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General election: Leaders try to steer campaign away from race and faith – live news General election: Leaders try to steer campaign away from race and faith – live news
(32 minutes later)
Parties try to recover after Labour accused of antisemitism and Boris Johnson criticised for comments on Muslim womenParties try to recover after Labour accused of antisemitism and Boris Johnson criticised for comments on Muslim women
About 660,000 people registered to vote yesterday, the deadline for the 12 December election, of whom almost 460,000 were under 35, according to official statistics.
The numbers of last-minute registrations were even higher than in 2017, when 622,000 people registered to vote on 22 May, of which about 450,000 were under 35.
Those numbers were cited at the time as partly responsible for the “youthquake” that gave Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party its highest share of the vote and first gain in seats since the 2001 election. Younger voters skew heavily towards Labour.
As much as the party leaders want to pull the agenda away from allegations of prejudice, the news cycle is not allowing them.As much as the party leaders want to pull the agenda away from allegations of prejudice, the news cycle is not allowing them.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, was challenged over Nia Griffiths’ call last night for a fresh apology to the Jewish community over the allegations of antisemitism within Labour.Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary, was challenged over Nia Griffiths’ call last night for a fresh apology to the Jewish community over the allegations of antisemitism within Labour.
He was asked should Jeremy Corbyn also have apologised when challenged over the issue by Andrew Neil during a BBC interview last night? Burgon said he already had.He was asked should Jeremy Corbyn also have apologised when challenged over the issue by Andrew Neil during a BBC interview last night? Burgon said he already had.
A Labour government, Burgon pointed out, would make antisemitism awareness a part of the curriculum for schools.A Labour government, Burgon pointed out, would make antisemitism awareness a part of the curriculum for schools.
Burgon was previously forced to apologise after calling zionism, the political ideology that calls for a Jewish state in the Middle East, an “enemy of peace”.Burgon was previously forced to apologise after calling zionism, the political ideology that calls for a Jewish state in the Middle East, an “enemy of peace”.
Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, joined the ranks of Labour MPs calling for more action within the party for addressing antisemitism.Nia Griffith, the shadow defence secretary, joined the ranks of Labour MPs calling for more action within the party for addressing antisemitism.
Speaking during a BBC Wales Live debate last night, she said:Speaking during a BBC Wales Live debate last night, she said:
“I would say absolutely that we need to apologise to our colleagues within my own party who have been very upset but to the whole of the Jewish community as well that we have not been as effective as we should have been in dealing with this problem and it is a shame on us, it really is, and it is something that I am very, very ashamed of and it is something that we absolutely must put right.”“I would say absolutely that we need to apologise to our colleagues within my own party who have been very upset but to the whole of the Jewish community as well that we have not been as effective as we should have been in dealing with this problem and it is a shame on us, it really is, and it is something that I am very, very ashamed of and it is something that we absolutely must put right.”
How the papers covered itHow the papers covered it
Our full wrap of the newspapers’ front pages is here.Our full wrap of the newspapers’ front pages is here.
What’s happening today?What’s happening today?
Corbyn will make a statement on NHS in London at 10am, before heading to Falmouth to speak at a climate change rally tonight.Corbyn will make a statement on NHS in London at 10am, before heading to Falmouth to speak at a climate change rally tonight.
Johnson will be in the south-west talking about boosting phone signal in rural areas.Johnson will be in the south-west talking about boosting phone signal in rural areas.
The SNP will launch its manifesto in Glasgow.The SNP will launch its manifesto in Glasgow.
Nigel Farage will be in Doncaster. Chuka Umunna, Sam Gyimah and Michael Heseltine will be giving a press conference in London.Nigel Farage will be in Doncaster. Chuka Umunna, Sam Gyimah and Michael Heseltine will be giving a press conference in London.
Good morning, politics-watchers. I hope you’ve all had better sleeps than the one I imagine Jeremy Corbyn had last night after a bruising day for the Labour leader.Good morning, politics-watchers. I hope you’ve all had better sleeps than the one I imagine Jeremy Corbyn had last night after a bruising day for the Labour leader.
The antisemitism accusations – which came on the day Labour was seeking to brand itself as the party of equality and compassion through the launch of its race and faith manifesto – dogged the party all day, and look as if they will be difficult to shake, after Jeremy Corbyn’s interview with Andrew Neil last night in which he repeatedly resisted calls to apologise to the Jewish community. The Guardian’s religion correspondent, Harriet Sherwood, spoke to Jewish community leaders and heard that while plenty of Jews in the UK would say the chief rabbi does not speak for them, many, probably most, agree with the thrust of his unprecedented intervention in the election campaign.The antisemitism accusations – which came on the day Labour was seeking to brand itself as the party of equality and compassion through the launch of its race and faith manifesto – dogged the party all day, and look as if they will be difficult to shake, after Jeremy Corbyn’s interview with Andrew Neil last night in which he repeatedly resisted calls to apologise to the Jewish community. The Guardian’s religion correspondent, Harriet Sherwood, spoke to Jewish community leaders and heard that while plenty of Jews in the UK would say the chief rabbi does not speak for them, many, probably most, agree with the thrust of his unprecedented intervention in the election campaign.
After a difficult day, the Labour leader will be aiming to steer the conversation back to safer ground, by making a “major statement” on the NHS in Westminster in the morning and then heading to Falmouth where he will address a climate change rally.After a difficult day, the Labour leader will be aiming to steer the conversation back to safer ground, by making a “major statement” on the NHS in Westminster in the morning and then heading to Falmouth where he will address a climate change rally.
Boris Johnson will also be hoping to move away from talk of faith, after comments by the prime minister likening Muslim women who wear veils to “letterboxes” or “bank robbers” resurfaced. The chancellor, Sajid Javid, was asked about the comments yesterday and refused to condemn them. Johnson later dismissed criticism by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). The MCB has also released a report urging parties to tackle racism and Islamophobia to win the support of Muslim voters, which particularly singled out the Conservatives and “sections of the media” for “growing Islamophobia”.Boris Johnson will also be hoping to move away from talk of faith, after comments by the prime minister likening Muslim women who wear veils to “letterboxes” or “bank robbers” resurfaced. The chancellor, Sajid Javid, was asked about the comments yesterday and refused to condemn them. Johnson later dismissed criticism by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). The MCB has also released a report urging parties to tackle racism and Islamophobia to win the support of Muslim voters, which particularly singled out the Conservatives and “sections of the media” for “growing Islamophobia”.
The prime minister will be in the south-west today, setting out plans for new phone masts and shared infrastructure to strengthen phone signals in rural areas. Again, will this be enough to make voters forget about Johnson’s comments? We’ll see.The prime minister will be in the south-west today, setting out plans for new phone masts and shared infrastructure to strengthen phone signals in rural areas. Again, will this be enough to make voters forget about Johnson’s comments? We’ll see.
Thanks for reading along with us today, I’ll be at the helm of the blog for the first hour, you can get in touch with me on Twitter or via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).Thanks for reading along with us today, I’ll be at the helm of the blog for the first hour, you can get in touch with me on Twitter or via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).