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Brexit: Trump says parts of Johnson's deal would obstruct US-UK trade agreement - live news Brexit: Trump says parts of Johnson's deal would obstruct US-UK trade agreement - live news
(32 minutes later)
Reacting to Trump’s LBC interview, the Lib Dems’ foreign affairs spokesman, Chuka Umunna, has said:
Donald Trump is unfit to hold the office of president of the United States. Boris Johnson is unfit to be prime minister of the United Kingdom.
This endorsement is yet another example of the cuddly relationship between the two men. As the saying goes, you can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.
Trump is a bully, a misogynist and a racist. Yet the Conservatives have fawned to secure a post-Brexit trade deal with him. A trade deal that would threaten food standards and our precious NHS.
Liberal Democrats will continue to stand up to regressive politics and will continue to fight to stop Brexit and build a brighter future.
As has been suggested elsewhere, Farage has opened himself up to claims of hypocrisy by inviting a sitting US president to intervene when the UK is preparing to vote on its future.
Nigel Farage on when it is and isn't ok for foreign leaders to interfere in UK politics. pic.twitter.com/PgdwNJvLMT
Here’s what the Brexit party leader told Fox News in 2016 in reaction to Barack Obama saying the UK would be at the back of the queue in trade negotiations if it voted to leave the EU:
Vladimir Putin behaved in a more statesmanlike manner than President Obama did in this referendum campaign. Obama came to Britain and, I think, behaved disgracefully; telling us we would be at the back of the queue. Vladimir Putin maintained his silence throughout the whole campaign.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has responded to Trump’s interview with LBC, tweeting:
Donald Trump is trying to interfere in Britain’s election to get his friend Boris Johnson elected. It was Trump who said in June the NHS is “on the table”. And he knows if Labour wins US corporations won’t get their hands on it.Our NHS is not for sale.pic.twitter.com/AUhht3pCgL
Corbyn’s referring to Trump’s claim that the US would have no involvement in the NHS under a post-Brexit US-UK trade deal. The US president has, at different times, said the NHS would and would not be on the table in any such negotiations.
Donald Trump opened his interview with LBC by again repeating his nonsense claim to have correctly predicted the result of the Brexit referendum when he opened his Turnberry golf course on 24 June 2016.
The Brexit referendum was held on 23 June 2016.
Trump’s interviewer, the political campaigner and Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, nodded, said “yep” and allowed the false claim to pass.
Donald Trump has used an interview with his ally Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader and LBC broadcaster, to intervene in the UK election. Trump said that Jeremy Corbyn would be “so bad” for the UK, and that Farage and Boris Johnson would be an “unstoppable force” if they joined up in some way. (See 5.28pm.)Donald Trump has used an interview with his ally Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader and LBC broadcaster, to intervene in the UK election. Trump said that Jeremy Corbyn would be “so bad” for the UK, and that Farage and Boris Johnson would be an “unstoppable force” if they joined up in some way. (See 5.28pm.)
World Exclusive: President @realDonaldTrump told @Nigel_Farage, Corbyn "would be so bad for your country, he'd take you into such bad places" #TrumpOnLBC pic.twitter.com/bbECEYbYSCWorld Exclusive: President @realDonaldTrump told @Nigel_Farage, Corbyn "would be so bad for your country, he'd take you into such bad places" #TrumpOnLBC pic.twitter.com/bbECEYbYSC
Trump also criticised Johnson’s Brexit plan, saying it could obstruct a UK-US trade deal. (See 5.28pm.)Trump also criticised Johnson’s Brexit plan, saying it could obstruct a UK-US trade deal. (See 5.28pm.)
Corbyn has insisted Labour’s 2019 general election campaign is “not about me”, as he declined to say whether he would step aside if the party failed to dislodge Johnson from Downing Street in six weeks.Corbyn has insisted Labour’s 2019 general election campaign is “not about me”, as he declined to say whether he would step aside if the party failed to dislodge Johnson from Downing Street in six weeks.
Johnson has been accused of preventing the publication of a report assessing the security threat posed by Russia to the UK and whether a future general election could be affected by Kremlin-sponsored disinformation.Johnson has been accused of preventing the publication of a report assessing the security threat posed by Russia to the UK and whether a future general election could be affected by Kremlin-sponsored disinformation.
A £100,000 grant awarded to the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri’s Hacker House company by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has been considered “appropriate” by the government’s internal audit agency.A £100,000 grant awarded to the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri’s Hacker House company by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has been considered “appropriate” by the government’s internal audit agency.
