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| General election: Boris Johnson dismisses Labour's broadband plan as 'crazed communist scheme' – as it happened | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour leader announces free internet plan in Lancaster, while Boris Johnson launches battle bus. | Labour leader announces free internet plan in Lancaster, while Boris Johnson launches battle bus. |
| That’s all from us for this evening. Thanks for reading and commenting. For a comprehensive summary of the day’s politics news, see my colleague Andrew Sparrow’s wonderful election briefing: | |
| And, for those who want to read yet more, Peter Walker, Rajeev Syal and Heather Stewart have our main UK politics story this evening: | |
| A coalition of women’s groups has written to political leaders asking what they will do to end violence against women and girls if they win the general election. | A coalition of women’s groups has written to political leaders asking what they will do to end violence against women and girls if they win the general election. |
| The UK-wide coalition of more than 90 women’s organisations is calling for legislation to protect all women from domestic abuse. They want decisive action on the crisis in rape justice, proper funding for support services, and a duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. | The UK-wide coalition of more than 90 women’s organisations is calling for legislation to protect all women from domestic abuse. They want decisive action on the crisis in rape justice, proper funding for support services, and a duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. |
| Sarah Green, the director of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said voters need to hear from party leaders and every candidate during the election that action in this area remains a priority. | Sarah Green, the director of the End Violence Against Women coalition, said voters need to hear from party leaders and every candidate during the election that action in this area remains a priority. |
| In their letter to the leaders, the coalition said: | In their letter to the leaders, the coalition said: |
| Jeremy Corbyn has launched what is probably the most eye-catching, radical surprising policy of the election campaign so far, promising free, full-fibre broadband for everyone in the country. Labour would deliver it by 2030 by nationalising part of BT, with remote and rural areas of Britain currently getting the worst broadband receiving the new service first. The ongoing cost would be paid for by a new tax on tech giants, with the free broadband saving families on average £30 a month, Labour says. In a speech in Lancaster Corbyn said that only 10% of Britain has access to full-fibre broadband, while in South Korea coverage is 98%. He said this showed how Labour would be using the power of the state to deliver an essential public service. He said: | Jeremy Corbyn has launched what is probably the most eye-catching, radical surprising policy of the election campaign so far, promising free, full-fibre broadband for everyone in the country. Labour would deliver it by 2030 by nationalising part of BT, with remote and rural areas of Britain currently getting the worst broadband receiving the new service first. The ongoing cost would be paid for by a new tax on tech giants, with the free broadband saving families on average £30 a month, Labour says. In a speech in Lancaster Corbyn said that only 10% of Britain has access to full-fibre broadband, while in South Korea coverage is 98%. He said this showed how Labour would be using the power of the state to deliver an essential public service. He said: |
| My colleagues Mark Sweney and Patrick Collinson have a good analysis here of how feasible the plan is. | My colleagues Mark Sweney and Patrick Collinson have a good analysis here of how feasible the plan is. |
| Labour’s plans has caused alarm in the City, where it was claimed that the party has massively underestimated the cost of its free full-fibre broadband offer and that the prospect of further nationalisation could halt further investment in the sector. The plan to nationalise Openreach, the broadband division of BT, caused particular shock because until last night Labour had claimed that it had no nationalisation plans beyond its existing commitments to bring rail, energy, water and the Royal Mail back in to public ownership. The BT chief executive Philip Jansen said Labour’s plans would not cost £20bn, as the party claimed, but closer to £100bn. Julian David, chief executive of tech trade association techUK, said Labour’s plans would be a “disaster” for the sector. He said: | Labour’s plans has caused alarm in the City, where it was claimed that the party has massively underestimated the cost of its free full-fibre broadband offer and that the prospect of further nationalisation could halt further investment in the sector. The plan to nationalise Openreach, the broadband division of BT, caused particular shock because until last night Labour had claimed that it had no nationalisation plans beyond its existing commitments to bring rail, energy, water and the Royal Mail back in to public ownership. The BT chief executive Philip Jansen said Labour’s plans would not cost £20bn, as the party claimed, but closer to £100bn. Julian David, chief executive of tech trade association techUK, said Labour’s plans would be a “disaster” for the sector. He said: |
