francine: ian blackford, what signs of dissent is there from the tory party? e likelihood that this gets shut down? ian: i think it is probably a longshot to say the least. the way this will work is we will have the second meeting tonight and then we will go into the committee stage tomorrow on the floor of the house of commons. i would say for members of parliament across the house, we have to recognize our responsibility to defeat what is a bad bill. that it will go to the house of lords. each individual member of parliament, keep in mind that even for the governing party, none of this was -- they said they would put through the withdrawal agreement bill as it was. so this is a breach of the arrangement that the u.k. government governing party went to the electorate and said it is perfect rewrite for conservative members of parliament on the basis of the manifesto given, stand up for what is right to vote down this bill and stop this nonsense. francine: ian blackford, even if the bill does go ahead and it breaches international law, who can do something about

ian blackford there.it was the turn of rank and file mps to have their say. more than 100 wanted to take part so many that they were limited to four minutes a speech. a former minister was among conservatives calling for changes so the uk didn't break international law. i cannot support the bill with these clause in it as they are at the moment. i hope that we will take the opportunity to change and improve these clauses in a way in which they might operate so that we do not fall into a means of damaging our reputation. that's why i can't support the bill tonight. i hope that we will see amendments to change what i believe are the egregious and needless and potentially damaging elements of part five of the bill. a view shared by a former law officer. britain stands as a rule of law country, it's respected across the world for its stance. and i think it's right that all the prime minister is that i served under — that's three of them — have come out with grave concerns about this bill on the point that i'm

street source was quoted as pointing the finger at the local mp, the snp's westminster leader ian blackfordonly been the worst kind of political smear, the false allegation has equally resulted in security implications for myself and my family given its serious and personal nature. you know, i can see the prime minister pulling the face, but all you have to do is to go to social media and see the threats that i was then forced to witness. i draw his attention to a tweet by a chap on the 17th of august saying, "ferocious ross, i hear that must be bad if you're fair—skinned and camping." to which an account that purports to be the right honourable gentleman's, but i'm sure it isn't because of what he'sjust said, says, "i wonder if an education at eton stands you in good stead for these blighters. " anyway, mr speaker, i'm sure that he had... i'm happy to accept his assurance and his protestations, and i think we should leave it at that! but the prime minister said he'd had a fantastic staycation in the highlands and he'd commend it to everyone. and boris johnson's commercial for the scottish

ian blackford was so unhappy with the prime minister's response he used an unparliamentary word whichthat the leader of the snp would like to withdraw that last comment of him being a "liar", no honourable member will do that. would you please withdraw it? mr speaker, i must say... i don't need... it is on the face of the bill that the government of the uk is going to trample over devolution. that is not a lie. mr blackford, you're a great member of this house, you do the right things by this house, and i have accepted that you have withdrawn it. a lib dem mp pursued the argument in a different way. the prime minister may be aware that there are some scottish nationalists who want scotland to follow the example of catalonia and to have an independence referendum. now, i oppose that because it would be illegal. if the prime minister thinks it's acceptable for his government to ignore international law, on what basis would he oppose it? i have a great respect for the right honourable gentleman and let me just say this because the leader of the opposition in my view neglected to raise th

the snp westminster leader ian blackford said it is an attack on the scottish parliament and accuse theue state. here was the reply from boris johnson. 0n the contrary, mr speaker, this uk internal market bill is about protecting jobs, protecting growth, ensuring the fluidity and safety of our uk internal market, and prosperity throughout the united kingdom, and it should be welcomed, i believe, in scotland, northern ireland and wales and throughout britain. whilst this is to some extent about an interpretation of what has passed, it is crucial to the future as well. today, michel barnier, the eu chief negotiator, has arrived in london for brexit trade talks. the eu has been clear that in their view the pass needs to be honoured in order to go ahead with forging a future relationship. so what has happened over the last few days, it has raised eyebrows and raise the temperature of those talks, as well. and in brussels the eu is wanting emergency talks? just the last few minutes we had a tweet from ursula von der leyen the eu commission president and she said she's concerned about announc

