you're watching bbc newsroom live — it's11am and these are the main stories this morning: british steel is to enter insolvency — putting 5,000 jobs at risk — following a breakdown in rescue talks with the government. it is the heart of the tone and ft heart stops beating services and and everything else around it will be affected massively. it is the news no one here wanted, workers have told us they are devastated. i am live on the scunthorpe with the very latest. theresa may will make the case for her amended brexit plan in parliament — as opposition to her proposals hardens. i think the sensible thing would be

for her to admit defeat and not actually put it to a vote. she is making a statement to parliament this afternoon and she could use that to make it clear because this is going absolutely nowhere. i hope that colleagues will, over the course of the next day or so, take an opportunity to reflect on the choices in front of us, and marks & spencer reports a fall in both sales and profits as it continues to implement a major turnaround programme. and lyon striker ada hegerberg is voted the bbc women's footballer of the year 2019. good morning, welcome to bbc newsroom live. britain's second

biggest steel producer is being put into insolvency, after last—minute rescue talks between the government and the company's owner broke down. the process puts five— thousands jobs at british steel at risk, and could affect a further twenty— thousand in the supply chain. liberal has described the collapse as devastating. 0ur correspondent sarah corker is at the british steel plant in scu nthorpe. it was widely anticipated this was coming. this is the news that no one here wanted, workers have told me they are absolutely devastated and this plant employs a 4000 people. there are many more any supply chain and when there are problems here there is a ripple effect through the entire area. british steel tried to negotiate the emergency loan with

the government and said they needed £30 million to keep trading and paying wages but that could not be agreed and workers here and asking what happens next. i am joined by charlotte a former steelworker working for the gmb, how are you feeling less to? devastated. i have a friend returning from maternity leave wondering how they can the mortgage, my cousin as an apprentice who has what it about the future. everyone you speak to he had had some connection to it, this is a town built on steel, for the arsenal hundred and 50 years and it has an effect beyond these gates. absolutely. still as scu nthorpe effect beyond these gates. absolutely. still as scunthorpe and scunthorpe as the steelworks. it is not just the

scunthorpe as the steelworks. it is notjust the people lately employed by the contractors that rely on the steelworks, karen mechanics across the roads, how can the run cars and people cannot buy a house of the don't have a regular income. we spoke three years ago when you are an electrician here and there was a rescue deal then my the assets from watford £1 and it was branded as a revival, what has gone wrong? there is an optimistic feel on the steelworks when there was the ta keover steelworks when there was the takeover and going back to our history british steel and what that meant as a tone that has been a what of outside forces and we cannot influence but it is the government that can ultimately and follow us how these affect manufacturing in

the uk. i don't what has gone wrong but we did the government to save us and it looks like they have sat on their hands and watched us worry about whether we will have a job. there has been a reaction yet from british steel but we know they have been saying this is known to brexit related issues. a slump in orders from the eu because of uncertainty around no deal, and potential tariffs. ed is a much more complex picture than that to. it would be naive to say brexit has not consist created uncertainty but if you can p0p y°u created uncertainty but if you can pop you are facing three years ago with imported steel from china, china has made more steel in the last two years than we have an on her study in the uk. how do you compete with that on a global scale? the oversupply of steel globally are

still having aerial impact here. as well as devaluing of the opponent since the death referendum. well as devaluing of the opponent since the death referendumlj well as devaluing of the opponent since the death referendum. i think this is the start of what is to come at the government cannot figure out at the government cannot figure out a way to get through this brexit mess. the uncertainty is not only worrying stock markets at is affecting people end of your ways and real life no. what people will be asking, that is a shift change $0011 be asking, that is a shift change soon and they will be wanting to know what happens next. we understand they will be looking for a biopsy tick on the plant, what more can you tell us? it is early stages, the nose and hasjust been made so i don't what will happen next but i hope the government post a cupful steel next but i hope the government post a cu pful steel and next but i hope the government post a cupful steel and ensure that steel—making continues and scunthorpe. we are yet to hear from

the reaction from the government but they said yesterday that they would do everything in their power to support the steel industry but for workers here they just support the steel industry but for workers here theyjust do not know what the future role hold and for scunthorpe belt on steel is very worrying. we arejust we are just getting one from businessmen minister greg clark seeing i have been advised that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms of any proposals the company or any other party has made and the days and weeks ahead i will work to pursue remorselessly every possible step to security future of the valuable operations and site at scunthorpe valuable operations and site at scu nthorpe and teesside. let's talk to our business presenterjamie robertson. what happens next to going entered

receivership, advice test the receiver. this is not administration which is where you put a ring fenced and owned a company to keep the creditors away but this is a deceiver ship which basically means creditors line up with their begging bowls and say please can we have what is left of the company and the receivers get every last penny they can from the assets by selling them 01’ can from the assets by selling them or doing what they can. in theory you could sell off british steel and say that is the money we can give it to our councils but it is unlikely, the condition of the industry as such that the could sell off in one piece. what about nationalisation? that seems out of the window at the moment. it would have happened

before know and you have the business minister saying that any any aid would have been illegal and thatis any aid would have been illegal and that is on competition rules, every time been a state aid and that is why they felt the could not do that. would it have been different if we had left the eu? a number of reasons why the company has collapsed and they are do a lot of them brexit related issues. firstly there was these carbon emission allowances which were given by the eu in order for company to pay for the amount of carbon which it emitted. those carbon which it emitted. those carbon emission allowances were not given because they did not the eu does not know what status the uk will have on the coming months. there was had become out of the eu a hope there would be an alternative

management between the uk and eu so the situation could continue a allowa nces the situation could continue a allowances still be provided for british steel. that came to an end. and other problems are much more to do with the relationship between the uk and eu post brexit because if you area uk and eu post brexit because if you are a buyer of steel and europe and look to british steel to order some steel in six months and they say ok, what tariffs are you going to pay? nobody knows. why are you going to order that is going to happen. also there is the problem of the devaluation of the pound, raw materials and in what more expensive so materials and in what more expensive so there was this huge perfect storm surrounding british steel. a lot of things going wrong providing problems and have no led to its receivership. thank you. we can speak to nic dakin now, he's the labour mp for scunthorpe.

what is your reaction? this is devastating and awful news for steelworks and their families and everybody related to the community and area and across steel—making across the uk. but what is really important is that steps are taken to retain steel—making and scunthorpe and the other areas affected because this is crucial to our future as an independent modern economy and nation. less is more thanjust about the local area, it is about the country as a whole. the business minister greg clark said he was advised that would have been unlawful to provide a loan to the company and that is why that did not happen. questions will be asked of

the owners of whether they have done the owners of whether they have done the right thing by this company and that they have left it position that should have been after the stewardship. there are questions still for the government to answer, i know they have been working very ha rd to i know they have been working very hard to find ways to support the business and keep it going and the government i am sure will continue to wa nt government i am sure will continue to want to do that. this is extreme a difficult and devastating news but it is not the end of the road, there isa it is not the end of the road, there is a lot more road to go and we need to make sure you have steel—making in the future and scunthorpe in the same way as we have in the past. labour would like to nationalise british steel. the appropriate thing is to find the way to keep the business going and ensure it is there for the future of the nation. this is a strategic industry for the nation, we cannot be serious about

being a modern and independent nation unless we have our own independent steel making capacity. we will not have our own defence on infrastructure security without that so infrastructure security without that so this is a national asset, things like the blast furnace and part of a national asset not just the community. if it is necessary for the government to take a public sta ke the government to take a public stake in the future of this industry thatis stake in the future of this industry that is what they should do. you don't sound quite as strongly supportive of pure nationalisation. effort is necessary then yes but let's ta ke effort is necessary then yes but let's take one step a time. we are facing a very difficult circumstance and need to together to find a way through that. there are different ways of doing that, people who will be interested in taking over the business but they need to be good stewards of this business ethic take it over. but what is important is that we all want together, trade

unions and workforce and government has a huge responsibility and all of us has a huge responsibility and all of us need to work on that to make sure this business as effective into the future. thank you. more on today's main stories coming up on newsroom live here on the bbc news channel, but now we say goodbye to viewers on bbc two. theresa may will give more details of her amended brexit plan to the commons in a few hours, but already it's been heavily criticised on all sides, putting the prime minister's political future in further jeopardy. this afternoon, senior conservative, nigel evans, will urge tory backbenchers to change the party's rules to force an immediate vote of confidence in mrs may. the prime minister has warned that mps have "one last chance" to deliver a negotiated exit from the eu. in an effort to win support she promised that if it passes they'll get a vote on whether to hold a referendum on the final deal. 0ur assistant political

editor is in central lobby of the houses of parliament. is this what mike going to happen?” think there is a? about whether theresa may pots deal well get left off of whether it will crash and burn. cabinet ministers this morning not saying it is definitely owing to happen and there are renewed mutterings about an attempt to maybe get mrs may two leave early. the vice—chairman of the 9022 committee said he did not think there should bea said he did not think there should be a revisit of the leadership roles and he had this to say about those brexiteers wishing for mrs may to go. they are seeking perfection and i didn't go into politics to seek perfection. i went into politics to find the best outcome, to walk away with the best deal possible. so there are those who think we can leave without a deal. they might be proven to be right. i suspect they won't be proven to be right, i suspect they will be very