| Boris Johnson dismissed the plan as a “crazed communist scheme”. And the Conservatives sought to play up fears that the Corbyn plan shows that Labour’s nationalisation agenda will turn out to be more extensive than the party admits. | Boris Johnson dismissed the plan as a “crazed communist scheme”. And the Conservatives sought to play up fears that the Corbyn plan shows that Labour’s nationalisation agenda will turn out to be more extensive than the party admits. |
| But the Tories were also keen to stress their own plans to roll out improved broadband services, and there is likely to be some nervousness in CCHQ about how voters will react to the Labour giveaway. As a retail offer, it is big enough to get noticed - even by a public that seems bored and disengaged from the election. Corbyn’s analysis of the problem faced by the public is sound (Ed Miliband had a very pithy summary here), and ‘people like free stuff’ is not a bad guide to electoral behaviour. But this is a plan that marks an extension of the nationalisation agenda (other services being nationalised by Labour were once in the public sector; broadband wasn’t, because it did not exist in that era), and although voters might easily agree with Corbyn that the broadband service they are getting now is unsatisfactory, whether they think it would be any better under a monopoly state provider is another matter. The Tories claim a similar project in Australia has been a disaster. At this stage it is just too early to know how the electoral politics of this announcement will unfold. | But the Tories were also keen to stress their own plans to roll out improved broadband services, and there is likely to be some nervousness in CCHQ about how voters will react to the Labour giveaway. As a retail offer, it is big enough to get noticed - even by a public that seems bored and disengaged from the election. Corbyn’s analysis of the problem faced by the public is sound (Ed Miliband had a very pithy summary here), and ‘people like free stuff’ is not a bad guide to electoral behaviour. But this is a plan that marks an extension of the nationalisation agenda (other services being nationalised by Labour were once in the public sector; broadband wasn’t, because it did not exist in that era), and although voters might easily agree with Corbyn that the broadband service they are getting now is unsatisfactory, whether they think it would be any better under a monopoly state provider is another matter. The Tories claim a similar project in Australia has been a disaster. At this stage it is just too early to know how the electoral politics of this announcement will unfold. |
| Johnson has faced questions about how “relatable” he is during a BBC Breakfast interview. In his encounter with the BBC’s Naga Munchetty, and a subsequent hour-long phone-in on Radio 5 Live, there were also references to the fact that no one even knows for sure how many children he has. Johnson did not seem to enjoy the references to his private life, but he insisted - as he always does - that he would not talk about his family, and got through both programmes without significant embarrassment. | Johnson has faced questions about how “relatable” he is during a BBC Breakfast interview. In his encounter with the BBC’s Naga Munchetty, and a subsequent hour-long phone-in on Radio 5 Live, there were also references to the fact that no one even knows for sure how many children he has. Johnson did not seem to enjoy the references to his private life, but he insisted - as he always does - that he would not talk about his family, and got through both programmes without significant embarrassment. |
| Johnson has escalated his attacks on Cobyn and Labour, claiming that that Corbyn’s plans are “absolutely terrifying”. In a short speech unveiling his battlebus, he sought to justify this charge with a serious of allegations about the opposition - many of which were partially or wholly untrue. | Johnson has escalated his attacks on Cobyn and Labour, claiming that that Corbyn’s plans are “absolutely terrifying”. In a short speech unveiling his battlebus, he sought to justify this charge with a serious of allegations about the opposition - many of which were partially or wholly untrue. |
| Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, has said his party would use regulation to make Britain “the gold standard of climate capitalism for the world”. He also said that the Lib Dems were committed to a £100bn programme over five years to tackle climate change. | Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, has said his party would use regulation to make Britain “the gold standard of climate capitalism for the world”. He also said that the Lib Dems were committed to a £100bn programme over five years to tackle climate change. |
| Police are launching their biggest ever operation to keep election candidates safe from attacks and abuse amid rising concern from politicians about the dangers they face. | Police are launching their biggest ever operation to keep election candidates safe from attacks and abuse amid rising concern from politicians about the dangers they face. |
| That’s all from me for today. | That’s all from me for today. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now. |
