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/14/general-election-pay-gap-promises-from-labour-and-lib-dems-as-johnson-navigates-floods-anger-live-news

The article has changed 35 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 17 Version 18
General election 2019: Boris Johnson cancels Glastonbury event at short notice as protest gathers – live news General election 2019: Boris Johnson cancels Glastonbury event at short notice as protest gathers – live news
(32 minutes later)
Prime minister changed visit after protesters gathered, plus all the latest from the election campaign todayPrime minister changed visit after protesters gathered, plus all the latest from the election campaign today
Tory sources are dismissing the Nigel Farage claim (see 4.20pm) as rubbish and “typical Farage attention-seeking”. They may say something more specific later.
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claims Sir Edward Lister, Boris Johnson’s chief strategic adviser in No 10, has been calling Brexit party candidates offering them jobs if they stand down in target seats.
I’ve asked the Tories for a comment, and will post their reply when I get it.
UPDATE: Tory sources are dismissing the Nigel Farage claim as rubbish and “typical Farage attention-seeking”. They may say something more specific later.
On the BBC’s World at One Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that increasing demand was to a large extent responsible for A&E waiting times in England hitting a 15-year low. Over the last five years the number of people going to A&E had risen by a quarter, he said. “Parts of the system are responding extremely well,” he insisted. He went on:
Jonathan Ashworth, his Labour shadow, said Hancock’s response was “staggering”.
According to the BBC’s Norman Smith, Priti Patel, the home secretary, did eventually confirm that the Tories went to reduce immigration in her broadcast interview. (See 3.52pm.)
Boris Johnson labelled climate change protesters “crusties” after security concerns forced him to change his election campaign visit to a bakery, the Press Association reports. Extinction Rebellion activists were positioned outside Burns The Bread in Glastonbury, Somerset, prompting a decision to divert the prime minister to one of the company’s shops in Wells. At the shop in Wells Johnson commented on the change in plan, saying: “There were lots of crusties there - more crusty than your loaves.”Boris Johnson labelled climate change protesters “crusties” after security concerns forced him to change his election campaign visit to a bakery, the Press Association reports. Extinction Rebellion activists were positioned outside Burns The Bread in Glastonbury, Somerset, prompting a decision to divert the prime minister to one of the company’s shops in Wells. At the shop in Wells Johnson commented on the change in plan, saying: “There were lots of crusties there - more crusty than your loaves.”
In a press notice overnight Priti Patel, the home secretary, said the Conservatives would “reduce immigration overall”. But in an interview this afternoon she has appeared to back away from that pledge, according to the BBC’s Callum May and Norman Smith.In a press notice overnight Priti Patel, the home secretary, said the Conservatives would “reduce immigration overall”. But in an interview this afternoon she has appeared to back away from that pledge, according to the BBC’s Callum May and Norman Smith.
Scottish Labour strategists have armed Jeremy Corbyn with data on the numbers of people giving disability payments for mental illness and child poverty for each of the Westminster constituencies he has visited in Scotland.Scottish Labour strategists have armed Jeremy Corbyn with data on the numbers of people giving disability payments for mental illness and child poverty for each of the Westminster constituencies he has visited in Scotland.
In an effort to switch the agenda from the harder territory of Brexit or Scottish independence onto core topics such as poverty, party officials have mined official data to produce fact sheets for Corbyn and Labour candidates to use in campaigning. In an effort to switch the agenda from the harder territory of Brexit or Scottish independence on to core topics such as poverty, party officials have mined official data to produce fact sheets for Corbyn and Labour candidates to use in campaigning.
Corbyn’s two-day trip to Scotland, taking in key seats in Glasgow, Hamilton, Uddingston, Dundee and West Lothian, has been short on new policies but heavy in incident. He has been heckled by opponents, and tripped himself up on party policy on a Scottish independence referendum.Corbyn’s two-day trip to Scotland, taking in key seats in Glasgow, Hamilton, Uddingston, Dundee and West Lothian, has been short on new policies but heavy in incident. He has been heckled by opponents, and tripped himself up on party policy on a Scottish independence referendum.
But addressing the small crowds and audiences which gather at campaign stops, Corbyn reels off data on local poverty levels. Speaking at Newtongrange Scottish mining museum in Midlothian on Thursday, where Labour’s Danielle Rowley won a shock victory in 2017, he lambasted the Conservatives and Lib Dems for their “political choice of imposing austerity on the whole of the UK … Nine years later we see the result of it.” He said:But addressing the small crowds and audiences which gather at campaign stops, Corbyn reels off data on local poverty levels. Speaking at Newtongrange Scottish mining museum in Midlothian on Thursday, where Labour’s Danielle Rowley won a shock victory in 2017, he lambasted the Conservatives and Lib Dems for their “political choice of imposing austerity on the whole of the UK … Nine years later we see the result of it.” He said:
These are from Sky’s Lewis Goodall, who has been out on the campaign trail.These are from Sky’s Lewis Goodall, who has been out on the campaign trail.
The Lib Dems published a plan for equalities and human rights at a new event this morning attended by Sal Brinton, the party president and two Lib Dem candidates who have joined from Labour, Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna.The Lib Dems published a plan for equalities and human rights at a new event this morning attended by Sal Brinton, the party president and two Lib Dem candidates who have joined from Labour, Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna.
This is from the Jewish Chronicle’s Lee Harpin who was there.This is from the Jewish Chronicle’s Lee Harpin who was there.
Boris Johnson has an update on the flooding.Boris Johnson has an update on the flooding.
Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, has been tweeting about Labour’s stance on free movement. She confirms - as the party was saying earlier, see 9.45am - that Labour is not treating the “extend free movement” motion passed at conference in September as referring to maintaining free movement for everyone from EU countries after Brexit. It referred to “free movement rights”, she says.Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, has been tweeting about Labour’s stance on free movement. She confirms - as the party was saying earlier, see 9.45am - that Labour is not treating the “extend free movement” motion passed at conference in September as referring to maintaining free movement for everyone from EU countries after Brexit. It referred to “free movement rights”, she says.
But the Conservatives continue to clam that Labour actually go much further. Following up on the press release issued overnight (see 9.45am), Priti Patel, the home secretary, has released an open letter to Abbott saying party figures have consistently called for looser immigration rules.But the Conservatives continue to clam that Labour actually go much further. Following up on the press release issued overnight (see 9.45am), Priti Patel, the home secretary, has released an open letter to Abbott saying party figures have consistently called for looser immigration rules.
Patel quotes John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, saying in 2013: “If we’re a civilised society, we should have open borders ... It should be a basic human right.”Patel quotes John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, saying in 2013: “If we’re a civilised society, we should have open borders ... It should be a basic human right.”
But, of course, McDonnell wasn’t shadow chancellor in 2013. At that point he was just a backbencher.But, of course, McDonnell wasn’t shadow chancellor in 2013. At that point he was just a backbencher.
My colleague Paul Johnson has detected something of a pattern in Boris Johnson’s walkabouts around the country.My colleague Paul Johnson has detected something of a pattern in Boris Johnson’s walkabouts around the country.
The Brexit party leader Nigel Farage says he does not expect to vote in the general election. According to the Press Association, there will be no Brexit party candidate in the Tory-held Kent seat where he votes (presumably Sevenoaks, where he had his family home), and he does not want to vote Conservative. He told reporters: “I doubt I’ll vote. I very much doubt I’ll vote.”The Brexit party leader Nigel Farage says he does not expect to vote in the general election. According to the Press Association, there will be no Brexit party candidate in the Tory-held Kent seat where he votes (presumably Sevenoaks, where he had his family home), and he does not want to vote Conservative. He told reporters: “I doubt I’ll vote. I very much doubt I’ll vote.”
Asked whether he had ever not voted before, he replied:Asked whether he had ever not voted before, he replied:
The BBC’s Alex Forsyth has more on Boris Johnson’s Glastonbury no-show. (See 1.56pm.)The BBC’s Alex Forsyth has more on Boris Johnson’s Glastonbury no-show. (See 1.56pm.)
There were lively scenes in Glastonbury as Boris Johnson dodged a crowd of protesters at a bakery in a business park on the outskirts of the Somerset town.There were lively scenes in Glastonbury as Boris Johnson dodged a crowd of protesters at a bakery in a business park on the outskirts of the Somerset town.
Word got out that Johnson was on his way and a crowd of about 100 – including Extinction Rebellion protesters, musicians and even a bard – turned up to greet him at the Burns the Bakery unit.Word got out that Johnson was on his way and a crowd of about 100 – including Extinction Rebellion protesters, musicians and even a bard – turned up to greet him at the Burns the Bakery unit.
It got tense when the police moved the crowd away from the front of the bakery on to a grass verge close to a busy road.It got tense when the police moved the crowd away from the front of the bakery on to a grass verge close to a busy road.
Tory supporters including James Heappey, the party’s candidate in Wells, waited at the bakery for Johnson for more than an hour, but he did not show.Tory supporters including James Heappey, the party’s candidate in Wells, waited at the bakery for Johnson for more than an hour, but he did not show.
There was no explanation, leading to frustration and anger from those who had hoped to express their concerns about issues ranging from the climate emergency to the state of the NHS and pensions to the PM.There was no explanation, leading to frustration and anger from those who had hoped to express their concerns about issues ranging from the climate emergency to the state of the NHS and pensions to the PM.
Retired NHS manager Martin Campbell said: “He’s running scared. He doesn’t want to talk to ordinary people about the issues that affect us all.”Retired NHS manager Martin Campbell said: “He’s running scared. He doesn’t want to talk to ordinary people about the issues that affect us all.”
At one point a rumour went round that Johnson was in Glastonbury high street, leading to a dash from Burns the Bakery into the town but there was no sign there.At one point a rumour went round that Johnson was in Glastonbury high street, leading to a dash from Burns the Bakery into the town but there was no sign there.
A video clip later appeared on Johnson’s Facebook page of him serving a customer at a Burns the Bread shop, though not at either of the company’s two branches in Glastonbury.A video clip later appeared on Johnson’s Facebook page of him serving a customer at a Burns the Bread shop, though not at either of the company’s two branches in Glastonbury.
In an interview this morning in Scotland Jeremy Corbyn said he rejected the claim from Donald Tusk, the outgoing European council president, that Britain will become a “second-rate player” if it leaves the EU. Asked if he agreed, he replied:In an interview this morning in Scotland Jeremy Corbyn said he rejected the claim from Donald Tusk, the outgoing European council president, that Britain will become a “second-rate player” if it leaves the EU. Asked if he agreed, he replied:
HuffPost’s Paul Waugh has got hold of a briefing note from Momentum, the pro-Corbyn Labour group, advising activists how to respond to awkward questions on the doorstep.HuffPost’s Paul Waugh has got hold of a briefing note from Momentum, the pro-Corbyn Labour group, advising activists how to respond to awkward questions on the doorstep.