hello, you're watching afternoon live. i'm simon mccoy in westminster. the headlines at 2. theresa may prepares to try and sell her brexit deal to mps — the chief whip says he's confident the government will win the vote how are the numbers looking? i'm feeling very, very confident. mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permissison by revoking article 50. elsewhere, after the worst riots in paris for decades, the french government announces a climbdown on fuel tax rises. coming up on afternoon live all the sport with olly foster. in the last hour world athletics say

they will maintain their doping ban on the that dates back to 2015, saying they still need access to doping samples. all the details later. and chris faukes has all the weather. the weather is on a downward spiral. for most of us the rest of the week looking cloudy and wet, but on friday we will cast our eye on the low pressure bringing stormy weather to the north of the uk. that's coming up later. thanks, chris. also coming up, the winner of the £25,000 turner prize for art will be announced this evening. iam i am alive at tate britain surrounded by giant slugs. the winning announcement will be later today where one of four film—makers will win this year's turner prize. hello, everyone.

this is afternoon live. i'm simon mccoy. good afternoon live from westminster. it is warming up inside. the prime minister will urge mps to back her brexit deal later as the government becomes embroiled in a constitutional row with parliament. theresa may will begin five days of debate in the house of commons on her brexit plan before the crunch vote next week. but as she prepares to do that, her government is facing intense criticism over claims it's in contempt of parliament, by refusing to publish the full legal guidance given to ministers about the withdrawal agreement. that debate on the contempt motion is currently underway in the commons. if it loses, it will be the first time a government has been held in contempt of parliament in modern history. the motion does not call for any sanctions against ministers — and it is unclear whether it would force the government to publish the legal advice in full. afterwards, the house will start five days of debate leading to the meaningful vote on the brexit agreement. the meaningful vote itself is due to take place in the evening of the 11th of december. earlier, europe's top legal

official said it would be acceptable for the uk to revoke article 50 without asking for permission from other eu members. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley reports. after months of back and forth, the government has just a week left to sell its plan. next tuesday parliament will vote on theresa may's deal, and without parliamentary approval, it cannot go ahead. after a savaging from various sides over recent days, it's a mammoth task for ministers, but if the man whose job it is to sell the deal to conservative mps is worried, he is not letting on. i am feeling very, very confident. he might be smiling now but there are plenty of headaches for the government at the moment. ministers could be found in contempt of parliament this afternoon after refusing to publish full brexit legal advice. we are being asked as mps to make probably the most important decision we will make in parliament, we are doing it on behalf of hundreds of thousands of constituents, and we ought to do it in full side of the advice,

and it would be irresponsible of us to proceed knowing the advice is there and not request it. the government has already provided a summary, but law officers insist legal advice must stay confidential. they have had the fullest and frankest disclosure from the government, it's time to stop playing games and get on with the real issues. but a good chance parliament is about to find a government in contempt, there is a good chance you could lose the meaningful vote. haven't you lost control of this process? this is a lively parliament without a majority for any particular party, it's always going to be a tough challenge, and we are, i think, set to deliver a brexit the people voted for and that frankly the country is crying out for us to get on with. later, the prime minister will argue her plan offers a better future outside the eu, offering what people voted for while keeping a close economic relationship, but theresa may faces the battle of her political life in the coming days.

it will notjust be ourselves, there will be a large number of conservatives voting against this deal next week as well, who have already expressed that publicly and have told the whips that will be the case, the government will have to look, because it cannot even carry that. i will be making the case that should go back to the people, we know theresa may doesn't have a majority in parliament, no other proposal including no deal at all has support in parliament. at the moment it's almost impossible to see how theresa may gets parliament to back her plan next tuesday, some have already written her off, but others say it's too early to do that. she has delivered against the odds before, and it's possible, just possible, they say, she could do it again. five days of intense debate start later, then parliament has a huge decision. labour's shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer opened the debate in parliament, by accusing ministers of ignoring

a binding commons vote demanding they release the full legal advice they received on the brexit plan. let's listen to what sir keir starmer said. yesterday the government published a reasoned position paper. that was not legal advice. it simply described the deal. it was a synopsis, it was in the nature of an explainer, and explain it having already been published when the deal was published and it was a long way from legal advice. the attorney made a statement to the house and then he a nswered a statement to the house and then he answered questions. but the government did not publish the full and final advice by the attorney general to the cabinet. mr speaker, thatis general to the cabinet. mr speaker, that is the long and short of it. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. responding

to sir keir starmer‘s comments, andrea leadsom, the leader of the house of commons, defended attorney general geoffrey cox, and said he could not have been clearer yesterday when he published his legal advice. she added that he has treated the commons with "the greatest of respect". the questions posed by members on all sides addressed the key issues we must all consider on the legal effect of the withdrawal agreement. and my right honourable friend responded to all of those questions ina responded to all of those questions in a comprehensive fashion. alongside yesterday's nearly two and a half hour session, the government has also provided a 48 page legal commentary which sets out the legal effect of each part of the withdrawal agreement. the information provided to the house is the detailed legal position on the withdrawal agreement, and as the attorney general said to the house yesterday, he continues to be at the disposal of parliamentarians to

answer further questions. i would therefore, in responding to the contempt motion before us today, urge the house to exercise caution in this matter. let's talk to our chief political correspondent vicki young, who's in the central lobby. no one i speak to seems to know when we can expect a vote? do you? there are various votes and nobody knows the timetabling because this discussion about the legal advice could go on for hours itself. my understanding is that labour have sort of agreed it won't go on for more than three hours but then we have to go into another section of debate about procedure, about what happens and that could be significant in itself and that is all before theresa may gets up to try and persuade her own mps and others to get behind her deal, and we know that is guaranteed to go on forup to we know that is guaranteed to go on for up to eight hours. so it's possible we could be here into the early hours. the row about legal

advice in some way feels a bit of a sideshow compared to the bigger picture. there was an interesting moment where a tory mp said to sir keir starmer, be careful what you wish for, because you are a lawyer and you might be attorney general yourself one day and do you want to set this precedent are publishing this legal advice which is, until now, always been secret. so the government can get sound and honest advice, but in confidence. the government clearly feel this is some sort of stunned by the opposition parties, but mps are saying they are being asked to make one of the most important decisions we've ever had to make so why should we not see the same legal advice as the cabinet has done? that vote will happen, but i cannot tell you when. thank you very much for that. the conservative mp and former international development secretary priti patel is here. i will talk about the brexit debate ina i will talk about the brexit debate in a moment, but as far as you are concerned, this contempt about, how

important is that? it is important. it's not just about a important is that? it is important. it's notjust about a bit of procedure in parliament which is how it has been presented by the government. the contempt motion is based around legal advice given to the government and shared at cabinet level with regards to the withdrawal bill, the brexit bill, so parliamentarians are rightly asking to have access to that legal advice because we are due to vote next week on one of the most historic decisions in our country and i think it's right to say that we should make an informed decision based on the legal advice presented to government. very quickly, geoffrey cox the attorney general, what did you make of his performance yesterday? was it the barrister —like performance we should expect, 01’ as —like performance we should expect, or as caroline lucas described it a bit of a pantomime? i don't get sucked into performances, i am only interested in the substance of what the attorney general had to say and he was very clear that he was giving his view and everything else was

subject to political judgment and decision—making in terms of how we should form our own judgment when it comes to interpreting the advice and reading the summary that he put out and the document published yesterday. that is the basis of the debate which is taking place in the chamber right now and there are very, very strong views that we should see the legal advice. the co nte m pt of should see the legal advice. the contempt of parliament motion and the debate taking place i think, fundamentally, will lead to wider ranging questions about the integrity of the evidence, advice and what has been hidden and covered up, and really if we're going to make an informed decision. you believe there has been hiding and covering up? this is the point. in the interests of integrity and transparency, let's see the guidance and the full advice and then members of parliament can make their own decisions. because otherwise, there will always be this kind of shadowy view of what don't we know? where

are the full facts? and when you're trying to make an informed decision, that will be in the back of your mind. ithink that will be in the back of your mind. i think member is of the public will also want to know. not the easiest of starts for theresa may when she gets ear to begin this crucial five days of debate. how would you assess the mood here at the moment? it's very challenging. this is unprecedented in terms of parliamentary debate. what we are discussing and debating is the future relationship between us and the european union that will affect oui’ the european union that will affect our country for decades and generations to come. we don't have these kinds of moments in parliament ona these kinds of moments in parliament on a regular basis, thank goodness, but at the same time we must apply ourselves to the debates and discussions and read the documentation is and see the full fa cts documentation is and see the full facts and evidence and come to the full conclusion before we vote next week. five days of debate will be very intense, eight hours a day and it gives parliamentarians a chance to have their say and i think that isa to have their say and i think that is a good thing, actually. it should not be heated. every member of

parliament should be able to have their say and contribute their opinion and point and then make the representations on behalf of their constituents as well, which matters. and then take the informed decision when they vote next week. always good to see you. thanks very much. let's return to the commons chamber because jacob rees mogg is on his feet. that does not mean that this houseis feet. that does not mean that this house is irresponsible in passing humble addresses. we have heard suggestions we might seek information from the security services. this house has never passed a humble address of such an unwise kind. though i am not, dare i say, the greatest admirers of the socialist opposite, i accept that they are responsible enough not to wish to endanger the security of our nation. but that parliament has the power does not mean parliament will exercise the power. indeed, and

importantly, this house constrains its right of free speech in relation to the sub judice issue. we its right of free speech in relation to the subjudice issue. we have passed standing orders and give the power to mr speaker to stop honourable and right honourable members reaching the subjudas a rule —— breaching the subjudice rule —— breaching the subjudice rule to make sure that business proceeds properly and likewise we are entitled to limit the means of humble addresses and information that can be received from a humble address. but we did not do so before the 13th of november. and therefore what happened on the 13th of november ought to be complied with. because if we simply say that notions of this house according to great antiquity and precedent can be ignored because the government feels like it, then what is this house here for? how are we protecting the rights of the people we represent? how are we able to seek redress of

grievance? the fact that it might have been on wise, and had there been a division on the 13th of november, i would been a division on the 13th of november, iwould have been a division on the 13th of november, i would have voted against revealing the attorney general‘s information and advice to the government. i did not think the humble address was well advised, but the government decided to accept the motion. and having done so, it was not then up to the government to say that it was not in the national interest to do so. i'm afraid that isa interest to do so. i'm afraid that is a classic confusion. the government interest and the national interest are different things. the government interest is a political interest. the national interest is a higher interest. and in my view, the national interest is better served by respecting the privileges of parliament than the convenience of the law offices. under therefore, in the law offices. under therefore, in the national interest, not the government interest, this legal advice ought to be produced because

parliament has said so. and this is clearly a right that this house has. every select committee has the delegated right to send four persons and papers and this is simply an exercise by the whole house of requiring that papers be produced. but the government with its majority, perhaps a majority it cannot always achieve, but at least with a technical majority thanks to oui’ with a technical majority thanks to our friends with a technical majority thanks to ourfriends in the dup, the government with its majority ought to be able to stop any papers it believes to be too confidential from not being produced and indeed it is still open to the government to bring forward a motion suggesting that the previous motion be overturned and there is precedent for overturning a humble address and seeking to do the opposite. so there

isa seeking to do the opposite. so there is a proper process for the government to follow if it does not wa nt to government to follow if it does not want to release these papers rather than sticking its feet in the mud and saying no. so then they come to the motions before us today. and here i agree with my right honourable and learned friend, the memberfor honourable and learned friend, the member for beaconsfield, that i don't think the motion before us actually works because it is too indistinct about who it is criticising. that it is criticising ministers broadly rather than the ones specifically concerned. and i think the motion needed to be more specific on who it was objecting to and who it was holding in contempt and who it was holding in contempt andindeed and who it was holding in contempt and indeed ought to have used the right that parliament had to inflict some punishment on the person who is deemed to be in contempt. of course i will give way. i'm grateful to the

honourable member for giving way. i will give way. i'm grateful to the honourable memberfor giving way. if he feels, as he has described, why did he not put down an amendment? we will keep an eye on that because as vicky young was saying that the vote could come at any time but on the other hand it could be a couple of hours awake but we will keep an eye on this. the snp‘s foreign affairs and europe spokesperson stephen gethins joins me. the contempt vote, how important is this in the scheme of things?|j think this in the scheme of things?” think it's important because parliament is making a huge decision next week that will impact on eve ryo ne next week that will impact on everyone and oui’ next week that will impact on everyone and our livelihoods, regardless of whether you are leave 01’ regardless of whether you are leave or remain or where you live in the uk, so it's really important that members of the parliament have all the information at our disposal, including this legal advice as well. we only ask a legal advice under

very exceptional circumstances. when you say we, you have written a letter? i am in with keir starmer and caroline lucas and with the dup, and caroline lucas and with the dup, and we are in really exceptional circumstances at the moment and that's why i think it's important for us to ask the evidence. what you say to somebody watching now thinks this is all party politics and you're ganging up against the government as you always do and not putting the country first? do you know, we have spent two and a half yea rs know, we have spent two and a half years since the eu referendum and even though the snp put forward our compromise two years ago, other parties have done the same again and there has been no meaningful engagement from number ten with any party except for the dup and their own extreme brexiteers like jacob rees mogg who we were just watching a moment ago, and that has failed. and ina a moment ago, and that has failed. and in a parliamentary democracy where you have a parliament of minorities we should be reaching out and seeking to build consensus and they have failed to do that which means parliament needs to take back

control of the process, to borrow a phrase. you are running out of time and when you talk about consensus it's clear that you want to get consensus the options are limited and that is what theresa may will say in the next few hours. they are limited in one of them is to remain in the single market and customs union, which is available during the transition period and it can be done ina transition period and it can be done in a straightforward way. the second referendum is building support amongst the liberal democrats and the snp. what are the questions on the snp. what are the questions on the referendum ? the snp. what are the questions on the referendum? remain has to be an option, so it is whatever the deal that you come out with to leave, whatever it might be a mother compromise amendment or something else, but we would like to see a compromise. i think the theresa may deal is a nonstarter. the other option is remain, important that we have that option because we know there is no better deal than the one that we had. so you are saying you can remain or vote for theresa may, but there is also the no deal option. we know from the treasury's

