2019 January

This is a Government without a majority. They are in crisis and in denial about the crisis. The Government have faced two defeats in one week, breaking records. This is the first Government to be defeated on a Finance Bill since 1978. Our constituencies, businesses, the science community, the NHS, security and this House have made it clear that the Government should rule out a no-deal Brexit, yet the Government have refused to do so.

The Government was defeated again in Parliament on Wednesday 9 January 2019 on an amendment to the Business of the House motion on the EU Withdrawal Act by 11 votes. In the event that the Government loses the vote on its Brexit deal next week, the Prime Minister must come back to the House of Commons within three sitting days and MPs will have a say on what happens next.

I was delighted to join the chair of the Procedure Committee, Charles Walker, to say a few words at the launch event for the Guide to Procedure on Wednesday 9 January 2019.

The Government has broken records by being the first Government to be defeated on a Finance Bill since 1978. A Finance Bill enshrines the budget in law.

I responded to a motion in the House of Commons on Monday 7 January 2019 to approve the Committee on Standards report ‘Implications of the Dame Laura Cox report for the House’s standards system: Initial proposals’ and to agree changes to Standing Orders and to the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. The motion was agreed to.