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| General election: Lib Dems face backlash from activists over remain pact with Greens and Plaid - live news | General election: Lib Dems face backlash from activists over remain pact with Greens and Plaid - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Chancellor and shadow chancellor deliver speeches outlining their parties’ economic visions | Chancellor and shadow chancellor deliver speeches outlining their parties’ economic visions |
| In a clip broadcast on the BBC, Jeremy Corbyn was asked to respond to the front page Jewish Chronicle editorial that says that most British Jews think he is antisemitic. | |
| In his reply, Corbyn said that many Jewish people in Britain did not agree with what the paper was saying and that Labour had confronted the issue. He said: | |
| At the Unite to Remain press conference this morning it was claimed that “at least 44” of the 60 seats covered by the Lib Dem/Green/Plaid Cymru pact were winnable. (See 1.04pm.) | At the Unite to Remain press conference this morning it was claimed that “at least 44” of the 60 seats covered by the Lib Dem/Green/Plaid Cymru pact were winnable. (See 1.04pm.) |
| But in an interview on the World at One, Prof Sir John Curtice, the leading elections expert, said that in practice he thought the pact would result in remain parties winning only around six more seats than if the three parties had been competing against each other. | But in an interview on the World at One, Prof Sir John Curtice, the leading elections expert, said that in practice he thought the pact would result in remain parties winning only around six more seats than if the three parties had been competing against each other. |
| He said just over one in three of the 60 seats were already held by one of the three pro-remain parties, or by Labour, which is committed to a referendum with remain as an option. And he said that in some of these seats, and in some seats where the Lib Dems were not far behind the Conservatives in 2017, the Greens did not stand anyway two years ago. | He said just over one in three of the 60 seats were already held by one of the three pro-remain parties, or by Labour, which is committed to a referendum with remain as an option. And he said that in some of these seats, and in some seats where the Lib Dems were not far behind the Conservatives in 2017, the Greens did not stand anyway two years ago. |
| As a result, he said there were “probably, perhaps, five or six seats that might not be otherwise won by the Liberal Democrats, if they faced competition from the Greens or, in a couple of instances, from Plaid, [that might now be won].” He went on: | As a result, he said there were “probably, perhaps, five or six seats that might not be otherwise won by the Liberal Democrats, if they faced competition from the Greens or, in a couple of instances, from Plaid, [that might now be won].” He went on: |
| Curtice said that, by standing down in Beaconsfield, the Lib Dems and the Greens might also help Dominic Grieve to hold the seat, following his lose of the Conservative whip. He went on: | Curtice said that, by standing down in Beaconsfield, the Lib Dems and the Greens might also help Dominic Grieve to hold the seat, following his lose of the Conservative whip. He went on: |
| A Lib Dem candidate asked to stand aside as part of the Unite to Remain pact has vowed to run as an independent and said members of his party are “extremely unhappy” about how the deal was struck. As the Press Association reports, Mike Powell, who intended to stand in Pontypridd as a Lib Dem candidate, said he was asked to stand aside three weeks ago. The pact involves the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Green party agreeing not to stand against each other in 60 seats across England and Wales to give voters a single remain choice. | A Lib Dem candidate asked to stand aside as part of the Unite to Remain pact has vowed to run as an independent and said members of his party are “extremely unhappy” about how the deal was struck. As the Press Association reports, Mike Powell, who intended to stand in Pontypridd as a Lib Dem candidate, said he was asked to stand aside three weeks ago. The pact involves the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Green party agreeing not to stand against each other in 60 seats across England and Wales to give voters a single remain choice. |
| Powell, who has been a councillor since 1999, has refused to cooperate with the pact and will instead stand as an independent. As part of the pact, a Plaid candidate will stand in Pontypridd, the Press Association reports. | Powell, who has been a councillor since 1999, has refused to cooperate with the pact and will instead stand as an independent. As part of the pact, a Plaid candidate will stand in Pontypridd, the Press Association reports. |
| In an interview with the BBC’s World at One Powell said that there was “disquiet and discomfort” within the Welsh Lib Dems about the pact. Explaining his decision to run as an independent, he said: | In an interview with the BBC’s World at One Powell said that there was “disquiet and discomfort” within the Welsh Lib Dems about the pact. Explaining his decision to run as an independent, he said: |