own analysis that the least worst option is the single market customs union, but the worst, worst option is no deal. disastrous. but they are all disastrous. people will lose theirjobs. theresa all disastrous. people will lose their jobs. theresa may all disastrous. people will lose theirjobs. theresa may has said repeatedly that jobs will theirjobs. theresa may has said repeatedly thatjobs will not be lost with her deal. she is directly disregarding her own treasury advice which was drawn up by the economists, by the apolitical economists. is there anything she can say in the next few hours or days, anything that somebody might change anybody‘s mind ? days, anything that somebody might change anybody‘s mind? what is the one thing that might make you think, tell you what, it's an option that is better than the offers. stick with a second referendum. that's it, is it? there is the compromise of a single market customs union and we've been trying to cut through for two years and she's only interested in speaking to the dup and look where that has got us. we live in a democracy in the house of commons

became that little bit more european cruises this is really involving the devolved administrations and another european legislator, and if you talk to each other, you can get things done and that's what we're doing behind the scenes at the moment. theresa may is not doing with other parliamentarians are. —— but other parliamentarians are. —— but other parliamentarians are. as mentioned, britain can unilaterally stop the clock on brexit, according to a top european law officer. the advocate general of the european court ofjustice says the uk can change its mind on withdrawing from the eu by revoking article 50. the decision is not legally binding, but the court usually follows the advocate general‘s advice. damian grammaticas has this report. this was the 29th of march 2017, the uk's representative in brussels notifying the eu under what is called article 50, delivering the official letter saying we intended to leave the block. article 50 is the legal mechanism by which

countries quit the eu and states are automatically out two years after notifying, so the question, can the uk unilaterally revoke its membership? in effect, say it has changed its mind and then decide to stay in the eu. that is the question that the eu's highest court has been asked to decide, the case brought by asked to decide, the case brought by a case of scottish mps, meps and lawyers opposed to brexit. theresa may would have us believe it is either her deal or no deal but we wa nted either her deal or no deal but we wanted to make it clear that there isa wanted to make it clear that there is a third option and that is to revoke article 50. the arguments we re revoke article 50. the arguments were heard a week ago and today the court's advisor has given his opinion. he thinks it is a country's sovereign right to change its mind. the uk government had tried to block the case because it says it has no intention of reversing brexit. the key point is that the uk government is not going to change course. we

are delivering on the result of the referendum and we think it is the right thing to do. what has been brought out by that court today is not important to the debate. but the man who wrote article 50 says it is important for the uk to find out if it can still choose to remain in the eu on its current terms. if we took back the letter, we would never have left and the terms of our membership would never have changed. today's opinion is not the final ruling. the judges are now deliberating, but in about three quarters of cases they do follow the opinion of their advisor. their decision should be out by christmas. the french prime minister has suspended a planned hike in fuel tax for six months, following some of the worst riots in paris for decades. in a televised address, he said no tax warranted endangering the unity of the nation. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield gave us the latest from paris. it isa it is a climb—down and there are two questions, will this be enough to

appease the protesters? i think the a nswer to appease the protesters? i think the answer to that is there is a good chanceit answer to that is there is a good chance it will. it will certainly wheel away a good chunk of the moderate yellow vests and probably satisfy them, and that might be enoughin satisfy them, and that might be enough in itself to deprive the movement of the momentum it needs, although what cannot rule out the hardliners putting in more protest this saturday. the big question is the legacy and what this tells us about president macron. is he damaged goods? to a point you would have to say he is. he has set his reputation on being a new kind of president who does not give into the street, but here he is giving into the street and doing exactly what his predecessors have done in the past. it also leaves a big hole in the budget for next year because the tax is being suspended, and it was there to raise revenue, and then there to raise revenue, and then there is the question of his whole reform programme looking ahead. next year there are loads more reforms he has planned to the civil service, to chop back the size of the state, to

pensions, to bring them in line and rationalise them. these are very controversial reforms are now the opposition sees that he can turn back, they will be more emboldened to next year. the transport secretary, chris grayling, has admitted that he and his department didn't ask "tough enough questions" before the chaotic implementation of new timetables on northern and govia thameslink routes in may. it comes as a report by mps said he should have been more pro—active. govia thameslink has today been hit with sanctions that mean it will make no profit this year. tom burridge reports. the new timetable was supposed to do with overcrowding on britain's busiest line, but it resulted in mayhem and misery for passengers of govia thameslink. people were late from work, couldn't get to pick up children from school, it adversely impacted local businesses as well, it was an absolute nightmare. the government had threatened to strip the company of the franchise, but instead govia agreed to pay £15 million towards passenger services

and its profits will be capped in coming years. the department for transport was also partly to blame for the chaos which hit passengers on govia and northern rail. according to a new report from mps, the minister in charge should have done more. the transport select committee accepted chris grayling wasn't fully informed but they say he was in charge of management structures which failed. the reality is at no point did i get the information that i would have needed to intervene, and i must make sure that never happens again, and i accept responsibility for my department and myself not asking tough enough questions. but while things on govia have generally improved, passengers on northern rail still face regular disruption. the situation is still very poor, you're talking about passengers who still get into work late, unable to get home to pick kids up from the childminder, all these things are still happening, and it's crucial we put passengers at the heart of everything that we do. the rail industry admits

fundamental reform is needed. there is systemic problems within the industry, there isn't one person to blame, but we need to look at the plumbing of the industry, how the architecture is working, because clearly it's not working for passengers. northern rail and govia thameslink owe millions in compensation to passengers, but the report today by mps says some people's fares should not increase in the new year. we are all asking if it's going to bea we are all asking if it's going to be a white christmas but we won't a nswer be a white christmas but we won't answer that yet but we can find out what's happening in the next few days. as far as the weather goes it's on a downward spiral and we've all seen sunshine this morning but the rest of the week is looking pretty cloudy and wet. yesterday we had temperatures as high as 15 degrees across southern england but it is a cooler kind of afternoon out and

about and probably the coldest weather we will see all week for a number of places and temperatures struggling up to 9 degrees and we see cloud streaming in across england and wales over recent hours and the first leading edge is actually here photographed earlier this morning and as i say it's already cloudy across northern ireland and wales. the cloud will continue to thicken and threaten with rain later in the afternoon across the south—west temperature —wise, 9 degrees for some of us but further north you won't get that as it will be more like for up to 6 degrees so it feels pretty chilly out and about. 0vernight outbreaks of rain coming over the country in the south, driving north, so it will eventually turn wet overnight for most of the country with south—westerly winds blowing in it will be one of those nights where temperatures rise through the night and by the end of the night 12 degrees or so in plymouth but cold

air still for the far north and also scotla nd air still for the far north and also scotland with a widespread frost underneath the clear skies on the lowest temperatures in northern scotla nd lowest temperatures in northern scotland could get 2—6 or 7 degrees soa scotland could get 2—6 or 7 degrees so a big contrast for wednesday, sunny, cold and frosty in scotland, but otherwise it will be wet and windy day as well. the rain will be heavy at times. as we go into the afternoon, the south—westerly wind drags in milderairand afternoon, the south—westerly wind drags in milder air and a much milder feeling day than today but across scotland and the far north of england it stays pretty chilly. as we head into thursday, the south—westerly winds will blow across the mainland of scotland and we notice on the chart there is more rain which could be heavy at times, easing into drizzle then another batch of wet weather comes in late in the day across wales and west in england, especially the south—west. rain at times probably covers it best but 10 degrees in stornoway, 14 for london are way warmer than it should be at this time of year. all eyes turn to friday's whether, deep area of low pressure set to bring

stormy conditions and a gust of wind across the north—west of the uk which could reach something like 70 or 80 mph. still a which could reach something like 70 or80 mph. stilla bit of uncertainty about where we will get the stronger winds but it could well be disruptive towards the end of the week. this is bbc news — our latest headlines. theresa may prepares to try and sell her brexit deal to mps — the chief whip says the government will win the vote. how are the numbers looking? i'm feeling very, very confident. before that, mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permissison by revoking article 50. elsewhere, after the worst riots

in paris for decades, the french government announces a climbdown on fuel tax rises. sport now on afternoon live with 0lly foster, and news that the world governing body for athletics have maintain their ban of russia athletes. they are really sticking to their guns on this one, they were the first governing body to ban russia, even though they had been let back in other sports the evidence of systematic state—sponsored doping. world athletics governing body the iaaf are going to maintain russia's ban from international competition. they have had a council meeting in monaco. their suspension has been in place for the last three years following evidence of systematic state sponsored doping. the world anti doping agency recently lifted their suspension

of the country's drug testing facilities which should have accelerated their return to competition, but the iaaf say they still need full access to the doping data. 0ur our philosophy from the very outset has been, can we separate the clean athletes from the tainted system? so over 30 russian athletes are competing internationally, they are competing internationally, they are competing as neutrals. the remainder of that, which will be the reinstatement of the athletics federation, will depend on the full completion of that criteria. the iaaf also say they need to have full compensation for all the investigative work and such like they are put in over the last three orfour they are put in over the last three or four years. jurgen klopp has accepted a charge of misconduct for running on to the pitch after liverpool's 96th—minute winner against everton at anfield.

klopp ran on to hug goalkeeper alisson after divock 0rigi's bizarre goal in sunday's merseyside derby. he will receive a fine of about £8,000 from the fa and has been warned about his future behaviour. he had apologised straight after he did that too is opposing number, marco silva. there's a full round of premier league fixtures over the next couple of days. manchester united host arsenal tomorrow evening, they are eight points behind the fourth—placed gunners. after united's draw against southampton last weekend, jose mourinho told a brazilian broadcaster that they need a miracle to break into the top four. he's ramped back on that today. we just need to be not so unlucky with problems that we have. we need some players to perform better than they are. we need as a team to perform better than we are. but apart from a miracle,

not at all. luka modric has dedicated his ballon d'0r award to all the other players who were overlooked for the past ten years. either cristiano ronaldo or lionel messi have won the prestigious award for the last ten years. modric captained croatia to the world cup final and also helped real madrid win a third successive champions league title. ronaldo was second and messi down in fifth. england captain harry kane was tenth. the inaugral women's ballon d'or was overshadowed by a sexism row. norway's ada hegerberg was the winner, but the host of the awards show in paris, french dj martin solveig, asked her if she could twerk, a sexually provocative dance. he had asked other award winners similar questions but apologised for any offence caused. he came to me after, and he was

really, really sad that it went that way. i didn't think about it in that moment, i didn't consider it as a sexual harassment or anything, i was just happy to get a dance and celebrate winning the ballon d'0r, to be honest. england are still winless at the hockey world cup in india. after drawing with china in their opening group game, they were soundly beaten by australia — 3—0 the score. ireland are the fourth team in that group. they're playing china. the third round of the uk snooker championship continues at the barbican in york. four matches under way. these are live pictures, you can watch this over on bbc two if you

want, judd trump facing mark king. judd trump is 3—1 up, but it looks like king, he has, hasjust pulled one back, 32, you can continue watching that on bbc two or the bbc sport website. i wish you would stop telling people to watch bbc two! 0r stay here and watch simon! the prime minister will urge mps to back her brexit deal later as the government becomes embroiled in a constitutional row with parliament. theresa may will begin five days of debate in the house of commons on her brexit plan before the crunch vote next week. but as she prepares to do that, her government is facing intense criticism over claims it's in contempt of parliament by refusing to publish the full legal guidance given to ministers about the withdrawal agreement. that debate on the contempt motion is currently under way in the commons. if it loses, it will be the first time a government has been held in contempt of parliament in modern history. the motion does not call for any sanctions against ministers, and it is unclear whether it would force the government to publish the legal advice in full. afterwards, the house will start

five days of debate leading to the meaningful vote on the brexit agreement, which will take place in the evening of the 11th of december. earlier, europe's top legal official said it would be acceptable for the uk to revoke article 50 without asking for permission from other eu members. labour mp rupa huq is here. a staunch remainer, it is fair to say, but let's talk about this co nte m pt say, but let's talk about this contempt debate, how big a deal could it be? i think it is very serious that we had a motion in parliament on the 17th of november, the government caved in, they didn't call a vote because they knew they would be defeated, that we need full and frank disclosure of the legal advice that the rest of the cabinet has seen, and given we are making such a decision in exceptional circumstances, there was a unanimous

vote, and now they are not playing ball. i think it is really serious, actually. presumably, if there were sanctions, you would like sanctions to include the suspension of someone who might be voting for the prime minister in the next few days. who might be voting for the prime minister in the next few daysm looks like he is good at doing the pa nto looks like he is good at doing the panto villain the thing... talking about the attorney general. we are almost in pantomime season, and it felt a bit like amateur dramatics yesterday, his baritone voice, doing the theatrics, but there are serious things at stake,... or are there? a lot of people will say this is just politics. you can'tjust ignore a unanimous vote in the house of commons. what does it mean for future legal advice? isn't it quite a precedent? he argued that there are long ramifications for this. they had an amendment that was ready to go that there should only be a summary, they could have got people to vote for that and won the vote fairand square, but to vote for that and won the vote fair and square, but there are

serious constitutional issues if a government with no majority can ignore the will of parliament. they don't want to abide by the will of the elected representatives. let's move the elected representatives. let's m ove o nto the elected representatives. let's move onto the next debate after the next debate, because there is something in between, theresa may coming on and trying to sell this deal. she has five days to do it, i think i know the answer to this — is there anything she can say to change your mind? i told her the other week that she is blogging a dead horse. she cannot persuade her own cabinet, and we are living in unprecedented times, 20 resignations, people don't even bat an eyelid, the first two brexit secretaries gone, though foreign secretary gone, the brexiteers who were meant to be in charge of the whole thing. i am on your side! you are hearing... i do not know who they are representing! we have got both sides here! our country has descended into farce,

chaos, disarray, and the only way out of this is a people's vote! now, 0k, talked me through the alternatives, because if theresa may fails to get her deal through, what do you think will happen? do you think your party will try to trigger a vote of no confidence if she fails? yeah, we will push for a general election, because that is what oppositions wants to do. but there are those, again, who say, hang ona there are those, again, who say, hang on a minute, the country's interest is to try and deal with this issue. we have seen how divided the nation is, we have seen how divided theresa may... actually, she has made our party look pretty united, since 2015 half of the body has been trying to get rid of the leader, but she has united us and both wings of the body, thejohnson brothers, the slapdash one and the thoughtful one, both not voting for her deal. the only way she can get out of this logjam, cul—de—sac, is

to put it back to the people and ask, is this really what you want? always good to talk you, roope kakko, thank you very much. kenneth clarke is on his feet, that contempt motion is still being debated, and as was said, we don't know how many hours or minutes left of that debate, we will keep an eye on what is going on in the house of commons, vicki young is in the lobby. when we getan vicki young is in the lobby. when we get an idea of it coming to an end, we will take you over for the vote. you are watching afternoon live. more than 4,000 children in england with special educational needs and disabilities were not given the support they needed at school last year, according to the 0fsted chief inspector. the regulator's annual report, which is published today, describes the failure as a national scandal. the department for education says it's working to improve standards with a new inspection framework. navtej johal reports. that's nice. that is what i would wear in the summer. ten—year—old sienna has been out of school for over a year. she has autism and her mum jane says

