water crisis and the wells fargo unauthorized account scandal. >> seriously? you found out one of your divisions had created 2 million fake accounts, had fired thousands of employees for improper behavior and had cheated thousands of your own customers and you didn't even once consider firing her ahead of her retirement? >> thursday at 8:00 p.m. eastern , we remember some of the political figures that passed away in 2016 including former first lady nancy reagan, supreme court justice antonin scalia and try to not at 8:00 p.m. eastern our program continues with shimon peres, mohammad ali and former senator and astronaut john glenn. this week in prime time on c-span. >> join us on tuesday, for live coverage of the opening day of the new congress. watch the official swearing-in at the new and reelected members of the house and senate and the

election of the speaker of the house. our all-day live coverage of the day's event from capitol hill begins at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span and c-span.org or you can listen to it on the free c-span radio at. >> following her meeting with european leaders in brussels british prime minister, theresa may, spoke to members of the house of commons on the uk's plan to leave the european union and discuss the syrian civil war and a posed by members over the status of british nationals living in eu countries. this is an hour and a half. >> the prime minister. >> thank you, mr. speaker, and with permission i would like to make a statement on last week's

european council. both the uk and the rest of the eu are preparing for negotiations that will begin before the end of march next year. the main focus of the council was rightly on how we can work together to address some of the most pressing challenges we face. these include responding to the migration crisis, strengthening europe's security and helping to alleviate suffering and syria. as i have said for as long as the uk is a member of the eu we will continue to play and that is what the council showed with the uk making a significant contribution on each of these issues. first, migration. from the outset, the uk has pushed for a conference of approach that focuses on the root causes of migration as the best way to reduce the number of people coming to europe. i called for more action in transit countries to disrupt the smuggling network to improve local capacity to control borders and is the sport sustainable livelihood both for people living there and refugees.

i have also said we had to distinguish between economic migrants of refugees, swiftly returning those who have no right to remain and sending out a deterrence message to those thinking of embarking perilous journeys. the council agreed on all of these areas and the uk remains committed to play in our part. we have already provided training to the libyan coast guard, royal navy is provided support in the mediterranean and we will also deploy 40 additional specialists after the greek islands to accelerate the processing from iraqi, afghan and nationals and to help return those who have no right to say. ultimately, we need a long-term sustainable approach and that is the best way to retain the consent of our people to provide support and sanctuary to those most in need. turning to security and defense, whether it's deterring russian aggression, countering terrorism or fighting organized crime, the

uk remains committed to the security of our european neighbors. that is true now and will remain true once we have left that you. at this council we welcome the commitment for all member states to take greater responsibility for their security, invest more resources and develop market abilities. that is the right approach. as the council made clear, it should be done in way that complements rather than duplicates. a stronger eu and a stronger nato can be mutually reinforcing and at this should be our aim. we must never lose sight that the facts that nato will always be the bedrock of our collective defense in europe. we must never about anything to undermine it. mr. speaker, we also agree to renew tear through economic sections on russia for another six months, maintaining the pressure on russia to implement the minsk agreement in full. turning to the situation in syria, we have all seen the devastating pictures on our tv screens and heard heartbreaking

stories of families struggling to get to safety. to this council we heard directly from the mayor of eastern aleppo, a brave and courageous man who has already witnessed his city brought to rubble, his neighbors murdered and children's allies destroyed. he had one simple plea, to get those who have survived through years of conflict, torture and fear to safety. to get there with our european partners we must do all we can to help. the council was unequivocal in its condemnation of president assad and his backers, russia and iran whom must bear the responsibility for the tragedy in aleppo. and must now allow the un to evacuate safely the innocent people of aleppo. syrians who present assad claims to represent. we have seen progress in recent days, with a few dust loads not enough when thousands more need to be rescued and we cannot have these buses attacked in the way we have seen. thursday afternoon my right honorable friend summoned the

arabian ambassador to make clear we expect them to help. over the weekend, the uk has been working with our international partners to secure agreements on a un security council resolution that would send in un officials to monitor the evacuation of a civilians and provide unfettered humanitarian access and this has been agreed unanimously this afternoon and we now needed to be implemented in full. mr. speaker, president assad may be congratulating his regime of four kit-- forces on their actions in aleppo, but we are in no doubt that this is no victory, but a tragedy. when we will not forget and last week council reiterated that those responsible must be held to account. mr. speaker, alongside our diplomatic efforts in the uk we will provide a further 20 million pounds of tactical support for those most vulnerable. this includes 10 million pounds for trusted humanitarian partners working on the front

line in some of the hardest to reach places in syria and help them deliver food, parcels a medical supplies to those in need. an additional 10 million pounds to unicef to help them provide life-saving aid to syrian refugees at the jordanian border. as the mayor of aleppo has said, it is too late to save all those who have been lost, but it's not too late to save those who remain. that's what we must now do. mr. speaker, 32 brexit, i updated the council on the european plans. next line two weeks ago this house voted-- i explained that two weeks ago this house voted by a considerable majority, almost six-one, to support the government by delivering the referendum results before the end of march.

the uk supreme court is expected to rule next month from whether the government. i'm clear the government will respect the verdict of our independent judiciary and equally clear with which whatever way the judgment goes we will meet at the timetable set out at the council i also reaffirmed my commitment to a smooth and orderly exit and in this spirit i made it clear to the other eu leaders that it remains my objective that we give reinsurance early on in the negotiations to eu citizens living in the uk and uk citizens living in that you countries where their right to stay where they have made their homes will be protected by our withdraw. this is an issue i would like agreed quickly, but requires an agreement of the rest of the eu. finally, i welcome the subsequent short discussion between 27 other leaders on their own time with the uk was-- withdraw. it's right at their leaders prepare for negotiations just as we make our own preparations. that's another ones-- everyone's best interest.

i aim to cement that partners we have left and as i've said before we will reflect the mature corporate relationship and close friends and allies, a deal that will give our countries the maximum freedom to trade in the european market and allow european businesses to do the same here. a deal that will deliver the deepest possible cooperation to ensure security and the security of our allies, but a deal that will mean when it comes to decisions about our national interest such as how we can control immigration, we can make these decisions for ourselves and a deal will mean that our laws will be made in person, not brussels. with a calm and measured approach this government will honor the will of the british people and secure the right deal that will make a success of brexit for the uk, and the world. >> thank you mrs. speaker or crowd like to thank the prime minister.

as we approach the end of this year, think we can agree this has been a year of enormous change in this country and the rest of the world. with and that change a great deal of division, so as we move swiftly towards the 50, i want to appeal to the prime minister to not only work hard to heal those divisions in britain, but also to make sure her new year's resolution includes a commitment to build better relations with our european partners so we get the best deal for the people of this country, not just a brexit that benefits big business and bankers and at the moment it's clear on the international state the prime minister and britain are becoming increasingly isolated and if we are to build a successful burden after brexit it's more mindful than ever that our relationship with our european partners remain strong, cordial and respectful.

it's also clear mr. speaker, through my and discuss it's with european leaders that they are becoming increasingly frustrated by a government and contradictory approach to brexit negotiations. the mixed messages from her front branch only adds to the confusion. this government fails to speak for the whole country and instead we hear a babble of voices speaking for themselves and their vested interest. for instance, mr. speaker, last week we were told by britain's permanent representative to the eu that a brexit deal may take 10 years. contradicting what the secretary of state for brexit told us in the committee that day when he said a deal could be struck in 18 months. bit of a difference there. we also heard from the chancellor who told us britain was looking for a transitional deal with the european union, only for the secretary of the state to warn against a transitional deal. sain any arrangement close to

the status quo would go against the wishes of those who voted to leave the. the people of britain, mr. speaker, deserve better than this confusion at the heart of governments. confidence is being lost them off as a budget responsibility made their own judgment on the government brexit plans in november when they published a new forecast for 2017, growth was down, we just revised, business investments revised down. the only thing raised was their forecast for inflation. they are risking even weaker growth and they have delivered so far and hitting heavy manufacturing industry very hard. i do, mr. speaker, welcome that the government has now accepted labor demand for a published brexit plan. it is still unclear as to how the plan will be presented and

when we will receive it in parliament. so, can the prime minister today do what the secretary of state for brexit, the secretary of state for international trade and the permanent secretary to the eu all failed to do last week and get this country some real answers? can she tell us when the house will receive the government's plans for article 50, how long we will be given to scrutinize that plan, can she also tell us how long the british government expects the process to take and can she tell us if the british government will be looking for an interim transitional deal with the european union? these are basic questions that still have not been answered near the six months after britain voted to leave the european union. mr. speaker, there are also reports last week that the uk will be asked her to pay a 50 billion euro bill to honor

