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Election debate: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn to go head-to-head Election debate: Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn to go head-to-head
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will face each other later in the first TV debate of the election campaign.Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will face each other later in the first TV debate of the election campaign.
The head-to-head between the Conservative and Labour leaders, hosted by news presenter Julie Etchingham, will be shown on ITV at 20:00 GMT.The head-to-head between the Conservative and Labour leaders, hosted by news presenter Julie Etchingham, will be shown on ITV at 20:00 GMT.
It comes after the Lib Dems and SNP lost their legal challenge to be included in the live programme.It comes after the Lib Dems and SNP lost their legal challenge to be included in the live programme.
Labour leader Mr Corbyn was the first to arrive at Media City in Salford, where the debate is being held.Labour leader Mr Corbyn was the first to arrive at Media City in Salford, where the debate is being held.
He was greeted by cheering supporters telling them: "I am loving every minute of it and I am utterly, utterly determined that we are going to win this election to make life better for those that have suffered so much under austerity."He was greeted by cheering supporters telling them: "I am loving every minute of it and I am utterly, utterly determined that we are going to win this election to make life better for those that have suffered so much under austerity."
He told reporters he hoped it would be "a respectful and informative debate".He told reporters he hoped it would be "a respectful and informative debate".
Asked if he was nervous, he said: "Not in the slightest. Why would I be?Asked if he was nervous, he said: "Not in the slightest. Why would I be?
"I am very confident in our policies and our ability to try and transform this country.""I am very confident in our policies and our ability to try and transform this country."
Asked how he had prepared for the debate, he said he had "eaten a Caesar salad, had a couple of cups of tea, read a bit and talked a bit to my team".Asked how he had prepared for the debate, he said he had "eaten a Caesar salad, had a couple of cups of tea, read a bit and talked a bit to my team".
Labour grassroots campaign Momentum said supporters of Mr Corbyn were organising "watch parties" around the UK and in France, Israel, Germany and Spain.Labour grassroots campaign Momentum said supporters of Mr Corbyn were organising "watch parties" around the UK and in France, Israel, Germany and Spain.
The two leaders will get a minute each to make an opening statement. Lots were drawn earlier and Mr Corbyn will go first.
The first section of the programme is set to focus on questions about Brexit, with the remainder to be dedicated to other issues.
The head-to-head debate is scheduled to be followed at 22:00 by interviews with party leaders, including Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, reacting to the debate.The head-to-head debate is scheduled to be followed at 22:00 by interviews with party leaders, including Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, reacting to the debate.
News presenter Julie Etchingham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that chairing the debate was a "hard thing to navigate if they won't engage and debate with each other".News presenter Julie Etchingham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that chairing the debate was a "hard thing to navigate if they won't engage and debate with each other".
Her role would then be to put specific points to each of them, she said, adding: "The best debates are when they debate and engage properly with one another."Her role would then be to put specific points to each of them, she said, adding: "The best debates are when they debate and engage properly with one another."
She said ITV had received hundreds of questions "across a whole range of subjects" from their viewers, so the broadcaster knows what questions the public wants answered.She said ITV had received hundreds of questions "across a whole range of subjects" from their viewers, so the broadcaster knows what questions the public wants answered.
This is the first time we will have just two prime ministerial candidates head-to-head. We got a sneak preview of what Boris Johnson wants to focus on earlier.
Last time we had anything like this was in 2010 when three people were in the ring - not just Gordon Brown and David Cameron, there was Nick Clegg too and that did provide a change in the dynamic because of that brief upsurge in "Clegg-mania". He wrote a letter to Jeremy Corbyn asking for clarity on his Brexit position and you can expect the PM to spend the first part of the debate returning to these question whenever he can; does Mr Corbyn want to leave the EU? Would he stop freedom of movement? Can he persuade his party to come with him?
So these debates have the potential to change the dynamic, but very often they do not. Mr Corbyn is bound to know that - and you can expect him to have prepared an answer.
In part, I think because both sides tend to be so well prepared, so well drilled, they are so familiar with each other's arguments. But the Labour leader will want to persuade voters watching at home that this election is about a lot more than Brexit - that we should be focusing on his agenda for domestic politics, from free broadband for all to the NHS.
And we see so much of our political leaders now our views of them are pretty well grounded. It will have to be an almighty zinger or an extraordinary clanger for it to be a really game-changing moment. Let's face it, we've all heard the campaign message and lines.
In terms of choreography for tonight, half of it will be devoted to Brexit so actually that plays to Boris Johnson. Tonight is about how both men fair under intense scrutiny from each other and, perhaps more importantly, from the studio audience.
He wants it to be about Brexit, he wants the election to be about Brexit, and he's going to get half of tonight's one-hour programme on his core subject. Slip-ups and mistakes can have a big impact and - just maybe - change a few minds.
The second half will be covering absolutely everything else, from foreign affairs to the economy to education to home affairs.
On Monday, in London's High Court, the Lib Dems said they wanted their pro-Remain stance to be represented, while the SNP also wanted the issue of Scottish independence to be raised.On Monday, in London's High Court, the Lib Dems said they wanted their pro-Remain stance to be represented, while the SNP also wanted the issue of Scottish independence to be raised.
But Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Warby said the case was not suitable for judicial review as ITV was not carrying out a "public function" in law by holding the debate.But Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Warby said the case was not suitable for judicial review as ITV was not carrying out a "public function" in law by holding the debate.
However, the parties had the right to complain to Ofcom about the programme after it had been broadcast, they said.However, the parties had the right to complain to Ofcom about the programme after it had been broadcast, they said.
The BBC will also host a live head-to-head debate between the Conservative and Labour leaders in Southampton on 6 December, plus a seven-way podium debate between senior figures from the UK's major political parties on 29 November, live from Cardiff.The BBC will also host a live head-to-head debate between the Conservative and Labour leaders in Southampton on 6 December, plus a seven-way podium debate between senior figures from the UK's major political parties on 29 November, live from Cardiff.
The Lib Dems have sent a legal letter to the BBC over its decision not to include Ms Swinson in the head-to-head.The Lib Dems have sent a legal letter to the BBC over its decision not to include Ms Swinson in the head-to-head.
BBC Scotland will stage a televised debate between the SNP, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats on 10 December, although the Scottish Greens have criticised the decision not to include them.BBC Scotland will stage a televised debate between the SNP, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats on 10 December, although the Scottish Greens have criticised the decision not to include them.