disappointed and i don't want any of my constituents to turn round to me and say, "charles walker, you stood in the way of brexit", because i've never stood in the way of brexit. 0ne one of those two things it is time for mrs may to move on as the conservative mp nigel evans. why? two major things have happened since we met with the prime minister, the talks with the labour party collapsed, they collapsed and we should have collapsed that when tom watson said the labour party was no a party of the main and reform. the second big thing was the speech he made yesterday, the announcement that the withdrawal agreement with its ten points with the possibility ofa its ten points with the possibility of a customs union and confirmatory referendum, these red lines. we thought a general election a couple of years ago against us i know it seems as though everything is on the table apart from no deal and i think

the mood any party has changed. we are fighting elections for the european parliament which should never have happened, we should have left on march 29. all the opinion polls are left on march 29. all the opinion polls a re pretty left on march 29. all the opinion polls are pretty grim and following her speech yesterday i was talking to colleagues and it is quite clear that since her speech a number of people who voted for her deal on two and three are going to vote against it on foran and three are going to vote against it on for an even people who voted for the first time and they voting against it so at anything it seems as if more conservatives are saying no. she hasn't brought the labour party on an even she did that would be quite a dangerous situation and i have spoken to the dup and they say they are not going to touch it. how do you make it happen? we will have a meeting this afternoon, charles

walker is of a fun opinion we should not change the rules in order to test m ps not change the rules in order to test mps before december but my view is we should and whilst we do not ta ke is we should and whilst we do not take a vote last time we discussed this issue i am going to push it to a vote later today and we should have an announcement about ipm whether i have been able to convince enough of the committee to change the rules in order that we can test opinion. we still have to get letters end to the chairman of the 1922 committee and only when they are sufficient numbers well that confidence would be triggered. do you think there is any prospect mrs may will still be in place to bring her bow to the commons and that first week engine? —— engine.” doubt it and it seems as though the majority of the cabinet were against

what she announced, a number of really surprised. they thought they had convinced to go the other way so f you have a growing number of the cabinet against her and the talks i am having with my fellow colleagues is that there is a growing discontent with the way theresa may has handled this, you have the elections and we only have to wait until sunday to get the verdict of the peoples of the prime minister once a peoples vote on whether hardy was any good, she only has to wait until sunday. i think that has been a mood change and i do not think she is doing any favours to her successor when she says she would rather get their steel through and then they can ticket onto the next edge. what she will be doing is handing them a poisoned pattern and far better that we listen to all the candidates and the election is under way whether she likes it or not, whether they are and the cabinet or

not then let's have somebody with a clea n not then let's have somebody with a clean sheet able to reboot the negotiations with a new commission. thank you. things are moving quickly here and that is a deal? about whether the and bill sees the light of day and then how much longer the play minister can survive f the european elections are as bad as many people believe they will be. and today we are continuing our series of interviews with the main parties standing in the european elections in a special ‘bbc ask this'.at 11.35 we'll be speaking to labour'sjohn healey — so stay with us for that .. at 5.30 it's the turn of plaid cymru — we'll be speaking to party's leader adam price. if you have a question...

the headlines on bbc news: british steel is to enter insolvency, putting 5,000 jobs at risk — following a breakdown in rescue talks with the government. theresa may will make the case for her amended brexit plan in parliament, amid signs that conservative opposition to her leadership is hardening. marks & spencer reports a fall in both sales and profits as it continues to implement a major turnaround programme. in the sport the bbc woman's footballer of the year has been voted for 2019. raheem sterling says social media boycotts and t—shirts are not enough to combat racism. he has told the new york times that is to be more harsh punishments including points deductions and teams been kicked out of

competitions. and michael von says in god have the best opportunity to —— and can't have the best the energy regulator, 0fgem, has imposed its biggest ever penalty on one of the country's leading gas transmission companies over failings to customers. cadent, which is part owned by the national grid, was fined £24 million and ordered to invest another £20 million in a community fund. the company's shortcomings included losing the records of customers in 775 high rise buildings. there were three big problems that failed their customers who live in tower blocks. as you mentioned, they simply cut them off of gas for far too long when they made repairs. they didn't pay the compensation that was due quickly enough and they had exceedingly poor record—keeping, which meant they weren't looking

after those residents properly. now, we have investigated this, we have addressed it with cadent and if there's any positive news, the new board have said to me they have a plan to fix this and they will pay the £44 million which will benefit their customers. there are two things i want to point out. one is, this is obviously a financial hit for cadent but it's also a message to all network companies, if you don't look after your customers, ultimately you will pay financially. marks and spencer has reported a 10% fall in profits — the third year in a row it's seen a decline. the retailer has posted a pre—tax profit of £523 million for the year to the end of march. the group said substantial changes across the business had affected this year's performance. let's get more on our top story. britain's second biggest steel producer is being put into insolvency — after last—minute rescue talks between the government and the company's owner broke down. let's talk now to the director general of uk steel, gareth stace.

what is your reaction to this news? this news is certainly a body blow to the company, its employees and theirfamilies. what to the company, its employees and their families. what we to the company, its employees and theirfamilies. what we need to the company, its employees and their families. what we need to do todayis their families. what we need to do today is as we understand that the government has asked its official receiver to take over the plant and therefore the key thing here today for that steel plant is to ensure that it does not stop today producing steel because as we know you do not just producing steel because as we know you do notjust turn on and off steel production, once at times off stays off so they key thing today is to ensure continuity at that site to keep going in the short—term and then for the industry and government to work together to find a buyer for the scunthorpe site. what is the viability of it bidding in mind the problems it is facing? british steel

would have had exponent particular problems they are and like any other manufacturing sector, brexit causes uncertainty and additional costs. the uncompetitive business landscape in the uk but actually there is a good business they are behind what british steel do. they make excellent rail, a world leader providing to the uk and abroad and specialist construction material so we need to remember that we cannot tarnish what has happened at british steel as an individual company, we cannot target the rest of the sector with that same brush because globally and in the uk the demand for steel is increasing and therefore there are opportunities for the steel sector here in the uk and globally and that includes british steel. today should not be the last day of production and scunthorpe, that would be a travesty and disaster. there should be hope

for that sector so, sorry for that site in the future and we will do everything we can to one of the government and support government and its desire to find a new buyer for the scunthorpe steelworks. the business minister has said his hands we re business minister has said his hands were tied, he was asked for help from british steel but said he was unable to make a loan because of competition alloys, do you think the government has that everything possible? i think they have and we heard yesterday the business minister saying no stone will be left unturned. and i know it is emerging used but my understanding as the government is very much behind keeping the site going and if thatis behind keeping the site going and if that is the case then we fully support what they are doing. the government doesn't want to see a disaster and scu nthorpe any government doesn't want to see a disaster and scunthorpe any more than we all mourn the disaster in

2015 of ssi on teesside when it was just left to rot. that cannot happen with scunthorpe just left to rot. that cannot happen with scu nthorpe and just left to rot. that cannot happen with scunthorpe and i am supportive of the government trying to do with its official receiver. what do you think of nationalisation? the government needs to step in any short—term and support the site and ensure continuity but i do not think nationalisation is the answer here in terms of the long—term or medium—term. the steel sector as a viable and can be competitive and we wa nt to viable and can be competitive and we want to government to address uncompetitive costs like energy prices and business rates. if we can do that to be can make the whole of the steel sector in the uk extreme a competitor because it is highly efficient and therefore can stand on its own two feet. there is no need for nationalisation but there is a need for government to show support in the short—term and that starts right note today to ensure the continuity of steel—making and scunthorpe. thank you. we will have

more reaction to that news to british steel going under and on the website. now it's time for a look at the weather. plenty one sunshine at the moment, this morning started with cloud and rain affecting northern parts but at the moment across central and southern scotland there is sunshine and a different study in the far north of scotland, heavy rain here and a strong north—westerly wind. that makes it feel quite cool, temperatures 11 or 12 and elsewhere the cloud across north wales and southern parts of northern england. temperatures up to 21 and the sunshine and the south—east. through this evening and today to the ring continues in the north—east of scotland, rather impressed north—westerly wind and elsewhere clear spells, temperatures down to

between six and ten. thursday more of the same, some rain affecting the far north—east of scotland, otherwise dry spells of sunshine and temperatures a bit higher, high teens and northern parts but up to 23 and the south—east.

hello this is bbc newsroom live with me, joanna gosling. the headlines: british steel is going into insolvency, putting 5,000 jobs at immediate risk and endangering another 20,000 in the supply chain. it is the heart of the town and if the heart stops beating, services, retail and everything else that is around it will be effective massively. theresa may will make the case for her amended brexit plan in parliament as opposition to her proposals hardens. i think the sensible thing would be

for her to admit defeat and not actually put it to a vote. she is making a statement to parliament this afternoon and she could use that to make it clear. because this is going absolutely nowhere. everyone should take an opportunity to reflect on what the prime minister will say later today and to look at the bill. i hope that people will support a negotiated settlement that takes us out the european union. marks & spencer reports a fall in both sales and profits as it continues to implement a major turnaround programme. sport now, here's jane dougall. good morning. the lyon striker ada hegerberg has been voted the bbc women's footballer of the yearfor 2019. hegerberg won a fourth champions league title on saturday, scoring a hat trick in the final against barcelona. 0ur reporter sarah mulkerrins flew out to norway to surprise ada with her award.

