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| General election: Tory plan for extra borrowing just means 'higher taxes later', says George Osborne - live news | General election: Tory plan for extra borrowing just means 'higher taxes later', says George Osborne - 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 |
| 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. | |
| 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: | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| The CBI, the leading business organisation, has cautiously welcomed the Labour and Conservative plans to spend more on investment. In a statement, Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI chief economist, said: | The CBI, the leading business organisation, has cautiously welcomed the Labour and Conservative plans to spend more on investment. In a statement, Rain Newton-Smith, the CBI chief economist, said: |
| The Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie has appealed for support from Labour voters who feel they are “without a political home”. Speaking at his party’s official campaign launch, Rennie said: | The Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie has appealed for support from Labour voters who feel they are “without a political home”. Speaking at his party’s official campaign launch, Rennie said: |
| Bad news for Northern Ireland’s remainers and good news for the Democratic Unionist party: Lady Sylvia Hermon has decided to step down as an MP. | Bad news for Northern Ireland’s remainers and good news for the Democratic Unionist party: Lady Sylvia Hermon has decided to step down as an MP. |
| The independent unionist, Northern Ireland’s sole pro-remain voice at Westminster, announced on Wednesday night that she was vacating her North Down seat. | The independent unionist, Northern Ireland’s sole pro-remain voice at Westminster, announced on Wednesday night that she was vacating her North Down seat. |
| The decision dismayed remainers and greatly boosts the DUP’s chances of taking the seat. | The decision dismayed remainers and greatly boosts the DUP’s chances of taking the seat. |
| Sinn Féin’s abstention from Westminster meant Hermon was the only Northern Ireland MP to challenge the DUP’s Brexiters and to represent the 56% of people in her country who voted to stay in the EU. | Sinn Féin’s abstention from Westminster meant Hermon was the only Northern Ireland MP to challenge the DUP’s Brexiters and to represent the 56% of people in her country who voted to stay in the EU. |
| Tributes to her 18 years of service flowed from all sides. Hermon was an eloquent, effective parliamentarian. | Tributes to her 18 years of service flowed from all sides. Hermon was an eloquent, effective parliamentarian. |
| “This has been a particularly difficult decision but, after much thought, I have concluded that it is the right decision for my family and for me at this time,” Hermon said. The prospect of a tumultuous, toxic campaign in Northern Ireland may also have influenced her decision. | “This has been a particularly difficult decision but, after much thought, I have concluded that it is the right decision for my family and for me at this time,” Hermon said. The prospect of a tumultuous, toxic campaign in Northern Ireland may also have influenced her decision. |
| Sinn Féin and the SDLP had planned to stand aside in North Down to increase her chances of fending off the DUP’s Alex Easton, who closed the gap to 1,200 votes in the last election. He is now favourite to take the seat and offset potential DUP losses in Belfast. | Sinn Féin and the SDLP had planned to stand aside in North Down to increase her chances of fending off the DUP’s Alex Easton, who closed the gap to 1,200 votes in the last election. He is now favourite to take the seat and offset potential DUP losses in Belfast. |
| Like Ian Austin, John Woodcock was elected as a Labour MP and subsequently left the party, strongly criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and his handling of the issue of antisemitism (although, unlike Austin, Woodcock was suspended at the time over a misconduct allegation). | Like Ian Austin, John Woodcock was elected as a Labour MP and subsequently left the party, strongly criticising Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and his handling of the issue of antisemitism (although, unlike Austin, Woodcock was suspended at the time over a misconduct allegation). |
| Woodcock and Austin both sat as independents instead of defecting to another party. Woodcock is standing down as an MP and today, like Austin, he is urging people to vote Conservative to keep Corbyn out of No 10. He said: | Woodcock and Austin both sat as independents instead of defecting to another party. Woodcock is standing down as an MP and today, like Austin, he is urging people to vote Conservative to keep Corbyn out of No 10. He said: |
| Northern politicians and business leaders have joined forces with more than 30 regional news organisations to publish the first manifesto for the north, on the second day of an election campaign in which northern England is regarded as a key battleground. The manifesto demands the newly elected government sign up to five “game changers for the north”, as the two main political leaders address crowds in Teesside, Liverpool and Manchester today. | Northern politicians and business leaders have joined forces with more than 30 regional news organisations to publish the first manifesto for the north, on the second day of an election campaign in which northern England is regarded as a key battleground. The manifesto demands the newly elected government sign up to five “game changers for the north”, as the two main political leaders address crowds in Teesside, Liverpool and Manchester today. |
| Uniting across political and geographical differences, the “power up the north” collaboration will present the policy pledges to the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, demanding they sign up to the vision to “unleash” the north’s potential. | Uniting across political and geographical differences, the “power up the north” collaboration will present the policy pledges to the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, demanding they sign up to the vision to “unleash” the north’s potential. |
