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General election: Corbyn claims Trump/Farage/Johnson pact poses threat to rights in UK – live news General election: Corbyn claims Trump/Farage/Johnson pact poses threat to rights in UK – live news
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson prepares to chair Cobra meeting on floodsJeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson prepares to chair Cobra meeting on floods
The incoming president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has sent a second letter to Boris Johnson seeking a British nominee for the new commission by the end of the week after Downing Street missed a previous EU deadline.
The prime minister had already been asked to provide a name by Monday but the deadline came and went without any word from the UK government.
A spokeswoman for the commission said that Von der Leyen had sent a “reminder” on Tuesday morning of the UK’s obligations under the EU treaties and they expected a response “at any rate by the end of this week”. The spokeswoman said:
A UK government spokesman said the letter had been received and a response was being considered.
There would have been no obligation on the UK to nominate a commissioner if it had left the EU on 31 October as originally planned, but Johnson’s decision to accept a Brexit extension - in accordance with the Benn act, and despite Johnson’s repeated claims that he would never agree to a delay - means the UK is now obliged to nominate someone.
In normal general elections, the rural vote is reliably Tory in most of England. But while many farmers are in favour of Brexit, the disappearance of EU subsidies with only Boris Johnson’s word to guarantee future government support is worrying some, while the prospect of EU import tariffs on UK-produced food and floods of cheap imports has spooked the NFU.
A no-deal Brexit, even if delayed under a Johnson government to the end of next year, could spell disaster for thousands of rural businesses. This time, the Conservatives may have to make more of a play for the 9.5m voters who live in the countryside.
Today, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), representing 30,000 landowners and rural businesses, is writing to all prospective MPs to ask them to sign up to a five-point plan for a “rural powerhouse”, along the lines of the “northern powerhouse” promised by previous governments.
Top of their list of demands is connectivity: rural broadband, long a bugbear of country-dwellers, and mobile phone coverage. They want mobile operators to be given short-term targets for improving coverage, instead of post-2024 targets, and a continuous roll-out of broadband to reach full fibre by 2025.
Their other five demands are: changes to the planning system to make it easier to build homes, helping to solve the housing crisis; fast-tracking of the agriculture and environment bills, held up by Brexit, and a commitment to keep high welfare and environmental standards in farming; £200m a year investment in skills and training for farmers; and a simpler tax regime so that farmers who diversify into other businesses can file a single tax return, cutting red tape and saving them money.
Tory HQ has forbidden candidates to sign pledges on the climate emergency or the NHS, but a rural pledge might be a different matter.
Mark Bridgeman, incoming president of the CLA, said: “Any future MP worth their salt should proudly back the campaign.”
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, today joined some McDonald’s fast food workers taking part in a protest outside Downing Street calling for decent wages in the fast food industry. The “McStrike” protest was part of an international day of action by workers in this sector. McDonnell said:
From HuffPost’s Paul WaughFrom HuffPost’s Paul Waugh
Here is my colleague Rowena Mason’s story about the death of the former Labour health secretary Frank Dobson, which includes tributes to him from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.Here is my colleague Rowena Mason’s story about the death of the former Labour health secretary Frank Dobson, which includes tributes to him from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
And here are some more tributes.And here are some more tributes.