hello! hi! hello! ada hegerberg, you have won the bbc women's footballer of the yearfor 2019. let's get a round of applause! applause. it's so nice of you to come here and film the whole family together. i get so emotional when i talk about this. they've been part of the journey since day one, and they're the most important people in my life. my mum and my dad, they've they've always been there. gave me that voice... nephews shout

..and my nephews! they gave me that courage to always stand up for what i believe in. now we've got a strong voice for the girls that really want to play football, and that's very good. it's like you have the glory and the days that are tougher. balon d'0r was beyond my world, to be honest. my dad, he passed away now in february, and he often said, "it's like an adventure," so i adopt his words, it's like an adventure. when she meets a situation, she has already experienced it either on the pitch or in her head. i think that's maybe made the little difference between her and the others. winning the first bbc award was amazing, but winning it again is a really, really hard job. first of all, this is hard for me to find the words because winning it a second time is, like andrine said, it's unbelievable.

bbc women's footballer of the year, it speaks for itself, so thank you, thank you so much. i'll stay hungry, motivated, i'll give it all as long as i can and i'll write new history for sure. congratulations again, because you are the bbc women's footballer of the yearfor 2019. raheem sterling says social media boycotts and t—shirts aren't enough to combat racism. sterling has been a strong voice in the fight against racism in football since allegedly being abused by chelsea fans, whilst playing for manchester city in december. he's told the new york times there needs to be harsher punishments, including points deductions and teams being kicked out of competitions. chris hughton meanwhile, says he was disappointed and surprised to be sacked by brighton. hughton spent four and a half years on the south coast, but left the club when they finished

last season just one place above the relegation zone. the former england cricket captain, andrew strauss, says they'll never have a better chance to win the world cup. it all starts at the oval when england play south africa a week tomorrow. they've named their 15—man squad, and made some tough decisions, bringing in the exciting fast bowler joffra archer ahead of others with more experience. strauss says it's an exciting time for the side. that's all the sport for now. now it's time for ask this. tomorrow, voters here and across the european union will go to the polls in elections to the european parliament. in some countries they will be going to the polls later and that is why we will not get the results until early monday morning.

originally, the uk wasn't due to take part, but that changed because of the delay to brexit. in the run—up to the elections we're talking to all the main uk parties on the bbc news channel, putting your questions to them. today it's the turn of labour and the mp, john healey is here to answer your questions. we have got lots to talk about brexit, but i would like to kick off a question on british steel because that has been happening this morning and we have had a question from peter in east yorkshire, asking if you will support labour's initiative to nationalise british steel because he believes it is a prime example where privatisation has been a failure. short answer to peter, yes. iama failure. short answer to peter, yes. i am a rotherham mp and it isjust like scunthorpe i am a rotherham mp and it isjust like scu nthorpe and i am a rotherham mp and it isjust like scunthorpe and i know how many people are worried. this is a company that bought british steel

for £1. made a profit last year and has been returning a lot of money to overseas i nvesto i’s has been returning a lot of money to overseas investors in tax havens and it is the sort of company that is not fit to run a long—term, essential strategic industry for a country like ours. it is important the government steps in, takes control of british steel for now so the plant can continue to produce steel and we find a long—term plan so we can secure the steel and we find a long—term plan so we can secure the steel—making in scunthorpe but also that part of the economy. there is a forward-looking issue and a backward —looking issue. you talked about what happened in terms of the £1 buyout. do you think anything should be done retrospectively in terms not looking at more closely at what went on? private equity companies like umpire: game and set, are not suited

to the long—term manufacturing investment. the government missed an opportunity three years ago and it was speaking to the steel industry and mp5 like me to put in place a plan for steel, recognising its importance as an underpinning for this country. recognising its importance as an underpinning for this countrym talked about but then did nothing to help with some of the climate change costs, to do with the punitive business rates that hit manufacturing factories like scunthorpe or like manufacturing factories like scu nthorpe or like in manufacturing factories like scunthorpe or like in rotherham and nothing also to deal with the opportunity that britain, as a country and as a government, public sector, if you like, buys a great deal of steel in construction manufacturing. even in our military. we should be making sure we are buying used british steel in that procurement. those are the things the government, as a next step, could do. the problems at british steel now highlight and underline the importance of doing that as a government. one of the factors

affecting british steel is brexit of course and there is current uncertainty over what the tariffs will be. total uncertainty on the whole brexit picture, so let's move on to the questions. the british steel chief executive said problems now are caused by the uncertainty of brexit and the failure of the government to be able to get a deal in place and negotiate that successfully. labour have been involved now and in those talks to come up with a compromise. we had the local elections and labour and the local elections and labour and the tories said the message of those elections when both of the parties had lost heavily was the people want the politicians to crack on and get it done but it hasn't happened. the politicians to crack on and get it done but it hasn't happenedm was the government took on to negotiate a deal. we gave them the go—ahead in parliament with labour backing the process triggering the article 50 vote. 0ver backing the process triggering the article 50 vote. over two years they fail to get a deal that is able to

command public support, but more importantly, public support. —— parliament support. that has been rejected three times by all parties. 0ur task and mission, rejected three times by all parties. 0urtask and mission, if rejected three times by all parties. 0ur task and mission, if you like as the labour party, respecting the result of the referendum, even though we campaigned for remain, is we need to see brexit through but a better deal for we need to see brexit through but a better dealfor britain, we need to see brexit through but a better deal for britain, better than the ones the conservatives have been able to negotiate which keeps us close to the customs union which getters over the risk of tariffs like british steel is facing and over the hardboard like british steel is facing and over the ha rdboa rd in like british steel is facing and over the hardboard in northern ireland that puts in jeopardy, the important piece we have got there. you set out labour's policy and brexit. the first question from abraham, can't the labour party have a clear policy on brexit? you are trying to be everything to everyone at the moment? it is true, we are

trying to build the country together. the way to do that is to recognise the result of the referendum, see brexit through, but make sure we get a good deal that keeps a customs union, that keeps us close to the european union single market with maximum access and also, guarantees the rights we have as workers or consumers and the protections over the environment. that is consistently what we have argued for and that is the best way to respect the referendum and reflect the concerns of many of the 48% who voted remain. if you are getting it right, would we be going into these european elections with the brexit party, which is leave without a deal, having a clear lead across the country as a whole and labour, according to most of the polling companies in second place followed by the liberal democrats and the conservatives? the country is divided and the polls reflect

that. on the polls, the indications are that the people are saying, they are that the people are saying, they are backing either the remain parties and that vote is fragmented because there are more parties representing them, or they are going to the other end and going for brexit and the tories and labour abbas khan actually brexit has divided the country. this is a poll which is hardening those divides. the duty of politicians and we are the only party trying to do that, is to find a way of bringing the country together again. we wouldn't have these elections, nobody wants them, nobody expected them and we have only got them because the government has failed to get a deal, agreed by parliament with support from the public, that allows us to get into a much tougher period of settling future relationships on things like trade, immigration and on agriculture, on customs, the thing is that the government,

despite having two years at this, is finding difficult to do. dean on twitter, labour says they would honour the referendum result. we formally leave membership of the european union so rules like freedom of movement will end. but in order to get a deal which best protects britishjobs, to get a deal which best protects british jobs, security and to get a deal which best protects britishjobs, security and our rights, we have got to remain as close as we can to the single market. we need a customs union in place and we need some of the guarantees britain does in full behind on workplace rights, protection of our environment and as consumers, in the shops as well. you mention emigration, the greens say that views on immigration, they believe are changing, according to what they are hearing from voters. they say it is because of an appreciation of the economic and

social value of immigration and they say that is proving to be a vote winnerfor say that is proving to be a vote winner for them. good luck to them. it may be their view. what is an inescapable fact is, we leave the european union and decisions over rules like freedom of movement and immigration, rightly become for the british government again. those will be decisions that we will take in britain and people can hold us, as british politicians, directly to account. that was the sort of thing that figured for many people when they face the referendum campaign in 2016. holding politicians to account, we have just 2016. holding politicians to account, we havejust had local elections, we have the european elections, we have the european elections, if we stick with the polls on the european elections and it comes out that labour and the tories, the party is trying to deliver what you are talking about are squeezed by brexit and the remain parties, does it mean you are

failing? you can have me back next week and we will discuss that. if we ta ke week and we will discuss that. if we take the backlash of the local elections, less than three weeks ago, we managed to win councils in areas like trafford, that voted remain and amber valley in derbyshire that voted leave. that is what we are trying to do, map a way forward for this country that doesn't just cast forward for this country that doesn'tjust cast half the country to one side, which is what all the other parties are trying to do. as far as these elections go in the end, about four labour is more than a vote about brexit, it is a vote for british mps, labour mps in the european parliament, whilst we still send them there, arguing for things like strong action on climate change. proper workplace rights for people, decent consumer standards and clamp—down on tax dodging by multinational companies. all this

has been led in parliament. if we have these elections, we are campaigning to get people to vote as many euro labour mps while we still do that. sultan says, have you discounted are no brexit scenario? parliament has said no brexit, sorry i must read that. have you discounted and no brexit scenario? 0ur consistent view after the referendum result was, we are a democratic country, we gave this decision to the people to leave or remain and it requires us now to see that through, but to do so in a way which bests protects ourjobs and rights in this country. and from opposition as opposition, that is what we have tried to do, secure a better brexit deal than the government has negotiated. and better than the prime minister appears to be bringing back, yet

