This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/nov/13/general-election-johnson-re-launches-tory-campaign-as-labour-unveils-nhs-plan-live-news

The article has changed 31 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 27 Version 28
General election: Boris Johnson urges voters to reject 'Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance' – live news General election: Boris Johnson urges voters to reject 'Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance' – live news
(about 1 hour later)
The prime minister delivers the first big set-piece speech of the campaign as Labour pledges £26bn extra per year for NHSThe prime minister delivers the first big set-piece speech of the campaign as Labour pledges £26bn extra per year for NHS
The former Labour MP, Kate Hoey, has admitted she will not be voting for the party in next month’s general election. She has told LBC radio this evening:
Hoey confirmed she meant a DUP candidate, saying:
Hoey, whose three decades as a Labour MP ended at the dissolution of parliament a week ago, said the London constituency in which she lives – Bethnal Green and Bow – would remain strongly Labour, meaning her vote would be wasted there.
She said she would advise those who “believe in Brexit”, which she identified as the main focus of the election, to “look at who’s standing in their constituency, what their views are on the EU, how they voted, have they delayed”.
Asked if that meant she would have voted for the Brexit party or the Conservative party, had she chosen to vote in Great Britain, she said:
In May, Tony Blair’s former director of communications, Alastair Campbell, was automatically expelled from the party for saying he had voted for the Lib Dems in that month’s European elections.
Labour has not yet said whether or not it will take similar action against Hoey.
Earlier, we reported the former Conservative cabinet minister David Gauke’s claim that the Tories are not “being straight with the British public” when they say they can wrap up a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020 (see 7.41pm).Earlier, we reported the former Conservative cabinet minister David Gauke’s claim that the Tories are not “being straight with the British public” when they say they can wrap up a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020 (see 7.41pm).
This evening, the business secretary, Andrea Leadsom, insists they can do just that. She has told ITV’s Peston programme:This evening, the business secretary, Andrea Leadsom, insists they can do just that. She has told ITV’s Peston programme:
My colleague, Lisa O’Carroll, has produced this fact-check on whether or not the UK really can get a deal done in that timeframe. As she points out, it took Canada and the EU seven years to come to a deal and experts say that, on average, trade deals take four years to negotiate:My colleague, Lisa O’Carroll, has produced this fact-check on whether or not the UK really can get a deal done in that timeframe. As she points out, it took Canada and the EU seven years to come to a deal and experts say that, on average, trade deals take four years to negotiate:
The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long Bailey, has commented on Boris Johnson’s speech earlier this evening. She has said:The shadow business secretary, Rebecca Long Bailey, has commented on Boris Johnson’s speech earlier this evening. She has said:
A lot of longstanding traditional Conservative voters are “very uncomfortable” with the party’s approach to Brexit, David Gauke has claimed.A lot of longstanding traditional Conservative voters are “very uncomfortable” with the party’s approach to Brexit, David Gauke has claimed.
In particular, he cited a “failure to be straight with the British public that if we are going to get a free trade agreement with the European Union it’s going to take more than 11 months”. The former Tory, who is standing as an independent, has told Channel 4 News:In particular, he cited a “failure to be straight with the British public that if we are going to get a free trade agreement with the European Union it’s going to take more than 11 months”. The former Tory, who is standing as an independent, has told Channel 4 News:
He added:He added:
Gauke said the party has “changed very rapidly” in the last few months, adding that it should accommodate a range of views.Gauke said the party has “changed very rapidly” in the last few months, adding that it should accommodate a range of views.
Some of the reasons offered by the government for failing to release the report on Russian meddling in the democratic process before the election are “utterly bogus”, according to the former chair of the committee that produced it.Some of the reasons offered by the government for failing to release the report on Russian meddling in the democratic process before the election are “utterly bogus”, according to the former chair of the committee that produced it.