she was told by her school that it could not meet her needs. she says the system has let her down. it is a muddle, i would actually say shambles, i have used that quite a few times. nobody seems to know what they are doing. it is easy for all these professionals making these decisions, they can go home at night and sleep, but we are left in limbo, that is what it feels like, limbo. being autistic is hard for me when i need a school. 0fsted's annual report said that this year in england more than 4000 children like sienna — with official education, health and care plans setting out their needs — received no support at all, three times more than in 2010. it has described the situation as a scandal. it also said that children are often being excluded rather than getting help. we are seeing patterns of increasing rates of exclusion for children with special needs. it looks as though that it is becoming even more difficult

for them to do well in mainstream school and to carry en route to life post—16. the government says councils will receive almost £6 billion for special needs this academic year. a rise of 5 billion from 2013. but as this march by head teachers showed earlier this year, many schools are struggling to fund the huge increases in demand for support, a struggle which looks set to continue. navteonhal, bbc news. the body of the former us president george bush senior is lying in state in washington. it follows a ceremony attended by the bush family and leading political figures who've described the 41st president as both principled and humble. donald trump — who mr bush is said not to have voted for — paid his respects on a private visit, along with his wife melania. from washington, rajini vaidyanathan sent this report. for george hw bush, it was the finaljourney to washington dc — a city to which he devoted

much of his life. with his son, america's 43rd president, george w bush, watching on, the casket of the country's 41st was carried up the steps of the us capitol building, accompanied by a 21—gun salute. president trump, who mr bush reportedly didn't vote for, paid his respects with his wife, melania. republicans and democrats and politicians past and present lined up to pay tribute. in all of his 94 years, president bush never lost his love of adventure. and he never failed to answer the call to serve his country. and that call began as a teenager when he enlisted in the us navy. his plane was shot down over the pacific, and he survived. i will faithfully execute the office of president... president george herbert walker bush was a consummate public servant. before he entered the white house,

he was a congressman, the head of the cia and vice president to ronald reagan. a family man, he was distraught when his wife barbara, who he'd been married to for seven decades, died in april. president george hw bush's casket will lie in state here at the us capitol building in washington until wednesday morning, giving members of the public their chance to say a final goodbye. then it will move to washington's national cathedral, where america's 41st president will be afforded a full state funeral. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, washington. maryam is here. first a look at the headlines on afternoon live. theresa may prepares to try and sell her brexit deal to mp5. the chief whip says he's confident the government will win the vote. before that, mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. it comes after the european union's

top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permissison by revoking article 50. n0 audio inaudible govia thameslink must pay £15 million for improvements in rail services and will make no profit in 2018 according to the department for transport. it says the company already spent a similar amount in passenger compensation after chaos over new timetables that were introduced earlier this year. the dft said its performance after the may timetable change was unacceptable. budget airline ryanair has reported

an 11% rise in passengers last month compared to the same month last year. it also said it had reached an agreement with a german pilot unions over wages and benefits. walk—outs by the airline's staff in several european countries, including germany, led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights this summer. altria, the maker of marlboro cigarettes, is in talks with a canadian cannabis producer over a potential investment in the firm. ca nada's cronos group confirmed the discussions but said it had not yet reached an agreement. michelle fleury joins us from the floor of the new york stock exchange. what more do we know about this potential deal? well, unsurprisingly, investors responded positively to the news, we saw cronos shares up sharply when the

rumours first started swirling around, they ended yesterday's session up 11%. when i checked a few minutes ago, they were trading much higher again today, up 1.5% yesterday, pretty much flat this morning. for those wondering whether the why a tobacco company would be interested in this business, it is fairly simple — stale cigarette sales are driving the company to look for new markets, new vices, if you like, and so it is in talks to buy a stake or make some sort of investment in cronos, but it has also been looking at a cigarette maker, so strategic planning for the maker, so strategic planning for the maker of marlboro. and canada legalised cannabis back in october. that's right, it became the second country in the world to legalise recreational use of cannabis for adults, opening up a huge market.

ever since then, a lot of pot companies, which often tend to be in canada partly because in the direction of the market, positioning themselves for the trend they could see coming, so a lot of interest happening there. but it is notjust canada. if you look in the united states, you have got some states starting to legalise cannabis, even though it is still illegal at the federal level, and there are estimates that right now the market is worth maybe around $11 billion in the us, but that could increase to 75 billion by 2030. so suddenly it sta rts 75 billion by 2030. so suddenly it starts to make sense, you can see why some of these big companies, not just in the tobacco business, but also brands which make beer, they have a stake in another canadian pot company, you can see why these stocks are looking very hard. and briefly, what is happening with the stock market in new york today? well, it is a sea of red right now, the dowjones well, it is a sea of red right now,

the dow jones is well, it is a sea of red right now, the dowjones is down 162 points. yesterday we saw euphoria as investors digest did the news about the china—us trade deal, but once they had a chance to lead the news syncing, use or scepticism creeping m, syncing, use or scepticism creeping in, doubts that this may be a pause, but i guess there are concerns about whether or not the extra 90 days will be enough time to actually get a deal done. michelle, thank you. what michelle has been saying about the markets there resonate around the markets there resonate around the world, this is what the markets in london are doing, a lot of excitement about the china and usa troops. it hasn't carried on today, the markets in negative territory, in london, germany and france, thomas cook losing a big chunk of its value after its two profit warnings. that is a roundabout the business, back to you, simon, in westminster. it's one of art's most prestigious awards. the winner of the turner prize will be announced this evening in central london.

previous winners have included damien hirst, grayson perry and steve mcqueen, but this year — for the first time — there's not a painting in sight. 0ur arts correspondent rebecca jones has been taking a look. it's the sight and sound of old—fashioned technology. luke willis thompson's 35mm films show people who have been affected by state brutality. this is diamond reynolds, whose partner was shot dead by police in america, an event she streamed live on facebook. the next artist, charlotte prodger, has spent a year making a film recorded entirely on her smartphone. it's autobiographical and is about her coming out as gay in rural aberdeenshire. and the scottish countryside plays a starring role. if you're in a rush, this exhibition might be a challenge. there's no painting, no sculpture — instead, for the first time in the prize's history, all the artists are presenting films and you'd need four and a half hours to watch all of them.

the longest is by naeem mohaiemen, which is 90 minutes. you are not cleared to approach. it's about a man who spends a decade living alone in an abandoned airport. naeem mohaiemen also makes documentaries using archive footage which explore the issues of migration and exile. the final film is the work of a research agency called forensic architecture, who investigate alleged acts of state and corporate violence. here they're presenting footage of a police raid on a bedouin village in southern israel last year. the winner of the prize will be announced tonight. rebecca jones, bbc news. living alone in an abandoned airport might be quite appealing to some right now! in the meantime, will gompertz is at tate britain, where

this evening's turner prize ceremony will be taking place, he is next to that giant slug! iam not that giant slug! i am not the giant slug, i'm just a few yards from the house of commons at tate britain on millbank, these giant slugs are part of the installation commissioned by an artist called spartacus chatwin, who was once upon a time short—listed for the turner prize, but not this year. it is four film—makers, for the turner prize, but not this year. it is fourfilm—makers, and to explain who they are and why they have been chosen, lindsey yung is the chief curator of the turner prize. the obvious question, no paintings, no sculptures, do they have nothing to say any more, those media? the turner prize is different every year, media? the turner prize is different every yea r, last media? the turner prize is different every year, last year there were two painters, this year there were none, and you never know what will happen because an independentjury selects them. the whole idea is reflecting what is happening in the world, what do these films tell us? they are an

incredible reflection of the world around us, because these artists are working around the state violence, queer identity, social politics, really exploring issues in the news every day. opelfilms, four really exploring issues in the news every day. opel films, four artist using the medium of film, are they are very different, or is it like going to the multiplex? there are four different types of film being used, if you want to generalise, 16 millimetre, 35mm, a film shot on an iphone, and then documentary footage and also 3d modelling as well, and we have tried to make it an experience that is enjoyable, so we have built an atrium where you can relax and take a break between the films. sadly no popcorn! we had that to watch all of the films would take nearly five hours, a lot of people will not have that sort of time, how would you experience the turner prize if you don't have half a day? we have made sure the tickets are

flexible, you can come in and out with one ticket and really get value, and they can get tickets that are much cheaper for young value, and they can get tickets that are much cheaperfor young people. but also the rooms are considered in the whole, so you can see the very beautiful, austere installation of charlotte prodger or the workspace of forensic architecture, each one has a different pitch, and you can get a real sense of the artists. quick question, because we don't know the answer, who do you think is going to win? i couldn't possibly say! linsey young, thank you very much indeed, we will find out later on tonight, we have a live broadcast from tate britain on the channel from tate britain on the channel from 9:30pm. plymouth will gompertz there, thank you very much, yes, thatis there, thank you very much, yes, that is at 9:30pm. that is after the drummer here, perhaps, we're still waiting to find out when the vote will be on the contempt motion. more

from here later, but now we look at the weather with chris fawkes. most of us have seen some sunshine, but thicker cloud is spreading in and outbreaks of rain will pushing through this evening and overnight, turning wet in some areas with the range writhing northwards overnight, accompanied by strengthening south—westerly winds. —— with rain driving northwards overnight. temperatures in the countryside is down to minus six or minus 7 degrees, but south—westerly winds bring milder air, temperatures of around 12 in plymouth, so big contrast to take us into wednesday, cold and frosty in scotland, otherwise cloudy and wet with heavy outbreaks of rain in the forecast for wednesday, a windy day, rain accompanied by south—westerly winds, dragging in the milder air. accompanied by south—westerly winds, dragging in the milderair. as accompanied by south—westerly winds, dragging in the milder air. as we go through wednesday afternoon, temperatures back into double figures fairly widely, cold hanging on across northern part of the uk.

that is your weather. hello, you're watching afternoon live. i'm simon mccoy. today at 3. mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. i would therefore in responding to the contempt motion before us today urged the house to exercise caution in this matter. later today, theresa may will try and sell her brexit deal to mp5. the debate will last five days before mps vote on her plan it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permission by revoking article 50. elsewhere, after the worst riots in paris for decades, the french government announces a temporary climbdown on fuel tax rises. coming up on afternoon live, all the sport with 0lly. world athletics has upheld their ban

on russia who were first suspended three years ago and the governing body say they still need access to doping samples. all the details coming up. thanks 0lly, and we'll bejoining you for a full update just after half—past. chris has all the weather. the weather is on a downward spiral and for most of us the rest of the week is cloudy and wet but on friday week is cloudy and wet but on friday we will be casting our eye on a deep area of low pressure set to bring stormy weather to the north of the uk. thanks, chris. also coming up, the winner of the £25,000 turner prize for art will be announced this evening. hello, everyone. this is afternoon live. i'm simon mccoy. good afternoon live from westminster. the prime minister will urge mps to back her brexit deal later as the government becomes embroiled

in a constitutional row with parliament. theresa may will begin five days of debate in the house of commons on her brexit plan before the crunch vote next week. but as she prepares to do that, her government is facing intense criticism over claims its in contempt of parliament, by refusing to publish the full legal guidance given to ministers about the withdrawal agreement. that debate on the contempt motion is currently underway in the commons. if it loses it will be the first time a government has been held in contempt of parliament in modern history. the motion does not call for any sanctions against ministers — and it is unclear whether it would force the government to publish the legal advice in full. afterwards, the house will start five days of debate leading to the meaningful vote on the brexit agreement, which will take place in the evening of the 11th of december. earlier, europe's top legal official said it would be acceptable for the uk to revoke article 50 without asking for permission from other eu members. labour's shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer opened the debate in parliament, by accusing ministers of ignoring a binding commons vote demanding they release the full legal advice

they received on the brexit plan. let's listen to what sir keir starmer said. yesterday the government published a reasoned position paper. that was not legal advice. it simply described the deal. it was a synopsis, it was in the nature of an explainer, an explainer having already been published when the deal was published and it was a long way from legal advice. the attorney made a statement to the house and then he answered questions. but the government did not publish the full and final advice by the attorney general to the cabinet. mr speaker, that is the long and short of it. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. responding to sir keir starmer‘s comments, andrea leadsom, the leader of the house of commons, defended

attorney general geoffrey cox, and said he could not have been clearer yesterday when he published his legal advice. she added that he has treated the commons with "the greatest of respect". the questions posed by members on all sides addressed the key issues we must all consider on the legal effect of the withdrawal agreement. and my right honourable friend responded to all of those questions in a comprehensive fashion. alongside yesterday's nearly two and a half hour session, the government has also provided a 48—page legal commentary which sets out the legal effect of each part of the withdrawal agreement. the information provided to the house is the detailed legal position on the withdrawal agreement, and as the attorney general said to the house yesterday, he continues to be at the disposal of parliamentarians to answer further questions. i would therefore, in responding to the contempt motion before us today, urge the house to exercise caution in this matter.

