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| General election: Ukip accused of 'full-throttled Islamophobia' after it launches integration plan - Politics live | General election: Ukip accused of 'full-throttled Islamophobia' after it launches integration plan - Politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.27pm BST | |
| 15:27 | |
| Sturgeon challenges Corbyn to 'have courage of his convictions' and rule out Trident replacement | |
| Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has said Jeremy Corbyn should “have the guts” to rule out replacing Trident or face continued charges it is too weak for government. | |
| Corbyn refused to commit the UK Labour party to either retaining the deterrent or scrapping it if it won the election. The Scottish Labour party, in contrast, voted last year to campaign against its renewal. | |
| Speaking to BBC Scotland before a speech to the Scottish Trade Union Congress in Aviemore on Monday, Sturgeon said: | |
| Labour on Trident is as confused as Labour is on so many other issues. That gets to the heart of Labour’s lack of credibility as an alternative government. | |
| The SNP opposes Trident, not just in principle, but at a time when our public services and the vulnerable in our society are under so much pressure, spending tens of billions of pounds on weapons of mass destruction is the wrong choice. | |
| Labour should have the guts to simply say that. It’s what we’re told Jeremy Corbyn believes so he should have the courage of his convictions and say it. | |
| 3.08pm BST | |
| 15:08 | |
| Severin Carrell | |
| Ian Davidson, the veteran Labour MP from Glasgow, is expected to contest one of the Conservative’s top target seats in the next general election. | |
| Davidson said he had thrown his hat in the ring to stand for Scottish Labour in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk - a former Lib Dem seat won by the Scottish National party’s Calum Kerr. | |
| Kerr is defending the smallest Westminster majority in Scotland - of just 328 votes over the Tories, making it the Conservatives top target seat north of the border. The SNP will be concerned Davidson could split the anti-Tory vote in the area. | |
| Scottish Labour’s executive is meeting later today to discuss its candidates: with only one sitting MP it must find 58 people to contest every Scottish seat. | |
| After several decades as a Glasgow MP, Davidson said he was born in the Borders - he said he was keen to “defeat other candidates who don’t have the best interests of the people at heart. Labour’s policy of a £10 minimum wage would make an enormous financial difference in the area.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.08pm BST | |
| 3.04pm BST | |
| 15:04 | |
| As I said earlier, the endorsement from the Communist party of Britain is worth almost nothing to Labour in terms of votes. (See 1.47pm.) But the Tories find it very useful. Conservative HQ has put out this statement from the Tory MP Amanda Milling. | |
| Let this sink in: Jeremy Corbyn has been endorsed today by a party who want to close down businesses, leave the protection of NATO and hike up taxes to a level never seen before in this country. | |
| 2.46pm BST | 2.46pm BST |
| 14:46 | 14:46 |
| Jeremy Corbyn probably got a shock when he arrived in Aviemore for his STUC speech. It has been snowing up there. | Jeremy Corbyn probably got a shock when he arrived in Aviemore for his STUC speech. It has been snowing up there. |
| 2.24pm BST | 2.24pm BST |
| 14:24 | 14:24 |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| The Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has given his strongest hint yet that he may not stand in the June election, as the party launched an Islam-focused policy blitz which also suggested mandatory medical checks for girls at risk of female genital mutilation. You can read the Ukip integration policy agenda here. | |
| Sir Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said that the government would consider the first use of nuclear weapons and claimed that Jeremy Corbyn would be a “security risk” because of his opposition to the nuclear deterrent. (See 8.22am.) In a subsequent interview on the Daily Politics Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, played down the significance of Corbyn’s personal views on this, saying Labour as a party was prepared to use the nuclear weapons. She said: | Sir Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has said that the government would consider the first use of nuclear weapons and claimed that Jeremy Corbyn would be a “security risk” because of his opposition to the nuclear deterrent. (See 8.22am.) In a subsequent interview on the Daily Politics Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, played down the significance of Corbyn’s personal views on this, saying Labour as a party was prepared to use the nuclear weapons. She said: |