| When it was put to him that by standing he would split the remain vote, he said: | When it was put to him that by standing he would split the remain vote, he said: |
| Powell said many Welsh Liberal Democrats felt the same way. He said: | Powell said many Welsh Liberal Democrats felt the same way. He said: |
| Jeremy Corbyn has been in Rossendale and Darwen this afternoon. He said it was the 15th constituency he had visited in the campaign. It is a Conservative seat (Jake Berry was the sitting MP), but with Labour behind by just 3,216 votes at the last election. | Jeremy Corbyn has been in Rossendale and Darwen this afternoon. He said it was the 15th constituency he had visited in the campaign. It is a Conservative seat (Jake Berry was the sitting MP), but with Labour behind by just 3,216 votes at the last election. |
| In a short speech, he criticised the Daily Telegraph for the way it used its front page yesterday to promote Boris Johnson’s column defending billionaires. He said: | In a short speech, he criticised the Daily Telegraph for the way it used its front page yesterday to promote Boris Johnson’s column defending billionaires. He said: |
| At his Q&A in Liverpool, asked about Labour’s handling of antisemitism allegations (in the light of what Ian Austin has been saying today), John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said Labour had done what the Jewish community had asked it to do on this issue. (See 11.58am.) He said the same thing later on the World at One, telling the programme: | At his Q&A in Liverpool, asked about Labour’s handling of antisemitism allegations (in the light of what Ian Austin has been saying today), John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said Labour had done what the Jewish community had asked it to do on this issue. (See 11.58am.) He said the same thing later on the World at One, telling the programme: |
| But the Jewish Labour Movement, the mainstream organisation for Jews in the party, has said that McDonnell is wrong, and that the party has not been doing enough. | But the Jewish Labour Movement, the mainstream organisation for Jews in the party, has said that McDonnell is wrong, and that the party has not been doing enough. |
| Boris Johnson has made a “cast iron” pledge that he will not grant Nicola Sturgeon the powers she needs to hold a second independence referendum, regardless of whether the SNP wins a majority of Scottish seats in December’s general election or if they win a pro-independence majority in the Holyrood elections of 2021. | Boris Johnson has made a “cast iron” pledge that he will not grant Nicola Sturgeon the powers she needs to hold a second independence referendum, regardless of whether the SNP wins a majority of Scottish seats in December’s general election or if they win a pro-independence majority in the Holyrood elections of 2021. |
| In his strongest rebuff yet to Sturgeon’s vow to hold a second vote on independence next year, Johnson used his first visit to Scotland of the election campaign to insist: | In his strongest rebuff yet to Sturgeon’s vow to hold a second vote on independence next year, Johnson used his first visit to Scotland of the election campaign to insist: |
| Describing Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn as “yoke-mates of destruction” in terms of the future stability of the union, he told reporters: | Describing Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn as “yoke-mates of destruction” in terms of the future stability of the union, he told reporters: |
| On Wednesday, the leader of Scottish Labour, Richard Leonard, categorically ruled out any form of electoral deal with the SNP, after Johnson warned against making 2020 the “year of two referendums” and Sturgeon told voters that demand for a second vote on independence would become “irresistible” if her party were to win the election in Scotland. | On Wednesday, the leader of Scottish Labour, Richard Leonard, categorically ruled out any form of electoral deal with the SNP, after Johnson warned against making 2020 the “year of two referendums” and Sturgeon told voters that demand for a second vote on independence would become “irresistible” if her party were to win the election in Scotland. |
| Johnson visited the Roseisle distillery, near Elgin, in Moray, accompanied by the local Scottish Conservative candidate, Douglas Ross, who won the seat from the SNP’s former Westminster leader Angus Robertson in 2017. Johnson spent little over an hour touring the rural distillery in a strictly managed visit during which he had no contact with the public. | Johnson visited the Roseisle distillery, near Elgin, in Moray, accompanied by the local Scottish Conservative candidate, Douglas Ross, who won the seat from the SNP’s former Westminster leader Angus Robertson in 2017. Johnson spent little over an hour touring the rural distillery in a strictly managed visit during which he had no contact with the public. |
