you're watching bbc newsroom live. it's 11.003m and these are the main stories this morning: in the next half—hour, the government will publish the full legal advice it was given on theresa may's brexit plan after it was found to be in contempt of parliament. mps will resume debating the brexit deal this afternoon, as the prime minister battles to save her plan. i think that there is, as i have written recently, a real danger that the house of commons, which is a natural remain majority, may attempt to steal brexit from the british people, which i think would be a democratic affront. in his first broadcast interview since being freed, british academic matthew hedges, who was jailed in the united arab emirates on spying charges, says his interrogation felt like psychological torture. days when i tried to, again, tell the truth to the interrogators, their reaction was to make me stand for the day waring handcuffs. all day?

yes. ryanair faces legal action from the civil aviation authority after it cancelled hundreds of flights over the summer, but refused to compensate passengers local authorities are due to find out tomorrow how much funding they will receive from central government in the next financial year. the home office is accused of failing to heed repeated warnings about the negative affects its immigration policies would have on the windrush generation. good morning. welcome to bbc newsroom live. the full legal advice on theresa may's brexit plan is due to be published in the next half—an—hour. it's after the government suffered a series of defeats in the commons yesterday. mps are to resume debating the brexit deal this afternoon, but yesterday's defeats suggests

the prime ministerfaces an uphill struggle to get it past mps in a crucial vote next week. let's examine some of the key points from yesterday. it tookjust over an hour for the government to suffer three significant defeats — the first time that has happened since the 1970s. one of those votes found the government in contempt of parliament, which is why the full legal afvice will now be published. the leader of the house of commons, andrea leadsom, says this will happen at ii.30am this morning. another defeat was on an amendment brought by conservative backbencher dominic grieve, who led a group of 26 tory rebels. that amendment means that if the prime minister's deal is rejected, mps will have another vote on what course of action the government should take next. the debate resumes at about 1.00pm, after prime ministers questions, and will focus on immigration and security issues. so just how damaging were those three losses to theresa may,

and with four days of debating to go, will the government be able to recover in time for tuesday's all—importa nt vote? our political correspondent iain watson considers the importance of yesterday's defeats. fighting for her deal, fighting for herjob. on the second day of the brexit debate, there is a focus on security. but some mps wonder how secure theresa may is in number ten. she will be hoping today is better than yesterday when her government was defeated three times. as a result, ministers will need to announce today when they will publish legal advice on brexit that they wanted to keep confidential. and if theresa may's deal is defeated next week, mps will now have a greater say over what happens next. based on day one of the debate, theresa may will have an uphill battle to get her way. i have spent nearly two years negotiating this deal. if i had banged at the table and walked out of the room and at the end of the process

deliver the very same deal that is before us today, some might say that i had done a betterjob. but i didn't play to the gallery. i focused on getting a deal that honours the referendum, sets us on course for a bright future and i did so through painstaking hard work. she was attacked by the official opposition. labour will vote against this deal. a bad deal for britain. a bad deal for our economy and, i believe, a bad deal for our democracy. our country deserves better than this. and the unofficial opposition. i really cannot believe that there is a single member of this house who sincerely believes that this deal we have before us is a good deal. actually, there are a lot. the debate was closed by the brexit secretary in the early hours of the morning. and the speaker made it clear there would not be much respite for mps. the debate to be resumed on what day? tomorrow.

thank you. indeed, today. today! it is indeed today! just four days of debate to go and theresa may's deal will be put to the test. iain watson, bbc news, westminster. that vote meant that parliamentary process has now changed if the house of commons votes down the government's deal next tuesday. previously the commons was only able to ‘take note' of what the government planned to do if they lost, but now mps will get to vote on what should happen next in terms of any negotiations or changes of plan. our assistant political editor, norman smith, is at westminster. everyone really thinking about plan band everyone really thinking about plan b and what happens next, but we have this legal advice being published

this legal advice being published this morning. let's start with plan b, because i suppose that is the most significant element of where we go. what is the anticipation? many people to see it as significant that we have this block of senior tory mps seemingly coalescing around this idea of trying to make sure that if theresa may's deal is voted down, which most people think it will be, parliament will have a say in what happens next. the consensus amongst the tories seems to be looking at the tories seems to be looking at the norway plus option, which would keep us in the eea, but others want a second referendum. others say we should just go into the norway option for a while, then a free trade agreement. there is no consensus about a plan b, but it is indicative that many people's minds are turning to that. interestingly,

some nerves among some brexiteers that this could potentially stop brexit itself. that seemed to be what liam fox was driving up this morning. we can't hear what he had to say. we knew he was talking about if brexit is thwarted, it would be thwarting the will of the people. ultimately, whatever the mps decide, if the eu has made clear they would not be another negotiation, what are the options? is a hard brexit the more likely scenario? it is true that under the existing legal framework if mrs may's deal is voted down, then we leave the eu on the 29th of march. he would need new legislation

to amend the existing legislation and it is difficult to see how you would construct that. one man who might know is mark harper, who joins me now. let's talk a little bit about the pressure that seems to be building for some cannibal turn of the strategy, a plan b. how credible is to make that happen? my plan b would be that the prime minister get the back out of this deal. the reason why i am not able to support it, not support my part of the first time in13 years, it, not support my part of the first time in 13 years, is because i think we have gone back on to manifesto commitments we made last year, putting a border in the irish sea, damaging the integrity of country, and potentially getting stuck in a customs union indefinitely. if the backstop wasn't in the deal i would vote for it and i think she would get through parliament. i prefer her

to change it now, but that is not possible and gets voted down, i would like her to go back to the european parliament and tell them she can't get the deal through with the backstop in it. the prime minister has said again and again this is as good as it gets, there is no better deal out there. what prospect is there of the prime minister going back to the commons on bended knee would get anything better? the european union have said they won't consider anything else andl they won't consider anything else and i would expect them to say that. the parliament makes it clear that they would not support a deal with they would not support a deal with the backstop in it, they would have to reflect on those new fact to make a decision about whether they want us a decision about whether they want us to leave the european union on bad terms and not have a good relationship with the fifth largest economy in the world and is a country with which they have a close defence and security relationship. another significant development yesterday was the position of the

dup, who voted against the government and seemed to be severing their ties with the government. if theresa may presses ahead with her deal and all the signs are at the dup will vote against that, the implications are what? it is serious. the question i have not had anyone answer is serious. the question i have not had anyone answer is if deal went through, in my judgment, anyone answer is if deal went through, in myjudgment, the relationship with the dup will be over. they will no longer support the conservative party. whether they've against this in a confident so they've against this in a confident so they don't know. we will be able to get any legislation through. we will be in office but unable to govern. with the three defeat yesterday, that is what we will see every day of the week in parliament and colleagues need to reflect on my carefully before they vote next week. doesn't that raise the question about the position of theresa may? the deal will from the dup is with the conservative party,

not theresa may. if the conservative party wa nted not theresa may. if the conservative party wanted to retain the support of the dup that would presumably involve getting rid of it is a may. i want the prime minister to get a deal through parliament. if she insists on pressing the book next week and gets defeated, i wanted to respond to that by listening to the message sent by conservative collea g u es message sent by conservative colleagues and our dup allies and go back to the european union on the council meeting and tell them the backstop needs to come out of the deal. if she does that then comes back with that change withdrawal agreement i think you will get it through and get the dup back on board. you have cited your criticism of the norway plus option, but when you see heavy with figures like damian green, michael fallon and so on, are you concerned that is where parliament could be heading, because it is conceivable you could also find middle ground labour mps who might also support that option?|j think might also support that option?” think it is important in politics to

do would you promised. in our ma nifesto do would you promised. in our manifesto last year, i was remain fulcher, but i'm a democrat and the country fulcher, but i'm a democrat and the cou ntry voted fulcher, but i'm a democrat and the country voted to leave and we promised to respect the result of that referendum. we need to leave the european union, respond to the concerns that people had about taking back control of our migration policy, money and our laws. we need to follow through on that but also make sure we don't damage the integrity of our country, so no border in the irish sea, and give ourselves the best possible opportunity to get a good deal for the future, years and decades to come, which means being potentially trapped in an indefinite customs union, i think that would weaken, fatally weaken that negotiating position. thank you very much for yourtime, mark position. thank you very much for your time, mark harper. we will get the legal advice probably in the next 1520 minutes, so we can see the

text of what the attorney general advised cabinet. then prime ministers questions. that will be fascinating, to see how the prime minister personally recovers from the reverses of yesterday and how she tries to gather herself and appealed to her mps to back the deal. john bbc news we will have full coverage of prime ministers questions from midday and we are waiting for the publication of that legal advice in the next 15 minutes or so. legal advice in the next 15 minutes or so. it is the full text of the legal advice that the attorney general give the government. whether it is any more revealing than the debates on monday in the commons we will have to wait and see, but we will have to wait and see, but we will have to wait and see, but we will have full coverage of that legal advice when it comes out and reaction to it, plus full coverage throughout the day, of course. we will say goodbye to viewers on bbc two ina will say goodbye to viewers on bbc two in a moment, but you can keep up

with us online or on the news channel. the british academic, who was held for nearly seven months in the united arab emirates on spying charges, has said he felt as if he was being mentally tortured. matthew hedges was jailed for life, but returned to the uk last month after being pardoned. in his first broadcast interview to the bbc, he said he was pressurised into confessing after aggressive questioning gave him panic attacks. he described some of the treatment he endured. it was lonely and isolating, completely. as the name suggests. there was no natural light. as i said yesterday to a publication, there was no light. i wasn't allowed to do anything to try and distract myself. you could not listen to a radio, or anything of that sort? not until i had started the court case and my mental health had deteriorated quite substantially, then i was allowed some form of distraction. were you shackled at all?