| We are a team, we are a party, we are working as a party. And this is not a presidential election. This is an election about who is in government and this is an election between political parties. | We are a team, we are a party, we are working as a party. And this is not a presidential election. This is an election about who is in government and this is an election between political parties. |
| Asked how Trident could be a deterrent if Corbyn has said he would not use nuclear weapons, she said: | Asked how Trident could be a deterrent if Corbyn has said he would not use nuclear weapons, she said: |
| I think it is very important that we are absolutely clear that we are prepared to use it, and I’m certainly prepared to use it. I also think it’s very important that we are very clear that you deal with countries and potential enemies by being clear from the outset that you are prepared to use force, that you have force to back up negotiations. Nobody wants to use force as a first option. Everybody wants to negotiate first ... But if you have the option of force - conventional forces initially, but you have the ultimate deterrent as well - then you are far more likely to sustain peace and security at the end of the day. | I think it is very important that we are absolutely clear that we are prepared to use it, and I’m certainly prepared to use it. I also think it’s very important that we are very clear that you deal with countries and potential enemies by being clear from the outset that you are prepared to use force, that you have force to back up negotiations. Nobody wants to use force as a first option. Everybody wants to negotiate first ... But if you have the option of force - conventional forces initially, but you have the ultimate deterrent as well - then you are far more likely to sustain peace and security at the end of the day. |
| When it was put to Griffith that Corbyn has said he would not use nuclear weapons, and that as prime minister it would be up to him, she said that in his Andrew Marr interview yesterday Corbyn had only ruled out first strike use of nuclear weapons. (Griffith is right to say that Corbyn only firmly ruled out first use of nuclear weapons in the interview, but he sounded like someone exceedingly reluctant to use them in any circumstances. And in the past Corbyn has ruled out any use of nuclear weapons.) | When it was put to Griffith that Corbyn has said he would not use nuclear weapons, and that as prime minister it would be up to him, she said that in his Andrew Marr interview yesterday Corbyn had only ruled out first strike use of nuclear weapons. (Griffith is right to say that Corbyn only firmly ruled out first use of nuclear weapons in the interview, but he sounded like someone exceedingly reluctant to use them in any circumstances. And in the past Corbyn has ruled out any use of nuclear weapons.) |
| Corbyn has described trade unionists as “heroes” in a speech to the STUC celebrating Labour’s relationship with the union movement. He said: | Corbyn has described trade unionists as “heroes” in a speech to the STUC celebrating Labour’s relationship with the union movement. He said: |
| It is trade unions that have driven up wages and living standards, health and safety in the workplace, and challenged prejudice and discrimination | It is trade unions that have driven up wages and living standards, health and safety in the workplace, and challenged prejudice and discrimination |
| And it is unions that have worked with ourselves in the Labour party to transform our society, to offer the opportunities to our people that so many of our forefathers and especially our foremothers unfortunately did not enjoy themselves. | And it is unions that have worked with ourselves in the Labour party to transform our society, to offer the opportunities to our people that so many of our forefathers and especially our foremothers unfortunately did not enjoy themselves. |
| They are our heroes. It was our predecessors who suffered exploitation in the workplace and wider society, and it was they who were not prepared to stand idly by, who instead chose to fight back and win many of the gains that we enjoy today. | They are our heroes. It was our predecessors who suffered exploitation in the workplace and wider society, and it was they who were not prepared to stand idly by, who instead chose to fight back and win many of the gains that we enjoy today. |
| Our NHS, our social security safety net, our education system and so much more were won on the shoulders of these giants in the Labour and trade union movement and none of us should ever forget that ... | Our NHS, our social security safety net, our education system and so much more were won on the shoulders of these giants in the Labour and trade union movement and none of us should ever forget that ... |
