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General election: leaders stake out climate credentials in Channel 4 debate – live news General election: leaders stake out climate credentials in Channel 4 debate – live news
(32 minutes later)
Boris Johnson replaced by melting ice sculpture in debate on Channel 4 discussing climate crisisBoris Johnson replaced by melting ice sculpture in debate on Channel 4 discussing climate crisis
Emma Barnett asks Labour’s Lucy Powell on BBC Newsnight how she would campaign in a confirmatory referendum - something that is in Labour’s Brexit policy.
Powell said that she will “probably vote remain”, but thinks “we are some way off that”.
She added that she has spent the last few months “trying to get a compromise deal through parliament” as she believed it was “the best way of bringing the country together”.
This comes after Labour’s Clive Lewis was unable to say what percentage of the shadow cabinet would campaign to remain.
Emma Barnett asks Charles Walker, vice-chair of the Conservative’s 1922 Committee, what the prime minister is afraid of, in reference to his refusal to attend several televised debates between party leaders and his failure to secure an interview date with Andrew Neil.
“If you ask me, I wouldn’t do Andrew Neil,” Walker responded.
Emma Barnett rebuts: “Andrew Neil isn’t a criminal, he’s a journalist.”
Walker continues: “Boris will do what he wants to do. He is the prime minister.”
He later adds that if he himself were to be interviewed by Neil, Neil would tear him “to pieces”.
Emma Barnett responds: “Let’s not demonise journalists, shall we?”
Barnett also adds that it seems that those who formerly employed the prime minister are able to interview him, referencing the Telegraph and the Spectator.
Labour’s shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis tells BBC Newsnight that he couldn’t say what percentage of the shadow cabinet would campaign for remain in the instance of a second referendum.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy has now taken to Twitter to respond to Michael Gove’s claim that Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon refused to debate a Conservative, in an ongoing row between Channel 4 News and the Conservative party:
The Twitter spat between the Conservatives and Ben de Pear, the editor of Channel 4 News, continues:The Twitter spat between the Conservatives and Ben de Pear, the editor of Channel 4 News, continues:
Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson says it is “deeply concerning” for Boris Johnson to threaten Channel 4 with its public service broadcasting licence for replacing him with an ice sculpture when he failed to turn up to tonight’s climate debate.Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson says it is “deeply concerning” for Boris Johnson to threaten Channel 4 with its public service broadcasting licence for replacing him with an ice sculpture when he failed to turn up to tonight’s climate debate.
Tom Watson has written to Ofcom to urge the regulator to “call out this meddling”.Tom Watson has written to Ofcom to urge the regulator to “call out this meddling”.
His letter adds: “Boris Johnson has banned the Daily Mirror from its battle bus, ducked the Andrew Neil interview and now attempted to bully Channel 4.His letter adds: “Boris Johnson has banned the Daily Mirror from its battle bus, ducked the Andrew Neil interview and now attempted to bully Channel 4.
“It’s simple. If the Prime Minister didn’t want to be embarrassed by being replaced with an ice sculpture, he should have turned up to the debate.“It’s simple. If the Prime Minister didn’t want to be embarrassed by being replaced with an ice sculpture, he should have turned up to the debate.
“The truth is, Boris Johnson is in hiding because his record of failure on the climate emergency is indefensible.”“The truth is, Boris Johnson is in hiding because his record of failure on the climate emergency is indefensible.”
The campaign group Grime4Corbyn has claimed a Conservative win at the general election could lead to people “dying from austerity cuts” and “freezing to death in their homes”.The campaign group Grime4Corbyn has claimed a Conservative win at the general election could lead to people “dying from austerity cuts” and “freezing to death in their homes”.
Co-organiser Sofia Mason, 34, described the Tory party as “racist and harmful for our communities” and urged voters to opt for Labour in December.Co-organiser Sofia Mason, 34, described the Tory party as “racist and harmful for our communities” and urged voters to opt for Labour in December.
