PMQs: Boris Johnson defends Priti Patel over bullying claims – live ne…

Leadsom says the last election showed that, when people said they wanted to leave the EU, they meant it.

She says as a backbencher she will now focus on boosting early years education.

She says when Johnson asked her to step aside, he gave his word he would back her on this agenda.

It has been an incredible 10 years, she says. But it “ain’t over yet”, she says.

And that’s. Her career may not be over, but the speech is.

Leadsom says, after being defeated in the first round of the Tory leadership contest last year, she gave her wholehearted support to Boris Johnson.

She was pleased to become business secretary, she says.

She says the UK’s climate change ambitions are not just about doing the right thing; there is also a huge early mover advantage, she says.

Leadsom says it was tough resigning as Commons leader last year. But she could not support a bill that might end up endorsing a second referendum, she says.

She says she was sorry to see Theresa May resign. She thinks history will judge her kindly.

Leadsom is now talking about babies, and her longstanding belief in the importance of early years education.

Leadsom is now talking about the parliamentary bullying scandal. She was proud to pull together a commission on this, she says.

As leader of the Commons, she had a beautiful office, she says. But a rat lived in the bin, so she was happy to back the restoration and renewal bill.

Leadsom is now defending her decision to pull out of the Tory leadership contest in 2016.

It was amazing being environment secretary, she says. She recalls some of her ministerial achievements.

And she says she backed Theresa May in her determination that “Brexit means Brexit”.

Leadsom is now reminiscing about her career.

(This is more of an after dinner speech than a resignation statement. Resignation statements normally have a political edge. This one doesn’t – at least, so far.)

Leadsom says there were reports that she once told George Osborne to “F off”. There is only one person she might say that to, and the list would not include any former or current chancellor, or any current Speaker.

That is a dig at John Bercow, the former Speaker, who had a terrible relationship with Leadsom and who once called her “stupid” in the chamber.

Andrea Leadsom, the former business secretary, is making a resignation statement.

She says she wants to make a statement about the importance of having women in politics.

She says she has learnt a lot, including how, if you are asked to vote for something called a Fixed-term Parliaments Act, you should say no.

She says she arrived in the Commons with three priorities, the three Bs: Brussels, business and babies.

Nigel Dodds, the DUP leader at Westminster, asks for a commitment that British business will continue to have unfettered access to the Northern Ireland market.

Johnson says he wants unfettered access for Northern Ireland to continue.

Sir John Hayes, a Conservative, says “malign, bourgeois, liberal judicial activists” are putting at risk the government’s law and order policies.

Johnson says the government has already legislated on sentencing.

Labour’s Liz Kendall asks how the country will be able to find new care workers when EU workers are excluded?

Johnson says there are record numbers of EU workers in the country already. More can come before the end of the year.

He has “every confidence” the country can solve the issue of social care, he says.

Johnson says that, if it is true that empty planes are flying just to retain landing slots, that would be “crazy”.

The SNP’s Carol Monaghan says MPs operate in close proximity and meet people from around the world. They could be spreading coronavirus. What will the PM do to ensure MPs do not become part of the problem?

Johnson says the chief medical officer will be making a statement soon about what might be done to delay the spread of coronavirus, in parliament and in other large places.

• Johnson hints that new procedures could be introduced for MPs to stop them spreading coronavirus to each other and to their constituents.

Labour’s Thangam Debbonaire says Johnson’s government defends bullies.

Johnson says he loathes bullies. But he says he will not accept any criticism from this from a party that has tolerate antisemitism.

Labour’s Matthew Pennycook asks if Priti Patel will be expected to resign if the Cabinet Office inquiry finds that she has in any way fallen below the standard expected of a cabinet minister.

Johnson says Patel is doing an excellent job, and he goes on: “I’m sticking by her.”

Labour’s Ian Mearns says the five-week delay in universal credit leads to many social housing tenants being left in rent arrears. When will the PM stop this deliberate policy of inflicting poverty and destitution on tenants?

Johnson claims universal credit is available from day one.

(That is only partially true; claimants can get advance payments from day one, but those are effectively loans that have to be repaid.)

Labour’s Charlotte Nichols calls for a wider sentencing review, particularly looking at sentences for sex offenders.

Johnson says Nichols is “entirely right”, even though what she said was probably a “bombshell” for some of her Labour colleagues.