again, fora appears to be bringing back, yet again, for a fourth time, in a of weeks. whether we get that, we don't know. but you have tom watson saying labour is a party of remain and reform. labour is a party of the election pledge he made two years ago. recognise a referendum but get ago. recognise a referendum but get a good dealfor britain that ago. recognise a referendum but get a good deal for britain that keeps us a good deal for britain that keeps us close to the single market. recognises the country that voted remain but also respects the decision we gave to the people to leave. it was a referendum campaign and a question about whether we leave, not how we leave. that is what we now need to see through. mark from sunderland has said, how can labour say they are an outward —looking party when they want to stay in the customs union and single market which defeats is doing free trade across the world? many of the free trade agreements in place now

that benefit britain that were negotiated by the european union, we re negotiated by the european union, were led by british negotiators, we re were led by british negotiators, were led by british negotiators, were led by british negotiators, were led by britain within the group of governments leading those free trade arrangements. when the european union market is such a big pa rt european union market is such a big part of what our businesses and jobs direct the products into, we need to try and safeguard those, as well as being ina try and safeguard those, as well as being in a position where it is possible in the future, through a customs deal with the european union, that we can play a part in bigger trade deals in the future as well. he said at the beginning of our conversation, what is important is the future relationship and that is the future relationship and that is something that is still up for negotiation. 0bviously, who knows what will happen with future tory leadership, but in order to have any sort of negotiation in the shape of the future relationship and it not be an odious scenario, there needs to be an agreement on leaving. get

the withdrawal agreement to parliament. why won't labour support that? there are two parts what the government have tried to negotiate and failed. the political declaration sets out the framework for the negotiations for the next period and the long term. they are pa rt period and the long term. they are part of the same package and that is what we have art deco full tease with. what she is talking about now is, it would be giving mps the opportunity to vote on the withdrawal agreement and then have a temporary customs arrangement till the next election. there are so many variables in that scenario i know, but it is about saying look to now, then look to the future then beyond that. the problem is, the biggest variable and temporary element is the prime minister. when we have had six weeks of labour talking to the

government to find out whether we can establish middle ground that would allow us to get a better brexit deal and get parliamentary support behind it. we found problems with the european union. we are dealing with the prime minister who doesn't have support from her cabinet and make clear that one of the centrepieces necessary that a long time customs union was out of the future. you have one of the future prime minister is undermining her at every turn. the moment has a prime minister and a government with no authority, unable to come to an agreement with the european union that can stick and unable to come to an agreement with the labour party to get this through, that can stick. she is temporary, she is on her way out and any future tory leader could essentially take this brexit process in any direction they like, including a crash out, no—deal brexit, which some of them seem to be advocating and which we have led the resistance to in parliament and

there has been support from mps from all parties to try and avoid that economic disaster, as the chancellor has said, if britain were to find itself in that position. the prime minister said yesterday, it is a great time to be alive, are you enjoying politics now? in a strange sort of way, i have always enjoyed politics. the moment you stop enjoying it and feel like you are not making a difference or you are wasting your time, that is the time to step away. what keeps me going, it is not just to step away. what keeps me going, it is notjust how we deal with this big challenge brexit, but the fact there are so many other fronts in which people are finding such serious problems in housing, the nhs and wages. it's things like that that keep me as a labour politician going, because those are the problems we have to fix for people. thank you forjoining us. thanks tojohn healey from labour.

we've already spoken to the liberal democrats, the brexit party, ukip, the greens, the snp, change uk and the conservatives. and at 5.30 today we'll be speaking to the leader of plaid cymru, adam price. so if you have a question, send them in via text on 61124, tweet using the hashtag bbc ask this, or email ask this at bbc.co.uk. in a moment we'll have all the business news, but first the headlines on bbc news: british steel is to enter insolvency — putting 5,000 jobs at risk following a breakdown in rescue talks with the government. theresa may will make the case for her amended brexit plan in parliament, amid signs that conservative opposition to her leadership is hardening. marks & spencer reports a fall in both sales and profits as it continues to implement a major turnaround programme. good morning.

as british steel goes into receivership we look at what went wrong with the country's second biggest steel maker. the gas distribution giant cadent, has been fined a record £44 million over gas supply failures after it left some customers without gas for more than five months and had no records on its gas piping systems in almost 800 tower blocks. inflation reached its highest level so far this year in april, when higher energy bills pushed up prices. the office for national statistics said the consumer price index was 2.1% in april, up from 1.9% in march.

britain's second biggest steel producer is being put into insolvency — after last—minute rescue talks between the government and the company's owner broke down. there is weakening demand from china and prices are pushed down with a flood of imports from turkey. it's very difficult question to ask. when you think about where these materials are coming from, we're shipping very expensive dirt from australia and brazil and trying to make a very low profit commodity at the end of it. it's very difficult for any company to make profit under those situations.

steel can be very cheap or very expensive. the uk has always excelled in developing very high—spec steel specifically for automotive or aeronautical applications. unfortunately those are much lower volume and therefore need less people and investment in the facilities to make it happen. the stock market up a bit. royal mail, producing a second parcel delivery. marks & spencer is, people worried about its recovery programme, not having much confidence in it. that's all the business news. prime minister's questions will be starting shortly — our assistant political editor, norman smith is in the houses of parliament. last week you thought it might be her penultimate prime ministers questions, do you think it might be theresa may's last one?” questions, do you think it might be theresa may's last one? i think it is possible. events are moving very

swiftly with a steady flow of tory mps who previously backed theresa may's deal. saying this morning, we will not put indications that the withdrawal agreement may not be put to the commons after cabinet ministers have refused to say it is definitely going to come back to the house in the first week ofjune. 0n top of all that, a real question over whether theresa may can go on. there is going to be about tonight at the 1922 committee to decide whether to change the leadership rules, paving the way for a no—confidence vote. in the last half an hour, talking to priti patel, she is calling for a complete clear out of the cabinet. this isn'tjust this isn't just about changing the pilot. this cabinet have been sat back and been part of the problem. they have been complicit in

supporting whether it is the checkers, withdrawal agreement and everything in terms of the discussions with the labour party over brexit. now, this final humiliation which is just over brexit. now, this final humiliation which isjust not acceptable. the cabinets have failed in being direct and standing up for brexit and they failed in questioning the leadership approach over brexit as well. i think it is now a matter of time before we see change and i think that change will come. events now moving very quickly and then a funny sort of way, pmqs might bea and then a funny sort of way, pmqs might be a relief that mrs may given the immense pressure she is under. she might want to answer questions about different things apart from brexit, but i don't think there is any getting away from it. tonight we will know whether the 22 will move against her. even if they are not, many tory mps believe monday, the result of the european election results could be the moment when

they are unstoppable demands for the prime minister to go. so a sense of things could now change very, very quickly. there can't be many times when we have gone into pmqs thinking this is a bit of light relief. norman, thank you very much. now it's time for a look at the weather. we have sunshine across many parts of the uk at the moment. very warm out there because temperatures in the south—east, getting into the low 20s. in worcestershire, fairweather cloud in the sky. but the skies are darker than that in the north—east of scotland. heavy rain here at the moment, blustery north—westerly winds which will continue throughout the afternoon. most of england and wales, dry with sunny spells. more cloud perhaps in north wales, through southern parts of northern england and perhaps one or two showers here. 11 or 12 degrees, but

up showers here. 11 or 12 degrees, but up to 21 degrees in the south—east. tonight, outbreaks of rain across the north—east of scotland. elsewhere, there will be clear spells with temperatures getting down to six, nine may be 10 degrees. 0n down to six, nine may be 10 degrees. on thursday, while it stays wet in the north east part of scotland, everywhere will be dry with sunny spells again. 23 degrees in the capital. goodbye.

you're watching bbc newsroom live — these are today's main stories: british steel enters insolvency — putting 5,000 jobs in the uk at risk and endangering 20,000 in the supply chain. i have a friend returning from maternity leave, her partner works at the steelworks, asking how they are going to pay their mortgage. my cousin has not finished his apprenticeship yet and is worried about what he's going to do with his qualifications and what the future looks like. theresa may will make the case for her amended brexit plan in parliament shortly — as opposition to her proposals hardens. i think the sensible thing would be for her to admit defeat and not actually put it to a vote. she is making a statement to parliament this afternoon and she could use that to make it clear because this is going absolutely nowhere.

everyone should take an opportunity to reflect on what the prime minister will say later and to look at the bill. i hope people will support a negotiated settlement that takes us out of the european union. this is the scene live in the house of commons where prime minister's questions is about to get under way. it will be followed by theresa may's brexit statement. good morning, welcome to bbc newsroom live. let's cross to the house of commons. prime minister's questions is about to get underway — we will keep an eye on what is going on. prime minister's questions is about to get underway — our assistant political editor, norman smith is in the houses of parliament.