yes, i was. whenever i had to go to the bathroom, or, on occasion, to use the shower, i would be escorted by four guards and i would wear ankle cuffs. whenever i was transported between different premises, i was blindfolded and handcuffed. and you had to stand up for quite a long time? yes. one of the days when i had tried to, again, tell the truth to the interrogators, their reaction was to make me stand for the day wearing ankle cuffs. all day? yes. how did you feel? how did you manage that? it must've been exhausting. it was. it is mentally exhausting. physically, the adrenaline takes over. obviously, afterwards, i was pretty sore, but it is how it made you feel mentally. did you feel that you were being tortured? psychologically, correct.

yes, it felt like it. that was matthew hedges speaking on the today programme. that was matthew hedges speaking on the today programme. ryanair is facing legal action by the airline regulator over its refusal to compensate thousands of uk—based customers. flights were cancelled or delayed over the summer because of strikes by ryanair pilots and cabin crew. the civil aviation authority says they are entitled to compensation under eu law. our business presenter maryam moshiri is here. remind us of what happened and why ryanairdidn't remind us of what happened and why ryanair didn't pay compensation. remind us of what happened and why ryanair didn't pay compensationm was a long, hot summer and a pretty disastrous one for the budget airline. back in the summer, ryanair had to deal with strikes by both cabin crew and pilots, not in the uk as such, in other european countries like spain, portugal, germany. the

strike action caused huge delays for passengers around europe and in the uk. under eu law, if yourflight has been delayed by more than three hours you are entitled to 250 euros compensation per passenger. there is a get out clause for airlines, that is extraordinary circumstances, which normally one would assume was things like really bad weather, things like really bad weather, things that are not in the airline's control. ryanair are arguing that the strikes are under the umbrella of extraordinary circumstances. however, this civil aviation authority in the uk says that isn't the case because ryanair was fully aware that the strikes were going to happen, therefore should have been able to either stop them or avoid them. up until now, if ryanair denied due compensation, you could go to the aviation arbiter. it

brokers disputes between passengers and airlines. i ever, ryanair has left that mechanism, so it means that to go ahead with any kind of dispute you can go through that channel, you have to wait for this legal representation from the caa to be complete. what happens now, does ryanair say they will pay up? ryanair say they will pay up? ryanair says that the courts in germany, spain and italy have already ruled that strikes are an exceptional circumstance and this opposition does not apply. we expect the caa and other courts to follow this president. so, they are saying that there have been examples of other airlines that have gone to court and had legal rulings come in their favour regarding this particular subject. they are saying they want this legal proceedings to run its course. passengers now who have any new claim, and are not

happy with the outcome will have not received a reply from the airline, the advice is to go to the regulator and contact the caa to their passenger advice and complaints team. the home office has been accused of failing to act on repeated warnings about the negative affect its measures to curb illegal immigration would have on members of the windrush generation. a report from the national audit office says the department operated a "target—driven" policy, and it's yet to establish the full scale of the scandal. here's our community affairs correspondent, adina campbell. the empire windrush brings to britain 500 jamaicans. they were invited over to help rebuild post—war britain. but many of the children from the windrush generation were never given official documents to prove their right to legally remain in the uk. now a new report from the national audit office says attempts by the home office to target illegal emigration, previously known as hostile environment, had severe consequences

on the windrush community. despite a number of warnings. since the scandal came to light, over 6,500 calls have been made to a special task force set up by the home office to help people sort out their legal status. about one third of those cases have now been resolved. but 164 people have been removed or detained even though they may have been a long—term uk resident. the home office says it is determined to right the wrongs of the past and has set up a review to learn lessons from what has happened. but campaigners say government action is taking too long and too many lives have been turned upside down. people's lives have been ruined because of the way they have been treated by this government. they have been treated beneath contempt, that is the way to explain it.

the national audit office is now recommending that the home office puts better measures in place to help stop similar problems in the future. tina campbell, bbc news. doctors in brazil have revealed that, for the first time, a healthy baby has been born to a woman using a womb transplanted from a dead donor. the 10—hour operation, and the following fertility treatment, took place in 2016. there have been nearly a0 womb transplants using a live donor, resulting in 11 babies, but the ten previous transplants from a deceased donor had failed. joining me is andrew shennan, professor of obstetrics at king's college london. thanks forjoining us. it has been done before but this is the first timea done before but this is the first time a woman has been transplanted from somebody who had died. how much

ofa from somebody who had died. how much of a breakthrough is that? they have been learning from past experience and getting the other therapies right. it is obviously a complex process. they have to give immunosuppressant drugs, which can be harmful for the baby. immunosuppressant drugs, which can be harmfulfor the baby. it is incremental improvements as time goes by and this is a breakthrough. the baby had a normal pregnancy and to all intents and purposes should be absolutely fine for the rest of its life. being able to use wombs from people who have died opens up the potential for it to be from people who have died opens up the potentialfor it to be more widely done because in order to use a woman, live donor intends to be family members and it is rare that somebody is in that position where they will donate their women. how much does it open up the prospect? previously, one would have to do surrogacy or adoption, and that is challenging and can be expensive.

this is another avenue for women to pursue. this is a very rare problem, most infertility issues are not related to this, maybe one in 500 people who have difficulty. some women would want to have their own pregnancy and this is their option. there are a lot of woman who could potentially be able to give a live donor. the challenge with a dead donor. the challenge with a dead donor is that you have to have someone who has recently died or has a beating heart and so on, so it is not that straightforward. it is another option, which is a great advance. what the patients say about why they would want to put themselves through such a difficult and invasive procedure, rather than go for other options, including surrogacy or adoption. some woman understandably would want to carry their own child. if they are unlucky and have lost their woman for

another reason or have a congenital absence of a woman, here is an option. fortunately, it is very rare above for some woman it is a big driving force of their would like to do that. it is exciting that this is the case. at the moment there has beenin the case. at the moment there has been in 11 attempts at this only one has been successful so you have to be realistic. it has not been done in the uk, for example. but there are people very interested in doing this and it is just the horizon. are people very interested in doing this and it isjust the horizon. on the horizon in the uk, you think? yes, people are definitely working it out. a team of experts has to be involved in this. one must think about it very seriously before undertaking quite a complex and potentially dangerous procedure. but at least they can be done and there will be improvements as time goes by. somebody may want to have

another baby or if they decide that they have had one baby successfully through this procedure, they will either that bad. does the woman get removed? in this case, the womb was removed? in this case, the womb was removed at the same time as the ca esa rea n removed at the same time as the caesarean section. there are challenges with rejection of organs and so want, so it is not like a long—term option per a whole family. i think one step at a time. thank you very much indeed. world leaders have been arriving in the united states to attend the state funeral of president george bush senior. a service will take place later at washington national cathedral. president trump has declared wednesday a national day of mourning for the former president, who died on friday at the age of 94. his body has been lying in state. more than 26,000 people have paid their respects. our correspondent rajini vaidyanathan has more. a fitting farewell for america's first president. ahead of the state funeral, tens of thousands of people who lined up to pay their respects to george hw bush.

mourners of every age and background united in their grief. i thought he was a great man and he showed that you could be a politician without letting politics takeover. it is very moving. i may not have agreed with all of his policies but i think he was a wonderful man. it was also a special goodbye from his two—year—old service dog. i, george herbert walker bush... sworn in in 1993, president george hw bush devoted his life to politics. he was a congressman, the head of the cia, and vice president to ronald reagan. eight years later, his son followed him to the white house. he will be delivering a eulogy at the funeral. president trump will be a guest but will not speak at the service. the late president bush

insisted he was invited, ending a feud between two families who once traded insults. preparations are under way here at the national cathedral in washington, dc for the state funeral. former president obama and clinton will attend as well as foreign dignitaries including prince charles and angela merkel. wednesday is an official day of mourning in the united states. a chance to the country to remember a man whose public service few can match. today, we're looking at council funding and how it impacts services across england. tomorrow, local authorities are expected to find out how much money they will receive for the next financial year. in north yorkshire, funding for buses has been stripped back so much, that people living there face being cut off. one council says it now relies on a volunteer—led solution to allow people to remain mobile.

