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| General election: Boris Johnson's claim to get Brexit done by end of January 'a fantasy', says Blair – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A day after Boris Johnson launched Tory manifesto, Labour leader will announce big shift in housing plan | A day after Boris Johnson launched Tory manifesto, Labour leader will announce big shift in housing plan |
| Tony Blair is starting his speech at the Reuters Newsmaker event now. | |
| He says British politics is crazy and chaotic. | |
| Tony Blair, the former Labour prime minister, is about to make his first proper intervention during the election campaign in a speech at a Reuters Newsmaker event. According to extracts released in advance, he will say that Boris Johnson’s claim about being able to get Brexit done by the end of January is a “fantasy”. He will say: | |
| Blair will also say that the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is back on the table because Johnson says he would not agree to extending the Brexit transition beyond the end of next year. Many trade experts think agreeing a UK-EU trade deal before then will not be possible. Blair will say: | |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Mattha Busby. | |
| John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, has just been on the Today programme talking about Labour’s plans to protect renters. Echoing arguments he used in his earlier interview (see 7.39am), he said that this was a market that was “clearly failing” and that tighter rules were required. When it was put to him that strengthening protections for tenants might make landlords less willing to rent, he said that in Germany regulation of this market was stronger, but the size of the rental market was also much bigger. | |
| Healey was also asked why Labour was now committed to spending £58bn compensating women who lost out from the sharp increase in the state pension age. This plan was not in Labour’s manifesto, and the cost was not included in the costings document that was published alongside the manifesto. Labour says it will raise the £58bn from borrowing. | |
| When it was put to Healey that this plan contravened Labour’s promise to borrow only to invest, he said this was not normal government spending. It was a “one-off compensation payment”, he said. He said even if the Conservatives won the election, they might end up having to pay compensation like this if they lose a legal challenge. | |
| Nicky Morgan has defended the Conservative manifesto for what critics have termed a lack of ambition and content, saying voters wanted to see “realistic policies”. | Nicky Morgan has defended the Conservative manifesto for what critics have termed a lack of ambition and content, saying voters wanted to see “realistic policies”. |
| The culture secretary was sent out on the important post-manifesto launch broadcast round, even though she is herself not standing as an MP. Morgan said last month she was not contesting her Loughborough seat again for family reasons. | The culture secretary was sent out on the important post-manifesto launch broadcast round, even though she is herself not standing as an MP. Morgan said last month she was not contesting her Loughborough seat again for family reasons. |
| Asked on BBC1’s Breakfast programme about the seemingly limited approach of the manifesto, she said: | Asked on BBC1’s Breakfast programme about the seemingly limited approach of the manifesto, she said: |
| She defended Boris Johnson’s decision to avoid difficult and potentially politically tricky decisions on long-term social care, saying a consensus approach was needed. “Social care is a long-term issue that could only be resolved by getting different parties together to reach a consensus on how that happens,” she said. | |
| She did, however, readily concede that the 50,000 “new” nurses initially billed in the manifesto included elements such as better retention of existing staff. | She did, however, readily concede that the 50,000 “new” nurses initially billed in the manifesto included elements such as better retention of existing staff. |
| Morgan said the number would be reached over 10 years – some reports said her Tory party handlers meant her to say five years. | |
| She said: “The commitment is 50,000 more nurses. By the end of 10 years there will be 50,000 more nurses in the NHS than there are now. And you’re absolutely right to say this will happen in a variety of different ways.” | |
| Amid reports of a major U-turn, she added that the Tories “got rid” of the nursing bursary because it was putting a cap on the places available for people wanting to go into the profession. | |
| The Institute for Fiscal Studies has described the “the lack of significant policy action” within the Conservative manifesto as “remarkable” and would “bake in” the day-to-day budget cuts of the last decade. | The Institute for Fiscal Studies has described the “the lack of significant policy action” within the Conservative manifesto as “remarkable” and would “bake in” the day-to-day budget cuts of the last decade. |
