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/15/general-election-corbyn-talks-free-broadband-as-johnson-launches-campaign-bus-live-news
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| General election: Boris Johnson dismisses Labour's broadband plan as 'crazed communist scheme' – live news | General election: Boris Johnson dismisses Labour's broadband plan as 'crazed communist scheme' – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader announces free internet plan in Lancaster, while Boris Johnson launches battle bus in Oldham | Labour leader announces free internet plan in Lancaster, while Boris Johnson launches battle bus in Oldham |
| During an election campaign all leaders need a stump speech - a standard five-minute speech they can repeat over and over again, setting out why they should be elected. Boris Johnson has just delivered the latest version of his at the unveiling of the Conservative party’s election battlebus. | |
| The Conservatives announced almost no new policy in the campaign so far (that may change when the manifesto eventually comes out) and there was little that was positive in the Johnson speech. Instead, it was mostly an attack on Labour, and Jeremy Corbyn in particular. Much of what Johnson was saying was not new. But the speech did include some criticism that was stronger than anything we’ve heard from Johnson in recent days (and probably less honest). | |
| On the Labour plan for free broadband, Johnson went beyond describing it as “crackpot” (the line he used on the BBC this morning - see 9.39am) and instead described it as a “crazed communist scheme” (see 12.45pm). Johnson’s language is reminiscent of the Tories describing Ed Miliband’s plan for a cap on energy bills as “Marxist” - before adopting it two years later as party policy. | |
| Johnson also claimed that, overall, Labour’s plans were “terrifying”. He said: | |
| Johnson made various claims about Corbyn that have already regularly been aired by the Tories in the campaign: that Labour would hold two referendums next year (highly questionable - Corbyn says he would not allow a Scottish independence referendum in 2020, although Johnson said “that is the price that Nicola Sturgeon will demand for putting Jeremy Corbyn in power); that Labour would spend an extra £1.2tr over five years, costing taxpayers an extra £2,400 per year (implausible, because it is based on assumptions about Labour spending that are partly flawed or unfounded); and that Corbyn sided with Russia at the time of the novichok poisoning attack (arguable - Corbyn was initially sceptical of the UK government’s assessment that Russia was to blame, but Labour would contest that he “sided with” Russia.) | |
| However, Johnson also added two other allegations that have barely featured in this campaign; that Corbyn wants to get rid of the army, and that he does not approve of home ownership. Johnson said: | |
| The claim that Corbyn wants to get rid of the armed forces is based on a line he said in a speech in 2012: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every politician around the world instead of taking pride in the size of their armed forces did what Costa Rica have done and abolished their army, and took pride in the fact they don’t have an army.” You can argue that this shows that Corbyn wants the army to be disbanded - but only if you are not willing to accept that there is a difference between musing about an ideal world, and advocating actual policy. | |
| As for the line about Corbyn and home ownership, I have no idea where that comes from (unless Johnson was talking about second home ownership, where Labour policy is unsympathetic). I have asked the Conservative party if they can supply evidence for this, and will let you know if I get a reply. | |
| The Rev Richard Cameron, who heckled Jeremy Corbyn on a visit to Glasgow on Wednesday and accused him of being a “terrorist sympathiser” has been suspended from his work as a minister while the Church of Scotland carries out an inquiry. | The Rev Richard Cameron, who heckled Jeremy Corbyn on a visit to Glasgow on Wednesday and accused him of being a “terrorist sympathiser” has been suspended from his work as a minister while the Church of Scotland carries out an inquiry. |
| During the incident, the Scotstoun parish church minister told Corbyn: “I thought you’d be wearing your Islamic Jihad scarf.” It later emerged that he had posted a series of Islamophobic and homophobic tweets, and that the Humanist Society Scotland had complained about Cameron’s behaviour on social media nine months ago. | During the incident, the Scotstoun parish church minister told Corbyn: “I thought you’d be wearing your Islamic Jihad scarf.” It later emerged that he had posted a series of Islamophobic and homophobic tweets, and that the Humanist Society Scotland had complained about Cameron’s behaviour on social media nine months ago. |
| A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: | A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: |
| The Boris Johnson event was another of those where the close-up photographs make the room look packed, but where the wide-screen shots show that he was speaking to a relatively small audience. This is from the Manchester Evening News’ Jennifer Williams. | The Boris Johnson event was another of those where the close-up photographs make the room look packed, but where the wide-screen shots show that he was speaking to a relatively small audience. This is from the Manchester Evening News’ Jennifer Williams. |