tom burridge has been to find out more. this, a community car driven by volunteers like roger... how is your husband getting on? not too good. ..is how one cash—strapped council is moving people like chris, who has a learning disability, and veronica, around. well, it is vital. i don't know where i would be without it. because we are sort of an elderly community and we wouldn't be able to get out. today, a stark warning about public transport in rural areas like pateley bridge. there has been a spiral of decline, says the campaign for better transport, with no national strategy. rural bus usage has plummeted in recent years. in north yorkshire by a whopping 70%. by a whopping 78%. if a few people travel on them, then why should taxpayers' money

keep rural buses going? but for some of the most lonely, vulnerable people, they are vital. so the question becomes what is their social value and what is the social cost if you take them away? money is not pouring into the council, so subsidised services face the chop. but one local business is keeping the number 2a running on sundays. we want to ensure that the community continued having this service and we thought it would be a dying shame to let it go. and we funded it for two years. let's see how we get on. a number of years ago, a route like this in this condition would be almost fully supported by the local authority. over 40% of milage funded by local authorities has gone over the past six years. there was a time when north yorkshire county council would subsidise two or three passengers in a bus, and actually it could cost as much as £40 or £50 per passengerjourney. clearly, that wasn't sustainable and it wasn't a good use public money. a better use, says the council, is leasing one of these,

where volunteers drive people like sarah, aged 92, for a small fare on the most important of trips. i think it's marvellous, this community car. her husband norman is now in care. i miss my husband. i've been married for 72 years and i thought we would enjoy this time of our life, but it has been taken from us. so a journey to see a husband is possible. hello. it's sarah. even when public money for transport is short, people in picturesque, isolated places still need to get around. it is 11:30am and that is the time

the legal advice was being published. we will take a look at it as soon as it comes through we will keep you updated but now the weather. it has been wept through this morning with heavy rain moving through most parts of the uk. you can see through the morning as the rain pushes north eastwards with snow over higher ground. the rain moving into central scotland at the moment and to the south—east where there has been trussell so far, you will see heavy rain pushing in this afternoon. some dry weather eventually in wales, south—west england and northern ireland and staying dry and sunny in the far north of scotland. tonight the rain will continue to clear. there will be breaks in the cloud but for most it is quite cloudy. in scotland last

night it got down to minus nine celsius. remaining unsettled. some outbreaks of rain and showers moving west to east, but a mild day, temperatures 13—14. hello, this is bbc newsroom live. the headlines. the government is about to publish the full legal advice it was given on theresa may's brexit plan, after it was found to be in contempt of parliament. mps will resume debating the brexit deal this afternoon, as the prime minister battles to save her plan. i think that there is, as i have written recently, a real danger that the house of commons, which has a natural remain majority, may attempt to steal brexit from the british people, which i think would be a democratic affront. in his first broadcast interview since being freed, british academic matthew hedges — who was jailed in the united arab emirates on spying charges — says his interrogation felt like psychological torture.

ryanair faces legal action from the civil aviation authority after it cancelled hundreds of flights over the summer, but refused to compensate passengers. the home office is accused of failing to heed repeated warnings about the negative effects its immigration policies would have on the windrush generation. we are still waiting for that legal advice. let's get sports update in the meantime. mike ashley's 11 years at newcastle united could be coming to an end soon. the club has been on the market for 14 months but a consortium fronted by the former manchester united and chelsea chief executive peter kenyon is believed to be in position to take over. let's get the latest on this from our correspondent richard conway. he has more than a passing interest

in this story. a sale fell through early this year, how excited should fa ns early this year, how excited should fans be by the latest approach? is it more credible? i think it is. mike ashley talking in an interview saying talks have never been as progressed as they are right now, giving a cautious optimism. you talk to fa ns giving a cautious optimism. you talk to fans and they have been here before with last year we had amanda staveley, a city financier, but the deal fell staveley, a city financier, but the dealfell through in staveley, a city financier, but the deal fell through in the end. staveley, a city financier, but the dealfell through in the end. ashley has talked in the past about selling the club during his 11 years which has included two relegations from the premier league. we are in a holding pattern. i understand peter kenyon is in pole position amongst a number of potential bidders. he has

american financing. rockefeller capital management, a new york—based firm of financial advisers behind him. we will see whether a deal comes to fruition but my understanding is peter kenyon is in pole position, the former chelsea and manchester united director, perhaps looking to take over from mike ashley. what figures are we talking about? what is the price tag, and the timeframe, is it tied up tag, and the timeframe, is it tied up with doing something before the january transfer window?” up with doing something before the january transfer window? i think we are looking at £300 million which will come with money on top to invest in the squad and stadium and training ground. timeframe, it will be crucial that any new owner will wa nt to be crucial that any new owner will want to be able to invest in the january window. newcastle languishing in the bottom half of the premier league. relegation threatened perhaps which would be disastrous for any new owner and they will want time in the january

window to bolster the squad. but premier league regulation checks ta ke premier league regulation checks take 14 days and we have christmas coming up and richard scudamore is departing as executive chairman which may delay things and we are not sure if any firm bid has been lodged. there is no agreement, it is simply peter kenyon is in pole position but the clock is ticking, because the importance of the january window and newcastle's position in premier league. everyone's playing catch—up with the champions again. manchester city are five points clear, but it looked as though they were going to drop points in the premier league last night. they were coasting 2—nil up away at watford. leroy sane and riyadh mahrez with the goals just before and just after halftime. it was a well—deserved lead, but they had a very nervy finish at vicarage road as abdoulaye doucoure scored in the 85th minute, but city held on for the 2—1win. all their title rivals play this evening. manchester united

aren't one of those. 19 points off the leaders and they have to try and get a result against an arsenal side on a 19—match unbeaten run. jose mourinho has had to temper his target of being in the top four by the new year after a run of two draws and a defeat in their last three games. arsenal are sitting in fourth after their win against spurs at the weekend. olympic and world track cycling champion dani rowe has retired. she won gold in the team pursuit at the london games in 2012 and also won three world championship titles with the british team before turning to road racing where she won commonwealth bronze for wales earlier this year. she is 28 and says she will stay in the sport that's all the sport for now. we will be back later. we have some of the legal advice

coming through, published in bite—size chunks by caroline lucus on twitter, the leader of the green party and mp for brighton. some of the points she puts forward. paragraph 16 headed the protocol will endure indefinitely. it is difficult to conclude otherwise that the protocol is intended to subsist even when negotiations have broken down and despite statements it is not intended to be permanent and the intention of the party is it should be replaced by alternative permanent arrangements, in international law the protocol worked last indefinitely until a superseding agreement took place. in other words, it is the backstop enduring asa words, it is the backstop enduring as a permanent situation, which is the aspect mps and others have been concerned about. in this legal advice to the government, the

attorney general not saying something that had not been anticipated but it is the fact it is in black and white being published in this legal advice. the next point caroline lucus offers is from paragraph 30, in conclusion the drafting of the protocol including article 19 does not provide for a mechanism likely to enable the uk lawfully to exit the uk wide customs union without a subsequent agreement which remains the case even if parties are negotiating many years later and even if the parties believe talks have broken down and there is no prospect of a future relationship agreement. the resolution of such stalemate would have to be political. the next point she has put up is paragraph 33, there is a legal risk the uk could be stuck in protracted rounds of negotiations. so this point says in the absence of a right of termination there is a legal risk

the uk might be subject to protracted and repeated rounds of negotiations and the risk must be weighed against the political and economic imperative to reach an agreement that constitutes a politically stable and permanent basis for their future relationship. this is a political decision for the government. she has underlined that. twice. these are the points that have been the focus of the concerns for brexit mps who are unhappy with the withdrawal agreement, the controversial backstop position that would only disappear basically if there were an agreement on how to get around it and the legal advice from the attorney general to the government is that it could potentially end up being a permanent position. we can get some analysis. from gavin phillipson, professor on constitutional law

at durham university — who is currently advising the house of commons library. he's in our westminster studio. thank you forjoining us. this detailed advice just coming through. we are seeing highlighted points at the moment. nothing in it that has not been said in the commons by the attorney general that has not been anticipated. from reading the text by others. the fact it is the attorney general‘s legal advice being published has not been done before. how significant is this? it is significant in terms of the general confidentiality of this advice government that the commons forced the production of the full written evidence which has not happened but as you say the content of the evidence does not seem to seem to me to pose a surprise. the attorney general said in parliament

it was clear neither party would have a unilateral ability to exit from the backstop. his advice confirms that position. andrea leadsom, the leader of the commons, said in an interview the government is publishing this advice and complying with the vote yesterday in the commons, with some regret. she says frankly, any parliamentarian who wants to be in government is going to live to regret their vote last night. what do you think the long—term ramifications are? last night. what do you think the long—term ramifications are ?m remains to be seen whether this is a one—off. all—weather on future occasions the house of commons use this relatively newly used process, the humble address, to obtain documents. this is the first time the full advice has been forced to publish against government wishes. we do not know the ramifications for

the future. the warning has been it will make attorney generals relu cta nt to will make attorney generals reluctant to explore all possible options and to advise governments as fully as they made, if they are absolutely certain whatever they put forward will not one day end up potentially on the front page of a newspaper. that is the basic rationale of confidentiality that you are able to give frank and free advice if you know it is only for that person's pies and will not be widely disseminated. it is possible it could have an effect on the frankness with which attorney generals express themselves in future. how important is legal advice like this for governments? the attorney general is the chief law officer and his advice on the backstop, which is not surprising in this case, is influential in the government, yes. governments will