| The Labour party will always cherish, sustain and protect our relationship with the Trade Union movement and the working people you represent. You are our DNA, you are our family, and we will never, ever apologise for the closeness of our relationship with you. | The Labour party will always cherish, sustain and protect our relationship with the Trade Union movement and the working people you represent. You are our DNA, you are our family, and we will never, ever apologise for the closeness of our relationship with you. |
| Friends just like Keir Hardie, I am proud to be a trade unionist and I carry my card everywhere I go. | Friends just like Keir Hardie, I am proud to be a trade unionist and I carry my card everywhere I go. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.12pm BST | |
| 1.57pm BST | 1.57pm BST |
| 13:57 | 13:57 |
| The Lib Dems have accused Ukip of trying to “out-do Le Pen” with its plan to force girls at risk of FGM to undergo an annual medical examination. (See 11.40am.) This is from Lynne Featherstone, the former Home Office minister who campaigned on FGM. She said. | The Lib Dems have accused Ukip of trying to “out-do Le Pen” with its plan to force girls at risk of FGM to undergo an annual medical examination. (See 11.40am.) This is from Lynne Featherstone, the former Home Office minister who campaigned on FGM. She said. |
| Ukip’s approach is horrifically heavy-handed and will alienate the very communities we are trying to reach out to. We should be training our teachers and other providers such as community experts to identify those at risk and teaching children themselves that FGM is wrong and to come forward if they fear for themselves or a friend. | Ukip’s approach is horrifically heavy-handed and will alienate the very communities we are trying to reach out to. We should be training our teachers and other providers such as community experts to identify those at risk and teaching children themselves that FGM is wrong and to come forward if they fear for themselves or a friend. |
| In coalition, we put a statutory duty on frontline workers to report concerns of FGM - we need them to have the confidence to do so, and this means better training. Research shows that school teachers are still too scared to talk about FGM, honour-based violence and forced marriage, let alone report it. This is where we should concentrate our efforts not forcing girls to undergo invasive medical examinations. | In coalition, we put a statutory duty on frontline workers to report concerns of FGM - we need them to have the confidence to do so, and this means better training. Research shows that school teachers are still too scared to talk about FGM, honour-based violence and forced marriage, let alone report it. This is where we should concentrate our efforts not forcing girls to undergo invasive medical examinations. |
| Ukip seem to try and out-do Le Pen with right-wing policies that are insensitive and frankly outrageous. | Ukip seem to try and out-do Le Pen with right-wing policies that are insensitive and frankly outrageous. |
| 1.47pm BST | 1.47pm BST |
| 13:47 | 13:47 |
| The Communist party of Britain is saying that, for the first time since 1920, it is not fielding candidates in the general election. Instead it will be backing Labour. In a statement its general secretary Robert Griffiths said: | The Communist party of Britain is saying that, for the first time since 1920, it is not fielding candidates in the general election. Instead it will be backing Labour. In a statement its general secretary Robert Griffiths said: |
| In every general election since the formation of the CP in 1920, we have stood our own candidates, not least in 2015 when we fielded nine. Now, on this occasion, we will not contest any seats, although this does not signal any withdrawal from the electoral arena in the future. | In every general election since the formation of the CP in 1920, we have stood our own candidates, not least in 2015 when we fielded nine. Now, on this occasion, we will not contest any seats, although this does not signal any withdrawal from the electoral arena in the future. |
| We call for a Labour vote in every constituency across Britain, despite the reactionary views of numerous Labour party candidates. Communist party organisations will approach local Labour party bodies in their area with offers of practical campaigning assistance ... | We call for a Labour vote in every constituency across Britain, despite the reactionary views of numerous Labour party candidates. Communist party organisations will approach local Labour party bodies in their area with offers of practical campaigning assistance ... |
