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General election: Sturgeon says PM called early poll because of worries over electoral fraud charges - Politics live General election: Sturgeon says PM called early poll because of worries over electoral fraud charges - Politics live
(35 minutes later)
7.35pm BST
19:35
Jeremy Corbyn has used a speech in Dunfermline to rule out any potential deals after the election, as PA reporter Paul Ward tweets.
“Let me be clear - there will be no deals with the SNP, or anybody else,” the Labour leader said.
Jeremy Corbyn rules out any potential electoral deal with @theSNP or any other party during speech in Dunfermline @PA pic.twitter.com/BmthQZfgN0
7.23pm BST
19:23
Zoe Wood
The government appears to have performed a weekend U-turn on business rates and says a £300m relief fund to help small businesses worst hit by the shakeup is now available for councils to share out.
On Friday the Guardian was told by the Department for Communities and Local Government that although the consultation on how to distribute the money was complete it would require the approval of the new government – signalling a hiatus of several months until after the 8 June general election.
However, speaking in the House of Commons on Monday the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, insisted there would be “absolutely no delay because of the general election”. “It’s going ahead, exactly as planned. Councils are free to start using the scheme and helping local businesses.”
Read more here.
7.08pm BST
19:08
Guardian deputy political editor Rowena Mason sums up the situation Ukip finds itself in thus:
At this rate the most high profile Ukip candidate will be a woman talking about being gay + gorillas. Surely Nuttall will have to go for it
In case you missed it, a Ukip candidate for Glasgow council, Gisela Allen, has said that an individual’s sexuality is a “private affair” and should not be “openly” revealed.
“You do not come out and declare openly. Do you think I am going all over the city and saying my idea of a sexually attractive creature is a gorilla?” the 84-year-old told the Sunday Herald.
“When I go to a zoo and I see a gorilla my hormones go absolutely crazy. I find a gorilla very attractive.”
A Ukip spokesperson later claimed Allen was joking when making the comments.
6.53pm BST6.53pm BST
18:5318:53
The leaders of the Democratic Unionists and Ulster Unionists met this afternoon to discuss a possible pact for the general election. Arlene Foster and Robin Swann held their first meeting to explore the potential of joining forces in a bid to return the maximum number of unionist MPs to Westminster.The leaders of the Democratic Unionists and Ulster Unionists met this afternoon to discuss a possible pact for the general election. Arlene Foster and Robin Swann held their first meeting to explore the potential of joining forces in a bid to return the maximum number of unionist MPs to Westminster.
The meeting got off to a shaky start after Swann criticised Foster for being “a bit arrogant” in remarks she made in a newspaper column about her party’s position on a unionist pact. He also said the meeting had been made “more difficult” by Foster outlining her position in the publication before she had spoken to him.The meeting got off to a shaky start after Swann criticised Foster for being “a bit arrogant” in remarks she made in a newspaper column about her party’s position on a unionist pact. He also said the meeting had been made “more difficult” by Foster outlining her position in the publication before she had spoken to him.
Foster had said that the DUP would not stand in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, but wanted a clear run in South Belfast. In the last general election, the DUP and UUP agreed pacts in four constituencies, which helped Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott win the seat from Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew.Foster had said that the DUP would not stand in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, but wanted a clear run in South Belfast. In the last general election, the DUP and UUP agreed pacts in four constituencies, which helped Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott win the seat from Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew.
On Saturday, the UUP said it would not be running candidates in North Belfast, West Belfast and Foyle.On Saturday, the UUP said it would not be running candidates in North Belfast, West Belfast and Foyle.
6.33pm BST6.33pm BST
18:3318:33
John CraceJohn Crace
Still on Ukip, the farce involving party leader Paul Nuttall earlier today is the subject of John Crace’s sketch:Still on Ukip, the farce involving party leader Paul Nuttall earlier today is the subject of John Crace’s sketch:
Are you coming out, Mr Nuttall?” a dozen reporters shouted. The Ukip leader was going nowhere, having barricaded himself into a room at the central London hotel where he had just launched his party’s election policy on integration. There was only so much integration a chap could take, and Nuttall was all integrated out. He wanted to be on his own.Are you coming out, Mr Nuttall?” a dozen reporters shouted. The Ukip leader was going nowhere, having barricaded himself into a room at the central London hotel where he had just launched his party’s election policy on integration. There was only so much integration a chap could take, and Nuttall was all integrated out. He wanted to be on his own.
