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General election 2019: Farage claims Brexit party candidates facing Tory pressure to stand down – live news General election 2019: Farage claims Tories using 'abuse' to get Brexit party candidates off ballot – live news
(32 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
Here is the full quote from Nigel Farage alleging that Tories have been using underhand methods to try to persuade Brexit party candidates to stand down. He did not give any specific examples, and he did not say where this was happening, or who was responsible, but it was clear that he was claiming that this pressure was coming from Conservatives.
Farage said:
The battle for Scotland’s anti-Tory vote between Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon became bitter and personal on Wednesday evening after the Labour leader accused Sturgeon of “being willing to usher in another heartless Conservative government”.
The two clashed on Twitter after Corbyn’s two-day campaigning visit to Scotland got off to a rocky start, when he had tied himself in knots over Labour’s referendum policy.
He first ruled out backing one for a full five-year term, before retracting that after being corrected by his aides to say Labour would not support one for the first few years. He simultaneously rejected Sturgeon’s calls for a “progressive alliance” to defeat the Tories, insisting it was “their choice” whether to back Labour or allow the Tories to regain power.
Sturgeon retorted that Scottish National party MPs would only support a minority Labour government if it allowed Holyrood to stage a fresh independence referendum at a time of its choosing. Sturgeon wants one next year.
Corbyn retaliated by tweeting back footage from 1979, when SNP support for a vote of no confidence helped topple James Callaghan’s Labour government, allowing Margaret Thatcher to win her first general election and heralding 18 years of Tory government.
The SNP leader hit back by accusing Corbyn of “desperate stuff”, pointing out she was in primary school in 1979.
The SNP had tabled a no-confidence motion after Callaghan’s government decided not to introduce devolution to Scotland as the 1979 devolution referendum required 40% of all Scotland’s voters to say yes. After a low turnout, that threshold was not met.
With backing too from the Liberal party, Thatcher tabled an early day motion stating the house had no confidence in Callaghan’s government which went to a vote. Along with unionist MPs from Northern Ireland, the SNP’s 11 MPs voted against Labour, which lost the motion by one vote.
Those events are engrained in Labour folklore as proof of the SNP’s dishonesty about opposing the Tories. With the polls showing Labour support as low as 12% in Scotland, they face another wipeout on 12 December and are desperately trying to mobilise disillusioned and apathetic Labour voters.
Scottish Labour’s Facebook page features film of Ian Lavery, the party chairman and a former National Union of Mineworkers president, insisting a minority Labour government would challenge the SNP to vote down its budget, including £70bn extra spending for Scotland, rather than agree a deal.
He concluded: “Let the SNP decide whether they want to accept that or not. Let them decide whether they want to stick their fingers up at the Scottish people.”
Farage says in September he offered to work with the Tories on a “leave alliance”. That could win an 80 or 100-seat majority. But the Tories were not interested, he says.
He claims this shows the Tories are putting party before country.
Here is one of the Farage quotes.
Farage says if his candidates get to Westminster they will not be “good little boys and girls”. They will fight for Brexit.Farage says if his candidates get to Westminster they will not be “good little boys and girls”. They will fight for Brexit.
He cannot understand why people think it makes sense for the UK to be shackled to 15% of the world’s economy, he says.He cannot understand why people think it makes sense for the UK to be shackled to 15% of the world’s economy, he says.
Farage says the Tories have not been grateful for his decision not to stand candidates in Tory-held seats.Farage says the Tories have not been grateful for his decision not to stand candidates in Tory-held seats.
Instead, all that the party has had from the Tories has been “wall to wall abuse”, he says.Instead, all that the party has had from the Tories has been “wall to wall abuse”, he says.
And he claims something “disgraceful” is happening that the audience do not know about. Brexit party candidates are coming under relentless pressure to stand down. They are getting phone calls, emails and abuse, he says.And he claims something “disgraceful” is happening that the audience do not know about. Brexit party candidates are coming under relentless pressure to stand down. They are getting phone calls, emails and abuse, he says.
Farage claims, again, that Boris Johnson signalled a “marked change of direction” in a video he posted on Twitter on Sunday about Brexit.Farage claims, again, that Boris Johnson signalled a “marked change of direction” in a video he posted on Twitter on Sunday about Brexit.
(Actually, he didn’t.)(Actually, he didn’t.)
Farage says he would be happy with a Canada-style trade deal, or a no-deal Brexit. Under either option, the UK would not be bound by EU laws.Farage says he would be happy with a Canada-style trade deal, or a no-deal Brexit. Under either option, the UK would not be bound by EU laws.
Farage says the Tories are today talking about reducing immigration. “Are you having a laugh?” In the last three elections they have promised this, but failed, he says.Farage says the Tories are today talking about reducing immigration. “Are you having a laugh?” In the last three elections they have promised this, but failed, he says.
Farage says democracy only works if you have losers’ consent. The losers must accept the result of the election, he says.Farage says democracy only works if you have losers’ consent. The losers must accept the result of the election, he says.
He says the Brexit party will fight Labour in every seat in this country.He says the Brexit party will fight Labour in every seat in this country.