a prime minister under pressure, not easy but that hasn't been a time when she hasn't been. as she getting to her feet? let's when she hasn't been. as she getting to herfeet? let's see when she hasn't been. as she getting to her feet? let's see what she says. the manchester arena attack was a cowardly and sickening attack that deliberately targeted innocent and defenceless children. members from across the house will want to join me in sending my thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of all the victims. and i'm sure it members will also want to join me in paying tribute to the immense bravery and courage that the emergency services showed that night. this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this house, and shall have the further such meetings later today.” know the whole house will want to associate themselves with the words she has spoken about the manchester

attack. she may not have long left, and good luck with those meetings later today, but she can act now against the return of banned chemical weapons. british experts are this morning investigating a suspected chlorine attack by al asad in it led. if it is approved, will she lead the international response against the return of this indiscriminate evil? —— attack in idlib. the honourable gentleman is right to raise the evil of the use of chemical weapons. we of course acted in syria with france and the us when we saw chemical weapons being used in syria. we of course suffered the use of chemical weapons here on the streets of the uk and took a robust response supported by our international friends and allies, and we condemn all use of chemical weapons. we are in close

contact with the us, we are monitoring the situation closely, and ifany monitoring the situation closely, and if any use of chemical weapons is confirmed, we will respond appropriately. but our position is clear. we consider asad incapable of delivering a lasting peace and his regime lost its legitimacy due to its atrocities against its own syrian people. does the prime minister agree that energy efficiency manage deliver commissions are critical in tackling climate change? bringing every home up climate change? bringing every home up to standard could save 25% of electricity generation, the equivalent of six hinkley point nuclear power stations. it could save every family £270 and it could potentially pay for itself by generating 1.27... £1.27 for every pound invested. i think my

honourable friend makes an excellent point and honourable friend makes an excellent pointand we, honourable friend makes an excellent point and we, like her, absolutely recognise the importance of this issue. the government is committed to improving energy efficiency in 2.5 million homes by 2030 and our aim is to bring 2.5 million poor homes up to a certificate c rating by 2030. this will indeed help to save energy and also bring down bills. ijoined the prime minister in commemorating all the victims of the manchester bombing two years ago. our thoughts are with the friends and family of all those who we re friends and family of all those who were killed, the survivors and of course the emergency service workers who gave such heroic service that night. they live with the horrors of this for the rest of their lives and at10:31pm this for the rest of their lives and at 10:31pm tonight it will be a very poignant moment for the people in manchester. i also want to pay tribute to the last survivor of the whole headscarf revolutionaries. she

is visiting parliament today. she led a campaign for basic safety on the uk's fishing fleets in the 1960s and asa the uk's fishing fleets in the 1960s and as a result many lives were saved. people like her made such a contribution to our lives, they should be recognised. i also want to express my outrage that the government has again failed the steel industry, putting 5000 jobs at risk in british steel, 20,000 more in supply chain. this government has failed those people and even at this late stage, and there is a statement later on today, must step in to save those jobs. could i later on today, must step in to save thosejobs. could i ask later on today, must step in to save those jobs. could i ask the later on today, must step in to save thosejobs. could i ask the prime minister, why are skills having to close early on friday afternoon due to spending cuts? he has raised the issue of british steel and we recognise that this is a worrying time for the thousands of dedicated british steel workers and their families, but also those in the supply chain and local communities.

the government has been working tirelessly with the company, with its owner, and lenders, to explore all potential options to secure a solution for the company. we showed through the ets agreement that we we re through the ets agreement that we were willing to act, but we can only act within the law and it is clear that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or lawn on the thames requested by the company. —— provide a guarantee or loan. we will work in the days and weeks ahead to ensure that we can pursue every step to secure the future of the operations at scunthorpe, skinningrove and teesside. the chancellor has also agreed an indemnity for the official receiver to enable british steel to continue to operate in the immediate future. there are nojob continue to operate in the immediate future. there are no job losses at this time and the official receiver has already said that staff will continue to be paid and employed. the business secretary will be updating the house in a statement later this afternoon. 0n the issue

of schools, is the right honourable gentleman knows we are putting record levels of funding into our skills. that would explain why 26 school close early on a friday every week, because they don't have enough money to keep themselves open. there are more than 1000 schools across england that are turning to crowdfunding websites with a wish list of things they want to raise money to buy. really exotic things like pencils, like glue, like textbooks! why are they forced to do this if they allegedly have enough money in the first place? i've said here before, we are now putting record levels of funding into our schools. we also put in place to ensure a fairer distribution of the funding between our schools. we are giving every area more money for

every pupil in every school. but what is important in our education system is not just what is important in our education system is notjust about what government puts in, it is about what quality of education is received by the children. there are more children in good and outstanding schools, the disadvantage attainment gap has been narrowed, and record rates of disadvantaged young people are going to university. that is a record to be proud of.” are going to university. that is a record to be proud of. i don't know if the prime minister had a chance to listen to or read the words of the general secretary of the national association of head teachers. he said, the fact that so many schools are doing this should be ringing serious alarm bells for the government. the prime minister doesn't seem to be aware of the crisis that is facing so many in education at the present time. or can she be very clear with the house? has per—pupil funding can she be very clear with the house? has per—pupilfunding risen orfallen since

house? has per—pupilfunding risen or fallen since 2010? we are giving every area more money for every pupil in every school, but why are we... why are we able to do that is because the conservatives have taken a balanced approach to our economy and managed our finances a balanced approach to our economy and managed ourfinances well. what would labour give us? 1000 billion extra pounds in borrowing? higher taxes, fewer jobs extra pounds in borrowing? higher taxes, fewerjobs and less money to go into our skills. a labour cove na nt go into our skills. a labour covenant would properly fund our skills and not short—change our children —— a labour government would fund our schools. we wouldn't use 0rwellian words like their funding when we are cutting. per—pupil funding, so the funding when we are cutting. per—pupilfunding, so the prime minister understands it, has fallen by 8%. for a sixth forms it is 20%. at the end of last year, the prime minister said, posterity is over. ——

austerity is over. maria, who described herself as a teacher and underfunding skill, wrote to me. she isa underfunding skill, wrote to me. she is a teacher in an underfunded school. i think you need to listen to her! when will the government to stop making false claims of increased funding for schools and start to tackle the serious problems faced by teachers? when will the cuts and for our children's schools? i repeat what i said. we are giving every area more money for every pupil in every school. but let's just see the situation that this government inherited and we would see under a labour government in future. having to spend more on debt interest tha n future. having to spend more on debt interest than on our schools budget. that's not because of what this government is doing, because we are bringing debt down. it's the legacy left by a labour government. more money on debts than an on our

schools. this government has squandered what it inherited. sure start, skill centres, children taken out of poverty. it has squandered the future for so many of our children. order! order! mr burkhardt, you are an educated young man. when you came into the house, you struck me as a very well behaved fellow. calm yourself and listen! the department for education's funding chief met with school leaders recently and told them the first thing to say is obviously they are not generous projects. he is very cautious with his words. they are budgets which leave schools with real pressures to face. everyone agrees that our creative industries in this country are an enormous strength to our economy. so why have the arts borne the brunt of the government's brutal cuts to school

funding? so many children losing out ona funding? so many children losing out on a music and creative art in our schools because of decisions made by central government. he started his question by claiming that this government had squandered what had been left by the last labour government. let's just been left by the last labour government. let'sjust look been left by the last labour government. let's just look at what was left by the last labour government! 0... 0... they don't wa nt to government! 0... 0... they don't want to be reminded what they left the last time they were in government. what did the last labour government. what did the last labour government leave? unemployment higher than when it went into office! the biggest deficit in our peacetime history! and what were we told by the departing chief secretary to the treasury? under labour, there is no money left. my question was actually about funding for arts and creative subjects in

schools. a survey has shown that nine out of ten secondary schools have cut back on at lesson time, staff or facilities in at least one of the creative arts subjects. are the artists and actors of tomorrow only to come from the private schools, while she continues to cut the funding for state schools? when the funding for state schools? when the prime minister says that school funding has been protected, she is denying the daily experience of teachers, parents and pupils. she is denying the incontrovertible evidence of the iss, education bodies and teaching unions she is in outright denial. and when the wealth of the richest 1000 people has increased by £50 billion in the last year alone, don't tell us the money isn't there for our children's schools! this government has cut vital public services to give tax

cuts to the privileged few. can the prime minister name and more damaging policy, and more short—sighted policy than cutting investment in our future, our children? cani can i say to the right honourable gentleman, the richest have paid more tax every year under the conservatives, no, wait for it, they have paid more under every year under the conservatives and in any year under a labour government. and he talks about what happens in our schools. as i have said, we are putting record funding into our schools but what matters is the quality of education our children get. labour opposed the phonics checks, they want to scrap academies and free schools, they would abolish sats, that doesn't help to raise the standards. but let's just look at

the labour record. when they were in government, standards were lower than they are today. where they are in government in wales, standards are in government in wales, standards a re lower in government in wales, standards are lower than in england and if they were to get into government, we would see more of the same. lower standards, less opportunity, less opportunity for young people for a brighter future under labour. it is the conservative party that give good quality of education, good jobs and a good future. thank you, mr speaker. can my right honourable friend explained why she ordered that the consultation on the troubles in northern ireland should not contain proposals for a statute of limitations, as was reported in the sunday telegraph? and can she update us on what the government will actually get on and do? first of all, he shouldn't necessarily believe all the reports he reads in the newspapers but let me be very clear on this particular issue.