| Here is some video from the Boris Johnson bus launch. | Here is some video from the Boris Johnson bus launch. |
| Johnson has now finished. | Johnson has now finished. |
| It was only a very short stump speech, but it did mark an escalation in campaign rhetoric. Some of what he was saying about Labour was even more extreme, and questionable, than what he has said in the past. I will post the quotes shortly. | It was only a very short stump speech, but it did mark an escalation in campaign rhetoric. Some of what he was saying about Labour was even more extreme, and questionable, than what he has said in the past. I will post the quotes shortly. |
| Johnson says he was not allowed to talk about Labour’s plans in his BBC appearances his morning. (The presenters tried to get him to focus on Conservative plans, not just on attacking Labour.) | Johnson says he was not allowed to talk about Labour’s plans in his BBC appearances his morning. (The presenters tried to get him to focus on Conservative plans, not just on attacking Labour.) |
| But he says now he can talk about Labour. | But he says now he can talk about Labour. |
| Labour’s plans are terrifying, he says. | Labour’s plans are terrifying, he says. |
| He repeats his claims (which Labour denies) that Labour would hold two referendums next year. | He repeats his claims (which Labour denies) that Labour would hold two referendums next year. |
| He claims that Labour is opposed to home ownership. | He claims that Labour is opposed to home ownership. |
| Boris Johnson is now speaking at the launch of the Conservative battlebus in Oldham. | Boris Johnson is now speaking at the launch of the Conservative battlebus in Oldham. |
| He says Brexit will be like angioplasty. It will clear the arteries, and allow the government to focus on other projects. | He says Brexit will be like angioplasty. It will clear the arteries, and allow the government to focus on other projects. |
| Those will include rolling out broadband. But the Conservative plan will not be like the “crazed communist scheme” outlined by Labour today. | Those will include rolling out broadband. But the Conservative plan will not be like the “crazed communist scheme” outlined by Labour today. |
| Here is an excellent Guardian explainer from my colleagues Mark Sweney and Patrick Collinson looking at how feasible the Labour free broadband plan is. | Here is an excellent Guardian explainer from my colleagues Mark Sweney and Patrick Collinson looking at how feasible the Labour free broadband plan is. |
| McDonnell says Labour is introducing this policy partly because broadband connectivity is an issue that people kept raising at public meetings. And they made the point that children could not do their homework without broadband access. | McDonnell says Labour is introducing this policy partly because broadband connectivity is an issue that people kept raising at public meetings. And they made the point that children could not do their homework without broadband access. |
| And so this is a measure that will tackle inequality, he says. | And so this is a measure that will tackle inequality, he says. |
| And that’s it. The Q&A is over. | And that’s it. The Q&A is over. |
| Q: Will you be able to get access to land to lay these cables? | Q: Will you be able to get access to land to lay these cables? |
| Corbyn says there will be some disruption as new cables are laid. But this is necessary, he says. | Corbyn says there will be some disruption as new cables are laid. But this is necessary, he says. |
| Q: Do you rule out a non-aggression pact with the Liberal Democrats in the election? Jo Swinson knows that having a Labour government is the only way to stop Brexit. | Q: Do you rule out a non-aggression pact with the Liberal Democrats in the election? Jo Swinson knows that having a Labour government is the only way to stop Brexit. |
| Corbyn says he is fighting the election on a pledge to end austerity, ending the problems introduced by the coalition government that included the Lib Dems. | Corbyn says he is fighting the election on a pledge to end austerity, ending the problems introduced by the coalition government that included the Lib Dems. |
| He says Labour would introduce an early budget. | He says Labour would introduce an early budget. |
| If other parties make ending austerity a point of negotiation, he would refuse. | If other parties make ending austerity a point of negotiation, he would refuse. |
| He says he is not going into coalition with any of the pro-austerity parties. In fact, he is not planning to go into coalition with anyone. He is planning a majority. | He says he is not going into coalition with any of the pro-austerity parties. In fact, he is not planning to go into coalition with anyone. He is planning a majority. |
| Q: When would poorer communities see the benefits from this? | Q: When would poorer communities see the benefits from this? |
| Corbyn says remote rural areas, that do not get any broadband at the moment, will get this early on. | Corbyn says remote rural areas, that do not get any broadband at the moment, will get this early on. |
