This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2017-40105324

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
BBC debate: Corbyn takes part in debate without May BBC debate: Rivals attack Theresa May over absence
(about 1 hour later)
Jeremy Corbyn has clashed with Home Secretary Amber Rudd over spending cuts in a seven-way BBC TV election debate. Theresa May's political rivals lined up to criticise her for not taking part in a seven-way general election debate.
Mrs Rudd is representing the Conservatives after Theresa May declined to take part. She was accused of lacking "guts" and of "running away from the debate" during the 90 minute BBC TV event.
She repeatedly accused Mr Corbyn of having a "magic money tree" after he highlighted a Tory U-turn on disability benefits and accused the party of plotting five more years of austerity. Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who was representing the Conservatives, said "part of being a good leader is having a good strong team".
Mr Corbyn has not so far criticised Mrs May's absence from the debate. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did not directly attack Mrs May's absence as he clashed with Mrs Rudd over cuts.
But Lib Dem leader Tim Farron did take a swipe at the Tory leader, saying: "Where do you think Theresa May is tonight? At one point, he asked "where is Theresa May, what happened to her?," as he defended his own leadership abilities.
But he engaged in a series of clashes with Mrs Rudd over the squeeze on living standards and cuts to welfare as the debate heated up.
Mr Corbyn told her: "Have you been to a food bank? Have you seen people sleeping around our stations? Have you seen the levels of poverty that exist because of your government's conscious decisions on benefits?"
The Labour leader also highlighted his plans to end the public sector pay cap and introduce a £10 an hour living wage by 2020.
He said Labour would "ensure our manufacturing industry and jobs are protected" and he was "absolutely sure" his spending plans added up.
Analysis: By BBC Political Correspondent Alicia McCarthy
There was certainly a lot of heat.
Seven senior politicians scrapped over subjects from extremism to pensions, climate change to immigration, heckling, jabbing and finger pointing as they went.
There was rough and tumble over what it takes to be a leader too - Jeremy Corbyn's political ambush of Theresa May leaving her open to the accusation she was too scared to turn up to the night's debate.
But the Labour leader didn't dominate, sticking to his core themes. Liberal Democrat Tim Farron had many of the night's punchiest lines attacking Mrs May's absence and the government's record, as well as Labour's stand on Brexit.
And while there was plenty of passion and genuine anger it will only be in the cool light of day that it becomes clear whether all that fury changed anybody's mind.
And he clashed with UKIP leader Paul Nuttall, who accused the Labour leader of wanting to take the country back to the 1970s, to boos from some in the audience at Cambridge.
Mrs Rudd said the "squabbling" on display during the debate showed "the coalition of chaos in action".
She said Theresa May had the strength to "take us through Brexit" and a vote for anyone else is vote for Mr Corbyn "and that coalition".
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron launched a string of attacks on Mrs May, saying: "Where do you think Theresa May is tonight?
"Take a look out your window. She might be out there sizing up your house to pay for your social care.""Take a look out your window. She might be out there sizing up your house to pay for your social care."
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said Mrs May was not there because "her campaign of soundbites is falling apart."Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said Mrs May was not there because "her campaign of soundbites is falling apart."
SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson accused Mrs May of not having the "guts" to attend the debate, in Cambridge, as he launched an attack on Mrs Rudd over cuts to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners in England. SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson accused Mrs May of not having the "guts" to attend the debate as he launched an attack on Mrs Rudd over cuts to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners in England.
Mr Corbyn and Mr Farron joined in with the attack, with the Labour leader shouting "what about the triple lock?" - the policy guaranteeing annual increases in the state pension, which the Conservative want to scrap.Mr Corbyn and Mr Farron joined in with the attack, with the Labour leader shouting "what about the triple lock?" - the policy guaranteeing annual increases in the state pension, which the Conservative want to scrap.
Mrs Rudd said: "Theresa May may not be here but I hope to make a good fist of setting out Conservative Party policy." Mrs Rudd said the Conservatives had "made a clear decision to protect the poorest in our society," adding "winter fuel payments won't be available for billionaires" under her party's policy.
She said the Conservatives had "made a clear decision to protect the poorest in our society," adding "winter fuel payments won't be available for billionaires" under her party's policy.
She dismissed her rivals' claims as "fanciful," saying they offered nothing but "bluff, bravado and tempting, shiny election promises," compared with Theresa May's "record of delivery".She dismissed her rivals' claims as "fanciful," saying they offered nothing but "bluff, bravado and tempting, shiny election promises," compared with Theresa May's "record of delivery".