commitments to the eu budget until 2020. can the prime minister tell this house if this is the case? can she updates us all on the government's contingency plan for those projects and programs in the uk that are currently reliant on eu funding after 2020 there is much concern in many parts of the country about those programs. mr. speaker, i welcome the prime minister guide to bring forward and bring greater clarity to the issue of rights of european union citizens in the united kingdom. however, if the prime minister is serious about this, why wait? why won't this government and the worry and uncertainty as this house demanded in july and given unequivocal commitment to guarantee people's rights before article 50 is triggered and as both the tuc and british chamber of commerce has called for this weekend. not only is it the right thing

to do, it would also send a clear signal to our colleagues and to our european friends that britain is committed to doing the right thing and committed to a friendly future relationship. and with that in mind, mr. speaker, i would like to take this opportunity to welcome the austrian presidents on his election. i am sure we will all agree his victory in the presidential election represent a victory for respect and kindness over hate and division. and a signal against the dangerous rise of the far right across europe. mr. speaker, i'm also glad that the european union cancel lead us to discuss the other pressing global issues last week, notably the terrible situation in syria. therefore, want to use this opportunity to review the calls i made to the promised her last week for an urgent and

considered to effort from the government to press for an end to violence and a un led cease-fire. the creation of the un broken humanitarian court orders and insurance of advance warning of attacks to slowing population as well as urgent talks to the un to achieve a negotiated political settlement. is to clear the rules of war are being broken on all sides. labor has long condemned attacks on civilian targets on all sides including those by russian and pro-syrian government forces in aleppo, for which there can be no excuse. i also know that the issue of cyprus and unification was raised at the council meeting. could the prime minister give us an update to what was set on this issue? britain is after all a guarantor from the 1960 treaty. mr. speaker, a lot to do in 2017

i make a plea to the prime minister to represent all sides, whether they voted to leave or a bade them to make the right decisions that benefit not just her party, but everyone in this country. >> prime minister. >> thank you mr. speaker. on the issue of cyprus, yes, we were updated on the talks that have taken place in these are important talks. i think we all accept that we have the best opportunity for sediment in cyprus that we've seen for many years. the president made clear the talks have been taking place under un between the two leaders , they have been encouraged and generated by the theaters and i think it's important that we recognize the leadership they have shown in relationship to this issue.

the gentleman is right that there are three guarantors, greece, turkey and the united kingdom and we stand ready to play our part as required and when appropriate for us to do so there is a possibility with a meeting in january and there's a possibility that will be attended by others like the united kingdom and in that eu council conclusion that you said it was ready to participate if the law will be heart of helping this deal come through. secondly, on the issue of syria, as i said we have been consistently taking action through the un because i said, we have been working over the weekend to ensure there was a un security council resolution. that was accepted and all members of this house will know we have had a number of secured council resolutions previously, but russian has vetoed in the most recent one rush and china both veto, but it's clear that we now have a resolution that has been accepted by russia and

china unanimously by the security council to provide monitoring and also for the humanitarian access and un monitoring of people leaving the -- leaving aleppo, which i think is important. he spent most of his comments in relation to the whole issue of brexit. he started off by talking about a sweating a deal that benefits the united kingdom and yes, i've been saying that since i came into this role and we want to make sure we get the best possible deal, but in negotiations you don't get the best possible deal by laying out everything you want in advance. that's the whole point of negotiations. he talks about isolation. the point is the uk is going to leave the european union. we are leaving the group that is the european union. in due course they will be meeting only as 27 because we will no longer be a member.

what is clear from what happened at the eu council is that as long as we are a member we will continue to play powerful part within the european union. he talked about the question of eu funds and funds that are currently intended to continue beyond the date at which we would be leaving the european union. it was set out clearly some weeks ago what the division of this was that those funds will be continue to be met provided they get value for money and meet the uk government's objective. he talked about the process that he knows whence we trigger that treaty allows for process that can take up to two years. how long within that process it does take depends on the progress of the negotiations. he then talked about uncertainty and need in investment to come into the united kingdom and how it gave the impression there was a bleak picture out there in terms of the economy.

fastest growing economy in the g7 i would remind. companies have announced new additional investments since the brexit at referendum. the list will continue because this is still a good place to invest. it's a good place to grow businesses. then, he talked about confusion on the front bench. he needs to look at his own front bench in this matter. let's take one very simple issue of immigration. the shadow home secretary suggest freedom of movement should be maintained. the shadow chancellor said we should have a fair deal on freedom of movement and shadow brexit secretary says we should have immigration control. they can't even agree on one aspect of the european union, leaving the european union and i know the right honorable

gentleman's negotiation techniques if he was in office which are as good as begetting the worst possible deal we could get for the united kingdom. >> duncan smith. >> as my right honorable friend, that when she was at the council and she reminded the council about her generous offer to allow eu citizens who were here in the uk to remain and for uk citizens to receive the same privilege, did she manage to take one side and asking simply why when his own government was a keen to agree to that he turned around and vetoed it? >> my right honorable friend is right that i made clear what's again i hope this issue of citizens living here and uk citizens leaving in the eu member states can be dealt with in the early stages of the negotiations. the other member states and the council has been clear they are not ready before article 50 is

can-- triggered, but i will continue to remind them that our hope is to get certain reassurance to people that this can be dealt with at it early stage and for the people concerned they can get on with their lives. >> may have begin thanking the prime minister in advanced faith of her statements. merry christmas and a fantastic 2017. mr. speaker, it's now more than six months since the brexit referendum wetmore that 62% of voters in scotland voted to remain in the ek-- you tomorrow the scottish government will become the first administration in the uk to publish its plans in detail in the prime minister has said she will seriously engage in the scottish government, which is to be welcomed and she said she has a agenda. will the permit us to to meet with the first minister to incorporate priorities of the scottish government in the uk

negotiating position? unsecured, mr. speaker, the prime minister's statement welcomed commitments on capability including cyber threats. without going into detail, for obvious reasons, is the prime minister confident that enough safeguards are in place regarding democratic institutions in the uk including political parties? on the issue of the middle east violence, it was discussed in the council and obviously across the house and we welcome any initiatives that may be different in syria, there was no mention in her statement on yemen. is it true, mr. speaker, that senior administers that the uk cluster has been used in the current conflict in yemen and when was the prime minister told about uk in yemen and when will the uk join our european partners and stopping looking for more ethical policy on both saudi arabia and yemen?

>> prime minister. >> thank you mr. speaker. on the issue of yemen, there will be a statement made by defense secretary later this afternoon took this was not an issue discussed at the european council. we focused on the issues i mentioned in my statement. he talks as our security and political parties. i have to say maintaining their cyber security is a matter for individual political parties. it's up to them to look at how they undertake that and then he referred to the documents that the scottish government will publish tomorrow. i took a call from the minister this morning where i assured her we will look seriously at the proposal from the scottish government. i welcome the fact that they have been looking at their priorities are quick and been encouraging all administrations to look at their priorities so they can be taken into account in the uk negotiations and there is already a structure in place that enables us to discuss. we will meet in early january

and we have been meeting january for exiting the european union and there will be a further session in january. this is-- normally they only meet once a year, but we are accelerating the number-- increasing the number of meetings precisely so we can engage with the administration on these issues. >> john redwood. >> people in the opposition in business say we should make compromises by offering money were some control over our laws or borders to get a deal. does the prime minister agree that bidding against our country and making a good deal more difficult to achieve and misunderstanding what the majority voted for? >> i would say to my right honorable friend that i would agree with him that actually the public, what the public wanted was to get on a get the best possible deal.