Dominic Grieve, who sat at the head of the cross-party intelligence and security committee until the dissolution of parliament, has told LBC Radio this evening:Dominic Grieve, who sat at the head of the cross-party intelligence and security committee until the dissolution of parliament, has told LBC Radio this evening:
Asked if he felt Boris Johnson had “something to hide”, he said:Asked if he felt Boris Johnson had “something to hide”, he said:
Grieve added that he was concerned the report might never come out at all.Grieve added that he was concerned the report might never come out at all.
The Brexit party will refund its £100 fee to any general election candidate Nigel Farage has now ordered to stand down who wants it, a spokesman confirms.The Brexit party will refund its £100 fee to any general election candidate Nigel Farage has now ordered to stand down who wants it, a spokesman confirms.
Farage said the Brexit party would no longer stand in any of the 317 constituencies won by the Tories in 2017 as he backed out of a fight with the party on Monday.Farage said the Brexit party would no longer stand in any of the 317 constituencies won by the Tories in 2017 as he backed out of a fight with the party on Monday.
Boris Johnson has refused to harden up his Brexit stance in a way that might have increased the chance of Nigel Farage giving the Conservative party a firmer electoral endorsement. Farage has already said that his Brexit party will not stand candidates in Tory-held seat and, ahead of the deadline tomorrow for nominations, he has been under pressure to withdraw his candidates in Labour-held marginals to help the Conservatives’ chances. There was speculation that an explicit commitment by Boris Johnson to have a no-deal Brexit by the end of 2020 if the UK-EU trade deal could not be agreed by then might have been enough to win Farage around. Farage hinted as much himself this afternoon. Johnson has ruled out extending the Brexit transition beyond the end of 2020. But in interviews this morning his ally Michael Gove repeatedly insisted that there was no prospect of a no-deal Brexit at the end of next year. And, in the Q&A after his speech, Johnson also declined various opportunities to talk up his willingness to countenance a no-deal Brexit, in language that might appeal to Farage. Instead he just urged the Brexit party to back the Tories to get Brexit done. He said:Boris Johnson has refused to harden up his Brexit stance in a way that might have increased the chance of Nigel Farage giving the Conservative party a firmer electoral endorsement. Farage has already said that his Brexit party will not stand candidates in Tory-held seat and, ahead of the deadline tomorrow for nominations, he has been under pressure to withdraw his candidates in Labour-held marginals to help the Conservatives’ chances. There was speculation that an explicit commitment by Boris Johnson to have a no-deal Brexit by the end of 2020 if the UK-EU trade deal could not be agreed by then might have been enough to win Farage around. Farage hinted as much himself this afternoon. Johnson has ruled out extending the Brexit transition beyond the end of 2020. But in interviews this morning his ally Michael Gove repeatedly insisted that there was no prospect of a no-deal Brexit at the end of next year. And, in the Q&A after his speech, Johnson also declined various opportunities to talk up his willingness to countenance a no-deal Brexit, in language that might appeal to Farage. Instead he just urged the Brexit party to back the Tories to get Brexit done. He said:
Having earlier said that it might be possible for him to vote Tory in the election, Farage posted a tweet, at around the time Johnson’s Q&A was coming to an end, saying that this was now impossible. This means the Tories are now set to face a Brexit party challenge in many or all of their target seats.Having earlier said that it might be possible for him to vote Tory in the election, Farage posted a tweet, at around the time Johnson’s Q&A was coming to an end, saying that this was now impossible. This means the Tories are now set to face a Brexit party challenge in many or all of their target seats.
Johnson’s unwillingness to harden up his Brexit stance probably tells little about the Brexit policy he would adopt if he won the election. It is more likely that he is worried that any further pivot towards Faragism would cost him more votes from remain-inclined Tories.Johnson’s unwillingness to harden up his Brexit stance probably tells little about the Brexit policy he would adopt if he won the election. It is more likely that he is worried that any further pivot towards Faragism would cost him more votes from remain-inclined Tories.
