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General election: Farage claims Brexit party will 'hurt Labour in most extraordinary way' - live news General election: Farage claims Brexit party will 'hurt Labour in most extraordinary way' - live news
(32 minutes later)
Rolling coverage of the day’s political events as they happen, including 2019 general election campaigning and the election of the new SpeakerRolling coverage of the day’s political events as they happen, including 2019 general election campaigning and the election of the new Speaker
From my colleague Jennifer Rankin
The SNP is making the same claims about how a post-Brexit trade deal with the US could threaten the NHS that the Labour party is making. This is what Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister and the SNP leader, said in a statement this morning ahead of a campaign visit to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.
On the visit Sturgeon also told journalists that she objected to the idea of election debates being limited to the Conservatives and Labour, as ITV is proposing for one of its debates. She said:
Loathing of Brexit united remainers and finally broke Northern Ireland’s binary nationalist v unionist divide. Well, so it seemed for a few heady days.Loathing of Brexit united remainers and finally broke Northern Ireland’s binary nationalist v unionist divide. Well, so it seemed for a few heady days.
Last week Steve Aiken, the incoming leader of the Ulster Unionist party (UUP), upended convention by ruling out an electoral pact with the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). As an opponent of Brexit Aiken said he felt duty-bound to run candidates in all 18 constituencies to give pro-remain unionists an alternative to the DUP.Last week Steve Aiken, the incoming leader of the Ulster Unionist party (UUP), upended convention by ruling out an electoral pact with the Democratic Unionist party (DUP). As an opponent of Brexit Aiken said he felt duty-bound to run candidates in all 18 constituencies to give pro-remain unionists an alternative to the DUP.
Even in north Belfast, he said. Meaning Aiken was willing to split the unionist vote and give Sinn Fein’s John Finucane a better chance of taking the seat from the DUP’s deputy leader, Nigel Dodds. Even in north Belfast, he said. Meaning Aiken was willing to split the unionist vote and give Sinn Féin’s John Finucane a better chance of taking the seat from the DUP’s deputy leader, Nigel Dodds.
An audacious move that prompted swift backlash. Unionists inside and outside the UUP protested. Suspected loyalist paramilitaries threatened retaliation against the UUP.An audacious move that prompted swift backlash. Unionists inside and outside the UUP protested. Suspected loyalist paramilitaries threatened retaliation against the UUP.
At the weekend Aiken caved and said his party would skip north Belfast, giving Dodds, the DUP’s Brexit policy architect, a clear run at sweeping up unionists, be they leavers or remainers.At the weekend Aiken caved and said his party would skip north Belfast, giving Dodds, the DUP’s Brexit policy architect, a clear run at sweeping up unionists, be they leavers or remainers.
The DUP, in turn, will give the UUP a clear run in the marginal seat of Fermanagh and south Tyrone.The DUP, in turn, will give the UUP a clear run in the marginal seat of Fermanagh and south Tyrone.
The moderate nationalist SDLP then announced it too would stand aside in north Belfast to boost Finucane’s chances. (See 12pm.) The stated reason is to let remain voters rally around a single candidate, even one who would abstain from Westminster. The other reason is to pressure Sinn Fein to stand aside in south Belfast and boost the SDLP’s chance of nabbing the seat from the DUP. The moderate nationalist SDLP then announced it too would stand aside in north Belfast to boost Finucane’s chances. (See 12pm.) The stated reason is to let remain voters rally around a single candidate, even one who would abstain from Westminster. The other reason is to pressure Sinn Féin to stand aside in south Belfast and boost the SDLP’s chance of nabbing the seat from the DUP.
Unionism and nationalism, remain and leave, all simmering together in a Northern Irish stew.Unionism and nationalism, remain and leave, all simmering together in a Northern Irish stew.
The Brexit party has appointed a Scottish public relations specialist and former tabloid editor, Jack Irvine, as its head of campaign communications for the general election campaign.The Brexit party has appointed a Scottish public relations specialist and former tabloid editor, Jack Irvine, as its head of campaign communications for the general election campaign.
The launch editor of the Scottish edition of the Sun in 1987, Irvine describes himself as an expert in crisis management and public affairs, telling one interviewer with the trade magazine PR Week: “People come to me because I’m combative and aggressive.”The launch editor of the Scottish edition of the Sun in 1987, Irvine describes himself as an expert in crisis management and public affairs, telling one interviewer with the trade magazine PR Week: “People come to me because I’m combative and aggressive.”