around 3,500 people were killed in the troubles. the vast majority were murdered by terrorists. the legal position is clear, any amnesty or statute of limitations would have to apply across the board. it would apply across the board. it would apply to terrorists. i am not prepared to accept a proposal which brings in amnesties for terrorists. ian blackford. i would like to say myself i agree with the remarks by the prime minister on the heinous events of two years ago in manchester, we must all stand together against terrorism. mr speaker, the prime minister's customs tariff plan has been described by the uk's former representative to the eu as the definition of insanity. her customs union compromise already dismissed

by the european union. isn't this a new dealjust a fantasy? can i say to the right honourable gentleman, i had set out the ten points of the new deal. there is an issue about customs, there is a difference of opinion in this house on the future customs arrangement with the european union. that is why it is important to his house actually comes to a decision on that issue. allowing the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill will enable this house to come to a decision on that issue. it will also enable the house to come to a decision on a second referendum, which i continue to believe would not be the right route for this country to go down, we should deliver on the first referendum before suggesting anything about a second. my goodness, talk about ignoring reality. prime minister, look at the benches behind you. the prime minister is fooling no one but herself. and the truth, mr speaker, is that the people of scotland don't

wa nt is that the people of scotland don't want her deal. her own party doesn't wa nt want her deal. her own party doesn't want her deal. her own party doesn't want her deal. her own party doesn't want her deal. and now even the pro brexit labour front bench won't support her deal. her time is up. tomorrow, people in scotland have a choice. to send a message, to send pro—european, outward —looking scottish national party meps to brussels to stop brexit. prime minister, what party does she think the people of scotland will choose? i say to the right honourable gentleman, there is only one party in scotland guaranteeing no more referendums and that is the conservative party. thank you, sir... order! colleagues, calm yourselves. dignity, restraint.

thank you, sir. my constituents jackie was 26 weeks pregnant at the time ofa jackie was 26 weeks pregnant at the time of a car crash that caused her baby time of a car crash that caused her ba by to time of a car crash that caused her baby to be stillborn. however, only the injuries caused to herself and their older daughter were relevant when charging and subsequently sentencing the driver whose dangerous driving caused the crash. the baby, grace, got nojustice at all and the baby, grace, got nojustice at allandi the baby, grace, got nojustice at all and i understand from the police and stillbirth support groups that their tragic experience is sadly far from unique. will the prime minister look again at the 19 eighty road traffic act so that those that cause debts to viable babies over 24 weeks gestation through dangerous driving can be held responsible —— 1988 games road traffic act.” can be held responsible —— 1988 games road traffic act. i know that all members across the house, and it will have been obvious from the reaction to the question, willjoin us reaction to the question, willjoin us in sending deepest sympathies to my honourable friend's constituent. as my honourable friend will know, the courts cannot and do already

cause “— the courts cannot and do already cause —— consider harm to an unborn child and i know my friend has discussed this with the ministry of justice. they are concerned there could be far—reaching unintended consequences of doing so but i have asked them to keep the law under review. i know that my honourable friend, along with others in the house, will continue to work on this issue. i'm sure everybody recognises the compassion my honourable friend is showing in raising this issue. what we want to ensure is that what he is proposing is not something that could lead to other unintended consequences of the sort he would not wish to see. thank you, mr speaker. prime minister, it has been brought to my attention that some children suffering from severe epilepsy that would be greatly reduced and in some cases their seizures if they had access to bedroom light. due to the cumbersome

system this government put in place, pa rents system this government put in place, parents have to travel abroad, spent thousands of pounds to bring medicine back or pay extraordinary prices to access bedralyte privately in the uk. rather than people having to fight for access on a case—by—case basis, will the prime minister apply some common sense and show a soupcon of compassion and do everything she can to make this medicine available to the many people who are suffering and make sure that those who can benefit do. cani sure that those who can benefit do. can i say to the honourable gentleman that these are, i fully understand, that these cases are desperately difficult and my sympathies are with their families and friends. the government did change the law and specialist doctors on the gmc specialist registers can now prescribe cannabis—based treatments where there is evidence of benefit. the chief medical officer has made it clear that cannabis—based products

can be prescribed for additional use in appropriate cases but we must trust doctors to make clinical decisions in the best interests of patients. when sally masterton discovered a £1 billion freud at lloyd's, the bank sought to discredit her to the regulator, constructively dismissed and prevented her working with a police investigation, who described her role as vital. —— fraud. five years later, the bank apologised and paid an undisclosed amount in compensation and yet the fca continue to refuse to investigate. could the prime minister use her powers to compel them to do so and sanction those responsible, including, if relevant, the chief executive for those five years?” say to my honourable friend, obviously it is important to remember the events at the hbos reading branch constituted criminal activity and it is right that those responsible were brought to justice. the fca are conducting two

investigations into the events at hbos reading, including the bank because my communications with regulators following the discovery of misconduct and lloyds have appointed a former high courtjudge to consider whether issues related to consider whether issues related to hbos reading were properly investigated and reported by lloyds banking group. those findings will be shared with the fca and i look forward to the conclusion of all those investigations. mr speaker, brampton primary school in chesterfield has an exemplary record in special needs education, yet under the government's funding formula, the first £6,000 for every special—needs child isn't actually funded by the government, when even the tory member for education in derby has called brampton a victim of their own success. isn't it time that the prime minister, in her final days, changed the funding formula and started looking after no special needs children?” formula and started looking after no special needs children? i say to the honourable gentleman that we have been putting more money into special educational needs. i recognise that,

for many parents, getting the support that is required for their children can be a difficult process with the local authorities. we recognise the importance of special needs and that is precisely why we have been putting extra support in there. thank you, mr speaker. can i thank the prime minister for the amount of british aid which flows through to the world food programme in yemen and asked if she has noted in the last 48 hours a report by its excellent director david beasley, drawing attention to a diversion of aid and theft of aid in houthi —controlled areas by eight to authorities. would she increase the pressure on the houthi leadership to resolve this and further the efforts for peace in yemen, rather than the slightly easy because of always focusing on the yemeni government and the saudi led coalition? my right honourable friend raises a very important point. we are all

concerned about the concern humanitarian situation in the yemen and as you rightly says, this government has a good record in the amount ofaid government has a good record in the amount of aid we are providing to help those in yemen, but it is only of benefit if it is able to reach those who need it and it is incumbent on all parties to ensure that that aid reaches those that are needed. we will continue to support effo rts needed. we will continue to support efforts to bring a lasting peace to the yemen, a political settlement is the yemen, a political settlement is the way to get that sustainability and security for the future, but it is incumbent on everybody to make sure that the aid that is being provided for those who are desperately in need is able to reach those who need it most. thank you, mr speaker. 0n the 5th ofjune, the eyes of the world will be on portsmouth for d—day 75. events planned will give justice to the sacrifices made by veterans like my own grandfather and will show portsmouth to be a place that fosters a legacy of remembrance,

reflection and reconciliation. 0ur allies in world war ii, australia, new zealand, canada and the us, have all taken steps to ensure coroners record suicide among the veteran community. prime minister, why don't we? can i say first of all to the honourable gentleman that it is indeed right that the eyes of the world will be on portsmouth for the d—day national commemorative event. this will put our veterans first, it remembers their sacrifices and their achievements and we will highlight the historic strength of the western alliance and the transatlantic partnership. he has raised a specific issue in relation to the coroners report and i will write to him in response to that, but can i say that i look forward, as do others, to being in portsmouth to commemorate this very important anniversary. mr speaker, 43 years ago, i, like many others, was ordered to serve in northern ireland to keep the peace by terrorist

attacks killing civilians in northern ireland. many of my collea g u es northern ireland. many of my colleagues and others did not come back, including one, a friend, who was tortured, murdered and his body has never been found nor his murderers ever brought to justice. i simply say to my right honourable friend back in answer to our honourable friend's earlier question, she talked about an amnesty. i must tell you that none of those who served have called for an amnesty. what they have called for is fairness and justice. many, many old veterans now are finding, having been cleared decades ago, that the psn i is now proceeding against them with no new evidence. cani against them with no new evidence. can i please ask her, will she a nswer can i please ask her, will she answer me, how is it that i can say to my old colleagues that this government has not abandoned them?” say to my right honourable friend, we absolutely value the service that he and others gave in northern ireland. this was a very difficult

time for a part of the united kingdom and the work that the police did and that the armed forces did in northern ireland during that time was absolutely crucial. we are pleased that we have seen the piece that has come since the belfast good friday agreement, but there was obviously much injury and loss of life during the troubles. as i indicated earlier, around 3,500 people were killed during the troubles. the vast majority were murdered by terrorists. my right honourable friend talks about a fair and just system. we want to make sure there is a fair and just a system that is working across the board to deal with these legacy issues, but what is happening at the moment that is there is a disproportionate emphasis in terms of cases that involve the police and the armed forces. there are cases involving terrorists being looked into but i think people would recognise there is a disproportionate emphasis on the

