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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50311003
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
General election 2019: Five-week campaign period officially begins | General election 2019: Five-week campaign period officially begins |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Campaigning in the general election will officially begin on Wednesday, after Parliament was dissolved in the early hours of the morning. | Campaigning in the general election will officially begin on Wednesday, after Parliament was dissolved in the early hours of the morning. |
Boris Johnson will see the Queen at Buckingham Palace later to mark the start of the election period in the run-up to the 12 December poll. | Boris Johnson will see the Queen at Buckingham Palace later to mark the start of the election period in the run-up to the 12 December poll. |
The Conservatives will also launch their campaign, with Mr Johnson promising he can "get Brexit done". | The Conservatives will also launch their campaign, with Mr Johnson promising he can "get Brexit done". |
Meanwhile, in a speech Jeremy Corbyn will pledge "real change" under Labour. | Meanwhile, in a speech Jeremy Corbyn will pledge "real change" under Labour. |
Elsewhere, as the starting pistol is fired on five weeks of official campaigning: | Elsewhere, as the starting pistol is fired on five weeks of official campaigning: |
Parliament was dissolved - or formally shut down - at just after midnight, meaning all MPs revert to being members of the public. Government ministers keep their posts. | Parliament was dissolved - or formally shut down - at just after midnight, meaning all MPs revert to being members of the public. Government ministers keep their posts. |
The dissolution ended the shortest parliamentary session in just over 70 years, with the Commons having met for only 19 days since the state opening on 14 October. | The dissolution ended the shortest parliamentary session in just over 70 years, with the Commons having met for only 19 days since the state opening on 14 October. |
Writing in the Daily Telegraph to launch the Conservative Party's campaign, Mr Johnson compared his opponent Mr Corbyn to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. | Writing in the Daily Telegraph to launch the Conservative Party's campaign, Mr Johnson compared his opponent Mr Corbyn to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. |
He said those in the Labour Party "point their fingers" at the rich "with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks" - the wealthy landowners during the Russian revolution. | He said those in the Labour Party "point their fingers" at the rich "with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks" - the wealthy landowners during the Russian revolution. |
Mr Johnson also likened the UK to a "supercar blocked in the traffic" by Brexit, adding: "If we can get Brexit done, there are hundreds of billions of pounds of investment that are just waiting to flood into this country". | Mr Johnson also likened the UK to a "supercar blocked in the traffic" by Brexit, adding: "If we can get Brexit done, there are hundreds of billions of pounds of investment that are just waiting to flood into this country". |
Mr Johnson - who will speak in the West Midlands later - said he did not want the election, but "we simply have no choice". | Mr Johnson - who will speak in the West Midlands later - said he did not want the election, but "we simply have no choice". |
"There is only one way to get Brexit done, and I am afraid the answer is to ask the people to change this blockading Parliament." | "There is only one way to get Brexit done, and I am afraid the answer is to ask the people to change this blockading Parliament." |
Mr Johnson added: "It's time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut." | Mr Johnson added: "It's time to change the dismal pattern of the last three years and to get out of our rut." |
"The choice is clear. We can either go with Corbyn and his two favourite advisers, Dither and Delay... Or else we can vote for a sensible and moderate One Nation Conservative government". | "The choice is clear. We can either go with Corbyn and his two favourite advisers, Dither and Delay... Or else we can vote for a sensible and moderate One Nation Conservative government". |
He repeated his claim that as well as another referendum on Brexit, a Labour government would also lead to a second vote on Scottish independence. | He repeated his claim that as well as another referendum on Brexit, a Labour government would also lead to a second vote on Scottish independence. |
Mr Corbyn has previously said a new Scottish independence referendum was not "desirable or necessary" - but the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Labour would give the go-ahead for one if in government. | Mr Corbyn has previously said a new Scottish independence referendum was not "desirable or necessary" - but the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon said she believed Labour would give the go-ahead for one if in government. |
At his own campaign event in Telford later, Mr Corbyn is expected to say he would be a "very different kind of prime minister" who "only seeks power in order to share power". | At his own campaign event in Telford later, Mr Corbyn is expected to say he would be a "very different kind of prime minister" who "only seeks power in order to share power". |
Analysis | |
By BBC News political correspondent Jessica Parker | |
Parliament's been dissolved and the official campaign period is now under way. | |
But Boris Johnson's message, on the day of the Conservative Party launch, may already sound rather familiar. | |
He's pledging to get Brexit done and deliver on a raft of spending priorities in, for example, education and the NHS. | |
And never shy of making waves the prime minister has, in the Daily Telegraph, accused the Labour Party of pointing their fingers at rich individuals with a vindictiveness akin to Stalin's persecution of the kulaks; a class of affluent Russian peasants. | |
Jeremy Corbyn dismissed the comments last night as the kind of "nonsense" the super-rich come out with to avoid paying a bit more tax. | |
So, not exactly gentle opening exchanges as the campaign formally begins. | |
These two leaders do have something in common - they're eager to be seen as itching to invest in public services. | |
But they do ultimately cut very different political figures and both appear ready, where possible, to try to point that out. | |
He will pledge to end in-work poverty and food bank use within five years - and said a future Labour government should be judged on whether it meets its promises. | He will pledge to end in-work poverty and food bank use within five years - and said a future Labour government should be judged on whether it meets its promises. |
"The politics I stand for is about sharing power and wealth with people who don't have a lot of money and don't have friends in high places," he will say. | "The politics I stand for is about sharing power and wealth with people who don't have a lot of money and don't have friends in high places," he will say. |
"My job as leader, and my party's job, is to champion those people, and bring about real change." | "My job as leader, and my party's job, is to champion those people, and bring about real change." |
Kicking off Labour's election campaign last week, Mr Corbyn said Labour "will put wealth and power in the hands of the many". | Kicking off Labour's election campaign last week, Mr Corbyn said Labour "will put wealth and power in the hands of the many". |
Short session of Parliament: How does it compare? | Short session of Parliament: How does it compare? |
On Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats launched their campaign, with leader Jo Swinson saying the election could be a "a moment for seismic change" when "a new and different politics" emerges. | On Tuesday, the Liberal Democrats launched their campaign, with leader Jo Swinson saying the election could be a "a moment for seismic change" when "a new and different politics" emerges. |
Ms Swinson said she could do "a better job" than either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. | Ms Swinson said she could do "a better job" than either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister. |