| The maximum possible Labour vote is necessary not only to secure the election of a Labour government. We also recognise that this election marks a further intensification of the left-right struggle within the labour movement and the Labour party. The higher the Labour vote and the number of Labour MPs elected, the more secure will be the position of Jeremy Corbyn and his left allies in the parliamentary Labour party. | The maximum possible Labour vote is necessary not only to secure the election of a Labour government. We also recognise that this election marks a further intensification of the left-right struggle within the labour movement and the Labour party. The higher the Labour vote and the number of Labour MPs elected, the more secure will be the position of Jeremy Corbyn and his left allies in the parliamentary Labour party. |
| Any reverses for Labour will be used as a pretext by the right-wing pro-EU, pro-NATO faction in the parliamentary Labour party and its trade union allies to launch yet another bid to remove Jeremy Corbyn and take the Labour party back to the neoliberal and pro-war policies of the past. | Any reverses for Labour will be used as a pretext by the right-wing pro-EU, pro-NATO faction in the parliamentary Labour party and its trade union allies to launch yet another bid to remove Jeremy Corbyn and take the Labour party back to the neoliberal and pro-war policies of the past. |
| The Communist party’s decision to stand aside is unlikely to be of much use to Labour. According to the Guardian’s 2015 results charts, the party received just 275 votes across the whole of the UK in that election. | The Communist party’s decision to stand aside is unlikely to be of much use to Labour. According to the Guardian’s 2015 results charts, the party received just 275 votes across the whole of the UK in that election. |
| 1.33pm BST | 1.33pm BST |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| The SNP is challenging Scottish Labour to rule out council coalitions with the Conservatives after next month’s local elections. Susan Aitken, co-convenor of the SNP’s council campaign, said: | The SNP is challenging Scottish Labour to rule out council coalitions with the Conservatives after next month’s local elections. Susan Aitken, co-convenor of the SNP’s council campaign, said: |
| The SNP is absolutely clear – we will not put austerity-obsessed Tories into power in councils across Scotland. The public deserve to know whether a vote for Labour is a vote to put the increasingly rightwing Tories in charge of our local services. | The SNP is absolutely clear – we will not put austerity-obsessed Tories into power in councils across Scotland. The public deserve to know whether a vote for Labour is a vote to put the increasingly rightwing Tories in charge of our local services. |
| The Tory party is moving further and further to the right, and it would be reckless to do anything that risked putting hard line Tories in charge of our schools, social care and local housing. | The Tory party is moving further and further to the right, and it would be reckless to do anything that risked putting hard line Tories in charge of our schools, social care and local housing. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and SNP leader, refused to rule out SNP/Conservative coalitions in local government when she launched the SNP’s campaign last week, although, after an SNP national executive committee meeting on Saturday, the party did rule out deals with the Tories. | Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister and SNP leader, refused to rule out SNP/Conservative coalitions in local government when she launched the SNP’s campaign last week, although, after an SNP national executive committee meeting on Saturday, the party did rule out deals with the Tories. |
| 1.27pm BST | 1.27pm BST |
| 13:27 | 13:27 |
| Zac Goldsmith, whose political career seemed to be over when he lost the Richmond Park byelection in December, wants to fight the seat again for the Conservatives, the Evening Standard reports. | Zac Goldsmith, whose political career seemed to be over when he lost the Richmond Park byelection in December, wants to fight the seat again for the Conservatives, the Evening Standard reports. |
| Goldsmith had a 23,015 majority when he stood as a Tory in 2015. But he left the party and fought a byelection as an independent, honouring a promise he had made, after the government came out in favour of a third runway at Heathrow. The Conservatives did not put up a candidate in the contest, but not having the support of a party machine harmed Goldsmith’s prospects and Richmond Park voters, who were firmly pro-remain, used the byelection to punish him for backing Brexit. The Lib Dem Sarah Olney won with a majority of 1,872. | Goldsmith had a 23,015 majority when he stood as a Tory in 2015. But he left the party and fought a byelection as an independent, honouring a promise he had made, after the government came out in favour of a third runway at Heathrow. The Conservatives did not put up a candidate in the contest, but not having the support of a party machine harmed Goldsmith’s prospects and Richmond Park voters, who were firmly pro-remain, used the byelection to punish him for backing Brexit. The Lib Dem Sarah Olney won with a majority of 1,872. |