From Jeremy CorbynFrom Jeremy Corbyn
From Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretaryFrom Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary
From Matt Hancock, the Conservative health secretaryFrom Matt Hancock, the Conservative health secretary
From Charlie Falconer, the former Labour lord chancellorFrom Charlie Falconer, the former Labour lord chancellor
From the writer and Labour activist John O’FarrellFrom the writer and Labour activist John O’Farrell
From Karen Buck, the Labour candidate for Westminster NorthFrom Karen Buck, the Labour candidate for Westminster North
From the Labour former cabinet minister Yvette CooperFrom the Labour former cabinet minister Yvette Cooper
From Rushanara Ali, Labour candidate in Bethnal Green and BowFrom Rushanara Ali, Labour candidate in Bethnal Green and Bow
From Nick Smith, Labour candidate in Blaenau GwentFrom Nick Smith, Labour candidate in Blaenau Gwent
From the former Labour MP Michael DugherFrom the former Labour MP Michael Dugher
From David Lammy, Labour candidate for TottenhamFrom David Lammy, Labour candidate for Tottenham
From Stella Creasy, Labour candidate for WalthamstowFrom Stella Creasy, Labour candidate for Walthamstow
Jo Swinson has been paying a visit to the Doncaster charity Stainforth4All, speaking to volunteers who have rallied to help victims of the recent flooding. They showed the Lib Dem leader the piles of clothes and supplies donated by locals and said they were appalled that the prime minister hadn’t declared a national emergency.Jo Swinson has been paying a visit to the Doncaster charity Stainforth4All, speaking to volunteers who have rallied to help victims of the recent flooding. They showed the Lib Dem leader the piles of clothes and supplies donated by locals and said they were appalled that the prime minister hadn’t declared a national emergency.
“I visited Fishlake [an area badly affected by the flooding] and it broke my heart,” said Rosemarie Squires through tears.“I visited Fishlake [an area badly affected by the flooding] and it broke my heart,” said Rosemarie Squires through tears.
Swinson used the visit to pledge a £5bn flood defence fund that local authorities would be able to apply to improve their area’s protections. Asked if politicians were guilty of exploiting the flooding in south Yorkshire, she said:Swinson used the visit to pledge a £5bn flood defence fund that local authorities would be able to apply to improve their area’s protections. Asked if politicians were guilty of exploiting the flooding in south Yorkshire, she said:
Swinson insisted that she would have visited the area even if there hadn’t been an upcoming election, but that the media attention that came with the campaign could increase national awareness. Jeremy Corbyn is due to pay a visit to Doncaster this afternoon.Swinson insisted that she would have visited the area even if there hadn’t been an upcoming election, but that the media attention that came with the campaign could increase national awareness. Jeremy Corbyn is due to pay a visit to Doncaster this afternoon.
Asked if the Lib Dems should cooperate more with Labour candidates in light of the Brexit party’s “unilateral leave alliance”, Swinson said:Asked if the Lib Dems should cooperate more with Labour candidates in light of the Brexit party’s “unilateral leave alliance”, Swinson said:
On last night’s resignation of the party’s candidate in Thurrock, Kevin McNamara, after 10-year-old racist and homophobic tweets were unearthed, Swinson his statements had been abhorrent.On last night’s resignation of the party’s candidate in Thurrock, Kevin McNamara, after 10-year-old racist and homophobic tweets were unearthed, Swinson his statements had been abhorrent.
Here are the main points from the Jeremy Corbyn Q&A.Here are the main points from the Jeremy Corbyn Q&A.
Corbyn said British voters were now at risk from a Trump/Farage/Johnson alliance that would threaten the NHS, workers’ rights and safe food. In response to a question about the Brexit party decision to stand down candidates in Tory-held seats, he repeated a point made yesterday about Tory and Brexit party interests being aligned. But he also added Donald Trump, and escalated his warning about what might be at risk from a post-Brexit UK-US trade deal negotiated by a government led by Boris Johnson. Corbyn said:Corbyn said British voters were now at risk from a Trump/Farage/Johnson alliance that would threaten the NHS, workers’ rights and safe food. In response to a question about the Brexit party decision to stand down candidates in Tory-held seats, he repeated a point made yesterday about Tory and Brexit party interests being aligned. But he also added Donald Trump, and escalated his warning about what might be at risk from a post-Brexit UK-US trade deal negotiated by a government led by Boris Johnson. Corbyn said:
It is worth pointing out that Labour claims about what would happen under a UK-US trade deal are like Tory claims about Labour tax policy (see 11.29am) – not facts, but predictions, based on assumptions of varying degrees of probability. US negotiators would try to put drug pricing on the table in trade talks, and their employment and food quality standards are looser than UK ones. But the Tory government has also said that it would not include the NHS or drug pricing in a trade deal and that it would not lower employment or food standards, and in practice a Johnson administration would be constrained to an extent by what was politically acceptable to the public.
