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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 chairs Cobra meeting on floodsJeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson chairs Cobra meeting on floods
The former chancellor, Philip Hammond, has found a job worth about £125,000 a year within a week of stepping down as an MP.
He has become a non-executive director of Irish metal and glass packaging firm Ardagh, which is listed on the New York stock exchange. The firm said Hammond had joined its board and would serve on its audit committee, which oversees financial reporting and disclosure.
The Lib Dems intend to replace Walker and contest the Canterbury seat, a party spokesman has said.
The Liberal Democrat candidate in a marginal Labour seat has unilaterally decided to stand down, saying that while the two parties could not agree on a pact he wanted to avoid the “nightmare” of handing the constituency back to the Conservatives.The Liberal Democrat candidate in a marginal Labour seat has unilaterally decided to stand down, saying that while the two parties could not agree on a pact he wanted to avoid the “nightmare” of handing the constituency back to the Conservatives.
In an article for the Guardian, Tim Walker said that while he did not trust Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit, he wanted to give Rosie Duffield, the Labour candidate who took Canterbury from the Tories for the first time in 2017 by just 187 votes, the best chance of winning.In an article for the Guardian, Tim Walker said that while he did not trust Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit, he wanted to give Rosie Duffield, the Labour candidate who took Canterbury from the Tories for the first time in 2017 by just 187 votes, the best chance of winning.
The announcement of his candidacy had dismayed some Lib Dems, who argued that while there is no formal deal between their party and Labour it would be better to stand aside to help Duffield, who is strongly pro-remain. In 2017 the then-Lib Dem candidate received more than 4,500 votes.The announcement of his candidacy had dismayed some Lib Dems, who argued that while there is no formal deal between their party and Labour it would be better to stand aside to help Duffield, who is strongly pro-remain. In 2017 the then-Lib Dem candidate received more than 4,500 votes.
An additional 100 armed forces personnel will be sent to flood-affected areas following today’s Cobra meeting, No 10 has said.An additional 100 armed forces personnel will be sent to flood-affected areas following today’s Cobra meeting, No 10 has said.
Boris Johnson convened the emergency meeting five days after the flooding hit parts of northern England and the Midlands after calls to do some from the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. The prime minister had earlier said the flooding was not sufficient to be defined as a “national emergency”. Following the meeting, Johnson said:Boris Johnson convened the emergency meeting five days after the flooding hit parts of northern England and the Midlands after calls to do some from the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. The prime minister had earlier said the flooding was not sufficient to be defined as a “national emergency”. Following the meeting, Johnson said:
The government announced that, under the flood recovery framework, it will “provide funding to support the recovery efforts of local councils where households and businesses have been affected”. No 10 has said:The government announced that, under the flood recovery framework, it will “provide funding to support the recovery efforts of local councils where households and businesses have been affected”. No 10 has said:
The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will provide a community recovery grant to local councils – equivalent to £500 per eligible household - to help communities with their immediate recovery.The Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will provide a community recovery grant to local councils – equivalent to £500 per eligible household - to help communities with their immediate recovery.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will provide funding for a business recovery grant, which will provide up to £2,500 per eligible small and medium-sized businesses which have suffered severe impacts from the floods that cannot be recovered from insurance.The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will provide funding for a business recovery grant, which will provide up to £2,500 per eligible small and medium-sized businesses which have suffered severe impacts from the floods that cannot be recovered from insurance.
The UK Standby Battalion, based in Catterick, will be deployed from tomorrow.The UK Standby Battalion, based in Catterick, will be deployed from tomorrow.
Twenty-five sitting and former Conservative councillors have been exposed for posting Islamophobic and racist material on social media, according to a dossier obtained by the Guardian that intensifies the row over anti-Muslim sentiment in the party.Twenty-five sitting and former Conservative councillors have been exposed for posting Islamophobic and racist material on social media, according to a dossier obtained by the Guardian that intensifies the row over anti-Muslim sentiment in the party.