Johnson has recast his opponents in the election as the “Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance”. Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn argued that the Brexit party decision to stand down in some seats meant Labour was fighting what amounted to a Trump/Farage/Johnson alliance. Today Johnson hit back by arguing that he too was up against an alliance. In his speech he argued:Johnson has recast his opponents in the election as the “Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance”. Yesterday Jeremy Corbyn argued that the Brexit party decision to stand down in some seats meant Labour was fighting what amounted to a Trump/Farage/Johnson alliance. Today Johnson hit back by arguing that he too was up against an alliance. In his speech he argued:
This is a rehash of an argument that David Cameron used in 2015, when he argued that an Ed Miliband government would be dependent on SNP support. The argument reflected an assumption that Labour could not win an outright majority, but it also appealed to latent anti-Scottish sentiment amongst English voters uncomfortable at the idea of Scotland having an undue influence on UK policy. Johnson also repeated his long-standing claim that the “Sturgeon-Corbyn” alliance would hold two referendums this year, even though Labour is saying it would not agree to a second Scottish independence one until after the Scottish parliament elections in 2021. But as he delivered the speech, Johnson did not deliver the line about how more referendums would amount to “more political self-obsession and onanism”. He joked that this was because the press got hold of a “stray early draft”, but he knows full well the comment was in a text press-released by CCHQ.This is a rehash of an argument that David Cameron used in 2015, when he argued that an Ed Miliband government would be dependent on SNP support. The argument reflected an assumption that Labour could not win an outright majority, but it also appealed to latent anti-Scottish sentiment amongst English voters uncomfortable at the idea of Scotland having an undue influence on UK policy. Johnson also repeated his long-standing claim that the “Sturgeon-Corbyn” alliance would hold two referendums this year, even though Labour is saying it would not agree to a second Scottish independence one until after the Scottish parliament elections in 2021. But as he delivered the speech, Johnson did not deliver the line about how more referendums would amount to “more political self-obsession and onanism”. He joked that this was because the press got hold of a “stray early draft”, but he knows full well the comment was in a text press-released by CCHQ.
Johnson claimed that Corbyn was “naive” when he told an interviewer earlier that it would have been better if the Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had been arrested by US special forces, not killed by them. In response to a question that gave a partial account of what Corbyn said, Johnson replied:Johnson claimed that Corbyn was “naive” when he told an interviewer earlier that it would have been better if the Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had been arrested by US special forces, not killed by them. In response to a question that gave a partial account of what Corbyn said, Johnson replied:
Corbyn did provoke outrage and incredulity in 2015 when he said it was a “tragedy” that Osama bin Laden had been killed by the US, not put on trial. But today, when asked if he also considered Baghdadi’s death a tragedy, Corbyn avoided that phrase and gave a measured response, arguing that if it had been possible to put Baghdadi on trial, that would have been preferable.Corbyn did provoke outrage and incredulity in 2015 when he said it was a “tragedy” that Osama bin Laden had been killed by the US, not put on trial. But today, when asked if he also considered Baghdadi’s death a tragedy, Corbyn avoided that phrase and gave a measured response, arguing that if it had been possible to put Baghdadi on trial, that would have been preferable.
Johnson said in his speech that, after Brexit, he wanted public procurement projects to prioritise hiring British apprentices. He said:Johnson said in his speech that, after Brexit, he wanted public procurement projects to prioritise hiring British apprentices. He said:
The former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke has urged people to vote for Liberal Democrat and independent candidates, saying a majority Tory government would lead to a “very hard Brexit” that would be “disastrous” for the UK.The former Conservative justice secretary David Gauke has urged people to vote for Liberal Democrat and independent candidates, saying a majority Tory government would lead to a “very hard Brexit” that would be “disastrous” for the UK.
Jeremy Corbyn’s key union supporter, Unite’s Len McCluskey, has told the Labour leader that victory in the general election means winning over the party’s traditional working-class supporters with a tough line on free movement of workers.Jeremy Corbyn’s key union supporter, Unite’s Len McCluskey, has told the Labour leader that victory in the general election means winning over the party’s traditional working-class supporters with a tough line on free movement of workers.
