This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/nov/26/general-election-parties-attack-each-others-spending-plans-after-manifestos-lay-differences-bare

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
General election: Chief rabbi's attack on Corbyn over antisemitism 'unjustified and unfair', says Lord Dubs – live news General election: Corbyn responds to chief rabbi by saying he won't tolerate antisemitism 'in any form' – live news
(32 minutes later)
Labour leader speaks at launch of race and faith manifesto after chief rabbi says Jewish anxiety of Corbyn win is justifiedLabour leader speaks at launch of race and faith manifesto after chief rabbi says Jewish anxiety of Corbyn win is justified
Jeremy Corbyn is now speaking at the Labour race and faith manifesto launch. Butler is now talking about the value of diversity.
He starts by thanking Alf Dubs for what he said, and for all his campaigning on behalf of immigrants. She says Norman Tebbit used to talk about the cricket test as a way of evaluating if people were loyal to the country. But this year England won the cricket world cup with a team that included a West Indian, a Pakistani, a South African, an New Zealander and an Irishman.
He is speaking at the Bernie Grant arts centre in Tottenham. Corbyn says he know Grant very well, and is proud to be speaking at an arts centre named after him. She says Labour will establish an independent review into the rise of the far right.
He says Grant taught people a lot about the impact of Britain’s colonial past. And it will ensure more black history is taught in schools. Because black history is British history, says says.
She says, within a month of taking power, Labour would launch a review into the shortage of BAME teachers in schools.
Jeremy Corbyn says he is just the warm-up act for Dawn Butler, the shadow minister for women and equalities.
Butler takes to the stage. She says there are people trying to divide the country. She says a video has gone viral of a man and his children receiving antisemitic abuse on a train. It is unsettling to watch, she says. She says some of the people on the train did not intervene. But it was a woman in a hijab who intervened, she says. She says the woman said she knew what it was like to be abused like this.
Butler says all forms of racism are wrong.
She says after Boris Johnson compared Muslim women to letterboxes the number of incidents of Islamophobia went up by 375%.
Corbyn says running through the Labour manifesto is the “golden thread” of a society that works for all and respects all.
He is very proud to lead a party of diversity. And he would be proud to speak on the world stage on behalf of a country proud of its diversity, he says.
His manifesto can change lives for millions of people, he says.
Corbyn says sometimes when people are challenged they are asked if they are “tolerant” of others. He does not like the word, he says. He prefers the idea of being respectful, he says.
He says abuse has no place in our society. Attacks on people, and attacks on churches or synagogues or mosques, are attacks on all of us, he says. He says Labour would ensure there was full protection for places of worship. And attacks on places of worship would count as aggravated crimes, he says.
He says:
He says Labour has a rapid process for dealing with these complaints. That process is constantly being reviewed. And Labour supports educating people about the problem, he says.
Corbyn says he wants to work with people of all faiths and none. It has always been his pride and his pleasure to do this, he says. In government, his door will be open to all faith leaders, he says.
He says the chief rabbi will be very welcome, as will be the archbishop of Canterbury, and leaders from other faiths.
Corbyn says he thinks history may be the most important thing children learn at school.
Labour would promote the emancipation education trust, to ensure that children learn more about slavery. It should not just be taught during black history month. It should be taught all year round, he says.
Corbyn says there is not proper BAME representations at the top of public life. There are only 25 black female professors in British universities. He says a Labour government would carry out a review to ensure BAME people are properly represented at the top of the education system.
Corbyn says Labour wants to push ahead with anonymised job applications, so people do not face discrimination because of their name.
Corbyn says the Tory manifesto does not mention race and equality issues. Labour is the party of equality and human rights, he says.
He says he wants to lead a government where this is central to everything it does. He says people have until tonight to register to vote. He urges people to register.
And he says Labour will not pursue the voter ID plans in the Tory manifesto. These would suppress voting, he says.
Jeremy Corbyn is now speaking at the Labour race and faith manifesto launch. He starts by thanking Alf Dubs for what he said, and for all his campaigning on behalf of immigrants.
He is speaking at the Bernie Grant arts centre in Tottenham. Corbyn says he knew Grant very well, and is proud to be speaking at an arts centre named after him. He says Grant taught people a lot about the impact of Britain’s colonial past.
He says N15, the postcode area where he is speaking, is the most diverse in Britain. He says 150 languages are spoken here.He says N15, the postcode area where he is speaking, is the most diverse in Britain. He says 150 languages are spoken here.
Lord Dubs is speaking now at the Labour event.Lord Dubs is speaking now at the Labour event.
He says he is “bitterly disappointed” at what the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said about Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism. He does not accept a lot of what Mirvis said, although Dubs says he thinks Labour should have addressed the problem more quickly. But the chief rabbi’s comments were “unjustified and unfair”, he says.He says he is “bitterly disappointed” at what the chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, said about Jeremy Corbyn and antisemitism. He does not accept a lot of what Mirvis said, although Dubs says he thinks Labour should have addressed the problem more quickly. But the chief rabbi’s comments were “unjustified and unfair”, he says.