"The only question to consider is who should be in No 10 to steer Britain to a brighter future? Jeremy Corbyn with his money tree, wish list manifesto and no plan for Brexit or Theresa May with her record of delivery," she told the audience in Cambridge."The only question to consider is who should be in No 10 to steer Britain to a brighter future? Jeremy Corbyn with his money tree, wish list manifesto and no plan for Brexit or Theresa May with her record of delivery," she told the audience in Cambridge.
But she came under attack over the squeeze on living standards and cuts to welfare as the debate heated up.
Mr Corbyn told her: "Have you been to a food bank? Have you seen people sleeping around our stations? Have you seen the levels of poverty that exist because of your government's conscious decisions on benefits?"
The Labour leader also highlighted his plans to end the public sector pay cap and introduce a £10 an hour living wage by 2020.
He said Labour would "ensure our manufacturing industry and jobs are protected" and he was "absolutely sure" his spending plans added up.
And he clashed with UKIP leader Paul Nuttall, who accused the Labour leader of wanting to take the country back to the 1970s, to boos from some in the audience at Cambridge.
The panel also clashed over immigration, with the Green Party's co-leader Caroline Lucas saying she wants to "make the case" for freedom of movement across the EU, the ability of people to be able to "live and love" in other countries.The panel also clashed over immigration, with the Green Party's co-leader Caroline Lucas saying she wants to "make the case" for freedom of movement across the EU, the ability of people to be able to "live and love" in other countries.
"The Britain I love is a confident outward-looking country," she says, which well knows the "benefits" of migration."The Britain I love is a confident outward-looking country," she says, which well knows the "benefits" of migration.
Mr Nuttall denied claims he was demonising immigrants but said "we have to get the population under control".Mr Nuttall denied claims he was demonising immigrants but said "we have to get the population under control".
The panel members have also debated the security and terrorism, the NHS and US President Donald Trump's decision to pull the US out of climate change agreements.The panel members have also debated the security and terrorism, the NHS and US President Donald Trump's decision to pull the US out of climate change agreements.
Mrs May said she was taking questions from voters around the country instead of "squabbling" with politicians in a TV debate, after Mr Corbyn made a surprise announcement earlier that he planned to take part.Mrs May said she was taking questions from voters around the country instead of "squabbling" with politicians in a TV debate, after Mr Corbyn made a surprise announcement earlier that he planned to take part.
Mrs May has already ruled out taking part in head-to-head debates, and Labour had said that Mr Corbyn would not attend unless she was there.Mrs May has already ruled out taking part in head-to-head debates, and Labour had said that Mr Corbyn would not attend unless she was there.
But on the afternoon of the event, Mr Corbyn confirmed he would take part, and criticised the Tories for what he called "a stage-managed arms-length campaign".But on the afternoon of the event, Mr Corbyn confirmed he would take part, and criticised the Tories for what he called "a stage-managed arms-length campaign".
"Refusing to join me in Cambridge tonight would be another sign of Theresa May's weakness, not strength," he added."Refusing to join me in Cambridge tonight would be another sign of Theresa May's weakness, not strength," he added.
Taking questions during a campaign visit in Bath, Mrs May said Mr Corbyn "seems to be paying far more attention to how many appearances on telly he's doing, and he ought to be paying a little more attention to thinking about Brexit negotiations".Taking questions during a campaign visit in Bath, Mrs May said Mr Corbyn "seems to be paying far more attention to how many appearances on telly he's doing, and he ought to be paying a little more attention to thinking about Brexit negotiations".
Asked whether she was frightened of taking on Mr Corbyn, she said she had been doing this every week during Prime Minister's Questions, adding that it was "so important" to be taking questions from voters.Asked whether she was frightened of taking on Mr Corbyn, she said she had been doing this every week during Prime Minister's Questions, adding that it was "so important" to be taking questions from voters.
"That's why I've been doing that up and round the country," she added."That's why I've been doing that up and round the country," she added.
Mishal Husain is moderating the debate, which is taking place in Cambridge and being shown on BBC One from 19:30-21:00 BST and livestreamed on Twitter. The debate moderated by Mishal Husain was the latest in a series of special broadcasts ahead of the 8 June general election.
The show is the latest in a series of special broadcasts ahead of the 8 June general election.
This includes two Question Time shows - on 2 June featuring Mrs May and Mr Corbyn appearing separately and on 4 June with Mr Farron and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.This includes two Question Time shows - on 2 June featuring Mrs May and Mr Corbyn appearing separately and on 4 June with Mr Farron and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon.
Andrew Neil has been carrying out a series of interviews with party leaders.Andrew Neil has been carrying out a series of interviews with party leaders.
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morningGet news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning