live monday morning starting at 8:00 a.m. eastern only on c-span. tomorrow the cato institute looks at tax changes proposed by president trump in the u.s. house, and previews the next few months of the congressional process. live coverage beginning at noon eastern on c-span three. >> the british parliament is on recess until after the june elections. bbc parliament looks back at the major events that took place in the u.k. and the british parliament during the 2016-2017 legislative session. this is an hour. ♪ keith: hello and welcome to our look back at the u.k. 56 parliament. alicia: it was the shortest par

limit for 46 years, just two years long. keith: although short, there was a peoples in british politics. alicia: two years ago, we had different leaders. the uk was a solid member of the european union and the brexit word had yet to be invented. >> the 24 months have been departure. >> as i once said, i was the future once. [laughter] alicia: new people at the top. pm may: in accordance with the wishes of the british people, the united kingdom is leaving the european union. >> memorable speeches. >> they hold our values in contempt. they hold our values of tolerance and decency in contempt. alicia: a new approach to prime minister's questions. >> maureen wrote to me this week, and she writes with a heavy heart, we have been treated disgustingly. >> and robust exchanges at westminster committees. >> you said you don't want to be here all day?

am i sorry i didn't? yes. >> few could have predicted what events lay in store as the opening of parliament went ahead on the 27th of may 2015. it was the 62nd time her majesty the queen had opened parliament. against expectations and projections, david cameron had won and outright general election victory for the conservatives. no coalition with liberal democrats would be needed this time. following his resignation, labor was led by acting leader harriet harman. no words were exchanged between the party leaders as mps filed through parliament to hear the queens speech and the legislative plans for a government expected to last five years. >> my government will renegotiate the united kingdom's relationship with the european union and pursue reform of the european union for the benefit of all member states.

keith: as she congratulated the prime minister, the acting labor leader made a remark that would turn out to be remarkably prescient. >> although he and i have many differences, people have pointed out in some ways, we are quite like. [laughter] one of the things that we have in common is that we are both, by our own admission, interim leaders. [laughter] so we will support the government's bill for a referendum on britain's -- we believe it will be better for britain if we stay in the european union. >> we have a very clear strategy of renegotiation, reform, and referendum. the bill in the queen's speech makes clear the referendum must take place, at the latest, by the end of 2017. keith: the new party with 56 mps were the scottish nationalist. >> may i congratulate the prime

minister for his election success -- in england. [laughter] and it is an honor to reply to the queens speech on behalf of the third-party in the house of commons. [applause] the scottish national party. >> order, can i say at the start of parliament that the convention, that we don't clap in this chamber is very, very long established and widely respected, and it would be appreciated if members would show some respect for that convention. keith: the queen returned to politician's minds in september 2015 when she became the longest running monarch in the country's history, surpassing the record of queen victoria. her majesty had reigned for 63 years, seven months, and two days. on the day, she was opening a new train line in the scottish borders. the prime minister talked about her many duties. >> whether it is something we suspect she enjoys, like the

highland games, or something we suspect she might be slightly less keen on, such as bending new year's eve in the millennium dome. [laughter] she never, ever falters. >> she is now on her 12th prime minister. we on these benches had hoped that he would now be on her 13th. [laughter] she reigns over 140 million people. that is a huge number, nearly as many as the number of labor party registered supporters. [laughter] keith: that remark about the size of labor's membership was a none too subtle reference to the long drawn out leadership election during the summer of 2015. to enliven a potentially dull contest, labor mps had let in the backbencher, jeremy corbyn, a veteran with a long history of meddling. to the consternation and amazement of most labor mps, mr. corban quickly became the favorite.

he won by a landslide, and soon he was answering his first prime minister's questions. >> jeremy corbyn. >> i have taken apart in many events and conversations with many people about what they thought about this place, our parliament, our democracy, and our conduct within this place. and many told me that they thought prime minister's question time was to theatrical, that parliament was out of touch and to theatrical, and they wanted things done differently. but above all, they wanted their voice heard in parliament. >> if we are able to change prime minister's questions and make it a more genuine exercise and asking and answering questions, no one would be more delighted than me. alicia: a new approach to prime minister's questions, and a fresh look to the house of commons generally. 177 new mps have been elected in may and they all had to make a

