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| General election: Boris Johnson quizzed on immigration numbers and A&E waiting times – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jeremy Corbyn will announce free internet plan in speech in Lancaster, while prime minister is in Oldham | |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, picking up from Jedidajah Otte. | |
| Here is some more reaction to Boris Johnson’s BBC Breakfast interview. Full marks to the editor who decided to let Naga Munchetty do the interview. In an interview at Tory conference Johnson said that he did not know who Munchetty was, even though at that point the row generated by the BBC’s decision to reprimand her for commenting on Donald Trump’s racism had been headline news for days. If you detected an edgy undercurrent to the interview, that was way. | |
| It got particularly tense when Munchetty started asking Johnson how people can relate to him as a family man. At this point the PM seemed distinctly uneasy, but Munchetty spared him the question he probably dreads the most; how many children do you have? | |
| (As far as I know, the only journalists who have asked him this are Jason Groves and Jack Doyle from the Daily Mail, in an interview in July. They did not get an answer. Johnson has four children by his second wife and at least one other, but the question has not gone away because there are rumours he might have another.) | |
| Here is some more comment on the interview from journalists. | |
| And this is from Piers Morgan, the presenter of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, who is accusing Johnson of another broken promise. | |
| The Johnson interview is over now. | |
| Here a first reaction from Sky’s Rob Powell: | |
| Johnson says he wants every child in this country to have the most amazing opportunities, and that in order to achieve that, Brexit needs to get done. Munchetty says she wants to get a “feel” for who he is. She asks him about his family life, which seems to be an uncomfortable question for the PM. | |
| He responds by saying again that he wants every child to unleash their full potential. Why is he relatable though?, he is asked. Munchetty plays a clip of him using a mop in a very awkward way. Has he ever used a mop before, she asks. She says he is very different from most people in this country, that he is privileged. | |
| Johnson is now asked whether he has done enough for the flood victims. He says you can never do enough for someone who has suffered in a flooding. Of course there’s always more you can do, he says, but he will make sure that the insurers don’t “weasel out of their obligations” to the flood victims. His government has put far more into flood defence than previous Labour governments, he says, £2.6bn. | |
| They move on to migration. Is net migration going to rise and fall under a Conservative government? Johnson says “it’s a great thing” that there are “more EU nationals in the UK than ever before”. Once we come out of the EU, in January, we will take control of our borders, the PM says. When pressed for particular target numbers, Johnson says he doesn’t want to play the numbers game. He says the problem is uncontrolled immigration, and that this is what Labour wants to pursue. He brings up an Australian-style point-based immigration system again. Is a brain surgeon or a porter getting more points? His analysts haven’t decided yet, the PM says. | They move on to migration. Is net migration going to rise and fall under a Conservative government? Johnson says “it’s a great thing” that there are “more EU nationals in the UK than ever before”. Once we come out of the EU, in January, we will take control of our borders, the PM says. When pressed for particular target numbers, Johnson says he doesn’t want to play the numbers game. He says the problem is uncontrolled immigration, and that this is what Labour wants to pursue. He brings up an Australian-style point-based immigration system again. Is a brain surgeon or a porter getting more points? His analysts haven’t decided yet, the PM says. |
| Munchetty is now quizzing the PM on the NHS. Johnson tells a story of how he had to go to Hillingdon hospital last year because of a piece of glass in his foot. He says staff asked for more funding, and that the way to fund the NHS is to have a strong, robust economy. He says a Conservative government will rebuild Hillingdon hospital. | Munchetty is now quizzing the PM on the NHS. Johnson tells a story of how he had to go to Hillingdon hospital last year because of a piece of glass in his foot. He says staff asked for more funding, and that the way to fund the NHS is to have a strong, robust economy. He says a Conservative government will rebuild Hillingdon hospital. |
| What about record A&E waiting times? Munchetty say £20.5bn is the figure for increased NHS funding the Tories have pledged. Johnson retorts that the correct number is £34bn, but seems startled. The PM is quizzed on GP numbers. 272 is the actual increase of GPs achieved last year, Munchetty says, not 5,000 as Jeremy Hunt promised as health secretary. Johnson says Labour wrecked the economy when they were in power. | What about record A&E waiting times? Munchetty say £20.5bn is the figure for increased NHS funding the Tories have pledged. Johnson retorts that the correct number is £34bn, but seems startled. The PM is quizzed on GP numbers. 272 is the actual increase of GPs achieved last year, Munchetty says, not 5,000 as Jeremy Hunt promised as health secretary. Johnson says Labour wrecked the economy when they were in power. |
| Boris Johnson is now on the BBC Breakfast sofa. | Boris Johnson is now on the BBC Breakfast sofa. |
| Presenter Naga Munchetty says she wants to get clarity from party leaders in these interviews. | Presenter Naga Munchetty says she wants to get clarity from party leaders in these interviews. |