A couple of party activists went into the room to try to entice him out. Nothing doing. As the door opened, the hacks peered in, trying to take photographs. “Are you coming out, Mr Nuttall?,” they cried again. Silence. “Will you be standing in the election?” Silence. Two more Ukip members went into the room. Nuttall still stayed put.A couple of party activists went into the room to try to entice him out. Nothing doing. As the door opened, the hacks peered in, trying to take photographs. “Are you coming out, Mr Nuttall?,” they cried again. Silence. “Will you be standing in the election?” Silence. Two more Ukip members went into the room. Nuttall still stayed put.
Having worked out there was no chance of Nuttall escaping via a window, the press pack chose to wait him out. The standoff ended after about 15 minutes when Nuttall eventually appeared.”Having worked out there was no chance of Nuttall escaping via a window, the press pack chose to wait him out. The standoff ended after about 15 minutes when Nuttall eventually appeared.”
Read more here.Read more here.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.36pm BSTat 6.36pm BST
6.18pm BST6.18pm BST
18:1818:18
Somewhat predictably the reaction to Arron Banks’ decision not to stand in Clacton is proving to be rather negative.Somewhat predictably the reaction to Arron Banks’ decision not to stand in Clacton is proving to be rather negative.
Ukip donor Arron Banks chickens out of campaign to run as an MP in Clacton https://t.co/egRjD4Vo2mUkip donor Arron Banks chickens out of campaign to run as an MP in Clacton https://t.co/egRjD4Vo2m
So much like his hero Trump; @Arron_banks doesn't deliver https://t.co/TYAZU1OCJVSo much like his hero Trump; @Arron_banks doesn't deliver https://t.co/TYAZU1OCJV
6.08pm BST6.08pm BST
18:0818:08
Perhaps the real tragedy of Arron Banks’ decision not to stand in Clacton is the dashing of supposed plans to set up a pirate radio station operating from a former fishing trawler off the Essex coast.Perhaps the real tragedy of Arron Banks’ decision not to stand in Clacton is the dashing of supposed plans to set up a pirate radio station operating from a former fishing trawler off the Essex coast.
Andy Wigmore, a former DJ and associate of Banks, told the Telegraph about the plan:Andy Wigmore, a former DJ and associate of Banks, told the Telegraph about the plan:
It will not be Ukip FM. We are launching a pirate radio station for the election because Clacton is famous for its pirate radios. We have a whole cast of DJs who will be broadcasting throughout the election from our pirate radio ship.”It will not be Ukip FM. We are launching a pirate radio station for the election because Clacton is famous for its pirate radios. We have a whole cast of DJs who will be broadcasting throughout the election from our pirate radio ship.”
Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read and Nigel Farage himself had been lined up for turns on air, according to the report.Former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read and Nigel Farage himself had been lined up for turns on air, according to the report.
Fingers crossed Jeff Bray, whom Banks has made way for in Clacton, can get the Ukip faithful sufficiently fired up to get Ukip FM on air.Fingers crossed Jeff Bray, whom Banks has made way for in Clacton, can get the Ukip faithful sufficiently fired up to get Ukip FM on air.
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.10pm BSTat 6.10pm BST
5.53pm BST5.53pm BST
17:5317:53
Arron Banks pulls out of Clacton raceArron Banks pulls out of Clacton race
Arron Banks has decided not to stand for Ukip in Clacton after all. The party’s former biggest donor, who last week admitted he knew “nothing” about the Essex constituency, announced the decision after visiting Clacton today.Arron Banks has decided not to stand for Ukip in Clacton after all. The party’s former biggest donor, who last week admitted he knew “nothing” about the Essex constituency, announced the decision after visiting Clacton today.
Banks will make way for Ukip councillor Jeff Bray, who has his “full support”.Banks will make way for Ukip councillor Jeff Bray, who has his “full support”.
He adds:He adds:
I have no intention of standing in the way of Hard working activists who are the soul of the party. Therefore, after visiting Clacton I believe it would be wrong of me to stand against Jeff in the forthcoming hustings.I have no intention of standing in the way of Hard working activists who are the soul of the party. Therefore, after visiting Clacton I believe it would be wrong of me to stand against Jeff in the forthcoming hustings.
Both myself and Nigel [Farage] will be campaigning hard in Clacton and I have agreed to give the local party financial assistance to fight the election.”Both myself and Nigel [Farage] will be campaigning hard in Clacton and I have agreed to give the local party financial assistance to fight the election.”