maiden speech. by convention, these are noncontroversial, but a new conservative mp decided to dispense with that tradition. heidi allen used or made into -- her maiden launch a withering attack on the government's announced cuts to tax credits for working families. >> the prime minister has asked us that with everything we do to pass the family test. cutting tax credits before wages rise does not achieve that. showing children that their parents would be better off not working at all does not achieve that. sending a message to the poorest and most vulnerable in our society that we do not care does not achieve that either. alicia: a new rebel was born. in previous parliaments, conservative governments assumed they could always count on the support of peers. not these days. there is no longer a tory majority in the lords. the leader pleaded for a compromise on the tax credit

issue. >> i have been to see the chancellor this morning at number 11, and i can confirm that he would listen very carefully, were the house to express its concerns in the way that it is precedented for us to do so. alicia: it appeared the lords could support the government. >> we can be supporters instead of those 3 million families facing letters at christmas, telling them on average, they will lose up to around 1300 pounds a year, a letter which will take away 10% of their income. keith: they voted down the tax credit changes. so what would be chancellor george osborne do in the face of that lords rejection? a few weeks later he told us. >> i have listened to the concerns. because i have been able to announce an improvement in public finances, the simplest thing to do is to avoid these

changes altogether. [shouting] >> tax credits are being phased out anyway as we introduce universal credit. keith: that reversal was just the first in a series of u-turns. four months later came another change of heart, this time as a large cut george osborne made to disability benefits. the changes infuriated this man, ian duncan smith, who resigned from the cabinet in protest. a few days later, the chancellor dropped his disability benefit changes. >> while the reforms proposed two weeks ago drew on the work of an independent review, they did not command support. they will not go ahead. even if they had, this government is spending more on disabled people than the last labor government ever did. >> he has made a welcome u-turn, but shouldn't he acknowledge that was a mistake he should say sorry for?

>> i just said it. where we have made a mistake, we listen and we learn. that is precisely what we have done. where is the apology from the labour party? keith: earlier, mr. osborne had shown some skills and labor is john mcdonald -- >> the shadow chancellor usually -- literally stood [indiscernible] [applause] >> it is his personal signed copy. [laughter] >> the problem is, half the shadow cabinet has been sent off to reeducation. alicia: this was the 56th parliament of the united kingdom, but just how united was the kingdom? the scottish nationalist group of mps were now the third largest party.

naturally, the campaign for more power for scotland, but they also campaigned against something -- changes the government wanted to make to the way this place is run. specifically, they were objecting to something that rather ominously became known as evil, english most for english laws. scottish mps could be excluded from voting on some legislation. it gave a new task to the speaker and his deputies. >> there will now be a joint debate on the consent motion for england and wales, and the consent motion for england. i remind honorable members that, although all members may speak in a debate, if there are divisions, only members representing constituencies in england and wales may vote on the consent motions for england and wales. and only members representing constituencies in england may

vote on the consent motion for england. >> for the first time in the history of this house, this parliament, members of parliament will be banned from participating in divisions on the house based on nationality and geographic location. keith: one of the defeated scottish politicians in advance of the 2015 elections, charles kennedy. a short time into the parliament came the sad news, mr. kennedy had been found dead at his home. tributes were paid from all sides. >> if i may, i would like to direct these words at donald, son of charles and sarah. your father was a very great man. he stood up for what he believed in. he led a party of the centerleft with dignity and compassion.

when you are older, you will know your mom and dad believed in a cause greater than themselves, and you will be proud. >> it is not what you have done, it is who you are. charles kennedy was a very special man. donald, you should be proud of your daddy. i am proud of your daddy. i loved him to bits. i'm proud to call my friend. keith: the drawnout conflict in syria was continuing. the terror group i.s., also known as isis or isil, had taken parts of neighboring iraq in 2014. at that time, they were in favor of british airstrikes on iraq, but not on territory it was controlling in syria. should british airstrikes be extended to syria? in 2015, ministers were advised strongly against. terrorist carnage on the doorstep of britain dramatically changed political opinion. three teams of terrorists carried out a plan, coordinated

operation at the heart of paris. 130 people were dead. isis claimed responsibility. the mood at westminster was no -- was now different. a motion was put before mps to extend british airstrikes to cover i.s. targets in syria as well as iraq. on december 2015, it turned into the ultimate decision for mps. to go to war or not. >> i hope the house will come together in large numbers for britain to play its part defeating these evil extremists and taking the action needed now to keep our country safe. >> the issue now is whether extending british bombings from iraq to syria is likely to reduce or increase that threat to britain, and whether it will counter or spread the terror campaign isil is waging across the middle east. the answers don't make the case for the government motion.