in a few hours' time the prime minister will set out the case for her brexit deal when she opens five days of debate in the house of commons. 0ur political correspondent nick eardley reports. after months of brexit back and forth, the government has just a week left to sell its plan. next tuesday parliament will vote on theresa may's deal, without parliamentary approval, it cannot go ahead. after a savaging from various sides over recent days, it's a mammoth task for ministers, but if the man whose job it is to sell the deal to conservative mps is worried, he is not letting on. i am feeling very, very confident. he might be smiling now but there are plenty of headaches for the government at the moment. ministers could be found in contempt of parliament this afternoon after refusing to publish their full brexit legal advice. we are being asked as mps to make probably the most important decision

we will take in parliament, we are doing it on behalf of hundreds of thousands of constituents, and we ought to do it in full sight of the advice, and it would be irresponsible of us to proceed knowing the advice is there and not request it. the government has already provided a summary, but law officers insist legal advice must stay confidential. they have had the fullest and frankest disclosure from the government, it's now time to stop playing games and get on with the real issues. there's a good chance parliament is about to find the government in contempt, there is a good chance you could lose the meaningful vote, haven't you just lost control of this process? this is a lively parliament without a majority for any particular party, it's always going to be a tough challenge, and we are, i think, set to deliver a brexit the people voted for and that, frankly, the country is crying out for us to get on with. later the pm will argue her plan offers a better future outside the eu, delivering what people voted for while keeping a close economic relationship,

but theresa may faces the battle of her political life in the coming days. it will notjust be ourselves, there will be a large number of conservatives voting against this deal next week as well, who have already expressed that publicly and have told the whips that will be the case, so the government will have to look at its own policy, because it cannot even carry that policy. i will be making the case that should go back to the people, we know theresa may's deal doesn't have support if a majority in parliament, no other proposal including no deal at all has support in parliament. at the moment it's almost impossible to see how theresa may gets parliament to back her plan next tuesday. some have already written her off, but others say it's too early to do that. she has delivered against the odds before, and it's possible, just possible, they say, she could do it again. five days of intense debate start later, then parliament has a huge decision. the brexit debate is about to reach a crescendo. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. let's talk to our chief

political correspondent vicki young, who's in the central lobby. a lot of tory mps presumably getting ready for what they will do if it is ano ready for what they will do if it is a no vote. that's right. there are various boats today which are a bit ofa various boats today which are a bit of a headache for the prime minister. there is one unexpected one and after this contempt debate and vote happens there is the business motion and it's very straightforward, just laying out in procedure what happens with these boats and in this debate in the next few days but what has happened is a cross— party few days but what has happened is a cross—party group of mps has decided to table an amendment and what they are trying to do is work out, if there is a deadlock in parliament and the deal does not go through, the rules as they are me that the government has to come back in 21 days and they have to lay out what they are going to do and parliament has to take note. what these mps are trying to say is, that is not good

enough. parliament has to have a bigger say in all of that and needs to say what it wants to happen next so this has been worked on by people like dominic grieve, by oliver letwin, 16 conservatives have signed it and they want to make sure that if there are a deadlock there is a way through. i spoke to 0liver letwi n way through. i spoke to 0liver letwin earlier and he feels that it would not work together and this is a way of backbenchers coming together to see if there is another option. as things stand there is no majority for a no deal situation and there is no majority for another referendum but that could change if the prime minister is deal has not gone through and there are lots of people talking about the options of a norway scenario where the uk is all about parliament and we are

trying to make sure there is a meaningful say if theresa may's deal goes down on the important thing is that those mps can vote for her deal next tuesday but it means there is something further down the track where they can make their feelings better known. with me now is the conservative mp james morris. i know those that support the prime minister say she will win but what if she doesn't? what would you expect to happen? i think it is far too early to get into those things. at the moment. everybody you speak to says this hasn't got a cat in hells chance, so you must have thought about this. there are five days of debate about, one of the most important decisions this country has made for 30 or 40 years and the prime minister will open the debate, setting out while she thinks the withdrawal agreement is in the national interest and delivers on brexit. all of the mps will have an

opportunity to speak on behalf of their constituents and set out their thoughts on this important vote. whatever is going on at the moment, the people of this country need to focus on the debate about to happen in parliament on the biggest decision the country has taken for nearly since the second world war and the prime minister will set out why she thinks the political declaration represents the best way of us getting to leave the european union on march 29th and everything else at the moment is irrelevant. with respect, we've heard it all before and she said it before and she won't come out with anything new in the next five days. she will set out the reason she thinks it's a good deal and it is a deal that delivers on the mandate of the referendum and the british people voted to leave the eu and she is setting out why she thinks she delivers on that. all mps will have a chance to contribute to the debate

and parliament will make a decision. prime minister will set out her stall and put over the case and then it is for mps to decide whether or not they think the withdrawal agreement is the appropriate way for us agreement is the appropriate way for us to leave the european union. i happen to believe it is the right way for us to get to that point and it delivers on the key priorities of the british people as reflected in the british people as reflected in the referendum result. if she loses the referendum result. if she loses the debate can she go on? yes, i think she can. not getting into what will happen but there's no reason why she cannot take the country forward on the basis of that and we are nowhere near being year. five daysin are nowhere near being year. five days in parliament is a long time. people talk about a week being a long time, but today is a long time in politics. how does she go on if on the basis of what they've decided she goes on. she has made it clear

there is no option than coming out than ina there is no option than coming out than in a messy way on the 29th. she will open the debate in parliament ona will open the debate in parliament on a big decision on what is the best for the british people. there will be five days of debate and that isa will be five days of debate and that is a long time in parliament and mps will listen on all sides and i know collea g u es will listen on all sides and i know colleagues will listen to arguments on all sides. the reality is this withdrawal agreement and declaration gets to wear the british people wa nts gets to wear the british people wants us to be and it delivers on their objectives that were enshrined in that referendum vote. at the moment it is speculating about what might happen afterwards, this is a significant debate needs to get under way and there are eight hours

of debate every day and all mps have the opportunity to put their case. will stop at the moment all other considerations are not relevant. as we know, brexit is a divisive issue and protesters have been here in westminster today making their voices heard. here's how one of our guests, the labour mp rupa huq, dealt with it earlier. these are the brexiteers that were meant to be in charge of the whole thing. iam meant to be in charge of the whole thing. i am on your side! you're hearing is better than mine. we've got both sides here. itjust shows how the country has descended into farce, chaos, disarray and the only way out of this is a peoples vote. it is more loyal —— noisy than it has been in the past but no banners. there is one person shouting that he

is shouting trump makes america great again. i don't know what is going on. vince cable knows what is going on. vince cable knows what is going on. vince cable knows what is going on and hejoins me now. nice to see you. ijust going on and hejoins me now. nice to see you. i just want to talk about the contempt vote we are seeing, because how important is that? are you itching to get in there and talk about the proposal or is this something you are really wanting? it is potentially embarrassing and humiliating the government if they lose it but it's not the central issue. that is the debate on europe and leading up to the meaningful vote when my party will be seeking to vote it down and looking to have a peoples vote. there is nothing you can hear in the next few days that might make you change your mind? she may decide having heard the arguments that she does want to go back to the public and say do you want to live with this in europe or want my deal? she did change her mind over the general election but i somehow don't think so. if it is a no vote in five days'

time, labour saying they want a general election, is that something you would support? we would support it and you would support? we would support itand apart you would support? we would support it and apart from all of that ? what do you think will happen if it is unknown? there are two distinct possibilities. she might come immediately back with an alternative proposal including the peoples vote oran proposal including the peoples vote or an election, all kinds of things. but the more likely possibility is that she uses up the next period of time and we have another go. if in 21 days if she goes back and persuades them to get a date the stopgap,, the plan that everyone is

focusing on in the northern ireland border, if she can get a definitive date where britain will leave the stopgap measure and the eu agrees, will that change your mind? it wouldn't change my mind because the liberal democrats that is not the fundamental issue, the fundamental issueis fundamental issue, the fundamental issue is staying in the european union or not. the backstop question is something exercising the minds of some of the brexiteers. i can't quite see how the european union would ever accept that because it's a fundamental point of principles that they will not accept a hard border in ireland so i cannot see them giving the concession but even if they did it would not change my views on it. when you had the legal advice in europe this morning that it does not need all members to back a decision for britain to stay in the eu, they just a decision for britain to stay in the eu, theyjust have to revoke article 50 and that's it, a little cheer for you? it does give a little cheer for you? it does give a little cheer but it was the advocate

general not the whole court so it needs to be confirmed. but historically? it does suggest one of the big roadblocks is out of the way and if parliament were to decide on and if parliament were to decide on a peoples vote, which looks increasingly likely, the obstacles to getting on with it are reduced considerably. what you to people in the country who watch all this going on, see the debates going on now and the next five days of the debates who are feeling frustrated? they feel they have spoken, that brexit is what the country has decided whether you are a remainder or a brexiteers, yet those of you still wanting to remain and wanting a people vote so we will remain are flying in the face of democracy. not at all. what we are talking about is at all. what we are talking about is a specific brexit proposal. we now know what it looks like. the government has negotiated. i think it is very different from what was promised during the referendum and it's promised during the referendum and its reasonable to go back to people and say is this what you really

wanted? and say is this what you really wanted ? the and say is this what you really wanted? the question would be do you wa nt wanted? the question would be do you want the government's proposal or do you want to remain in the eu? that is what the question should be. or no deal? i think that would be wildly irresponsible. the government said that chaotic conditions could insua and enormous harm would be done to peoplesjobs insua and enormous harm would be done to peoples jobs and livelihoods and we are no longer negotiating with the european union, it would be entirely the choice of the government to crush the economy which would be a wickedly irresponsible thing to do. sir vince cable, thank you for coming. anand menon, director of uk in a changing europe, an independent brexit research institute, joins me shortly. ijust want i just want to show you what is going on in the house of commons because they are still going on on the contempt vote and although the defences hundreds of years old, only a handful of mps have ever been suspended and no cabinet and a star has ever faced the charge. as we

have been hearing, they wrote to the db calling on the speaker to allow the contempt motion. we are still waiting for the vote and it could be some hours away and to be honest your guess is as good as mine so we will keep an eye on what is happening and if there is any sign ofa happening and if there is any sign of a vote taking place we will return. . anand menon, director of uk in a changing europe, an independent brexit research institute, joins me now. the contempt vote first of all, is that a sideshow? yes and no. it's tremendously important if it goes through the government minister is in contempt of parliament and it might end up removing votes from the side of the government so it is more than tokenistic, but the real action comes in terms of the future of the country and that is the brexit debate which is fundamental. we are not realistically going to hear anything new. we know where people stand on this. i can remember

parliamentary sessions in the past and we think of the iraq war is and peoples minds can be swung but broadly speaking we know the direction of travel and most people accept how the prime minister will speak at the first time of asking —— win at the first time of asking. people saying a second vote here is unlikely to happen but more and more people think that is likely to happen, she loses the vote she has 21 days to say within that time, i might come back with something, a sweetener or two. absolutely and remember two days after the vote she heads up to brussels for a european council meeting and while i find it on likely they will withdraw that they will change the political declaration and make it more a cce pta ble declaration and make it more acceptable back home. what are the twea ks that acceptable back home. what are the tweaks that would do it. it depends on the audience you are appealing to but one thing is a firm statement where both sides are committed to

deploying the backstop and we still have to find a practical way of doing it but i get the impression there are mps, particular after the first boat who will be looking for an excuse to back the deal. and a date for the end of the backstop seems to be crucial. it is crucial. as the irish have long argued, if it has a date, it is not a backstop. we have the vote in the next hour, possibly, on the contempt motion. when theresa may stands up, what are the numbers saying to you at the moment? the numbers suggest at the moment, if she loses, how heavy a defeat is it and can she vavite —— survive if it is really heavy? the key thing is expectations. whenever we have an election or revoked you have the press and pundits and they settle on a figure they expect to happen. she lives to fight another day and if she loses by more it's not just the deal day and if she loses by more it's notjust the deal but her future in doubt. we call it the clamour for a

peoples vote, but how do you think that would change if there is a no vote. is that what the focus will become? i think the focus will clarify a bit. there are two extremes in parliament. 0ne clarify a bit. there are two extremes in parliament. one that wa nts extremes in parliament. one that wants no deal, the other wanting a peoples vote and both share the ambition of voting it down. both of them say they don't want a no deal as well. there is a no deal extreme in parliament, a small group of mps, but a second referendum does come back into view more clearly if the deal is defeated and particularly of the prime minister gets defeated again. the question then is, how do you get this government to pass a bill leading the way to a referendum. it is hard to see as yet. we will be talking about it again. i am sure. yet. we will be talking about it again. iam sure. it yet. we will be talking about it again. i am sure. it could be within the hour we are hearing that we might geta the hour we are hearing that we might get a vote, but i am watching it and if anything happens we will ta ke it and if anything happens we will take you straight back. the french prime minister

has suspended a planned hike in fuel tax for six months, following some of the worst riots in paris for decades. in a televised address, he said no tax warranted endangering the unity of the nation. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield gave us the latest from paris. it is a climb—down and there are two questions, will this be enough to appease the protesters? i think the answer to that is there is a good chance it will. it will certainly wheel away a good chunk of the moderate yellow vests and probably satisfy them, and that might be enough in itself to deprive the movement of the momentum it needs, although one cannot rule out the hardliners putting in more protest this saturday. the bigger question is the legacy and what this tells us about president macron. is he damaged goods? to a point you would have to say he is. he has set his reputation on being a new kind of president who does not give into the street, but here he is giving into the street and doing exactly what his predecessors have done in the past. it also leaves a big hole in the budget for next year because

the tax is being suspended, and it was there to raise revenue, and then there is the question of his whole reform programme looking ahead. next year there are loads more reforms he has planned to the civil service, to chop back the size of the state, to pensions, to bring them in line and rationalise them. these are very controversial reforms are now the opposition sees that he can turn back, they will be more emboldened next year. the transport secretary, chris grayling, has admitted that he and his department didn't ask "tough enough questions" before the chaotic implementation of new timetables on northern and govia thameslink routes in may. it comes as a report by mps said he should have been more pro—active. govia thameslink has today been hit with sanctions that mean it will make no profit this year. tom burridge reports. the new timetable was supposed to do with overcrowding on britain's busiest line, but it resulted in mayhem and misery for passengers of govia thameslink.

