Raab's up bbc.co.uk/iplayer/live/b…
I'm starting to regret downing my sorrows after the game last night. The combination of this plus a hangover is a bit much frankly.
"Innovative and unprecedented". Yes indeed.
"We want a deal on services based on the principles of international trade." Talking the most vacuous hogwash.
We want a deal on walking based on the principle of legs moving forwards in turn.
Bercow: "It is a source of considerable unhappiness in this Chamber... that the rt hon gentleman is delivering a statement about a white paper copies of which are not currently available to the House of Commons."
Raab had barely a minute up as Brexit secretary before being given an absolute twatting by the Speaker.
"Is he content as a member o the govt that MPs should have a copy of the white paper about which they are to question him?" Raab says it's on the website. Bercow: "He is attempting to cooperate."
Here it is btw assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
Chaotic scenes in Chamber as MPs protest about not being given a copy of the white paper. "I say to the sec of state that it would be very unseemly for his statement to be delivered while copies are distributed."
Bercow suspends the session. Scenes.
He'll restart once copies have been distributed.
What an incredibly fucking Horlicks these people are. Is there nothing they won't fuck up.
Standard procedure is for these things to be made available 45 mins before Commons statement btw.
"You do it to yourself, you doooooo.
And that's what really hurts"
And that's what really hurts"
I;d estimate that Raab had one minute at the despatch box before fucking everything up so badly the sitting had to be suspended.
Still I'm sure these innovative solutions for our entire trading system will work out fine.
Sarah Woolaston: Asks exceptionally that the sitting is suspended for longer so MPs can read the document before the Raab statement.
Bercow doesn't want to do that "off my own bat".
And we're back. Raab is up on his feet again.
'Reciprocal mobility framework' with the EU in line with the approach we want around the world.
Sounds like that mobility framework is being mishmashed to within an inch of its life so May can make concessions in negotiation, but also to keep Javid on board.
He wants "fair, balanced" arbitration. Nothing he said there couldn't be chucked over to the Efta court.
Raab reading from the sheet without looking up. Word for word.
".... given the success of our prime minister and her negotiating team so far". Commons bursts out laughing.
Curious manner from Raab. He seems mostly nervous, and then occasionally angry and snide, almost hateful.
Blimey Charlie his eyes when he looks at the opposition benches, looks like he wants to gun them down.
Almost miss DD's fake laugh.
Statement over. Starmer up. "Can I welcome the sec of state to his place. I'm sure he doesn't need me to tell him the size of the task he faces. He;s not got off to a very good start."
"The utter shambles of the last twenty minutes. Normally I would say thanks in advance for the white paper.
"But my first Q is why the sec of state thought it appropriate to share it this morning with journalists and only provide the opposition with a copy three hours later."
Starmer says Raab is in breach of ministerial code for only giving him the statement when there was a point of order. "Having heard it, I didn't miss much."
I think we can safely predict at this early stage that Starmer is going to make mincemeat of Raab.
Also wants to know when Raab read it. "When did Olly Robbins tell him this was the policy he had to sell?"
Starmer going for the weak spots: Is this the starting position, or the final position.
Bercow lightly intervenes on a conversation Raab is having with someone as Starmer speaks. "I didn't say anything," Starmer says, "because I assumed the sec of state was being briefed on the contents of the white paper."
More soft spots: Starmer raises visa-free travel for work. He'd like elaboration. What does association agreement mean? Also the issue of references to the ECJ.
That was very good from Starmer. Raab looking unamused and nervous. He gets back up and apologises for the delay to the statement.
In his first response as Brexit secretary, Raab says they both voted for Article 50 and stood on manifestos to leave the EU. Literally the first argument he makes is the implied 'you're trying to stop Brexit'.
On free movement, Raab basically just repeats what he said before.
Then goes for the free movement angle, which apparently is the worst thing in the world. I don;t think we're going to be getting anything new from this one folks.
OK, I'll tune out for now so I can read the thing. There is little point in watching tbh. MPs haven't been able to read the white paper, so it's hard for them to question, and Raab seems to barely understand what he's saying.
......I don't want to read it. Sob.
right well that was two hours of my life i'll never get back.