| A former North Sea diver has been selected as the Brexit party’s candidate in Tynemouth, despite the fact he lives in Australia and has only ever passed through the northern English seaside town. | A former North Sea diver has been selected as the Brexit party’s candidate in Tynemouth, despite the fact he lives in Australia and has only ever passed through the northern English seaside town. |
| Ed Punchard, who survived the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster in 1988, claimed he had an affinity with Tynemouth, which is on the north bank of the Tyne, because it has a North Sea coast. | Ed Punchard, who survived the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster in 1988, claimed he had an affinity with Tynemouth, which is on the north bank of the Tyne, because it has a North Sea coast. |
| The 62-year-old, who grew up in North Wales, said he was willing to leave Australia – where he has lived for the past 30 years – if he is elected. He said he has family links to the fishing industry in south-west England and felt at home in Tynemouth. He said: | The 62-year-old, who grew up in North Wales, said he was willing to leave Australia – where he has lived for the past 30 years – if he is elected. He said he has family links to the fishing industry in south-west England and felt at home in Tynemouth. He said: |
| Tynemouth has been held by Labour’s Alan Campbell since 1997. He is standing again. The other candidates are John Appleby for the Liberal Democrats, Lewis Bartoli for the Conservatives and Julia Erskine for the Greens. | Tynemouth has been held by Labour’s Alan Campbell since 1997. He is standing again. The other candidates are John Appleby for the Liberal Democrats, Lewis Bartoli for the Conservatives and Julia Erskine for the Greens. |
| Another question from BTL (below the line). | Another question from BTL (below the line). |
| What happens if someone casts a postal vote and then dies before polling day? | What happens if someone casts a postal vote and then dies before polling day? |
| The answer to this one is easy; the vote still counts. | The answer to this one is easy; the vote still counts. |
| But it begs a much harder, and more interesting, question; can the votes of the dead decide an election? | But it begs a much harder, and more interesting, question; can the votes of the dead decide an election? |
| In the new edition of Sex, Lies and Politics, a book edited by Philip Cowley and Robert Ford of 50 essays summarising the findings of research into elections and voting behaviour in a very readable manner, Kingsley Purdam addresses exactly this question. He says that 8.4m people requested postal votes in 2017 and that around 3,000 postal votes could have been completed by people who went on to die before polling day. That is around five votes per constituency. Purdam says that in North East Fife Stephen Gethins won by just two votes and “such a small margin could easily have been determined by voters who had already died before the count began.” | In the new edition of Sex, Lies and Politics, a book edited by Philip Cowley and Robert Ford of 50 essays summarising the findings of research into elections and voting behaviour in a very readable manner, Kingsley Purdam addresses exactly this question. He says that 8.4m people requested postal votes in 2017 and that around 3,000 postal votes could have been completed by people who went on to die before polling day. That is around five votes per constituency. Purdam says that in North East Fife Stephen Gethins won by just two votes and “such a small margin could easily have been determined by voters who had already died before the count began.” |
| Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, has delivered a speech on Lib Dem economic policy this afternoon. Here are the main points. | Sir Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, has delivered a speech on Lib Dem economic policy this afternoon. Here are the main points. |
| Davey said the Lib Dems were calling for a £100bn spending programme over five years to tackle climate change. He said: | Davey said the Lib Dems were calling for a £100bn spending programme over five years to tackle climate change. He said: |
| He said the Lib Dems would regulate the City to address the climate emergency. he said: | He said the Lib Dems would regulate the City to address the climate emergency. he said: |
| He said that by remaining in the EU, the Lib Dems would generate a £50bn “remain bonus” for the economy. The Lib Dems are committed to revoking article 50 if they form a majority government (which is probably impossible, given their size and the extent of their support). Interestingly, although Davey spoke about the Lib Dem commitment to keep the UK in the EU, he did not mention revoking article 50. There have been claims that voters are reacting badly to this promise, and that instead the Lib Dems are more keen on stressing their commitment to backing remain in a second referendum. | He said that by remaining in the EU, the Lib Dems would generate a £50bn “remain bonus” for the economy. The Lib Dems are committed to revoking article 50 if they form a majority government (which is probably impossible, given their size and the extent of their support). Interestingly, although Davey spoke about the Lib Dem commitment to keep the UK in the EU, he did not mention revoking article 50. There have been claims that voters are reacting badly to this promise, and that instead the Lib Dems are more keen on stressing their commitment to backing remain in a second referendum. |