people were late home from work, couldn't get to pick up children from school, it adversely impacted local businesses as well, it was an absolute nightmare. the government had threatened to strip the company of the franchise, but instead govia agreed to pay £15 million towards passenger services and its profits will be capped in coming years. the department for transport was also partly to blame for the chaos which hit passengers on govia and northern rail. according to a new report from mps, the minister in charge should have done more. the transport select committee accepted chris grayling wasn't fully informed but they say he was in charge of management structures which failed. the reality is at no point did i get the information that i would have needed to intervene, and i must make sure that never happens again, and i accept responsibility for my department and myself not asking tough enough questions. but while things on govia have generally improved, passengers on northern rail still face regular disruption. the situation is still very poor,

you're talking about passengers who still get into work late, unable to get home to pick kids up from the childminder, all these things are still happening, and it's crucial we put passengers at the heart of everything that we do. the rail industry admits fundamental reform is needed. there is systemic problems within the industry, there isn't one person to blame, but we need to look at the plumbing of the industry, how the architecture is working, because clearly it's not working for passengers. northern rail and govia thameslink owe millions in compensation to passengers, but the report today by mps says some people's fares should not increase in the new year. more than 4,000 children in england with special educational needs and disabilities were not given the support they needed at school last year, according to the 0fsted chief inspector. the regulator's annual report, which is published today, describes the failure

as a national scandal. the department for education says it's working to improve standards with a new inspection framework. navtej johal reports. that's nice. that is what i would wear in the summer. ten—year—old sienna has been out of school for over a year. she has autism and her mum jane says she was told by her school that it could not meet her needs. she says the system has let her down. it is a muddle, i would actually say shambles, i have used that quite a few times. nobody seems to know what they are doing. it is easy for all these professionals making these decisions, they can go home at night and sleep, but we are left in limbo, that is what it feels like, limbo. 0fsted's annual report said that this year in england more than 4000 children like sienna — with official education, health and care plans setting out their needs — received no support at all,

five times more than in 2010. it has described the situation as a scandal. it also said those children are often being excluded rather than receiving help. we've seen a pattern of increasing rates of exclusion for children with special needs. it looks as though... that it is becoming even more difficult for them to do well in mainstream school and to carry on through to life post—16. many schools say they are struggling to fund the huge increases the government says the number of special needs children not receiving any help has actually halved in the past year, and that the 0fsted report shows that standards in schools are rising. but as this march by head teacher showed earlier this year, many schools are struggling to fund the huge increases in demand for support, a struggle which looks set to continue. navteonhal, bbc news. here at westminster the vote on the co nte m pt here at westminster the vote on the contempt motion might not be too far

away. we expect another four or five mps to have their say, so i will keep an eye on that for you. most of us have seen decent sunshine already today but thicker cloud is now spreading in and ultimately outbreaks of rain will push in as we go through this evening and overnight, turning right across wales and south—west england with rain driving north over night accompanied by strengthening south—west wind. scotland will keep clear skies. another cold one here, temperatures in the countryside down to —6, temperatures in the countryside down to -6, -7. temperatures in the countryside down to —6, —7. as south—westerly wind brings milder air to —6, —7. as south—westerly wind brings milderair in to —6, —7. as south—westerly wind brings milder air in we are looking at 12 by the morning in plymouth. still frosty in scotland but otherwise cloudy and wet with heavy outbreaks of rain in the forecast on wednesday. a windy day as well with rain accompanied by south—west wind that will drag in milder air. through wednesday afternoon,

temperatures pushing into double figures fairly widely but the cold air hanging on across northern parts of the uk. this is bbc news — our latest headlines. mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house, and that is contempt. i would therefore in responding to the contempt motion before us today urge the house to exercise caution in this matter. later today theresa may will try and sell her brexit deal to mps — the debate will last five days before mps vote on her plan. it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permission by revoking article 50. elsewhere, after the worst riots in paris for decades,

the french government announces a temporary climbdown on fuel tax rises. sport now on afternoon live with 0lly. news that the world governing body for athletics have maintained a ban on russian athletes. the ban stands, the ninth time that the iaaf council have voted to uphold it after first imposing it three years ago. the world anti doping agency recently lifted their suspension of russia's drugs testing programme which should have accelerated their return to competition. world athletics governing body took the hardest line after the evidence of state sponsored doping on a mass scale, banning russia from participating in any of their sanctioned events. they did not compete under the

russian flag at the rio 0lympics. they say they still need to analyse the data from four years worth of doping samples and they are also demanding compensation for cost of their anti—doping task force. our philosophy from the very outset has been, can we separate the clean athletes from the tainted system? so over 30 russian athletes are competing internationally, they are competing as neutrals. the remainder of thatjourney, which will be the reinstatement of the athletics federation, will depend on the full completion of that criteria. they don't meet again until march, the iaaf council, so it is likely russia will not be able to compete at the european indoors in glasgow early next year. jurgen klopp has accepted a charge of misconduct for his celebrations after liverpool's 96th—minute winner against everton at anfield.

klopp ran on to the pitch and hugged goalkeeper alisson after divock 0rigi's fortuitous winner in sunday's merseyside derby. he will receive a fine of about £8,000 from the fa and has been warned about his future behaviour. he had already apologised to the everton manger marco silva. there's a full—round of premier league fixtures over the next couple of nights. manchester united host arsenal tomorrow, they are 8 points behind the 4th placed gunners. after united's draw against southampton over the weekend jose mourinho told a brazilian broadcaster that they need a miracle to break into the top four. he's ramped back on that today. we just need to be not so unlucky with problems that we have. we need some players to perform better than they are. we need as a team to perform better than we are. but apart from a miracle, not at all. luka modric has dedicated

his ballon d'or award to all the other players who have missed out over the last decade. either cristiano ronaldo or lionel messi have won the prestigious award for the last 10 years. modric captained croatia to the world cup final and also helped real madrid win a third successive champions league title. ronaldo was second and messi down in fifth. england captain harry kane was 10th. the inaugural women's ballon d'or was overshadowed by a sexism row. norway's ada hegerberg was the winner but the host of the awards show in paris, french dj martin solveig, asked her if she could twerk, a sexually provocative dance. he had asked other award winners similar questions. it was a theme running through the ceremony. but he was heavily criticised. he apologised for any offence caused.

he was heavily criticised on social media for the remarks. he came to me after, and he was really, really sad that it went that way. i didn't think about it in that moment, i didn't consider it as sexual harassment or anything, i was just happy to get a dance and celebrate winning the ballon d'0r, to be honest. england are still waiting for theirfirst win at the hockey world cup in india. after drawing with china in their opening pool game, they were soundly beaten by two—time defending champions australia — 3—0 the score. ireland came from behind to draw with china. the match was goalless until well into the third quarter but two in two minutes including this equaliser from alan sothern earned ireland their first point of the tournament. the third round of the uk snooker championship continues at the barbican in york. we can take you there live now to table number one with judd we can take you there live now to table number one withjudd trump taking on mark king. mark king

coming back to 3—2 butjudd trump running away with it a little bit since we last brought you pictures. he is now 5—2 up, the first to six so he is looking good for a place in the quarterfinals. and you can watch that on bbc two if you can tear yourself away from simon mccoy. i would stick with simon mccoy. i would stick with simon every day of the week. another fiver gone! the prime minister will urge mps to back her brexit deal later as the government becomes embroiled in a constitutional row with parliament. theresa may will begin five days of debate in the house of commons on her brexit plan before the crunch vote next week. but as she prepares to do that, her government is facing intense criticism over claims its in contempt of parliament, by refusing to publish the full legal guidance given to ministers about the withdrawal agreement. that debate on the contempt motion is currently underway in the commons. if it loses it will be the first time a government has been held in contempt of parliament

in modern history. the motion does not call for any sanctions against ministers and it is unclear whether it would force the government to publish the legal advice in full. afterwards the house will start five days of debate leading to the meaningful vote on the brexit agreement, which will take place in the evening of the 11th of december. earlier, europe's top legal official said it would be acceptable for the uk to revoke article 50 without asking for permission from other eu members. kate hoey, labour mp for vauxhall, joins me now. bearing in mind the importance of what is coming up in the next five days, some up where you think we are? i think the prime minister will have a very hard job this afternoon to try to change what seems to be the overwhelming view in parliament, really, that her deal is not good enough. i think this contempt motion, when we heard what the

attorney general said yesterday, it made the backstop issue even worse because he was very honest, very clear. this means we are going into something that we as the united kingdom and our parliament cannot actually get out of. i think she's not going to change peoples views, certainly not the dup's views, and i think we will have five days of debate and at the end of it to the government will be defeated. it is a question of how big the defeat will be. the dup have left her high and dry, haven't they? you could say the prime minister has left northern ireland high and dry. she made all these commitments will stop when the trade bill went through in parliament we voted for a motion that said northern ireland and great britain should not be in the customs union and she has gone right against all of that. but it's actually more dreadful than all of that, really. the underlying point is that now northern ireland is being treated differently, there is a backstop that will mean goods coming from

great britain to northern ireland will have to have some kind of stop and regulation. northern ireland is and regulation. northern ireland is an integral part of the united kingdom stop what we all know what she will say. there can't be anything new in it. but she will say the backstop is something she and the backstop is something she and the eu do not want to use. say that, but they did need to put it in. we had experts from customs saying there were solutions to the border if people had sat round the table, as the previous t shock was doing before the overacting came in and made it a big issue. —— make the previous taoiseach was doing before lee over redcar came in. it doesn't allow us a way in. it allows people like macron to say, although he has his own difficulties at the moment, he has said they will use it as a

weapon to get, for example, access to ourfishing waters. weapon to get, for example, access to our fishing waters. it's untenable and i think what has been very heartening, to see the a cce pta nce a cross very heartening, to see the acceptance across parliament that this is not good enough and the prime minister, the government and the officials who did the day negotiating should have made it clear from the negotiating should have made it clearfrom the beginning negotiating should have made it clear from the beginning that we can't accept northern ireland being treated differently. in your opinion what should happen with a no vote? it's up to the prime minister. i would have thought if she loses by a substantial majority of 80— hundred, she should look at her position. she will have lost on the most important issue facing us at the moment. something she has gone around the country trying to change opinion. i really don't see how it would be tenable for her. she has said she can't go back to the eu and it will not make a difference. if she loses i think we need a new leader. 0bviously i think we need a new leader. obviously we would like a general election and that is highly unlikely, but i think we would need

a new prime minister to go into the european union and say, sorry, parliament has voted against this, so you either have to change it and look at it again, or we will go to the world trade organisation rules, which the eu would hate, and so would the republic of ireland. how will historyjudge the next five days? i have been an mp for nearly 30 years and i've never seen anything like this. there is a feeling of the country that i see when i go out that people feel they are being let down, betrayed, and the government is not delivering and parliament is not delivering what people voted for. unless we get to the right decision in the end, i think this will go down as a very dark week for parliamentary democracy, and democracy in the

country as a whole. people were told their vote mattered, it counted, and to now even contemplating having another vote, as some people are, i think it will really darken democracy. kate hoey, thank you for joining us. ken clarke, the conservative former chancellor, said the commons is facing a difficult dilemma, with the situation putting two important constitutional principles in conflict with each other. let's have a listen. he is talking about the contempt motion. the conservative party will deeply regret when it is one day in opposition that it has challenged the authority of parliament, and the labour party might well come to regret, when they get into government, that their attempts to override the convention that governments are entitled to confidentiality when they get legal advice from the attorney. i think it's quite ridiculous to throw out

either of these principles, because there are occasions when they are both extremely important. we are keeping an eye on the chamber at the moment. possibly some mps to go. the vote might be coming in the next 25 minutes or so. that's the current scene. not too many more to speak. where we are today onto the next five days. with me now is laura hughes, political correspondent at the financial times, and henry zeffman — political correspondent at the times. kate hoey was just saying history mightjudge this is the darkest five daysin mightjudge this is the darkest five days in the history of this place. what is your production and where are we? i'm not sure about the next five days, but what follows and we will see if parliament votes down the prime minister's deal, which we all expect, i think dark days will

follow that when we are plunged into chaos because none of us know what is going to happen. kate hoey reckoned it was between 80 and 100. if she lost by that amount then her position was impossible, but is there a magic figure where she might feel she can come back in the next 28 days or so? i think if it's not over 100 or over 80 then she might get away with amending the deal in some way, perhaps getting something from the eu to convince a few mps to join her on the side of the government. but it's really hard to say because we don't know yet. there isa say because we don't know yet. there is a chance she could amend it and get it through on a second vote. a really interesting thing coming out today, amendment coming out from dominic grieve, and this will be coming before she speaks. if it passes it means mps will be able to table motions and have a say and

block a no deal on whatever the prime minister comes back with. before, if she came back with something, mps would either be able to go yes or no. if this amendment goes through, they can stop a no deal, and amend it to the way they want. henry, what do you think an amendment she might want to bring back, if she does persuade the eu to come up with something, is there one thing that might just come up with something, is there one thing that mightjust bring those numbers in her favour? the thing that has made so many tory eurosceptics angry that has made so many tory eurosce ptics angry about that has made so many tory eurosceptics angry about her deal, and the reason so many say they will vote against it, is the northern irish backstop, an insurance policy to avoid the hard border between northern ireland and the republic. but the eu has made clear, that the withdrawal agreement, whether backstop is, it's not up to reopen that, they can't renegotiate that area. the question for theresa may is to go to brussels and get a concession, which might get a vote through on the back of labour votes, so through on the back of labour votes, so tory euro spec sceptics might

say, that's not what we want. what will swing labour votes? labour want us will swing labour votes? labour want us to stay in a customs union so if thatis us to stay in a customs union so if that is tagged on to a deal we already have then you might see labourjoin forces already have then you might see labour join forces with already have then you might see labourjoin forces with the government. perhaps we will see a norway style deal supported by cabinet ministers like michael gove and amber rudd. some labour mps could support that but it's incredibly problematic because a norway style arrangement will not stop free movement and that's a huge issue for a number of labour and tory mps. that is a possible plan b, but i don't know if there is a commons majority for that either. we will be talking about this again, thank you very much for now. maryam moshiri is here — in a moment she will be telling us what's hot and what's not in the business news. first a look at the headlines on afternoon live mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan.