| 1.16pm BST | 1.16pm BST |
| 13:16 | 13:16 |
| And, while we’re on the subject of leaflets, the Times’ Sam Coates says Theresa May is spending the afternoon being photographed with Conservative candidates for their election leaflets. | And, while we’re on the subject of leaflets, the Times’ Sam Coates says Theresa May is spending the afternoon being photographed with Conservative candidates for their election leaflets. |
| Wondering what Theresa is actually doing today? Having her photograph taken this PM with lots of Tory MPs for election literature | Wondering what Theresa is actually doing today? Having her photograph taken this PM with lots of Tory MPs for election literature |
| 1.11pm BST | 1.11pm BST |
| 13:11 | 13:11 |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| The first Conservative election leaflet has been printed with no less than three mentions for Theresa May’s “strong leadership”, a picture of the prime minister alone and union flag branding. It also mentions Jeremy Corbyn to warn against weak leadership under a coalition - suggesting the Conservative party is trying to stop remain supporters voting Lib Dem as much as Labour. | The first Conservative election leaflet has been printed with no less than three mentions for Theresa May’s “strong leadership”, a picture of the prime minister alone and union flag branding. It also mentions Jeremy Corbyn to warn against weak leadership under a coalition - suggesting the Conservative party is trying to stop remain supporters voting Lib Dem as much as Labour. |
| Tory #GE2017 leaflet themes: Strengthen #Brexit negotiation hand, #TheresaMay or coalition of chaos, GE now or Tory #Brexit mess in 2020... pic.twitter.com/575TQCt7Hr | Tory #GE2017 leaflet themes: Strengthen #Brexit negotiation hand, #TheresaMay or coalition of chaos, GE now or Tory #Brexit mess in 2020... pic.twitter.com/575TQCt7Hr |
| 12.58pm BST | 12.58pm BST |
| 12:58 | 12:58 |
| My colleague Severin Carrell says Jeremy Corbyn’s reception at the STUC was more enthusiastic than when he recently spoke at the Scottish Labour conference. | My colleague Severin Carrell says Jeremy Corbyn’s reception at the STUC was more enthusiastic than when he recently spoke at the Scottish Labour conference. |
| The @jeremycorbyn @ScottishTUC audience noticeably larger, more enthusiastic than at @scottishlabour conference #GE2017 (outside it snows) pic.twitter.com/Ql4I6dfRzW | The @jeremycorbyn @ScottishTUC audience noticeably larger, more enthusiastic than at @scottishlabour conference #GE2017 (outside it snows) pic.twitter.com/Ql4I6dfRzW |
| 12.56pm BST | 12.56pm BST |
| 12:56 | 12:56 |
| Corbyn did not take questions after his speech. But he was presented with a pen from the STUC. He said he would use it to sign away the Trade Union Act. | Corbyn did not take questions after his speech. But he was presented with a pen from the STUC. He said he would use it to sign away the Trade Union Act. |
| 12.52pm BST | 12.52pm BST |
| 12:52 | 12:52 |
| Corbyn is winding up now. | Corbyn is winding up now. |
| He says more policies will be announced in the coming weeks. | He says more policies will be announced in the coming weeks. |
| In the coming weeks Labour will lay out more of our policies that will unlock opportunities for every single person in this country. | In the coming weeks Labour will lay out more of our policies that will unlock opportunities for every single person in this country. |
| We will focus on giving people real control over their own lives and make sure that everybody reaps a just reward for the work that they do. | We will focus on giving people real control over their own lives and make sure that everybody reaps a just reward for the work that they do. |
| We will no longer allow those at the top to leach off of those who bust their guts on zero hours contracts or those forced to make sacrifices to pay their mortgage or their rent. | We will no longer allow those at the top to leach off of those who bust their guts on zero hours contracts or those forced to make sacrifices to pay their mortgage or their rent. |
| Instead of the country’s wealth being hidden in tax havens we will put it in the hands of the people of Britain because they are the ones who earned it in the first place. | Instead of the country’s wealth being hidden in tax havens we will put it in the hands of the people of Britain because they are the ones who earned it in the first place. |
| 12.51pm BST | 12.51pm BST |
| 12:51 | 12:51 |
| Corbyn lists some more Labour employment policies. | Corbyn lists some more Labour employment policies. |
| We will give all workers equal rights from day one to stop some workers being exploited and others undercut. | We will give all workers equal rights from day one to stop some workers being exploited and others undercut. |