| Boris Johnson has said that the comment from the Tory candidate Nick Conrad, who said in 2014 that women at risk of rape should keep their knickers on (see 12.20pm), was “completely unacceptable”. Johnson told journalists: | Boris Johnson has said that the comment from the Tory candidate Nick Conrad, who said in 2014 that women at risk of rape should keep their knickers on (see 12.20pm), was “completely unacceptable”. Johnson told journalists: |
| The Conservative MP Sir George Hollingbery, a former minister and former parliamentary private secretary to Theresa May, has announced that he standing down as an MP. | The Conservative MP Sir George Hollingbery, a former minister and former parliamentary private secretary to Theresa May, has announced that he standing down as an MP. |
| As the Institute for Government’s Gavin Freeguard points out, this takes the tally of MPs leaving parliament up to 72. | As the Institute for Government’s Gavin Freeguard points out, this takes the tally of MPs leaving parliament up to 72. |
| Richard Tice, the Brexit party chairman, has confirmed that he is standing as a candidate in Hartlepool. As my colleague Josh Halliday reported in his story this morning, before Tice’s candidature had been formally announced, the Labour-held constituency is one of the Brexit party’s key targets. The Brexit party has joint control of the council and got a higher vote in the constituency in the European elections, according to one estimate, than in any other Labour seat. | Richard Tice, the Brexit party chairman, has confirmed that he is standing as a candidate in Hartlepool. As my colleague Josh Halliday reported in his story this morning, before Tice’s candidature had been formally announced, the Labour-held constituency is one of the Brexit party’s key targets. The Brexit party has joint control of the council and got a higher vote in the constituency in the European elections, according to one estimate, than in any other Labour seat. |
| These are from my colleague Steven Morris, who has been with the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, on a campaign visit to Somerset. | These are from my colleague Steven Morris, who has been with the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, on a campaign visit to Somerset. |
| Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities, is going to stand for the Labour deputy leadership after Tom Watson stands down after the election, Bloomberg is reporting. | Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities, is going to stand for the Labour deputy leadership after Tom Watson stands down after the election, Bloomberg is reporting. |
| George Osborne was seen as a political patron to Sajid Javid when Osborne was chancellor and Javid was a new MP rapidly getting promoted into government. Now Osborne edits the Evening Standard, and he does not seem over-impressed by Javid’s plan to turn on the borrowing taps. Here is an extract from today’s Standard editorial. | George Osborne was seen as a political patron to Sajid Javid when Osborne was chancellor and Javid was a new MP rapidly getting promoted into government. Now Osborne edits the Evening Standard, and he does not seem over-impressed by Javid’s plan to turn on the borrowing taps. Here is an extract from today’s Standard editorial. |
| Interestingly, in the editorial (which would have been approved by Osborne, if not actually written by him), the Standard also suggests that Boris Johnson is going to put plans for a “national care service” at the heart of his manifesto. | Interestingly, in the editorial (which would have been approved by Osborne, if not actually written by him), the Standard also suggests that Boris Johnson is going to put plans for a “national care service” at the heart of his manifesto. |
| Labour is also proposing a “national care service”, although the policy it announced at its party conference in the autumn was just for personal care to be free, at a cost of £6bn a year, not for all social care to be free. | Labour is also proposing a “national care service”, although the policy it announced at its party conference in the autumn was just for personal care to be free, at a cost of £6bn a year, not for all social care to be free. |
| This is what the Standard is predicting in its editorial. | This is what the Standard is predicting in its editorial. |
| The Green party in Northern Ireland has announced it will not stand in any of Belfast’s four constituencies in a bid to assist the election of pro-remain MPs, PA Media reports. The party had already withdrawn from the South Belfast contest earlier this week to endorse the SDLP’s bid to unseat the outgoing DUP MP Emma Little Pengelly. | The Green party in Northern Ireland has announced it will not stand in any of Belfast’s four constituencies in a bid to assist the election of pro-remain MPs, PA Media reports. The party had already withdrawn from the South Belfast contest earlier this week to endorse the SDLP’s bid to unseat the outgoing DUP MP Emma Little Pengelly. |