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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/nov/18/general-election-boris-johnson-arcuri-business-tax-labour-immigration-lib-dems-debates-live-news
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| General election: Johnson says Tories will cancel planned corporation tax cut to free up £6bn for NHS – live news | General election: Johnson says Tories will cancel planned corporation tax cut to free up £6bn for NHS – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| PM to unveil business tax cuts and Labour to expand on immigration plans. Follow the latest developments, live | PM to unveil business tax cuts and Labour to expand on immigration plans. Follow the latest developments, live |
| Corbyn is now taking questions. | |
| Q: Do you accept your surprise announcement to nationalise BT Openreach worried business? | |
| Corbyn says every business has been arguing for years they need better broadband. In many rural areas it hardly exists. So getting businesses to move there is unrealistic. | |
| He says the government did not allocate enough money for this. And private firms were taking too long. This has led to some groups having to organise their own provision. | |
| Corbyn says Labour’s proposals is a fair and good one. You accept the case for universal provision of energy services, and mail services. These days universal provision of broadband is essential. | |
| Q: Can you name a FTSE 100 company you admire? | |
| Corbyn says most companies have social impact funds. And most of them give to social enterprises. His concern is about the behaviour of some oil and mineral companies. | |
| He says he is not anti these companies. But where social or environmental damage has been causes, firms have an obligation to behave differently. | |
| Q: Would you nationalise bus services outside London? | |
| Corbyn says bus services outside London were deregulated. He says mayors like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester want to be able to run regulated bus services. Some can do this, and some can’t. Labour would extend these powers, so they can run these services. And it would legislate for integrated transport systems. | |
| Q: Isn’t it clear that your Brexit policy won’t sort out Brexit quickly? | |
| Corbyn says his party represents people how voted leave and remain. There has been a huge demand for a second referendum. Labour’s approach is sensible and credible, he says. | |
| He says he wants to bring uncertainty to an end. | |
| Corbyn tells his audience that there are many things they agree on. | |
| Corbyn says Labour’s plans mean tackling inequality and addressing the climate crisis can go hand in hand. | |
| Corbyn is now giving details of Labour’s proposed 320,000 new climate apprenticeships. | |
| Corbyn claims the PM wants to hand over parts of the NHS to American companies under a trade deal with the US. He claims that this could lead to £500m a week handed over to US drug companies. Labour would legislate to stop this, he says. | |
| (The £500m per week figure is not particularly plausible, because it is an extreme, worst-case scenario. This Channel 4 News FactCheck explains why.) | |
| Corbyn says Labour supports the proposals in the CBI’s own manifesto for the election. | |
| Contrary to what some people claim, Labour does not think the state can address all the problems facing the country without help from business, he says. | |
| Corbyn says Labour will ask big businesses to pay their fair share of tax. | Corbyn says Labour will ask big businesses to pay their fair share of tax. |
| And some services will be brought back into public ownership. | |
| But this is normal in many parts of Europe, he says. | But this is normal in many parts of Europe, he says. |
| Jeremy Corbyn is addressing the CBI now. | Jeremy Corbyn is addressing the CBI now. |
| He starts by saying that, if Labour is elected, the CBI will see more infrastructure being built than it has ever dreamt of. | |
| And he says small businesses will benefit from Labour plans to ensure that suppliers have their invoices paid on time. | And he says small businesses will benefit from Labour plans to ensure that suppliers have their invoices paid on time. |
| Jeremy Corbyn is due to address the CBI, but there is a problem with the autocue. | Jeremy Corbyn is due to address the CBI, but there is a problem with the autocue. |
| The business tax cuts announced by the Conservative party overnight (see 11.02am) did not have a price tag attached, but they all seemed to involve a relatively small outlay from the exchequer. By comparison, the decision to abandon the proposed corporation tax cut does seem to amount to a big ticket spending announcement. Boris Johnson said it would raise £6bn for the NHS. It may be one of the biggest Tory election announcements we’ve had so far. | The business tax cuts announced by the Conservative party overnight (see 11.02am) did not have a price tag attached, but they all seemed to involve a relatively small outlay from the exchequer. By comparison, the decision to abandon the proposed corporation tax cut does seem to amount to a big ticket spending announcement. Boris Johnson said it would raise £6bn for the NHS. It may be one of the biggest Tory election announcements we’ve had so far. |
| It is not hard to see why Johnson announced this, or even why he opted for the £6bn figure. This is the exact figure announced by Labour last week when it announced its own spending increase for the NHS. Here is an extract from the notes from the Labour press notice issued at the time. (Bold type in original.) | It is not hard to see why Johnson announced this, or even why he opted for the £6bn figure. This is the exact figure announced by Labour last week when it announced its own spending increase for the NHS. Here is an extract from the notes from the Labour press notice issued at the time. (Bold type in original.) |
| In other words, Johnson has neutralised the Labour bid to outspend the Tories on the NHS. | In other words, Johnson has neutralised the Labour bid to outspend the Tories on the NHS. |
| (At least, he has if his figures are accurate - at the moment we have had no detail of what is is proposing.) | (At least, he has if his figures are accurate - at the moment we have had no detail of what is is proposing.) |
| In one sense this is a win for Labour; it shows that Jeremy Corbyn has been setting the agenda, and he just justifiably argue that this means the opposition is changing the policy of the governing parties. | In one sense this is a win for Labour; it shows that Jeremy Corbyn has been setting the agenda, and he just justifiably argue that this means the opposition is changing the policy of the governing parties. |
