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General election: Corbyn claims Trump-Farage-Johnson pact poses threat to rights in UK – as it happened | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson chairs Cobra meeting on floods | Jeremy Corbyn and Angela Rayner speak in Blackpool as Johnson chairs Cobra meeting on floods |
We’re going to close down this live blog now. Thanks for reading and commenting. For a detailed rundown of the day’s main events, see Andrew Sparrow’s election briefing: | |
And here’s a summary of what’s happened since he put that together earlier this evening: | |
The former cabinet minister, David Gauke, announced he is to run as an independent. Gauke said it was necessary to prevent his former colleagues forming a government because of the damage their Brexit plan would likely cause. | |
A Lib Dem candidate in a marginal Labour seat stood down. Tim Walker made the unilateral decision to avoid the “nightmare” of handing the constituency back to the Conservatives. | |
If you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Rowena Mason and Denis Campbell have tonight’s splash: | |
The former justice and work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, will stand as an independent after losing the Conservative whip, he has said. | The former justice and work and pensions secretary, David Gauke, will stand as an independent after losing the Conservative whip, he has said. |
Gauke has told the Times he wants to convince Tory supporters to prevent Boris Johnson pushing through a “very hard Brexit” and said he will seek reelection as the MP for South West Hertfordshire. | Gauke has told the Times he wants to convince Tory supporters to prevent Boris Johnson pushing through a “very hard Brexit” and said he will seek reelection as the MP for South West Hertfordshire. |
The paper quotes him as saying it would be “no bad thing” if “traditional, long-standing” Conservative supporters backed the Lib Dems this time round, though he was careful to say he was best placed to stop the Tories in the constituency in which he’s standing. | The paper quotes him as saying it would be “no bad thing” if “traditional, long-standing” Conservative supporters backed the Lib Dems this time round, though he was careful to say he was best placed to stop the Tories in the constituency in which he’s standing. |
In 2017, Gauke won more than half of the votes, taking the seat with a majority of nearly 20,000 on a turnout of only slightly more than 60,000. According to various correspondents in Westminster, he has acknowledged the news at an awards ceremony in London this evening: | In 2017, Gauke won more than half of the votes, taking the seat with a majority of nearly 20,000 on a turnout of only slightly more than 60,000. According to various correspondents in Westminster, he has acknowledged the news at an awards ceremony in London this evening: |
The SNP holding the balance of power in a hung parliament after the general election would be the “best” outcome for Scotland, The SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said. | The SNP holding the balance of power in a hung parliament after the general election would be the “best” outcome for Scotland, The SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has said. |
The first minister said such a scenario would put “Scotland into a powerful, influential position” where the country’s wishes could not be ignored by Westminster politicians. | The first minister said such a scenario would put “Scotland into a powerful, influential position” where the country’s wishes could not be ignored by Westminster politicians. |
She has told a rally in Johnstone, in Renfrewshire, that “given the need to make Scotland’s voice heard ... the need to make sure Scotland’s interests are to the fore, perhaps the best way of doing that is to have the SNP and SNP MPs holding the balance of power in a situation where neither of the main parties have an overall majority”. | She has told a rally in Johnstone, in Renfrewshire, that “given the need to make Scotland’s voice heard ... the need to make sure Scotland’s interests are to the fore, perhaps the best way of doing that is to have the SNP and SNP MPs holding the balance of power in a situation where neither of the main parties have an overall majority”. |
Sturgeon added that this would put “Scotland into a powerful, influential position where we can make sure Scotland cannot be ignored”. | Sturgeon added that this would put “Scotland into a powerful, influential position where we can make sure Scotland cannot be ignored”. |
She also revealed to she had spent had spent “a fair bit of time” considering her next steps if the UK’s next prime minister refuses to grant her the power to hold a second Scottish independence referendum. | She also revealed to she had spent had spent “a fair bit of time” considering her next steps if the UK’s next prime minister refuses to grant her the power to hold a second Scottish independence referendum. |
Earlier this evening, the BBC reported that the Tories had selected as a candidate a former MP who lost his seat after being convicted of submitting fake expenses documents. Chris Davies, formerly the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, will now stand in Ynys Môn, the BBC said. | Earlier this evening, the BBC reported that the Tories had selected as a candidate a former MP who lost his seat after being convicted of submitting fake expenses documents. Chris Davies, formerly the MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, will now stand in Ynys Môn, the BBC said. |
Responding to the the news, the deputy leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Christine Humphreys, has said: | Responding to the the news, the deputy leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Christine Humphreys, has said: |
Labour have responded to the Guardian’s report on a dossier exposing more than two dozen sitting and former Conservative councillors for posting Islamophobic and racist material on social media (see 7.05pm). Naz Shah, the shadow equalities minister, has said: | Labour have responded to the Guardian’s report on a dossier exposing more than two dozen sitting and former Conservative councillors for posting Islamophobic and racist material on social media (see 7.05pm). Naz Shah, the shadow equalities minister, has said: |
When seeking the Tory leadership, Johnson promised to hold an external investigation into Islamophobia. He has not honoured that promise and a “general investigation” into all types of discrimination. | When seeking the Tory leadership, Johnson promised to hold an external investigation into Islamophobia. He has not honoured that promise and a “general investigation” into all types of discrimination. |
My colleague, Peter Walker, has this on the news that the Lib Dems plan to replace Tim Walker and fight for Canterbury (see 7.31pm): | My colleague, Peter Walker, has this on the news that the Lib Dems plan to replace Tim Walker and fight for Canterbury (see 7.31pm): |
Labour have given short shrift to the government’s announcement of greater flood relief efforts, saying they do not go far enough (see 7.28pm). Jon Trickett, the shadow minister for the cabinet office, has said: | Labour have given short shrift to the government’s announcement of greater flood relief efforts, saying they do not go far enough (see 7.28pm). Jon Trickett, the shadow minister for the cabinet office, has said: |
The Brexit party have hit back at Louis Steadman-Bryce after he quit as its general election candidate in Glasgow North East over Nigel Farage’s decision to back out of fighting the Tories in hundreds of constituencies (see 7.04pm). | The Brexit party have hit back at Louis Steadman-Bryce after he quit as its general election candidate in Glasgow North East over Nigel Farage’s decision to back out of fighting the Tories in hundreds of constituencies (see 7.04pm). |
The party’s director of campaign strategy, Jack Irvine, has said: | The party’s director of campaign strategy, Jack Irvine, has said: |
Having been lucky enough to have “bumped into” the prime minister just as he was mulling over his love for fish and chips and why, exactly, we’re having this election, the Tories have put out this campaign video: | Having been lucky enough to have “bumped into” the prime minister just as he was mulling over his love for fish and chips and why, exactly, we’re having this election, the Tories have put out this campaign video: |
And, almost immediately, the prime minister has come in for criticism for making what Labour claim is a series of false claims – including that they would hold referendums on both Brexit and Scottish independence in 2020 if Corbyn got in to No 10 next month. | And, almost immediately, the prime minister has come in for criticism for making what Labour claim is a series of false claims – including that they would hold referendums on both Brexit and Scottish independence in 2020 if Corbyn got in to No 10 next month. |
Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s co-national campaign coordinator, has said: | Andrew Gwynne, Labour’s co-national campaign coordinator, has said: |
The former chancellor, Philip Hammond, has found a job worth about £125,000 a year within a week of stepping down as an MP. | 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. | 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. |