| He said the Lib Dems would adopt “well-being budgeting”. He said: | He said the Lib Dems would adopt “well-being budgeting”. He said: |
| He said the Lib Dems would aim for a structural surplus in current spending. He said: | He said the Lib Dems would aim for a structural surplus in current spending. He said: |
| Here is a question from below the line prompted by the post at 2.34pm, saying Boris Johnson will be defending the smallest majority for a prime minister since 1924. | Here is a question from below the line prompted by the post at 2.34pm, saying Boris Johnson will be defending the smallest majority for a prime minister since 1924. |
| Can Boris Johnson remain as prime minister if he loses his seat? | Can Boris Johnson remain as prime minister if he loses his seat? |
| In 1906 the Conservative leader Arthur Balfour lost his seat only weeks after being replaced as PM by the liberal, Henry Campbell-Bannerman. But Balfour soon returned to the Commons in a byelection and served as leader of the opposition. | In 1906 the Conservative leader Arthur Balfour lost his seat only weeks after being replaced as PM by the liberal, Henry Campbell-Bannerman. But Balfour soon returned to the Commons in a byelection and served as leader of the opposition. |
| If the Tories lose the election, and Johnson loses his seat, he may decide to follow the Balfour example. Or he may decide to walk away and do something else. | If the Tories lose the election, and Johnson loses his seat, he may decide to follow the Balfour example. Or he may decide to walk away and do something else. |
| The much more interesting question is, what would happen if Johnson loses his seat, but the Conservatives win. | The much more interesting question is, what would happen if Johnson loses his seat, but the Conservatives win. |
| In Britain the prime minister has always been a member of parliament and since 1902, when the Marquess of Salisbury stood down, the PM has always been a member of the House of Commons, not the House of Lords. | In Britain the prime minister has always been a member of parliament and since 1902, when the Marquess of Salisbury stood down, the PM has always been a member of the House of Commons, not the House of Lords. |
| But there is nothing in the constitution or in law saying that the prime minister has to be an MP. And there are precedents for people serving in government and not being members of the Commons or the Lords. Harold Wilson made Patrick Gordon Walker foreign secretary even though he lost his seat in the 1964 election. But when Gordon Walker lost a byelection three months later, he had to stand down. | But there is nothing in the constitution or in law saying that the prime minister has to be an MP. And there are precedents for people serving in government and not being members of the Commons or the Lords. Harold Wilson made Patrick Gordon Walker foreign secretary even though he lost his seat in the 1964 election. But when Gordon Walker lost a byelection three months later, he had to stand down. |
| Unless there is something in the Conservative party rules saying the party leader has to be an MP (which the party may be able to bypass anyway), it would theoretically be possible for Johnson to remain as PM, even if he had lost his seat, pending a byelection at which he might return. This would be unprecedented, but precedent has become a poor guide to our politics recently. A lot would depend on whether his party accepted this (ie, whether he was still seen as an election winner), and perhaps on whether Buckingham Palace were willing go along with this arrangement. | Unless there is something in the Conservative party rules saying the party leader has to be an MP (which the party may be able to bypass anyway), it would theoretically be possible for Johnson to remain as PM, even if he had lost his seat, pending a byelection at which he might return. This would be unprecedented, but precedent has become a poor guide to our politics recently. A lot would depend on whether his party accepted this (ie, whether he was still seen as an election winner), and perhaps on whether Buckingham Palace were willing go along with this arrangement. |
| Doubtless the idea of being prime minister but without having to turn up to PMQs every week might appeal to Johnson. Most politically-conscious Britons would consider it unthinkable to have a prime minister not sitting in parliament, but in many other parts of the world the head of the executive is not a member of the legislature and it is not entirely impossible to imagine that one day in the UK this could change. | Doubtless the idea of being prime minister but without having to turn up to PMQs every week might appeal to Johnson. Most politically-conscious Britons would consider it unthinkable to have a prime minister not sitting in parliament, but in many other parts of the world the head of the executive is not a member of the legislature and it is not entirely impossible to imagine that one day in the UK this could change. |