| But in campaign terms, this is a setback for Corbyn. At least one element of his distinctive pitch on the NHS has now been eliminated - even though there are still plenty of other differences been Labour and Tory health policy. (Spending totals aren’t everything.) | But in campaign terms, this is a setback for Corbyn. At least one element of his distinctive pitch on the NHS has now been eliminated - even though there are still plenty of other differences been Labour and Tory health policy. (Spending totals aren’t everything.) |
| Q: The CBI think you are wrong about how long it will take to negotiate a trade deal and about immigration. Are they wrong? | Q: The CBI think you are wrong about how long it will take to negotiate a trade deal and about immigration. Are they wrong? |
| Johnson says he has a deal that will protect the needs of business and industry. | Johnson says he has a deal that will protect the needs of business and industry. |
| On immigration, he favours immigration. But you must have democratic control. An Australian-style points system would be of great value in showing people that the UK does have control of the system. | On immigration, he favours immigration. But you must have democratic control. An Australian-style points system would be of great value in showing people that the UK does have control of the system. |
| Q: Did you share the incredulity of the rest of the UK about Prince Andrew’s interview? | Q: Did you share the incredulity of the rest of the UK about Prince Andrew’s interview? |
| Johnson says he does not want to be drawn into commentary about that. | Johnson says he does not want to be drawn into commentary about that. |
| Q: If you win the election, will you keep Sajid Javid as chancellor? | Q: If you win the election, will you keep Sajid Javid as chancellor? |
| Johnson says he will. He says Javid is doing a fantastic job. | Johnson says he will. He says Javid is doing a fantastic job. |
| Johnson promises to keep Sajid Javid as chancellor if he wins election. | Johnson promises to keep Sajid Javid as chancellor if he wins election. |
| Johnson is now taking questions. | Johnson is now taking questions. |
| Q: To get Brexit done, you will have to get a deal by next June, or delay the transition? | Q: To get Brexit done, you will have to get a deal by next June, or delay the transition? |
| Johnson claims that people said he would not be able to change the withdrawal agreement. But he did get it changed. | Johnson claims that people said he would not be able to change the withdrawal agreement. But he did get it changed. |
| He says the UK and the EU are already “in a state of grace” on tariffs and regulatory alignment. They are off to a flying start. He does not see why the trade deal cannot be negotiated next year. | He says the UK and the EU are already “in a state of grace” on tariffs and regulatory alignment. They are off to a flying start. He does not see why the trade deal cannot be negotiated next year. |
| Q: Will you encourage the Duke of York to cooperate with the US inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein? | Q: Will you encourage the Duke of York to cooperate with the US inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein? |
| Nice try, says Johnson. | Nice try, says Johnson. |
| And Johnson adds a new announcement. | And Johnson adds a new announcement. |
| Johnson says the Tories would postpone further cuts in corporation tax. That would free up £6bn for the NHS, he says. | Johnson says the Tories would postpone further cuts in corporation tax. That would free up £6bn for the NHS, he says. |
| Corporation tax was due to fall from 19% to 17%. | Corporation tax was due to fall from 19% to 17%. |
| Johnson says he is announcing package of measures to help business flourish. | Johnson says he is announcing package of measures to help business flourish. |
| Here is how they were summed up in an overnight press notice from the Conservative party. (Bold from original release.) | Here is how they were summed up in an overnight press notice from the Conservative party. (Bold from original release.) |
| Johnson says the country needs a government that “believes in business” and understands the importance of wealth creators. | Johnson says the country needs a government that “believes in business” and understands the importance of wealth creators. |
| He claims more businesses have been created in the UK since 2010 than in France and Germany combined. | He claims more businesses have been created in the UK since 2010 than in France and Germany combined. |
| Johnson is broadening out his speech now to wider policy areas. The Tories would cut crime, he says, and invest in education. | Johnson is broadening out his speech now to wider policy areas. The Tories would cut crime, he says, and invest in education. |
| Young people must be able to, literally, find work, he says. And that is why infrastructure is so important, he says. | Young people must be able to, literally, find work, he says. And that is why infrastructure is so important, he says. |
| He says, as well as focusing on big infrastructure projects, Johnson says he wants to focus on smaller transport projects too: better roads, better buses, more cycleways. He loves cycleways, he says. | He says, as well as focusing on big infrastructure projects, Johnson says he wants to focus on smaller transport projects too: better roads, better buses, more cycleways. He loves cycleways, he says. |
| He says, by doing this, government can create “the platform for growth”. And, if it does that, the market will respond, he says. | He says, by doing this, government can create “the platform for growth”. And, if it does that, the market will respond, he says. |
| Johnson says he wants to cut the productivity gap in the UK. | Johnson says he wants to cut the productivity gap in the UK. |
| But he will do that not be decapitating the tall poppies, but by levelling up. | But he will do that not be decapitating the tall poppies, but by levelling up. |
| Johnson claims Jeremy Corbyn would be dependent on an alliance with the SNP. | Johnson claims Jeremy Corbyn would be dependent on an alliance with the SNP. |
| And he says Corbyn’s position on the EU is “positively mind-boggling”. | And he says Corbyn’s position on the EU is “positively mind-boggling”. |
| He says it is still not clear whether or not Corbyn will campaign for the deal he will negotiate with the EU. Or, like Alec Guinness in the Bridge on the River Kwai, will he blow up the bridge he has himself constructed? | He says it is still not clear whether or not Corbyn will campaign for the deal he will negotiate with the EU. Or, like Alec Guinness in the Bridge on the River Kwai, will he blow up the bridge he has himself constructed? |