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General election: Nicola Sturgeon launches campaign for 'most important election in our lifetimes' – live news General election: Nicola Sturgeon launches campaign for 'most important election in our lifetimes' – live news
(32 minutes later)
SNP leader speaks in Edinburgh as parties’ promises take shapeSNP leader speaks in Edinburgh as parties’ promises take shape
Boris Johnson has turned his failed “Brexit - do or die” pledge into a “do or dry”, claiming he has given up alcohol until after Brexit is sorted, PA Media reports.But according to the report, the prime minister was “watched sipping whisky during a distillery visit in Scotland on Thursday, casting doubt on his commitment to the alcohol ban”.
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will face each other in a live BBC debate in Southampton on 6 December just six days before Britons head to the polls.
The BBC will also present a live seven-way podium debate between senior figures from the UK’s major political parties on 29 November in Cardiff.
The Today presenter and former BBC political editor Nick Robinson, who will present the two debates, said he hoped they would “illuminate the choice we all face between competing parties, leaders, policies and visions for the country”.
This from Kamal Ahmed, the BBC’s editorial director:
Nicola Sturgeon had previously described the decision by Sky to only invite Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson for a live debate as “outrageous”:
A good point made by the Sun’s Kate Ferguson:A good point made by the Sun’s Kate Ferguson:
This from my colleague Kate Proctor, reporting from Nigel Farage’s rally in Pontypool, south Wales. Pontypool is in the Torfaen constituency, which has been held by Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds since 2015. This from my colleague Kate Proctor, reporting from Nigel Farage’s rally in Pontypool, south Wales. Pontypool is in the Torfaen constituency, which has been held by the Labour MP Nick Thomas-Symonds since 2015.
As predicted by some, the official Twitter account of the Conservative party just shared a meme featuring Nicola Sturgeon with a miniature Jeremy Corbyn in her pocket.As predicted by some, the official Twitter account of the Conservative party just shared a meme featuring Nicola Sturgeon with a miniature Jeremy Corbyn in her pocket.
Many of you, dear readers, will remember the original, a billboard showing Ed Miliband stuffed into the pocket of Alex Salmond, with some believing it was this poster that forced Miliband to rule out an SNP coalition during the 2015 general election campaign.Many of you, dear readers, will remember the original, a billboard showing Ed Miliband stuffed into the pocket of Alex Salmond, with some believing it was this poster that forced Miliband to rule out an SNP coalition during the 2015 general election campaign.
While Nicola Sturgeon used her election campaign launch speech to declare war on Boris Johnson, he was given a tour of a school and tried to make a clay figure inspired by British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, the Press Association reports: While Nicola Sturgeon used her election campaign launch speech to declare war on Boris Johnson, he was given a tour of a school and tried to make a clay figure inspired by British sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, PA Media reports:
Speaking at the George Spencer Academy, near Nottingham, the PM remarked he had “gunk” on him before declaring the task would be “a piece of cake”. But seconds later Mr Johnson paused before joking “it’s all going horribly wrong” as he had not followed the guide and noted he was creating a figure similar to “Terminator”. He also told pupils: “He’s an interesting chap Antony Gormley - all his sculptures are modelled on himself and then he persuades people to pay colossal sums for his own image around the world. It’s amazing success he’s had.”
Political commentators widely consider Sturgeon’s hints that Labour might support a second Scottish referendum a boost for the Tory campaign.Political commentators widely consider Sturgeon’s hints that Labour might support a second Scottish referendum a boost for the Tory campaign.
This from ITV’s Paul Brand:This from ITV’s Paul Brand:
And this from PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield:And this from PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield:
This from Sky’s Lewis Goodall on Sturgeon’s speech, making a point others have previously made about the Catalonia independence referendum:This from Sky’s Lewis Goodall on Sturgeon’s speech, making a point others have previously made about the Catalonia independence referendum:
Here Sturgeon’s comments on the possibility of a hung parliament, courtesy of the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: Here are Sturgeon’s comments on the possibility of a hung parliament, courtesy of the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg:
Will Nicola Sturgeon also demand that the Trident missile system be moved from Scottish waters before she will support a Corbyn government?Will Nicola Sturgeon also demand that the Trident missile system be moved from Scottish waters before she will support a Corbyn government?
This from the BBC’s Norman Smith:This from the BBC’s Norman Smith:
Sturgeon said her party would not lend support to any party that would stand in the way of a new Scottish independence referendum. It will be interesting to see how this pledge will be compatible with her statement that the SNP MPs “would seek to form a progressive alliance to lock the Tories out of government”.Sturgeon said her party would not lend support to any party that would stand in the way of a new Scottish independence referendum. It will be interesting to see how this pledge will be compatible with her statement that the SNP MPs “would seek to form a progressive alliance to lock the Tories out of government”.
This is the take of Sky’s Beth Rigby:This is the take of Sky’s Beth Rigby:
This from Sky’s Tamara Cohen:This from Sky’s Tamara Cohen:
Sturgeon wraps up and says she looks forward to the campaign trail.Sturgeon wraps up and says she looks forward to the campaign trail.
My colleague Severin Carrell asks: One of the key challenges for Corbyn would be getting a budget passed. Would the SNP not pass that budget if Labour wouldn’t support another Scottish referendum? Sturgeon says it can’t be expected of the SNP to support anybody who doesn’t recognise the Scottish right to self-determination.My colleague Severin Carrell asks: One of the key challenges for Corbyn would be getting a budget passed. Would the SNP not pass that budget if Labour wouldn’t support another Scottish referendum? Sturgeon says it can’t be expected of the SNP to support anybody who doesn’t recognise the Scottish right to self-determination.
Sturgeon adds that Corbyn is someone who supports self-determination “for literally every other country in the world”. It would be “mighty strange” if he didn’t support it for Scotland.Sturgeon adds that Corbyn is someone who supports self-determination “for literally every other country in the world”. It would be “mighty strange” if he didn’t support it for Scotland.
We don’t even know whether Jeremy Corbyn would campaign for remain or leave, Sturgeon says. That’s why voting SNP is the best way for the Scottish to avoid Brexit, she adds.We don’t even know whether Jeremy Corbyn would campaign for remain or leave, Sturgeon says. That’s why voting SNP is the best way for the Scottish to avoid Brexit, she adds.