the snp's westminster leader, ian blackford, suggested there had been around eight.xams grading, perhaps proving the point andrew parry was making, that it's very difficult during a pandemic, and the governor is doing the best job it can and it's likely it will have to change tack at points, and that's something the scottish cup and had to do, they also had to u—turn on the issue of exam grading. we have almost got to the stage where we are having u—turns during a u—turn with this prime minister. you mention what is happening in scotland, but prime minister's questions... all you have to do is switch between the channels and see the first minister of scotland approaching her responsibilities with dignity, and with respect. then you put on the house of commons and you put on the house of commons and you watch boris johnson flailing around, and then you have got keir starmer, and i put it to you, ladies and gentlemen of parliament, and we just see this undignified spectacle. it's no surprise to find that people in scotland want nothing whatsoever to do with the uk parl

the snp leader in westminster, ian blackford, his questions were about the internal market bill and thet it would be very difficult for the uk to get a trade deal if different parts of the uk can set different standards? no, i don't think we acce pt standards? no, i don't think we accept that at all. i think it's entirely possible to get a treaty at that those into it the fact that different parts of the uk may have different parts of the uk may have different standards that need to be met. i see no problem with that today. increased centralisation is a very big attack on the devolution settlement that has persisted in the uk for the last 20 years, which is why an awful of people are extremely concerned about it. the measures in the internal market bill are not necessary. they are being brought forward in order to change the relationship between the devolved ministrations in the uk government here in london. that london. that is their purpose. just to bring any alex norris on that, what does labour make of this? do support the internal market bill to make sure that standards are the sam

i just wanted to ask one further question on the issue raised by ian blackford, which is the new billt to the uk government as a whole, people back in 2014 voted to stay as part of the uk, why would you object to them spending money on infrastructure projects in scotland, for example, that used to come from brussels? that is a form of devolution. why would you object to the group to government spending money in a part of the uk?|j the group to government spending money in a part of the uk? i don't think that characterises what is happening. this is not an issue which only the scottish government is unhappy about. i'm sure you have seen the comments from the labour first minister of wales who calls this a first minister of wales who calls thisa grim first minister of wales who calls this a grim day, he says it is an enormous power grab, looking at the 20 years of devolution and stripping away the parents. it is not an appropriate or sustainable tack for the uk government to take. to think it is for them to determine how power is in scotland or wales are managed. it is absolutely a powe

at prime minister's questions, said there...kier starmer said, "there have been 12 u—turns. " ian blackfordr the other way around, but i sort of thought "0k, "so what are we counting here is a u—turn, as "a change of policy?" right. every episode these days, we seem to have the travel desk, because it's quarantine exemption day. and this is getting so confusing now, not helped by the fact that i can't read my own writing. well... so, if you are travelling back to scotland from portugal. yes. you will have to go into quarantine and for two weeks. that's right. also if you come back from anywhere in greece to scotland, you will have to quarantine. and wales? in wales, if you come back from portugal, you have to quarantine, but you will only have to quarantine if you have been to six particular greek islands. ah. not the whole of greece. and is that after that flight from...? yes, from zakynthos — it's actually called, in greece. is it? yeah. good for you. the producer, dino, gets very very upset about that because of his greek heritage. good pronunciation of that. however, if you fly back fro

ian blackford. thank you, madame deputy speaker. 0ver thank you, madame deputy speaker.rliament plunging our parliament into deeper chaos and disgrace. in that time, scotla nd chaos and disgrace. in that time, scotland has been dragged out of the eu against our will. it is almost a year to the day when this parliament was illegally per road. in in recent months, a raft of senior civil serva nts months, a raft of senior civil servants have been forced out the door. the instability is this uk parliament's new door. the instability is this uk pa rliament‘s new normal. door. the instability is this uk parliament's new normal. it is now pa rt parliament's new normal. it is now part and parcel of a broken westminster system. here we are again, having dragged us deeper and deeper into the dangerous agenda for the last four years. today this right wing brexiteers cabal has reached rock bottom. madame deputy speaker, the internal market bill is the greatest threat to devolution that scotland has faced since our parliament was reconvened with the overwhelming support of the scotti

this is what ian blackford was referring to.n to encourage people to get back to the office. the opening line reads... that was less than a month ago. now the government is saying everyone who can work from home should work from home. and all of this jonathan and all of thisjonathan i guess is playing into the frustrations that the messaging perhaps is not been as consistent and simple to understand as it might‘ve been. consistent and simple to understand as it might've been. yes and that it's been one criticism of the government throughout that it has changed its tactics at various times and the advice to the public has changed significantly throughout the pandemic. the government would say thatis pandemic. the government would say that is in response to the situation and in response to what is at the moment a rising number of cases that it's up he must have to do something about but i think when the guidance changed last time round and the rule of six became the overriding law that people needed to abide by, the prime minister

ian blackford.n after question followed for the prime minister including this one from the scottish national party. the prime minister has changed his advice this morning on working from home. it is now time to change his mind on furlough as well. today i have one question and it's a question that 61,000 employees in scotland are asking. prime minister, they deserve certainty and they deserve an answer. would this government now deserve an answer. would this government i'iow save deserve an answer. would this government now save these jobs and extend the frugal skimpy on october? 0ur extend the frugal skimpy on october? our objective that not the officer —— prime minister didn't offer any promises but said the government would continue to put its arms around the whole workforce of the uk. welcome to the latest chapter of governments around the country wrestling with getting the balance right, protecting our health, our liberty, and our economy. chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. our political co

just to quickly summarise, keir starmer went strongly on track and trace, ian blackford for the snp actuallyhis is an ongoing issue after the government admitted yesterday that the legislation that will be announced today does break international law. they say in a limited and specific way. that legislation is due to be published shortly and we will bring you the detail of it as soon as we can. while we're waiting, we heard the eu is now demanding an emergency meeting with the uk over that, those proposals, and there is has also been some reaction from the eu commission, the vice president of the european commission has said yesterday, i had a phone call with the chancellor of the duchy of lancaster, michael gove, i expressed our strong concerns and sought assurances that he and wilfully and tamely comply with the withdrawal agreement including the protocol on ireland, northern ireland. in this context i will call for an extraordinary joint context i will call for an extraordinaryjoint committee on the withdrawal agreement to be held as soon as possible so that our uk partners elaborate and

ian blackford. cani measures. ian blackford., but we must be clear about one thing. if we take direct right actions now, there is nothing inevitable about the exponential spread of this virus. if we act decisively, if we move sharply, if we ta ke decisively, if we move sharply, if we take a very tough decisions now, we take a very tough decisions now, we can get the virus back under control. we can minimise the time we all spent under new restrictions and, most importantly, we can save lives. mr speaker, today governments across the poor nations are rightly asking citizens to make more sacrifices to protect our collective health. in return for the sacrifices, it is only right that citizens are provided with financial support. we are nowjust a few short weeks away from the end of the furlough scheme. analysis from the scottish government has already shown that extending the scheme by eight months could save around 61,000 jobs in scotland. france, germany and ireland have already extended theirjob retention schemes into next year,

we now come to the leader the snp, ian blackford, on the first of two questions.ster is true to his word, then surely he must see sense and change tack. with the clock ticking for struggling businesses and workers, will be promised a commit today to extend the job retention scheme beyond october? or is his government making the political choice to accept levels of unemployment last seen under thatcher in the early nineteen eighties? prime minister. mr speaker, i... members of opposite on all parties seem to want to extend the furlough scheme, which has already cost this country £a0 billion, help supported 11 million people, but after all keeps them in suspended animation and prevents them from going to work. what we wa nt to them from going to work. what we want to do is get people back to work! and that is why i hope you will instead support our kickstarter scheme to get young people into jobs and support them in those jobs. how much better that than languishing out of work? my goodness, mr speaker, languishing out of work! the furlough scheme is there to protect