is absolutely correct that we don't give out every detail of our negotiations. if we did, that would be the way to get the worst possible deal. >> on friday, together with other honorable members i met with aerospace which employs 1600 people and high-volume manufacturing jobs. of that company resist membership of the european aviation safety agency. when the prime minister says brexit means brexit, does she mean we will no longer participate in the european aviation safety agency and other agencies such as the european medical agency and many others? >> precisely because we need to look with great care and consideration as to a wide range of our relationships with europe we have taken time before we trigger article 50. this is the sort of work that

department is doing, looking at the ranges of organization, some of which are linked to ranges of the european union and some of which will not be linked to the european union and making a decision in talking to each sector about what is important for them, so we understand what really matters to business. >> if there oh preparation before triggering article 50, would she agree with me that a speedy conclusion of the subsequent negotiations will be in this country's interest, both to put an end to damaging uncertainty and because according to the office of budget responsibly every week additional delay in leaving the eu cost this country 250 million pounds net a week? >> well, as i said in an earlier response to the leader of the opposition the treaty sets out

for a potential two-year process of negotiations. how long along that two years it is necessary to take for negotiations is a matter of the progress of those discussions and talks. i say to my right honorable friend i think he makes a valid point about the uncertainty and the sooner it can come the better it will be for business, but we need to make sure we are getting the right deal for the european union. >> can the prime minister tell us with some certainty when her plan for us to lead the european union and actually when it will be ready presumably sometime before she triggers article 50. >> prime minister. >> yes. [laughter] >> thank you mr. speaker. in their joint statements on the 15th of december the present of the european council and of

the european commission and the heads of the state and all 27 members states unanimously insisted and i quote access to the single market with acceptance of all freedoms including freedom of movement thereby the court of justice. with my friend agree that such an ultimatum is both unacceptable and will not be accepted by the british people? >> i have said all along i believe part of the vote to leave the european union underlying that was a desire from the british-- for us to have control of immigration and those decisions on immigration should be made by the government here in the united kingdom and we should deliver on that. i look at these issues in terms of the deal we went to negotiate in terms of the outcome-- outcome we want which is the best possible deal for trading and operations within the european single market, but with the other requirements we have,

which is british laws made here in britain and control immigration. >> thank you mr. speaker. i would like to thank the prime minister for her statements. following the european council, it it appear the prime minister is leading our country not just out of the european union, but also out of the single markets in the customs union, neither of which were on the ballot paper last june. if instead-- if instead remained had one last june would the government had had a mandate, i wonder, for a hard remained? would mr. cameron now have been stood there and will she agree it is no more ludicrous than the extreme rewriting of the referendum results that she now imposes on the british people? >> prime minister. >> the majority vote at the

referendum what the post for the united kingdom to leave the european union. that is what we will be delivering. once again, the right honorable gentleman raises questions about means rather than ends. what we want is the best possible outcome in terms of the treaty relationship with european union union and for operating within the european union. that is where our focus should be, not on the tickler processes to get their. >> mr. crispin blunt. >> the unions continued resolve to deepen and strengthened its relationship with the ukraine and pace of the current challenges. how strongly does shake sector government to support ukraine after we have let the european union? >> prime minister. >> the european council was very concerned with and wanted to ensure that we had that

continuing relationship with ukraine. the uk is already supporting ukraine in a number of ways. obviously, when we have left the european union we will look at our bilateral relationships with countries across the european continent, but we are already providing money to establish the bureau in the uk, energy reform to reduce their dependence on russian gas and offering training to the armed forces and supporting internal reform, so we already have a number of areas where we are supporting ukraine and also we would come i expect, to continue to want to have a good bilateral relationship with the ukraine once with a union. >> could the prime minister update as if there has been discussion about how the european union thinks its relationship with turkey in terms of the border and immigration?

>> we support continuing the turkey deal. it has had an impact on the migration movement across the aegean, but there are elements of the turkey dealing with which the uk is not involved. that is still a matter which is being discussed by those members of the schengen border and as i said the uk is not part of that, but i think we should recognize that the arrangement so far has had an impact on movements into greece from turkey, but crucially what i think we need to see is making sure the process of returning people who have no right to be increase is operating as smoothly as possible and that's what of the reasons we are offering extra staff to greece so this claims will be processed work smoothly. >> the whole house will welcome the focus my right honorable friend has reported on syria and

aleppo. the additional tradition military force including for unicef that she has announced an the pass play by diplomats over the weekend in securing the successful un resolution, very much along the lines of debate in this house last week. will she ensure over the christmas and new year holiday the full span of government attention continues on securing unfettered access for military workers for medical supplies and food, bearing in mind there is still more than 50000 people out in the open and aleppo very frightened and in temperatures well below freezing. >> my right honorable friend with his experience recognizes that it's not just about agreeing a resolution, but ensuring it is implemented. of the desire to make sure the military and eight is available

to people and they are able to leave safely is put in practice and i can assure him that we recognize the importance and it's over the coming days that it will be doing this and the focus will continue to be on it. >> may i asked the prime minister about the risks of that cliff edge in april 2019, which is already prompted some of our key financial institutions such as lloyd's of london to think of moving their business out of britain-- you agree with the chancellor who said that it would be helpful if we started to discuss a transitional arrangement going beyond that particular deadline and started discussing it now? >> prime ministers. >> a recognition of the desire for business to be able to have some certainty beyond that point of leaving the european union. that's one of the reasons why we have already announced we are going to bring eu law into

domestic law and the uk at that point, so people can have certainty about what that point of movement from members of the european union to outside the european union is. >> in november the csueconomy minister of both area gave a clear warning to her coalition partners in berlin that uncertainty could damage the bavarian economy and the uk is one of its most important trading partners. does the prime minister appreciate significant forces in europe causing her timetable to trigger article 50 at the end of march in order to bring conclusion to the arrangement of free trade which exists. >> my right honorable friend makes an important point raising a specific, but the overall point is simple, which is this is not just about what's in the interest of united kingdom, but also what's in the interest of the 27 members of the european union and i expect us to

negotiate a deal that is right for the uk, but will actually retain a strong european union union of which we will trade with and be working together on matters of mutual interest. >> i welcome the extension for number-- another six months, but there's been little physical process during the time during recent months. what do she think that extension of sanctions will achieve and how can we move that process forward? >> the council was updated by chancellor markel who has obviously been leading in relation to discussions on the minsk agreement. everyone is concerned that we still have positions with the minsk agreement has not been good-- put in place. we need rollover sanctions so we show our continuing rigor on this matter and continued expectation for russia to abide

by the requirements. >> doctor julian the lewis. >> thank you mr. speaker. said of eu countries dangerously duplicative structure without american participation, wouldn't not do much more the defense of europe if countries like france and germany and other eu states that are members of nato actually spend a minimum of 2% of their gdp on defense? >> prime minister. >> my honorable friend is right that we want to see other countries also stepping up to the play. this country is spending 2% of their budget on defense and we think others should be also and i have encourage others to do so >> there are many differences over the freedom of movement, but would it also not be the case if this arrangement would

continue? it would make a mockery of the majority decision taken by the british people. >> as i said in answer to one of my other friends earlier i think it's an important part of the vote in one of the things that underlie the vote was the desire for people to see the british government bring control of immigration and i suggested honorable gentleman that if he has that view of freedom of movement and doesn't think it should continue that he might talk to his own front bench about it. >> over 10000 ukrainian citizens have now been killed since the beginning of the russian backed conflict and that progress on mix appears to be stalled. does she agree with the special response ability since we are signatories of the memorandum

and will she examine what further pressure we can put our russia and what additional assistance we can get to the people of ukraine. >> prime minister. >> i would say to my right honorable friend that we do look at what more we can do. my right honorable friend the defense secretary announced recently an extension to the training of the cranium forces that we were going to undertake and i why honorable friend the foreign secretary looks at whether there are ways in which we can ensure the mix-- minsk agreement in force. it's important we also work through the european union in doing that. i have the pressure of the european union behind it. >> did she discuss with fellow leaders by russia in the political process including our own using propaganda and fiber, what actions she takes to investigate what may have already happened in this country and what she is doing to stop it

from happening in the future? >> prime minister. >> i think everyone is aware of the way in which russia is currently operating in the more aggressive stance rush is taking across a whole range of ways, aspects i'm sure the right honorable gentleman cannot expect me to go into detail as to how we look at these issues she clearly in relation to cyber matters as was indicated earlier , but i can assure the right honorable gentleman that we take the actions of state sponsored intervention cyber attacks seriously indeed. >> the premise to her steadfast commitment to reassuring to point a million the citizens are highly welcome. which he consider future reports with which i worked together with honorable members which

provides suggestions on how to regularize the immigration state of 1.8 billion who are on track to gain permanent residency. >> i'm aware of report and i can assure her with that very seriously at any proposal that comes forward on this and other matters relating to brexit. >> thank you mr. speaker. could i pressed her on the reply she gave to the scottish national party on yemen? i appreciate she was the only leader of a foreign country to a death-- address them recently. the foreign secretaries have spoken courageously about the situation in yemen. while we celebrate christmas sunday, those people would be eating grass and drinking seawater in order to survive. what does it say about politics in 2016, that the richest club

