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As it happenedended

Brexit second referendum – as it happened: Nigel Farage and Arron Banks make surprise call for another vote

Senior figures in Leave campaign say another Brexit poll might be needed to 'settle issue for a generation'

Benjamin Kentish
Political Correspondent
Thursday 11 January 2018 04:53 EST
Comments
Theresa May: 'In the UK alone, the amount of single-use plastic wasted every year would fill 1,000 Royal Albert Halls'

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Theresa May has delivered a landmark speech on the environment in which she laid out the Government's 25-year plan for reducing waste and tackling climate change.

The Prime Minister pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042, alongside a range of other measures, but environmental groups said the plan lacks "urgency, detail and bite".

Also included in the Government's strategy are a £7bn fund for "plastics innovation" and plans to encourage supermarkets to set up plastic-free aisles.

Elsewhere, Boris Johnson will use a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to raise the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. The British mother has been imprisoned in Iran since April 2016. And new analysis commissioned by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, showed a no deal Brexit could cost the UK economy up to £50bn.

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 14:15

This is, roughly, how many people responded to Nigel Farage - an architect of Brexit, who has previously said another vote would be akin to overruling the will of the people - calling for a second EU referendum.

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 14:44

One bit of unconfirmed news currently swirling around Westminster: Chris Williamson, a controversial left-wing Labour MP who is a staunch supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, is reported to have quit his role as a shadow Home Office minister.

It comes two days after he caused a stir by proposing the doubling of council tax for wealthy homeowners, although he stressed this was not Labour Party policy.

We're trying to confirm his resigntation now - stay tuned...

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 15:00

Confirmed: Labour MP Chris Williamson has resigned from the frontbench. More follows...

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 15:18

Here's Chris Williamson's statement on stepping down as shadow fire minister:

"I will be standing down from my role with immediate effect so that I can return to the backbenches, where I will be campaigning on a broader range of issues. I will continue to loyally support the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn from the backbenches and hope to be a voice for the party's members."

Jeremy Corbyn said:

“I am grateful for Chris' work on the frontbench, particularly on fire safety following the appalling Grenfell Tower Fire. I know that on the backbenches, Chris will be a strong campaigner on a range of crucial issues as well as serving his constituents with dedication.”

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 15:25

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 15:47

Surreal scenes in the Commons chamber earlier this afternoon, as the normally procedural questions to the Leader of the House descended (or, depending on your musical tastes, was elevated) into a discussion on 80s pop group Bananarama.

It all began when Valerie Vaz, Labour's Shadow Leader of the House, joked about Theresa May's Cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.

She said: "I'm not sure if Bananarama was on the playlist of the Prime Minister but I don't know if you recall the song 'It Ain't What You Do, It's The Way That You Do It' - and that's what gets results.

"But with the reshuffle it was the same old, same old, same old people, new titles, all of the responsibilities were already in their departmental portfolios.

""It seems men can say no and the PM goes, 'Oh, all right then', but when a woman says no she is sacked."

In response, Conservative whip Paul Maynard, who was standing in for Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom, replied: "As a child of the 80s, I have very fond memories of Bananarama and their many hits.

"But maybe she might recall their Comic Relief guise Lananeeneenoonoo [a spoof band], because that was much more, I think, the tone of what she had to say with her comment on the reshuffle."

SNP MP Pete Wishart then said he was pleased Ms Leadsom had kept her job during the reshuffle, adding: "In the words of Bananarama, it's not been a Cruel Summer but pretty much a cruel winter."

Anyway, enough of that. We're Movin' On...

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 16:51

The C-word has just been used in the House of Lords - reportedly for the first time ever.

Baroness Jenkin was quoting abuse she said was directed at a Conservative candidate in Ealing at the general election.

She said: "During the election campaign in June, the Ealing Central and Acton Conservative candidate was met daily outside her home by a large group of Momentum and Labour activists yelling at her - and please my Lords please forgive the unparliamentary language and block your ears if you are sensistive or easily offended - 'f****** Tory c***'."

She added: "This young woman has a young child. How can this be acceptable, and how does this not deter other mothers from stepping up?"

Watch it here:

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 17:23
Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 17:27

Damian Collins, chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has said BBC Director-General Tony Hall and former China Editor Carrie Gracie will be questioned by MPs later in the month.

Ms Gracie stepped down from her role earlier this week and accused BBC bosses of refusing to take the issue of equal pay seriously.

Kristin Hugo11 January 2018 17:30

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