ta ke government, yes. governments will take legal advice but it will come down to political choices, as well? in this case as the attorney general says, the fact the backstop does not have a right of unilateral exit is weighed against others and that is a political decision for the government and house of commons. we are ina government and house of commons. we are in a position where for the first time since the 70s, a government has lost three votes in the space of an hour. an extraordinary day parliament yesterday. what is your overview of the position of the government because we are in a situation where the prime minister does not get to decide her next move potentially, if the vote is lost next week, it will be for parliamentarians to decide. are we in a situation where we effectively have a prime minister in office but not in power?” effectively have a prime minister in office but not in power? i would not say that. what the house of commons

won yesterday in passing the dominic grieve amendment was the right to be able to express a clear opinion to the government in a vote that would come only if the government's deal was voted down and to therefore expressed its view to the government about what should happen next about the brexit negotiations. that does not in itself as some have says take not in itself as some have says take no deal off the table. parliament could... the house of commons could say it not want a no deal exit but thatis say it not want a no deal exit but that is still the legal default outcome and to stop that first of all the government would almost certainly have to go to the eu and ask for an extension of article 52 enable some other arrangement to be made and if some of the withdrawal agreement, any agreement needs to happen to stop the exit it would have to be agreed by the commons and legislation would have to be passed

by the commons, all before the exit day arrived, could be put off if the eu agreed to extend it. yesterday we learned we can withdraw from article 50. does it mean we can extend it without having to get permission of other eu nations? lets keep those clear. article 50 spells out if you wa nt clear. article 50 spells out if you wantan clear. article 50 spells out if you want an extension to the day normally exit day, that requires the agreement of the member states. what we had yesterday was an opinion, not the binding judgment of the court, thatis the binding judgment of the court, that is likely to be followed by the courts but might not be, that there isa courts but might not be, that there is a unilateral right of revocation subject to the uk in good faith. we can run through one of those points been picked out by caroline lucus.

she is one of the first we have found on twitter who was publishing chunks of the full legal advice of the attorney general. paragraph 16. headed the protocol will endure indefinitely. it reads it is difficult to conclude otherwise than that the protocol is intended to subsist even when negotiations have broken down. despite statements in the protocol it is not intended to be permanent and the intention of the parties it should be replaced by an alternative permanent arrangement in international law the protocol would endure indefinitely until the superseding agreement took place in whole or in part as set out therein. the withdrawal agreement cannot provide a legal means of compelling the eu to conclude such an agreement. we will continue to go through that legal advice which has just been published and we will get more reaction and at 2:30pm we will

a nswer more reaction and at 2:30pm we will answer your brexit questions. if you have a burning question about the uk's future immigration or security arrangements that you would like to ask our expert guests, you can text 61124, email askthis@bbc.co.uk or tweet using the hashtag @bbcaskthis. that's at 2.30pm this afternoon. security and immigration of the focus of the debate in the commons later, after prime minister's questions. britain has been sharing energy with other european countries since the 1960s, and today a new link with belgium is being launched. to make the connection, construction teams have been laying underwater cables for the last three years and, asjohn maguire has been finding out, they've made some very unusual discoveries along the way. this is the moment a royal navy bomb disposal team blew up a wartime german sea mine. good effort, gentlemen. it's just one of the 1,200 bombs the team laying a submarine cable

across the north sea has encountered. the two cables run for 140 kilometres and will allow electricity to be exchanged between belgium and the uk. the installation is a huge task. that is copper, and that is where the actual current will flow, and that'sjust the same as the copper in domestic wiring, only slightly larger. below ground you have incredibly fast moving sands. so, there's a lot of high current, poor water visibility. we had divers working in 50 metres of water with zero visibility in a shifting, dynamic environment, so that's a major risk to manage when you send them down to work in those locations. for the past three years, at a cost of almost £600 million, the route has been surveyed, excavated, and the cable has been buried. this is where it resurfaces, and the electricity is connected to the national grid. it is already sticking out of the soil. these underwater shots show how

the nemo link, as it is called, has come across many hazards, challenges and treasures. you want to rig it up like this? ok, so, in here we have one of the nicest finds, which is an early 18th—century canon. this cannon is quite important, because it is from a period where standardisation of ordnance was very important. the working theory is that there was a vessel in distress, it was taking on water and it needed to lighten its load, effectively, to prevent itself from sinking, so it would have jettisoned stores and equipment and perhaps the cannon, as well. and along with the more contemporary finds, they've unlocked a prehistoric secret. they discovered a prehistoric river channel, and within that river channel they took sediment cores, and from the analysis of the sediment cores, they were able to reconstruct the climate based on the evidence of vegetation that could be found

from 10,000 years ago. the aim of the cable is to improve energy security and to cut customers' bills, but what was designed as an engineering task has become so much more, revealing the past locked deep beneath some of the busiest waters in the world. this is completely out of the sea bed now. john mcguire, bbc news, kent. in a moment we'll have all the business news, but first the headlines on bbc news. details of the government's full legal advice on theresa may's brexit plan are emerging, following the government's defeat in the house of commons yesterday. in his first broadcast interview since being freed, british academic matthew hedges — jailed on spying allegations in the united arab emirates — says he felt as if he were being "mentally tortured". local authorities are due to find out tomorrow how much funding they'll receive from central government in the next financial year. in the business news:

the civil aviation authority has said it is taking legal action against ryanair over its refusal to compensate thousands of uk—based customers. their flights were cancelled or delayed over the summer because of strikes by ryanair pilots and cabin crew. takeda pharmaceutical has won shareholder approval for a £46 billion takeover of uk—listed drugmaker shire, clearing the way forjapan's largest corporate acquisition. the takeover would make takeda one of the world's top ten drugmakers. financial markets in europe are suffering again today. the sell off has followed losses on wall street yesterday and asia overnight. analysts are also blaming continuing uncertainty over us president trump's trade pact with china for investors' nervousness. russ mould, investment director at aj bell markets. why are markets nervous? at the

start of the weak markets had been concerned about president trump's tariff plans and about federal reserve interest rate policy, whether it is tightening to quickly and slowing the economy and in the uk they have been concerned about brexit and at the start of the week there were hopes donald trump was backing off and we may get some agreement on brexit. today, hopes look like they have been disappointed so we are sliding down the slopes of hope as it were. the pound is a good barometer of what the markets think over brexit. today it sat around 1.27. an 18—month low. 1296, it sat around 1.27. an 18—month low. 12%, 13% lower than before the eu referendum. what is unusual over the past two years as the pound has gone down the uk stock market has gone up because the ftse 100 down the uk stock market has gone up

because the ftse100 gets around two thirds of profits from overseas so the lower the pound goes the more those profits are worth. but that is not happening which shows there is concern from the domestic point of view the brexit deal may lead to no deal which from a narrow stock market perspective is the one thing they probably do not want. in the us, the yield curve has flattened. what is a yield curve? it looks at the different interest rates the american government borrows out over different periods so in theory, if you buy a bond for two years you will charge a lower interest rate and a ten year bond because more things can go wrong over ten years and you will get your money back quicker with a two—year bond so normally the interest rate on two yea rs normally the interest rate on two years is normally the interest rate on two yea rs is lower normally the interest rate on two years is lower than ten years. right now, the yield on three and five—year bonds are below the two—year bond and the 10—year bond

is moving near to it and the market is moving near to it and the market is thinking here that the federal reserve may increase interest rates now in the short—term but over a longer term, it will have to change its mind and cut interest rates because the us economy may be slowing. thank you. that is a round—up of the business news. more now on the day's political developments in westminster. prime minister's questions is set to get underway shortly — as theresa may battles on in her efforts to win support from mps for her brexit deal. and the legal advice published. our assistant political editor norman smith is in the house of commons mps poring over that legal advice as we head to prime minister's questions. from first glance i do not think it is a game changer, it sets out the fears brexiteers have had that we could become trapped

indefinitely in this northern ireland backstop until we reach a agreement with the eu and it suggests this could go on as negotiations go on but to be honest, most of the brexiteers have already factored batty and soaked it will not be breaking news to them and i expect in the grand scheme of whether theresa may's deal crashes and burns or whether she manages to survive, it is probably not going to fundamentally change the dynamics. pmqs, if you arejeremy corbyn, you would almost be as well not asking questions. because all the action will be on the tory benches and all the divisions, tensions are on the tory side. maybe that would be a novel approach from mr corbyn. tory side. maybe that would be a novel approach from mr corbynm tory side. maybe that would be a novel approach from mr corbyn. it is only a few minutes away. thanks. right now, the weather. it has been a wet start except in the far north of scotland where it

was the coldest it has been since march. temperatures down to minus nine celsius. but for most, it is soggy. you can see the rainfall moving north and into central parts of scotland. snow possible over higher ground in scotland and the far north will stay dry with sunshine. rain across england and wales continuing to move further east and eventually it will get drier towards wales, south—west england and northern ireland. colder in northern parts despite the sunshine. mild with cloud rain elsewhere. tonight, rain will clear. for many, cloudy with further showers moving into western parts of scotla nd showers moving into western parts of scotland and northern ireland. nowhere near as cold across scotland as last night. thursday and the

weather systems coming in from the atlantic. we are seeing this mild air moving in from the south—west. temperatures higher across scotland in particular during thursday but further outbreaks of rain moving west to east throughout the day. some brighter skies. some breaks in the cloud perhaps in eastern areas of england but the temperatures mild. 12—15. thursday night into friday, a developing area of low pressure will squeeze the isobars across northern areas. we will see strong winds with gusts up to 70 mph around scotland, through northern parts of northern ireland and heavy rain across scotland. early—morning rain across scotland. early—morning rain elsewhere clearing but still gusty conditions where ever you are.