later today theresa may will try and sell her brexit deal to mps — the debate will last five days before mps vote on her plan. it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permissison by revoking article 50. here's your business headlines on afternoon live. the governor of the bank of england, mark carney, has said food prices could rise if there is no orderly brexit plan. mr carney told a committee of mps that in the most "extreme" scenario, prices would go up by 10%, but in a more orderly scenario by more like 6%. govia thameslink must pay £15 million for improvements in rail services and will make no profit in 2018 according to the department for transport. it says the company already spent a similar amount in passenger compensation after chaos over new timetables that were introduced earlier this year. the dft said its performance after the may timetable

change was unacceptable. budget airline ryanair has reported an 11% rise in passengers last month compared to the same month last year. it also said it had reached an agreement with a german pilot union over wages and benefits. walkouts by the airline's staff in several european countries, including germany, led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights this summer. the governor of the bank of england, mark carney, has been assesing the impact of brexit on food prices which he says would rise. the price increases would come partly from a fall in the value of the pound, partly from any tariffs imposed and partly from increased costs at the border as imports are checked. the most extreme scenario, so to give an outer bound, on average, your shopping bill goes up 10% because we have a 25% depreciation on that. if you go to a more orderly

scenario, with the transition, then it's something in the realm of 6% range. for individualfood products, obviously it will vary, but what people will do, is what everyone does, is that if the price of something goes up more than the price of something else, they switch products. let's look at the markets. not a particularly good day but some good news for thomas cook, the holiday operator seeing its share price lose around 6% of its value over the last week after two profit warnings but its shares are now recovering. nowhere near enough to make upfor recovering. nowhere near enough to make up for the losses put up 1.5%. that's all the business news. you are looking very lonely over

there. i thought you said lovely! it's one of art's most prestigious awards — the winner of the turner prize will be announced this evening in central london. previous winners have included damien hirst, grayson perry and steve mcqueen but this year — for the first time — there's not a painting in sight. 0ur arts correspondent rebecca jones has been taking a look. it's the sight and sound of old—fashioned technology. luke willis thompson's 35mm films show people who have been affected by state brutality. this is diamond reynolds, whose partner was shot dead by police in america, an event she streamed live on facebook. the next artist, charlotte prodger, has spent a year making a film recorded entirely on her smartphone. it's autobiographical and is about her coming out as gay in rural aberdeenshire. and the scottish countryside plays a starring role. if you're in a rush, this exhibition might be a challenge. there's no painting, no sculpture —

instead, for the first time in the prize's history, all the artists are presenting films and you'd need four—and—a—half hours to watch all of them. the longest is by naeem mohaiemen, which is 90 minutes. you are not cleared to approach. it's about a man who spends a decade living alone in an abandoned airport. naeem mohaiemen also makes documentaries using archive footage which explore the issues of migration and exile. the final film is the work of a research agency called forensic architecture, who investigate alleged acts of state and corporate violence. here they're presenting footage of a police raid on a bedouin village in southern israel last year. the winner of the prize will be announced tonight. rebecca jones, bbc news. let's join our arts editor will gompertz who is at tate britain, where this evening's turner prize award

ceremony will take place. and you have managed to get inside. it is much warmer inside here as well. this is the reading room, the room you go into before you see any of the films. there is no popcorn, sadly, but four screens of the four artists who are showing today. we have the contemporary art critic to explain why there are four film—makers and no painters and sculptors. is it because painting and sculpting is over? absolutely not. painters are painting and sculptors sculpting and everything else is going on. these four artists are the ones that the jury for the turner prize thought produce the best presentation of their work in the last year. it's a subjective selection. a little snapshot about what four highly esteemed figures in the art world and the tate director

think about it. film has become a major medium in all sorts of forms. artists sometimes work exclusively in the moving image and many different variations. here we have 35mm, the iphone. different kinds of moving image, and they can work in different media as well. what we are judging here, it's kind of an oscars type award for the best picture. it's the best artwork that happens to take moving image form. to be pedantic, that's what it is. there are a myriad other artists who are terrifically good at working in other mediums, but these are the one selected here. it's a great show, but it all happens to be film and video. how do you get to enjoy the show, it will take four and a half or five hours to see everything to stop its impractical for a or five hours to see everything to stop its impracticalfor a lot of people. the tate will give you a free ticket if you want to come back later. you can't do the whole thing ina later. you can't do the whole thing in a five hour sitting. you can come and take a sample. these artists did not choose to get shown together.

these are the ones the jurors have chosen. the tate is doing the best it can to make an effective presentation of their work. they thought they would do it in a lounge cinema setting but you will have to come back and forth, taking a sample of all of them and check out the ones you want to spend more time with, like you would at any show.“ you only had time to come for an hour, what's the best way to digest the show? the best way is to look on the show? the best way is to look on the board, see which ones are longer or quicker showings. we have two mac ten minute presentations. you could sample some of the other ones. and then you could come back, like any great exhibition. not many people know as much as you do about this sort of contemporary art. who do you think will win? i think they are all terrific artists but i'm particularly fond of the luke willis thompson presentation, an immersive experience about police brutality and the power of the individual, they are great portraits and

stunning artworks. but i would be happy if any of the other three won as well. it feels to me like the most political turner prize we have ever had. what do you think it is saying or responding to? the times we live in. it's difficult to beat thigh slapping and hilarious when things are crashing down around us. the brexit vote is a nightmare. you have to work not specifically about these issues, but police brutality, land grabs and the world outside. thank you. we will find out who wins and you can see it live tonight on sky above westminster is chilly but mercifully no clouds. most of us have seen decent sunshine already today but thicker cloud

is now spreading in and ultimately outbreaks of rain will push in as we go through this evening and overnight, turning right across wales and south—west england with rain driving north over night accompanied by strengthening south—west wind. scotland will keep clear skies. another cold one here, temperatures in the countryside down to —6, —7. as south—westerly wind brings milder air in we are looking at 12 by the morning in plymouth. still frosty in scotland but otherwise cloudy and wet with heavy outbreaks of rain in the forecast on wednesday. a windy day as well with rain accompanied by south—west wind that will drag in milder air. through wednesday afternoon, temperatures pushing into double figures fairly widely but the cold air hanging on across northern parts of the uk. hello, you're watching afternoon live — i'm simon mccoy.

today at 4: mps are debating whether the uk government broke parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house and that is contempt. no honourable member could say in all honesty that the attorney general has done anything other than treat this house with the greatest respect. later today, theresa may will try and sell her brexit deal to mps — the debate will last five days before mps vote on her plan. it comes after the european union's top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu's permission by revoking article 50. elsewhere, after the worst riots in paris for decades, the french government announces

a temporary climbdown on fuel tax rises. coming up on afternoon live, all the sport with olly foster. our top story this hour is the big news in athletics, the ban on russia still stands. they were first suspended three years ago and the world governing body says they still need access to historic doping samples. more on that later. and the weather. today has been the chilliest day of the week for many areas but it is on the week for many areas but it is on the turn. it will turn milder for the turn. it will turn milder for the rest of the week. the downside is it will be cloudy and wet with strong winds coming our way on friday. also coming up, claims of sexism, as the first female winner of footballs

ballon d'or is asked if she knows how to twerk. hello, everyone. this is afternoon live. the prime minister will urge mps to back her brexit deal later as the government becomes embroiled in a constitutional row with parliament. theresa may will begin five days of debate in the house of commons on her brexit plan before the crunch vote next week. but as she prepares to do that, her government is facing intense criticism over claims its in contempt of parliament, by refusing to publish the full legal guidance given to ministers about the withdrawal agreement. that debate on the contempt motion is currently underway in the commons. if it loses it will be the first time a government has been held in contempt of parliament in modern history. the motion does not call for any sanctions against ministers and it is unclear whether it would force the government to publish the legal advice in full. afterwards the house will start five days of debate leading to the meaningful vote on the brexit

agreement, which will take place in the evening of the 11th of december. earlier, europe's top legal official said it would be acceptable for the uk to revoke article 50 without asking for permission from other eu members. labour's shadow brexit secretary sir keir starmer opened the debate in parliament, by accusing ministers of ignoring a binding commons vote demanding they release the full legal advice they received on the brexit plan. let's listen to what sir keir starmer said. yesterday, the government published a reasoned position paper, that was not legal advice. it simply described the deal. it was a synopsis. it was in the nature of unexplained. and explain having already been published when the deal was published. it was a long way

from legal advice. the attorney made a statement of the house and then he a nswered a statement of the house and then he answered questions. but the government did not publish the full and final advice by the attorney general to the cabinet. mr speaker, thatis general to the cabinet. mr speaker, that is the long and short of it. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this house and that is contempt. responding to sir keir starmer‘s comments, andrea leadsom, the leader of the house of commons, defended attorney general geoffrey cox, and said he could not have been clearer yesterday when he published his legal advice. the issue at hand is not one of substantive content. as yesterday's questioning illustrated, there is no real dispute as to the meaning and legal effect of the withdrawal agreement and the attorney general could not have been clearer about the legal position yesterday. in

fa ct, the legal position yesterday. in fact, mr speaker, no honourable member could say in all honesty that the attorney general has done anything other than treat this house with the greatest of respect. there can be no question that he or the government has acted in a manner which is contemptuous of this house. in a few hours' time the prime minister will set out the case for her brexit deal when she opens five days of debate in the house of commons. our political correspondent nick eardley reports. after months of brexit back and forth, the government has just a week left to sell its plan. next tuesday parliament will vote on theresa may's deal, without parliamentary approval, it cannot go ahead. after a savaging from various sides over recent days, it's a mammoth task for ministers, but if the man whose job it is to sell the deal to conservative mps is worried, he is not letting on. i am feeling very, very confident. he might be smiling now but there are plenty of headaches for the government at the moment.

we are being asked as mps to make probably the most important decision we will take in parliament, we are doing it on behalf of hundreds of thousands of constituents, and we ought to do it in full sight of the advice, and it would be irresponsible of us to proceed knowing the advice is there and not request it. the government has already provided a summary, but law officers insist legal advice must stay confidential. they have had the fullest and frankest disclosure from the government, it's now time to stop playing games and get on with the real issues. there's a good chance parliament is about to find a government in contempt, there is a good chance you could lose the meaningful vote, haven't you just lost control of this process? this is a lively parliament without a majority for any particular party, it's always going to be a tough challenge, and we are, i think, set to deliver a brexit the people voted for and that, frankly, the country is crying out

for us to get on with. later the pm will argue her plan offers a better future outside the eu, delivering what people voted for while keeping a close economic relationship, but theresa may faces the battle of her political life in the coming days. it will notjust be ourselves, there will be a large number of conservatives voting against this deal next week as well, who have already expressed that publicly and have told the whips that will be the case, so the government will have to look at its own policy, because it cannot even carry that policy. i will be making the case that should go back to the people, we know theresa may's deal doesn't have support if a majority in parliament, no other proposal including no deal at all has support in parliament. at the moment it's almost impossible to see how theresa may gets parliament to back her plan next tuesday. some have already written her off, but others say it's too early to do that. she has delivered against the odds before, and it's possible, just possible, they say, she could do it again. five days of intense debate start

later, then parliament has a huge decision. the brexit debate is about to reach a crescendo. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. let's talk to our chief political correspondent vicki young, it looks like the debates between theresa may and jeremy corbyn on brexit is not going to happen. the bbc say, we have been clear throughout the whole of the process, as well as a debate, any programme we broadcast would need to include other views, including other political parties... sorry, i am having trouble. to reflect the wide range of views of the public and

parliamentarians on brexit. the statement goes on, the final proposal we put to both of the main parties was for a head—to—head debate between the prime minister and leader of the opposition, followed by a discussion between eight analysts on brexit and any further head—to—head debate and closing statements. we believe ours was a closing statements. we believe ours wasafairand closing statements. we believe ours was a fair and appropriate format for those taking part and our audiences around the country and it isa audiences around the country and it is a shame we will not be able to bring them this programme. however we will keep audiences informed with extensive news we will keep audiences informed with exte ns ive news coverage we will keep audiences informed with extensive news coverage and analysis. nowhere in that statement does it say it is definitely not happening but clearly, responding to the decision taken somewhere that tv debate is not taking place. let's talk to our chief political correspondent vicki young, who's in the central lobby. in some ways, i feel that this sums

up in some ways, i feel that this sums up the whole division there is over the entire brexit debate, that we can't even get to a point where there is any agreement over a debate about brexit. it is clear that both sides wanted something different. jeremy corbyn has said he likes the itv proposal much more. it is a head—to—head with the prime minister and nothing more than that. theresa may preferred the bbc scenario and they just cannot agree may preferred the bbc scenario and theyjust cannot agree on all of that. the only way a debate will go ahead is if theresa may agrees to the itv format. i would predict that is not going to happen. as you say, it sort of fits in with the general mood here is... we really don't know what is happening, including with the debate that has been going on now for several hours. talk us through what we can expect on this co nte m pt through what we can expect on this contempt motion because my understanding is we might be getting a result in the next or so? it is not very helpful. we just don't

know, given that this could go on until seven o'clock. what is quite strange is that i was told a while ago that there had been an informal agreement, as these things do happen, cross—party, behind—the—scenes, that it was maybe three hours it could go on for and probably no more than that, we are beyond that now. several conservatives are being called and i don't think anyone else from the other parties is being called. there is some suggestion terraces being kept going by conservatives. we don't know why. what —— but we do know about this, even before theresa may gets up, there is a contentious debate about what could happen if theresa may ‘s deal doesn't go through. it could be that this is something to do with that. we are hearing that the conservative rebels feel they have the numbers to get through an amendment which they say would allow parliament to have a much greater say on what happens down the line in a couple of weeks'

time, if theresa may ‘s deal doesn't go through. now, we have heard a lot about a meaningful vote, about parliament taking control, making its views clear about what could happen next. that is what the dominic grieve amendment is all about and that is coming up after this debate finishes and it sounds to me from talking to various conservative mps and sources that they do have the numbers along with they do have the numbers along with the opposition parties to defeat the government on that, so we will have to wait and see what happens with all of that. there is even a suggestion the government might accept the amendment. just to be clear, because it is getting compensated, that is all about what happens if theresa may ‘s deal is not passed on the government has 21 days to give it suggestion about what it will do next. what mps are pushing for is to have a much more meaningful say in what they think, what the house of commons thinks, should happen at that point.“ what the house of commons thinks, should happen at that point. it is all very procedural and very house of commons, but if you are a member of commons, but if you are a member

of the audience watching what is going on and you are hearing that conservatives are just trying to string this out so they can work out how they are going to approach the next vote, it is what people have got really fed up within this whole procedure. i think a lot of this goes back to that rather disastrous decision of the prime minister to hold a general election. disastrous for her because she lost the majority the conservatives had done this really is the reality of dealing and leading a government. it is not have a majority. she has the dup, which are propping her up. they are dup, which are propping her up. they a re clearly dup, which are propping her up. they are clearly lukewarm about certain things, clearly angry about some of the things in her brexit withdrawal agreement. that is not functioning properly. she does not have a majority. the issue is divisive. we are majority. the issue is divisive. we a re left majority. the issue is divisive. we are left in this situation where she has the best deal she think she can get and she wants to get up maybe now at seven o'clock this evening and start making that case again at the beginning of five days of debate

to win over mps. there is the possibility that if this dominic grieve amendment goes through later, it could help her case because she can't go to the brexiteers and say, look, it could be very inserting. if you vote down my deal, you have no guarantee of what kind of deal you are going to get and the possibility again of no brexit, she will say, is there and it is a very live debate. things can change in five days but asi things can change in five days but as i have said many times before, then not many people speaking here who think she can that deal through parliament. we will be talking to you later on. as we know, brexit is a divisive issue and protesters have been here in westminster today making their voices heard. here's how one of our guests, the labour mp rupa huq, dealt with it earlier. these are the brexiteers that were meant to be in charge of the whole thing. i'm on your side! you're hearing is better than mine. we have both sides here.