in the world is unable to find time to discuss one of the poorest countries? >> prime minister. >> i can assure the right honorable gentleman we take the situation yemen seriously. there are number of ways we are acting in relation to that. my honorable friend the foreign office minister discussed yesterday the possibility of the opening of the wall so supplies can be moved through to yemen. >> mr. speaker, rot-- my reading of the council's conclusion, both on migration and security demonstrates in my view the strength of british influence rather than the weakness. given that we do spend our 2% of gdp on defense and we spend 0.7% on aid, are we in a good position to make this case and doesn't it show when we bless

our european partners will still want that close relationship with us which is why we will get eight good deal? >> prime minister. >> my friend is right. we should be proud of the fact that in this country we spent 2% on defense. that is something that is recognized not just across the european union, but internationally and it is that that enables us to take the lead on a number of these issues. he is correct, i think another thing we saw with the role the united kingdom has played in the council discussions is that it's clear people will continue to attack a good relationship with the united kingdom and i think that puts us in a good place to get a good deal. >> think you mr. speaker. can i congratulate the french and british diplomats in new york who got the security council resolution today? is the prime minister aware that the regimes represented

immediately denounced it and it's quite clear that the syrian government will not be happy about this. can she take practical steps to ensure that the resolution is actually implemented and particularly to protect those people who are witnesses to crime and those people like the white helmets who have been so brave and east of aleppo, but now could be at risk from assad regime? >> the honorable gentleman is right and that's why the resolution implemented in his right to congratulate you create diplomats and french to prepare -- diplomats. we do now have to ensure that a spring practice. he refers to the evidence of crime and we have been taking action in making sure people are equipped and trained to gather evidence of crimes taken place.

>> sir edward lee. >> earlier the prime minister said she wants and i quote when it comes to decisions about our national interests and how we control immigration we can make these decisions for ourselves. i commend that statement and to say when she finally presents her plans will she keep it focused on our counsel and say quite simply we are leaving the eu, leaving the internal markets , we will regain control of our borders and our laws, but nothing in that is against concluding a free-trade deal which is overwhelmingly in the interest of our friends and allies. >> prime minister. >> my honorable friend is right that we need to assure we get the right possible deal and he is also correct to focus on the outcome of the deal we want rather that the together ends our means as to achieve that outcome. is absolutely clear that it's possible to get a deal, good trade deal for the united

kingdom that will also be in the interest of the european union. >> with regards to the best interest of united kingdom, with the prime minister confirmed that remaining are the best interests? >> well, the right honorable gentleman knows i have dispatched previously and indeed argued that we should remain within these particular aspects. of the whole question of security, cooperation is an issue that will be part of the negotiations. again, it's an issue of not just what is in the uk's interest, but actually the uk working with partners in the european union that is in their interest, also. >> what are the chances of a proposed european defense fund adding new money to collective european defense security and what is the prime minister's attitude of the matter of the

mechanism do next year? >> prime minister. >> the issue of the european defense fund referred to in the council conclusion and i think this is something which is yet to be fully fledged out in terms of how it will operate in the future. one of the issues that was discussed by the european council members is a concern to ensure better p. [cheering] of defense equipment across the european union and it's in that context that these issues are considered. ..

what would we do? >> i have to say to the honorable gentleman first of all that the second state of defense said 200,000, not 100,000 he's talking about. let's look seriously at the issue has talked about. one of the things i said to my statement, the bedrock of our security and security of our allies. of course it is an organization which is important in ensuring our defense. what is this government doing in relation to that? spending 2% of our gdp on defense, committing over 170 billion pounds over a number of years for investment in defense equipment, children that we do have the defense we need both the forces and equipment to keep us safe. >> can my right honorable friend tell us how our support for the syrian people is helping alleviate some of the horrendous

suffering that's currently happening over there? >> the friend is right to raise this issue which as with focus on the specific question of aleppo, i think it's easy to forget the significant contribution uk is making through its budget to the committed effort for the refugees from syria. of course much of that is going into the refugees were in the countries iran syria, lebanon, turkey and jordan but with the second biggest bilateral donor and american aid to syrian refugees and has committed two point 3 billion pounds. that means medical supplies, food, water, these are getting through to people where there would not have been otherwise. also means children are being educated as a result of the money that is being spent by the united kingdom. i think it's right we do that. >> i commend the prime minister for solid and strong stance on brexit.

27 eu members met. is this beginning of a cloak and dagger push from eu? can she confirm what steps to take to make sure were not kept in the dark that everything is open? >> twenty-seven member of european union met for i think 25 minutes to discuss aspect of the process of the uk leaving european union. i think it's absolutely right they meet together as 27. it is when we trigger article 50 would want to make sure the process is a smooth and orderly as possible. in our interest, the interest of our economy, it's an interest of the economies as well. i welcome the fact their meeting in order to discuss that process to make preparations just as we're doing when we trigger article 50. >> thank you to much mr. speaker. it is absolutely right we maintain good relationships with the choice of a nation-states of

the european union. what steps is the prime minister making to make sure we talk to european countries not in the european union to gain insight from their experience and deposition and also the plans of the future? >> my honorable friend raises an important point which is actually is not just a relationship with the eu as a whole. it's a relationship with individual countries are members of the eu and those are not members. we do hold of those discussions. i have those talks and i reassure those who i'm speaking to that the united kingdom outside the european union will not be leaving europe. we want to continue to have good relations with our friends and allies across europe. we want to have a good bilateral relationships that enable us to trade well with those nations as well. >> thank you, mr. speaker. what are the key aspects for secure cooperation across europe is the building of sanctions the eu to sanction the regime. what discussions that ship with the eu counterparts and involvement in that regime over

the course of leaving the european union? >> i can assure the gentlemen are focused on ensuring the uk voices heard when we put forward our opinion on matters like the sanctions against russia and the importance of maintaining the sanctions until the next agreement is implemented. >> in an understated voice i call sir david. [laughter] >> wanting both sides of the eu referendum campaign can agree on is during the referendum campaign one of the big issues was the amount of money we give each year to the european union. so will the right minister make a pledge that what we leave the eu we will not be paying any money in to the eu project and surely even with that will be contemplating betraying what people vote for in the eu referendum? >> prime minister. >> while we remain members, we

will continue to have obligation of members of european union. i think what's up or is when we leave european union people want to ensure the british government -- how the money is spent. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the european -- those responsible for breaches of international law in syria must be held accountable, and that the eu is considering all available options. no one would disagree with that sentiment, but can the prime minister set up what this means in practice? >> i think the first thing compositions the uk government holds is where people have breached international humanitarian law, then that should be invested and properly dealt with and people should be brought to justice as a result of that. in relation to the available option, there has been some consideration of, for example, for the sanctions if it's an

issue of the uk's race in the past and we continue to look at it. >> thank you, mr. speaker. does the prime minister agreed that her first duty as prime minister is to defend the rights of british subjects? it would be foolish negotiating strategy to unilaterally guarantee the rights of eu nationals residing it much as we would like to until we have achieved reciprocity the uk national -- [shouting] >> i agree absolutely with my honorable friend and i think it's a fairly obvious fact that the uk prime minister should have concern for uk citizens. though uk citizens are living in other eu member states. we don't want to see those left being high and dry which is what our position has always been that will guarantee that the safety of the citizens living here provided uk citizens living in eu states can have the rights provided as well.

>> will brexit deliver what three brexit dear ministers promised in the referendum and for what the majority of the voters supported, namely a 350 million-pound a week payment to the health service? or will they get a bill for 50 billion for which nobody voted? >> when we leave the european union, we will be delivering on what my colleagues and were campaigning for the european union campaign for and for those who voted for, which is the united kingdom no longer being a member of the european union must take control of how taxpayer money is spent, how our laws are made, and our immigration. >> i had conversations with european partners. well my right elbow fred make

clear that whatever deal we strike with the european union, we will be offering free trade? and kenji asked then like anybody is considering a reverse went to protectionism? particular and view of the article 35 on the treaty of european union in joining the european union to contribute to free and fair trade? >> my honorable friend raises a very important point, which is that this is about giving a good trade relationship with the european union which is in their interest as well as in our interest. and so lots of references made to the process in relation to trade. actually what we want to focus on is the outcome which is a best possible deal with in trading with an operation within the european union. >> britain has a post strengthening trade defense measure and as --

