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As it happenedended
7 years ago

Carillion liquidation - as it happened: Government faces urgent question on major contractor's collapse leaving key NHS services in doubt

Follow the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Monday 15 January 2018 04:42 EST
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David Lidington gives statement on Carillion collapse in House of Commons

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Ministers faced questions over the collapse of construction giant Carillion, which holds a string of lucrative Government contracts for railways, education and health projects.

The firm went into administration on Monday as a result of its lenders refusing to provide any more financial support, raising fears about the future of hundreds of major projects at an already challenging time for the British economy.

Cabinet Office minister David Lidington told MPs that the Official Receiver would investigate the role of company directors in the collapse and warned they could face "severe penalties". He was also set to chair a meeting of Cobra - the Government's emergency response committee - on the situation.

Meanwhile, pro-European MPs, including several Tory rebels, went to Brussels for talks with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as Brexit talks gear up for their next phase.

Jeremy Corbyn also tightened his grip on the party as three Momentum-backed candidates - including his close ally Jon Lansman - swept to victory in the NEC election, shifting the party’s ruling body to the left.

And Ukip leader Henry Bolton faced calls to quit, despite announcing that he had dumped his girlfriend for sending racist texts about Prince Harry’s fiance Meghan Markle.

See latest updates below.

7 years ago

A Sinn Fein MP who caused controversy after posing with a Kingsmill branded loaf on his head on the anniversary of the Kingsmill massacre has resigned.

Barry McElduff - who was last week suspended by his party for three months - said he had now decided to quit as an abstentionist member of parliament for West Tyrone.

"It is with great sadness that, after more than 30 years as an active Sinn Fein member and public representative I am tendering my resignation as MP for West Tyrone," he said

"The reason I am doing so is because of the consequences of the Twitter video which has caused such controversy over the last week."

Earlier, he tweeted:

Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 10:30
7 years ago

Tip-up benches could be installed in the House of Commons to make it easier for disabled MPs to sit alongside party colleagues, a senior parliamentary official has said.

Commons clerk David Natzler acknowledged the “formidable challenges” to disability access in the Palace of Westminster but said the £4bn renovation project will allow authorities to replace some of the iconic green benches with cinema-style flip seats to make space for wheelchair-using MPs.

See our exclusive story here:

Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 10:36
7 years ago
Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 10:39
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Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 10:42
7 years ago

Scottish political reporters are tweeting from Nicola Sturgeon's Brexit speech.

She is joined by the Scottish Government's Brexit minister Mike Russell to set out analysis that Scotland will be £12.7bn worse off after a hard Brexit.

Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 10:47
7 years ago

Ms Sturgeon and Mr Russell are now taking questions from journalists

Ms Sturgeon says there is appetite for staying in the single market across the UK, despite Jeremy Corbyn's protestations that only members of the EU can stay in the single market. She said his claims were "disingenuous".

She says she has not had discussions with the Labour leader but her Westminster colleagues discuss the issue with Labour MPs.

Sturgeon says she will continue to argue to stay in the single market, if Britain does leave. Says she hopes the negotiations do go well but EU red lines are pretty clear.

She says it would be a 'big mistake' to go into the next round of talks and argue for what is 'unattainable and fritter away time'.

Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 11:06
7 years ago

This is a 'pragmatic view', says Ms Sturgeon, as she would prefer Scotland to remain in the EU but staying in the single market is the next best option.

Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 11:09
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Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 11:21
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Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 11:25
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Lizzy Buchan15 January 2018 11:32

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