up gusty conditions where ever you are. up to 50 mph, and temperatures will drop throughout the day, despite more sunshine coming through. with the strong wind on friday, it is worth staying tuned to the forecasts. we could see gusts up to 70 mph, perhaps higher. goodbye. you're watching bbc newsroom live. these are today's main stories: the government's legal advice on brexit emerges the day after it was found in contempt of parliament. the advice says the northern ireland backstop will endure indefinitely until there is a new arrangement to replace it. mps will resume debating the brexit deal this afternoon, as the prime minister battles to save her plan. i think that there is, as i have written recently, a real danger that the house of commons, which is a natural remain majority, may attempt to steal brexit from the british people, which i think would be a democratic affront. before that theresa may faces

prime minister's questions, less than a day after her government's triple whammy of defeats, this is the scene live in the house of commons. welcome to bbc newsroom live. i'm joanna gosling. we can go live to the house of commons where prime minister's questions is about to start. our assistant political editor, norman smith, is in the house of commons. a big day. the legal advicejust published an theresa may about to be in the firing line again to face questions. it will be fascinating to

see how theresa may handles prime ministers questions today. everyone is predicting the deal is going for defeat. the dup seemingly deserting her, yet somehow she has got to pick yourself up. she has got to keep making her case for her deal and try and find some new arguments to win over her backbenchers. listening to her speech last night did sound very familiar to her speech last night did sound very familiarto rain. it her speech last night did sound very familiar to rain. it doesn't really seem to be making any inroads. at the same time, she will be questioned about the details of that legal advice which has just been published. that really i think stokes published. that really i think sto kes u p published. that really i think stokes up a lot of the fears of the brexiteers that if we get stuck in this northern ireland backstop, there really is no easy way out. it warns about how we could be trapped indefinitely, that word in

definitely, in the backstop. that is not as bad for theresa may as it might seem, only because many of the brexiteers have already backed in that argument, which takes you back to the big conundrum facing theresa may, how does she move this forward? how does she try and get some sort of momentum behind her dealer again? how on earth does to reach out to hermps? how on earth does to reach out to her mps? lets see how she does it in the commons. we all recognise in this house for too long it has been difficult for rate victims to speak out. i hope now following her example others will recognise that they will be heard and that proper action will be taken. mr speaker, i had meetings with ministerial others this morning, and i will have further such meetings later today. today echoed yours and the prime miniature's comments in respect of

the sami woodhouse from the backbenches. does my right honourable friend believe that today's announcement of the uk life science sector significant investment to work alongside the nhs using genomics and ai investment to work alongside the nhs using genomics and al to help diagnose major diseases early shows that world—class life science companies will continue to invest in the uk to help the nhs improved patient outcomes post brexit? can i say to my honourable friend that this investment is indeed is a significant one. £1 billion investment. it will deliver a state—of—the—art research and development based in the uk, supporting 650 jobs. it does show the opportunities available to the uk post brexit and it shows the advantage of our industrial strategy with al at the heart of that and recognising the importance of ai in the health sector in the future.

this will supportjobs in the uk, support other employment in the uk and our economy in the future. mr jeremy corbyn. rank you, mr speaker. ijoin yourself jeremy corbyn. rank you, mr speaker. i join yourself and the jeremy corbyn. rank you, mr speaker. ijoin yourself and the prime minister in welcoming sammy woodhouse to parliament today and it isa woodhouse to parliament today and it is a typical act of your generosity to refer to her in the gallery today so that others can be emboldened to face the rate crisis that we all face. i would like to extend the condolences to luke griffiths, who was killed in capital last week, along with five afghan nationals. he had previously served in the 15th red giant of the royal artillery. while we debate the critical issue of brexit, we must not neglect the crisis facing millions of people throughout our country. last week i wrote to the prime minister about the scathing report of the un special report on this government's

brutal policies towards the brewer in britain. as of now, i have received no reply from the prime minister. when the prime minister read the report, what doctor moor, was of the words the un used was of the shocking reality rising poverty in britain? i say to the right honourable gentleman, and we have been clear as the secretary of state for work and penchant has been, that we don't agree with this report because what we actually see in our country today is absolute poverty at record lows, more people in work than ever before, youth unemployment almost have it, we'rejust than ever before, youth unemployment almost have it, we're just growing, and that is because of the balanced approach that would take to our economy, a conservative government delivering for the british people. it could be that she doesn't agree with that because it is an

unpalatable truth in that report. the new work and pensions secretary seems to have taken a lesson from her and created a hostile environment for those claiming benefits. one of the government's policies that is causing the greatest a nxiety policies that is causing the greatest anxiety and poverty is universal credits. the un report said it was fast falling into universal discredit. when will the prime minister demonstrate some of her professed concern about burning injustices and halt the roll—out of universal credits. can i say to him, we have exchanged on this issue of universal credit before. the shadow foreign secretary from a sedentary position says we have not done anything about it. what we have done as we have ruled out universal credit is making changes as we have

gone through those changes. i'm afraid that what we saw was a labour party that wouldn't support the changes we are making to universal credits. we have listened and we have made changes. it is time the labour party recognised that universal credit is ensuring that we see more people in work in this country and we see absolute poverty at record lows and it is a system that delivers for people, encourages them into work, as simple system thatis them into work, as simple system that is better for those who need to use it. she mightjust care to cast her eyes over the report from the russell trust. i quote, her eyes over the report from the russell trust. iquote, it her eyes over the report from the russell trust. i quote, it is a five—week wait —— if the five—week wait is produced, that only way to stop more people using foodbanks this winter is to pause all—new claims to universal credits. the gm also called for the five—week wait

to be scrapped. in the coming weeks, universal credit is being rolled out in anglesey, blackpool, milton keynes, parts of liverpool, parts of london and glasgow. people will be left with no money before christmas. if the prime minister will not halt the roll—out of universal credit, will she at least it immediately end the five—week wait? will she at least it immediately end the five-week wait? can i say to the right honourable gentleman that he doesn't seem to understand how the system operates. no one has to wait for money if they need it. we made advances stop order! already

there is too much noise on both sides of the house. members must calm themselves. the questions will be heard, however long it takes, and the same is true of the replies. please try to get used to that.” minister. no one needs to wait for their money if they need it. we have made it easierfor their money if they need it. we have made it easier for people to get the a nswe rs , made it easier for people to get the answers, they can get 100% of their first month's payment upfront. we have already scrapped the seven day waiting period. as a repeat, what happens when we scrapped the seven—day waiting period, labour voted against it. mr speaker. it is a loan that is offered for some people and that russell trust has pointed out that food banks face record demand this december. i gently say to her and the members

behind her, food banks are notjust a photo opportunity for conservative mps. all of whom supported the cuts in benefits that have led to the poverty in this country. yesterday, the josef craig poverty in this country. yesterday, thejosef craig foundation poverty in this country. yesterday, the josef craig foundation find, poverty in this country. yesterday, thejosef craig foundation find, and i quote, thejosef craig foundation find, and iquote, in thejosef craig foundation find, and i quote, in work poverty was rising faster than the overall employment rate due to chronic low pay and insecure work. the united kingdom has the weakest wage growth of all ge 20 nations. living standards have fallen for the majority of people. what is so wrong with our economy that are paid growth is so much worse than each of the other nations in the t20? we have, we now see which is growing faster than they

have in a decade. we see employment at record levels. he talks about scrapping universal credits. what he wa nts to scrapping universal credits. what he wants to do is go back to square one, that means going back to a system that left 1.4 million people spending most of the decade trapped on benefits. it let people paying an effective tax rate of 90% and it cost every household an extra £3000 a year. as ever with labour, it was ordinary working people who paid the price. the chief economist of the bank of england describes the last decade as a lost decade for wages. the prime minister might blab at best, it is the reality of people's lives. order! order! i appealto

members to —— who are making too much noise, to stop doing so. i say very gently to the junior minister on the back bench who is making far too much noise, he is ordinarily a good—natured chap, i am referring to the member for hexham. good—natured chap, i am referring to the memberfor hexham. order! you can do so much better. tried to be a well— behaved citizen today. can do so much better. tried to be a well—behaved citizen today. possibly like some others, but there are quite a lot of badly behaved people. try to set a better example, mr opperman, you are a minister of the crown. two years ago i united nations committee found this government's policies towards