it just shows we have both sides here. itjust shows how our country has descended into chaos. the only way out of this is a people's vote. chuka umunna, labourmp for streatham joins me now. the bbc has put out a statement saying they will not be able to host a debate. it does not mean there will not be a debate. itv have a proposal. what would you like to see? i think what your viewers and the electorate want to see is all views in this brexit debate represented and both parties have a variety of different views within them. but this is not like a general election scenario where you have all views represented simply by having the main political parties on the platform. the prime minister wants to pursue a deeply damaging brexit, in my view. my party wishes to

pursue whatjeremy corbyn is calling a jobs first brexit but actually there is a whole swathe of people out in the country you would like this to be referred back to the people through a people's vote. you had 700,000 people marching through the streets... another people's vote ? the streets... another people's vote? yes, we delivered a petition to ten downing st and it is important those people have a voice and dare! important those people have a voice and dare i say, if you want the kind of extreme... haven't they had a voice? if you want the kind of brexit that nigel farage and boris johnson have advocated, you want your voice heard also. i think it is important all those bodies of opinion are presented in a debate. the assumption is that theresa may is not going to get this vote through. if she does not, what should happen after that?“ through. if she does not, what should happen after that? if she doesn't get the vote through, i think the indications are she would seek to come back to parliament a

second time, after going to the european council meeting in december on the 13 for the 14th of december and then come back. to my mind, what i would say to those observing the debate but also fell in —— fellow parliamentarians, some particularly in the prime minister ‘s party want to wait and see whether the deal folds, i don't think that is no longer a question, it is inevitable, i would urge those who want to wait before committing and referring this back to your viewers, i would urge them to get on board now. there are others, some in my party, who wished to exhaust the avenue of a general election. that is legitimate but you need to have two thirds of the house of commons to agree to that. that is not going to happen. what am i painting a picture of? this place is gridlock. i don't really see how you resolve this issue. unless you refer it back to the people. but that

means politics have failed. politicians have failed. i'm afraid politics has failed and because ultimately, brexit has failed. brexit in the form it was sold to the british people has proved absolutely impossible to deliver ra nt absolutely impossible to deliver rant whether you voted to leave or remain, you certainly didn't vote for this mess and you didn't vote to be in for this mess and you didn't vote to beina for this mess and you didn't vote to be in a situation where we are with no certainty on our future trading relationship but you are paying a £40 billion divorce bill. you are assuming those people who voted for brexit are not happy with theresa may ‘s proposal. they might say, we just want done. you have been reporting poll after poll since the prime minister ‘s plan outline has been put forward and it shows overwhelmingly that people do not support what she has put forward. it has managed to bring together, if you like, people on one end of the spectrum of his argument to people —— with people who want to remain and those who desperately want to be out. why don't we get rid of this

place altogether and just do online voting with the public every time the politicians think they can't get what they want through? we have general elections every five years and regional elections almost every year. ultimately, the issue that parliament has got is it is reflective of the people. we are a divided country and the problem is... divided when it suits. there was a mandate. there was a vote.“ was a mandate. there was a vote.“ was not a landslide. ijust know what people will be detecting and tweeting about this. i'm sorry our politics is broken, and it is, and we fundamentally need to transform it in this country, and make no mistake, if we leave the european union on the 29th of march 2019, our politics still to be —— or politics will be just as broken then as it is now. we are democracy and the people

have to be i forgot —— i thought that was the whole reason for this. but they have spoken and politics has not delivered. people were asked to determine whether you leave or remain, fine, but the question is, how do you do so and what happens if you cannot leaving the way that you wa nt you cannot leaving the way that you want to? the problem is having a binary referendum, it does not deliver an answer. that is why we are in the mess that we are in and i don't see how you refer women resolve this other than referring back to the people. now we at least know what a deal could look to. when this whole debate started... u nfortu nately this whole debate started... unfortunately it has not turned out and the way any of us thought this was going to turn out. i don't know what the will of the people is right now about what the masses that we are in but all i do know is that the

will of the people was not to be where we are now and to have this kind of mess. this is not what people voted for. thank you very much. still no sign of a conclusion to that contempt motion debate. i will return to that as soon as we get a sign of that coming to a close. the french prime minister has suspended a planned hike in fuel tax for six months, following some of the worst riots in paris for decades. in a televised address, he said no tax warranted endangering the unity of the nation. it isa it is a climb—down. will this be enough to appease the protest is? it isa enough to appease the protest is? it is a good chance that it will. it will certainly pull off a good chunk of the moderate yellow vests and probably satisfy them. that may be enoughin probably satisfy them. that may be enough in itself to deprive the movement of the moment it needs. though one cannot rule out the

hardliners going on with more protests this saturday. the bigger question is the legacy and what this tells us about president macron, is he damaged goods? i think up to a point you have to say he is. he has settings —— set his reputation on being a president that does not give into the street and doing exactly what his predecessors have done in the past. it also leaves a big hole in the budget for next year. the taxes being suspended. it was a tax to raise revenue and then there is the whole question of the reform programme looking ahead. there are loads more reforms he has planned next week year, the civil service, pensions, bringing them in line and rationalising them, and these are controversial reforms and now the opposition sees that he can be turned back, they will be much more ill bold and —— in bolton next year. keir starmer is making his closing comments.

we have also been careful to ask the remedy and that the order is complied with before we think of anything else, in fairness to the government. the father of the house said surely there must be some mechanism some way that this can be agreed in which the order can be complied with and lots of members and honourable members, right honourable members, indicated that. what i can say is in the three weeks since the debate about the first principle to today, no suggestion has been put to me by the government of any sort of mechanism to enable them to comply with this order. in them to comply with this order. in the house will make of that what it will. and for that reason, i must push this motion. thank you. thank you. the question is that the amendment be made. as many are of that opinion say aye. the know. clear the lobby.

so, that is the first vote on the government amendment. if there had been more ayes, the matter would have been referred to the privilege committee for them to decide whether the government is in contempt of parliament. it looks as though it will have to go through the lobbies. we will keep an eye on the developments there. but what we do know is that has failed, that amendment. we will wait for the next vote. that'll be the motion on the substantial motion of history, which is on the contempt motion. we will keep an eye on that. they are going to go through the lobbies and then we will have the next vote probably. what this does mean is we are now probably an hour or two away from

theresa may coming to start that brexit debate. there is another vote first of all and the amendments that clearly will have seven say on what happens if there is a no vote. this is the amendment that is aimed at a cross— party is the amendment that is aimed at a cross—party group that has got together and basically they are saying that they will pass an amendment that means a no deal is avoided. we will keep an eye, as i say, on events in the commons and i will bring you more from that as we get a clear picture. we will have the headlines as well in a couple of minutes but now it is time for the weather. thank you. for many of us, weather. thank you. for many of us, we at least did see some sunshine today but it was quite a chilly all day as well. we had a lot of cloud yesterday and sunny skies today. as far as temperatures go, yesterday we had a high of 15 degrees but it has been

much colder today. look at norwich. down to about four celsius today. it is good to turn milder again over the next 24 hours. this is wodge of cloud continues to work in. it will be turning increasingly wet overnight. fog patches for the time being forming across parts of east anglia. some of those very dense as well. temperatures dipping down in scotla nd well. temperatures dipping down in scotland and north east england where we have clear skies but this rain will continue to moving across northern ireland, wales, the midlands. accompanied by south—westerly winds. turning milder. temperatures will rise through the night across the south. that still leaves a sharp frost in the north. across northern scotland, temperatures down to around —6, minus seven degrees in the coldest spots. tomorrow, wet weatherfor northern ireland, england and wales. a fine starting scotland with cloud

increasing later on. as the rain moves in, south—westerly winds blowing the milder air in and a big jump blowing the milder air in and a big jump in temperatures. 13 celsius in london. that cold air still in scotla nd london. that cold air still in scotland and the north of england. the time we get a thursday, those milder winds will have blown across mainland scotland as well. it will be another wet day. outbreaks of rain. easing to patchy drizzle in the afternoon. heavy rain moving in later on in the day. temperatures ten to 14 celsius. a little colder in shetland with brighter conditions. for the end of the week, we are looking at developments. a nasty looking area of low pressure. a bit of uncertainty about this low pressure but it looks as if it will bring a spell of fairly stormy weather to end the week. the risks of gu ests weather to end the week. the risks of guests perhaps reaching 70 to 80 mph, heavy rain, all of this adds up to the risk of disruption to

transport and power supplies as well. it is a blustery end of the week. a risk of disruption and it stays that way into the weekend as well. outbreaks of rain around as well. our latest headlines. the bbc has pulled out of hosting a tv debate on theresa may ‘s brexit deal. mps voting right now on an amendment to motion arguing the uk government broke parliament rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the brexit plan. the government is wilfully refusing to comply with the binding order of this house. and that is contempt. no honourable member could say in all honesty that the attorney general has done anything other than treat this house with the greatest

of respect. in the next few hours, theresa may will try and sell her brexit deal to mps. will try and sell her brexit deal to mp5. the debate will last five days before mps vote on their plan. all this comes after the european union ‘stop legal all this comes after the european union ‘s top legal adviser said britain could cancel brexit without the eu ‘s permission by revoking article 50. let's pick up on what is going on in westminster now. you can feel the tension mounting. we are still waiting for the result on that first amendment on the contempt motion. have you ever known an atmosphere like this at the start of what could bea like this at the start of what could be a very lengthy debate?“ like this at the start of what could be a very lengthy debate? it is going to be a lengthy debate and it should be a very lengthy debate. i can remember tension in the house of commons, i remember the recall of parliament when it was about whether we went into syria with military action or not. but no, this is com pletely action or not. but no, this is completely different and it is on a new level. i think the house of commons is a very uncomfortable

place for many mps. they have some huge decisions in front of them and frankly, there is an awful lot at sta ke, frankly, there is an awful lot at stake, not least the prime minister ‘s future but also the country's future. what is it that the prime minister could say as she opens the debate tonight that would change minds, do you think? there is nothing new on the table, is there? there is nothing new on the table. i spent the last four months working at the department for exiting the union on trying to get a deal that we felt would be able to pass through parliament and consequently, the secretary of state, dominic raab, resigned. that was over what he felt was impossible conditions to accept, mainly the never—ending possibility of remaining in the eu through the backstop and i think that still is a profoundly difficult issue do you think there is the possibility that if there is a no vote, but not a huge defeat for the

prime minister, if she goes back to the eu she could come back with something. there are a couple of things there. i don't believe, and i know forecasting is a mug's game in politics, as it has been in the last couple of years, but i don't believe these forecasts of a 100 or 200 defeat will happen. you believe it will be a defeat? i do believe at the moment it will be a defeat, but i think it will be around 35 or 40. i think it will be around 35 or 40. i think the power of number ten and the whips has yet to be unleashed to its full force. i have seen many rebellions in the past crumble, but there is a huge hurdle here and i'd believe it faces defeat. to answer your question, if it is defeated by around 35 votes, i think the prime minister may well try to go back to brussels. but i don't think there will be very much on offer, perhaps a fig leaf or two at best. whether having defeated the government, mps

who voted against it then look over the cliff edge and don't like what they see, and some will like what they see, and some will like what they see, and will not want to support the deal, there is always the chance to change a few minds. particularly if they go home at christmas, and talk to some constituents who say, for heaven ‘s sake, just get it done. there is a sense in the country that people wa nt to sense in the country that people want to get it done, but i don't believe it is at any cost. there are a lot of mps who do not believe this is an acceptable deal. that actually the never—ending backstop, the possibility of remaining in the union... the prime minister and eu have both said they do not want to use it. it is inconceivable that the trade deal that would be agreed before december 2020, which is really the only means of avoiding going into the backstop, it is not credible that it can be completed by december of 2020. i think a few

people will think we do not need the backstop but realistically it will be needed. and that is a reality parliamentarians have to face and make their decision on. i think it is and ask too much for mps who have a matter of conviction and principle, who believe that we should be leaving the eu as required by the referendum, and leaving it on terms that are actually a full brexit that does not leave us endlessly tied to taking rules for an open—ended period and effectively being subject to those rules from a foreign institution. let's face it, can you think of another democracy that would actually enter willingly into an agreement to accept rules from another institution for a com pletely from another institution for a completely unforeseeable length of time. we are moments away from a vote on the first amount on the co nte m pt vote on the first amount on the contempt vote. how helpful is that for theresa may, to have thisjust before? i know it's an important

issue, but i think it is also a distraction. mps were desperate to have at least five full days to debate this and they have given up half a day on what i accept is an important issue, but at the end of the day i think it's a distraction from the main issue for stop there are two points of principle at stake and they conflict. one is that the government should be able, as convention has dictated over decades, accept legal advice and have that legal advice in confidence. equally there is the sovereignty of parliament, which parliamentarians rightly hold dear. these principles are in conflict at the moment and i think the government's amendment is a way around that to sort it and get back to the most important debate this country has faced for decades. what you say to sort it but others will say it is just being kicked down the road. ——. say it is just being kicked down the road. --. you say to sort it, but others will say it is just being kicked down the road to.” others will say it is just being kicked down the road to. i think we need to get on with this debate now. we can't ignore the principles at sta ke, we can't ignore the principles at stake, but the ideas put forward by

ken clark, perhaps engaging with privy counsellors, was a sense of compromise that some mps were seeking, and they might comply. compromise that some mps were seeking, and they might complym the house is filling and we are awaiting that vote. not too far away. vicki young is monitoring this from the lobby of the house of commons. tell us what to look for. we will hear a aye and a no and that is on the amendment to the motion saying they are in contempt of parliament for not publishing the full legal advice to mps at. the amendments the government to put down was slightly strange. referring itself to the privileges committee to have a look at all of this. that in itself is pretty unusual, some seeing that as the government accepting that it has been in co nte m pt of accepting that it has been in contempt of parliament. in november parliament voted and said the government should publish in full all the brexit legal advice that has

been given. so the cabinet and cabinet ministers have seen it, been given the advice and mps haven't. their argument has always been, we are asked to make an incredibly important decision about the deal theresa may has brought back and we are entitled to seek the advice as well. the counterargument from the government has been, its always been the situation that the government, like any other client, should be allowed to get legal advice in confidence and it would be setting a very unfortunate precedent if it was to change here. they have decided to bring forward their own amendment saying they will be referred to the privileges committee, the committee that looks at and decides the sanction there could be. ultimately ministers can face a sanction if they are found to be in contempt of parliament. that can involve being suspended from the house of commons, but i think the point here is that if this were to go through it would mean that this is slightly kicked into the longer

grass, going to the privileges committee and it can sometimes take them months to come up with results of enquiries. it means its delays it, crucially, beyond that crucial vote next tuesday. we are waiting for the result. you can tell it is close by because the house of commons fills up, meaning the mps have trooped through their various lobbies. it is packed here today, everywhere here is today. all the mps are on a three line whip, meaning they have to be here to vote at any times. various votes happening today. at the end of this, plus another crucial element happening after this, which is about procedure but could be incredibly important. another crucial vote for the government and eventually theresa may will get up to start making the case to mps again, trying to persuade her own side to get behind her and get behind the withdrawal deal she has got with the eu. i would say this is an unwelcome

distraction for the prime minister. it is not how today was supposed to pan out. i think the government hoped that yesterday sending the attorney general to the house of commons, a pretty unusual step to send him, not publishing the legal advice, but getting him to answer questions for two hours from mps and giving a lengthy summary of the advice he was given, and as many people pointed out he was pretty candid about what the withdrawal agreement actually means, particularly in terms of the backstop, and i think this is the legal area most mps are very concerned about, how tight to that is the government and will they be able to get out of the backstop. it only comes into play if there is no trade agreement in place and stops the need for any kind of hard border or border checks between northern ireland and the republic of ireland. but many mps would be concerned that the uk would be stuck in it for ever. geoffrey cox, the attorney general, said that wasn't the case but the political reality was the eu did not like the backstop either and

it would never come to that, but the legal advice about whether there was a unilateral way for the uk out of it was very important to lots of mps. it was very important to lots of mp5. the government feels it has all been a bit of a stunt by the opposition to try to distract and embarrass the government will stop but actually they would say that evenif but actually they would say that even if you publish this legal advice, would it make a difference, even though we know dozens of mps on the tory side and the opposition have said they will vote against her deal anyway. i reckon it is pretty close because they are taking quite a long time to come out. the tellers, the people who have to stand there, two from each side, they have to make sure they have counted every single person. there will be a lot of this in the coming months. it looks as if they are walking to the desk. i can't quite see. you can tell because the winner stands to the right as we are looking at all of this. you might be able to see better than me who will stand there. you can get a little bit in advance by may be a few

seconds as to which side has won or not. the question i suppose is about the dup, who the government relies on for their majority. how have they decided to vote westwood they said they wanted to see legal advice published as well. have they sided with their partners in government or not? that will be crucial. and how many of theresa may's own side have decided to vote against the government, effectively voting to say, your own government is in co nte m pt of say, your own government is in contempt of parliament. they are still standing around, simon stop what they are switching sides. they are trying to throw you. you mentioned the sanctions. that's important. we can hear this now... order, order. the aye to the right,

