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General election: Boris Johnson dismisses Labour's broadband plan as 'crackpot' on BBC phone-in – live news General election: Corbyn says Labour manifesto will 'knock your socks off' – live news
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn will announce free internet plan in speech in Lancaster, while prime minister is in Oldham Labour leader announces free internet plan in Lancaster, while Boris Johnson launches battle bus in Oldham
Corbyn says Labour has a track record of delivering tranformative change like this. 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.
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 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, he says.
McDonnell claims the Tories do not understand the problems facing the country, particularly the threat posed by the climate emergency.
He says, when he is chancellor, he will not tolerate people dying from being homeless.
He says it is important now for all infrastracture to be geen.
And, turning to broadband, he says in South Korea state investment has led to 98% of the population being covered by full-fibre broadband.
He says the UK has nothing like that scale of ambition.
Now that is changing. Mark it in your diary, he says. It is a historic moment.
British Broadband will be a new public service for the 21st century.
It will have an infrastructure and a service arm, he says.
And he says Labour will begin with the areas with the worst broadband.
John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, is speaking now.
He says, whatever the Conservatives throw at them, Labour will continue to be relentlessly positive in the campaign.
Labour is costing every spending announcement, he says. But he says the Tory campaign is based on scaremongering.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, is speaking now. She says there is clear evidence that rolling out full-fibre broadband will boost the economy. She says one CBI survey said a 10% increase in its reach could increase GDP by 1%.
More people would be able to work at home under this plan, she says. And that would be good for the environment.
It would also reduce the number of people shut out of the workforce.
Corbyn says Labour has a track record of delivering tranformative change.
Only Labour can deliver this project, he says.Only Labour can deliver this project, he says.
This will be at the heart of Labour’s plans to tranform our society, he says.This will be at the heart of Labour’s plans to tranform our society, he says.
Corbyn says the initial upgrade will be funded by Labour’s green transformation fund.Corbyn says the initial upgrade will be funded by Labour’s green transformation fund.
And, when it comes to running costs, Labour will close down the tax loopholes exploited by the giant multinationals.And, when it comes to running costs, Labour will close down the tax loopholes exploited by the giant multinationals.
Corbyn says Boris Johnson promised to make full-fibre broadband available for everyone during the Tory leadership contest. But people would have to pay for it. Corbyn says Boris Johnson promised during the Tory leadership contest to make full-fibre broadband available for everyone. But people would have to pay for it.
And now we have seen the government’s plans, they involve copper cables that are already out of date, he says. And now we have seen the government’s plans. They involve copper cables that are already out of date, he says.
Corbyn says there will be guaranteed jobs for people currently working in the broadband industry.Corbyn says there will be guaranteed jobs for people currently working in the broadband industry.
Corbyn says the full-fibre broadband that Labour will deliver is the gold standard. It is the fastest and most secure. Corbyn says the full-fibre broadband that Labour will deliver is the gold standard. It is the fastest and most secure. It will deliver “lightning fast” download times, he says.
It will deliver “lightening fast” download times, he says. The plans will save the average household £30 a month on bills.
The plans it will save the average household £30 a month on bills. Only eight to 10% of the UK has access to full-fibre broadband. In South Korea, it is 98%, he says. He says this is essential infrastructure.
Just 8 to 10% of the UK has access to full-fibre broadband. In South Korea, it is 98%, he says. The best way for this to be provided is for the public to take control of it. Labour will create a new enterprise, British Broadband, overseeing a publicly owned network, delivering full-fibre broadband within 10 years.
He says this is essential infrastructure. This will show Labour using public investment to transform the economy. This plan will also have national security implications, he says.
The best way for this to be provided is for the public to take control of it. Labour will create a new entreprise, British Broadband, overseeing a publicly owned network, delivering full-fibre broadband within 10 years. The current companies have had little incentive to roll out full-fibre broadband to remote and rural areas. Labour would prioritise those areas. And then it would roll it out in towns. Finally it would complete the roll-out in urban centres.
This will show Labour using public investment to transform the economy.
This plan will also have national security implications, he says.
The current companies have had little incentive to roll-out full-fibre broadband to remote and rural areas.
