Front Row

Proceedings in the House of Commons yesterday drew an unusual degree of public attention, with set pieces from Boris Johnson (interrupted by the defection of one of his MPs, crossing the floor to join the Liberal Democrats), the Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg lying supine, humour from Kenneth Clarke and a range of colourful interventions from Mr Speaker, it represents one of the most colourful and dramatic days in the Commons in recent memory. Newsnight Culture Correspondent Stephen Smith and Lyn Gardner of The Stage newspaper join Samira to bring an artistically critical eye to the parliamentary theatrics. The Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism, Rebecca Pow, has put temporary export bars on five works of art up for sale this summer, including paintings by Turner and Monet, and a Victorian crab sculpture. We speak to the Minister about why they don’t want these works sold abroad and ask what the Conservatives are doing to protect the arts amid the Brexit high drama in the House of Commons this week.