Banks couldn’t resist a pop at Douglas Carswell - “the epitome of a nasty little career politician” - who “stood originally for ukip because he knew they would win the seat in a general election. He used UKIP and did nothing for Clacton.”Banks couldn’t resist a pop at Douglas Carswell - “the epitome of a nasty little career politician” - who “stood originally for ukip because he knew they would win the seat in a general election. He used UKIP and did nothing for Clacton.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 6.37pm BSTat 6.37pm BST
5.34pm BST5.34pm BST
17:3417:34
Andrew SparrowAndrew Sparrow
This is from a spokesman for Plaid Cymru on the YouGov Wales poll. (See 4.22pm.) The spokesman said:This is from a spokesman for Plaid Cymru on the YouGov Wales poll. (See 4.22pm.) The spokesman said:
This poll is a glimpse of a future which could await Wales. If the Tories do win on theses numbers, the future of our nation is at risk.This poll is a glimpse of a future which could await Wales. If the Tories do win on theses numbers, the future of our nation is at risk.
No one should forget that Tory ideology is all about privatising and cutting public services. That means longer waiting lists, poorer education and increased child poverty. We know what they are about because we remember the Tories’ record in Wales.No one should forget that Tory ideology is all about privatising and cutting public services. That means longer waiting lists, poorer education and increased child poverty. We know what they are about because we remember the Tories’ record in Wales.
With an increased mandate the Tories will privatise, cut and power-grab from our assembly so that Wales’s ability to defend its own people will be reduced.With an increased mandate the Tories will privatise, cut and power-grab from our assembly so that Wales’s ability to defend its own people will be reduced.
And these are from Leighton Andrews, the former education minister in the Welsh Labour government who is now an academic.And these are from Leighton Andrews, the former education minister in the Welsh Labour government who is now an academic.
Let's hope this is an outlier. If not, says it all about the walking disaster that is @jeremycorbyn https://t.co/yJFkXe9BZULet's hope this is an outlier. If not, says it all about the walking disaster that is @jeremycorbyn https://t.co/yJFkXe9BZU
More evidence that @jeremycorbyn should resign asap https://t.co/ps2qdK6daPMore evidence that @jeremycorbyn should resign asap https://t.co/ps2qdK6daP
That is all from me for today. My colleague Chris Johnston is taking over now.That is all from me for today. My colleague Chris Johnston is taking over now.
5.26pm BST5.26pm BST
17:2617:26
The tables from today’s Guardian/ICM poll are now here, on the ICM website (pdf).The tables from today’s Guardian/ICM poll are now here, on the ICM website (pdf).
As the ICM’s Martin Boon explains in his write-up, ICM has now started subdividing the figures according to what type of seat people live in. The figures for Labour marginals should be worrying for the party. He explains:As the ICM’s Martin Boon explains in his write-up, ICM has now started subdividing the figures according to what type of seat people live in. The figures for Labour marginals should be worrying for the party. He explains:
We added a new cross-break showing how voting patterns break down in the marginal seats, with the Tories on a stunning 48% vs 31% in those seats currently held by Labour on a majority of less than 15%. It is only a cross-break based on 168 voters, and should be treated with much caution, but indicates significant losses for the Labour party.We added a new cross-break showing how voting patterns break down in the marginal seats, with the Tories on a stunning 48% vs 31% in those seats currently held by Labour on a majority of less than 15%. It is only a cross-break based on 168 voters, and should be treated with much caution, but indicates significant losses for the Labour party.
5.11pm BST
17:11
Farron says Labour's Kate Hoey is effectively 'Ukip's candidate in Vauxhall'
Tim Farron, the Lib Dem leader, has been in Vauxhall in south London this afternoon. Vauxhall is a safe Labour seat where Kate Hoey had 54% of the vote and a majority of 12,708 over the Conservatives at the last election. The Lib Dems were fourth, behind the Greens, with just 7% of the vote.
But, according to the academic Chris Hanretty’s analysis, Vauxhall was the one of the most pro-remain constituencies in the UK, with 78% of people voting against leaving the EU. Yet Hoey was a very prominent leave supporter. That is why the Lib Dems think they have a chance.
In his speech Farron highlighted the fact that Paul Nuttall used his interview with Andrew Marr yesterday (pdf) to name Kate Hoey as one of the strongly pro-Brexit MPs that Ukip may decide not to challenge. Farron said:
We stand here in Vauxhall. And you talk about opposition. One of the opposition parties over the weekend decided to back another of the opposition parties. You might have seen Paul Nuttall on the television on Sunday morning saying that Ukip’s candidate here in Vauxhall is basically going to be Kate Hoey.
The reality is that we have, if you like, a coalition of chaos - the Conservatives, Labour and Ukip all lined up backing the hardest of all Brexits, exit from the single market, cutting off all our ties with our friends and neighbours in Europe, despite those things never being on the ballot paper. We say the British people can choose a different future.