| UPDATE: I’ve corrected the post to reflect the fact that, by the time he lost his seat in the 1906 general election, Arthur Balfour had already been been replaced as prime minister by Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who replaced him when the Conservative government fell in December 1905, precipitating the election. | UPDATE: I’ve corrected the post to reflect the fact that, by the time he lost his seat in the 1906 general election, Arthur Balfour had already been been replaced as prime minister by Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who replaced him when the Conservative government fell in December 1905, precipitating the election. |
| And if you don’t trust polling, you can always try using focus groups to get an understanding of public opinion. Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative peer and polling specialist, is conducting regular focus groups during the election campaign. He has just a report about the findings from his latest ones, conducted in three leave-voting, Labour-held seats (Stoke-on-Trent North, Bolton North East and West Bromwich East). | And if you don’t trust polling, you can always try using focus groups to get an understanding of public opinion. Lord Ashcroft, the Conservative peer and polling specialist, is conducting regular focus groups during the election campaign. He has just a report about the findings from his latest ones, conducted in three leave-voting, Labour-held seats (Stoke-on-Trent North, Bolton North East and West Bromwich East). |
| According to Ashcroft’s write-up, the groups divided into those who saw the election in terms of Brexit and those who did not. Amongst the latter group, opposition to the Tories was still quite high, Ashcroft says. | According to Ashcroft’s write-up, the groups divided into those who saw the election in terms of Brexit and those who did not. Amongst the latter group, opposition to the Tories was still quite high, Ashcroft says. |
| But Ashcroft also found people sceptical about Labour’s proposals. | But Ashcroft also found people sceptical about Labour’s proposals. |
| Panelbase has released a new poll. Polls, of course, do not always turn out to be accurate predictors of election results, but they are a better guide than using hunches or guesswork. | Panelbase has released a new poll. Polls, of course, do not always turn out to be accurate predictors of election results, but they are a better guide than using hunches or guesswork. |
| Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has described the behaviour of Rupert Lowe, who stood down as a candidate for his party in the Labour/Tory marginal Dudley North yesterday, allowing no time for it to choose a replacement, as “disgusting”. Farage also offered an apology to voters in the constituency, who now will not have the option of voting for his party. Lowe, a Brexit party MEP, announced his decision moments before the 4pm deadline for nominations. | Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, has described the behaviour of Rupert Lowe, who stood down as a candidate for his party in the Labour/Tory marginal Dudley North yesterday, allowing no time for it to choose a replacement, as “disgusting”. Farage also offered an apology to voters in the constituency, who now will not have the option of voting for his party. Lowe, a Brexit party MEP, announced his decision moments before the 4pm deadline for nominations. |
| In their overnight press notice about their plans to revive neglected communities, the Conservatives said they would “reverse many of the Beeching rail cuts of the 1960s, reconnecting towns that have suffered since their railways were removed”. The party said it would fund this through a £500m “Beeching reversal fund”. | In their overnight press notice about their plans to revive neglected communities, the Conservatives said they would “reverse many of the Beeching rail cuts of the 1960s, reconnecting towns that have suffered since their railways were removed”. The party said it would fund this through a £500m “Beeching reversal fund”. |
| As the Press Association reports, Sim Harris, managing editor of industry newspaper Railnews, has said this fund “is not going to buy you very much”. Harris said opening many of the lines closed by the Beeching cuts would cost billions. He explained: | As the Press Association reports, Sim Harris, managing editor of industry newspaper Railnews, has said this fund “is not going to buy you very much”. Harris said opening many of the lines closed by the Beeching cuts would cost billions. He explained: |
| From ITV’s Robert Peston | From ITV’s Robert Peston |
| Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister) has said that agreeing a UK-EU free trade deal before the end of next year would be “difficult but not impossible”. The government insists that the deal will have to be concluded within this period, because Boris Johnson says he will not extend the transition period. Speaking at the British Irish Council meeting, he said: | Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach (prime minister) has said that agreeing a UK-EU free trade deal before the end of next year would be “difficult but not impossible”. The government insists that the deal will have to be concluded within this period, because Boris Johnson says he will not extend the transition period. Speaking at the British Irish Council meeting, he said: |