in the jamal khashoggi case, saudi arabia's foreign minister has told the bbc that claiming the king or crown prince knew about a plot to kill the journalist is inaccurate and saying anything disparaging about them crosses a red line. a row has broken out between donald trump and the chiefjustice of the us supreme court. john roberts has taken the very unusual step of rebuking the president for describing a colleague as an ‘0bama judge'. thejudge had ruled against the trump administration's attempt to prevent migrants claiming asylum. britain's prime minister theresa may says she's made good progress the british student is spending a life imprisonment in the uae after being accused of spying for the british government. now it's time for a look back at the day in parliament. hello again and welcome

to wednesday in parliament. coming up in the next half hour, deal or no deal at prime minister's questions. and if the government can't negotiate an alternative, then they should make way for those who can and will. that's not leadership. that's playing party politics. i'm working in the national interest. a minister offers financial advice to families on benefits. or they could, for example, take in a lodger. so there's other circumstances... take in a lodger? these are large families. and why the speaker is as sick as a parrot. some football skills were displayed in the chamber yesterday evening after the house rose. all that to come, and more. but first, theresa may has been

in brussels for talks with the european commission presidentjean—claude juncker as both sides scramble to finalise a brexit deal ahead of sunday's scheduled summit of eu leaders. earlier, the prime ministerfaced mps for her weekly question time. and it may not come as a complete shock to you to discover what most of them wanted to ask her about. the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, had listened to a radio inteview with the new work and pensions secretary, amber rudd, an interview in which she said that she thought parliament would stop the uk leaving the european union without a deal. now that a number of government ministers have confirmed this morning that leaving the eu with no deal is not an option, does the prime minister agree that there are no circumstances under which britain would leave with no deal? no. i have to say to the right honourable gentleman, i have consistently made clear on this point, but that the point that has been made by a number of my colleagues in relation to the vote that will come before

this house, on a meaningful vote on a deal from the european union, is very simple. if you look at the alternative to having that deal with european union, it will either be more uncertainty, more division, or it could risk no brexit at all. jeremy corbyn said the prime minister's idea of taking back control of our money was offering the eu a blank cheque to extend the transition period. mr speaker, the eu's trade deal with canada took seven years to agree. the deal with singapore, eight years. the business secretary said this week the transition will have to be extended until the end of 2022. outside the eu, and with no leverage, does the prime minister think she's fooling anyone by suggesting there will be a free trade agreement finalised by december 2020? he says there's a problem with the deal and he

would do it differently. he wants to negotiate, renegotiate the withdrawal agreement. but as i say, he hasn't read it. he wants to oppose any deal, to matter how good it is for the uk, but he will accept any european union deal, no matter how bad it is for the uk. and then he wants to use... he wants to use the implementation period — that he would vote against — to renegotiate the treaty that delivers the implementation period. and he said, another referendum isn't an issue for today but it could be an issue for tomorrow. he doesn't know how he'd vote, he doesn't know when it'd be, he doesn't even know the question would be. that's not leadership. that's playing party politics. i'm working in the national interest. the labour leader said her government had got us into this shambles. instead of giving confidence to millions of people who voted both leave and remain, this half—baked deal failed to give any hope that can bring this country together again. isn't it the case... isn't it the case that parliament will rightly rejected this deal, this bad deal, and if the government can't negotiate an alternative, then they should make way

for those who can and will. the public gave us an instruction to leave european union, and we should all be acting to deliver that. all he wants to do is to play party politics. things got so rowdy the speaker had to intervene before the prime minister picked up where she'd left off. the right honourable gentleman is playing party politics. he's opposing a deal he hasn't read. he's promising a deal he can't negotiate. he's telling leave voters one thing and remain voters another. whatever the right honourable gentleman might do, i will act in the national interest. let's all work together to make sure we protect the interests... of people in scotland and elsewhere

in the united kingdom. make sure that you go back and negotiate. let's keep us in the single market and the customs union. the right honourable gentleman says, "let's work together on this issue,: but the position that he has and that his party has is one which would frustrate the vote of the british people in relation to leaving european union. theresa may depends on the 10 dup mps for her majority. but this week, they've refused to support the government in commons votes, in protest at the brexit deal. and there's little sign of a truce breaking out. in the decemberjoint report agreed in the european union and the united kingdom, it was agreed that northern ireland would have the final say in whether or not it diverged from the uk's single market and was subjected to single market european rules with no say. why has the prime minister deleted all references to that's in the withdrawal agreement?