The Grime 4 Corbyn campaign group was inspired by grime artists expressing their support for the Labour leader at the 2017 election, and works with musicians to put on events.The Grime 4 Corbyn campaign group was inspired by grime artists expressing their support for the Labour leader at the 2017 election, and works with musicians to put on events.
More on the story of the SNP candidate for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Neale Hanvey, who was stripped of his candidacy following alleged antisemitism:More on the story of the SNP candidate for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, Neale Hanvey, who was stripped of his candidacy following alleged antisemitism:
In a statement issued via his Twitter account, Hanvey issued an “unequivocal apology” for posting two items which he now realised were offensive and inappropriate. He said he fully supported the SNP’s decision to remove him as its candidate and suspend his party membership pending investigation.In a statement issued via his Twitter account, Hanvey issued an “unequivocal apology” for posting two items which he now realised were offensive and inappropriate. He said he fully supported the SNP’s decision to remove him as its candidate and suspend his party membership pending investigation.
He confirmed one was a Sputnik article which pictured Soros holding two world leaders as puppets, but did not realise that was an antisemitic trope. “I did not give any thought to Mr Soros’s faith. [I] fully accept that this was wrong,” Hanvey said.He confirmed one was a Sputnik article which pictured Soros holding two world leaders as puppets, but did not realise that was an antisemitic trope. “I did not give any thought to Mr Soros’s faith. [I] fully accept that this was wrong,” Hanvey said.
The second post drew parallels between the treatment of Palestinians today with the “unconscionable” treatment of Jews in Europe during the second world war. “This was insensitive, upsetting and deeply offensive”, Hanvey said.The second post drew parallels between the treatment of Palestinians today with the “unconscionable” treatment of Jews in Europe during the second world war. “This was insensitive, upsetting and deeply offensive”, Hanvey said.
Both posts were “dreadful errors of judgment,” he said. “I accept there may not be the words to express my regret for those I have offended but I am genuinely and deeply sorry.”Both posts were “dreadful errors of judgment,” he said. “I accept there may not be the words to express my regret for those I have offended but I am genuinely and deeply sorry.”
The BBC is demanding the Conservatives take down Facebook adverts featuring footage of its journalists Laura Kuenssberg and Huw Edwards, arguing that their inclusion could damage perceptions of the corporation’s impartiality.The BBC is demanding the Conservatives take down Facebook adverts featuring footage of its journalists Laura Kuenssberg and Huw Edwards, arguing that their inclusion could damage perceptions of the corporation’s impartiality.
The paid-for advert uses footage of the BBC’s political editor and the News at Ten host to argue that chaotic debates over Brexit can be avoided if people vote Conservative.The paid-for advert uses footage of the BBC’s political editor and the News at Ten host to argue that chaotic debates over Brexit can be avoided if people vote Conservative.
The move is in common with other intentionally provocative stunts pulled by the Conservatives during this campaign, such as rebranding their press office Twitter account as a fact checker.The move is in common with other intentionally provocative stunts pulled by the Conservatives during this campaign, such as rebranding their press office Twitter account as a fact checker.
Read more from the Guardian’s media editor, Jim Waterson, below:Read more from the Guardian’s media editor, Jim Waterson, below:
15-year-old Izzy Warren, the climate change activist from West London who confronted Michael Gove as he arrived at Channel 4 earlier, has spoken to the Guardian.“I just saw a really good opportunity to find out why Boris Johnson, the current prime minister, doesn’t view my generation’s future as a priority, why he doesn’t think it deserves his time,” she said.“I asked Gove why, if the Conservatives think this is a priority, the prime minister wasn’t here today,” said Warren. He told her that it shouldn’t matter who was there to speak and that they had the most ambitious manifesto ever on climate change.15-year-old Izzy Warren, the climate change activist from West London who confronted Michael Gove as he arrived at Channel 4 earlier, has spoken to the Guardian.“I just saw a really good opportunity to find out why Boris Johnson, the current prime minister, doesn’t view my generation’s future as a priority, why he doesn’t think it deserves his time,” she said.“I asked Gove why, if the Conservatives think this is a priority, the prime minister wasn’t here today,” said Warren. He told her that it shouldn’t matter who was there to speak and that they had the most ambitious manifesto ever on climate change.
