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General election: Farage's plan to stand aside in Tory seats amounts to 'Trump alliance', says Corbyn - as it happened General election: Farage's plan to stand aside in Tory seats amounts to 'Trump alliance', says Corbyn - as it happened
(1 day later)
Farage says he was worried Brexit party could let the Lib Dems take seats from Tories. Follow all the developments nowFarage says he was worried Brexit party could let the Lib Dems take seats from Tories. Follow all the developments now
That’s all from us this evening. Thanks for reading and commenting. Here’s a rundown of the main events to have occurred since our last summary:That’s all from us this evening. Thanks for reading and commenting. Here’s a rundown of the main events to have occurred since our last summary:
The prime minister has decided to hold a Cobra meeting to discuss the flooding that his large parts of the Midlands and northern England. That came after Jeremy Corbyn urged him to take such action, suggesting the crisis would have been taken more seriously had it occurred in the south east.The prime minister has decided to hold a Cobra meeting to discuss the flooding that his large parts of the Midlands and northern England. That came after Jeremy Corbyn urged him to take such action, suggesting the crisis would have been taken more seriously had it occurred in the south east.
A former ally of Boris Johnson launched a stinging attack on the prime minister and the opposition leader. Nick Boles said the UK faced a “appalling choice” between the leaders of the two main parties at next month’s election.A former ally of Boris Johnson launched a stinging attack on the prime minister and the opposition leader. Nick Boles said the UK faced a “appalling choice” between the leaders of the two main parties at next month’s election.
For a comprehensive summary of the day’s earlier news. See this excellent post from my colleague, Andrew Sparrow.For a comprehensive summary of the day’s earlier news. See this excellent post from my colleague, Andrew Sparrow.
And, if you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Kate Proctor, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart have our main story:And, if you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Kate Proctor, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart have our main story:
The Lib Dems have “immediately opened disciplinary investigations” into tweets that appear to have been posted by Kevin McNamara, the party’s candidate for Thurrock.The Lib Dems have “immediately opened disciplinary investigations” into tweets that appear to have been posted by Kevin McNamara, the party’s candidate for Thurrock.
A serious of screenshots purporting to show tweets from his account appeared on social media this evening. The account has now been locked and tweets are no longer visible to people not following it.A serious of screenshots purporting to show tweets from his account appeared on social media this evening. The account has now been locked and tweets are no longer visible to people not following it.
Nigel Farage is facing calls from Brexit supporters to stand down further candidates to help Boris Johnson after he made a dramatic public U-turn by agreeing to withdraw his party from all Conservative-held seats, my colleagues Kate Proctor, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart write.Nigel Farage is facing calls from Brexit supporters to stand down further candidates to help Boris Johnson after he made a dramatic public U-turn by agreeing to withdraw his party from all Conservative-held seats, my colleagues Kate Proctor, Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart write.
The Brexit party leader claimed he had changed his mind about fielding candidates in 317 seats held by the Tories after Johnson released a video pledging to take Britain out of the EU by 2020 and to pursue a Canada-style trade deal.The Brexit party leader claimed he had changed his mind about fielding candidates in 317 seats held by the Tories after Johnson released a video pledging to take Britain out of the EU by 2020 and to pursue a Canada-style trade deal.
The abrupt nature of Farage’s reversal prompted claims from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP that he and Johnson had struck a secret pact in favour of a hard Brexit, which both sides denied. Farage admitted he had been offered a peerage by the Tories as recently as last Friday but claimed he had turned this down.The abrupt nature of Farage’s reversal prompted claims from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP that he and Johnson had struck a secret pact in favour of a hard Brexit, which both sides denied. Farage admitted he had been offered a peerage by the Tories as recently as last Friday but claimed he had turned this down.
Senior Tories are now pressing behind the scenes for Farage to make further concessions and stand back in Labour-held target seats, after Farage conceded that the presence of his party in those contests could lead to a hung parliament and a second referendum.Senior Tories are now pressing behind the scenes for Farage to make further concessions and stand back in Labour-held target seats, after Farage conceded that the presence of his party in those contests could lead to a hung parliament and a second referendum.
Farage claimed he now had more “optimism” about Johnson’s Brexit deal after the prime minister’s clarifications, having previously condemned it as a “sellout” and not a real Brexit.Farage claimed he now had more “optimism” about Johnson’s Brexit deal after the prime minister’s clarifications, having previously condemned it as a “sellout” and not a real Brexit.