and has she pushed the delete button? the right honourable... can i say to the right honourable gentleman, of course he's absolutely right about the december report. the issue is the process united kingdom look at this, regulations... it's a matter that would be a matter for this united kingdom to determine. to determine both our parliamentary rules, our parliamentary decisions on that, and indeed, the stormont lock that was expressed in the decemberjoint report. of course, as the right honourable gentleman will also know, the lock that was in the december joint report referred to a decision being taken by the northern ireland executive and the northern ireland assembly, which, sadly, we do not have in place today. theresa may also faced challenging questions from her own side, one of them from an mp who quit her cabinet last week. can the prime minister assure the house today, as she has on many occasions, the uk will be leaving the eu on the 29th of march, 2019, come what may? i can give her the assurance

that the united kingdom will leave the european union on the 29th of march, 2019. the prime minister trying to re—assure her former cabinet colleague. a government minister has suggested that families hit by the benefit cap could take in a lodger. the cap places a limit on the amount working age households can receive from benefits to £23,000 a year in london, £20,000 outside. the work and pensions minister justin tomlinson told the work and pensions committee there were ways in which families affected could manage their finances differently. some will have made other changes, including in their housing costs, whether that is either moving or renegotiating what their rental housing costs are, or they could, for example, take in a lodger. so there's other circumstances... take in a lodger? these are large families. they've often got three children in one bedroom. how are they going to take in a lodger? well, in terms...

just the reality here. well, if there's three children in one bedroom, then you should startjoining us in supporting releasing more family homes through our spare room subsidy changes, which have helped... the bedroom tax is not going to help these families. well, it's unlocking family homes. it's taken half a million people off the housing waiting list, and i know in my constituency, when i talk to families that have been next door to people who are in empty dwelling houses, they very much support that principle. the minister defended the thinking behind the cap, which, he said, was working. but the idea with the benefit cap is to then nudge and incentivise people to change their circumstances, both because that is beneficial for them and, during the initial evaluation back in 2014, where there were very detailed analysis, including face—to—face interviews with claimants, there was significant evidence that showed that it did incentivize people to make behavioural changes which are beneficial

to theirfamily life, to their health and well—being and their ability to ultimately have more money in the long term. the committee chair, frank field, said afterwards that many people would be breaking a tenancy agreement if they followed the minister's advice and took in a lodger. the prime minister has told mps the government is deeply disappointed and concerned by the jailing for life of matthew hedges in the united arab emirates. the phd student at durham university was sentenced during a five—minute court hearing after he was accused of spying on behalf of the british government. this is wholly different... wholly inconsistent with the behaviour of nhl —— nation with whom we have a defence accord. can the prime minister give it her urgent attention, and if he's not released, i don't see why we should be committed to their defence.

i say to my honourable friend, we are of course, as he is, deeply disappointed and concerned at this verdict. and i realise how difficult and distressing this is but for matthew hedges, but also for his family. we are raising it with the emirati authorities at the highest level. my right honourable friend, the foreign secretary, is seeking a call with the foreign minister. during his visit to the uae, he raised the issue with both the crown prince and the foreign minister, and i can assure my friends that we'll continue to do all we can to support and we will continue to press this matter at the highest level with the emiratis. the plight of matthew hedges was also raised in the house of lords when peers discussed human rights in saudi arabia after president trump defended america's ties with the country in the wake of the murder of the journalist jamal khashoggi in the saudi consulate in istanbul. is the noble lady as sickened as i am by the president's position thatjobs would be at stake if he held

in saudi arabia to account and does she see a parallel with the case that we hear about today of matthew hedges who has been convicted after a five—minute trial for life in the uae? does she agree that human rights must be defended whatever our apparent economic interests? human rights must always be defended, and i think i have already made clear, both in my initial response to the noble lord but also my subsequent answers, the huge importance that we attach to human rights, notjust talking about them but an importance underpinned by the actions we take in the discussions we have and the things we attempt to do. in the news this morning, we were

told that president trump considered trade more important than human rights in saudi arabia. can we confirm that we do not share the same callous view? is he suggesting that for some reason we would prioritise traders are human rights, absolutely not. —— trade over human rights. we have heard the governments like the us government and the french government have actually received tapes of the recording of the murder in the conflict. what conclusions have been come to about these tapes? secondly, is the minister aware that the saudi authorities have named the people they think were responsible for his murder? will the government monitor the trial of those people to make sure that it is fully transparent and that those people are not executed as a cover—up for someone else? in relation to my noble friend's first question,