on the contrary, they are warning, step back. a vote against yet another ill-fated twist in this never-ending war on terror. >> i share the horror and revulsion. beirut, syria and elsewhere. i have still to hear convincing evidence to suggest that u.k. bombing isis targets in syria is likely to increase our security here in britain or help bring about lasting these. >> this is the toughest call i think i have ever had to make, maybe ever and certainly in this house. what pushes me in the direction of voting for action is, above all things, the united nations resolution 2249, which calls for us to eradicate this safe havens that isis has, that daesh has in syria. keith: the closing words in favor of military action, in open defiance of jeremy corbyn, came to be seen as a vintage comments performance. >> we have always been defined

by our internationalism. we believe we have a responsibility, one to another. we never have and we never should walk by on the other side of the road. and we are here faced by fascists, not just their calculated brutality, but there belief that they are superior to every single one of us in this chamber tonight, and all of the people we represent. they hold us in contempt. they hold our values in contempt. they hold our believe in tolerance and decency in contempt. they hold our democracy, the means by which we will make our decision tonight, in contempt. >> what we know about fascists is that they need to be defeated. it is now time for us to do our bit in syria. that is why i asked my colleagues to vote for this

motion tonight. [shouting] keith: after which, mps voted by a clear majority for military action. u.k. airstrikes on i.s. targets in syria started soon after. 17 months on, they have conducted more than 1200 airstrikes across iraq and syria as part of a coalition of countries committed to defeating i.s. operations to be far more air operations to remove i.s. have been far more effective in iraq then in syria, where the six-year long brutal civil war continues. >> history came to an end in 2016 with the financial collapse of british home stores, a the mayor site for eight decades and many a high street. a parliamentary inquiry was soon underway into why they had collapsed. the debt was 1.3 trillion pounds. its former owner, one of britain's wealthiest

businessmen, faced mps. >> nothing is more sad than how this has ended. you have got a pretty good track record as a company. our existing business, the average head office is 11 or 12 years. do you mind not looking at me like that all the time? it is really disturbing. alicia: why did they sell bhs to a racing driver who had been made bankrupt twice? >> unfortunately, it was the wrong number. we could keep going over -- you said you don't want to be here all day. would i do that deal again? no. am i sorry we did it? yes. >> i have never met you before, but three and a half hours in you seem a strong personality. you are holding your own. you seem extraordinarily thin-skinned to quite courteous questions. in respect to the selling of

bhs, did anybody -- we could challenge you on this. that does not seem to be the culture of the organization. >> that is your opinion. >> thank you. keith: this low passage of the eu referendum bill made certain the people of britain would take part in a vote on britain's continued e.u. membership, but would it be 2016 or 2017? would david cameron go early or late, and who would be campaigning for britain to stay in and who would be wanting to get out? in the comments, labor was indulging in plenty of teasing of cabinet ministers. >> to compel us in or out. >> he is an out, isn't it. he has an outer. >> come out, come out. >> the labour party has a leader who has changed his mind twice in the last few months. they claim to support a reformed european union, but want say what they want to reform. keith: soon the pretense of unity was ended. cabinet ministers were set free

to campaign on both sides of the debate, and a clutch of high-profile leaders were in front of the cameras. the campaign for a british exit from the eu was soon known as brexit. the remainders never found a similar slogan. on february 20, mr. cameron announced the date of the referendum, thursday, june 23. david cameron had expected. -- expected full support for a name from his close friend, justice secretary michael though. but mr. bow had other ideas, announcing he would be backing leave. a beautiful friendship was never the same again. worse for cameron was the loss of support from the outgoing mayor of london, boris johnson. >> the referendum arguments begin. the claims and counterclaims were made. one pledge on the side of the campaign bus was the weekly cost of britain's e.u. membership could be spent in said became