Labour would prioritise those areas. And then it would roll it out in towns. Finally it would complete the roll-out in urban centres.
Jeremy Corbyn says at the start of the campaign he promised to put forward the most exciting plan ever seen. The party has not even published its manifesto, he says. When it comes next week, “it is going to knock your socks off”.Jeremy Corbyn says at the start of the campaign he promised to put forward the most exciting plan ever seen. The party has not even published its manifesto, he says. When it comes next week, “it is going to knock your socks off”.
He says he does not want to lead a government that allows people to think nothing ever changes.He says he does not want to lead a government that allows people to think nothing ever changes.
Today he is going to give a sneak preview.Today he is going to give a sneak preview.
He says, instead of billing customers, he will tax the internet giants such as Facebook and Google “fairly” to cover the running costs.He says, instead of billing customers, he will tax the internet giants such as Facebook and Google “fairly” to cover the running costs.
Cat Smith, Labour’s candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, is opening the Corbyn event.Cat Smith, Labour’s candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, is opening the Corbyn event.
Jeremy Corbyn is about to give a speech on Labour’s plans for free broadband in Lancaster.
There is a live feed at the top of the blog.
Here are the main points from Boris Johnson interview and phone-in with the BBC this morning.
Johnson described Labour’s plan for free broadband as “crackpot”. Asked about his own plans for broadband, he said:
He claimed that his decision not to publish the report into Russian interference in elections was nothing to do with his having something to hide. When asked if this was why it had not been published, he said that was “absolutely not” the case. He claimed he was just following normal procedures.
Dominic Grieve, the chair of the committee, has strongly rejected the No 10 claim that the delay in the report’s publication is routine.
Johnson claimed there was no evidence of Russia interfering in UK elections. He said:
He claimed not to know whether it was true that nine Russian oligarchs have given “serious money” to the Conservative party. Asked to confirm this, he said: “I honestly don’t know.” All donations were legitimate, he said:
He said the government had “got to do better” on the NHS.
He declined an opportunity to clarify exactly how many children he has. The BBC’s Rachel Burden told him this was an issue many people raised. She said:
Johnson said he did not comment on his children. But he told Burden she was wrong to assume that none of his children had gone to state schools.
Ed Vaizey, the former Conservative minister for broadband, told the Today programme he thought Labour’s plan for free broadband was “crazy”. He explained:
Here is my colleague Rajeev Syel’s most recent story about Labour’s plan to provide free broadband, including what John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has been saying about it in interviews this morning.
Jeremy Corbyn is giving a speech on this at 11am, and at the event he will also be taking questions, alongside McDonnell and Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary. We’ll be covering it live.
The Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn has also been factchecking the PM.
The Labour party has also been conducting its own factchecking scrutiny of what Boris Johnson said in the phone-in.
The BBC’s Reality Check team have posted two tweets about Boris Johnson’s Radio 5 live phone-in.
Welsh Labour has accused the leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, of using offensive, populist and attention-grabbing language by comparing the oppression of people of colour over the centuries to being Welsh.
When he addressed the Plaid conference last month, Price called for the Westminster government to pay its “debts” to Wales. He said:
And in an interview published on Thursday by the Welsh thinktank iwa, Price said:
Price said there was a “gasp” from the press when he made his remarks at conference and added: “Sometimes, let’s be honest, you have to say very bold things in order to get a response.”
On Friday, Welsh Labour’s health minister, Vaughan Gething, called for Price to apologise. He said:
Q: Your education was not typical.
Johnson says he went to the same state primary school as Ed Miliband.
Q: But you went to Eton. Can you ever see a time when state schools have the same resources as private ones?
Johnson says he wants to level up school spending.
Burden asks about Johnson’s own children. They did not go to state schools, did they? Does he have any children who are still of school age?
Johnson replies:
Burden says this issue does come up. She says many viewers say they want Johnson to be asked how many children he has. (See here.) Burden does not put the question to him directly, and he does not address it, saying he does not want to talk about his children, but he does say:
And that’s it.
I will post a summary soon.
Johnson says affordable childcare is “the holy grail”.
Q: There is a crisis in funding this. And it is women who are disproportionately affected.
Johnson says he understands how important this issue is. He will be looking at what the government can do to help.