we do not comment on intelligence matters, as i think you will understand. given the recent disclosures by saudi arabia in relation to the court proceedings now against 11 people, the united kingdom government will monitor carefully how that trial proceeds. it is a sovereign independent country with its independentjustice system and we will watch very carefully what takes place. the noble lord will be aware that we have said repeatedly we are totally opposed to the use of the death penalty in any circumstance. lady goldie. you're watching wednesday in parliament with me, david cornock. it's 29 years to the day since the house of commons first let the television cameras in. where would we be without them? don't forget that if you miss ourdaily round—up, or would like to watch it again, you can catch up via the bbc iplayer. the environment secretary has promised brexit will make a "positive difference" to the uk's embattled fishing communities. michael gove was speaking as mps debated the fisheries bill

for the first time. it will give the government the power to set fishing policy and catch limits. but there were cross—party concerns at a lack of detail which will be decided later. mr gove said the commons fisheries policy — the cfp — had done great damage. whatever position we may have taken in that referendum, taking back control of our waters, leaving the common fisheries policy up and becoming once again an independent coastal state gives us the opportunity to lead in fire mentally, to revive the fishing industry economically and to make sure that our coastal communities once more have the opportunity of a renaissance. is it not the case to give in the uk's negotiating failure so far that will end up with will look very similar to the terms of the cfp? not at all, said michael gove. that there is an acknowledgement on the part of the eu nations that uk negotiators have a safeguarded access to our waters,

secured our status as an independent coastal state and the initial negotiating mandate of the european union has not been satisfied in these negotiations with respect to fisheries but the red lines laid down by our prime minister have been defended. that provoked challenges from brexiteers. the prime minister also assure the house in very strong terms that she would ever contemplate a border down the irish sea, but yet in the agreement, exactly that is in visits to. i regret to say that given that, i find it difficult to take seriously the commitment the prime minister now gives to this house. if i have trouble believing her, why should i believe him? can he give an absolutely categorical answer that under no circumstances would any further concessions be granted? the conferences of what happened in 1977

had a profound impact of my family and my father's business. there is no way i could ever forget what happened in no way i would be anything other than a resolute champion for the interest of coastal communities. can he explain there for a while there is only one vague mention in the bill of maximum sustainable yield? could he give us the guaranteed in the vision he has for fisheries management that we would adhere to maximum sustainable yields and the senate advise as opposed to what we have done for years and years which is allow total catches to a seat by up to 50% of sustainable yield? this bill will allow us to decide who catches why and where and in line with what environmental principles. it is not often that a piece of legislation comes before this house that provides us with a chance did save some of the most fragile communities in our country, our coastal communities.

there is real hope and a chance of an economic renaissance. your suffering has been recognised and we can make a positive difference. labour would back the bill at this stage, but wanted to see changes, especially on catch quotas. over a quarter of the uk's fishing quota is owned or controlled byjust five families on the sunday times wishlist. we are well accustomed to hearing about taking our fair share of quota at the european level. but many in our coastal towns and smaller fleet want to know when they will get their fair share of the existing national quota. but catching more fish would not necessarily help communities if the uk was not in the customs union. processors would not have and then as if they were trapped playing 11 or 12% to send this to your book and land their fish directly to processors in poland. in actual fact, harbours, eyes producers and others will crumble. very clear promises have been made about the

refusal of the government to allow access to waters for foreign vessels in return for access to markets. the minister will be aware that the industry looks to him and his colleagues to ensure that these promises are kept. alistair carmichael. more than a50 patients died at gosport war memorial hospital in hampshire after being given powerful opiod painkillers between 1987—2001. 200 more people may have had their lives shortened. in the wake of a report into events at the hospital, the health secretary matt hancock has announced stronger measures to protect nhs whistle—blowers. from april next year, medical examiners will be introduced across england to ensure every death is scrutinised. the findings in the gosport report are truly shocking, and we must not forget that every one of those people was a son

or daughter, a mother or a father or a sister or a brother. and i want to reiterate the profound and unambiguous apology on behalf of the government and the nhs for the hurt and the anguish that families who lost loved ones have endured. our thoughts, as he said, are with the families of the 456 patients whose lives were shortened because of what happened at gosport. and the families of the 200 others who may have suffered, whose lives may be shortened but because of missing medical records, we will never know for sure. that lingering doubt must be a particularly intolerable burden for those families affected, never knowing if they were victims of what happened at gosport. the northern ireland secretary karen bradley faced hostile questioning from mps when she appeared in front of a committee to defend the draft brexit deal struck between the government and the eu. the dup and other brexiteers are angry about the plans for what's known as the backstop, a position of last resort to keep an open irish border.

