ian blackford. i am sure the house wa nt to ian blackford.ming ian blackford. i am sure the house want tojoin me in welcoming the president of the dutch senate and dutch parliamentarians that are with us. i'd like to welcome them. mr speaker, 100,000 jobs in scotland are under threat from a no—deal brexit. the scottish government's a top economic adviser has warned that this could create a recession worse than the 2008 financial crisis. the prime minister must rule out no deal, right here, right now. why is she still blackmailing the people of this country? de right honourable gentleman might not be surprised if i point out that there are only two ways to ensure no deal is taken off the table. it's no good members of the snp shaking their heads, or mix it —— michael matching from a sedentary position, we will not revoke article 50, the only way to take no deal of the table is to vote for the deal.” think it will be for parliament to decide, of course, there are options. we can extend article 50 and have a peoples vote. prime minister, look at

but ian blackford said the government's deal would be an unmitigated disaster.m the answer that the minister hasjust given, that the government has done no analysis on this deal, in the most important matter that arguably this house has voted on since the second world war, we don't have an economic impact statement from this government. mr speaker, that is once again, this conservative government treating this house, treating the united kingdom with contempt! and it's a disgrace that the government has continued to duck and dive its responsibilities! as the treasury's forecasts before the referendum were woefully inaccurate, and the obr was set up specifically to stop politicised reports coming out, would it not be better to consult a newspaper horoscope than treasury forecasts? well, i hate to disappoint my honourable friend and genius, amusing though his question is, but i should point outjust one fallicy in the minister's question, which is that these are not forecasts. sthe treasury minister, mel stride. staying with brexit, the uk's former ambassador to the

the snp and amendment put forward by in blackford.s well. it shouldn't be long before we get a result from that. now we know that when the nike has decided not to press her name it, that means this lobby will go straight for a vote on the government motion —— were nine. a number of pro—brexit mps have decided to abstain, meaning we are not prepared to back the government motion. they are upset because they feel that it takes no—deal of the table, that is why they have decided to not get behind it. i'm joined by robert ogden. the so—called erg are a party within a party, or in today? some say they are dictating the policy of this government. some say they are dictating the policy of this governmentlj some say they are dictating the policy of this government. i do not think so. there are many of us with different views. while some of my friends and colleagues belong to that group have a strong view about this mission, there are plenty others of us with different views. the important thing is how to manage that. we saw a real sense of co

and amid uproar, ian blackford did withdraw the l—word.ps got to thursday's debate, there was a palpable sense of ennui among some old hands. another week with another meaningful vote emerging and all will be clear, and every time we do that, it is an appalling shambles. mps were being asked to rubber stamp two votes from january. one called for the backstop to avoid customs checks on the irish border to be replaced by "alternative arrangements", the other rejected the idea of leaving without a deal. many tory brexiteers hate the backstop but would leave without a deal. the brexit secretary was given the job of squaring that circle. he has set out why he is observing what the house has said in terms of alternative arrangements, why he isn't he enacting the government rolling out no deal? the short answer to that is the house has had two different things, it has passed legislation that has said by a big majority on article 50 which many members on both sides of the house voted for, it passed legislation to say that we are leaving on the 29t

at four, speakerjohn bercow shared a moment of unity with the snp‘s ian blackford as he insisted on making have the last word. at three, red white, and brexit? conservative mp nigel evans has made a request for the iconic red arrows to mark the day that the uk leaves the european union with a fly pass. at two, out of my way! theresa may arrived in brussels this week but not everybody was happy to see her. an unhappy anti—brexit protester jumped in front of her motorcade but was swiftly moved on by security. and at one, now, the clap that launched a million memes. when donald trump made his annual state of the union address, house speaker nancy pelosi stole the show with her seemingly less than sincere applause. now, let's go back to the dark ages — as the period after the romans left britain is sometimes known. well, an exhibition at the british library shows that the era of the anglo—saxons wasn't all gloom and doom. and they got on rather well with their fellow europeans. gary connor has the story. a bible, made in northumbria, and sent to italy as a gift for the poor. 1300 years ago. it