| Questioned over whether she thought the IFS analysis was damning, the outgoing parliamentarian said: | Questioned over whether she thought the IFS analysis was damning, the outgoing parliamentarian said: |
| On Labour’s promise to give backdated pension payments to almost 4 million women, Morgan said: “Its a very difficult situation, but its also very expensive to resolve. There isn’t the money available.” | |
| The Conservative party has pledged to allocate an extra £1bn in funding each year for the ailing social care sector while guaranteeing that no one should have to sell their home to pay for care. | The Conservative party has pledged to allocate an extra £1bn in funding each year for the ailing social care sector while guaranteeing that no one should have to sell their home to pay for care. |
| In its manifesto, the party pledges to “build a cross-party consensus” on how it should be funded in the long term. | In its manifesto, the party pledges to “build a cross-party consensus” on how it should be funded in the long term. |
| However, Sally Warren, the director of policy at the King’s Fund, has said the pledge is “a couple of billion pounds short a year” of what the sector needs. | However, Sally Warren, the director of policy at the King’s Fund, has said the pledge is “a couple of billion pounds short a year” of what the sector needs. |
| The former director of social care policy at the Department of Health told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: | The former director of social care policy at the Department of Health told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: |
| On how big the gap between the Tories’ promise and the amount needed to help the sector, Warren added: “It’s probably a couple of billion pounds short a year.” | On how big the gap between the Tories’ promise and the amount needed to help the sector, Warren added: “It’s probably a couple of billion pounds short a year.” |
| Meanwhile, Andrew Dilnot, former chair of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, has said he believes cross-party legislation on social care “can be done”. | Meanwhile, Andrew Dilnot, former chair of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, has said he believes cross-party legislation on social care “can be done”. |
| Also speaking to the Today programme, he said: “I think the main difficulty here is that politicians, for reasons I don’t fully understand, just have found it hard to get something across the line here.” | Also speaking to the Today programme, he said: “I think the main difficulty here is that politicians, for reasons I don’t fully understand, just have found it hard to get something across the line here.” |
| He added that since 1997 all parties have found it hard to get social care legislation through. “Let’s hope that there is enough energy around this now and that there is a real commitment to getting a cross-party consensus … As I say, I think that can be done, it does just require political will.” | He added that since 1997 all parties have found it hard to get social care legislation through. “Let’s hope that there is enough energy around this now and that there is a real commitment to getting a cross-party consensus … As I say, I think that can be done, it does just require political will.” |
| But he sounded a note of caution: “Until we find a better way of getting money to local authorities for this, we will have a challenge.” | But he sounded a note of caution: “Until we find a better way of getting money to local authorities for this, we will have a challenge.” |
| There’s further reaction to Labour’s proposals, as outlined earlier by the party’s shadow housing minister, John Healey . | There’s further reaction to Labour’s proposals, as outlined earlier by the party’s shadow housing minister, John Healey . |
| Polly Neate, the chief executive of Shelter, said: | Polly Neate, the chief executive of Shelter, said: |
| However, the Residential Landlords Association has claimed Labour’s plans would cause “a serious rental housing crisis”. | However, the Residential Landlords Association has claimed Labour’s plans would cause “a serious rental housing crisis”. |
| David Smith, policy director for the landlords’ organisation, said: | David Smith, policy director for the landlords’ organisation, said: |
| Meanwhile, the Residential Landlords Association has welcomed the Conservative party’s housing policy proposals. | Meanwhile, the Residential Landlords Association has welcomed the Conservative party’s housing policy proposals. |
| Its policy director, David Smith, said: | Its policy director, David Smith, said: |
| You can read more on the Tories’ policies here: | You can read more on the Tories’ policies here: |
| People buying fridge freezers have greater consumer rights than private renters, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, John Healey, has said as he promises more rights for renters. | People buying fridge freezers have greater consumer rights than private renters, Labour’s shadow housing secretary, John Healey, has said as he promises more rights for renters. |