-- instead became especially well-known. the public grew suspicious of the forecast. committee sessions were looking at the issues both big and small. >> one of the rules that you cite -- one of the ludicrous rules -- isn't eu rule that says you can't recycle a teabag and that children under eight can't blow up balloons. >> this site says that adult supervision is required in the use of uninflated balloons by children under eight. i have to say, in my household, only children under eight are allowed to blow up balloons. i do think it is absolutely ludicrous to have this kind of prescription at a european level. >> do you not see that leaving europe puts at risk england investments from companies like hitachi? >> i don't buy it. alicia: with one week to go to

polling day, the increasingly bitter campaign came to a sudden, shuddering halt. >> reports of a stabbing and shooting involving the mp jo cox. very scant information. keith: the country was horrified that an ordinary member of parliament could be brutally killed while going about her normal work. a far right extremist was later jailed for life for the murder of jo cox. the public soon showed its huge respect for the mp. parliament was recalled briefly from its short referendum break. on her empty seat in the commons were two roses. >> jo believed in a better world, and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy and a zest for life that would exhaust most people. >> and she was brave. her energy and effectiveness were an inspiration. >> the last -- let me say this

-- they will go on to elect a new mp, but no one can replace her. >> i can't ever recall seeing her sad, negative, or without hope. she once told me at a meeting at oxfam that she did not do touchy-feely, and i was being too emotional and we needed to get on with it. [laughter] and we needed to sort out the campaign we were working on. alicia: the public wondered if the shock of the mp's murder might produce a more considered form of politics as the referendum campaign entered its final few days. people flocked to london's wimberley arena for a two-hour debate, leading figures in the leave and remain camps in front of jubilant supporters. >> the britain i love works with its friends and neighbors, does not walk away. >> leave and take back control.

i believe this thursday can be our countries independence day. alicia: both sides claimed to be on course to victory. the polls closed at 10:00. the counting started. first indications suggested leave had polled strongly, and it soon became clear the night's story was going only one way. in the small hours, nigel farage, the man who devoted years of his life to fighting the eu, was triumphant. it was all over remain. victory lay with leave. >> british people have spoken, and the answer is, we are out. alicia: for many, it was a bemusing moment. britain had opted for the european exit. this sense of bewilderment was only added to shortly after 8:00 a.m. outside downing street. >> i will do everything i can as prime minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and

months, but i do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination. alicia: now we had a prime minister also heading for the exit. politicians spent the weekend after the referendum recovering from the whirlwind of events. the comments regrouped on monday. >> it was not the result i wanted nor the outcome i believe is best for the country, but -- for the country i love, but there can be no doubt about the results. >> it is quite shameful that politicians made promises they knew could not be delivered. >> leaving aside the constitutional turmoil, the damage to the economy, and the uncertainty that hangs over britain's place in the world, the leaders of the brexit campaign have engendered an atmosphere where some people believe it is open season for racism and -- >> there should be an early general election. >> could i ask him to say today,

to condemn very clearly those people who are almost implying that decent people all over this country who voted to leave the european union are somehow closet racists? >> at lunchtime, sterling fell to a 31 year low against the dollar. if you break it, you own it. who owns this particular adjustment? is it a prime minister who called the referendum or the right honorable member from oxbridge who exploited it? keith: a reference to boris johnson, who people assumed was on course to fill the vacancy caused by cameron's resignation. for many, the country seem to be in a leaderless limbo. the losing remain side looked for reasons for defeat. one scapegoat became jeremy corbyn. the labor leader was accused of not doing enough campaigning. there was an orchestrated series of resignations from his shadow cabinet. many labour mps urged him to resign. david cameron joined in. >> i have to say to the

honorable gentleman, he talks about job insecurity. in my two months ago, it might be in my party's interest and a -- in trust for him to sit there. it is not in the national interest. i would say, for heaven sake, man, go. alicia: but defiant, jeremy corbyn stayed on. labour mps eventually found one candidate, owen smith, despite mr. corbyn in the second summer leadership battle. conservatives could not afford to gloat too much. they had their own leadership turmoil. would it be boris johnson and number 10? who could stop them? the home secretary said she would have a go. pm may: i think i am the best person to be prime minister. alicia: boris johnson still looked to be ahead until the moment michael goad dramatically withdrew his support, triggering a shock exit from the contest. -- contest from the former london mayor. mr. goat came third in the vote