police and armed forces. what is important is that we therefore bring ina important is that we therefore bring in a system which has full support and which will enable people to see that fairness and justice being applied. that is what the secretary of state for northern ireland is working on, she has been working on that with the various political parties in northern ireland and it is what we will, in due course, put forward. we recognise the sacrifice and the bravery and determination of our armed forces and the work they did in northern ireland and we, too, wa nted did in northern ireland and we, too, wanted to see fairness and justice. it took time to get there but the prime minister has now recognised that and no—deal brexit is not a viable option. but she knows as well as the rest of us that many of her potential successors do not feel the same way. so can she tell us whether she agrees with her brexit secretary, amongst others, who thinks that we should be spending the coming months stepping up preparations for a no—deal brexit, or with her chancellor who says no

more money should be spent preparing for a no—deal brexit? more money should be spent preparing for a no-deal brexit? there is only one way of this house ensuring that we leave the european union without no deal and that is to leave with a deal and that is to support the second reading of their withdrawal agreement bill and take that process through this house. the honourable lady i'm sure also knows that the legal default position continues to be no deal, where we to get to the 3ist be no deal, where we to get to the 31st of october situation, but i wa nt 31st of october situation, but i want us to leave the eu before then. where we to get to that position it would be a matterfor the where we to get to that position it would be a matter for the 27, where we to get to that position it would be a matterfor the 27, not just this country to determine whether there was no deal or not and thatis whether there was no deal or not and that is why it is absolutely right that is why it is absolutely right that the government is continuing to make preparations for no deal. like so many people in this chamber, i wa nt to so many people in this chamber, i want to see more money for schools, hospitals, the police and transport. is not the best way of doing this to

agree a deal that allows us to legally exit the eu, thereby unlocking three years of pent—up investment sitting on the sidelines seeking certainty that the prime minister is trying to deliver and this party should be trying to deliver? my honourable friend is absolutely right. there is pent—up investment there. there are companies who have held investment back until they see the brexit deal being resolved. it is important that we do see that deal going through this house. supporting the withdrawal agreement bill is the way to ensure that we deliver the brexit that the people voted for and we do it in that the people voted for and we do itina that the people voted for and we do it in a way that conservatives stood on in their manifesto at the last election and that the labour party members stood on in their manifesto at the last election. 0nce members stood on in their manifesto at the last election. once we are over this and have left the eu, then we will be able to take advantage not only of the deal dividend, but of that increase investment and see that bright future for our country.

asa that bright future for our country. as a manchester mp, can i thank the prime minister and the leader of the 0pposition for their words of remembrance for the victims of the terrorist attack in our city two yea rs terrorist attack in our city two years ago? in the light of concerns expressed about delays in accessing compensation and the amounts offered to victims following the attack, what the government give consideration when the middle injuries compensation scheme is reviewed, to establish a separate funding pot for victims of terrorist attacks, so it doesn't have to be taken from the criminal injuries authority funding, and so we can give more flexible and immediate support to victims of terror attacks? the honourable gentleman has raised a very important point andi has raised a very important point and i recognise the force with which he has raised that and the consent he has raised that and the consent he has raised that and the consent he has for those who were the victims of that terrible attack, and of course sadly in this country we have seen too many people being victims of terrorist attacks. the lord chancellor has indicated that

the ministry ofjustice is reviewing this situation. he has heard the specific proposal the honourable gentleman has put forward and i'm sure it will take that into account in the review. returning to northern ireland, it's now two and a half yea rs of ireland, it's now two and a half years of no devolved government in northern ireland and every week on this select committee we hear about the impact of this on ordinary people, whether it's on equality, funding for the psni, a pay rise for teachers who are paid 6% less than the rest of the uk. northern ireland has been left behind. will the prime minister do all she can to restore devolution before the end of the year? can i give my honourable friend that reassurance? i am as keen as she is to ensure we see the restoration of devolution in northern ireland. i believe that recently all the parties have come together with talks with the secretary of state and as appropriate to the irish government, and are ensuring those talks are

continuing. 0bviously and are ensuring those talks are continuing. obviously there are issues that need to be addressed, concerns from the political parties on different issues. those need to be overcome such that we can see devolution restored because as she says, this is a matterfor the people of northern ireland and to ensure they have a devolved government that can ensure good governance in northern ireland. on two previous occasions i've asked the prime minister to do more to support the victims of the leasehold scandal. now she is about to move house anytime soon... laughter the prime minister give that a little more focus and urgently address this issue and give leaseholders justice? address this issue and give leaseholdersjustice? we have been listening to those who have raised concerns about this particular issue. last year my right honourable friend the housing secretary announced no new government funding scheme will be used to support the unjustified use of leasehold for new houses at. we have had a technical

consultation on how to improve the market for consumers. we are analysing the responses and we will respond to that and the recent select committee report on leasehold reform shortly and will introduce legislation in due course. in reply to my right honourable friend for chingford and woodford green, the prime minister quite rightly paid tribute to the 300,000 security personnel who, through their courage, professionalism and skill, maintain the rule of law without which the belfast agreement would never have been signed. but she didn't quite answer his question. none of those people who served defending the rule of law want a blanket amnesty. what they want is a categoric assurance that the prosecuting authorities within the existing framework of law will not bring forward a fresh process, and that this categorical clear new evidence and there is an assurance and no doubt that a fair trial will proceed. i absolutely appreciate the

point that he and i were right honourable friend have made in relation to this issue. the problem we face in northern ireland is that they have been a number of processes which have been aiming to deal with theseissues which have been aiming to deal with these issues and justice in relation to these deaths during the troubles. that all the processes followed so far have been found to be flawed in some way. that is why it is necessary to go through the work we have been doing to find a process that will not be flawed, that will be legally supportable, and that will enable the fairness and justice we all want to see to be brought to the fore. during the 2017 election campaign, the prime minister acknowledged that our social care system is broken, and promised to fix it. yet the ceo of eye care provider in crewe and nantwich recently told me the decision to cut sleep in pay for care workers by up

to £400 per month is a direct result of underfunding in the care sector. will the prime minister consider bringing legislation to ensure it sleep in shifts attract at least the national living wage and provide the necessary funding to local authorities so that it is possible to give care workers the pate that they deserve? this issue of sleep in cover and pay for it has been one that the covenant has been dealing with. we have had to address this as a direct result of a court case that was taken. we have been responding to that court case. i recognise the issue about the question of pay for sleep in cover and it is one in relation to the wider issue of social care, yes, we will bring forward proposals in relation to social cable. we want to ensure we have a sustainable social care system for the future. will the prime minister welcome with me at the launch of radio reminisced. a

fantastic new dementia friendly radio, designed to help and comfort people over 78 with early onset dementia, produced and developed in my constituency? first of all, i thank herfor my constituency? first of all, i thank her for raising this issue and for raising the issue of support, particularly for people with early onset dementia and for highlighting this new radio service. the government is committed to doubling spending on research into dementia by2020, spending on research into dementia by 2020, but in relation to the radio service, this is obviously a very practical way of providing support for people with early onset dementia and i am happy tojoin my honourable friend in welcoming this excellent radio service. i'm sure it will provide very important help to those suffering with dementia. the prime minister must be considering her legacy, and she said she wanted to correct burning injustice. so will she commit to supporting legislation such as that proposed by my honourable friend the member for kingston upon hull north, so that

abortion in northern ireland becomes abortion in northern ireland becomes a health, not a criminal matter, and that as as soon as possible, women have equal rights across the whole of the uk? in my view, what should happen in relation to abortion, it has been clear. i've made it clear in the past. but this is a devolved issue and we believe it should be addressed by the devolved administration in northern ireland when that is restored. as we look forward to the visit of the president of the united states, will the prime minister at... will my right honourable... will my right honourable friend agree with me that it is in the national interest that we support his visit, unite across the house and across the country to make a success of the visits of our special relationship and yours and grows and supports the success that this country has? i thank my

honourable friend for raising this and he is absolutely right. we are looking forward to the state visit of the present of the united states. we also looking forward to the fact that president trump will be joining myself and other leaders to commemorate the 75th anniversary of d—day. this is an important commemoration when we will be recognising, as i said earlier in response to the honourable member from portsmouth, the sacrifice that was made by british armed forces, american armed forces, and others from so many other countries to ensure the freedom of europe. my honourable friend is also right. we have a deep and special relationship with the usa. it is important, that is our deepest security and defence relationship, a relationship that has helped to keep peace around the world. it is one we want to see continue, and every member of this house should welcome the president of the usa here to the uk. we have

repeatedly heard from the prime minister and it would be, and repeatedly heard from the prime ministerand it would be, and i quote, an unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy if we fail to deliver brexit. yet if the polls are correct, scotland will be sending a clear message tomorrow that it wants to remain in europe by increasing its number of snp meps whilst wiping out the tories. should scotland increase its number of pro—eu meps tomorrow, will the prime minister finally listened to the people of scotla nd finally listened to the people of scotland who want to determine their own future as an independent european nation, or will they breach their trust, leaving scotland's people with boris‘ brexit britain? their trust, leaving scotland's people with boris' brexit britain?” suggest if the honourable gentleman wa nts to suggest if the honourable gentleman wants to listen to the people of scotla nd wants to listen to the people of scotland and their view on their future, he actually starts listening to the decision they took in 2014 to remain part of the united kingdom. if polling is to be believed, the winning party at tamara's elections will be the brexit party. this

