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General election 2019: Labour says its 'extend free movement' conference motion misinterpreted – live news General election 2019: Labour says its 'extend free movement' conference motion misinterpreted – live news
(30 minutes later)
Opposition parties are using Equal Pay Day to announce equalities packages, while Johnson tries to brush off hostile reaction from flood victimsOpposition parties are using Equal Pay Day to announce equalities packages, while Johnson tries to brush off hostile reaction from flood victims
Jeremy Corbyn was heckled by a supporter of another Scottish independence referendum as gave a speech this morning at the Queens Hotel in Dundee, the Press Association reports. The PA report goes on:
Boris Johnson began campaigning in a rainy south-west by visiting a school, the Press Association reports. Pupils at West Monkton primary school, near Taunton, welcomed the prime minister who was accompanied by Rebecca Pow, the Conservative candidate seeking re-election for Taunton Deane.
In the overnight Conservative party press notice about immigration Priti Patel, the home secretary, restates her commitment to introducing an “Australian-style points system so what we can control our borders”.
What do you think David Cameron, the former Tory prime minister, thinks of that? Apart from a low-key day of canvassing in Reading West, he does not seem to have played a role in the election so far, and it would be surprising if he were to start giving interviews criticising his successor. But on this issue we know what he thinks, because he covers it in his revealing and extremely readable memoir, For the Record. Writing about the Brexit campaign, he says:
From the Brexit partyFrom the Brexit party
I don’t know what that will be about, but we’ll tune in ...I don’t know what that will be about, but we’ll tune in ...
In his Today interview Brandon Lewis, the security minister, said wealthy Russian businessmen had an “absolute right” to donate to the Conservative party if they were British citizens. Admitting that he had received donations from prominent Russians himself, he said:In his Today interview Brandon Lewis, the security minister, said wealthy Russian businessmen had an “absolute right” to donate to the Conservative party if they were British citizens. Admitting that he had received donations from prominent Russians himself, he said:
It is interesting that CCHQ put up Brandon Lewis, a Home Office minister, to give interviews this morning defending what is the Conservative party’s overnight attack line against Labour - the claim that average net immigration would rise to 840,000 a year under Jeremy Corbyn – and not his boss, Priti Patel. Patel, the home secretary, is very popular with with rightwing Tories and Brexit party supporters, but she is not one of the cabinet minister most skilled at dealing with forensic questioning.It is interesting that CCHQ put up Brandon Lewis, a Home Office minister, to give interviews this morning defending what is the Conservative party’s overnight attack line against Labour - the claim that average net immigration would rise to 840,000 a year under Jeremy Corbyn – and not his boss, Priti Patel. Patel, the home secretary, is very popular with with rightwing Tories and Brexit party supporters, but she is not one of the cabinet minister most skilled at dealing with forensic questioning.
Here is the extract from the Conservative news release explaining how the party justifies its claim. (Bold type in the original document.)Here is the extract from the Conservative news release explaining how the party justifies its claim. (Bold type in the original document.)
This claim is that it is based on a motion passed at Labour party’s conference. But there are two problems with citing it as evidence that Labour would allow annual net immigration to rise to 840,000 a year. First, the wording of the motion was very generalised (the full text is here), and it was not clear what it would mean in practice. And, second, Labour is only committed to implementing policies in its manifesto, not motions passed at conference.This claim is that it is based on a motion passed at Labour party’s conference. But there are two problems with citing it as evidence that Labour would allow annual net immigration to rise to 840,000 a year. First, the wording of the motion was very generalised (the full text is here), and it was not clear what it would mean in practice. And, second, Labour is only committed to implementing policies in its manifesto, not motions passed at conference.
Today Labour is arguing that, when the conference motion demanded a manifesto pledge to “maintain and extend free movement rights”, this was not a reference to allowing non-EU nationals to come and live in the UK freely. “There was no mention [in the motion] of geographically extending freedom of movement to other countries,” a party source said. Instead this was a reference to extending the rights that already apply to British citizens and others with the right to live in the UK, for example by making it easier for spouses to join them, the source argued.Today Labour is arguing that, when the conference motion demanded a manifesto pledge to “maintain and extend free movement rights”, this was not a reference to allowing non-EU nationals to come and live in the UK freely. “There was no mention [in the motion] of geographically extending freedom of movement to other countries,” a party source said. Instead this was a reference to extending the rights that already apply to British citizens and others with the right to live in the UK, for example by making it easier for spouses to join them, the source argued.