| The proposals came out of a conference in September, organised by NP11 - a group of the 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnerships – and is backed by newspaper front pages across the region including those of the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, the Yorkshire Post and the Chronicle in Newcastle. They include: | The proposals came out of a conference in September, organised by NP11 - a group of the 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnerships – and is backed by newspaper front pages across the region including those of the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, the Yorkshire Post and the Chronicle in Newcastle. They include: |
| Taking local control of education and training | Taking local control of education and training |
| Asking the government to make rebalancing the economy a formal Treasury objective | Asking the government to make rebalancing the economy a formal Treasury objective |
| A northern transport budget | A northern transport budget |
| Greater scale and control of investment | Greater scale and control of investment |
| Placing the north at the helm of a green industrial revolution | Placing the north at the helm of a green industrial revolution |
| In an article for the Guardian, the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, said the pledges could free northerners “from the shackles of short-sighted Westminster policies”. He writes that the proposals are backed by analysis led by the former head of the UK civil service, Bob Kerslake, which found that the north-south divide in England was as “stark as the east-west divide in Germany in the early 1990s”. | In an article for the Guardian, the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, said the pledges could free northerners “from the shackles of short-sighted Westminster policies”. He writes that the proposals are backed by analysis led by the former head of the UK civil service, Bob Kerslake, which found that the north-south divide in England was as “stark as the east-west divide in Germany in the early 1990s”. |
| Roger Marsh, the chair of the NP11, said the north led the first industrial revolution and could be “the crucible” for the “fourth – and first sustainable – industrial revolution, but only if we take critical action now”. He added: “Our message to all political parties is clear; the north is ready to lead the transformation required for net zero 2050, enhanced productivity and a truly inclusive Great Britain.”Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle city council, said: “Our north is one made up of many different and distinct places, but by working together like this we have shown we are a powerful region which is prepared to speak with one voice and do what is needed to create opportunity for the future”. | Roger Marsh, the chair of the NP11, said the north led the first industrial revolution and could be “the crucible” for the “fourth – and first sustainable – industrial revolution, but only if we take critical action now”. He added: “Our message to all political parties is clear; the north is ready to lead the transformation required for net zero 2050, enhanced productivity and a truly inclusive Great Britain.”Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle city council, said: “Our north is one made up of many different and distinct places, but by working together like this we have shown we are a powerful region which is prepared to speak with one voice and do what is needed to create opportunity for the future”. |
| The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green party have formed a general election pact, agreeing not to stand against each other in dozens of seats, PA Media reports. The deal, brokered by the Unite to Remain group, will give voters a single remain choice in 60 constituencies across England and Wales. The group is confident that “at least 44” of the 60 seats are “highly winnable”. | The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green party have formed a general election pact, agreeing not to stand against each other in dozens of seats, PA Media reports. The deal, brokered by the Unite to Remain group, will give voters a single remain choice in 60 constituencies across England and Wales. The group is confident that “at least 44” of the 60 seats are “highly winnable”. |
| As PA Media reports, the move follows an agreement earlier this year in the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection, where the Lib Dems took the seat from the Conservatives after the other two parties stood aside. | As PA Media reports, the move follows an agreement earlier this year in the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection, where the Lib Dems took the seat from the Conservatives after the other two parties stood aside. |
| Heidi Allen, the chairwoman of Unite To Remain and previously Lib Dem MP for South Cambridgeshire, said the cross-party arrangement was “unprecedented in modern British political history”. | Heidi Allen, the chairwoman of Unite To Remain and previously Lib Dem MP for South Cambridgeshire, said the cross-party arrangement was “unprecedented in modern British political history”. |
| In total, the Lib Dems will stand in 43 constituencies, the Greens will stand in 10 and Plaid Cymru will stand in seven. | In total, the Lib Dems will stand in 43 constituencies, the Greens will stand in 10 and Plaid Cymru will stand in seven. |
| At a press conference in London, Peter Dunphy, an election strategist and director at Unite to Remain, said: “At least 44 of those 60 can be regarded as highly winnable constituencies.” As PA reports, he said this evaluation was based on a wide range of data, including current national opinion polls, and results from local and European elections. | At a press conference in London, Peter Dunphy, an election strategist and director at Unite to Remain, said: “At least 44 of those 60 can be regarded as highly winnable constituencies.” As PA reports, he said this evaluation was based on a wide range of data, including current national opinion polls, and results from local and European elections. |
| Here’s my colleague Kate Proctor’s story about the launch: | Here’s my colleague Kate Proctor’s story about the launch: |
| These are from my colleague Richard Partington, who has been listening to the press conference that Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, has been giving. | These are from my colleague Richard Partington, who has been listening to the press conference that Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, has been giving. |