Irvine set up the Glasgow-based PR firm MediaHouse in 1991, after management jobs for Mirror Group, owners of the Daily Record, and News International.Irvine set up the Glasgow-based PR firm MediaHouse in 1991, after management jobs for Mirror Group, owners of the Daily Record, and News International.
Its clients in Scotland include Scottish Land & Estates, the landowners group, grouse moor owners, the Bank of Scotland, the football club Rangers FC and Sir Brian Souter, the co-founder of the Stagecoach transport company during Souter’s unsuccessful campaign to retain regulations which banned “promotion” of gay rights in schools.Its clients in Scotland include Scottish Land & Estates, the landowners group, grouse moor owners, the Bank of Scotland, the football club Rangers FC and Sir Brian Souter, the co-founder of the Stagecoach transport company during Souter’s unsuccessful campaign to retain regulations which banned “promotion” of gay rights in schools.
His firm has expanded overseas, with Irvine campaigning in the US on an alleged fraud case involving Medicare and a medical laboratory, but he has also acted for Caribbean tax havens, including the government of the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos.His firm has expanded overseas, with Irvine campaigning in the US on an alleged fraud case involving Medicare and a medical laboratory, but he has also acted for Caribbean tax havens, including the government of the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos.
Irvine has been approached for a comment on his new role. It is unclear whether he has taken the job on in a personal or professional capacity.Irvine has been approached for a comment on his new role. It is unclear whether he has taken the job on in a personal or professional capacity.
His MediaHouse profile page reports:His MediaHouse profile page reports:
And here is another question from BTL.And here is another question from BTL.
When will we get the final result of the election for the new Speaker?When will we get the final result of the election for the new Speaker?
My colleague Peter Walker has got an overall guide to the process here.My colleague Peter Walker has got an overall guide to the process here.
There are now seven candidates. The election starts at 2.30pm and all the candidates will get the chance to deliver a short speech before MPs vote in a secret ballot. Commons officials says it could take up to an hour to count the papers, and so we should get the first set of results at around 4.30pm.There are now seven candidates. The election starts at 2.30pm and all the candidates will get the chance to deliver a short speech before MPs vote in a secret ballot. Commons officials says it could take up to an hour to count the papers, and so we should get the first set of results at around 4.30pm.
MPs use an exhaustive ballot and, after the first round of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and MPs keep voting until someone gets more than 50% of votes cast. This means in theory there could be up to five rounds of voting. But any candidate with less than 5% of votes cast also drops out, and in practice candidates who realise they are not going to win also tend to quit voluntarily. In 2009, when MPs last elected a Speaker, there were 10 candidates but only three rounds of voting. It would be surprising if it goes beyond that this time, and so the final result should come by around 6.30pm. But it could be nearer 5.30pm if the second round of voting settles the matter.MPs use an exhaustive ballot and, after the first round of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes drops out and MPs keep voting until someone gets more than 50% of votes cast. This means in theory there could be up to five rounds of voting. But any candidate with less than 5% of votes cast also drops out, and in practice candidates who realise they are not going to win also tend to quit voluntarily. In 2009, when MPs last elected a Speaker, there were 10 candidates but only three rounds of voting. It would be surprising if it goes beyond that this time, and so the final result should come by around 6.30pm. But it could be nearer 5.30pm if the second round of voting settles the matter.
Here is Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s lead Brexit spokesman, on Nigel Farage’s decision not to stand for Westminster. Farage, of course, remains an MEP.Here is Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s lead Brexit spokesman, on Nigel Farage’s decision not to stand for Westminster. Farage, of course, remains an MEP.
The SDLP has announced it will not stand in three constituencies in Northern Ireland in a bid to facilitate pro-remain candidates, the Press Association reports. The nationalist party will not put forward candidates in North and East Belfast and in North Down as it attempts to prevent DUP Brexiters winning those seats. The move in North Belfast will give Sinn Féin candidate John Finucane a better chance of unseating the DUP deputy leader and longstanding MP, Nigel Dodds, who has a majority of just over 2,000.The SDLP has announced it will not stand in three constituencies in Northern Ireland in a bid to facilitate pro-remain candidates, the Press Association reports. The nationalist party will not put forward candidates in North and East Belfast and in North Down as it attempts to prevent DUP Brexiters winning those seats. The move in North Belfast will give Sinn Féin candidate John Finucane a better chance of unseating the DUP deputy leader and longstanding MP, Nigel Dodds, who has a majority of just over 2,000.