This may be a fair way to interpret the motion passed by Labour conference, but this is not a point that the party made particularly forcefully at the time.This may be a fair way to interpret the motion passed by Labour conference, but this is not a point that the party made particularly forcefully at the time.
Today Labour has dismissed the Tory claims as “fake news”. In a statement Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said:Today Labour has dismissed the Tory claims as “fake news”. In a statement Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said:
What is true, though, is that Labour has yet to say what its immigration policy would be. Jeremy Corbyn and others have said things that imply that they would like to keep free movement for EU nationals after Brexit, but during the campaign Corbyn has tended to sidestep questions about what Labour’s exact policy will be, saying details will be given in the manifesto. But Labour does want to negotiate a soft version of Brexit with the EU, keeping the UK aligned to the single market, and Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, has admitted that negotiating this would involve a negotiation about whether or not the UK would maintain EU free movement rules.What is true, though, is that Labour has yet to say what its immigration policy would be. Jeremy Corbyn and others have said things that imply that they would like to keep free movement for EU nationals after Brexit, but during the campaign Corbyn has tended to sidestep questions about what Labour’s exact policy will be, saying details will be given in the manifesto. But Labour does want to negotiate a soft version of Brexit with the EU, keeping the UK aligned to the single market, and Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, has admitted that negotiating this would involve a negotiation about whether or not the UK would maintain EU free movement rules.
I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver.I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver.
Brandon Lewis, the Home Office minister, is now being interviewed on Today. He was talking about flooding on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier. (See 8.23am.)Brandon Lewis, the Home Office minister, is now being interviewed on Today. He was talking about flooding on ITV’s Good Morning Britain earlier. (See 8.23am.)
He accepts that the Tories have let people down in the past by failing to hit their target of getting net migration below 100,000.He accepts that the Tories have let people down in the past by failing to hit their target of getting net migration below 100,000.
But he claims that was partly due to the Tories being in coalition with the Lib Dems from 2010 to 2015.But he claims that was partly due to the Tories being in coalition with the Lib Dems from 2010 to 2015.
Q: Which immigrants would you allow? And don’t just say the brightest and the best.Q: Which immigrants would you allow? And don’t just say the brightest and the best.
Lewis says the migration advisory committee would advise the government on this issue. The government has to look at this methodically, he says. It would take the MAC’s advice.Lewis says the migration advisory committee would advise the government on this issue. The government has to look at this methodically, he says. It would take the MAC’s advice.
Q: You claim there would be surge of migration under Labour. But this claim is based on a motion passed by the Labour conference that won’t be in the manifesto.Q: You claim there would be surge of migration under Labour. But this claim is based on a motion passed by the Labour conference that won’t be in the manifesto.
Lewis says the Tory claim is also based on what Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell has said.Lewis says the Tory claim is also based on what Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell has said.
He says the Tory claim that Labour could end up allowing more than 800,000 migrants into the UK per year is an understatement.He says the Tory claim that Labour could end up allowing more than 800,000 migrants into the UK per year is an understatement.
The shadow employment secretary, Laura Pidcock, has dismissed immigration targets as “arbitrary”.The shadow employment secretary, Laura Pidcock, has dismissed immigration targets as “arbitrary”.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Pidcock said:Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Pidcock said:
Questioned on whether she would be happy for immigration to rise under a Labour government, Pidcock added: “I think these targets are arbitrary.”Questioned on whether she would be happy for immigration to rise under a Labour government, Pidcock added: “I think these targets are arbitrary.”
When pushed on comments in the Guardian by the leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, more free movement, Pidcock said:When pushed on comments in the Guardian by the leader of the Unite union, Len McCluskey, more free movement, Pidcock said:
Pidcock added: “I think it’s a false flag, this issue of immigration.”Pidcock added: “I think it’s a false flag, this issue of immigration.”
She then accused the media of “mischaracterising” McCluskey. Pidcock said:She then accused the media of “mischaracterising” McCluskey. Pidcock said:
Pushed again on whether she is in favour of extended free movement rights, as was voted for at the Labour party’s conference, Pidcock added:Pushed again on whether she is in favour of extended free movement rights, as was voted for at the Labour party’s conference, Pidcock added:
Pidcock also hit back at the CBI’s claims that Labour’s pledge to sanction businesses who cannot prove that they are working to remove their gender pay gap is “adding bureaucracy”. She said:Pidcock also hit back at the CBI’s claims that Labour’s pledge to sanction businesses who cannot prove that they are working to remove their gender pay gap is “adding bureaucracy”. She said:
The security minister, Brandon Lewis, has defended the prime minister’s refusal to apologise over the government response to the floods in Yorkshire and the east Midlands.The security minister, Brandon Lewis, has defended the prime minister’s refusal to apologise over the government response to the floods in Yorkshire and the east Midlands.
Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Lewis, a former floods minister, was played clips of Boris Johnson being heckled about his response to the flood and why he had refused to say sorry.Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Lewis, a former floods minister, was played clips of Boris Johnson being heckled about his response to the flood and why he had refused to say sorry.
Lewis said: “Obviously, it’s not the PM’s fault that there’s been a flood.”Lewis said: “Obviously, it’s not the PM’s fault that there’s been a flood.”
He also suggested Johnson had held back from visiting flood-hit areas because he didn’t want to hamper the clean-up operation. He said:He also suggested Johnson had held back from visiting flood-hit areas because he didn’t want to hamper the clean-up operation. He said:
Lewis was challenged on why Doncaster, one of the areas worst hit by the floods, has had its funding cut by 50% since 2010. He defended the government austerity policy. He said:Lewis was challenged on why Doncaster, one of the areas worst hit by the floods, has had its funding cut by 50% since 2010. He defended the government austerity policy. He said:
Asked if he was claiming that 50% of Doncaster budget was being wasted, he said:Asked if he was claiming that 50% of Doncaster budget was being wasted, he said:
The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has rejected pressure to withdraw more of his candidates in Labour or Liberal Democrat seats.The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has rejected pressure to withdraw more of his candidates in Labour or Liberal Democrat seats.
Speaking to Today, on the day when nominations for candidates close, he said:Speaking to Today, on the day when nominations for candidates close, he said:
He also criticised the Conservatives for refusing to do a deal with the Brexit party in Labour seats. “I’ve realised that the Conservatives want a Conservative majority in parliament, not a Brexit majority in parliament.”He also criticised the Conservatives for refusing to do a deal with the Brexit party in Labour seats. “I’ve realised that the Conservatives want a Conservative majority in parliament, not a Brexit majority in parliament.”
He added:He added:
He also criticised his old ally Arron Banks, who urged him to withdraw more candidates. Farage said Banks was suffering from “Brexhaustion”.He also criticised his old ally Arron Banks, who urged him to withdraw more candidates. Farage said Banks was suffering from “Brexhaustion”.
And he claimed the election would be decided by tactical voting.And he claimed the election would be decided by tactical voting.
Farage said:Farage said:
Luciana Berger, the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for health and social care, has defended the party’s insistence on putting up a candidate in Canterbury despite the previous candidate decision to stand aside in favour of Labour.Luciana Berger, the Liberal Democrat spokeswoman for health and social care, has defended the party’s insistence on putting up a candidate in Canterbury despite the previous candidate decision to stand aside in favour of Labour.
Berger, who defected from Labour earlier this year, conceded that the Labour candidate’s, Rosie Duffield, is “a very lovely person”. But speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she added:Berger, who defected from Labour earlier this year, conceded that the Labour candidate’s, Rosie Duffield, is “a very lovely person”. But speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she added:
Berger pointed out that Labour had refused to take part in cross-party talks on a remain pact. She said:Berger pointed out that Labour had refused to take part in cross-party talks on a remain pact. She said:
The papersThe papers
Matthew Weaver brings us one of the more disturbing stories of the day.Matthew Weaver brings us one of the more disturbing stories of the day.
Boris Johnson dropped a reference to “onanism” from an election campaign speech after previews of the text drew criticism from the opposition.Boris Johnson dropped a reference to “onanism” from an election campaign speech after previews of the text drew criticism from the opposition.
On Tuesday night Johnson’s advisers released extracts from the speech the prime minister was due to give at an electric taxi factory in the West Midlands on Wednesday. In the texts given to journalists, Johnson likened Labour’s approach to spending, Brexit and Scottish independence to “self-obsession and onanism”.On Tuesday night Johnson’s advisers released extracts from the speech the prime minister was due to give at an electric taxi factory in the West Midlands on Wednesday. In the texts given to journalists, Johnson likened Labour’s approach to spending, Brexit and Scottish independence to “self-obsession and onanism”.
But when Johnson delivered the speech the word onanism was left out. Asked about the omission by the Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, Johnson tried to laugh it off.But when Johnson delivered the speech the word onanism was left out. Asked about the omission by the Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, Johnson tried to laugh it off.
He said: “All I can say is that a stray early draft seems to have somehow found its way into your otherwise peerless copy, by a process that I don’t pretend to understand, but I will make inquiries.”He said: “All I can say is that a stray early draft seems to have somehow found its way into your otherwise peerless copy, by a process that I don’t pretend to understand, but I will make inquiries.”