The disclosure that 15 current and 10 former Tory councillors have posted, shared or endorsed Islamophobic or other racist content on Facebook or Twitter will increase pressure on Boris Johnson after he backtracked on a pledge to hold an independent inquiry into the issue.The disclosure that 15 current and 10 former Tory councillors have posted, shared or endorsed Islamophobic or other racist content on Facebook or Twitter will increase pressure on Boris Johnson after he backtracked on a pledge to hold an independent inquiry into the issue.
Inflammatory posts recorded in the dossier, which has been sent to the party’s headquarters, include calls for mosques to be banned, claims the faith wants to “turn the world Muslim”, referring to its followers as “barbarians” and “the enemy within”.Inflammatory posts recorded in the dossier, which has been sent to the party’s headquarters, include calls for mosques to be banned, claims the faith wants to “turn the world Muslim”, referring to its followers as “barbarians” and “the enemy within”.
The Brexit party’s Scottish MEP, Louis Stedman-Bryce, has quit as its general election candidate after Nigel Farage announced the party would not contest seats held by the Conservatives.The Brexit party’s Scottish MEP, Louis Stedman-Bryce, has quit as its general election candidate after Nigel Farage announced the party would not contest seats held by the Conservatives.
Stedman-Bryce was planning to stand in Glasgow North East, a Labour marginal seat won at the last election by Paul Sweeney with a very narrow majority of 242. No pro-Brexit party has yet stood in that seat, although the British National party has twice contested it, and twice lost its deposit.Stedman-Bryce was planning to stand in Glasgow North East, a Labour marginal seat won at the last election by Paul Sweeney with a very narrow majority of 242. No pro-Brexit party has yet stood in that seat, although the British National party has twice contested it, and twice lost its deposit.
One of Scotland’s few black political representatives, Stedman-Bryce won the Brexit party’s only seat in Scotland in the May European elections with nearly 15% of the vote after it capitalised on a surge in pro-Brexit sympathies, replacing Ukip which had won a seat in 2014.One of Scotland’s few black political representatives, Stedman-Bryce won the Brexit party’s only seat in Scotland in the May European elections with nearly 15% of the vote after it capitalised on a surge in pro-Brexit sympathies, replacing Ukip which had won a seat in 2014.
He tweeted that Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal would be a disaster for the UK and should be resisted:He tweeted that Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal would be a disaster for the UK and should be resisted:
Farage announced on Monday that his party was no longer going to contest 317 seats being defended by the Tories, focusing instead on Labour seats around the UK. Stedman-Bryce’s resignation as a candidate in Glasgow North East will have little impact on the result there, since that contest is a straight fight between Labour and the SNP.Farage announced on Monday that his party was no longer going to contest 317 seats being defended by the Tories, focusing instead on Labour seats around the UK. Stedman-Bryce’s resignation as a candidate in Glasgow North East will have little impact on the result there, since that contest is a straight fight between Labour and the SNP.
The Brexit party is also expected to stand candidates in SNP-defended constituencies, a move likely to lower the odds of the Tories winning in the hyper-marginal seat of Perth and North Perthshire. The Tories were 21 votes short of taking the seat off the SNP’s Pete Wishart in 2017 and hope this year to displace him.The Brexit party is also expected to stand candidates in SNP-defended constituencies, a move likely to lower the odds of the Tories winning in the hyper-marginal seat of Perth and North Perthshire. The Tories were 21 votes short of taking the seat off the SNP’s Pete Wishart in 2017 and hope this year to displace him.
The BBC has reported that the former Ukip and Brexit party MEP in Scotland, David Coburn, has called on Farage to stand down all the party’s candidates in Scotland to “give the Conservatives a good run at things”. Coburn said:The BBC has reported that the former Ukip and Brexit party MEP in Scotland, David Coburn, has called on Farage to stand down all the party’s candidates in Scotland to “give the Conservatives a good run at things”. Coburn said:
Sticking with Swinson’s efforts to win round Welsh voters, she has launched the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ campaign on the steps of the Senedd, the assembly building, in Cardiff today.Sticking with Swinson’s efforts to win round Welsh voters, she has launched the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ campaign on the steps of the Senedd, the assembly building, in Cardiff today.