The prime minister could be poised to sound the death knell for the UK’s controversial shale gas industry after more than a decade of support for fracking, according to sources.The prime minister could be poised to sound the death knell for the UK’s controversial shale gas industry after more than a decade of support for fracking, according to sources.
The Labour MP Keith Vaz has been formally suspended from the Commons for six months for offering to buy drugs for sex workers and failing to cooperate with an investigation, after the Commons endorsed the findings of an inquiry.The Labour MP Keith Vaz has been formally suspended from the Commons for six months for offering to buy drugs for sex workers and failing to cooperate with an investigation, after the Commons endorsed the findings of an inquiry.
That’s all from me for today.That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over.
On Radio 4’s PM programme Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, dismissed President Trump’s claim that a Jeremy Corbyn government would take Britain into a bad place. (See 5.28pm.) McDonald said:On Radio 4’s PM programme Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, dismissed President Trump’s claim that a Jeremy Corbyn government would take Britain into a bad place. (See 5.28pm.) McDonald said:
I think the bad place a lot of Americans experienced [is] at the hands of Donald Trump. So I’m really not concerned that Nigel Farage and Donald Trump have reaffirmed their commitment to one another.I think the bad place a lot of Americans experienced [is] at the hands of Donald Trump. So I’m really not concerned that Nigel Farage and Donald Trump have reaffirmed their commitment to one another.
We do know that the American pharmaceutical industry is very interested in our national health service and we have made it abundantly clear that the NHS is not for sale and Donald Trump is not going get anywhere near our NHS. And nor are we enthused at the prospect of chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef coming into our country with low standards for food safety. We are not going to be tolerating anything like that.We do know that the American pharmaceutical industry is very interested in our national health service and we have made it abundantly clear that the NHS is not for sale and Donald Trump is not going get anywhere near our NHS. And nor are we enthused at the prospect of chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef coming into our country with low standards for food safety. We are not going to be tolerating anything like that.
Here is some comment from journalists on the Trump interview.Here is some comment from journalists on the Trump interview.
From the BBC’s Jon SopelFrom the BBC’s Jon Sopel
Incredible statement from ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ on #GeneralElection19 - in effect calls for ⁦@Nigel_Farage⁩ and ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ to work together; says ⁦@jeremycorbyn⁩ “would be so bad for your country.” So much for staying out of other countries elections pic.twitter.com/awJqpGAqpZIncredible statement from ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ on #GeneralElection19 - in effect calls for ⁦@Nigel_Farage⁩ and ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ to work together; says ⁦@jeremycorbyn⁩ “would be so bad for your country.” So much for staying out of other countries elections pic.twitter.com/awJqpGAqpZ
From my colleague Paul JohnsonFrom my colleague Paul Johnson
Donald Trump intervenes telling Nigel Farage via ⁦@LBC⁩ :‘You and Boris Johnson, if you got together, would be an unstoppable force. Jeremy Corbyn would be so bad for your country’-Labour should play that quote over and over and over again pic.twitter.com/o77G2e4bPMDonald Trump intervenes telling Nigel Farage via ⁦@LBC⁩ :‘You and Boris Johnson, if you got together, would be an unstoppable force. Jeremy Corbyn would be so bad for your country’-Labour should play that quote over and over and over again pic.twitter.com/o77G2e4bPM
From the Mail on Sunday’s Dan HodgesFrom the Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges
Donald Trump going on LBC to heap praise on Boris and attack Corbyn is exactly what Corbyn needs and exactly what Boris doesn't need.Donald Trump going on LBC to heap praise on Boris and attack Corbyn is exactly what Corbyn needs and exactly what Boris doesn't need.
The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has recorded an interview with his political ally Donald Trump for his LBC radio show. The whole thing is being broadcast later, but LBC has just broadcast a clip, and it included Trump saying that he thought Farage should be uniting in some way with Boris Johnson. Together Johnson and Farage would be an “unstoppable force”, Trump said.The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has recorded an interview with his political ally Donald Trump for his LBC radio show. The whole thing is being broadcast later, but LBC has just broadcast a clip, and it included Trump saying that he thought Farage should be uniting in some way with Boris Johnson. Together Johnson and Farage would be an “unstoppable force”, Trump said.
Trump also said that there were aspects of Johnson’s Brexit deal that would obstruct a UK-US trade deal. He said:Trump also said that there were aspects of Johnson’s Brexit deal that would obstruct a UK-US trade deal. He said:
To be honest with you, this deal, under certain aspects of the deal, you can’t do it, you can’t do it, you can’t trade. We can’t make a trade deal with the UK ...To be honest with you, this deal, under certain aspects of the deal, you can’t do it, you can’t do it, you can’t trade. We can’t make a trade deal with the UK ...
