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General election 2019: Five-week campaign period officially begins General election 2019: Official campaign begins after PM meets Queen
(32 minutes later)
Campaigning in the general election will officially begin later, after Parliament was dissolved in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Boris Johnson will launch the Conservative election campaign later, promising to "get Brexit done".
Boris Johnson has met the Queen at Buckingham Palace, marking the start of the election period in the run-up to the 12 December poll. The prime minister has met the Queen at Buckingham Palace, marking the official 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". He will make a statement before addressing his first rally of the five-week campaign.
Meanwhile, in a speech Jeremy Corbyn will pledge "real change" under Labour. Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour is "well prepared and utterly determined" to win power to "transform" the country.
In a speech in Telford, he said recent comments by Tory candidates about the Grenfell tragedy were "shameful" and suggested his opponents felt there were "above us all".
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:
Tory Party chairman James Cleverly has defended the conduct of the party's campaign so far after two Conservatives were forced to apologise for comments about the Grenfell tragedy and the party was accused of "doctoring" a video of Labour's Sir Keir Starmer talking about Brexit.Tory Party chairman James Cleverly has defended the conduct of the party's campaign so far after two Conservatives were forced to apologise for comments about the Grenfell tragedy and the party was accused of "doctoring" a video of Labour's Sir Keir Starmer talking about Brexit.
Mr Cleverly said Jacob Rees Mogg and Andrew Bridgen's remarks about the actions of Grenfell victims had "caused hurt and distress", telling BBC Breakfast "we don't always get things right and when we get it wrong we apologise".Mr Cleverly said Jacob Rees Mogg and Andrew Bridgen's remarks about the actions of Grenfell victims had "caused hurt and distress", telling BBC Breakfast "we don't always get things right and when we get it wrong we apologise".
However, he insisted the Starmer video - which has been described as "inexplicable" by one of his own MPs Johnny Mercer - was "obviously light-hearted" and would not be removed.However, he insisted the Starmer video - which has been described as "inexplicable" by one of his own MPs Johnny Mercer - was "obviously light-hearted" and would not be removed.
He said those in the party "point their fingers" at the rich "with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks" - wealthier peasants during the Russian Revolution, many of whom were murdered or starved to death. Writing in the Daily Telegraph to mark the start of the Conservative campaign, Mr Johnson 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". He said those in Labour "point their fingers" at the rich "with a relish and a vindictiveness not seen since Stalin persecuted the kulaks" - wealthier peasants during the Russian Revolution, many of whom were murdered or starved to death.
And 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.And 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.
A tricky start for the ToriesA tricky start for the Tories
The simple fact this morning is that the Conservatives would love to be talking about their all-singing, all-dancing campaign launch happening later today.The simple fact this morning is that the Conservatives would love to be talking about their all-singing, all-dancing campaign launch happening later today.
But campaigns have an alchemy and the Tory campaign has bad chemistry in these opening days.But campaigns have an alchemy and the Tory campaign has bad chemistry in these opening days.
One cabinet minister told me yesterday that 'if we can hold our message, if we can stick to the core idea that we are the ones who can wrap up the mess of Brexit and be able to move on we will be OK'.One cabinet minister told me yesterday that 'if we can hold our message, if we can stick to the core idea that we are the ones who can wrap up the mess of Brexit and be able to move on we will be OK'.
They definitely could not stick to that yesterday. At the same time, campaigns are a bit like pouring concrete. They take a while to set.They definitely could not stick to that yesterday. At the same time, campaigns are a bit like pouring concrete. They take a while to set.
Inside the Tory party, as in all the parties, they know that the first few weeks are important to set out the parameters but days on their own don't mean in a few weeks time the balance will be the same.Inside the Tory party, as in all the parties, they know that the first few weeks are important to set out the parameters but days on their own don't mean in a few weeks time the balance will be the same.
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 PM's audience with the Queen lasted about 20 minutes.The PM's audience with the Queen lasted about 20 minutes.
While the election has already been approved by MPs, the monarch still needs to sign a royal proclamation confirming the end of the last Parliament.While the election has already been approved by MPs, the monarch still needs to sign a royal proclamation confirming the end of the last Parliament.
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. '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". In the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson compared his opponent Mr Corbyn to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Mr Johnson 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".
Mr Johnson said that as well as another referendum on Brexit, a Labour government would also lead to a second vote on Scottish independence.Mr Johnson said 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, Mr Corbyn said he would be a "very different kind of prime minister" who "only seeks power in order to share power".
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 said the election was a once-in-a-generation chance to "tear down the barriers that are holding people back" and to "rebuild" the NHS, schools and the police force.
"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.
But former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw has suggested a Corbyn victory could have a detrimental effect on the UK's national security.But former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw has suggested a Corbyn victory could have a detrimental effect on the UK's national security.
He told the Times other countries could "lessen intelligence co-operation" with the UK if Mr Corbyn - a long-time critic of US foreign policy - made it to Downing Street.He told the Times other countries could "lessen intelligence co-operation" with the UK if Mr Corbyn - a long-time critic of US foreign policy - made it to Downing Street.
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told the BBC that long-standing intelligence arrangements would continue as the UK's security services, including MI5, understood "democracy depends on supporting the government of the day".Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott told the BBC that long-standing intelligence arrangements would continue as the UK's security services, including MI5, understood "democracy depends on supporting the government of the day".
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.
Short session of Parliament: How does it compare?Short session of Parliament: How does it compare?
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