The Lib Dems have a five-point plan in Wales – with stopping Brexit at the top of the agenda, but they are also focusing on issues such as the climate emergency, teacher recruitment and mental health.The Lib Dems have a five-point plan in Wales – with stopping Brexit at the top of the agenda, but they are also focusing on issues such as the climate emergency, teacher recruitment and mental health.
Swinson was also keen to highlight the number of women the party has on the team in Wales and argued that this could attract more female voters.Swinson was also keen to highlight the number of women the party has on the team in Wales and argued that this could attract more female voters.
However, the Lib Dems only had one Welsh MP in the last election: Jane Dodds, who won the byelection in Brecon and Radnorshire in the summer. As a whole, Wales voted to leave the EU.However, the Lib Dems only had one Welsh MP in the last election: Jane Dodds, who won the byelection in Brecon and Radnorshire in the summer. As a whole, Wales voted to leave the EU.
Swinson’s party has an agreement with Plaid Cymru and the Greens to put up only one remain candidate in 11 of the 40 seats. But the Lib Dems and Plaid are keenly fighting the marginal seat of Ceredigion in west Wales, where both believe they have a good chance of a win. Swinson has said:Swinson’s party has an agreement with Plaid Cymru and the Greens to put up only one remain candidate in 11 of the 40 seats. But the Lib Dems and Plaid are keenly fighting the marginal seat of Ceredigion in west Wales, where both believe they have a good chance of a win. Swinson has said:
On Brexit, she has said:On Brexit, she has said:
And, referring to the remain alliance, she has said:And, referring to the remain alliance, she has said:
The Lib Dems say their five-point plan in Wales is to...The Lib Dems say their five-point plan in Wales is to...
Stop Brexit and invest a £50bn “remain bonus” in public services and tackling inequality.Stop Brexit and invest a £50bn “remain bonus” in public services and tackling inequality.
Tackle the climate emergency by providing enough money to insulate every home by 2030 to cut emissions, prioritising all fuel-poor homes by 2025.Tackle the climate emergency by providing enough money to insulate every home by 2030 to cut emissions, prioritising all fuel-poor homes by 2025.
Give every child the best start in life by recruiting more teachers, as part of an extra £560m for schools.Give every child the best start in life by recruiting more teachers, as part of an extra £560m for schools.
Build a fair economy with opportunity for all by providing universal free childcare, and delivering a right to lifelong learning by investing in skills people need throughout their lives.Build a fair economy with opportunity for all by providing universal free childcare, and delivering a right to lifelong learning by investing in skills people need throughout their lives.
Transform mental health by providing enough money for the Welsh NHS to treat it with the same urgency as physical health.Transform mental health by providing enough money for the Welsh NHS to treat it with the same urgency as physical health.
It will be “very difficult” to conclude a tariff and quota-free trade deal by the end of 2020, Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney has said.It will be “very difficult” to conclude a tariff and quota-free trade deal by the end of 2020, Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney has said.
“It’s possible … I think the timeline will be very tight,” he told reporters in Dublin. Coveney also pointed out that some trade deals have taken up to a year to ratify, not to mention negotiate. Canada’s deal with the EU took seven years to negotiate and member states took 11 months to ratify it.“It’s possible … I think the timeline will be very tight,” he told reporters in Dublin. Coveney also pointed out that some trade deals have taken up to a year to ratify, not to mention negotiate. Canada’s deal with the EU took seven years to negotiate and member states took 11 months to ratify it.