[inaudible] which is crippled the uk steel industry. while people the right to think that when this prime minister takes control of year to bridge trade deals, the british industry will be more exposed than ever before? >> actually the trade defense arrangements that had been in place have had a significant impact on the question of the dumping of steel. of course where everybody recognizes the capacity at the impact of the overcapacity of steel and china. we have taken a number of steps to reduce the cost in relation to climate change and energy costs for the steel industry at over 109 pounds has now been made available to the steel industry as a result of that. we have injured other factors can be taken into account with people looking at procurement of steel, socioeconomic factors can be taken into account. as regards the trade defense arrangements that take place in europe we think yes, we should ensure that we are looking at the impact on producers that we also need to look at the impact

on consumers. what we call for is a balance in dealing with these issues. >> as the prime minister reaches our first christmas and a role can i commend her for the touch just enlisted as a prime minister? >> here, here. >> commander for setting up a fresh new government apartment for others to leave the european union and reminder that in kettering, 61% of the people to leave and want to get on with it as soon as possible. >> well, can't i think my honorable friend for his very kind words. can i assure him that i, the government, the department for exiting the european union and everybody across government is focused on delivering what over all the british people wanted, which is leaving the european union. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i press the prime minister how will our government hold prone government account for the definition of aleppo --

defamation? >> this is a matter which we and others in the international community will be looking at. of course at the moment the situation is that president assad still is there and see. this is something which set from the very beginning that we want to see a political transition away from president assad but we are very clear we need to look carefully at all the actions of that a been taken in relation to the conflicts in syria. adventure people held to account for those actions and those actions that break international human law. >> i congratulate and my right honorable friend for the robust stitches taken a representative of the united kingdom at the recent uk counsel beauty. can the prime minister say with any of the leaders of the 27 expressed wished not to trade with the united kingdom?

>> well, i'm very happy to tell my honorable friend that actually when i been beating leaders bilaterally they have been very keen to express their desire to continue to trade and have a good trading relationship with the united kingdom spin at what has happened in aleppo is not just been a tragedy. it's been an act of deliberate brutality by putin and his regime. the prime minister is right to say that those responsible must be held to account. there is something she could do immediately, which is she could sign up for the motion, to be mimicked by the criminal finance bill which has been tabled by the right honorable member for barking at her honorable friend for eastern wall phone which would take the assets from those of been involved in human rights abuses and in these war crimes often. >> the honorable gentleman has raised an important point, but we already have legislative capacity in relation to such

matters and that is why think the amendment has been considered not to be necessary, not to take us forward. >> mr. bob stewart. >> thank you, mr. speaker. assuming a humanitarian corridor or two aleppo supported by a clear u.n. mandate, is there a possibility, would our majesties government be prepared to consider using our military forces, perhaps in sport teams to monitor such an arrangement? is it something of which we've had considerable expertise and success to date. >> that prime minister can always introduce and addendum to our last batch of which would no doubt bring great happiness to the right honorable member spirit i must apologize. i'm afraid i was thinking in terms of magness kate's law,

that he is frequently raises in relation to matters relating to rush it, so i apologize for that. in relation to my honorable friend who of course has personal experience of providing support in circumstances where we need to provide that humanitarian aid and support to people, this will be a matter that will be taken up by the united nations. the roles of united kingdom can play in that will be a matter for consideration and discussion under the u.n. auspices. >> thank you, mr. speaker. toward the end of her remarks she talking quite broad terms about the kind of cooperative relationship she wants for britain outside the european union. which of the european countries that are not in the european union does the deal she wants for britain most closely resemble? >> i headset consistently that we are not looking to try and duplicate or replicate a model

that isn't there for some of the country within europe. what we will be doing is negotiating a deal that's right for the uk, and we will be ambitious in doing so. >> thank you, mr. speaker. whilst strongly commending a pivotal role that britain is playing in lebanon, jordan and other neighboring states in coping with the miserable outflow from syria, could i urge my honorable friend that a high priority in her did with the incoming administration in washington must be tackling the growing hegemony of russia and its ally iran in that region? >> i think it's very important that we look very seriously at the actions of russia. as i indicated earlier in response to the right honorable member for exeter, actually we look at the actions of russia across a whole range of activities that they are not

involved in. one of the significant elements of the conclusion of the european council was that it also identified iran as biking the assad regime and i think that's a very important step forward and we should continue to make the point that is not just russia. it is iran as well. >> thank you, mr. speaker. welcome to the u.n. security council has unanimously ordered approved u.n. personnel to monitor the evacuations and access to humanitarian aid. however, i am concerned that if i am to correlate with the involved parties such as that seen regime, russia and iran could see the monitors denied access. what diplomatic role does the prime minister think you could click in injury axis is not restricted in this manner? >> it's for all of us in the international arena to ensure we provide the maximum support united nations and being able to do what is been set out in this good council resolution. it is significant that has been

accepted unanimously by the security council so as not been vetoed by russia unlike previous resolutions that have been in play. the european union to the high representative has already been involved in the international arena. of course as has my right honorable friend the foreign secretary. in urging all parties to ensure that this cute matching aid can get through and that people wish to leave can be evacuated safe safely. >> my right of a friend is clearly right to report back to the council that iran is the other major actor in syria. what steps will the council be taking to a discussion with iran so the atrocities committed in aleppo are not merely committed in other towns and cities in syria? >> my understand is the european union high representative is already having discussions with iran, thickly with a speck of like after maintain a as

necessary to get through. but as a just indicated in response to previous question i think it is awfully right as my uncle friend says that we have identified iran as being the back of the assad regime as you continue to do so i continued to press them and russia that we now have a secret accounts resolution in relation to the evacuation enigmatic carrying aid for aleppo but there's a lot more to be done and were going to get to a stable and peaceful syria for its people in the future. >> thank you, mr. speaker pic i'm very glad to hear about the additional aid being granted concerning refugees at the jordanian border but cannot ask the prime minister, what pressure or assistance are european leaders agreeing to use to help those refugees come to a jordan process hundreds of thousands of refugees trapped in no man's land between syria and jordan? >> this is part of the work we're doing in the united kingdom and other individual never states is doing is putting aid into countries like a jordan

to help them in dealing with those refugees who are particularly, those refugees who are already in jordan appeared as i indicated some of the money that we will be making available to be specific to look at those who are now on the jordanian border. >> thank you very much mr. speaker. i congratulate my honorable friend for her thoughtful statement. does she agree with me that brexit means brexit means we leave the eu and all of the eu regulations? does she agree that certainty is what the country is looking for? >> i'm grateful to my honorable friend for repeating the brexit means brexit. it does indeed. as regards the eu regulation, i think it is important that a point at which we leave the eu, eu regulations are -- and will be open to the department to decide which of those regulations it wishes to continue with and which it wishes to change.

>> in regard to citizens of town to live in the uk, doesn't the prime minister agree that the principle of protecting those who make a positive a our communities should be a core responsibility of our government? >> i recognize the positive contribution that is made by eu citizens living in the united kingdom. i have said on many occasions at that i expect to be able to and wish to be able to guarantee their status or in the uk, but we do need reciprocity. we need to have care and concern for uk citizens who are living in the european union. >> is the prime minister have any discussions on how quick of the eu can make progress on tackling national tax avoidance and in particular when the eu will go ahead with the country by country boarding? >> i have to disappoint my friend and that this was not a matter that was being discussed at the european council but the whole question of tax avoidance is one as he knows uk has led on

in related to measure would take it and it's an issue i raised at the g20 earlier this year. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the discussions she said with a european counterparts touch on exchange rate of sterling? how many euros to get for her pounds on her trip? >> no, we did not discuss that. >> only making an exit 20,000,000 pounds of practical support. as is the first of the season prep she did talk a little bit more about all the other things that we are funding in that region. >> i think my honorable friend for giving me the opportunity to do so. i won't mention everything we're funding. as i said we're making a contribution that is now committed to two point 3,000,000,000 to helping syrian refugees. that is about medical supplies, water, it's about the opportunity for young people to

be educated. 10,000,000 and 20,000,000 as million as i indicated earlier will be for those were now massing on the jordanian border, so they specifically looking at those that are vulnerable as a result of the most recent actions that have been taken. it's right where putting all this support in and i think this house should be proud of the efforts of this country has undertaken in order to court syrian refugees. >> a major pause last weekend was noted at the overwhelming brexit pointe part of the peoply country was market membership over controls on immigration. if she intends to abandon the single market watches aboard -- to ensure the welsh economy is not shackled with sinking uk shift? >> it the net kingdom will believing that you can if it's been a kingdom that will be negotiating the deal that we have for leaving the european union but we will be working with the administration and taking into account the

particular priorities that they have. but i repeat what i said earlier. the honorable gentleman makes a reference to what is essentially a means or a process in relation to trading. what we want to focus on is the outcome we walk him which is the best possible trading deal for trading with an operating within the single european market. >> may i congratulate the for her determination to raise the issue of reciprocal rights despite the fact it wasn't for me on the agenda. she's right, this is an issue of serious concern for eu citizens living here and our citizens living in europe. may i also congratulate her for raising this with individual member states as well? may i urge her to continue with these talks and until we put people first before process? >> well, i can assure my honorable friend i will continue to do this and continue to press the matters to be looked at in the receipt of the negotiation to give people the reassurance that they want.