it would see northern ireland staying aligned to some eu rules if another solution couldn't be found by the end of the brexit transition period in december 2020. that means that goods coming into northern ireland would need to be checked to see if they meet eu standards. it would also mean effectively keeping the whole of the uk in the eu customs union until both the eu and uk agree that it is no longer necessary. a dup mp told karen bradley his party was "quite annoyed" about what had been agreed and the arrangements for getting out of the backstop. if it does get through, it becomes a legally binding agreement which can only be an old by a mutual agreement. the republic of ireland and the e u have to agree. and therefore he gives authority to the eu and the republic of the affairs of northern ireland into an item. i did not want to argue with you. i do not want to fight dirty.

you mentioned a short period of time. there is no short period of time. we see the long term of this. the long term of this is something we cannot agree to. so can you tell us why you agree to this and why the prime minister and the conservative party are pursuing a policy which is at odds with the members of parliament in this house, the majority of them, and why there is a need to pursue something which is so much against the conference and supply arrangement we had with your party? the text is clear, this is a temporary arrangement. and the safeguards been put in place, including a unilateral commitment from the united kingdom that we will ensure there is no beverages on regulation between northern ireland and the uk in the short period of the backstop should we end up in it, the fact that we could extend the implementation period i believe are all sufficient safeguards

to give me the comfort that i can vote for this deal. now this would be a matter for every member of parliament. i am not here to criticise any member of parliament and i am not here to tell members that their judgement or assessments differ from mine are wrong. i am here to explain why i have made the decision i have and the assessments i have made. now it is not easy. government is not easy. leadership is not easy. the letter said that there is a sort of perception that really whatever the prime minister says, you will go along with it? and actually your role really isjust to kind of keep a lid on everything until we manage to finally... i could take that in a very offensive way. i'm saying "perception".

i am very clear that i have a brain in my head and i'm capable of thinking. i have made the best decisions as authoritarian state for northern ireland, for ireland and the uk. no one is denying that the need to be checks made. no one is denying those checks should be made and no one is saying that it's been done. at border. they can be done point of origin or point—of—sale and there are systems in place across the eu nap and across the world that could be implemented to do that and that is the frustration i think it is committee that we do not miss a great those checks need to be making a than ever needed to be made at the border. and we have been clear, we would unilaterally do all we could to assure that there were not checked at the board but i think we need to be realistic about what this is. what this means for the retailer in northern ireland travelling to the cash and kerry in ireland because of the do not go to that cash and carry, they did together the cash and carry that is further away because of the more cost and pushes the price of their consumers. talking about some trader who

suddenly would be saying an order for you to meet the demands of your customers that happen to live five miles away but in a different country, you are going to go through a heck of a lot more regulation even if you are doing it from your own sitting room, you have to go through a lot more regulation to do it. time for the sports news now, and the commons speaker — or should i say referee — has shown the yellow card to some members of the newly—formed women's parliamentary football team. or in extra time, as football fans might put it. it has been brought to my attention that some football skills were displayed in the chamber yesterday evening after the house rose. or in extra time, as football fans might put it. john bercow was far from over the moon after mps, including the snp‘s hannah bardell and the former sports minister tracey crouch, held an impromptu training session in the chamber. they've since apologised. i think i can speakfor us all when i say that our historic chamber should not be used for this type of activity, and i gently

remind colleagues that if they are seeking to use the chamber outside of sitting hours beyond for the purpose of simply showing it to guests, frankly they should write to me asking for their request to be considered. i have said what i have said. there are no hard feelings, and i consider the matter to be closed. 0rder. well, they think it's all over. it is now. that's the final whistle for this wednesday in parliament. thank you for watching. i do hope you canjoin me again at the same time tomorrow. bye for now. we have had the cold winds and some

of us have seen snow and now the widespread frost. with a lot of sunshine around but the many on the eastern side, cloud already moving in. not amounting to two march but persisted through scotland. all of that moving west. sunny spells with northern ireland and south—west england. quite cold where you have the cloud. fairly pleasant where you have the sunshine for the top through the evening and nights, heavy showers pushing into parts of south—west england. a rumble of thunder as well. still damp in the east, but nowhere near as chilly as friday. pockets of frost in rural areas. some heavy showers towards the far south—west elsewhere

variable cloud and sunny spells. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: drawing a line in the sand. the murder ofjournalist jamal khashoggi had nothing to do with saudi arabia's royalfamily, its top diplomat tells the bbc. and it is a red line when you have individuals calling for the removal or replacement of a leader. that is ridiculous and unacceptable. that is ridiculous and not acceptable. an unprecedented rebuke from america's topjudge for president trump, for describing a colleague as an ‘0bama judge.‘ a briton accused of spying in the united arab emirates begins a life sentence in prison. and taking the chair ahead of the un climate change conference. david attenborough shows off ‘the people's seat, designed to give ordinary people a say.