Renditions urgent question - as it happened: Government faces angry backlash over 'abhorrent and shameful' failure to object to death penalty
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The government is facing an angry backlash over the "abhorrent and shameful" decision to drop its blanket opposition to the death penalty in the case of two Isis fighters.
In a significant shift, Sajid Javid, the home secretary, told the US attorney general Jeff Sessions that he would not seek "death penalty assurance" for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, two British members of the brutal "Beatles" set of executioners.
The move prompted an outcry from senior Tories and opposition MPs, with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott describing the decision as "abhorrent and shameful".
Elsewhere, Theresa May insisted responses to her new Brexit vision have been "constructive" as she took part in a rare town hall-style session with workers in Newcastle.
The prime minister took the whole cabinet to Gateshead on Monday, as part of efforts to bolster support for her Chequers proposals at home and abroad.
In a slightly awkward exchange, Ms May also revealed that she likes walking, cooking and watching the American procedural TV show, NCIS, when pressed by the audience on how she liked to unwind.
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Labour's Yvette Cooper says Mr Javid 'unilaterally ripped up' long-held principles. Do principles mean nothing any more, she asks.
Responding to a question from Labour's Stella Creasy, Mr Wallace said the PM was aware of the letter, which was the joint effort of Sajid Javid and Boris Johnson, when he was foreign secretary.
This takes us further than what Downing Street said earlier.
Tom Tughendhat, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, says the two men should be tried for 'betrayal' of their country.
Mr Wallace seeks to reassure him that they will be brought to justice. He says Britain tries very hard not to break international laws, as has happened before in parliament.
A No.10 spokesperson just told a Westminster briefing: "The ultimate aim for all of us in our discussions with the US is to make sure that these men face the rest of their lives in prison.
"That is also what the victims' families want, and in this instance, after careful and considered advice, government took the decision not to seek assurances. That was deemed by ministers to be appropriate.
"The prime minister was aware of these plans and supports the way that these are being handled."
David Lidington is answering an urgent question on pairing arrangements after the row last week.
Lidington reiterates 'without reserve the error that was made last week' after Brandon Lewis, the Tory chairman, broke a voting pact with Jo Swinson, who is on maternity leave.
He says there are no plans to change underlying arrangements and reveals that 2,000 pairs have been agreed since the general election. He says the majority have worked well.
Seven of the eight pairs remained in place last week during the trade bill, including two for MPs on baby leave.
He says some changes may be needed and there will be a debate on proxy voting in September.
Alistair Carmichael, the Lib Dem chief whip, says there are serious questions left over and the only person who can respond is the chief whip.
He says he was initially relaxed about it, as these things to happen. But when he learned that it was a 'deliberate act', he was deeply concerned.
A pair is a pair, whatever it's purpose, he adds.
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