| She kicks off by challenging the PM’s “Let’s get Brexit done” campaign slogan. Brexit won’t be “done” anytime soon, she says, there will be a transition period, and a second phase of negotiation on the future relationship. | She kicks off by challenging the PM’s “Let’s get Brexit done” campaign slogan. Brexit won’t be “done” anytime soon, she says, there will be a transition period, and a second phase of negotiation on the future relationship. |
| Boris Johnson responds saying it was parliament that caused the delay, and repeats his standard catalogue of Brexit-related soundbites, taking back control etc. He says if he gets a majority he will try to “get Brexit done by January”, adding he thinks Brexit can “turbo-charge” a one-nation agenda. | Boris Johnson responds saying it was parliament that caused the delay, and repeats his standard catalogue of Brexit-related soundbites, taking back control etc. He says if he gets a majority he will try to “get Brexit done by January”, adding he thinks Brexit can “turbo-charge” a one-nation agenda. |
| One problem for Corbyn and McDonnell today will be that BT says that a full-fibre rollout will cost £40bn – double the Labour estimate. | One problem for Corbyn and McDonnell today will be that BT says that a full-fibre rollout will cost £40bn – double the Labour estimate. |
| This from Neil McRae, the chief network architect at BT: | This from Neil McRae, the chief network architect at BT: |
| Chris Leslie, who defected from the Labour party to join what is now the Independent Group for Change, tweeted this yesterday evening, for those who missed it. | Chris Leslie, who defected from the Labour party to join what is now the Independent Group for Change, tweeted this yesterday evening, for those who missed it. |
| Let’s look at some reactions to Labour’s pledge to roll out free broadband to every household and business over the next 11 years. | Let’s look at some reactions to Labour’s pledge to roll out free broadband to every household and business over the next 11 years. |
| This from Labour’s David Lammy: | This from Labour’s David Lammy: |
| And this from the Lib Dems’ Sam Gyimah: | And this from the Lib Dems’ Sam Gyimah: |
| Labour peer Andrew Adonis: | Labour peer Andrew Adonis: |
| This from Sky’s Rowland Manthorpe: | This from Sky’s Rowland Manthorpe: |
| Hello, I’m taking over from my colleague Kate Lyons. | Hello, I’m taking over from my colleague Kate Lyons. |
| The headlines suggest it won’t be a boring day in politics. Labour’s ambitious free-broadband-for-all pledge via a part-nationalisation of BT by 2030 is already prompting juicy reactions on Twitter. | The headlines suggest it won’t be a boring day in politics. Labour’s ambitious free-broadband-for-all pledge via a part-nationalisation of BT by 2030 is already prompting juicy reactions on Twitter. |
| Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell will present further details of this £20bn taxpayer-funded project at a campaign event in Lancashire, and people will be falling over themselves to grill them thoroughly. | Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell will present further details of this £20bn taxpayer-funded project at a campaign event in Lancashire, and people will be falling over themselves to grill them thoroughly. |
| The event is due to start at 11am, followed by a Q&A. But first McDonnell will be on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and on Sky News at 8.30am. | The event is due to start at 11am, followed by a Q&A. But first McDonnell will be on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and on Sky News at 8.30am. |
| Boris Johnson, who has pledged £5bn to roll out full-fibre broadband to every home by 2025, will be on BBC Breakfast at 8am and BBC Radio 5 Live at 9am. | Boris Johnson, who has pledged £5bn to roll out full-fibre broadband to every home by 2025, will be on BBC Breakfast at 8am and BBC Radio 5 Live at 9am. |
| Let’s go! | Let’s go! |
| The papers | The papers |
| A reminder of what Boris Johnson was up to yesterday as he visited the West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Taunton, Somerset. | A reminder of what Boris Johnson was up to yesterday as he visited the West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Taunton, Somerset. |
| In the latest instalment of the Guardian’s People and Power series, Aamna Mohdin has written about the way a residents’ Facebook group could swing the seat of Canterbury. | In the latest instalment of the Guardian’s People and Power series, Aamna Mohdin has written about the way a residents’ Facebook group could swing the seat of Canterbury. |
| Local newspaper editors once controlled the information that circled around a town or small city during an election. But in Canterbury in 2019, that power has fallen into the lap of the 32-year-old administrator of a Facebook group. | Local newspaper editors once controlled the information that circled around a town or small city during an election. But in Canterbury in 2019, that power has fallen into the lap of the 32-year-old administrator of a Facebook group. |
| Edd Withers set up the Canterbury Residents Group on Facebook five years ago in an attempt to bridge the divide between the city’s large student population and its older residents. In a sign of the changing media environment that could shape this election, what started as a community project to bring generations together has turned into a lively and often chaotic rolling political conversation about all manner of issues affecting the city. | Edd Withers set up the Canterbury Residents Group on Facebook five years ago in an attempt to bridge the divide between the city’s large student population and its older residents. In a sign of the changing media environment that could shape this election, what started as a community project to bring generations together has turned into a lively and often chaotic rolling political conversation about all manner of issues affecting the city. |