| The party is proposing independent yearly checks on properties, inspecting things such as gas, electricity and damp, along with the introduction of rent increases capped at inflation as part of a charter of rights for private renters | The party is proposing independent yearly checks on properties, inspecting things such as gas, electricity and damp, along with the introduction of rent increases capped at inflation as part of a charter of rights for private renters |
| The Residential Landlords Association have warned it could drive their members out of the business, but Healey said the purpose of the reforms and introduction of “tougher sanctions” was to drive bad landlords out of the business. | The Residential Landlords Association have warned it could drive their members out of the business, but Healey said the purpose of the reforms and introduction of “tougher sanctions” was to drive bad landlords out of the business. |
| He told BBC Breakfast: | He told BBC Breakfast: |
| Questioned over whether Labour would overcomplicate the market, Healey said: | Questioned over whether Labour would overcomplicate the market, Healey said: |
| Healey added that Labour’s plans to compensate millions of women who lost out on years of state pensions would be a “one-off compensation payment” paid for from government contingency funds. | Healey added that Labour’s plans to compensate millions of women who lost out on years of state pensions would be a “one-off compensation payment” paid for from government contingency funds. |
| “This rights a historic injustice,” he said. “They had been planning for retirement and had it disrupted at no notice.” | “This rights a historic injustice,” he said. “They had been planning for retirement and had it disrupted at no notice.” |
| The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has criticised Labour’s promise to compensate more than 3 million women who lost out on years of state pension payments when their retirement age was raised after the party announced the plan late on Saturday. | The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has criticised Labour’s promise to compensate more than 3 million women who lost out on years of state pension payments when their retirement age was raised after the party announced the plan late on Saturday. |
| Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Paul Johnson said the policy’s estimated cost of £58bn is “a very, very large sum of money indeed” and claimed Labour would need higher tax rises than those already slated to cover it. | Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Paul Johnson said the policy’s estimated cost of £58bn is “a very, very large sum of money indeed” and claimed Labour would need higher tax rises than those already slated to cover it. |
| Larry Elliott has this assessment of the Conservative manifesto. | Larry Elliott has this assessment of the Conservative manifesto. |
| Take no chances. Make no mistakes. Maintain strict message discipline. Like a football team two up with 20 minutes to play, the Conservatives think the only way they can lose the election is if they throw it away. | Take no chances. Make no mistakes. Maintain strict message discipline. Like a football team two up with 20 minutes to play, the Conservatives think the only way they can lose the election is if they throw it away. |
| The contrast between the manifesto launched by Boris Johnson and Labour’s last week was marked. Behind in the polls and with only three weeks to go before election day, Jeremy Corbyn has gambled that voters are ready for radicalism. In sporting terms, he has thrown on three strikers as subs and sent his centre half up from the back in the hope of getting back in the game. | The contrast between the manifesto launched by Boris Johnson and Labour’s last week was marked. Behind in the polls and with only three weeks to go before election day, Jeremy Corbyn has gambled that voters are ready for radicalism. In sporting terms, he has thrown on three strikers as subs and sent his centre half up from the back in the hope of getting back in the game. |
| The prime minister, by contrast, is seeking to run down the clock until 12 December, relying on the fact that his “get Brexit done” line has cut through. Things started to go pear-shaped for Theresa May in 2017 when her manifesto plans for social care were dubbed a “dementia tax”. This time, the Conservatives have said the answer is to build a long-term, cross-party consensus. | The prime minister, by contrast, is seeking to run down the clock until 12 December, relying on the fact that his “get Brexit done” line has cut through. Things started to go pear-shaped for Theresa May in 2017 when her manifesto plans for social care were dubbed a “dementia tax”. This time, the Conservatives have said the answer is to build a long-term, cross-party consensus. |
| Johnson’s pitch throughout the campaign has been that Britain’s departure from the EU will unleash a wave of pent-up investment and, by ending the uncertainty, lead to faster economic growth. | Johnson’s pitch throughout the campaign has been that Britain’s departure from the EU will unleash a wave of pent-up investment and, by ending the uncertainty, lead to faster economic growth. |