Corbyn said that he was “very nervous” at the thought that yesterday’s cyber attack on Labour could be a foretaste of things to come. Asked about the attack, he said:Corbyn said that he was “very nervous” at the thought that yesterday’s cyber attack on Labour could be a foretaste of things to come. Asked about the attack, he said:
He said Labour’s transport priority would be improving rail and bus transport north of Birmingham. Asked about the leak of the government review of HS2 (see 9.53am), he said he could not comment on that directly. But he went on:He said Labour’s transport priority would be improving rail and bus transport north of Birmingham. Asked about the leak of the government review of HS2 (see 9.53am), he said he could not comment on that directly. But he went on:
I‘ve been watching Angela Rayner and Jeremy Corbyn speak in a campaign event at Blackpool football club (not that you’d know it, as the blinds are pulled down on the picture windows behind us overlooking the pitch).I‘ve been watching Angela Rayner and Jeremy Corbyn speak in a campaign event at Blackpool football club (not that you’d know it, as the blinds are pulled down on the picture windows behind us overlooking the pitch).
Corbyn made the arguments for Labour’s lifelong learning policies, including six years of free adult education, which he was here to launch.Corbyn made the arguments for Labour’s lifelong learning policies, including six years of free adult education, which he was here to launch.
He was given a standing ovation by the activists here, and his promise that the NHS is “not for sale” in a trade deal with the US under a Labour government was greeted with enthusiastic applause.He was given a standing ovation by the activists here, and his promise that the NHS is “not for sale” in a trade deal with the US under a Labour government was greeted with enthusiastic applause.
But the star turn was Rayner, who talked about the importance of adult education in her own life, after she left school at 16 to look after her son. Under Labour’s policy, she said, “whether you left school with no GCSEs or 10, your ability to pay or your willingness to take on debt will not determine whether you get the education you need”.But the star turn was Rayner, who talked about the importance of adult education in her own life, after she left school at 16 to look after her son. Under Labour’s policy, she said, “whether you left school with no GCSEs or 10, your ability to pay or your willingness to take on debt will not determine whether you get the education you need”.
She skewered politicians’ habit of parroting the idea that vocational qualifications are as important as academic ones, or that the UK can simply copy Germany.She skewered politicians’ habit of parroting the idea that vocational qualifications are as important as academic ones, or that the UK can simply copy Germany.
And she had another nice line that “poverty is not just about being penniless, it is about being powerless”, because workers often don’t have the opportunity to train.And she had another nice line that “poverty is not just about being penniless, it is about being powerless”, because workers often don’t have the opportunity to train.
Just anecdotally, the atmosphere is warm here, but the audience doesn’t seem quite as big, as young or as lively as the most memorable Labour events I went to during the 2017 campaign. Back then, some Corbyn fans were coming from miles around just to get a glimpse of their man.Just anecdotally, the atmosphere is warm here, but the audience doesn’t seem quite as big, as young or as lively as the most memorable Labour events I went to during the 2017 campaign. Back then, some Corbyn fans were coming from miles around just to get a glimpse of their man.
Labour campaigners I chatted to here said they were finding a lot of “undecideds” on the doorstep. Perhaps enthusiasm will build as we get closer to 12 December? We’ll see.Labour campaigners I chatted to here said they were finding a lot of “undecideds” on the doorstep. Perhaps enthusiasm will build as we get closer to 12 December? We’ll see.
Corbyn says there was a time when being a further education lecturer was a good job. Now he meets many of them on zero-hours contracts, with multiple jobs. They are stressed, he says. He says they come into teaching because they love the job, but many leave because of the stress. There is something going badly wrong, he says.Corbyn says there was a time when being a further education lecturer was a good job. Now he meets many of them on zero-hours contracts, with multiple jobs. They are stressed, he says. He says they come into teaching because they love the job, but many leave because of the stress. There is something going badly wrong, he says.