Farage says the audience probably used to think they lived in a 21st century democracy. But all the promises made by politicians have not been delivered, he says.Farage says the audience probably used to think they lived in a 21st century democracy. But all the promises made by politicians have not been delivered, he says.
He claims Labour think people did not know what they voted for. Labour wants people to do it all again.He claims Labour think people did not know what they voted for. Labour wants people to do it all again.
Labour is treating voters with contempt, he says.Labour is treating voters with contempt, he says.
In May the highest Brexit party vote came in areas with the most Labour MPs, he says. He says Labour is now more about Hoxton than Hull.In May the highest Brexit party vote came in areas with the most Labour MPs, he says. He says Labour is now more about Hoxton than Hull.
In Labour areas there is no enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn, he says. He claims many Labour voters will stay at home. That gives the Brexit party a phenomenal opportunity, he claims.In Labour areas there is no enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn, he says. He claims many Labour voters will stay at home. That gives the Brexit party a phenomenal opportunity, he claims.
Nigel Farage is speaking at the Brexit party event.Nigel Farage is speaking at the Brexit party event.
He is in Hull, and he says this is Brexit country.He is in Hull, and he says this is Brexit country.
He says the Brexit party reset the political agenda when it was set up earlier this year. Its success in the European elections led to the removal of Theresa May as prime minister, he claims.He says the Brexit party reset the political agenda when it was set up earlier this year. Its success in the European elections led to the removal of Theresa May as prime minister, he claims.
He welcomes Michelle Dewberry to the party.He welcomes Michelle Dewberry to the party.
At the Brexit party event Michelle Dewberry is speaking now. A former winner of the TV reality show The Apprentice, Dewberry is the Brexit party’s candidate in Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle.At the Brexit party event Michelle Dewberry is speaking now. A former winner of the TV reality show The Apprentice, Dewberry is the Brexit party’s candidate in Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle.
Maybe this is the “big announcement” the party promised earlier. (See 10.15am.)Maybe this is the “big announcement” the party promised earlier. (See 10.15am.)
Dewberry stood as an independent, pro-Brexit candidate in the same constituency in 2017.Dewberry stood as an independent, pro-Brexit candidate in the same constituency in 2017.
She says in this campaign it seems as though wanting to speak up for the north has become trendy. But for years the north has been neglected by Westminster, she says.She says in this campaign it seems as though wanting to speak up for the north has become trendy. But for years the north has been neglected by Westminster, she says.
She says Brexit will allow the UK to decide how the country should be run. There should be deeper devolution, she says. She says she is tired of having the north treated “as an afterthought”. This has to stop, she says.She says Brexit will allow the UK to decide how the country should be run. There should be deeper devolution, she says. She says she is tired of having the north treated “as an afterthought”. This has to stop, she says.
She says politics is broken. There has been a lot of talk of tactical voting. That shows the system does not work. Parliament should truly reflect the desires of the people. First-past-the-post does not achieve that.She says politics is broken. There has been a lot of talk of tactical voting. That shows the system does not work. Parliament should truly reflect the desires of the people. First-past-the-post does not achieve that.
She says the Brexit party wants constitutional reform.She says the Brexit party wants constitutional reform.
She also rejects the claim that by standing in Hull West and Hessle (a seat Labour held in 2017 with a majority of 8,025) she is splitting the pro-Brexit vote. Every person can use their vote way they wish, she says.She also rejects the claim that by standing in Hull West and Hessle (a seat Labour held in 2017 with a majority of 8,025) she is splitting the pro-Brexit vote. Every person can use their vote way they wish, she says.
The Brexit party event flagged up earlier (see 10.15am) has just started. Nigel Farage, the party leader, is due to speak soon, but at the moment David Bull, a doctor and Brexit party MEP, is speaking.
One in six patients waited longer than four hours in A&E in England during October – the worst-ever performance since a target was introduced in 2004, according to official data released this morning.
In response Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said these figures showed why the NHS needed Labour’s £40bn rescue plan. He said:
In his response Matthew Hancock, the health secretary, said almost nothing about why the figures were so bad, but instead just attacked Labour. He said:
It is not true to say that Labour is planning uncontrolled and unlimited immigration. (See 9.45am.) Labour is finding it harder to explain how the NHS would absorb the possible costs of its plans for a 32-hour working week (the Times has splashed on the issue today), but, as John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, explained at a news conference yesterday, this is a 10-year aspiration, not something to be introduced immediately, and the idea is that productivity increases will make it affordable.
Here is an explanation of the Labour 32-hour working week plan.
It may feel to some of us as if the election campaign has been going on for ages, but on the Today programme this morning Deborah Mattinson, the pollster and public opinion specialist, issued a healthy corrective. Most members of the public are not yet taking any notice, she said. She told the programme:
Mattinson said it was only in the last fortnight of the campaign that non-committed voters would start to take an interest in what was going on.
Jeremy Corbyn was heckled by a supporter of another Scottish independence referendum as gave a speech this morning at the Queen’s Hotel in Dundee, PA Media reports. The 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 party
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:
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.)
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.
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:
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.