party, in contrast to the vote leave campaign in 2016, has clearly stated that no—deal brexit is its policy. 0n the basis of normal turnout, that means that between six and 7 million people had voted for no deal. it begs the question, what of the other 10 million brexit voters of 2016? it concerns me, and has long consent me, that we don't have the consent here in this house to deliver the brexit that is likely to emanate from this house. with that in mind, andi from this house. with that in mind, and i congratulate the prime minister on the first step yesterday towards acknowledging this, can she commit to work in reaching out across the house is in order to bring about the vote that remains to ta ke bring about the vote that remains to take place, which is the choice between having a final say of the british public, or a no—deal brexit? i don't recognise, actually, the choice he has set out for this reason. as i said earlier, i have not changed my view on a second referendum. i have been clear that i

believe this house should deliver on the result of the first referendum. and the choice that is before this house, i believe, is whether or not it wants to deliver on the result of the first referendum and deliver on the first referendum and deliver on the manifestos on which the majority of members of this house stud, which we re of members of this house stud, which were clear we wanted to do that with a deal. —— neighbours of this house, which were clear we wanted to do with a deal. we can do that by giving second reading to the withdrawal bill and see the bill get royal assent, ratify the treaty and leave the eu. universal credit was today condemned again by the un special repertoire, who likened dwp policy creating modern versions of 19th—century workhouses. a leaked memo has revealed that the dwp is doubling down, promoting universal credit with an aggressive pr campaign, including a bbc documentary and adverts seen in the

metro today, which dwp officials state, and i quote, won't look like dwp or a universal credit, you won't see our branding, and this is deliberate. how is it right that the dwp is spending hundreds and thousands of pounds on misleading adverts that promote a policy which is driving my constituents into debt, despair and destitution? watch the dwp is doing is spending not just its resources, but its effort, andi just its resources, but its effort, and i thank all the staff in dwp for this, out there, helping people into the workplace and ensuring that when they are in the workplace they are able to keep more of the money they earn.

we have the independent enquiry into

child sexual abuse and the recognised also have been victims of this abuse, we caught historical. the investigation is referred to as historical. for this to have been victims it is not historical, dressed with them for the rest of their life. i recognise the concern about the issue he has raised. ft northern ireland executive were in place that would be a matter would be addressing. the secretary of state for northern ireland has been looking at this issue and i will help discussed with her what response can be given on what i recognise as a matter of deep concern to many people.” recognise as a matter of deep concern to many people. i have a question to the prime minister from a northern ireland veteran. a dublin born irish catholic who joined the british army and transfer to the

royal marines. in 1972 in belfast he killed an ira gunman who was about to assassinate one of his comrades ata to assassinate one of his comrades at a guard post. 47 years later he is now being investigated by the ps ni. he is watching these proceedings now from his home at the royal hospital and chelsea. he asked me to ask you this. i served my queen and country in uniform for over 20 years andi country in uniform for over 20 years and i was commended for my service and i was commended for my service and northern ireland. acting under the lawful orders on my officers commandingi the lawful orders on my officers commanding i killed a terrorist who was about to model one of my comrades and yet i am being investigated as if i were a criminal. the ira have letters of

comfort, we don't. why are you pandering to sinn fein ira while throwing veterans like me to the rules. what is your answer to this chelsea pensioner and all the vetera ns chelsea pensioner and all the veterans she represents? can i say he has put his case and that of the vetera ns he has put his case and that of the veterans she represented and we thank that individual as we do all those who served in northern ireland for their bravery and the determination with which they acted which was said enabled the piece we see today are not allowed to take place will stop at is not the case to tell us an amnesty currently

criminal activity has been investigated and people should be brought tojustice. what i want to ensure it is we do have a fair what i want to ensure it is we do haveafairand what i want to ensure it is we do have a fair and justice system. at the moment, i do not believe the system is operating fairly. i don't wa nt to system is operating fairly. i don't want to see a system where there is an amnesty for terrorists. i want to see a system where investigations can take place in a lawful manner and those investigations can be upheld and not be reopened in the future. we need to change the current system and that is what we will do. over the last few days i have received distressed e—mails from a number of constituents from eu citizens living in the uk but cannot eu citizens living in the uk but ca n not vote eu citizens living in the uk but cannot vote tomorrow. their predicament arises after the

government's decision to participate in the elections which did not give citizens the necessary form to declare they will not be voting elsewhere. when the prime minister use the power of her office to take immediate steps this afternoon to make sure the necessary form is made available at polling stations tomorrow so the eu citizens living in the united kingdom will not be disenfranchised? can i say to the honourable lady we take every step to make sure those who are entitled to make sure those who are entitled to vote in elections are able to do so. to vote in elections are able to do so. she said it was a late decision by the government to enter into the european elections. that decision was taken because of a decision by this house not to agree on the 29th of march not to agree the deal so we would not have been necessary to hold elections. the prime minister is beginning to understand the level of fury of veterans in this country

when it comes to their treatment by this place over the years. the most disturbing part of last weekend is this insinuation of equivocation between those who get up in the morning to go and murder civilians, women and children and those who put ona women and children and those who put on a uniform to protect the crown. will the prime minister take this opportunity to tell the nation she sees no equivocation whatsoever between those two groups and preferential treatment not given to vetera ns preferential treatment not given to veterans is not right? can i say, it is clear and i would have hoped that everything i have said from this dispatch box, i value the sacrifice, the bravery, the commitment of our armed forces whose work in northern ireland alongside the police in northern ireland and others, enabled us to get to the stage today that we have the belfast good friday

agreement and the peace we have had in northern ireland for many years now and long may that continue. there is no question of equating that bravery and that sacrifice with the acts of terrorists. but what i would also say to my honourable friend, what i think he is, from the implication of his question, urging me to do, put in place a system which would equate terrorists with members of the armed forces. any statute of limitations, any amnesty thatis statute of limitations, any amnesty that is put into place would come as a matter of law have to apply across the board. i do not want to see, and i will not see an amnesty for the terrorists. can i thank the prime minister for recognising the impact on steelworkers and their families of the devastating news that british

steel has gone into liquidation. and also thank her for recognising the high quality of work they do on teesside, skinningrove and in scunthorpe, my constituency. will she meet mps across party affected by this so we can look together at how best to make sure this great industry moves forward in the future, serving this country? can i say to the honourable gentleman, this is a worrying time for his constituents and others. the government has been looking actively at what we can do. we can get the support we did through the ets agreement but haven't been able lawfully to give the further support requested. i will meet with him and a group of mps to consider this issue. it is about one company owned by greybull capital but i have taken steps in the past to make sure we do

have a steel industry in the country. order. before we come to the statement by the prime minister, i think it is fitting, colleagues, for me to refer again to something that was mentioned at the start of questions by the leader of the opposition. three trawlers set out from hull in january 1968 and opposition. three trawlers set out from hull injanuary 1968 and never return, from hull injanuary1968 and never return, leading to the loss of 58 lives. yvonne marie is the last surviving member of a group of women from hull who became known following that tragedy, as the headscarf revolutionaries. the women campaign for better protection for their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons. through their actions, countless lives have been saved. i

am reliably informed that yvonne marie is with us today observing our proceedings. we salute her and her fellow women and we extend the warmest welcome to her, to the house of commons. applause. order. statement, the prime minister. with permission before i make my statement, may i recognise the work of yvonne marie and others and all those over the years who have campaigned to ensure that those in the workplace can have the degree of safety and security they need. with permission mr speaker, i would like to make a statement on the government's work to deliver brexit by putting forward a new deal that members of this house can stand

behind. we need to see brexit through, to honour the result of the referendum and deliver the change the british people so clearly demanded. i sincerely believe that most members of this house feel the same, that for all our division and disagreement, we believe in democracy. that we want to make good on the promise we made to the british people when we asked them to decide on the future of eu membership. as to how we make that happen, recent events have shown there is no majority in this house for leaving with no deal and this house has voted against revoking article 50. it is clear the only way forward is leaving with a deal, but it is equally clear that this will not happen without compromise on all sides of the debate. that starts with the government, which is why we have just held six weeks of detailed talks with the opposition, talks that the leader of the opposition chose to end before a formal agreement was reached, but nonetheless revealed areas of common

ground. having listened to the opposition, two other party leaders to the devolved administrations, to business leaders, trade unionists and others, we are making a ten point offer to members across the house. ten changes that address the concerns by members. ten binding commitments that will be enshrined in legislation so they simply cannot be ignored. and ten steps that will bring us closer to the bright future that awaits our country once we end the political impasse and get brexit done. first, we will protect british jobs by seeking as close to frictionless trade in goods with the eu as possible while outside the single market and ending free movement. the government will be placed under a legal duty to negotiate our future relationship on this basis. second, we will provide much—needed certainty for our vital

agricultural sectors by kicking up the eu is on checks of the border. such a commitment, which will also be enshrined in legislation will protect thousands of skilled jobs that depend on just—in—time supply chain. we will empower parliament to break the deadlock over future customs arrangements. both the government and opposition agree that we must have as close as possible to frictionless trade that the uk eu border, protecting thejobs frictionless trade that the uk eu border, protecting the jobs and livelihoods that are sustained by our existing trade with the eu. the government has a ready put forward a proposal which delivers the benefits of a customs union but with the ability for the uk to determine exxon trade undergarment policy. the opposition are both sceptical of our ability to negotiate that and an independent trade policies in the national interest. they would prefer a copper hence a customs union with a uk cn eu trade policy but with the eu

negotiating on our