disabled people represented a grave and systematic violation of their rights. does the prime minister think that situation has improved in the past two years? i would say to him, first of all enhancer to the point he has made is that it is this government that has a key commitment in relation to getting disabled people into the workplace. there are too many disabled people who have felt that they have not been able to do what they want to do, getting into the workplace, earning an income and it is this government thatis income and it is this government that is helping and the former secretary of state for work and pensions through the arrangements she put in place to ensure the disability confident arrangement she put in place are doing that. he started up his comments by referencing the last decade. yes, the last decade has meant that difficult decisions have had to be taken, but why did those difficult

decisions have to be taken? they we re decisions have to be taken? they were taken because of the labour pa rty‘s were taken because of the labour party's mismanagement of the economy. remember, remember the letter from the right honourable memberfor letter from the right honourable member for birmingham hodge letter from the right honourable memberfor birmingham hodge hill under labour, there is no money left under labour, there is no money left under labour. mr speaker, when i hear a mr speaker, when i heara prime minister talking about difficult decisions, what always happens afterwards in these contexts, the poorest lose out in our society. 4:3... 4.3 million disabled people are now in poverty, 50,000 were hit bya are now in poverty, 50,000 were hit by a appalling cuts to employment support allowance benefit last year. this government labels disabled people scroungers and called those

unable to work skivers. it created... it created... order, order, i do not need any advice from the home secretary. he should seek to discharge his own obligations in his office to the best of his ability. i require no advice from the right honourable gentleman on the right honourable gentleman on the discharge of mine. be clear about that. jeremy corbyn. thank you, mr speaker. this government also created a hostile environment. mr speaker, this government created a hostile environment for the windrush generation. when the un rapporteur said british compassion for those who are suffering has been replaced by a punitive, mean—spirited and callous approach, he could not have summed up this

contemptible government better. child poverty is rising, homelessness is rising, destitution rising, household debt rising. when will the prime minister turn her warm words into action? ends the benefits freeze, repeal the bedroom tax, scrap the two child cap and stop the roll—out of universal credit. he referred to the poorest losing out. i will tell him when the poorest lose out, is when a labour government comes in. order, order, the finger—pointing government comes in. order, order, the finger— pointing and government comes in. order, order, the finger—pointing and yelling and braying must stop. i understand passions are running high, but on both sides of the house, we need some sense of decorum. it is when a labour government comes in. what this government has done, we have

introduced the national living wage, conservatives, not labour. we have taken millions of people out of paying tax. conservatives, not labour. under this government, 3.3 millionjobs have been created. every labour government leaves office with unemployment higher than when it went into office. what do we see under this government? the economy is growing, employment rising, investment is up, we are giving the nhs the biggest single cash boost in its history and taxes cut, wages rising. labour would destroy that. it is this conservative government that is building a brighter future for our country. thank you. as my right honourable friend knows, none of us looks forward to a smear test but it

can makea looks forward to a smear test but it can make a difference between life and death. worryingly, almost a third of women are missing out on screening. can i ask what steps she and her government are taking to make sure more women are tested and do not suffer the terrible consequences of picking up cancer too late? i'm gratefulto consequences of picking up cancer too late? i'm grateful to have for raising an important point and i recognise we need to do more to encourage women to undertake screening. in october we announced measures that will be rolled out which has the aim of seeing three quarters of all cancers detected early by 2028 and this will see an overhaul of the screening programmes and will be made easier to use. i wa nt to and will be made easier to use. i want to give this simple message. i am able to do this at this dispatch box. smear tests are not nice, those of us who have had them recognise they are not nice, but they are important. if you want to see cancer

detected early, have your smear test. a few minutes of discomfort could be saving your life. cani could be saving your life. can i thank you for your remarks of welcome to sammy woodhouse, a very brave woman who has done the right thing in waving anonymity. we must all call out crimes of sexual violence and those responsible must be held to account. we were promised stronger unstable and what we have isa stronger unstable and what we have is a government in crisis, a government that has lost two brexit secretaries, home secretary, foreign secretary, work and pensions secretary, work and pensions secretary and a government that has suffered from three consecutive defeats in two hours. the first government to do so in 40 years. and now a government found to be in co nte m pt of now a government found to be in contempt of parliament. is it time

the prime minister took responsibility, responsibility for concealing the facts on her brexit dealfor members concealing the facts on her brexit deal for members of this house and the public. will she take responsibility? he is wrong because we have not concealed the facts on the brexit deal. what he will see is the legal position set out on monday in the document, together with the statement and a nswe rs together with the statement and a nswers to together with the statement and answers to questions given by the attorney general on monday clearly set out the legal position. that is an incredibly disappointing response from the prime minister. the facts have had to be dragged out of the government by parliament. this morning, we have seen the detail of the legal advice and seen the facts the government tried to hide. this government is giving

northern ireland permanent membership of the single market and customs union. the legal advice is clear and states that despite state m e nts clear and states that despite statements in the protocol, that is not intended to be permanent in international law, the protocol would endure indefinitely. since the prime minister returned from brussels with the deal, the prime minister has been misleading the house inadvertently or otherwise. the prime minister must explain... order. there can be no suggestion of otherwise. the right honourable gentleman must make it clear there is no suggestion that the government is no suggestion that the government is misleading the house deliberately. there can be no question about. if he wants to use the word inadvertently, he can, but there must be no ambiguity and i him to clarify that matter. order. i do

not need any advice, i know exactly what i am doing and he must comply. mr speaker, i used the word inadvertently and i repeated. since the prime minister has returned from brussels the prime minister has been misleading the house perhaps inadvertently. order. i always want the right honourable gentleman to be heard and he will be but there can be no imputation of dishonour and the insertion of the word perhaps suggests he wants to keep his options open. the option of imputing this honour does not exist. that word must now be removed. please rephrase, continue and complete, briefly. mr speaker, i say again

inadvertently. the prime minister must explain... the prime minister must explain... the prime minister must explain... the prime minister must explain why she continues to deny scotland the rights and opportunities heard deal offers to other parts of the united kingdom. cani other parts of the united kingdom. can i say to him that i think what he will see if he makes a careful analysis of the statement to the attorney general made in his answer to questions and of the legal position set out by the government, in many ways unprecedented that the government publish such a document, he will see that the advice he is holding in his left hand has no difference from the statement given. indeed, i might take up the personal challenge from the right honourable gentleman. i have said on the floor

of this house that there is no unilateral right to pull out of the backstop. what i have also said is it is not the intention of either party the backstop should be used in the first place, or, if it is used, should be anything other than temporary. he finishes off by saying once again that he wants to look to what scotland should have from the deal. we are leaving the european union as the united kingdom. we will negotiate as the united kingdom. for the interests of scotland, remaining in the internal market of the united kingdom is the most important economic interest. and for the interest of scotland, coming out of the common fisheries policy, which is in ourdealand the common fisheries policy, which is in our deal and policy and not his. gordon henderson. mr speaker, my local authority is being asked to

buy land for thousands more homes on my constituents are not happy. over the past 20 years, we have seen large—scale developments that have transformed our area. we feel we have accepted more than our fair share of new housing. will my right honourable friend the prime minister urge her ministers to take steps to reduce the housing targets being imposed? i absolutely recognise the concern he raises and the fact that often people are concerned when they see proposals for new development in their areas, but we need to build homes the country need so everyone can homes the country need so everyone ca n afford homes the country need so everyone can afford a decent place to call their own and we need to help more people onto the housing ladder. there are young people who worry they will not be able to get onto they will not be able to get onto the housing ladder and i'm sure he

shares my determination to ensure they are able to do so. in the past year we have delivered over 222,000 new homes, the highest level we have seenin new homes, the highest level we have seen in all but one of the last 31 yea rs. seen in all but one of the last 31 years. i'm sure the community secretary will be happy to meet with him to discuss his local issue further. every single brexit scenario this government have modelled shows gdp growth falling and two for further when the impact of ending freedom of movement is factored in. if this prime minister continues to pretend ending free movement is a good thing, it is a bad thing. why is she prepared to ta ke bad thing. why is she prepared to take from our children and grandchildren the ability to travel freely throughout europe and why is she doing it in a way economically electric? -- economically electric.

