Image caption Jeremy Corbyn laughs with Tom Watson, his deputy, at Labour conference

Labour came a little further out on Brexit this week.

If there is a deal, they say, that they might support. If we agree to keep a lot of the EU rulebook and join a so-called "customs union" with the EU, they will back the prime minister in the Commons.

Read full article Why not join a customs union?

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Image caption A picture of the fire test that took place in the summer

Officials have had a cladding type identified by a Newsnight report as potentially unsafe pulled from sale.

Vitracore G2 had previously passed tests which meant it was officially considered highly fire-resistant.

Read full article Cladding product pulled from sale

Bullying claims — Image caption Former clerk Jenny McCullough alleges she was bullied by MP Keith Vaz

Since the first wave of Newsnight's investigation into bullying by MPs of clerks was published in March, we have been asked the same question repeatedly by clerks. "When are you going to look at Keith Vaz?" His conduct towards one clerk, in particular, was well known. The experience that Jenny McCullough went through is notorious.

Ms McCullough was highly regarded, and was promoted repeatedly. But, in the end, she had to leave, scarred by her treatment by Mr Vaz.

Read full article Westminster bullying: Keith Vaz accused of bullying clerks

Image caption Parliament under scaffolding

Is the Westminster harassment and bullying scandal nearing its endpoint? Is there a plan out there that will bring Parliament out of the stone age as a workplace? A working group is about to report on the proposed new scheme that will govern what happens when staff make HR complaints. Having reviewed their proposals, my answer would be: no.

This new system, which MPs and peers will need to vote on, is intended to apply to staff in Parliament, with the exception of the House of Commons Service (the "clerks"). This group, whose concerns about bullying and harassment Lucinda Day and I reported on extensively this year, may be made part of this new plan but, for now, are now being investigated separately.

Read full article Parliament harassment plans fall short of staff hopes

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Image caption A picture of the fire-test

A popular cladding brand failed a safety test this week - despite being seen as so fire-safe that it is permitted on tall buildings without any extra tests, Newsnight has learned.

Cladding removed for failing tests may be being replaced by this brand, which has now failed the same test.

Read full article Replacement cladding fails fire safety test

The House of Commons spent £2.4m on "gagging clauses" for former staff since 2013, BBC Newsnight has learned.

Fifty-three departing members of the House of Commons Service signed contracts compelling them not to reveal information about the Commons.

Read full article £2.4m spent on House of Commons gagging clauses

At approximately 5:45am on Thursday 16th May 1968, Ivy Hodge lit a match. A duff connection between the gas main and her cooker, however, had allowed gas to leak into the kitchen. The cloud exploded, throwing her to the floor. She was knocked out and received some minor burns. And when she came to, found a large portion of the 22-storey high rise in which she lived had collapsed.

The Ronan Point disaster took place almost exactly 50 years ago, and there are clear parallels to Grenfell: in both cases, government policy was pointed at one objective but lost sight of building safety. In recent years, energy efficiency was the goal: hundreds of buildings were funded to install insulation on their exterior walls. In 1968, the target was mass-building of new homes.

Read full article Ronan Point: a fifty-year building safety problem

Image caption John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons

Today, we learn, the House of Commons authorities have acknowledged there may have been recent bullying relating to the Speaker. Specifically, they are worried that there has been bullying of the Speaker. By me.

The BBC's Freedom of Information wizards (in this case, Patrick Cowling) have obtained a briefing note for MPs who were prepared to defend Mr Bercow - helpful members were given lines to take. We know it was prepared either by the Speaker's Office or the House of Commons media team.

Read full article John Bercow rebuttal on bullying allegations: Accuse other people

Grenfell Tower fire — Image caption Firefighters tackle the burning cladding on Grenfell Tower

The Grenfell Inquiry has started answering its core question - how could this happen? It will take well over a year to answer. Today, though, we got the testimony of fire safety experts. This is only provisional but it raises questions that the government urgently needs to consider.

Just a few weeks ago, Dame Judith Hackitt published a review of the building regulations. There were issues with it but the conclusions of her work are being challenged further.

Read full article Grenfell Inquiry raises new questions for ministers

Image caption Monument to the Great Fire of London

Fire safety is an unusual area of public policy, because it is something we have been doing for so long. The state has had building regulations to minimise fire risk since the 13th century - and has been adjusting rules in response to tragedy ever since.

Dame Judith Hackitt's review of building regulations, as they apply in high-rise residential buildings, is a major event in that long history but not a major departure from what went before. In short, it proposes trying to make the existing system work.

Read full article Will the building regulation review make buildings safer?