Farron also said that Lib Dem membership passed the 100,000 threshold this morning.
4.44pm BST
16:44
Severin Carrell
Nicola Sturgeon has alleged that Theresa May called the snap election in part because she feared that numerous Tory MPs would be prosecuted for fraud over their election expenses, claiming the Tories may have “bought” the 2015 election.
Speaking at the Scottish TUC conference in Aviemore, Sturgeon said:
[This election was] called by the prime minister last week for one purpose and one purpose only - to strengthen the grip of the Tory party and crush dissent, and opposition.
And to do so before possible criminal prosecutions for alleged expenses fraud at the last election catches up with her.
And whatever else happens in this election we should not allow the Tory party to escape the accountability for any misdeamours that may have led to them buying the last general election.
The Crown Prosecution Service is considering police reports from 12 forces on the election claims of up to 20 Tory MPs, while the Conservatives have a working majority at Westminster of 17 seats. No one in the party has yet been charged with any offence. Some critics believe May in part wanted to secure a heftier majority to guard against her majority being chipped away by byelection defeats.
But this is difficult ground for Sturgeon: two former Scottish National party MPs have already had to sit as independents after police launched enquiries into their financial affairs.
Michelle Thomson in Edinburgh West and Natalie McGarry in Glasgow East, both of whom deny any wrongdoing, were barred from standing again by the SNP on Saturday.
McGarry has been charged with fraud and Thomson named in a police report to prosecutors into alleged mortgage frauds, but has not been charged. The Lib Dems believe they have a strong chance of winning back Edinburgh West as a result.
4.31pm BST
16:31
YouGov poll suggests Tories on course to win majority of Welsh seats for first time since 1850s
Prof Roger Scully has written a good analysis of the YouGov Welsh voting poll (see 4.22pm) on his Cardiff University Elections in Wales blog. He says that, if these figures were to be replicated at a general election, the Conservatives would have 21 Welsh seats and Labour 15. He says the Tories have not had a majority of Welsh seats since the 1850s.
Here’s an extract.
The huge leap in the Tory rating since our last poll has come mostly at the expense of Ukip. The headline figures in our poll seem to reflect a direct move by many former Ukip supporters into the Conservative ranks: very nearly two-thirds of all our respondents who voted Ukip in the 2015 general election now say that they intend to support the Tories. Theresa May’s gamble of seeking a mandate for Brexit from the British people appears to have particular appeal to many of these voters. While Ukip seem to be on the slide in Wales, the other parties are stagnant. Plaid Cymru will presumably be pleased that the Tory surge has not eaten into their support, and they do start the general election campaign a percentage point or two better off than they did at the equivalent point two years ago. For the Liberal Democrats, this first Welsh poll of the election must be a disappointment – they show little signs of recovery from their disastrous 2015 general election performance in Wales. Much more will be needed from the Lib-Dems if they are to win back some of the votes and seats that they lost last time.
Following the standard method of projecting poll results into seat outcomes – that is, assuming uniform national swings from the 2015 general election – our latest poll implies the following overall result. (Projected changes from the 2015 result are in brackets):
Conservatives: 21 seats (+10)
Labour: 15 seats (-10)
Plaid Cymru: 3 seats (no change)
Liberal Democrats: 1 seat (no change)
Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats are projected, by this poll, to hold the seats they currently have but make no gains. Sensationally, however, a full ten seats are projected to be gained by the Conservatives from Labour. The ten seats are: Alyn and Deeside, Bridgend, Cardiff South and Penarth, Cardiff West, Clwyd South, Delyn, Newport East, Newport West, Wrexham, and Ynys Mon.
Were any such result to be produced on June 8th this would obviously be a big shift from the 2015 result in Wales. But it would also be a result of long-term historic significance. The Conservatives have not won a majority of Welsh seats at a general election since the 1850s – before the era of mass democracy. Labour have won the most votes and the most seats in Wales at every general election from 1922 onwards; and have won an absolute majority of Welsh seats in the last twenty successive general elections (from 1935 on). For the Conservatives potentially to be in a position not merely to finish ahead of Labour but even to win over half the seats in Wales indicates that we are on the brink of something truly seismic. And Labour seem to be facing a defeat of historic magnitude: even in the disastrous 1983 election under Michael Foot, things were never this bad.
4.22pm BST
16:22
YouGov poll suggests Tories have a 10-point lead over Labour in Wales
YouGov has released a poll showing the Conservatives ahead of Labour in Wales.