the analysis shows outside the eu the best deal available in relation to our economy is the deal on the table and the deal i have negotiated with the european union. when people voted to leave the european union and issue they voted on was bringing and issue they voted on was bringing an end to free movement and that is what this government will deliver. in its november survey local homelessness charity p three recorded two rough sleepers in cheltenham. does my right honourable friend agreed this shows the value social impact bombs that provide one on one support to people with complex needs and will she congratulate the vital work of charity ccp and p three? he raises an important issue and yet we are

all concerned about the question of rough sleepers. as he says it is about finding solutions that is important and about finding solutions that is importantandi about finding solutions that is important and i commend him for the excellent work he has done in campaigning on these issues of homelessness, rough sleeping and social impact bombs and i congratulate ccp and p3 in cheltenham. the social impact bond designed to support individuals who have spent a long time in the homelessness system and to reduce rough sleeping by helping them to access rough sleeping by helping them to a ccess services rough sleeping by helping them to access services they need is an important step forward and i congratulate those organisations. .6 of the attorney general‘s legal advice shows the prime minister has not only breached red lines on the single market but also customs. does it mean it is less likely heard deal will pass through this house? constitutionally that should mean a general election but if not is the way to resolve this to have a public

vote on her deal? why can she not see that and say that? if you looks at the arrangements we have in place for the future relationship between the uk and eu, we will not be in the single market or customs union. what we will have is an ambitious trade agreement which enables us to reduce... and we will continue to work for frictionless trade at the border. it is an ambitious trade agreement that is an ambitious trade agreement that is unlike any other given to an ambitious trade agreement, the most ambitious trade agreement, the most ambitious that anybody has with the european union. that is good for jobs and his constituency. all young people have this day in educational training until they are 18. isn't that time we raised the age of marriage in this country from 16 up to 18, likely ask other countries to

do? i think the numbers of people who are marrying in england and wales marrying at 16 and very small and continued to decline. we have not seen heavy —— any evidence of failings in the appropriate consents, but we keep this under review. baroness williams said back in september that we will look at whether there is any link between pa rents whether there is any link between parents giving consent when girls are aged 16 or 17 and instances of forced marriage, if that is one of the concerns behind the point that my honourable friend is making. we will specifically look at that issue. in march 2017, the prime minister knows that new ferry in my constituency was devastated by a huge explosion and many people were injured. i raised this with her at high ministers questions when she said the community would get support

to recover. after 18 months of struggling, her secretary of state has written to me to say that new ferry will get no such support from her government. was i wrong to take her government. was i wrong to take her afterword, or were my constituents right when it comes to helping people, you can never trust the tories? i say to the honourable lady, i think she knows of incidents when people have been able in her region to trust the tories. let's look at the explosion in new ferry it was clearly devastating, a clearly impacted both residents and businesses and they did make a commitment to look at it. i will look at the g has received run the secretary of state. it was my understanding that the ministry was encouraging wirral council to apply for a range of funding streams,

including various sums of money that would have been available and they had asked holmes england to work with the council on their regeneration plans and had made money in response to that, but i will certainly look at the letter she refers to. charles walker. i do rise from the naughty corner, so i might need your protection. can i thank my right honourable friend for her determined campaigning in the area of mental health? both as home secretary and now has prime minister. will shejoin me in congratulating circe and wesley, who has just congratulating circe and wesley, who hasjust done a congratulating circe and wesley, who has just done a review of the mental health act. his findings will be published tomorrow. simon conducted this review with great good humour, great good humour, with compassion and dignity. even though this house is so divided on so many issues, it

should be united on this report.” think he is absolutely right. i hope this issue of mental health and how we look at the mental health act is an important question that would unite people across this house with a recognition that we have been right to have this review. i am happy to congratulate professor sir simon wesley on the work he has done. he has engaged with the large number of servers tutors and their families, as well as health organisations to help traders recommendations. i look forward to reading them. we will commit as a government to come forward with legislation in due course. this is an important area and we should all get behind this because we need to ensure that we are delivering for those people in our country suffering from mental health problems. as the dounreay nuclear site continues to decommission, the replacement with

high—qualityjobs is decommission, the replacement with high—quality jobs is crucial. decommission, the replacement with high—qualityjobs is crucial. i welcome the decision to locate the first space ? take off rockets in my constituency. will the prime minister inch or that the maximum number ofjobs minister inch or that the maximum number of jobs arising from minister inch or that the maximum number ofjobs arising from the site will be located locally and not some we re will be located locally and not some were much further south?” will be located locally and not some were much further south? i thank him for his remarks about the government's decision. this is an exciting opportunity for the united kingdom to be taking a leading role in the new commercial space age. i understand that following a positive report by the local crofters association, highlands and islands enterprise are moving ahead with the plans, which could create 40 skilled jobs locally. i recognise the importance of the skilljobs he is talking about locally. i think this isa talking about locally. i think this is a real opportunity for his

constituency, but also for the uk to be at the leading edge of this technology. sir william cash. the motion passed yesterday relating to the attorney general, related to the whole of the agreement, notjust to the question to which the letter which we have not had published relates, which is exclusively the protocol of northern ireland. surely, given the fact that under the ministerial code it states the law officers must be consulted in good time before the government is committed to critical decisions involved in legal considerations and the attorney general states that the international agreement is binding on the united kingdom and eu, why is it that we have not had an opinion on matters such as the control over laws, european court jurisdiction, that incompatibility with the 72

act, and matters of seminal importance to deciding this question? i suggest he looks at the remarks made in this chamber yesterday following the government's analysis that it would be publishing this final advice given by the attorney general, which was asked for. he has preferred once again to theissue for. he has preferred once again to the issue of the repeal of the 1972 european communities act. as i have a nswered european communities act. as i have answered him on more than one occasion, it was always clear when the eu withdrawal act went through, which did repeal the 1972 european communities act and bring key uk law -- eu communities act and bring key uk law —— eu law into uk law, during the implementation periods, then it would be necessary to ensure that any necessary changes were made and those changes would be made in the

withdrawal agreement bill, which would be properfor parliament. withdrawal agreement bill, which would be proper for parliament. mr sharon hodgson. the prime minister may recall that last week i asked her about the terrible funding settle m e nt her about the terrible funding settlement for tyne & wear fire and rescue service. i was not happy with the answer so i am going to try again. in light of the fact that the funding local services such as police and fire through the council tax does not work. will she look again at this funding formula that is going to lead areas such as mine perilously close to being an unsafe service in fire and police very soon. i understand that the place and prime minister undertook to get back to the honourable lady. as i think my right honourable friend the fire minister made clear this week, the authority's or spending power

has increased this year. time and we will £25 million of reserves, which is equivalent to 52% of their core spending power. in cumbria we have enjoyed 42 days of real strike action, despite the transport secretary's assurance that the guards on the cumbrian coast of will remain. will my right honourable friend is condemned the actions of our empty, which have left honourable people were by public transport and businesses suffering in the run—up to christmas?” transport and businesses suffering in the run-up to christmas? i do indeed condemned the actions that have been taken by our empty, which is leading to people and businesses suffering as a result. we are calling on rmt to stop the strikes. they have been guaranteed jobs beyond this parody —— beyond this

franchise and there is no reason to continue this needless action. the message is clear, stop the strikes, get round the table and put passengers first. ofsted report that 1.3 million children with special educational needs are not getting their needs met in school. over 2,000 children on each hc plans in 2018 received no support whatsoever. a report has said there is been an increase in 60% in autistic children being excluded from school. can i ask the prime minister to please look beyond those figures to the children are affected and the distressed that they and their pa rents a re distressed that they and their parents are experiencing? witchy agree with me that this is a national scandal that needs to be addressed with the utmost urgency? every child deserves the right education for them. we are working

to drive up the quality for children with special educational needs and those with disabilities. we have taken a number of steps, new inspections framework, and we are working to spread best practice through some areas where this is dealt with in a better way than in others. when used properly the health education and health plans to work in supporting the needs of children with families at the heart of the process. more money is going in this year. i recognise that often there are parents of children with special educational needs who feel they are constantly having to beat their head against the blue —— the bureaucracy they come up against to make sure they get the right support for their children. we are committed to deliver for for their children. we are committed to deliverfor children, for their children. we are committed to deliver for children, quality education that is right for children with special educational needs.” know how much the prime minister

likes to get out on the doorsteps of her constituency. does she find that people are blazing with her the issue of potholes on a regular basis? that she welcomed the fact that we are spending £6.7 million... i want to hear about the bottles situation. in redditch and elsewhere. absolutely. the roads in redditch are excellent on the whole, but we are very pleased to be awarded £6.7 million of funding across worcestershire in the recent budget. how quickly does the prime minister think this money will be spent fixing roads? she raises an important issue. potholes and local services and issues that matter for people on a day—to—day basis of those raised on the doorstep. my understanding is that the money is available and that should be being spent now. in the scottish case

which has established that article 50 notice can be revoked, the uk government has lost three times in the supreme court of scotland, in the supreme court of scotland, in the uk supreme court and yesterday in the advocate general‘s opinion in the court ofjustice of the eu. can the court ofjustice of the eu. can the prime minister tell us why she has put so much public money and so much energy into depriving this parliament of legal certainty about the options open to you when heard deal is voted down next week? can i say to the honourable lady, that this is an issue on which put the uk government and the european commission felt it was right that this issue be tested. we will not provoke article 15. that is clear. the government will not provoke article 50. everybody in this house needs to understand what the judgment of the advocate general,

which the court will go with, but still hasn't come to its final decision. if the advice of the advocate general does go ahead, what it says is that it is possible for a country unilaterally to revoke article 50, but that isn't about extending article 50, it is about making sure that we don't leave the european union. that is what that judgment is about. we will not provoke article 50, the british people voted to leave the eu and we will be leaving. a number of members of this house and members of the public are still concerned that we may risk being in an extended if not permanent backstop situation. can my right honourable friend why in her opinion of the european union will wa nt opinion of the european union will want this to exist and they will negotiate in good faith for an