He’s best known for standing outside parliament shouting “stop Brexit” over live broadcasts. Now, Steve Bray is now going to be a Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in the Welsh constituency, Cynon Valley.He’s best known for standing outside parliament shouting “stop Brexit” over live broadcasts. Now, Steve Bray is now going to be a Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in the Welsh constituency, Cynon Valley.
The party’s leader, Jo Swinson, has insisted Bray should not be seen as a joke candidate, adding:The party’s leader, Jo Swinson, has insisted Bray should not be seen as a joke candidate, adding:
Asked how she would respond to people who might not take his candidacy seriously, Swinson said:Asked how she would respond to people who might not take his candidacy seriously, Swinson said:
Bray has gained the nickname “Mr No Brexit” for his longrunning demonstration. In October, he told the Observer his protest began online, before he decided to move it to College Green:Bray has gained the nickname “Mr No Brexit” for his longrunning demonstration. In October, he told the Observer his protest began online, before he decided to move it to College Green:
Labour plans to complain to the broadcast regulator, Ofcom, over Sky News’ branding of the upcoming vote as the “Brexit election”. The party believes that is tied too closely to what it sees as a Conservative strategy to focus the campaigning on Brexit.Labour plans to complain to the broadcast regulator, Ofcom, over Sky News’ branding of the upcoming vote as the “Brexit election”. The party believes that is tied too closely to what it sees as a Conservative strategy to focus the campaigning on Brexit.
Officials have been making representations directly to Sky News in recent days but feel that route has now been exhausted. A Labour source has said:Officials have been making representations directly to Sky News in recent days but feel that route has now been exhausted. A Labour source has said:
The news was first reported by HuffPost UK this evening. It is worth noting, however, that the prime minister has sought to include NHS funding and other issues he’s described as the “people’s priorities” in his campaigning.The news was first reported by HuffPost UK this evening. It is worth noting, however, that the prime minister has sought to include NHS funding and other issues he’s described as the “people’s priorities” in his campaigning.
A Channel 4 election debate was scrapped because the chancellor, Sajid Javid, was “terrified” and refused to take part, according to the man who was due to face him; John McDonnell. In a video posted on Twitter, the shadow chancellor has claimed:A Channel 4 election debate was scrapped because the chancellor, Sajid Javid, was “terrified” and refused to take part, according to the man who was due to face him; John McDonnell. In a video posted on Twitter, the shadow chancellor has claimed:
Boris Johnson has claimed that the situation is “stabilising” for those affected by the flooding in northern England, as he spoke to broadcasters after chairing a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee to consider the situation. He rejected claims that the government had been complacent in its handling of the matter. But No 10 only announced the Cobra meeting after Jeremy Corbyn publicly called for one (although Downing Street says it was scheduled anyway), and Corbyn and the Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson both made personal visits today to residents affected. During his visit Corbyn said Labour would spend £5.6bn over 10 years improving flood defences
Jeremy Corbyn has unveiled what he described as one of Labour’s most transformative plans - a lifelong learning proposal that he said would give every adult an entitlement to six years of free education. This plan will delivered by Labour’s national education service, and the proposals will be based on ideas set out in a report (pdf) from the party’s lifelong learning commission. At a launch in Blackpool Corbyn said that this was one of the party’s plans he was “most excited about”. Although he announced the plan at the event, he left it to Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, to outline most of the details. Rayner said that people taking up the party’s offer (up to six years’ free study for qualifications up to level 4-6) would be able to get the same maintenance support available to students in higher education. And workers would have the right to paid time-off for study, she said. Rayner’s speech was powerful because she was able to recount how, as a teenage mum, her own life was transformed by adult education and her performance will do nothing to quell speculation that, if she is not setting up a national education service after the election (and the polls continue to imply she won’t be), she might be running for the leadership instead.
Corbyn told reporters at the event that British voters were now at risk from a Trump/Farage/Johnson alliance that would threaten the NHS, workers’ rights and safe food.