Latest Westminster voting intention (WALES)Con 40Lab 30PC 13LD 8UKIP 6Oth 3First time YouGov has ever had the Tories ahead in Wales pic.twitter.com/tLuZak3Msb
It is the first time YouGov has ever had the Tories ahead in Wales. And YouGov is a relatively new pollster. As the academic Roger Scully explains in this useful New Statesman article, Labour has won the most votes in Wales at every general election since 1922.
4.11pm BST
16:11
I’m afraid we closed the comments on the blog because, with the headline flagging up a story featuring Ukip, Islamophobia and FGM, the blog was attracting a disproportionate number of comments that broke our community standards.
It is possible that we may be able to open them again later.
4.08pm BST
16:08
Here is the key quote from Nicola Sturgeon about Theresa May calling an early election partly to pre-empt possible electoral fraud prosecutions.
Bold. Sturgeon suggests Theresa May called the election before alleged Tory election fraud in 2015 could catch up with her. pic.twitter.com/H0SRikIO34
3.57pm BST
15:57
Sturgeon claims May called early election partly because she is worried about Tories facing election fraud charges from 2015
Sturgeon claims that one of the reasons why Theresa May called a snap election was her fear that Tories would be charged in relation to alleged election fraud in 2015.
Sturgeon claims May called early election partly because she is worried about Tories facing election fraud charges from 2015.
3.51pm BST
15:51
Nicola Sturgeon speaks to STUC
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is speaking to the STUC now.
She says unions play a vital role. Some politician, and some in the media, say governments should not have strong relationships with the unions.
Sturgeon says she thinks that is wrong.
3.48pm BST
15:48
Commenting on what Jeremy Corbyn and Sir Michael Fallon have been saying about Trident, Jonathan Bartley, the Green party’s co-leader, said the policies of both main parties on nuclear weapons were flawed. He said:
Voters are being offered a choice between Tory first strike fanaticisms and Labour’s HMS Pointless. What could be more immoral than considering a first use of nuclear weapons, knowing full well that it would lead to the death of countless civilians? And what could be more illogical that pledging to renew a multibillion pound nuclear weapons system that will never be used? With people struggling to get by in Britain it’s inexcusable to be ploughing people’s money into this cold war relic.
Instead of replacing this nuclear monstrosity the Green party would give the NHS an emergency kiss of life. People are being treated in corridors while we flush money away on nuclear weapons. Cancelling Trident would give our NHS more than £3bn per year – which must be added to additional funding from raising taxes. Real security means having a world class health service, not locking ourselves into replacing these weapons we’ll never use. Imagine the impact on our NHS of employing 85,000 more nurses, midwives and health professionals – that’s what is at stake here.
3.41pm BST
15:41
Steven Morris
The leader of Labour in Wales has warned that Jeremy Corbyn has a lot of work to do to convince people he will make a good prime minister.
Carwyn Jones, the Welsh first minister, told the Guardian that Labour had a mountain to climb to hang on to its share of seats in Wales, a traditional stronghold for the party.
Making his first visit on the general election campaign trail, Jones expressed concern that unless the Tories were checked they would try to “walk all over” the Celtic nations.
There is growing concern among Labour in Wales that Corbyn is not playing well on the doorstep and could lead to seats being lost. At last year’s assembly elections Welsh Labour managed to put clear water between itself and the UK-wide party and held on to power in Cardiff. At a general election it is much harder to repeat the trick.
Jones said:
It is clear Jeremy has work to do to convince people he is a leader. He knows that and over the next few weeks he has to show people he is a good candidate for prime minister.
Asked if he personally thought Corbyn was a good candidate, Jones said:
From the public’s perspective they haven’t seen his best side yet. I’ve gone round with Jeremy on the doorstep; I’ve gone round town centres with him. He’s not someone that puts people off when they meet him. Far from it. It’s the exact opposite. I think he just needs to do more of that, going around, meeting people, listening and I think people will be impressed by what they hear.
Corbyn has faced criticism over defence, particularly Trident.
Jones said:
One of the things you have to do in leadership is give a straight answer. Otherwise people will interpret your answer in many different ways. My answer is quite simply, yes, we do replace Trident.
It’s hugely important as a party that you are able to convince people you are going to keep them secure. Trident is a deterrent. It doesn’t keep us secure against terrorism. That’s why it’s so important that we need to bolster our armed forces to meet the immediate threat that exists in Europe at the moment.
Welsh 1st minister Carwyn Jones on the campaign trail for Labour in Swansea. pic.twitter.com/LUra3uWflj