The Ulster Unionist party has already stepped aside in North Belfast to give Dodds a better chance of winning, PA reports. The UUP decision also proved controversial, as it came only a week after the incoming leader, Steve Aiken, pledged to run in all 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland.The Ulster Unionist party has already stepped aside in North Belfast to give Dodds a better chance of winning, PA reports. The UUP decision also proved controversial, as it came only a week after the incoming leader, Steve Aiken, pledged to run in all 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland.
The SDLP move in East Belfast is designed to give the Alliance party leader, Naomi Long, a better chance of defeating incumbent DUP MP, Gavin Robinson, while in North Down it is hoping that independent unionist and pro-remain MP Lady Sylvia Hermon can see off a DUP challenge to unseat her, PA reports.The SDLP move in East Belfast is designed to give the Alliance party leader, Naomi Long, a better chance of defeating incumbent DUP MP, Gavin Robinson, while in North Down it is hoping that independent unionist and pro-remain MP Lady Sylvia Hermon can see off a DUP challenge to unseat her, PA reports.
If remainers are looking for reasons to Labour, Lib Dem or SNP, the Tories have got a helpful clock at CCHQ that will give them one. This is from the Tory MP Harriett Baldwin.If remainers are looking for reasons to Labour, Lib Dem or SNP, the Tories have got a helpful clock at CCHQ that will give them one. This is from the Tory MP Harriett Baldwin.
Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru leader, has finished his speech at his election launch, and the Facebook live feed is over.Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru leader, has finished his speech at his election launch, and the Facebook live feed is over.
This is what he said about the choice facing the people of Wales.This is what he said about the choice facing the people of Wales.
Price seems to be referring to the publicity for this Channel 4 Dispatches programme going out tonight.Price seems to be referring to the publicity for this Channel 4 Dispatches programme going out tonight.
Price also said that at this election Wales should break with a century of backing Westminster parties. He said:Price also said that at this election Wales should break with a century of backing Westminster parties. He said:
Price says Plaid Cymru is Wales’s leading remain party. It wants to lead Wales to remain, and then lead it into becoming an independent member of the European Union in its own right.Price says Plaid Cymru is Wales’s leading remain party. It wants to lead Wales to remain, and then lead it into becoming an independent member of the European Union in its own right.
Price says Scotland’s needs have shot to the top of the political agenda because of devolution and the strength of the SNP.Price says Scotland’s needs have shot to the top of the political agenda because of devolution and the strength of the SNP.
The biggest legacy for Wales has been what has been cancelled: a power station, and rail electrification.The biggest legacy for Wales has been what has been cancelled: a power station, and rail electrification.
He says Wales has some of the best renewable energy resources. But it does not even feature in Labour’s clean energy plans.He says Wales has some of the best renewable energy resources. But it does not even feature in Labour’s clean energy plans.
Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru, is speaking at the Plaid election campaign launch now. He is speaking in a mix of English and Welsh, but there is no translation on the live feed I’m using, so some of it I cannot follow.
Price says an election at December is the worst Christmas ever.
He says voters have a choice between someone who is dishonest, and someone who is clueless. And they are both advised by public schoolboys who see politics as a game, he says.
He says the best future for Wales would be as an independent, prosperous nation.
There has to be a better way, he says.
He says at this election Plaid can break with a century of tradition. For the last 100 years Wales has backed the main parties. But what has Wales gained from that? It is at the wrong end of every league table that matters.
Plaid Cymru is launching its general election campaign. There is a live feed here.
Here is a question from a reader BTL (below the line).
Could the UK leave the EU before 31 January?
In theory, yes. Here is an extract from the official EU statement (pdf) agreeing the extension. If parliament were to pass the Brexit deal in time, the UK could leave the EU on 1 January. It says:
In an interview with the Sun on Sunday, Boris Johnson suggested that, in the event of the Tories winning the election, Brexit could happen by Christmas. The story started:
But the actual quote from Johnson was a bit less specific. He told the paper:
And, in practice, Johnson’s “Brexit by Christmas” pledge will probably turn out to be as reliable as his “do or die” one to deliver Brexit by 31 October because it is very hard to imagine the Brexit agreement being passed before Christmas.
MPs will not be able to return to the Commons “the following day” after the election because the counting will not finish in some constituencies until late Friday. Then, when MPs do return to the Commons at the start of a new parliament, it normally takes a few days for them all to take the oath before any legislating can actually start. And even if Johnson were able to ram the withdrawal agreement bill through parliament before Christmas, the European parliament would also have to vote to rubber-stamp it for the UK to be able to leave on 1 January.