>> the negotiations of immediate concerns to my constituents is relating to communication of cyprus. can the prime minister confirm whether the european union will be present at the party talks on 12 of january? will she enter the uk finally fulfills its historic legal duty to guarantee the independence of cyprus? >> what i would say to my honorable friend is will recognize the importance of these talks that are taking place. the uk position is simple. as a guarantor we stand ready to do what is necessary to play our part but it's important that that is primarily led by the two leaders who are pushing these discussions in cyprus. obviously under the auspices of united nations. we do stand ready to attend the talks. the european union that is truly has an observer status in these matters have also indicated their readiness to be present.

but what we are all saying is will be present if that is going to 8 aid coming to a settlement. we must focus not on whether or not we want to be there but actually on the result that we're going to get, and it must be in the aim of seeing a settlement and reunification. >> thank you, mr. speaker. it's accepted that business wishes to see the maximum possible certainty in which they can make investment decisions. does my right honorable friend agree that is not achieved by quick vacation or obfuscation about our -- but better by triggering but in being flexible and business focused in the terms of that negotiation and the accommodation of the final bill? >> my honorable friend makes an important point. it's precisely why i indicated in october that we would trigger article 55 the end of march so gave people certainty as to what the timetable was.

but is also right, we did the maximum flexibility thereafter in order to ensure that we can meet business needs and the needs of the uk generally. >> mr. speaker, the prime minister's approach is actually right, especially for constituents whose jobs depend on trade, investment, student a residence for the european union to want to see us focus on the key ingredients of success. does she agree that her pragmatic focus on outcomes is much more likely to unify the country then some political parties determination to divide brexit as a boiled egg with a soft or hard? >> well, i do agree with my honorable printer i think with the british give what is that what is to get on with it to do the deal and get a good deal for the 9 united kingdom. that's exactly what we want to do. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i wouldn't expect prime minister to comment on today's events but the european council, discussion on how european works to maintenance to build up turkey

much the keynote as an ally? >> there was discussion come some discussion, notably in the context of the migration still with turkey about the relationship with turkey. as a etiquette in response to question earlier, the relationship is important. the eu-turkey deal on migration has led to significant reduction in the number of people crossing from turkey into greece. but we do need to ensure that the deal is being properly undertaken. that's why we are giving extra support to greece. and for the other aspects of the deal, that is a matter for the member states to consider, not for the united kingdom. but we are all very clear about the significance of turkey and its relationship with the eu. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i welcome the prime minister statements. paragraph 26 of the communiqué talks but condemning the actions of the assad regime, russia and iran. apart from condemning -- the

iranian aggression in syria and also destabilizing activity in the wider region? >> first of all i think it was very important that the conclusion that came out of the council identified iran as well as russia as being part of one of the backers of the syrian regime. and it was in the context of condemning what has taken place in aleppo that that was specifically raised. as regards iran more generally and, indeed, what is happening in syria more generally, of course we continue as a european union and as the united kingdom to look for ways in order to put pressure on those who are backing president assad to ensure that we can do what i think everybody in the european union wants, which is to ensure that we move to a peacefu a pead stable syria with the political transition and a proper british process for doing that in continuing to put pressure on

russia and iran. >> may i congratulate the prime minister on her approach since taking over as prime minister on eu uk relations. given the uk government dedicated resources understand the uk-u.s. position on both the trump and clinton campaigns, can't you also confirm that will be dedicating resources to understanding not just governing parties but also potentially governing parties in the eu in order to help our renegotiation process? >> i would say that, of course, we are in discussions with a number of people to ensure that we understand the approaches that are being taken in other member states by various parties. it's not just about political parties, it's also but understanding business and other interests in the member states that we are negotiating with so that, that will make it better able, as better able to come to deal with not only come is good for united kingdom but actually

as i said is that you would want because i think the deal good for the uk will be as good for the eu as well. >> does my friend agree the government prayers in syria must extend beyond vital humanitarian aid preparing a post-conflict political settlement? and also a reconstruction plan that will benefit the citizens of syria and help bring stability to the middle east? >> well, i would say to my honorable friend, obviously bringing peace and stability to syria and, therefore, helping that being part of the process bring stability to the middle east i think is an important aspect. ..

about the precise data of the deal which will be made when we leave the european union. can my right honorable friend confirmed that when we leave, the european justice will no longer has any jurisdiction over this process? >> my honorable friend has campaigned on for a considerable time. part is that people talk about british as a parliament here in the united kingdom actually determine a lot here in the united kingdom and that means not being under the jurisdiction of the european justice. >> thank you, mr. speaker. a diplomat friend of mine from sweden told me it won't just be the budget that they will mess. what they will miss are the english national of the british

nationals who work for the european union, who he says are organized, symptomatic and imaginative and quite a contrast to many of the others who work for the secretary. would my right honorable friend join me in wishing friends well for the future and i guess, mr. speaker, happy christmas. >> are happy very many excellent british officials working inside the european union, including of course commissioner for julia kidd and security masses and i certainly wish them all well for the future and i'm in the whole half happy christmas. >> thank you. >> mr. speaker, would we be prepared to spend more than 2% of gdp? to underpin security in europe and elsewhere as part of the construction ongoing relationship between the e.u. and the u.k.

>> well, i have to say to my honorable friend of course you have the commitment to spending 2% of gdp on defense. that's an important commitment that we have given them. i understand the support will be there and i think it is right that we encourage others within the european union and within nato to increase the same level. >> mr. robert jenrette air >> mr. speaker, shortly before the council met come in the 15th round of the e.u. talks predictably enough and it once again in stalemate. at the same time that bilateral u.k. u.s. studio on the rise, a deal that doesn't compromise between our two nations and doesn't see the need for a new super national body to work a nice disputes respect each other's legal positions. all my right honorable friend make the heart of our

relationship with the incoming administration? >> first of all, as continuing members of the e.u. and for as long as we are there, we continue to press the deal and encourage those discussion on ttip. i'm looking forward to -- >> david murray. >> thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, this seems to be instability in tripoli, however they seems to be stability in benghazi. i beg to ask my honorable friend whether we are discussing the european council towards helping to stabilize the situation so there is no migration of people coming. >> there were some discussions of libya because of the recognition that it does play an important role in relation to the migration of people from the rest of africa i've been across the mediterranean into italy

because the war vessels have been in the mediterranean saving peoples lives than continuing to be there, but also as i indicated in my statement, training bolivian coast guard which is an important part of the process of preventing the migration from taking place. it is important that we have the government of national accord in libya and are able to interact with that government and we would encourage and wish to see stability across libya is though that can further ensure that we are dealing with the issue of migration. >> thank you.

>> seriously? you find that one of your divisions had created 2 million fake accounts, had fired thousands of employees or improper behavior and had cheated thousands of u.n. customers then you didn't even once consider firing her ahead of her retirement?

♪ >> the presidential inauguration of donald trump is friday, january 20th. c-span will have live coverage of all the days events and ceremonies. watch live on c-span and c-span.oregon with my on the free c-span radio app.