| People who want to expand small businesses in rural areas cannot do so without proper broadband. | People who want to expand small businesses in rural areas cannot do so without proper broadband. |
| Q: Do you plan to stop people watching porn on the government’s broadband service? | Q: Do you plan to stop people watching porn on the government’s broadband service? |
| Rebecca Long-Bailey says there will be a charter of internet rights. | Rebecca Long-Bailey says there will be a charter of internet rights. |
| (She does not address the point about pornography.) | (She does not address the point about pornography.) |
| Q: Other companies that provide broadband also provide things like landlines. How would you separate out those? And would broadband workers from all other companies get to keep their jobs? | Q: Other companies that provide broadband also provide things like landlines. How would you separate out those? And would broadband workers from all other companies get to keep their jobs? |
| Long-Bailey says Labour does not want to stop other companies providing enhanced services. Workers who transfer will do so under TUPE. That means their rights will be protected. | Long-Bailey says Labour does not want to stop other companies providing enhanced services. Workers who transfer will do so under TUPE. That means their rights will be protected. |
| Q: Can you do this under EU laws? If not, is it a tacit admission that you want to leave? | Q: Can you do this under EU laws? If not, is it a tacit admission that you want to leave? |
| McDonnell says Labour has had legal advice saying this is compatible with EU law. | McDonnell says Labour has had legal advice saying this is compatible with EU law. |
| Jeremy Corbyn and his colleagues are now taking questions. | Jeremy Corbyn and his colleagues are now taking questions. |
| Q: Isn’t the real problem with BT the fact that it has little competition. How would replacing it with a state monopoly make a difference? | Q: Isn’t the real problem with BT the fact that it has little competition. How would replacing it with a state monopoly make a difference? |
| Corbyn says he is proposing a public service, like any other public service. | Corbyn says he is proposing a public service, like any other public service. |
| He says his plan will improve the livelihoods of many people. | He says his plan will improve the livelihoods of many people. |
| Every person in the room uses a computer every day, he says. They need this kind of access. | Every person in the room uses a computer every day, he says. They need this kind of access. |
| On public ownership, he says BT used to be in the public sector. | On public ownership, he says BT used to be in the public sector. |
| Q: Can you really afford this? BT say your plans will cost twice as much as you claim. And won’t ultimately taxpayers have to pay more? | Q: Can you really afford this? BT say your plans will cost twice as much as you claim. And won’t ultimately taxpayers have to pay more? |
| McDonnell says the £20bn figure that Labour is using is a figure from the government’s own review. | McDonnell says the £20bn figure that Labour is using is a figure from the government’s own review. |
| Since privatisation, £54bn has been paid out in share dividends. That is twice as much as full-fibre rollout would have cost. | Since privatisation, £54bn has been paid out in share dividends. That is twice as much as full-fibre rollout would have cost. |
| He says pension funds want the prospect of a steady income from something that is secure. This plan will offer that. | He says pension funds want the prospect of a steady income from something that is secure. This plan will offer that. |
| Q: Can you deliver this without a majority Labour government? | Q: Can you deliver this without a majority Labour government? |
| Corbyn says that issue does not arise because there is going to be a majority Labour government. | Corbyn says that issue does not arise because there is going to be a majority Labour government. |
| McDonnell urges people to see Ken Loach’s new film, Sorry We Missed You. It is shocking, he says. But it shows what is happening in the gig economy. | McDonnell urges people to see Ken Loach’s new film, Sorry We Missed You. It is shocking, he says. But it shows what is happening in the gig economy. |
| He says the plan being announced today is huge. But it is one that will transform lives. | He says the plan being announced today is huge. But it is one that will transform lives. |
| McDonnell says for years people have said that taking on the multinationals is too difficult. But they accept that now is the time for it to happen. | McDonnell says for years people have said that taking on the multinationals is too difficult. But they accept that now is the time for it to happen. |
| McDonnell says this is an example of a “shovel-ready project” that Labour would initiate immediately. | McDonnell says this is an example of a “shovel-ready project” that Labour would initiate immediately. |
| McDonnell says this is not a return to the 1970s. This is public ownership for the future, he says. | McDonnell says this is not a return to the 1970s. This is public ownership for the future, he says. |
| And the government will publish a charter of digital rights. | And the government will publish a charter of digital rights. |