A former aide to Boris Johnson is facing calls to stand down as an election candidate after Labour accused him of “disgusting racism” over some of his writings that blame immigrants for bringing germs and HIV to the UK and accuse Muslims of having divided loyalties.A former aide to Boris Johnson is facing calls to stand down as an election candidate after Labour accused him of “disgusting racism” over some of his writings that blame immigrants for bringing germs and HIV to the UK and accuse Muslims of having divided loyalties.
Labour called on the prime minister to personally intervene to stop Anthony Browne from contesting the seat of South Cambridgeshire, saying his writings from 2002 and 2003 were “shocking” and “despicable”. In an article for the Spectator, Browne wrote:Labour called on the prime minister to personally intervene to stop Anthony Browne from contesting the seat of South Cambridgeshire, saying his writings from 2002 and 2003 were “shocking” and “despicable”. In an article for the Spectator, Browne wrote:
After the Cobra meeting was announced, a Labour spokesman saidAfter the Cobra meeting was announced, a Labour spokesman said
The prime minister will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday to discuss the government’s response to recent flooding, Downing Street has said.The prime minister will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday to discuss the government’s response to recent flooding, Downing Street has said.
The emergency meeting will be held five days after the flooding hit large parts of northern England and the Midlands.The emergency meeting will be held five days after the flooding hit large parts of northern England and the Midlands.
We reported earlier that the Labour leader was urging him to take such action and suggested that, had the flooding occurred in south-eastern England, it’s likely it would have been declared a national emergency (see 6.37pm).We reported earlier that the Labour leader was urging him to take such action and suggested that, had the flooding occurred in south-eastern England, it’s likely it would have been declared a national emergency (see 6.37pm).
The former Conservative MP, Nick Boles, has torn into both his own ex-colleagues and the Labour leadership this evening. Formerly a close ally of Boris Johnson, Boles reserves some of his harshest criticism for the prime minister.The former Conservative MP, Nick Boles, has torn into both his own ex-colleagues and the Labour leadership this evening. Formerly a close ally of Boris Johnson, Boles reserves some of his harshest criticism for the prime minister.
In an article for the Evening Standard, he writes:In an article for the Evening Standard, he writes:
Boles adds that he would be voting Lib Dem at the upcoming election.Boles adds that he would be voting Lib Dem at the upcoming election.
Each weekday evening for the duration of the campaign, my colleague Andrew Sparrow will be putting together an election briefing. You can read today’s here:Each weekday evening for the duration of the campaign, my colleague Andrew Sparrow will be putting together an election briefing. You can read today’s here:
Nigel Farage’s unilateral announcement that he will engage in a one-way electoral pact with the Conservatives will be an undoubted relief to Boris Johnson, but the benefit may be more limited than it first appears.Nigel Farage’s unilateral announcement that he will engage in a one-way electoral pact with the Conservatives will be an undoubted relief to Boris Johnson, but the benefit may be more limited than it first appears.
Headline polling data already indicated that the Brexit party was being successfully squeezed by the Tories’ pro-Brexit strategy. Its polling average had slumped from 12% in the third week of October to its current 9%.Headline polling data already indicated that the Brexit party was being successfully squeezed by the Tories’ pro-Brexit strategy. Its polling average had slumped from 12% in the third week of October to its current 9%.
A former Brexit party candidate is defying Nigel Farage’s decision to step aside in Tory-held seats and will stand as an independent instead. Neil Greaves, from the Harlow constituency in Essex, criticised Farage’s approach:A former Brexit party candidate is defying Nigel Farage’s decision to step aside in Tory-held seats and will stand as an independent instead. Neil Greaves, from the Harlow constituency in Essex, criticised Farage’s approach:
The constituency voted 68% to leave in the EU referendum but Robert Halfon, the Conservative candidate who won the seat with a majority of more than 7,000 in 2017, backed remain in the referendum. That led Greaves to claim that his pulling out of the race would mean there “won’t be a leave option for Harlow”.The constituency voted 68% to leave in the EU referendum but Robert Halfon, the Conservative candidate who won the seat with a majority of more than 7,000 in 2017, backed remain in the referendum. That led Greaves to claim that his pulling out of the race would mean there “won’t be a leave option for Harlow”.
His fellow former Brexit party candidate, Ruth Jolley, said she “respected” Farage’s decision but was “disappointed” the people of her South West Norfolk constituency would not be able to vote for a Brexit party candidate.His fellow former Brexit party candidate, Ruth Jolley, said she “respected” Farage’s decision but was “disappointed” the people of her South West Norfolk constituency would not be able to vote for a Brexit party candidate.
The former civil servant, who now runs a pet care business, said she would continue to campaign for Brexit party candidates elsewhere but will not vote in the election.The former civil servant, who now runs a pet care business, said she would continue to campaign for Brexit party candidates elsewhere but will not vote in the election.