of tory mps, meaning two contenders were left. then an article in the times newspaper forest andrew led some to quit, and so after an extraordinary series of unplanned event, britain finally had a new prime minister, theresa may. keith: back in 2007, tony blair left his job at number 10, having enjoyed the sound of enthusiastic applause ringing out from all sides of the house of commons at the end of the prime minister's questions that was much more relaxed than normal. the idea obviously appealed to david cameron, as he considered how to bring to an end his six-year tenure of the top job. >> questions to the prime minister. >> mr. speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. other than one meeting this afternoon with her majesty, the diary for the rest of my day is remarkably light. >> 33 years in this house watching five prime minister's

and several ex-prime minister is, i have seen him achieve a mastery of the dispatch box. unparallel in my time. thank the- >> we prime minister for his hard work and leadership. >> it is only right that after six years, we thank the right honorable member for his service. >> this session does have admirers around the world. i remember when i did his job and met mayor bloomberg in new york. everyone came up and said, mayor, you are doing a great job. no one had a clue who i was until eventually someone said, cameron, prime minister's questions, we love your show. [laughter] i would also like to pass on his banks to his mom for his advice about ties and suits and songs. it is extremely kind of her. i would be grateful if you pass that on to her. i'm reflecting on the lesson that she offered. >> i will certainly send his good wishes back to my mother. he seems to have taken her

advice. [laughter] >> as no two people know what brexit means at the moment, we need his advice and statesmanship as much as ever. >> the organization has never gone as far to get him to carry a mobile phone. he did briefly have one but he said the problem is people keep ringing me on it. [laughter] >> we had to move, i seem to remember that we're moving the morning meeting to accommodate the 9:00 cigar. [laughter] >> i will watch these exchanges from the back benches. i will miss the roar of the crowd. i will miss the barbs from the opposition. i will be willing you are. i do not just mean willing on the front bench, defending the manifesto that i put forward. but i mean willing all of you

on. great come here with passion. they come here with great love for the constituencies that they represent. also, willing on this place. perhaps more than some other countries, that is something we should be proud of and we should keep at it. i hope you will all keep at it. i will will you on as you do. the last thing i would say that you can achieve a lot of things in politics. nothing is really impossible. as i once said, i was the future once. [laughter] [applause] >> with that ovation ringing in, david cameron returned for the final time to downing street for

those final photographs before making a car journey to buckingham palace to tend to his formal resignation to her majesty, the queen. moments later his successor theresa may made her way to buckingham palace where she was invited to form an administration. the queen and pointed her prime minister, returning from the palace, she spoke for the first time. >> if you are just managing, i want to address you directly. i know you are working around the clock. i know you are doing your best. i know that sometimes life can be a struggle. the government i lead will be driven not by the interest of the privileged few that by the -- but by yours. we will do everything we can to give you more control over your lives. >> one prime minister out and one prime minister in. >> theresa may made a series of bold appointments.

establishing that she was a very different sort of conservative to david cameron. it was a new chancellor, a new justice secretary and a new foreign secretary in the shape of boris johnson. >> she also addressed insecure workers, saying you have a job but you don't always have job security. does that mean that she is proposing to scrap the employment tribunal fees, repeal the tribune act or been zero -- ban zero hours contract as more than a dozen european nations have already done. >> yes, i did say that on the streets of downing street, i think it is very important that here in this house we consider not only what might be called a obvious injustice but consider the lives of those people.

they are in work but struggling to make ends meet. it refers to the situation of some workers that could have some job insecurity. i suspect that there are many members on the opposition benches that might be unfamiliar. a boss doesn't listen to his worker. a boss who requires some of his workers to double their workload. maybe even a boss who exploits the rules to further his own career. remind him of anybody? >> when the commons reassembled, there was a brand-new minister. >> the secretary of state is exiting the european union. >> ministers were accused of secrecy over brexit.

>> this is a government that true of no plans for brags it. -- brexit. now there is no strategy for negotiating brexit. it offers no transparency, no scrutiny of the process for developing a strategy. >> i have to say to her, i would have thought they were and peace. >> the shadow foreign secretary once a second vote. a reference to a recent reelection. they were back in charters later after the speaking in the party's second leadership contest in two years. after the brexit saga, the government said it would produce a plan for leaving the eu. what's her to plan would it be?