extensive free—trade agreement? he is right, i recognise there are concerns that it is the case it is not attractive for the eu to have the uk in the backstop for a number of reasons, first because in that backstop of reasons, first because in that ba cksto p we of reasons, first because in that backstop we will make no financial obligation to the european union. we will not accept free movement and therefore... there will be light touch level playing field requirements. these are matters that mean the european union does not see this as an attractive place for them to put the uk. they think it is an attractive place for the uk to be in and they will not want us to be a bit longer than necessary. european structural fund is worth billions to scotland and funds initiatives in my constituency such as promoting social inclusion. this

is to be replaced by the uk prosperity fund but we have no detail or clarity as to how this fund will be designed and whether it will begin. why not? it will look at ensuring we are dealing with disparities that exist between communities and nations and the government will consult before the government will consult before the end of the year. next week will be the first opportunity for mps to vote on the withdrawal agreement and i was glad to speak to the debate last night. should the agreement not secure support of parliament, can the prime minister assure the house that the government will seek early dialogue with negotiators in brussels to address the genuine concerns of mps in the house?” believe the deal is a good deal and i recognise the concerns have been raised particularly around the backstop and that is an issue which asi backstop and that is an issue which as i said yesterday i am continuing

to listen to colleagues on that and considering a way forward. one of my constituents has lost thousands of pounds from his british steel pension after he was preyed upon by a rogue financial adviser and it has happened to hundreds of others across the country. the financial conduct authority does not have the teeth to sort this out. i think ripping off pensioners is criminal. does the prime minister agree? i am very sorry to hear of the case of his constituent in relation to his pension and the actions of that financial adviser. i will ensure that the treasury look at this issue with the financial conduct authority. our country's children are our country's future and yesterday ofsted reported 95% of the early

yea rs ofsted reported 95% of the early years providers are ranked good or outstanding, up from 74%. will the prime ministerjoin me in thanking all those who work in early years organisations for giving our children the very best start in their life? i've agree with my honourable friend that early years education is important. important the children to give them a good start in life. it is a matter to be welcomed and applauded, the fact we have 95% of those providers ranked... for children ranked good or outstanding and we should thank those working in early years provision for their excellent work. this morning's legal advice refers to the backstop as permanent arrangement and will endure indefinitely. a repeat of previous assertions made. does the prime

minister agree that this last moment that the entire premise of the backstop has been based on a false assertion? it is a practical, physical, political impossibility under any circumstances for a hard border to emerge on the island of ireland. why had she allowed that to be used as a negotiating ploy by the eu against the uk? this is not a negotiating ploy by the eu against the uk. it is our commitment as a uk government to the people of northern ireland. he says the political assertion there will be no hard border is sufficient to give people reassurance. i border is sufficient to give people reassurance. i say border is sufficient to give people reassurance. i say what people want to know is that arrangements will be place. it does not have to be the backstop, the future relationship will deal with this, the extension of implementation period could deal with it, alternative arrangements could deal with it, but people need

to know it is beyond a political assertion that there is a commitment to the people of northern ireland to insure we have no hard border. yesterday london students heard from the renowned holocaust survivor anna lewis. she described the horrors of europe's darkest hour. does my right honourable friend agree there could be no better place for the national holocaust memorial and learning centre than alongside this palace of westminster as a permanent or boreal to the horrors of the ultimate of anti—semitism? to the horrors of the ultimate of anti-semitism? can i commend anna lewis for the contribution she has made over the years in bringing home to people the absolute horrors of the holocaust. can i commend the work of the holocaust educational trust which does important work? i ee, trust which does important work? i agree, i think there is no better

place for the holocaust memorial and learning centre to be than right next to our parliament. what is important is this is notjust a memorial, it is a learning centre, it will be about educating young people and others about the horrors of man's inhumanity to man.” express my respect to sammy woodhouse for her courage. yesterday the national assembly of wales became the first parliament on the british isles to reject the prime minister's deal. it is clear it will not be the last. wales has seen through how she is intent on inflicting gbh, her government's brexit harm on our nation. will the prime minister come to her senses and rule out a no deal scenario before the house forces her to do so? if she is concerned about the possible effect of no deal scenario,

the only way to ensure there is not ano the only way to ensure there is not a no deal scenario is to accept the deal the table. the legal witch hunting of military vessels, which is something i've raised for around a year, is getting worse. the latest victim is david griffin, a 77—year—old former royal marine who is being reinvestigated for an incident that took place in northern ireland 45 years ago and for which he was thoroughly cleared at the time. and i knew where to find him because he is an in pensioner at the royal hospital in chelsea. how is it...? studio: we are leaving prime minister's questions. our assistant eolitical editor norman smith is in the house of commons. if you want to carry on watching it

is on bbc parliament. it is running longer than normal. you sort of predicted. jeremy corbyn did not go on brexit. no mileage for him to go on brexit. no mileage for him to go on brexit, he wants to leave the tory party to stew in its own divisions so different topic about poverty and universal credit. no getting away from brexit and the issue of the legal advice on the backstop that was published just before pmqs. we had the charge from ian blackford and he was slapped down by the speaker, his suggestions the prime minister was inadvertently misleading mps about the implications of the backstop. we have talked a lot about the backstop but there are signs that may be the government is going to try to finesse some sort of amendment to meet the concerns of tory brexiteers who basically think the backstop is not acceptable. just speaking to

one, iam not acceptable. just speaking to one, i am told mrs mabel meet him and other brexiteers to look at possible amendments —— i am told that mrs may will meet them. she knows that as things stand, her deal will be defeated, so she has to come up will be defeated, so she has to come up with her own if you like plan b. it sounds to me as if they are trying to find some sort of arrangement that might give the uk the ability to say it has more of a right to exit the backstop without having to wait for ever for the eu to say it is ok. what it tells us is theresa may does not think it is game over. she wants to see if she can find game over. she wants to see if she canfind a game over. she wants to see if she can find a way to meet concerns of mps over the northern ireland backstop. the latest reaction coming up backstop. the latest reaction coming up on the one o'clock news. the british academic, who was held for nearly seven months in the united arab emirates on spying charges, has said he felt as if he was being mentally tortured. matthew hedges was jailed for life but returned to the uk last month after being pardoned.

in his first broadcast interview to the bbc, he said he was pressurised into confessing after aggressive questioning gave him panic attacks. and he described some of the treatment he endured: it was lonely and isolating, completely. as the name suggests. there was no natural light. as i said yesterday to a publication, there was no light. i wasn't allowed to do anything to try and distract myself. you could not listen to a radio, or anything of that sort? not until i had started the court case and my mental health had deteriorated quite substantially, then i was allowed some form of distraction. were you shackled at all? yes, i was. whenever i had to go to the bathroom, or, on occasion, to use the shower, i would be escorted by four guards and i would wear ankle cuffs. whenever i was transported between different premises,

i was blindfolded and handcuffed. and you had to stand up for quite a long time? yes. one of the days when i had tried to, again, tell the truth to the interrogators, their reaction was to make me stand for the day wearing ankle cuffs. all day? yes. how did you feel? how did you manage that? it must've been exhausting. it was. it is mentally exhausting. physically, the adrenaline takes over. obviously, afterwards, i was pretty sore, but it is how it made you feel mentally. did you feel that you were being tortured? psychologically, correct. yes, it felt like it. in a moment it's time for the one o'clock news with sophie raworth, but first it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. the weather is on the change, a

change to milder conditions for many but with that mild air comes extensive low cloud. we have fog patches around in the hills along with rain. the milder air working in from the south leaving cold air in the far north of scotland where temperatures will remain freezing for some today. in wales we go from 4 degrees yesterday afternoon to about 13 degrees this afternoon. the mild air brought in by an area of cloud and low pressure with the warmth heading northwards. through the rest of the day, we will see outbreaks of rain pushing from west to east although it will stay murky with further hill fog patches. more persistent rain later the night. turning milder in the north of scotla nd turning milder in the north of

scotland but a slow process. temperatures barely budging between day and night across a good part of the uk. it means i'll stop to the day on thursday. more rain swinging east. it will weaken in the afternoon but probably staying damp across the coasts and hills in the south of england and across parts of wales. a mild day on thursday with temperatures up to 10 degrees in stornoway and aberdeen. the mildest air further south, 14 stornoway and aberdeen. the mildest airfurther south, 14 in london. we end the week like this. low pressure deepening close to the north of scotla nd deepening close to the north of scotland which will bring strong winds. talking about gales, even severe gales, up to 70 mph, perhaps stronger. although the strongest winds will be focused in scotland, it will be windy in northern ireland, northern england and parts of wales. staying mild but with heavy rain across northern scotland, that could cause issues with local

surface water flooding. it is across scotla nd surface water flooding. it is across scotland we have the highest risk of disruption because of strong winds. blustery with showers coming through on saturday. sunday looks like the better of the days at the the government publishes its legal advice on brexit in full, one day after being found in contempt of parliament. the six page document says the proposed backstop arrangement with the eu to prevent a ha rd arrangement with the eu to prevent a hard irish border good in your indefinitely. theresa may denies trying to hide the truth. we will have the latest from westminster as the second day of debate on the government brexit deal gets under way. also this lunchtime... the british academic — matthew hedges — who was jailed for spying in the united arab emirates says he endured "psychological torture". one of the days when i tried to, again, tell the truth to the interrogators, their reaction was to make me stand

for a day, wearing ankle cuffs.