Q: Does Labour still support HS2, even though it would now reportedly cost £88bn? (See 9.53am.)Q: Does Labour still support HS2, even though it would now reportedly cost £88bn? (See 9.53am.)
Corbyn says he does not know how accurate this report is. Labour’s priority would be investment in rail and bus infrastructure north of Birmingham.Corbyn says he does not know how accurate this report is. Labour’s priority would be investment in rail and bus infrastructure north of Birmingham.
Q: Don’t you need Nigel Farage and the Brexit party to keep standing and split the Brexit vote in Labour marginals?
Rayner says it is clear now that if you want a different future for this country, you should vote Labour. If you want a hard-right government, vote for the Conservatives or the Brexit party. She says they are the same.
She says she is disgusted about what Boris Johnson has said about communities like hers.
She does not fear the Brexit party or Boris Johnson. “Bring it on.”
Corbyn says people in Britain voted leave and remain. Labour’s strategy is to bring people together.
If the election results in a Tory government supported by Nigel Farage, you will have over-sized classrooms, people in debt and people being denied educational chances.
A national education service will be Labour’s legacy and its gift to the British people, Corbyn says.
Lack of education is “such a waste”.
He says he is trying to bring people together. Farage and Johnson only offer “division, division, division”. And they would put the NHS at risk with a trade deal with the US, which would also threaten the environment and our clean food.
Q: What is your policy for apprenticeships?
Rayner says the party will be talking about its policy at its manifesto launch.
Angela Rayner says the Labour manifesto will be about delivering for everyone. It will not put ideology first, she says.
Jeremy Corbyn is now taking questions.
Q: If you were chairing Cobra on flooding, what measures would you be taking?
Corbyn says the floods are appalling. He was in the Don Valley at the weekend. People are in a very difficult situation.
He says he would have chaired Cobra earlier to release Bellwin money. Councils should get that money immediately.
He also says he would do a lot more on flood defences. We are getting more flooding, he says. He says people in the Don Valley were telling him they were concerned about the quality of dredging of streams flowing into the Don.
He says Labour would also make dealing with flood protection a statutory duty for fire brigades.
Q: Who do you think was responsible for the cyber-attack on the Labour website?
Corbyn says this happened yesterday. It was very serious. But, as far as Labour is aware, none of its data was lost. But, if this is a sign of things to come, he feels “very nervous”. He says a previous cyber-attack on the NHS was dangerous.
He says the attack has been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, who are investigating.
Q: You say you will pay for some of this with VAT on private school fees. Does that mean you won’t abolish private schools?
Corbyn says the party will finalise its policy at a meeting this weekend. People will love the manifesto, he says.
Q: Do you think the Tories will benefit from the Brexit party standing down in Tory seats? And what will happen if the Brexit party stand in Labour-held seats?
Corbyn says there is an alliance between Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. That is a threat to the NHS, he says.
He says he is not interested in parlour games about who might stand where. He is putting forward a manifesto that would create a fairer society, he says. He says he approaches elections in a positive frame of mind. Hundreds of people are actively supporting the party, and giving it money, he says.
Rayner says Labour will also ensure workers can get time off to study.
Rayner says Labour will also offer maintenance support to people in further education.
Rayner is now summing up Labour’s offer.
Back in Blackpool Angela Rayner is still speaking about Labour’s plans.
This is from my colleague Rowena Mason.
And here is our story on it.
Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, is speaking now.
She says she has seen four education secretaries since she took up her post.
She says Corbyn was one of the first people in the party to call for a cradle-to-grave education system. So it is fitting he is here, she says.
She says her life was transformed by adult education. When her friends were sitting their GCSEs, she was thinking about her new baby. Adult education gave her a second chance. She enrolled in a sign language course, and then a counselling course, and that led to volunteering and then a job. Then she went on to get a qualification in care. Education helped her, but also her son, she says. She says this experience encouraged her to become a union rep.
Corbyn says the Tories should apologise for the way they have cut eduction funding since 2010.