| But there is no guarantee that this will happen, particularly since even if Brexit does go ahead on 31 January, the rest of 2020 will be spent trying to conclude a trade deal with the EU before the transition period ends. The forecasts for growth and borrowing that will be provided by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility for the budget that will take place once the election is over will not make pretty reading. | But there is no guarantee that this will happen, particularly since even if Brexit does go ahead on 31 January, the rest of 2020 will be spent trying to conclude a trade deal with the EU before the transition period ends. The forecasts for growth and borrowing that will be provided by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility for the budget that will take place once the election is over will not make pretty reading. |
| So while Johnson was upbeat at the manifesto launch, the document itself was a much more cautious affair. | So while Johnson was upbeat at the manifesto launch, the document itself was a much more cautious affair. |
| The papers on the Tory manifesto | The papers on the Tory manifesto |
| Jeremy Corbyn will be in the East Midlands today talking about the housing crisis, as Labour prepares to announce a plan to compel property developers to meet the costs of building at least 50,000 discounted homes as part of a package of measures to help renters and first-time buyers. | Jeremy Corbyn will be in the East Midlands today talking about the housing crisis, as Labour prepares to announce a plan to compel property developers to meet the costs of building at least 50,000 discounted homes as part of a package of measures to help renters and first-time buyers. |
| The shadow housing secretary, John Healey, has drawn up proposals to allow local authorities to use the planning process to force developers to build a certain number of properties to be earmarked for local first-time buyers. | The shadow housing secretary, John Healey, has drawn up proposals to allow local authorities to use the planning process to force developers to build a certain number of properties to be earmarked for local first-time buyers. |
| These would be sold at a discount of up to 50% on the local market rate, with the size of the reduction dependent on the gap between earnings and house prices in the local area – and the local authority could choose to target them at key workers such as nurses or teachers. | These would be sold at a discount of up to 50% on the local market rate, with the size of the reduction dependent on the gap between earnings and house prices in the local area – and the local authority could choose to target them at key workers such as nurses or teachers. |
| Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day’s politics news. | Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day’s politics news. |
| Yesterday the Tories launched their election manifesto. You’d be forgiven for having missed it, indeed that might have been the point, coming out, as it did, on a Sunday afternoon, but we’ve got a full wrap of what it contained and reaction to it. | Yesterday the Tories launched their election manifesto. You’d be forgiven for having missed it, indeed that might have been the point, coming out, as it did, on a Sunday afternoon, but we’ve got a full wrap of what it contained and reaction to it. |
| John Crace suggests the Conservatives may have been employing a “take out the trash day” strategy, by launching their manifesto on a Sunday, “a day when almost everyone would either be watching football, Sir David Attenborough or Countryfile”. Crace writes the Tories managed to deliver “a manifesto with almost nothing in it”. | John Crace suggests the Conservatives may have been employing a “take out the trash day” strategy, by launching their manifesto on a Sunday, “a day when almost everyone would either be watching football, Sir David Attenborough or Countryfile”. Crace writes the Tories managed to deliver “a manifesto with almost nothing in it”. |
| The plan is conspicuous for its lack of eye-catching policies, with Larry Elliott writing that Johnson is “seeking to run down the clock” with a “cautious, tepid manifesto”. One thing it does tell us is the stark difference between the public spending plans outlined by the two parties, with Johnson promising to fork out £2.9bn more a year against the £83bn outlined by Jeremy Corbyn. Among the headline promises is that the Conservatives would deliver 50,000 nurses, a line that we have factchecked and found somewhat wanting. | The plan is conspicuous for its lack of eye-catching policies, with Larry Elliott writing that Johnson is “seeking to run down the clock” with a “cautious, tepid manifesto”. One thing it does tell us is the stark difference between the public spending plans outlined by the two parties, with Johnson promising to fork out £2.9bn more a year against the £83bn outlined by Jeremy Corbyn. Among the headline promises is that the Conservatives would deliver 50,000 nurses, a line that we have factchecked and found somewhat wanting. |