Over at the Guardian’s general election fact check desk, my colleague Hilary Osborne has had a look at Emily Thornberry’s claim the UK’s armed forces have “effectively had a pay cut over the last few years”:
The SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has been seeking to portray the Tories as increasingly in thrall to Nigel Farage after the latter announced that his Brexit party will not stand candidates in Conservative-held seats.
We reported earlier that Sturgeon had said that any form of Brexit that would be acceptable to Farage would be bad for Scotland (see 3.45pm). Here’s a little more on those comments:
Nigel Farage, the leader of the Brexit party, claimed today that he had killed off any prospect of a second referendum after he declared that his party would not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives in 2017. The exact impact of his decision is still a matter of debate, but it is almost certainly the most significant electoral boost the Tories have had in the campaign so far. In a speech in Hartlepool (full text here), Farage claimed that his decision meant a “leave alliance” was now in operation. He said:
Boris Johnson has claimed that he did not call Farage to agree a leave alliance deal with him. But in his speech Farage claimed that he changed his mind, and decided not to stand candidates in Tory-held seats even though only 10 days ago he said Johnson would have to abandon his whole Brexit plan for this to happen, because of assurances made by Johnson in a video posted on Twitter yesterday afternoon. Farage said:
Johnson’s “super Canada plus” comment has not been reported today because this sort of trade deal has always been his aim, and there was nothing new in what he was saying yesterday in the video. But it did look as though it had been distributed to give Farage cover for the climbdown he announced today.
At the moment Farage is still planning to run candidates in Labour-held seats, which could prevent the Tories from making gains in those constituencies. But given that Farage has now accepted that Johnson’s deal is acceptable, and that a Johnson majority government would be preferable to a hung parliament, it is hard to see the logic of his stance. It remains to be seen if a further retreat is coming. Thursday is the deadline when candidates must decide whether they are or are not standing in constituencies.
The opposition parties have said that Farage’s decision confirms that the Conservative party is becoming the Brexit party. Labour (here), the SNP (here) and the Lib Dems (here) have all made this point.
Jeremy Corbyn has urged Johnson to declare a national emergency and chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee, Cobra, in response to the flooding in South Yorkshire.
Hillary Clinton has called Downing Street’s suppression of a report into potential Russian infiltration of British politics “damaging, inexplicable and shaming”.
A Green party candidate has withdrawn in a second marginal seat targeted by Labour, prompting speculation that more Greens could step aside as part of an informal anti-Conservative alliance not sanctioned by the central party.
Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary, has accused Corbyn of putting Marxist solidarity ahead of democracy after the Labour leader said Evo Morales had been forced to resign as Bolivia’s president due to a military coup.
A Labour government would introduce “managed migration” for EU nationals in the event Brexit happens, the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, has said as the party continues to debate what immigration policy to offer at the election.
The Conservatives have challenged Labour to explain whether Corbyn would be willing to use nuclear weapons as a last resort after Thornberry refused to answer this question in an interview.
Johnson’s government appears to be preparing to nominate an EU commissioner, potentially breaching another Brexit promise after he failed to meet his “do or die” deadline to leave on 31 October.
Britain’s economy avoided a recession in the third quarter after it expanded by 0.3% but the annual pace of growth was the slowest for nearly 10 years as Brexit uncertainty depressed business activity.
Ireland has expressed concern over a Conservative party pledge to change the law to protect former soldiers in Northern Ireland from possible prosecution over deaths during the Troubles.
That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now writing the blog for the rest of the night.
If the flooding that hit the Midlands and northern England at the end of last week had happened in the south-east, it’s more likely it would have been declared a national emergency, the Labour leader has claimed.
Jeremy Corbyn has urged the prime minister to hold a Cobra meeting and take personal charge of the government’s response as he says his party’s analysis suggests the Environment Agency has lost a fifth of its frontline staff under Tory-led governments.
Here is the full text of his letter to Boris Johnson:
Patrick Maguire in the New Statesman argues that the Brexit party’s decision to stand down in Tory-held seats won’t be welcomed by all Conservative candidates in those constituencies. Here is an extract.
From the Financial Times’ Jim Pickard
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has accused Sajid Javid, the chancellor, of trying to avoid a TV debate with him, my colleague Heather Stewart reports.
Here is one baby that Boris Johnson probably won’t be getting his hands on. (See 4.53pm.) This is from Ellie Reeves, who is seeing re-election as Labour MP for Lewisham West and Penge.
The SNP has issued a statement about what it describes as the legal action being taken by “one of the smaller parties” (ie, the Lib Dems - see 4.49pm). It is from Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s business convenor and its candidate in East Renrewshire.