>> the dnc outlined a the dnc outlined a plan for not transferring the party after 2016 election result. we hear about increasing outreach, focusing on all states not just battleground one and making the dnc chair a full-time position. this is two hours 20 minutes. >> hayek, roberta. i am going to ask for everyone to please take their seats at this time so we can get started with this forum. my name is rick palacio, chair of the democratic party. [applause] thank you. i service as secretary of the association of state democratic chairs who is our host this afternoon. first of all, it is really an honor to have each of you here in my home state.

i am proud to say that colorado, along with our neighbor to the south and are almost neighbor to the west, we are the place that republicans broke their way. a majority of colorado voters chose hillary clinton to lead our nation. we reelected michael bennet and colorado and we expanded our democratic majority. we expanded our democratic majority in the state house of representatives. unfortunately, that wasn't the case in many places around the country as we all know and there's no reason that we should sugarcoat that today. republicans have not been this well positioned since the 1920s. on january 20th, donald trump is sworn in as the next president of the united states. republicans control both chambers of commerce.

republicans don't want republicans don't like the dirty republican seats and many more state legislatures. looking at the map, much of the nation looks incredibly rad. in many places turn out the sound and we lost our court a working-class voters who made up a large part of our coalition since roosevelt. we have to do some thing, democrats. this party, the democratic party is the party of optimism, right? democrats believe we are greater when we are standing together, greater than we are on our own. and that is when the country succeeds, when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same roles. but that message either didn't get through in november or it wasn't believable this last november. because wide swaths of the american people did not vote

with us and we find ourselves at a crossroads. at our next meeting in february, was elected to chair the democratic national committee and of course that is why we are all here today. we have four announced candidates for dnc chair and three of them are here with us today. governor dean is unable to join us, that he will be addressing us by video. before we get started, i would like to run through some important guidelines. first and foremost, this is a forum. this is not a debate. so while we may disagree in our candidate of choice, i would like for us all to agree right now that we will not be disagreeable this afternoon. [applause] you should have been handed a credential when he checked in on those credentials will be required for you to stay in this room. so please wear them around your neck at all times. audience members who remove their credentials will be asked

to leave. we are also going to ask and this is going to be neighborly of course that no disruptions will be permitted from the audience. distractive people will be escorted out. there will not be science permitted. science will be promptly removed as well. feeding guidelines will be enforced. as you know, in the middle of the road, everyone on this side of the room, should be a member of the democratic national committee or a member of the association of state democratic chairs. our guests are welcome, but our guests are seated on the other side. so are there any questions about those guidelines? see no questions, first the candidates will have 10 minutes with their speech and then we will have a reasonable amount of time that we will provide to each of our candidates to answer questions. the first introduction that i would like to make to join me to

my left ear, chair of the new hampshire democratic party. raymond. [applause] congressman keith ellison who represents the fifth congressional district. [applause] jamie harrison, chair of the south carolina democratic party. [applause] and i would ask for you all to please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance. >> i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america. and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> thank you.

please be seated. now that we are all comfortably settled in our chairs, our first remarks are going to be a video from governor dean and the remaining order was picked backstage in a random order. >> hayek, howard dean from the democratic wing of the democratic party. i very much apologize i wasn't able to get to denver. this is really important. the dnc needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. we need to do something that i call the 50/50 strategy. we need to focus on the group that voted for us and the so-called first global generation. the reason that has 50 on it is because that is the great people who vote for us in 50 years. but he voted for someone three times in a row, which they have come a barack obama choice, it

is likely you will vote that way for the rest of your life. we've got to focus on young people. they've got to get the nod in big numbers, much greater numbers than we had before. democrats have nothing to be ashamed of in the last election. hillary clinton got 2 million more votes than donald trump did. but we lost. we lost for a variety of reasons. some with voter suppression particularly wisconsin and north carolina. but we didn't do well enough and we didn't get the votes. the real loss is even worse. the real losses there are now more republican governors in this country than ever in the history of the united states. more seats than the state legislature. that means this party has to work at the ground level and we have to organize. this is not an ideological contest. we have to organize a mechanical contrast. we have to stand for something and that's important. being on the ground for four

years and trust in state parties and giving them resources they need with the same strings we had before. you hire them, we will train them and make sure they are adequately paid. we need to rehab the database and are prepared to do that with the same people who bought the database in 2005 when i first became chairman of this party. we can do this again. but there's important things we must not do. one of them as we cannot allow this to be a proxy fight between bernie sanders speedboat in hillary clinton's people. this party needs to start again and we need to be together. the second day we cannot do is have a chairman whose part-time. we have to all work together and we have to focus fully on this task. this requires 80 hours to fly 250,000 miles a year and half to raise 50 or $60 billion a year. this is a full-time job. here's my promise to you. i am not going to be a candidate

for the democratic national chairmanship. it could possibly be divisive. i have other priorities. i have a grandchild now. but i am dedicated to using as much time as i can to support whoever the chairman is. i ask all of those candidates and there's been very, very good ones now to work fully together and to take this job is a full-time job. i will support whoever wins. i think it's going to be a great year for democrats, but only if we do those things that i laid out before and that i laid out in 2005. our record in his chair was extraordinary. when i came in it was a beautiful building. a $6 million surplus that they are is no house, didn't have the senate and we didn't have the presidency. when our team left in 2009, we had a great tech platform and the house, senate and presidency. i think that can be done again.

thanks very much. [applause] >> thank you to governor dean. i'm not jamie harrison. >> we have to start after that. can you hear me? no? can you hear me now? great. wow, that's some news. well, my colleagues and friends, i want to thank you. first of all it want to thank governor howard dean. [applause] i want to thank him for the 50 state strategy. you know, i worked in the house of representatives at the time when he proposed that and i remember being in the room when senator schumer and rahm emanuel basically said no. we want the money for the dccc.

and i remember my past at the time who stood up and said i support the 50 state strategy. and in the end, howard dean was right because we picked up seats. in places like canada. i can tell you it was not on rahm emanuel's desk. -- list, but we want. i modeled my tenure in south carolina after governor dean and we have a 46 kind of strategy. i just want to thank him for all that he's done for this party and for sending out a blue print for s. but i want to thank you. i want to thank you for the millions of phone calls, for the millions of doors you knocked on. i want to thank you for pouring their hearts out tonight this

country a better place for all americans. this past election was like a punch in the gut. it hurts. bad election. and it still hurts. the morning after the election, my 2-year-old son, we call him dean on facebook. he came into the bed with me and his mom and a look at me and he looked at his mom and he said, mommy, his daddy sad? and i leaned over to him and i said that he commented that he is a little sad this morning. and he leaned over and he kissed me and he kissed his mom. you know, it was that that moment when i realized that this election wasn't about hillary clinton winning or donald trump winning.

i was sad than i was hurting because of the consequences of this election. the consequences for my son. the consequences for my mom. the consequences from a grandmother and for all the people that we love because i've always learned that elections have consequences. over the past two years in various assortments and venues, the american people have been yelling and screaming, but we haven't been listening. they've been trying to tell us something. we saw it in the research and the police related shootings in african-american communities were african-americans young and old took to the street and that black lives matter. we saw it with the lgbtq community and its allies, fighting and courtrooms all across this country, proclaiming and the loudest voice who we love matters.

immigrants who came to this country looking for opportunity and poverty and persecution saying give us a chance. supporters of bernie sanders saying to the democratic party, our voices matter. don't take us for granted. and yes, even white working class voters say he don't forget us because we are special, too. democrats have problems than the sober reality of the situation we are in right now, despite all of the amazing achievements that we've had under president barack obama. we fight for equal rights and equal treatment and provide the health care to 20 million american and despite being on the right side of so many issues, americans still don't feel as if we've been listening to them, as if they matter because they don't see us

anymore and their communities. they don't see us helping them tackle the pocketbook issues a vote for the past eight years. you've heard it, i've heard it. many of them said the same problems i had eight years ago under george bush are the same problems i face today. so folks, the democratic party has transformed. we have to transform from simply being a political organization, looking for both every two and every four years that we must become a community organization working in our neighborhoods as grass-roots advocates, addressing the day-to-day issues by middle and working class voters. but sadly, we have not been able to invest in the front line of our party. you know the frontline of our party is? all of you. folks working in the state parties. we should have predicted would

happen because we've seen the signs. 33 of 50 governorships are controlled by republicans to 69 of 99 state legislative houses controlled by republicans, when you've lost over 900 legislative seats in the course of eight years, we saw the signs but we ignored them. these sobering statistics tommy for the past two years we built a beautiful new house, a diverse house, a pretty house and paid no attention to the foundation. the foundation said this party, state parties have been dried up like grapes on the vine in the california sun. let me ask you a few questions. how many of you are either defending a democratic u.s. senate race in 2018 or have they done the craddick race in 2017. show of hands. keep your handset. how may be of less than $150,000 cash on hand in your state

parties? how would the world -- thank you, guys. how in the world can we think that our state party can run effect of campaign neither a year or two years and they can barely keep the light on in their party, when they have to lay off their staff. my friends, things have to change in our party and that is why i decided to join this race to be democratic chair of the national committee. john f. kennedy stated it, it is time for a new generation of leadership to cope with new problems and new opportunities for there is a new world. that means that my vision for the new world the democratic party. we don't have the presidency and we need a full-time chair, someone who can dedicate 100% of their time and energy to the job in order to rebuild the party we need to invest in state parties and territories and democrats abroad. i propose increasing the state

partnership program to $12,000 a month minimum to find all of these organizations. we also have to empower regional caucuses to enjoy a fund raising and providing them the economic support so that they can support the local candidate. we need regional staff in the regions as well. we need to build a bench. we've been doing this in south carolina. we lost to james clapper were retrained 250 young people is to be the next generation of candidates and county chairs, the next generation of political operatives. young people need a place at the table. we need to have like we have in south carolina for those under the age of 35. we've allowed republicans to catch up with us in technology. we need to foster a wave of political technological innovation. and my first month as chair, for the first time i will call

