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Parties gear up for 12 December election battle Leaders in pre-election clash over NHS, Brexit and economy
(about 1 hour later)
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have clashed over the NHS, Brexit and leadership at the last Prime Minister's Questions before the general election.
The Labour leader said voters had a "once in a generation" chance to save the NHS, which was in "greater danger" than at any time in its history.
He said voters had the chance to back "real change" and an end to austerity.
But the PM warned of "economic catastrophe" and "political disaster" if Labour got into power.
Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll.Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll.
The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.
Boris Johnson says he is ready to fight a "tough" general election. In their final encounter in Parliament before the election, the two leaders exchanged barbs over their political values and disputed their parties' respective records on the NHS.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the snap poll was a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to transform the country. 'Clear choice'
Writing in the Daily Mirror, he said: "We're launching the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change that our country has ever seen." The Labour leader accused the PM of running down the health service, saying cuts to funding had contributed to rising waiting times for cancer treatment and other operations.
But Mr Johnson hopes the vote will give him a fresh mandate for his deal to leave the EU and break the current deadlock in Parliament. He said a Labour government would reverse the privatisation of the NHS, saying it existed to "make people better, not make the wealthy few richer".
He told Conservative MPs it was time for the country to "come together to get Brexit done", adding: "It'll be a tough election and we are going to do the best we can." "The choice at this election cannot be clearer," he said.
The poll comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs. "People have the choice to vote for real change after years of Conservative and Lib Dem cuts, privatisation and tax handouts for the richest."
Mr Corbyn and Mr Johnson are facing each other at Prime Minister's Questions - likely to be the final clash before Parliament is dissolved for the election. Mr Johnson said he agreed voters faced a "stark choice" between a government spending "unrivalled" sums on the NHS and a Labour party that would "wreck the economy".
Dismissing the Labour leader as an "Islingtonian protester" rather than a real leader, he said Mr Corbyn's "flip-flopping" over Brexit would lead to more years of "toxic, tedious, torpor".
While 2020 would be a "wonderful year" under a Tory government, he said electing Jeremy Corbyn would result in further referendums on Europe and Scottish independence.
"That is the future. Drift and dither under the Labour Party or taking the country forward to a brighter future under the Conservatives. That is the choice the country faces."
The election comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs.
What happens next?What happens next?
The legislation approved by MPs now must be rubberstamped by the House of Lords.The legislation approved by MPs now must be rubberstamped by the House of Lords.
It would be pretty strange if unelected peers up the corridor from the green benches decided to say no or throw spanners in the works of a decision made by the House of Commons last night.It would be pretty strange if unelected peers up the corridor from the green benches decided to say no or throw spanners in the works of a decision made by the House of Commons last night.
Unless something very strange happens, we are now on for an election.Unless something very strange happens, we are now on for an election.
Both sides are very, very nervous about what might unfold. And both sides are right to be nervous.Both sides are very, very nervous about what might unfold. And both sides are right to be nervous.
The two main party leaders, in a strange kind of mirror of each other, are happy campaigners, but divisive characters.The two main party leaders, in a strange kind of mirror of each other, are happy campaigners, but divisive characters.
Both of them will try to set the agenda, but they can't know where this will all take us.Both of them will try to set the agenda, but they can't know where this will all take us.
They can't know if it will be their issues they're able to talk about at length, but that's the glory of elections - it's up to voters to set the terms.They can't know if it will be their issues they're able to talk about at length, but that's the glory of elections - it's up to voters to set the terms.
They decide the things they care about, they are interested in and they will put politicians on the spot about.They decide the things they care about, they are interested in and they will put politicians on the spot about.
Opening skirmishesOpening skirmishes
Labour's Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, said the election wouldn't just be about Brexit - telling BBC Breakfast: "It will be about what has happened over the last nine years of austerity and our public services."
"We want to give people hope again about the future," he said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "certainly not yearning for general election", but he believed it was "the only way to move the country forward".
He said the Conservatives would be offering a "centrist agenda" to voters - and his party would be running a more "optimistic" campaign than their widely-criticised 2017 effort, which led to Theresa May losing her majority.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said the poll was "our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit".Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said the poll was "our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit".
For the Scottish National Party, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for the country to hold another independence referendum.For the Scottish National Party, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for the country to hold another independence referendum.
"A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said."A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said.
But the Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK.But the Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting the deadlock had been "broken" and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed".Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting the deadlock had been "broken" and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed".
Electoral pacts and coalitionsElectoral pacts and coalitions
The smaller parties are already talking about striking deals with each other, which could see candidates standing aside in areas where their Remain-supporting rivals have a better chance of winning.The smaller parties are already talking about striking deals with each other, which could see candidates standing aside in areas where their Remain-supporting rivals have a better chance of winning.
Deputy Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said the party was in discussions with Plaid Cyrmu and the Green Party "to see if we can work with them". Deputy Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said the party was in discussions with Plaid Cymru and the Green Party "to see if we can work with them".
Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley told BBC Breakfast it was "no secret" that the Greens were "talking to the Lib Dems and Plaid" but "nothing has been finalised".Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley told BBC Breakfast it was "no secret" that the Greens were "talking to the Lib Dems and Plaid" but "nothing has been finalised".
He said a "temporary electoral arrangement to stand aside for one another" would help elect "a big block of MPs that aren't from the two main parties".He said a "temporary electoral arrangement to stand aside for one another" would help elect "a big block of MPs that aren't from the two main parties".
"That idea of getting a big block of MPs in Parliament who want a people's vote, want to remain in the EU because they think it's best for the UK to do that, has widespread appeal.""That idea of getting a big block of MPs in Parliament who want a people's vote, want to remain in the EU because they think it's best for the UK to do that, has widespread appeal."
The party leaders are also facing questions about whether they would form a coalition, if the election resulted in another hung Parliament.The party leaders are also facing questions about whether they would form a coalition, if the election resulted in another hung Parliament.
Asked if she would form a coalition government with Labour or the Conservatives, Jo Swinson said: "I can't be clearer - neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister."Asked if she would form a coalition government with Labour or the Conservatives, Jo Swinson said: "I can't be clearer - neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister."
Labour's John McDonnell told BBC Breakfast: "There will be no deals, no coalition. We will go in as a majority government. If we don't win an overall majority, we will have a minority government."Labour's John McDonnell told BBC Breakfast: "There will be no deals, no coalition. We will go in as a majority government. If we don't win an overall majority, we will have a minority government."