Both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn missed today’s debate to attend the Belfast funeral of murdered journalist Lyra McKee. In her absence, questions were taken by her de facto deputy David Lidington, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry stood in for Mr Corbyn.
And the showdown turned tense when Mr Lidington questioned Ms Thornberry’s leadership intentions.
Ms Thornberry blasted the Tory government for agreeing to the US President’s visit to the UK in June.
She said the US leader’s trip would cost the taxpayer “millions” and the only way it will be worth it is if Mr Trump is forced to sit between Gretta Thornberg and David Attenborough at the banquet.
The shadow foreign secretary told the House: “The US will never sign a trade deal without a backstop that will work and this Government doesn’t have one.”
But to cheers, Mr Lidington reminded Ms Thornberry: “It was two years ago, RH Lady said of President Trump we should work with President and welcome him. Has something changed with the US government or has something changed in her leadership ambitions?”
However the Labour MP insisted: “There’s only one side of this house that has a leadership contest at the moment and it’s very active.”
Mr Lidington faced questions as members among his own ranks hold discussions on whether to change the party rules to enable an early leadership challenge to Mrs May ahead of the weekly meeting of the full 1922 Committee on Wednesday.
Amid growing frustration over the latest delays to Brexit, MPs now want to the rules to be rewritten to allow another challenge as early as June.
Mrs May has already sought to buy time, promising Tory MPs last month that she would go once she has delivered Brexit.
But following the latest extension to the Article 50 withdrawal process there is growing impatience among her critics.
They fear the Tories will suffer heavy losses to Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party if – as now seems likely – the UK is forced to go ahead with voting in the European elections on May 23.
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12.35pm update: Lidington rejects calls for second referendum again
When asked about the prospect of a second Brexit vote, Mr Lidington told Lib Dem PM Tom Brake MPs have rejected another vote a number of times.
12.27pm update: Visas for Agriculture workers
Tory MP Colin Clark called for an extension of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme to “make sure our appetites” for the produce on offer at British farms “are fulfilled”.
David Lidington confirmed that a two-year pilot is underway for non-EU migrants to work on farms and “clearly we will need to evaluate” what happens next.
12.22pm updates: Tories ‘do not agree’ with second Brexit referendum
When pressed on a second EU vote by Tory MP Tom Pursglove, Mr Lidington said we have been “very clear” that “we do not agree” with another referendum.
12.19pm update: Cross-party talks have been ‘difficult’
Ms Thornberry called on the Tory government to “finally get serious” and put a customs union on table in cross-party talks.
Mr Lidington responded by saying: “The substance and tone of those meetings have been constructive but it’s been difficult,” adding that MPs must take their “responsibilities to the country seriously” and find a way forward on Brexit.
12.17pm update: Thornberry attacks Tories over Trump visit
The shadow foreign secretary told the House: “The US will never sign a trade deal without a backstop that will work and this Government doesn’t have one.”
She said the US leader’s trip would cost the taxpayer “millions” and the only way it will be worth it is if Mr Trump is forced to sit between Gretta Thornberg and David Attenborough at the banquet.
But to cheers, Mr Lidington reminded Ms Thornberry: “It was two years ago, RH Lady said of President Trump we should work with President and welcome him. Has something changed with the US government or has sSomething changed in her leadership ambitions?”
However the Labour MP insisted: “There’s only one side of this house that has a leadership contest at the moment and it’s very active.”
But keen to get the last word in, Mr Lidington said: “She’s been described as outer-inner circle around the Labour leadership.”
12.12pm update: Tories allocate £20m to bring ‘seamless trade’
David Lidington told the House: “The Government has allocated £20m to invest in alternative measure works to bring benefits of seamless trade and to give us smart borders on all UK borders.”
Ms Thornberry replied: “The real answer is staring Government in face. I told minister only way to avoid hard border was staying in customs union and he said three years ago for anyone to pretend otherwise flies in face of reality.”
However Mr Lidington added: “The EU has committed itself to getting these agreed by 2020. She should be urging others to vote for what the government is proposing instead of blocking Brexit.”
12.09pm update: Labour asks what Tories are doing over the Northern Ireland border issue
Emily Thornberry said: ” Reading new IRA’s statement and talk of enemy forces was a despicable reminder of that period. Does minister agree with me this is a central reason we must find an answer to Irish border question.”
But Mr Lidington said: “I don’t think those murderers in Derry were motivated by thoughts on the customs arrangements or the border.
“What I agree is the utter unacceptability police officers were somehow a legitimate target.”
Ms Thornberry hit back saying: “The only way to avoid backstop is an invisible border – but a leak said no government has such a solution in place and the earliest it can be is 2030. Is the Home Office wrong?”
12.07pm update: Labour’s Emily Thornberry is up
She said: “Sadly this isn’t a week for laughter. We stand in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. An act of utter depravity and evil.”
Ms Thornberry also asked Mr Lindington what the government is doing to protect peace in Northern Ireland, asking: “What is cabinet office doing to bring Lyra McKee’s killers to justice?”
He replied: “It’s a matter for service and independent prosecution service. Any member of pubic who have information must come forward. And I’m hopefully that will nee forthcoming.”
12.03pm update: David Lidington pays tribute to murdered journalist Lyra McKee
He said: “This was a brutal cowardly murder of a young woman”, saying that Ms McKee “represents all that is good” in Northern Ireland.
He said the Sri Lanka was a “horrific and cowardly act,” adding: “I hope this will be a time of all faiths and none to come together and stand up for values of mutual respect, and tolerance which embody what is best in our country.”
