Monday after David Davis's resignation.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 13:09

Labour's Keir Starmer says it is 'deeply discourteous' not to give the white paper out beforehand, and it prevented proper scrutiny.

He asks when Olly Robbins (May's top Europe advisor) told Raab that this was their policy - as Raab was not at the Chequers summit last week as he had not yet been appointed Brexit Secretary.

He asks if Raab even supports this plan, which has divided Tory MPs.

Starmer also asks if it is a starting point or a final position - will there be 'evolution'?

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 13:17

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 13:19

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