mr blackford. get alternative arrangements on government cannot get alternative arrangements on the backstop that we re arrangements on the backstop that were promised in january, arrangements on the backstop that were promised injanuary, because the eu will not renegotiate. the eu has repeatedly made it clear that the withdrawal agreement is non—negotiatable. the withdrawal agreement is non— negotiatable. what the withdrawal agreement is non—negotiatable. what is it the prime minister does not get? businesses and citizens are worried about no deal. worried about the supply of medicines and food. it is the height of irresponsibility for any government to threaten its citizens with these consequences. the prime minister sits and laughs at what she is doing to the people of the united kingdom. what a disgrace. mr speaker, the prime minister indicates she is not fit for office. the prime minister, will you accept the overwhelming advice of business, of mps and your cabinet, rule out no deal, extend ar

mr ian blackford. thank you mr speaker.ess than two weeks before the 29th of march? i think he was present yesterday when i made my statement to the house and he heard the process we will be following and of course it is a debate that is taking place tomorrow and then we have made clear that we would bring back if the meaningful vote hasn't been brought back and passed by this house, make a statement on the 26th of february and the debate on an amendable motion on the 27th.” of february and the debate on an amendable motion on the 27th. i am afraid that was no answer from the prime minister that continues to run the clock down. this is the height of arrogance from a government set on running the clock down. just 44 days from a no deal scenario, the prime minister is hamstrung by her own party and rejected by european leaders. the prime minister must stop playing fast and loose. businesses are begging for certainty. the economy is already suffering. prime minister, you have come to the end of the road, rumbled by your own lo

and that is valid tojobs. the customs union and that is valid to jobs. 0k, thank you very much ian blackfordbecause as he was second with accusations from him and from labour have been at kicking the can down the road. talk to the brexit minister, how are you. we have heard from the snp would lara say must us and that you are not kicking the can down the road and effectively the reason tonight was a tape waste was because the prime minister has not had a mini full vote until next month. minister has not had a mini full vote until next monthlj minister has not had a mini full vote until next month. i think she was very clear yesterday that we are going to have potentially three votes next month. in a few weeks. we have a photo on the bill, and if that does not go through, we will have a vote on it no deal and they will have a vote potentially to extend the whole article 50 process. that is a clear plan and is a road map. honestly, our main focus is government is to land a deal and we are working night and day to make sure we get enough votes to land a deal so we can leave the eu in an orderly

ian blackford. thank you, mr speaker. was a pleasure to have known him. mr speaker, westminster is broken. we are in the middle of a constitutional crisis, on the brink ofa constitutional crisis, on the brink of a brexit disaster, and yet this place is at war with itself. the tories and the labour party are imploding. scotland deserves better. we need a way out. time is running out. will this house get to vote on prime minister's brexit deal next week, and if not when?” prime minister's brexit deal next week, and if not when? i say to the right honourable gentleman, obviously we are in these discussions with the european union and we will bring about back to this house when it is possible to bring about back, to bring a deal back that deals with the issue that the house of commons has raised. we have listened to the house of commons and we are working on the views of the house of commons with the european union and we will bring about back when it is the right time to so. missed a speaker, quite simply that is not good en

while we were in our break the snp amendment put forward by ian blackford the snp parliamentary leaderbecome a 288 in favour, 324 voted no, so that amendment was defeated. they went past amendment b which was accepted they went past amendment b which was a cce pted by they went past amendment b which was accepted by the government, which was the amendment put forward by alberto costa, who wants to ring—fenced the citizens write part of the withdrawal agreement, come what may, so whatever happens, that would be adopted by the government, and the government has accepted that today, even though mr koster, a parliamentary secretary in the scotla nd parliamentary secretary in the scotland office, had to resign to put as amendment forward. fun and games. it has been accepted and now we've gone on to yvette cooper's amendment which legally doesn't amount to much but basically it sets out in writing the concessions theresa may laid out yesterday. that's right. i was wondering whether you are auditioning forjob of speak at the house of commons! there is one going soon! or the chief clerk? if yo