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General election: parties vie for veterans' votes as Keith Vaz quits – live news General election: parties vie for veterans' votes as Keith Vaz quits – live news
(32 minutes later)
Labour and the Tories pledge more help for service personnel, while controversial former minister says he’s standing down. Follow all the developments on day five with our live blogLabour and the Tories pledge more help for service personnel, while controversial former minister says he’s standing down. Follow all the developments on day five with our live blog
News that British Steel may be about to be bought by a Chinese conglomerate for £70m could spark discussion about Britain’s industrial policy on the campaign trail.
A deal with Jingye Group could go through in the next couple of days according to our reporter Rob Davies, who has seen an email sent to employees about the sale.
That is good news for the company’s 4,000 employees, most of whom work in the marginal constituency of Scunthorpe. The seat is held by Labour’s Nic Dakin with a majority of just over 3,000. The North Lincolnshire town is traditional Labour territory but it also voted heavily for Brexit – 68.68% in favour of leaving compared with 31.32% for remain.
Here’s Rob’s full story:
On the Ulster campaign trail, the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, says Northern Ireland should become a leader in renewable energy technology. Eastwood, who is standing for the constituency of Foyle, says better education of children to raise awareness of global warming is a moral imperative.
Keith Vaz announced last night he was standing down, a move that spares Jeremy Corbyn a tricky issue because the longstanding MP for Leicester East was facing suspension from the Commons for “expressing interest” in buying cocaine for prostitutes.Keith Vaz announced last night he was standing down, a move that spares Jeremy Corbyn a tricky issue because the longstanding MP for Leicester East was facing suspension from the Commons for “expressing interest” in buying cocaine for prostitutes.
Vaz, who won the seat from the Tories in 1987, said in a statement that the people of Leicester “will always be in my heart”.Vaz, who won the seat from the Tories in 1987, said in a statement that the people of Leicester “will always be in my heart”.
He continued:He continued:
Corbyn paid generous tribute to his now ex-parliamentary colleague, saying:Corbyn paid generous tribute to his now ex-parliamentary colleague, saying:
You can read our full story on his decision here:You can read our full story on his decision here:
Most of the papers lead with election-related stories, with the Times going on the row over Labour’s spending plans and the Mail and the Telegraph leading on the Tories’ rehashed policy to ban prosecutions of veterans.Most of the papers lead with election-related stories, with the Times going on the row over Labour’s spending plans and the Mail and the Telegraph leading on the Tories’ rehashed policy to ban prosecutions of veterans.
Here are some of the front pages:Here are some of the front pages:
Boris Johnson will visit the Black Country today as he pushes his party’s policies to help service personnel and veterans.Boris Johnson will visit the Black Country today as he pushes his party’s policies to help service personnel and veterans.
Jeremy Corbyn will be with other senior members of the Labour leadership team to discuss migration policy.Jeremy Corbyn will be with other senior members of the Labour leadership team to discuss migration policy.
The Lib Dems are talking about education today and will promise every adult in England £10,000 to spend on education and training throughout their life. The Lib Dems are talking about education and will promise every adult in England £10,000 to spend on education and training throughout their life.
It seems likely that Nigel Farage will have something to say about both immigration and veterans when he launches the Brexit party’s campaign in Hartlepool today. Also present will be the party’s chairman, Richard Tice, who is standing as MP for the Teesside town. It seems likely that Nigel Farage will have something to say about both immigration and veterans when he launches the Brexit party’s campaign in Hartlepool. Also present will be the party’s chairman, Richard Tice, who is standing as MP for the Teesside town.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will be on the stump in Aberdeen.SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will be on the stump in Aberdeen.
Good morning. I’m Martin Farrer and welcome to the election live blog.Good morning. I’m Martin Farrer and welcome to the election live blog.
The fifth day of the campaign might be Armistice Day but there is no prospect of a ceasefire between the parties. The unusual instance of remembrance day falling in an election campaign has left the big players unable to resist promoting policies for veterans. The Tories are planning to offer more childcare help for families in the military, a railcard for veterans and will also repeat previous pledges to prevent “vexatious” legal claims such as those faced by ex-soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Labour has said it will improve pay and conditions for service personnel by scrapping the public sector pay cap, better housing and improved access to schools for children of force members. The fifth day of the campaign might be Armistice Day but there is no prospect of a ceasefire between the parties. The unusual instance of Remembrance Day falling in an election campaign has left the big players unable to resist promoting policies for veterans. The Tories are planning to offer more childcare help for families in the military, a railcard for veterans and will also repeat previous pledges to prevent “vexatious” legal claims such as those faced by ex-soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Labour has said it will improve pay and conditions for service personnel by scrapping the public sector pay cap, better housing and improved access to schools for children of force members.
Another major focus will be immigration. Our political editor, Heather Stewart, reports that Labour activists are pushing Jeremy Corbyn to incorporate radical changes to migration policy in the party’s manifesto. Senior leaders are meeting today to thrash out the party’s definitive stance with many calling for them to adopt the more open border policy backed by members at party conference in September. The Tories are hoping to portray Labour as soft on immigration and believe that a more liberal policy could cost Corbyn votes in northern and Midlands heartland seats.Another major focus will be immigration. Our political editor, Heather Stewart, reports that Labour activists are pushing Jeremy Corbyn to incorporate radical changes to migration policy in the party’s manifesto. Senior leaders are meeting today to thrash out the party’s definitive stance with many calling for them to adopt the more open border policy backed by members at party conference in September. The Tories are hoping to portray Labour as soft on immigration and believe that a more liberal policy could cost Corbyn votes in northern and Midlands heartland seats.
One Midlands seat that will be a bit different this time is Leicester East, where Keith Vaz’s name will not be on the ballot paper for the first time in 32 years. The former minister, who was facing suspension from the Commons for “expressing willingness” to purchase cocaine for sex workers, announced last night that he is standing down. Vaz, who is 62, said it had been “an honour and a privilege to serve my constituency”, while Corbyn said Vaz had led the way for black and Asian Labour MPs.One Midlands seat that will be a bit different this time is Leicester East, where Keith Vaz’s name will not be on the ballot paper for the first time in 32 years. The former minister, who was facing suspension from the Commons for “expressing willingness” to purchase cocaine for sex workers, announced last night that he is standing down. Vaz, who is 62, said it had been “an honour and a privilege to serve my constituency”, while Corbyn said Vaz had led the way for black and Asian Labour MPs.
No campaign day would be complete without a spending row and this one will be no exception with Labour hitting back at Tory claims that its policies would cost £1.2tn. Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s election coordinator, described the claims as “absolute work of fiction by the Conservatives”. Our economic correspodent, Richard Partington, has interrogated the Tory claims and concludes that they have added in the cost of Labour policies over a five-year period to inflate the headline number.No campaign day would be complete without a spending row and this one will be no exception with Labour hitting back at Tory claims that its policies would cost £1.2tn. Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s election coordinator, described the claims as “absolute work of fiction by the Conservatives”. Our economic correspodent, Richard Partington, has interrogated the Tory claims and concludes that they have added in the cost of Labour policies over a five-year period to inflate the headline number.
Thanks for joining us and enjoy day five.Thanks for joining us and enjoy day five.