307, the noes to the left, 311. thank you. the ayes to the right, 307. the noes to the left, 311. so the nose might have it, the nose might have it. —— the noes have it. the question is the main question is on the order paper. as many as are of the opinion, say "aye". to the contrary, "no". division, clearthe lobby. it sounded to me like the ayes have

it, which would suggest the contempt is going to be... it is a government defeat, on that one. so now they go toa defeat, on that one. so now they go to a second vote. the government have been defeated by 311—307, so there attempts to push this to the privileges committee and to make the problem go away at least in the short—term has failed. so now they are moving to the second vote. this is the main question, the main motion put down by labour, by sir keir starmer, which is a basic question that the government has beenin question that the government has been in contempt of parliament for refusing to publish its legal advice. so now they do it again. you can tell from the numbers, a lot of mps are here, pretty much a full

house. they will do it all again and we will get the result in 15 minutes. as i was saying before, the issue of whatever sanctions are agreed on could be important because this is all about numbers from now on. the thing here is that it matters to do with the bigger picture. if ministers were suddenly suspended from the house of commons before that crucial vote next tuesday. i'm not saying the government is only looking to next tuesday and no further, but i think if this was to be shunted to a committee to come up with a penalty then in the short term it will have less of an impact. it becomes an impact ifa less of an impact. it becomes an impact if a senior cabinet minister gets suspended from the house of commons and that would clearly be an issue, simply in terms of the numbers voting on the government's side, but i'm not sure any of that would happen imminently. even if this vote goes through, it does not decide the punishment. that is for

another day. this is simply deciding the broader element of whether the government is or is not in contempt of parliament. what do you read of the closeness of the vote? it's interesting because it shows the reality of governing with no majority. we will have to wait and see the numbers. i can't tell from here. you can't see whether the dup voted in a certain way or not. i think that's would suggest they voted not with the government, but we will have to wait and see until we will have to wait and see until we see the names. of who voted which way. and before theresa may stands up way. and before theresa may stands up to start selling her brexit deal, there is another vote, very important in terms of the no deal option. to be honest, this feels like a bit of a sideshow in some ways, as important as it is. what we are coming to next is the business motion. this is all about procedure and how the next few days ago. how

long they will debate for and which amendments are taken to the motion next tuesday on that big vote. but it has become slightly more complicated for the government because former attorney general, dominic grieve, who is very much on the remain side of the argument, who wa nts the remain side of the argument, who wants another referendum, he has tabled an amendment with cross party support looking at what might happen if theresa may's deal is voted down next tuesday. it's all about whether parliament can have a greater say in what happens next. as things stand, if her deal is voted down the government has 21 days to come back, make a statement laying out what they want to do next. parliament has no power to really change that will give their own opinion on what should happen next. it's a matter of accepting or not accepting what the government want to do. if the amendment were to go through later today, it would give parliament more

ofa today, it would give parliament more of a say. so if there was a majority for something else in parliament, they could make that very clear by amending the motion. i have heard from several conservatives who are in favour of that amendment. they think they have the numbers to defeat the government. we will find out later. we understand the dup will vote with the government on that, so some good news for the government, but those conservative mp rebels, might feel they still have the numbers to defeat the government later. so theresa may's day could get worse. in the last hour we have heard the bbc is pulling out of hosting a television debate on sunday. so that muddies the waters as well. i have always been sceptical that it will actually happen to be honest. i don't know if either side want it enough to make the compromises they would have to do to get it done. the bbc came up with a format that was partly a head—to—head debate between theresa may and jeremy corbyn but also with a panel to ask questions because the

bbc felt they had to reflect more than just the views ofjeremy corbyn and theresa may, and at the last election they went into the election ona election they went into the election on a manifesto promise to deliver the referendum and to leave the eu. so there were other people saying, that's not a fair debate of where we are because there are others who feel there are many other options including another referendum. some kind of arrangement with the uk may be being in the european economic area, more closely tied to the eu. the bbc‘s answer to that was to have a panel. labour didn't like that idea and theresa may said she did. the alternative suggestion from itv is for a more basic head to head, which is whatjeremy corbyn wanted to, but theresa may has not agreed to, but theresa may has not agreed to that as far as we know. it's certainly not happening on the bbc but we will wait and see if itv get theresa may on the side. we saw theresa may on the side. we saw theresa may on the side. we saw theresa may leaving the chamber a moment ago. talk us through the

logistics. we'll get the next vote in the next five ten minutes.” think we are still quite some time away. we have ten minutes. and then we get another debate before theresa may eventually gets to start. that's right. then we move on to another debate which is about the business element of what goes on. that really is procedural, apart from we will then get a slightly crucial vote now on dominic grieve cosmic attempt to give parliament more of a say if theresa may's deal is voted down. then we get theresa may opening five days of debate and that will go on a long time because each day has got an allocation of hours. it is eight hours, i think. an allocation of hours. it is eight hours, ithink. we an allocation of hours. it is eight hours, i think. we can do the maths once theresa may has stood up at 7pm. it will be a very late night,

simon. and i don't think he can hear me. i said simon. and i don't think he can hear me. isaid it simon. and i don't think he can hear me. i said it will be a late night, simon. after 7pm, eight me. i said it will be a late night, simon. after7pm, eight hours me. i said it will be a late night, simon. after 7pm, eight hours of debate. will you still be there on the green at that point? it's been a long day. let alone a late night. for theresa may, when the debate eventually gets under way, what time do you think she could be going on to? she will certainly be there at the beginning of the debate. i doubt she will stay for all of it. but it's pretty clear that she will be in the house of commons trying to persuade people to come over to her way of thinking on all of this. we understand she has been having meetings with those who are wavering, those who are against the deal, trying to persuade them that it is the best deal. that it's the only deal that there is. her

argument has gone from its my deal or no deal, it has been refined to end up being that there is the possibility of no brexit at all. i think the government will be hoping that it's a false alarm. they have shut the doors and they will carry on for another ten minutes. they are refining the argument, saying that there might be no deal, there might be no brexit because the possibility of another referendum, the possibility of some kind of compromise. that is what is interesting about what is coming after this. the suggestion that if her deal is voted down, what is the way through. that is what people have been struggling with for so long because nobody can give a clear a nswer long because nobody can give a clear answer as to what plan b is. the government doesn't want to talk about plan b at this point. brexiteers might say if her deal is voted down she has to go back to brussels, back to the eu and say,

you have seen from the strength of feeling in the house of commons that this will not fly and you have to give me something better. somehow change the backstop arrangement. people in brussels are saying there is no way that will happen. there is no deal you can have that doesn't have this backstop. it's a guarantee, an insurance policy will stop if there is a unilateral way of the uk getting out of it then it is no longer a guarantee, its not a backstop no longer a guarantee, its not a ba cksto p by no longer a guarantee, its not a backstop by definition. there are very few who think they will be enough movement from the eu to win around those people. the question is what will happen after that. that is why the speculation around here is rife. mps are talking about whether theresa may can even survive as leader, as prime minister, if her deal is voted down, and if it is voted down by huge numbers. others are talking about someone else taking over, but it doesn't change the parliamentary arithmetic. the fa ct the parliamentary arithmetic. the fact is there is no majority for theresa may without the dup, and

they are clearly extremely unhappy about the deal she has got because their fear about the deal she has got because theirfear is it means about the deal she has got because their fear is it means they are treated differently from the rest of the uk and they will be subject to checks on the border and they will be treated differently and they don't want that to happen. they feel like it is the equivalent of having a border in the irish sea between them and the rest of the uk. at the moment they are not going to support it and without them theresa may will find it very difficult to govern. if today tells us anything, it means if she loses one vote here, another one later, it's the reality of not having a majority in the house of commons which has made life for her so difficult after that dramatic and unexpected decision for a general election ended up losing the conservatives their majority and it has brought many of the problem is i think she has had. because it's incredibly difficult if you don't have parliament behind you. even in normal circumstances, let alone

trying to get through such fundamental and radical change as the uk leaving the european union. talking to mps a little earlier, most of them saying theresa may will lose their brexit vote next tuesday. but there is some division as to what the key number will be for her to be able to come back to the house with a revised programme, if you like. some putting it at around eight t like. some putting it at around eightt — like. some putting it at around eight t —100. what like. some putting it at around eight t — 100. what is the sense like. some putting it at around eight t —100. what is the sense you are getting? -- 80 -100. there are so many different avenues. different people tell you such different things that i spoke to one minister earlier who basically said that this weekend everything could change. is volatile. part of the problem theresa may has is that even those willing to support the deal and vote with her, who appreciate the work

she has put into it and that she was a lwa ys she has put into it and that she was always having to find a compromise that would be difficult, there are many of them who in the long term don't see her as their leader. they don't see her as their leader. they don't like the idea of her leading them into another general election. they don't see her as being there in the longer term and i think that's pa rt the longer term and i think that's part of the problem. we saw last month an attempt, a half—hearted attempt as it turned out, to unseat her by getting 48 letters in to try to trigger a vote of no confidence in her which could then have led to some kind of leadership contest. but that didn't materialise. i think pa rt that didn't materialise. i think part of the reason for that is that they realised if she won the confidence vote then she was safe for a year confidence vote then she was safe fora yearand confidence vote then she was safe for a year and there are many, many tory mps, who while they appreciate her work, do not want her there long term. and that has fed into some of the problems with the deal. there is also no doubt that the deal itself is not pleased everybody. so you end

up is not pleased everybody. so you end up with a compromise that doesn't please anyone. and that seems to be the problem she has got. fighting on all sides because she has brexiteers who think her deal means we are far too close to the eu, and on the other side those from the remaining side, and we have seen ministerial resignations like those ofjo johnson on friday saying it is the worst of all the worlds. we are punished for it. what tory mps are worried about is the economic consequences of what might happen with brexit. and i think we now go to huw edwards. for those joining us on bbc news, it is 4.5 5pm. we are waiting for a second significant vote in the house of commons. this was always going to be a very significant day for the government

and all members of parliament. it's turning out to be more turbulent and more eventful and more unpredictable than many had foreseen. as vicki young has been telling us, the first amendment on that contempt vote, which took place a few minutes ago, lost by the government by a margin of four votes. we are now waiting for the vote on the main motion itself, brought by labour, highly critical of the government for not publishing in full the legal advice that the cabinet has been given on the brexit process. that is the vote we are looking at now. this is the motion that was put down by sir keir starmer, the shadow brexit secretary, who is in his place. this vote taking place because the government failed in its attempt to amend this motion initially. that must have come as a bit of a shock to the front bench, vicki young?” think they knew the numbers would be

tight, but any government defeat is very ha rd to tight, but any government defeat is very hard to swallow. i think the problem in the bigger picture is that it could be a foretaste of what is to come. i haven't seen the names yet of who voted which way, but it's obviously incredibly close. obviously a lot of mps are here. it has been absolutely packed around here today in anticipation of what is still possibly a couple of hours away, theresa may standing up to try to make the case again to persuade her mps. so this next question, just to let viewers know what they are listening out for, on this occasion, when the speaker shouts for the ayes, they are the people who have voted for the opposition's motion, for the keir starmer motion saying the government is in contempt of parliament. the noes will be the government side. so when they come

in and the speaker calls those two, that's what to look out for. the ayes are the opposition, labour and the opposition parties, and the noes will be the government side. but i'm sure there has been an awful lot of arm—twisting on this afternoon here. serjeant at arms, can you investigate the delay in the lobby? i think the reason for the investigation has passed but i appreciate the serjeant at arms' readiness. watching events in the house of commons. waiting for the results of the second vote in the last 30 minutes, a vote on the labour motion being critical of the government. we wait for the result. order, order. the aye to the right, 311, the noes

to the left, 293. the ayes to the right, 311. the noes to the left, 293. so the ayes have it, the ayes have it. unlock. a majority of 18 on the labour motion. keir starmer. on a point of order, mr speaker, this house has now spoken and it's of huge constitutional and political significance. i think it's unprecedented for this house to find government ministers in contempt. the motion makes clear the government must now publish the attorney general‘s final legal advice in full. i hope the government will now confirm and comply with that order. but if the

government fails to respond, what steps government fails to respond, what ste ps ca n government fails to respond, what steps can i and others take to make sure the government complies with the motion before the vote we have next tuesday? i will hear on the point of order from the leader of the house, andrea leadsom. thank you. we have tested the opinion of the house price on this very serious subject. we've listened carefully and in light of the expressed will of the house, we will publish the final and full advice provided by the attorney general to cabinet but recognising the very serious constitutional issues that this raises, i have referred the matter to the privileges committee to consider the implications of the humble address. lam implications of the humble address. i am grateful to the ? right honourable and learned gentleman for his point of order and the leader

for her response. some members are asking when.