UPDATE: Sorry. I got sidetracked, and overlooked the point about a no-deal Brexit. No deal is now off the table until 31 January. The extension agreement means that, under international law, the UK is now a member of the EU until the end of January, unless a deal is agreed by the end of December, and UK law has also been amended to reflect this.
And here is Jennifer’s full story about Jean-Claude Juncker criticising Boris Johnson for telling “so many lies” during the 2016 referendum campaign.
Jean-Claude Juncker, the outgoing president of the European commission, has said in an interview that Boris Johnson lied during the 2106 referendum campaign, my colleague Jennifer Rankin reports.
If you are looking for evidence of lies and untruths told during the 2016 referendum, the Labour MP Richard Corbett has a good list on his website here.
(The remain campaign was generally more honest, but it wasn’t perfect, and the claim that a vote to leave would trigger the need for an emergency, tax-raising budget was particularly spurious.)
In a phone-in with LBC this morning Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons and leading Brexiter, said that Nigel Farage should “retire from the field” because he had already achieved his lifelong ambition to deliver Brexit. Rees-Mogg claimed that, by standing against the Tories at the election, the Brexit party could end up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Rees-Mogg said:
In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, played down suggestions that by standing candidates all over Britain, his party would damage the Tories more than Labour. He said his party would “hurt the Labour party in the most extraordinary way”. He said:
Farage’s analysis is not generally shared by election experts, who have been arguing that it is the Conservatives who will lose out most from having Brexit party candidates on the ballot.
In his interview Farage also defended his decision not to stand as a candidate himself.
As my colleagues Simon Murphy and Liz Perkins report here, Francesca O’Brien is being urged to stand down as the Conservative candidate in Gower after it emerged that five years ago she wrote a post on Facebook saying people on the reality TV show Benefits Street needed “putting down”. Gower, a Labour-held marginal, is one of the Tories’ key targets in Wales.
In her Today interview Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, refused to back calls for O’Brien to be removed as a candidate. Coffey said that O’Brien’s comment was “clearly wrong”, but that she had apologised and that it should be up to the people of the Gower to decide if they wanted her as an MP.
Ian Lavery, the Labour party chair, said Coffey should have disowned her candidate. In a statement he said:
Brexit is at risk because of Nigel Farage’s decision to put up Brexit party candidates against the Tories, Thérèse Coffey, the work and pensions secretary, told the Today programme this morning. She said:
The election campaign has only just started but already senior figures in the health service are expressing alarm at the way that the NHS is being used as a “political weapon” in the campaign. The NHS is always a key election issue, of course, but there are at least two reasons why it is set to be more salient than usual this year. First, we are having an unusual December election, which means hospitals are under more pressure than they are when people normally go to the polls in the spring. And, second, this is an election where both main parties think they can win on health. Normally the Tories cede this issue to Labour, but Boris Johnson has decided to put the NHS at the top of his agenda (he believes that the Vote Leave bus slogan means he is obliged to champion health spending) and some polling shows that he is trusted more on health than Jeremy Corbyn, which is an unusual feat for a Tory leader.
In an article in the Times (paywall) Carrie MacEwen, chairwoman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, says that any public debate about the NHS needs to be based on “realistic expectations” and that the general election makes this unlikely. She says:
And in an article for the Times’ Red Box website (paywall) Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and other health trust organisations, makes a similar point. He says having the NHS as a dominant election issue could be counterproductive. He explains:
These are understandable arguments, but there seems to be little chance of their having much impact on the campaign. Rightly or wrongly, electioneering is always drawn towards hyperbole.
Here is the agenda for the day.
10am: John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, and Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, meet NHS staff at Unison HQ in London.
10.30am: Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru leader, and Liz Saville Roberts, its leader at Westminster, launch Plaid’s election campaign.
2pm: Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, unveils the party’s 600 election candidates.
2.30pm: MPs start the process of electing a new Speaker.
As usual, I will be covering breaking political news as it happens, as well as bringing you the best reaction, comment and analysis from the web, although I will be focusing mostly on general election developments and on the election of a new Speaker. I plan to publish a summary when I wrap up.
You can read all the latest Guardian politics articles here. Here is the Politico Europe roundup of this morning’s political news. And here is the PoliticsHome list of today’s top 10 must-reads.
If you want to follow me or contact me on Twitter, I’m on @AndrewSparrow.
I try to monitor the comments below the line (BTL) but it is impossible to read them all. If you have a direct question, do include “Andrew” in it somewhere and I’m more likely to find it. I do try to answer questions, and if they are of general interest, I will post the question and reply above the line (ATL), although I can’t promise to do this for everyone.
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