Labour has described a Tory claim that personal taxes would go up by £2,400 a head under a Jeremy Corbyn government as “fake news”. It is. The costings on which the claim is based are flawed, making it even more dubious than these election projections normally are.
Nigel Farage has branded Conservative calls for the Brexit party to stand down in Labour marginals as “almost comical”, saying his party needs to get MPs into parliament to hold Boris Johnson’s feet to the fire.
But Farage has also faced a backlash from with some of the Brexit party candidates asked to stand down, with one candidate saying he only learned the news when a passing driver asked him why he was still campaigning.
Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jeremy Corbyn have led tributes to Frank Dobson, the former Labour health secretary, who has died at the age of 79. An MP for 36 years, socialist, campaigner, loyalist, wit and raconteur, he was widely admired, and even more widely liked.
Labour’s Anna Turley, who is suing the union Unite, has told the high court that the party has moved too far to the left under Jeremy Corbyn and has refused to apologise for insulting the union’s leader, Len McCluskey.
The Labour party has faced a second cyber-attack in two days, a day after experiencing what it called a “sophisticated and large-scale” attempt to disrupt its digital systems.
Labour has responded to a backlash among voters of Indian heritage in the UK by shifting its stance on the Kashmir dispute and insisting it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan in which Labour will not interfere.
That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now.
Johnson adds that he’s concerned some people are not heeding the authorities’ advice and calls on them to evacuate when they’re told that do so is necessary.
He denies political opponents’ accusations that a disproportionate amount of money is being spent in south-east England than in the north and the Midlands, saying the “whole country is protected”.
Since a political point has been raised, Johnson says, he feels he should respond by pointing out the Tories’ public sector spending plans.
The prime minister is delivering a briefing after the Cobra meeting on the flooding that hit parts of England last week. He’s asked why he has only just convened it now – five days after the crisis started.
He does not answer that directly, instead saying he visited Derbyshire and that, in all, 850 homes have been flooded and about 3,000 people have been evacuated. He says things “perhaps are stabilising” but that waterlogged ground means we need to prepare for the possibility of more flooding this winter.
Boris Johnson adds that he is looking into where the army might be able to help and he adds that the “Environment Agency hasn’t done too bad a job” but there’s no room for “complacency”.
Jeremy Corbyn has been visiting a site of flooding in Doncaster, eight miles from where the Lib Dem leader made her visit earlier in the day. He used the visit to announce Labour’s plans for a new £5.6bn fund to level up flood defences over 10 years, funded through the party’s £250bn “green transformation fund”.
The Labour leader was shown around Custom Windows and Doors in Bentley that has become the site of a community effort to help people affected by the floods back on their feet, with piles of donations of clothes and food.
Asked whether politicians were guilty of taking advantage of the disaster in south Yorkshire, Corbyn said the policy announcement was necessary. He said:
Emma King, 36, showed Corbyn around the home she lives in with her three children and partner. Her house was flooded on Friday and she said it now smelled like “stale, rotten fish”. King’s house was last flooded in 2007. “It shouldn’t have happened again,” she said. “Defences should have been put up.”
“Oh isn’t he a lovely man,” said added, looking on at Corbyn admiringly as he gave media interviews outside her house.
Here is Neil Kinnock’s tribute to Frank Dobson.
Sajid Javid, the chancellor, returned to his father’s old shop in Bristol and described how his family had to “watch every single penny” when living there, the Press Association reports. The PA story about Javid’s visit goes on:
YouGov has released some new polling, intended to take into account the impact of the Brexit party not standing in Tory-held seats, that gives the Conservatives a 14-point lead over the Labour. As with all polling, it may not tell you precisely what would happen if there were an election tomorrow - but it’s a lot better than guessing. This is from the Times’ Matt Chorley.
Boris Johnson will shortly be recording a clip for broadcasters about this afternoon’s Cobra meeting about the flooding.
Labour has suffered a second cyber attack, the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar reports.
In a blog the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush has more information about what happened in the first one.