together a strategy of retreat and call together the group said the dccc, d. ga, d. m. o. because guess what? they never sat down at the same table to strategize about message and direction. we have to fight to save our democracy is. we have to fight against political gerrymandering. we have to fight against your voter suppression and we have to do it in a non-election year. we need to do a 24/7 my friends. you have to get big money out of politics and cultivate small dollar donors and our actions have to match our words. if diversity is our greatest asset, would've to demonstrate that by the vendors that work with the democratic party and the story that shaun king wrote about the diversity in the senate was deplorable. our senate and our staff need to reflect the diversity of our party as well. finally, we need to get back to the grassroots. in south carolina for in south

carolina for lunch never called this out carolina democrats cared and we go into the community addressing the issues framed things from school supply drive to resume building, to homeownership workshops. that is how we do constituent service. with that, i am so pleased and honored to throw my hat in the rain. i will talk about my background so you guys get a sense of who i am a little later. i went to thank you for all the support i've received. thank you, guys. >> thank you, jamie. [applause] >> congressman ellison. >> democrats, how are you doing? let me tell you. i want to thank you for the great work you've been doing over the years and thank you as well. the fact of the matter is that we are all friends here and we

plan on working together no matter how this race comes out. [applause] it is critical -- we are at all hands on deck moment and everybody, every one of us has to figure out what we can do to help the american people reach their dreams in the area of trump. i will tell you, i am with jamie on this issue of just the pain people are feeling in my own district, a young girl named emilia, she is like five. she was in a room with her mother and her mother's girlfriend and her mom said growth, go in there, watch tv. the brother proceeded to tell my friend that luck, if we are arrested and detained because we don't have our papers all straight, would you care for emilia? ..

but more importantly lot -- we want to see our country thrive and grow. it scares us but we are not too scared to fight. and so we want to offer our leadership to you. i want to tell you that of course it's true that we suffered a very bad tragedy on election day. i tell you, i'm still still reeling from it. but that tragedy was a long time coming. in 2014 we hit a 70 year low in voter turnout, 36%. %. the democratic caucus was smaller than any time since

treatment. indus in last election we get a 20 year low in the presidential turn up. we've got a lot of rebuilding to do. we need to energize the democratic activists across the country, give them the tools they need to build the party from the very bottom all the way up. we need to do something else critical. reclaim the identity of the democratic party as the agent for the working people of america. we have got to make sure every american knows the democrats are there to fight for them. a great leader of the uaw once said a ballot box is directly connected to the breadbox. martin luther king also said what does it matter if the man can sit at a lunch counter but he can't afford a hamburger? we've got to be all about that, and the work started on novembe. let me share with you my plan. i believe we did not just a 57

state judge but a 3,143,000 county strategy. every small unit of democratic party across the nation needs to be an closed tight partnership with the dnc. that means every state, every territory and, of course, democrats abroad who supply a very large number of votes and can be the margin of victory in so many of our state. i don't believe there's any flyover states. i'm from minnesota. i don't think i am from a flyover state. i think i am from the industrial midwest and w we're proud people we believe our state as a whole lot to give this country. so does wisconsin and michigan and all over this country. certainly the south in every part of our country. and i'm going to tell you this. i'm so proud of you, trannine, because you guys get some good things in colorado. it wasn't all bad news. give him a hand. [applause] >> also in arizona, is arizona

out there? that's worth a hand. [applause] >> are blue states are not just atms. not just where to when we go to raise money. in california and a whole lot of other blue states they are a model for progressive action. we need to use that and utilize the tools they're giving us not to say give us a check but say how are you winning so well? and the red states, there's a lot of victories happening. georgia, three formerly red counties. don't say we can't win in the south. we can win in the south. we must win in the south. texas swept all the county seats in harris county. good job, great job. we can do more. yesterday i released my platform aand want you to look it over carefully and share with m your thoughts about it but the democratic party shouldn't just out of office in d.c. got to be stepped up this

country in the strategic basis. we've got strategic basis all this matter with but potus first. me and those of the progressive caucus pulled together at the voters first campaign, voters first.org. you should go that website because we talk about making sure we drive up voter turnout and that is got to be what we do. we need to increase the funds so certainly at least 10,000 a month but also set up a grant program that while out the creativity creativity of every state to come forward to apply for x to money because talking to some stately and michigan telling me that a plan for also precinct program. we should find that. we should back that because resources are short. we will give state parties in d.c. a toolkit which help for planning, communication can fund raising, surrogates surrogates and more. let me just tell you, they can to donna brazil who is fighting people in cybersecurity. i'm telling you, we've we've got to make sure --

[applause] we have to be clear with protecting. i believe in state parties. can martin who is my state party chair, there he is. he is my friend but is also my partner. we worked very closely and am honored that you are supporting me because he knows my campaign has contributed over $1 million to state campaigns. he also knows when invested in local races throughout the state. in a wave your windows top, we flipped congressman rick dalton back to congress and we kept -- [applause] and also, i want to tell you my district is a fifth congressional district of minnesota and what i first got there in 2006 by district was lowest turnout district in the state. today it is the highest turnout district in the state because we have invested in turnout 365 days a year all over, everybody,

young people, you americans, all over the place. we are doing the deal. if the electoral success is the qualification for this job, i can fulfill that criteria. i hope you'll will take that into consideration. who has actually produce electoral success and help of the democrats win. democratic governor mark won by less than 10,000 votes in 2010 but by more than 1000 in 2014 because we 2014 because we turnout the boat. outbreak franken won by 312 votes in 2008 but he won by 4202014 because we turnout the boat. i want to tell you i am an organizer at heart. i walked picket lines with my brothers and sisters in labor. nurses can anybody come about there with you. postal workers, verizon workers come with her. i been arrested to stand up for immigration reform. so we are fighting for a new americans who believe that is so true.

i travel to nearly 30 states in the last two years alone fighting for candidates at all levels. i have the energy and the time to do the work here i am a proven fundraiser and i've raise over $1 billion, millions of dollars for democrats up and down the ticket and a strong support from progressives and union workers because they know when i say it, i'm going to do. let me just say i believe in unity. it's true. i was a bernie sanders supportive but i was a very active and very, very proud hillary clinton supporter. i believe i can help pull us together and the unified because that is silky and i'll tell you, i've been to places where you got to go and we have to win. spoken to state parties in utah, oklahoma and also nebraska and also nevada. i spent five hours helping to bring unity to those group of democrats right there in nevada. [applause] let me just say, i believe in you.

i know we can bring this thing back in 2018 can be a big year for democrats that starts with strengthening the grassroots, turning our attention to turnout, being bold and stand strong against this troll era we are facing, and calling out that people may vote up or working-class prosperity what they're getting is nothing but a cabinet full of billionaires and lobbyists and everything like that. we need to call the truth of that matter out right now. and so i hope to be your dnc chair. i hope to be your dnc chair, the why the i am or whether i am not, i am proud to be your brother and a member of the democratic party. thank you all very much. [applause] >> thank you, congressman ellison. ray buckley. >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you, jaime, and keith as well. i want to reiterate what my two friends appear have said. we we are not running against

each other, and we have committed to defend each other an.and as i tweeted out the othr day, do not send me any crap about one of the other candidates because we are united and we've chosen to believe that we can win, but only if we are one party. we cannot be divided. you can say anything you want but it is not going to affect our support. [applause] >> most of you have known me nearly my entire life. you have seen me as a teenager, 20s, 30s, 40s, in the '50s. you know the story about deciding to become an activist at eight years old because i was so horrified by the injustice of racial injustice. and to me that became my cause. i know, look kids are passionate about baseball or barbies or whatever, but for me it was elections because starting at eight years old i started organizing leaf drops and

campuses because that's what i believe. i have filled every a position available within the democratic party from 14 up. my counter, move to the city, it became the word chair. i was teacher for five terms, count each of her fortunes, treasurer of the state party when i was 21, served as executive director. served four terms as of the vice chair of the national democratic party and i am now in my fifth term as the chair of the new hampshire democratic party. and i am serving as you all know in my fourth term as president of the state chair association and serving as one of the dnc officers. i went through that just because there are some people who might not know, but that's not really my record. my record i like to talk about is what's happened in new hampshire in the last 10 years. when i grew up in new hampshire, republicans laughed at the idea that they've had to compete with the democrats. the election was a republican primary.