| We will introduce a right to own giving workers first refusal when their company faces a change of ownership or closure. | We will introduce a right to own giving workers first refusal when their company faces a change of ownership or closure. |
| We’ll properly fund the Health & Safety Executive shamefully cut back under this Government compromising those great gains that our movement has historically fought so hard for | We’ll properly fund the Health & Safety Executive shamefully cut back under this Government compromising those great gains that our movement has historically fought so hard for |
| And we will work with trade unions and industry to reintroduce sectoral collective bargaining across the country. | And we will work with trade unions and industry to reintroduce sectoral collective bargaining across the country. |
| We will also introduce 4 new public holidays giving people the time to lead better and more fulfilling lives, helping productivity at the same time. And we will ask for the support of the governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so that the same four holidays can be enjoyed across the United Kingdom. | We will also introduce 4 new public holidays giving people the time to lead better and more fulfilling lives, helping productivity at the same time. And we will ask for the support of the governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so that the same four holidays can be enjoyed across the United Kingdom. |
| Friends, our aim is a country where everyone who can has the dignity of work and where everyone has a guarantee of dignity at work. | Friends, our aim is a country where everyone who can has the dignity of work and where everyone has a guarantee of dignity at work. |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| Corbyn says it is right to investigate past abuses. | Corbyn says it is right to investigate past abuses. |
| Unlike others, we will set up inquiries into blacklisting and Orgreave … and we would urge the Scottish government to set up an inquiry into the actions of the Scottish police during the Miners’ strike. | Unlike others, we will set up inquiries into blacklisting and Orgreave … and we would urge the Scottish government to set up an inquiry into the actions of the Scottish police during the Miners’ strike. |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| Corbyn says Labour would create a Scottish National Bank for investment. | Corbyn says Labour would create a Scottish National Bank for investment. |
| We will create a Scottish National Bank under Scottish control and backed by the National Investment Bank with £20bn of lending power to deliver the funds to local projects and Scotland’s small businesses creating work and stimulating the economy. | We will create a Scottish National Bank under Scottish control and backed by the National Investment Bank with £20bn of lending power to deliver the funds to local projects and Scotland’s small businesses creating work and stimulating the economy. |
| And he says Labour would ban zero-hours contracts. | And he says Labour would ban zero-hours contracts. |
| We will ban zero hours contracts giving new protections to the 60,000 Scottish workers currently with no guaranteed hours. How can people plan or just pay the rent when they have no security of income? | We will ban zero hours contracts giving new protections to the 60,000 Scottish workers currently with no guaranteed hours. How can people plan or just pay the rent when they have no security of income? |
| Is it right they wake every morning and then wait for a text? | Is it right they wake every morning and then wait for a text? |
| 12.46pm BST | 12.46pm BST |
| 12:46 | 12:46 |
| Corbyn says politicians should focus on poverty, and not, he implies, devolution or independence. | Corbyn says politicians should focus on poverty, and not, he implies, devolution or independence. |
| Labour would raise the minimum wage to £10, he says. | Labour would raise the minimum wage to £10, he says. |
| 12.45pm BST | 12.45pm BST |
| 12:45 | 12:45 |
| Corbyn says many in the media think the election is a foregone conclusion. | Corbyn says many in the media think the election is a foregone conclusion. |
| They think that there are rules in politics; that you have to accept the rules laid down by others. | They think that there are rules in politics; that you have to accept the rules laid down by others. |
| But if you adopt this view, you will never change anything, he says. | But if you adopt this view, you will never change anything, he says. |
| He says the only real progressive alliance is the Labour party and the trade union movement working together. | He says the only real progressive alliance is the Labour party and the trade union movement working together. |