Under certain ways, we’re precluded - which would be ridiculous.Under certain ways, we’re precluded - which would be ridiculous.
From the extract broadcast just now, it is not clear exactly why Trump thought the Brexit plan would hinder a trade deal, but he may have been referring to its level playing field proposals.From the extract broadcast just now, it is not clear exactly why Trump thought the Brexit plan would hinder a trade deal, but he may have been referring to its level playing field proposals.
Trump rejected claims, which Jeremy Corbyn has been making strongly, that the NHS would be threatened by a UK-US trade deal. Health would not be a part of any deal, Trump claimed. “It is not for us to have anything to do with your healthcare system,” he said.Trump rejected claims, which Jeremy Corbyn has been making strongly, that the NHS would be threatened by a UK-US trade deal. Health would not be a part of any deal, Trump claimed. “It is not for us to have anything to do with your healthcare system,” he said.
Trump claimed UK-US trade could be four or five times higher than it is now under a deal, which he said would make Britain “much bigger economically than it is right now”.Trump claimed UK-US trade could be four or five times higher than it is now under a deal, which he said would make Britain “much bigger economically than it is right now”.
And Trump claimed Corbyn would bad for the UK. He said:And Trump claimed Corbyn would bad for the UK. He said:
Corbyn would be so bad for your country, he’d be so bad, he’d take you on such a bad way. He’d take you into such bad places.Corbyn would be so bad for your country, he’d be so bad, he’d take you on such a bad way. He’d take you into such bad places.
Corbyn is unlikely to lose any sleep over this non-endorsement. According to YouGov, two thirds of Britons have a negative opinion of Trump. Only 19% have a positive view of him - and they are unlikely to include many potential Labour voters.Corbyn is unlikely to lose any sleep over this non-endorsement. According to YouGov, two thirds of Britons have a negative opinion of Trump. Only 19% have a positive view of him - and they are unlikely to include many potential Labour voters.
Hear me talk to President Trump at 6pm tonight on LBC. We will be discussing Brexit, Boris, Corbyn, the NHS and impeachment. pic.twitter.com/v2v2PZ82AFHear me talk to President Trump at 6pm tonight on LBC. We will be discussing Brexit, Boris, Corbyn, the NHS and impeachment. pic.twitter.com/v2v2PZ82AF
The legislation to allow the early election has now had royal assent, the BBC’s Nick Eardley reports.The legislation to allow the early election has now had royal assent, the BBC’s Nick Eardley reports.
Royal Assent granted for Early Election Act12 December is officialRoyal Assent granted for Early Election Act12 December is official
With John Bercow standing down as Speaker at the end of today, here is a Guardian compilation of some of the highlights of his time in the chair.With John Bercow standing down as Speaker at the end of today, here is a Guardian compilation of some of the highlights of his time in the chair.
And here are some excerpts from what was said when MPs paid tribute to him yesterday.And here are some excerpts from what was said when MPs paid tribute to him yesterday.
Boris Johnson was booed as he ended a visit to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the Cambridge News reports. There is a story here and a live blog covering the visit here.Boris Johnson was booed as he ended a visit to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, the Cambridge News reports. There is a story here and a live blog covering the visit here.
The pro-Labour Skwawkbox blog has also posted some footage.The pro-Labour Skwawkbox blog has also posted some footage.
Johnson flees Addenbrookes hospital to loud booing by staff, patients and campaigners. One staff member asked, "What the **** did he think was going to happen?"For more, see https://t.co/J6OCvS74Rt pic.twitter.com/JcwpakHNPaJohnson flees Addenbrookes hospital to loud booing by staff, patients and campaigners. One staff member asked, "What the **** did he think was going to happen?"For more, see https://t.co/J6OCvS74Rt pic.twitter.com/JcwpakHNPa
These are from Mark Urban, Newsnight’s diplomatic editor, on the story that Boris Johnson has been accused of holding back the publication of a report from parliament’s intelligence and security report looking at the issue of Russian interference in British elections.These are from Mark Urban, Newsnight’s diplomatic editor, on the story that Boris Johnson has been accused of holding back the publication of a report from parliament’s intelligence and security report looking at the issue of Russian interference in British elections.