>> when he talks about plans, doesn't mean there should be a series of tents? is it specific principles or priorities? >> to say that it might consist of hints, i would merely remind the house that when moses came down during the tablets, it did not contain hints. it is pretty clear what to do. >> people showed a minimum of a motions. times change. people are more open. they are more open here inside parliament. they have heard remarkably frank speeches recounting deeply traumatic events. first, michelle thompson spoke about how as a young person, she was raped.

she was just 14. >> i remember feeling surprised and then fear and then harbor as realized, i could not escape. afterwards, i walked home alone, i was crying, i was cold and shivering. that was the shock response. i didn't tell my mother. i didn't tell my father. i didn't tell my friends. i didn't tell the police. i bottled it all up inside me. one thing i realize now is that i am not scared. and he was. i am not scared, i am not a victim, i am a survivor. >> thank you to the honorable lady for what she has said and the way that she said it. it has left an indelible impression upon us all. affectedeaker clearly by the speech. a few weeks earlier, she spoke about losing her daughter soon after her birth.

>> eventually, the doctor was called and i was rushed to the emergency room. had beenical cord wrapped around her corp. -- throat for 20 minutes. she lived for five days. she said her life for hours. i never wanted to let her go. my five days of her being alive, she was never able to cry, smile, i looked at her and desperately wanted her. i never wanted to let her go. my five days of her being alive. i love term and i desperately wanted her. i still love her. always in my thoughts, all these years afterwards, even if i don't talk about her all the time. becausetalk about her

i'm in bears, i'm not, i do it because it hurt so much to do so. she made a powerful speech. >> it has been an extraordinary two years for the u.k. independence party, better known ukip. this party led by this man. he had resigned straight after the 2015 general election. he came back his leader only to resign again after the referendum, triggering a bizarre string of events. he didn't make any breakthrough during the parliament's election. he announced he was leaving the party, saying it worked now that brexit had been achieved. he later announced that he would be leaving parliament altogether. there was speculation that an

honor might be coming his way. prime minister confirm or deny there been any official conversations at any level regarding giving nigel and -- an honor? >> all i can say is that such matters are never normally discussed in public. >> you just couldn't keep that man down. when donald trump became the 45th president of the united states, who would be the first british politician to welcome the former reality tv star to his new position? would it be to prime minister? the foreign secretary? no it was nigel farage. when theresa may did visit and washington, in the end, january 2017, not everyone was convinced. the white house was a wise move, the prime minister said the new president was welcome to come to britain for a state visit. protests started up.

the arguments over his visit had lighter moments as well. >> they once famously declared that they would not go to york in case he was mistaken for mr. trump. is there a chance that president trump will not come to london on a state visit in case he is mistaken for the foreign secretary? >> i'm embarrassed to tell you mr. speaker, i think i was mistaken for mr. trump in newcastle. it was a very humbling experience as it was, you can imagine. >> what about president trump coming to parliament? the common speaker sent an address and it was not an automatic ride. they spoke about the president's executive order, banning people from entering the u.s. from certain countries. >> after the imposition of the migrant band by president trump,

we're even more strongly opposed to an address by president trump in westminster hall. as far as this place is concerned, i feel very strongly that our opposition to racism and sexism and our support for equality before the law and an independent judiciary are hugely important in the house of commons. >> the cost of looking after the elderly and vulnerable continues to mount in the parliament. the winter months brought social care rising up the political agenda. what was the best day for the ever-increasing cost? could this man help? in his march budget, the chancellor announced a reduction of 2 billion pounds of social care. where exactly is all this money coming from? these people are self-employed,

many of them tradesmen. the drivers of distinctive white vans. the chancellor says they could pay more in national insurance contributions. surely not, said the scottish nationalists. >> it was an attack on the self-employed, 4.2 billion four the pathway of aspiration. i think that was a decision that will come back to haunt us. >> the headlines were bad for the chancellor. he performed a u-turn a week later. >> since the budget, parliament and others have questioned whether the contributions -- have questioned whether the proposed increase in contributions is compatible with the tax lock commitment made.

mr. speaker, it is very important but for me and my friend the prime minister, that we comply not just with the letter but also with the spirit. >> they supported the chancellor's original increase for a tax on the self-employed. but it has brought on embarrassment others argued. >> my article supporting the chancellor's earlier policy is already with the printer. i just -- [laughter] >> having been persuaded of the correctness of the course he is following, i really needed an opportunity in which to recap. >> if it is called anything,

this brexit parliament will be known as a brexit parliament. parliament's role in the brexit process -- they had successfully gotten the agreement of the high court. parliamentary approval was needed for the u.k. to start the process of the eu. not be done by prime minister alone. the government appealed. all eyes were on this place, the supreme court. the 11 judges reconsidered the case. the country was enthralled at the court hearing. the politicians looked on on anxiously, whatever side. the supreme court announced its judgment. of 8-3, therity supreme court rules that the government cannot trigger article 50 without an act of parliament authorizing it to do so. >> a bill was brought up, just 170 words long.

this was called the eu notification of withdrawal bill, but quickly got called the brexit bill. they piled into the comments which lasted two days. >> it is not a bill about whether the u.k. should leave the european union or how it to do so. it is simply about parliament empowering the government to implement a decision already made in the point of no return. it is our duty to accept and respect the outcome of the referendum. we remain a european country with a shared history. >> what sort of divorce would it be? >> this is a big deal. up're not just divvying stuff, it has an impact on each and every one of us. >> the british people did not give this government to mandate to threaten to turn the country

some tawdry economy. there are a number of excuses. we heard it from the former leader of the liberal democrats. people didn't know what they were voting for. first of all, there is no excuse for people in this heist to not know what they are voting for. >> apparently you followed the holet down the whole -- and you emerge in a wonderland. suddenly, countries throughout the world are queuing up to give us trading advantages and access to the market that previously we had never been able to achieve. nice men like president trump -- haven't heard of them, he abandoned normal protectionism, and give us access. >> i can go along with the prime

minister. exit means brexit. i cannot go along with the idea that brexit means trump. this is the moment that we begin to take back control of our laws, borders and money. once again, we became a sovereign nationstate in command of our destiny and i am absolutely delighted about that. >> for me, this referendum was a massive peaceful revolution by consent of historic proportions. this bill at last endorses that revolution. >> having passed all the stages and with labor and these were told to back the government, there was no doubt about the and of the bill's final stage. >> 494. the nose are left when is 22. -- 122. >> over to the lords. the package wasn't so smooth. opposition pairs put this in the works. inflicting defeats on the bill. the first was a demand on the guarantee of the right of eu

nationals in britain. >> these people are not bargaining chips. if we say quite freely that they are free to stay, that does give them the high ground to our government and its negotiations. >> why is everybody so excited about an amendment that looks after the foreigners and not the british? >> then came a demand for it to be enshrined in law that parliament had to have a meaningful vote in two years time on the u.k.'s final exit deal from the eu. >> on the long contested principle that this country's future should rest with parliament. not with them. we get to the final arm at midnight. the prime minister says hang on a second, i have to go and consult the house of commons. it is ridiculous. it is a ridiculous proposal.

defeats for the brexit bill. was it in crisis? no. the brexit bill became an act. within days, article 50 was triggered. when the british ambassador to the eu handled the letter penned in downing street to the president of the european council. >> this is a historic moment from which there can be no turning back. >> in life, especially brexit do things run smoothly. banks the referendum had produced a majority in scotland for the european union. they claim to the scots were now being dragged out of europe against their wishes. the first minister in scotland announced her intentions to ask for another referendum on scotland's splitting from the

u.k. >> in light of the material changes and circumstance, for the brexit vote, it is the chance to decide our future and a fair, free and democratic way. >> a few days later, the scottish parliament voted in favor of the demand, it was known as indirect two. theresa may declared that now is not the time for referendum. the parties leader stepped up the pressure. >> she rides her finger as much as she likes. if she is not prepared to negotiate on behalf of the scottish government and secure membership of a single european market, people in scotland will have a referendum and we will have our day. >> is comparing membership of an been aation that we have member of for 40 years with our country. we have been one country for over 300 years. we have fought together, we have worked together, we have

achieved together. constitutional gameplay must not be allowed to break the deep bonds of our shared history. and our future together. >> it disrupted to deadly effect over the last decade. since the july 7 the tax of 2005, london had avoided any terrorist outrage. but things changed in westminster on march 22. >> in the space of 90 terrifying seconds, they put out a cart -- car into pedestrians on westminster bridge, killing four. before storming into the precincts of parliament and fatally stabbing a police officer. he was then shot dead by police. the extreme violence of the incident shocked and bewildered parliament. for several hours parliament was