| Of the nearly 100 Canterbury residents who contacted the Guardian about the tight race in their constituency, Withers’ Facebook group was mentioned more than a dozen times. While one resident described it as “a good starting point to find the ‘real’ residents and the issues they are passionate about”, another said they left the group “because of the extreme views and bullying behaviour”. | Of the nearly 100 Canterbury residents who contacted the Guardian about the tight race in their constituency, Withers’ Facebook group was mentioned more than a dozen times. While one resident described it as “a good starting point to find the ‘real’ residents and the issues they are passionate about”, another said they left the group “because of the extreme views and bullying behaviour”. |
| Quite an interesting new campaign video from the Labour team. | Quite an interesting new campaign video from the Labour team. |
| The drama around deals between parties continues to roil. Nigel Farage has attacked the Conservative party after it was claimed that senior Brexit party figures – including Ann Widdecombe – had been offered post-election roles or peerages as part of an attempt to get him to stand down more candidates at the general election. | The drama around deals between parties continues to roil. Nigel Farage has attacked the Conservative party after it was claimed that senior Brexit party figures – including Ann Widdecombe – had been offered post-election roles or peerages as part of an attempt to get him to stand down more candidates at the general election. |
| Farage said it showed “the system is corrupt and broken”. | Farage said it showed “the system is corrupt and broken”. |
| Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day’s political news. I’m Kate Lyons and will be with you on the liveblog for the first hour or so of the day, before I hand over to my excellent colleagues. As usual, you can get in touch with your questions, thoughts, witticisms etc on Twitter or email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com). | Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day’s political news. I’m Kate Lyons and will be with you on the liveblog for the first hour or so of the day, before I hand over to my excellent colleagues. As usual, you can get in touch with your questions, thoughts, witticisms etc on Twitter or email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com). |
| It’s a big day for promises as both Labour and the Conservatives roll out big-spending, crowd-pleasing election pledges. | It’s a big day for promises as both Labour and the Conservatives roll out big-spending, crowd-pleasing election pledges. |
| The Conservatives are offering a package to revitalise neglected towns while Labour is promising free full-fibre broadband for homes and businesses. | The Conservatives are offering a package to revitalise neglected towns while Labour is promising free full-fibre broadband for homes and businesses. |
| Boris Johnson says a Tory government would spend hundreds of millions of pounds reviving dying high streets and struggling communities. It includes discounts on business rates, rate relief for pubs, money to reopen train stations and a £150m fund to help groups trying to take over and run pubs and post offices threatened with closure. Labour has criticised the proposal, saying the Conservatives are the ones responsible for destroying high streets and towns through “a decade of vicious cuts to the services that people on our communities rely on”. | Boris Johnson says a Tory government would spend hundreds of millions of pounds reviving dying high streets and struggling communities. It includes discounts on business rates, rate relief for pubs, money to reopen train stations and a £150m fund to help groups trying to take over and run pubs and post offices threatened with closure. Labour has criticised the proposal, saying the Conservatives are the ones responsible for destroying high streets and towns through “a decade of vicious cuts to the services that people on our communities rely on”. |
| Meanwhile, Labour is promising free full-fibre broadband for every home and business by partly nationalising BT. Jeremy Corbyn will outline the plan during a speech in Lancaster, saying: “What was once a luxury is now an essential utility.” The plan, estimated to cost about £20bn, will be funded partly by high taxes on internet companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google. The Conservatives have criticised the policy, saying it was a “fantasy plan to effectively nationalise broadband [that] would cost hardworking taxpayers tens of billions”. | Meanwhile, Labour is promising free full-fibre broadband for every home and business by partly nationalising BT. Jeremy Corbyn will outline the plan during a speech in Lancaster, saying: “What was once a luxury is now an essential utility.” The plan, estimated to cost about £20bn, will be funded partly by high taxes on internet companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google. The Conservatives have criticised the policy, saying it was a “fantasy plan to effectively nationalise broadband [that] would cost hardworking taxpayers tens of billions”. |
| As for what will happen today: | As for what will happen today: |
| Jeremy Corbyn will be announcing his broadband plan in a speech on digital infrastructure in Lancaster this morning. | Jeremy Corbyn will be announcing his broadband plan in a speech on digital infrastructure in Lancaster this morning. |
| Boris Johnson will launch his campaign bus in Oldham at lunchtime. | Boris Johnson will launch his campaign bus in Oldham at lunchtime. |
| The Lib Dems go to Leeds where Ed Davey will be giving a speech in the afternoon on economics. | The Lib Dems go to Leeds where Ed Davey will be giving a speech in the afternoon on economics. |
| And there is a big question mark hanging over the Brexit party’s campaign events. There is meant to be a launch in Dudley for their candidate but it’s unclear if that will go ahead – given the candidate has pulled out of the seat. | And there is a big question mark hanging over the Brexit party’s campaign events. There is meant to be a launch in Dudley for their candidate but it’s unclear if that will go ahead – given the candidate has pulled out of the seat. |
| Join us for the ride! | Join us for the ride! |