Q: Why won’t you take part in the Channel 4 News debate on the environment on Thursday?Q: Why won’t you take part in the Channel 4 News debate on the environment on Thursday?
Johnson says he is taking part in other debates. He says as mayor of London he showed how emissions could be cut without the economy being harmed. But Labour would take a sledgehammer to the economy, he says.Johnson says he is taking part in other debates. He says as mayor of London he showed how emissions could be cut without the economy being harmed. But Labour would take a sledgehammer to the economy, he says.
And that’s it. The event is over.And that’s it. The event is over.
Q: Do you think Nicola Sturgeon should consider the chief rabbi’s comments before propping up a Labour government?Q: Do you think Nicola Sturgeon should consider the chief rabbi’s comments before propping up a Labour government?
Johnson says Corbyn has not been able to stamp out antisemitism in his party. That is part of a wider failure of leadership, he says. He says you cannot be PM and refuse to take a position on Brexit. He says you cannot be neutral on that any more than you can be neutral on antisemitism.Johnson says Corbyn has not been able to stamp out antisemitism in his party. That is part of a wider failure of leadership, he says. He says you cannot be PM and refuse to take a position on Brexit. He says you cannot be neutral on that any more than you can be neutral on antisemitism.
Q: If you are the largest party after the election, but don’t have a majority, will you rule out holding a second referendum on independence or on Brexit.Q: If you are the largest party after the election, but don’t have a majority, will you rule out holding a second referendum on independence or on Brexit.
Johnson says he normally does not answer hypothetical questions like that. But he will answer this. Yes, he says. He says he genuinely thinks they would be bad for the country.Johnson says he normally does not answer hypothetical questions like that. But he will answer this. Yes, he says. He says he genuinely thinks they would be bad for the country.
Q: Polling shows your personal popularity in Scotland is only slightly better than Jeremy Corbyn’s. You’re on minus 34.Q: Polling shows your personal popularity in Scotland is only slightly better than Jeremy Corbyn’s. You’re on minus 34.
Johnson interrupts. Minus 34 – we can build on that, he says, to audience laughter.Johnson interrupts. Minus 34 – we can build on that, he says, to audience laughter.
Q: Would you have any more city deals for Scotland?Q: Would you have any more city deals for Scotland?
Johnson says he will have a sectoral deal for the oil industry. And he will put £3.1bn more into Scotland as a result of his manifesto plans, as a result of the Barnett formula.Johnson says he will have a sectoral deal for the oil industry. And he will put £3.1bn more into Scotland as a result of his manifesto plans, as a result of the Barnett formula.
On city deals, Johnson says the whole of Scotland is covered.On city deals, Johnson says the whole of Scotland is covered.
Q: How much of Brexit will be done by 31 January?
Johnson says the UK will be out of the EU. It will be in control of its laws and money. Getting a trade deal by the end of the year will be tight. But people said he would not be able to get a Brexit deal, and he did get one, he says.
Q: You have been talking about the cost of two referendums next year. How does that compare with how much you have spend on no-deal planning, and now much Brexit will cost Scotland?
Johnson sidesteps the question, and says what is harming the economy is the delay.
Johnson is now taking questions.
Q: Scotland voted remain. Nicola Sturgeon thinks your policies are catastrophic for Scotland. She does not like Jeremy Corbyn, but she seems to have a loathing for you. Is that mutual?
Johnson says he does not nurture grudges like this. He says our politics needs less of that. All that Sturgeon and Corbyn would do together would be waste 2020 on another Brexit referendum.
Sturgeon said the 2014 independence referendum was a once in a generation one. She should stick to that, he says.
Johnson ends with his joke about wanting to go carbon-neutral by 2050 and Corbyn neutral by Christmas. He urges people to support sensible, moderate, one-nation Scottish Conservatism.
Johnson says in 10 years’ time people in Scotland will be passionately proud of their Scottish identity, but also citizens of a proud United Kingdom.
Johnson says a space port in Scotland is under construction or almost complete. He asks someone in the audience to clarify. It is “on its way”, he says subsequently.
Johnson says Nicola Sturgeon confirmed her plan for Scottish independence in her interview with Andrew Neil last night. This would involve borders at Berwick, and handing back control of Scottish fishing waters to the EU, he claims.
Johnson is now speaking French, imagining Jeremy Corbyn’s first meeting with Michel Barnier. “What do you mean, you don’t really want it, Mr Corbyn?”
Johnson speculates about whether “Monsieur Starmer” or “Monsieur McDonnell” or “Madame Abbott” might back it.
In Fife, Boris Johnson is still speaking. It’s a rehash of his standard stump speech. He has just used the line about how Jeremy Corbyn supposedly sided with Russia at the time of the Salisbury novichok poisonings.
Here is a live feed of the Labour event.