The Parliamentary Intelligence & Security Cttee report on Russian actions against the UK was sent to No10 on 17/10 with the idea it should be released on 28/10, before the election, but No10 has not signed it off 1/3The Parliamentary Intelligence & Security Cttee report on Russian actions against the UK was sent to No10 on 17/10 with the idea it should be released on 28/10, before the election, but No10 has not signed it off 1/3
I understand that the Int & Sec Cttee report includes evidence from the UK intelligence services concerning Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and 2017 General Election 2/3I understand that the Int & Sec Cttee report includes evidence from the UK intelligence services concerning Russian attempts to influence the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum and 2017 General Election 2/3
The report will have to be released by Tuesday at latest before current committee is dissolved, & failure to do so because of a refusal by No10 to sign it off may be seen by many as an attempt to suppress evidence of previous Russian attempts to subvert UK polls 3/3The report will have to be released by Tuesday at latest before current committee is dissolved, & failure to do so because of a refusal by No10 to sign it off may be seen by many as an attempt to suppress evidence of previous Russian attempts to subvert UK polls 3/3
Labour would rather run a minority government if necessary than try to form a coalition or pact with another party, the shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said. Speaking to Sky News this morning, at the Labour campaign launch, McDonnell said he expected the party to win a majority. But when asked what would happen if it didn’t, but if it was still in a position to govern (ie, it was the largest party in a hung parliament), he replied:Labour would rather run a minority government if necessary than try to form a coalition or pact with another party, the shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said. Speaking to Sky News this morning, at the Labour campaign launch, McDonnell said he expected the party to win a majority. But when asked what would happen if it didn’t, but if it was still in a position to govern (ie, it was the largest party in a hung parliament), he replied:
We would run a minority government. We’d implement the policies and we’d expect the other parties to support them. If they didn’t, well, we’ll go back to the people. Look, who wouldn’t vote for a £10 living wage? Who wouldn’t vote for the way in which we want to solve Brexit, going back to the people? Who wouldn’t vote for actually ensuring we invested in all our public services, and a fair taxation system?We would run a minority government. We’d implement the policies and we’d expect the other parties to support them. If they didn’t, well, we’ll go back to the people. Look, who wouldn’t vote for a £10 living wage? Who wouldn’t vote for the way in which we want to solve Brexit, going back to the people? Who wouldn’t vote for actually ensuring we invested in all our public services, and a fair taxation system?
Asked if Labour would consider a confidence and supply agreement with one of the smaller parties, McDonnell went on:Asked if Labour would consider a confidence and supply agreement with one of the smaller parties, McDonnell went on:
No deals, no deals. We do in as a majority government. If there is a minority, we will implement our manifesto, full stop.No deals, no deals. We do in as a majority government. If there is a minority, we will implement our manifesto, full stop.
Jeremy Corbyn has said that Labour will “immediately” start rehousing the homeless if it wins the election. Speaking at a campaign event in Milton Keynes, Corbyn called the level of homelessness in the UK a “disgrace and insult to our country”, and promised a Labour government would end austerity. As the Press Assocaition reports, he said:Jeremy Corbyn has said that Labour will “immediately” start rehousing the homeless if it wins the election. Speaking at a campaign event in Milton Keynes, Corbyn called the level of homelessness in the UK a “disgrace and insult to our country”, and promised a Labour government would end austerity. As the Press Assocaition reports, he said:
On our first day in office, we will immediately buy all the properties necessary to house the rough sleepers.On our first day in office, we will immediately buy all the properties necessary to house the rough sleepers.
Boris Johnson made an election stop at a primary school in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where he joined a group of children in an activity sorting pictures of London into past and present, the Press Association reports. The PM held one black and white image aloft and suggested “past?”. One pupil agreed and said it “looks dirtier”, to which the prime minister replied: “That was when Ken Livingstone was running it.”Boris Johnson made an election stop at a primary school in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, where he joined a group of children in an activity sorting pictures of London into past and present, the Press Association reports. The PM held one black and white image aloft and suggested “past?”. One pupil agreed and said it “looks dirtier”, to which the prime minister replied: “That was when Ken Livingstone was running it.”
Referring to a photo of London Bridge, Johnson told the youngsters: “You know what they used to do? They used to stick the decapitated heads of the enemies on spikes.”Referring to a photo of London Bridge, Johnson told the youngsters: “You know what they used to do? They used to stick the decapitated heads of the enemies on spikes.”
He also visited a classroom where children were mummifying pumpkins with salt, and another where they made firework collages.He also visited a classroom where children were mummifying pumpkins with salt, and another where they made firework collages.