Reports of the pre-briefed version of the speech led to a spike in Google searches for the arcane term for masturbation.Reports of the pre-briefed version of the speech led to a spike in Google searches for the arcane term for masturbation.
The home secretary, Priti Patel, has promised that a Conservative government would reduce immigration overall, in an attack on Labour’s immigration policy.The home secretary, Priti Patel, has promised that a Conservative government would reduce immigration overall, in an attack on Labour’s immigration policy.
Patel criticised Labour’s immigration policy, which has not been announced yet, saying:Patel criticised Labour’s immigration policy, which has not been announced yet, saying:
Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said:Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said:
Boris Johnson has hit back at claims he is “in cahoots” with Nigel Farage. In a speech he said that in fact “the Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance would consign this country to months, if not years, of dither, delay, discord, division”. Corbyn said Labour was “not doing pacts, not doing deals” if it failed to win a majority in the election, rejecting suggestions fuelled by Sturgeon that he had privately agreed to support a second independence referendum in exchange for Scottish National party support. Instead, he challenged Sturgeon to support a minority Labour government.Boris Johnson has hit back at claims he is “in cahoots” with Nigel Farage. In a speech he said that in fact “the Sturgeon-Corbyn alliance would consign this country to months, if not years, of dither, delay, discord, division”. Corbyn said Labour was “not doing pacts, not doing deals” if it failed to win a majority in the election, rejecting suggestions fuelled by Sturgeon that he had privately agreed to support a second independence referendum in exchange for Scottish National party support. Instead, he challenged Sturgeon to support a minority Labour government.
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the day’s politics news.Good morning and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the day’s politics news.
It is Equal Pay Day – when the average woman effectively stops earning for the year, taking into account a mean gender pay gap of 13.1%. The Lib Dems and Labour will use it to announce measures to tackle the gender pay gap. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to oblige bigger companies to publish data on employment levels by gender, as well as for BAME and LGBT staff, and would push for a law to end the so-called pink tax, whereby companies charge higher prices for fundamentally identical products such as razors or deodorants simply because they are marketed at women. Labour has pledged to eradicate the gender pay gap by 2030 through measures such as fines for organisations that fail to report on the subject, and by extending the reporting requirement from firms with 250 or more employees to those with more than 50.It is Equal Pay Day – when the average woman effectively stops earning for the year, taking into account a mean gender pay gap of 13.1%. The Lib Dems and Labour will use it to announce measures to tackle the gender pay gap. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to oblige bigger companies to publish data on employment levels by gender, as well as for BAME and LGBT staff, and would push for a law to end the so-called pink tax, whereby companies charge higher prices for fundamentally identical products such as razors or deodorants simply because they are marketed at women. Labour has pledged to eradicate the gender pay gap by 2030 through measures such as fines for organisations that fail to report on the subject, and by extending the reporting requirement from firms with 250 or more employees to those with more than 50.
Boris Johnson has come under fire for his government’s slow response to the flooding across parts of England’s north and has declined to apologise, saying a huge amount of work was going on to help and compensate victims. The PM spent time in deluged regions of Yorkshire, the east Midlands and Lincolnshire on Wednesday.Boris Johnson has come under fire for his government’s slow response to the flooding across parts of England’s north and has declined to apologise, saying a huge amount of work was going on to help and compensate victims. The PM spent time in deluged regions of Yorkshire, the east Midlands and Lincolnshire on Wednesday.
Corbyn has criticised the government, saying its spending on flood defences until 2021 “heavily favours London and the south-east of England”. Richard Partington has fact-checked this claim, and while it is technically true, those figures are seriously influenced by long-term funding for Thames estuary projects running up to 2100. Over the spending period to 2021, Labour is wrong, with more spent per head on flood defences in Yorkshire and the Humber.Corbyn has criticised the government, saying its spending on flood defences until 2021 “heavily favours London and the south-east of England”. Richard Partington has fact-checked this claim, and while it is technically true, those figures are seriously influenced by long-term funding for Thames estuary projects running up to 2100. Over the spending period to 2021, Labour is wrong, with more spent per head on flood defences in Yorkshire and the Humber.
I’ll be running the blog for the first hour or so, before handing over to my colleagues. You can get in touch with me on Twitter.I’ll be running the blog for the first hour or so, before handing over to my colleagues. You can get in touch with me on Twitter.
Thanks for reading.Thanks for reading.