Labour’s NHS “rescue package” will be funded by higher income tax rates, at 45p for those earning more than £80,000 a year and 50p for those bringing in over £150,000, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has said.Labour’s NHS “rescue package” will be funded by higher income tax rates, at 45p for those earning more than £80,000 a year and 50p for those bringing in over £150,000, John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has said.
Jo Swinson has sought to quell a mini-rebellion in the Liberal Democrats about whether to stand in highly marginal seats held by Labour over the Conservatives, insisting the party must give voters a genuine remain option in the election.Jo Swinson has sought to quell a mini-rebellion in the Liberal Democrats about whether to stand in highly marginal seats held by Labour over the Conservatives, insisting the party must give voters a genuine remain option in the election.
That’s all from me for today.That’s all from me for today.
My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now for the rest of the evening.My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now for the rest of the evening.
Labour are casting this afternoon’s news that Royal Mail has won an injunction preventing the first national postal strike in a decade as evidence the system favours employers over workers. Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, has said:Labour are casting this afternoon’s news that Royal Mail has won an injunction preventing the first national postal strike in a decade as evidence the system favours employers over workers. Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, has said:
Labour’s plans to transition from oil and gas will be the “polar opposite” of the Conservative move away from coal in the 1980s, the party’s Scottish leader has said. Speaking at a miners’ welfare in Uddingston, in South Lanarkshire, Richard Leonard said the “green industrial revolution” being touted by Labour will be “by consent”.Labour’s plans to transition from oil and gas will be the “polar opposite” of the Conservative move away from coal in the 1980s, the party’s Scottish leader has said. Speaking at a miners’ welfare in Uddingston, in South Lanarkshire, Richard Leonard said the “green industrial revolution” being touted by Labour will be “by consent”.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he does not think his party’s environmental policy would spell the end for fossil fuels. He added that he was aware of the number of jobs dependent on the fossil fuel industry.The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he does not think his party’s environmental policy would spell the end for fossil fuels. He added that he was aware of the number of jobs dependent on the fossil fuel industry.
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now saying that he could not vote Conservative on the basis of what they have done this week. Earlier he suggested he might. (See 5.14pm.)Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now saying that he could not vote Conservative on the basis of what they have done this week. Earlier he suggested he might. (See 5.14pm.)
Q: Corbyn has ruled out a second referendum next year. Aren’t you misleading the public by saying otherwise? And is not your deal with the Brexit party just as shady as any Labour/SNP cooperation?Q: Corbyn has ruled out a second referendum next year. Aren’t you misleading the public by saying otherwise? And is not your deal with the Brexit party just as shady as any Labour/SNP cooperation?
Johnson says the Tories do not do deals.Johnson says the Tories do not do deals.
On what he calls “the Sturgeon/Corbyn alliance”, he says Nicola Sturgeon is Jeremy Corbyn’s “path to power” and his “yoke-mate of destiny”. She wants a referendum next year. So it is hard to see how Corbyn could turn her down.On what he calls “the Sturgeon/Corbyn alliance”, he says Nicola Sturgeon is Jeremy Corbyn’s “path to power” and his “yoke-mate of destiny”. She wants a referendum next year. So it is hard to see how Corbyn could turn her down.
He says this country has had enough of referendums like this. He wants to get on and get Brexit done, he says.He says this country has had enough of referendums like this. He wants to get on and get Brexit done, he says.
He says the potential of this country is perfectly represented by the electric vehicles being made at this factory. He is going to turbocharge – if you can turbocharge an electric vehicle – the opportunities for this country.He says the potential of this country is perfectly represented by the electric vehicles being made at this factory. He is going to turbocharge – if you can turbocharge an electric vehicle – the opportunities for this country.
And that’s it. The Q&A is over.And that’s it. The Q&A is over.
I will post a summary soon.I will post a summary soon.