under lockdown. >> i no longer suspend the setting of the house. please wait here. >> there has been a serious incident within the estate. >> when the dust settled the next day, the commons reflected on the attack. >> as i speak, millions will be boarding trains to travel to london. they see the greatest city on earth. it is these actions, millions of active normality that we find the best response to terrorism. >> this attacker and people like him are not my religion, nor are they our community. we should condemn all of them who pretend to be of religion, because they are not. if they were a religion, they would not be carrying out like this. we have to stay united and show them that they can't win on these grounds. >> one man cannot shut down the city and one man cannot lock down democracy. >> those who attack us hate our freedom, our peaceful democracy,

our tolerance, our openness, our unity. >> snap elections have always been part of the drama of british politics. but when they came in in 2011, and looks like the days of prime minister's call general elections whenever they wanted was over. >> from now on, general elections take place every five years. or so we thought. that is what theresa may is close to. >> the prime minister's announcement to downing street on a morning in mid april took everybody by surprise. >> since i became prime minister i said that should be no election until 2020. now i have concluded that the only way to guarantee certainty and the stability for the years ahead is to hold to the election. it is a massive u-turn. times, mostseven 20th, then march the

prime minister has rolled out an early general election. >> our friend went about things in the time-honored fashion. ask what i cannot understand from what the reader of the house said today is how any of this makes things clearer, makes us feel more stable. >> it became clear that the opposition parties were not going to stand in the way of this general election. >> we welcome the general election. she said it is about leadership. yet she is refusing to defend her record and television debates. >> i would point out to the honorable gentleman that i have been answering his questions -- and debating these matters every wednesday the parliament has been sitting since i became prime minister. >> the reason that we are having the general election is because the woeful state of the labour party. >> the prime minister said she was calling election because

parliament was blocking brexit. andthree quarters of mps two thirds of the law voting for it. that is not true, is it? a month ago, she told her official spokesman to rule out an early general election and wasn't true either, was it? that she wants us to believe that she is a woman of her word -- it is a truth that we cannot believe a single word. [applause] thatthink it is right now should ask the british people to make a brexit plan that will deliver a stronger, fairer, global britain in the future. >> the debate started. >> the question is that there should be an early parliamentary

general election. >> the election gives the british people the chance to change direction. >> what we have now is a blank check to allow the british people to put up with whatever she and the bristled bureaucrats brought together for the next two years. >> parliament can be very serious and lighthearted. andconservatives did excellent job of keeping the house entertained when one spoke. he told the house yet extensive knowledge of pr. >> unfortunately mr. speaker, in a medical context, pr art is not -- does not stand for public relations. this involves putting on rubber gloves.

manying gel, and asking a to cough. [laughter] if i may give my right honorable friend the prime minister some advice. if, in the future, he finds himself speaking as a medical professional, under no circumstances should he tell the audience that in his life before politics, he was into pr. [laughter] >> and that he found the work very stimulating. it seems i delivered the speech very well today. be grateful we are not holding this debate on a weekend when i understand that doctors don't perform as well. [laughter] bringing us to the end of

this look back at the two years of the u.k.'s 56 parliament. froms are now far removed westminster. the house of commons will return in mid >> we will be back with june. the first of our roundup on june 19. >> for now, goodbye. >> the british parliament is in recess. prime minister's questions will not be seen at the normal time this week. you can see other british public affairs programs later.

tomorrow, the center for strategic and international studies previews the president's upcoming trip to the middle east and europe. of thee coverage discussion begins at 8:30 a.m. eastern on c-span two. >> monday night on the communicators, a look at small withand rural broadband shirley bloomfield, ceo of the rural broadband association. she talks about her organization's desire for broadband expansion to become a greater priority within the trump administration. she is interviewed by communications daily senior editor david count. >> what would you say your biggest priorities are right now either in congress or the fcc? >> how to make sure that broadband is considered part of any structure package that is considered. i look at it and think superhighways of the future. it is about raw band. ,t is the ability to bring jobs

public safety, education, all the initiatives that really keep , can reallyrobust be derived from broadband. how do we make sure policymakers make infrastructure beyond just a road and bridge? >> watch the communicators monday night at 8:00 eastern on c-span two. >> on wednesday, russian foreign minister's -- following his meetings with president trump and secretary of state tillerson. he commented on the investigation of russia's role in the u.s. election and the firing of fbi director james comey. this is about 25 minutes. >> [speaking in a foreign language] >>