“This is a party that has been in power for ten years and we haven’t seen climate action,” she said.Asked if he looked surprised, she added: “I think older men, quite frankly, aren’t used to being challenged by teenage girls. Which makes it all the more fun when you get to do it.”“This is a party that has been in power for ten years and we haven’t seen climate action,” she said.Asked if he looked surprised, she added: “I think older men, quite frankly, aren’t used to being challenged by teenage girls. Which makes it all the more fun when you get to do it.”
Here is video footage of Michael Gove getting confronted by Warren outside the Channel 4 studios in London:Here is video footage of Michael Gove getting confronted by Warren outside the Channel 4 studios in London:
Green party deputy leader, Amelia Womack, echoed Gruffydd’s frustration with the main parties.Green party deputy leader, Amelia Womack, echoed Gruffydd’s frustration with the main parties.
Speaking backstage, she said that it was frustrating to see parties who had been in government and opposition and who had previously taken no action, “feeling the time is now” to say it is their priority.Speaking backstage, she said that it was frustrating to see parties who had been in government and opposition and who had previously taken no action, “feeling the time is now” to say it is their priority.
She acknowledged that it was a welcome development that there was a TV debate on the subject. “It was only 2017 when [Green MP] Caroline Lucas was walking around Westminster with a big green question mark asking where the environment was in the public debate and just a few years later it’s become a central topic that parties are going to get held to account for.”She acknowledged that it was a welcome development that there was a TV debate on the subject. “It was only 2017 when [Green MP] Caroline Lucas was walking around Westminster with a big green question mark asking where the environment was in the public debate and just a few years later it’s become a central topic that parties are going to get held to account for.”
Llyr Gruffydd, a Plaid Cymru Welsh assembly member for north Wales, was watching the debate from backstage.Llyr Gruffydd, a Plaid Cymru Welsh assembly member for north Wales, was watching the debate from backstage.
“It always riles me to hear Jeremy Corbyn making these promises when we’ve had twenty years of Labour governments in Wales,” he said. “They are getting away with that all the time. In places where they have the power to affect that change, we’re just not seeing it.”“It always riles me to hear Jeremy Corbyn making these promises when we’ve had twenty years of Labour governments in Wales,” he said. “They are getting away with that all the time. In places where they have the power to affect that change, we’re just not seeing it.”
He repeated criticism by the party’s leader Adam Price of Labour’s plans to nationalise the gas grid. “They are going to pump tens of billions of pounds into buying infrastructure that they are effectively going to mothball and that’s money that they could actually invest in renewable energy. That’s questionable.”He repeated criticism by the party’s leader Adam Price of Labour’s plans to nationalise the gas grid. “They are going to pump tens of billions of pounds into buying infrastructure that they are effectively going to mothball and that’s money that they could actually invest in renewable energy. That’s questionable.”
Gruffydd described the suggestion that Channel 4 had conspired with Jeremy Corbyn to block the Conservatives from the debate as nonsense. “It’s so Cummings-eque,” he said. “It’s exactly the kind of thing we’ve learned to expect from the Tories. If they can’t engage in the debate then it’s toys and prams stuff.”Gruffydd described the suggestion that Channel 4 had conspired with Jeremy Corbyn to block the Conservatives from the debate as nonsense. “It’s so Cummings-eque,” he said. “It’s exactly the kind of thing we’ve learned to expect from the Tories. If they can’t engage in the debate then it’s toys and prams stuff.”
Conservative party chairman James Cleverly and Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear have shared a frank exchange of opinion on Twitter:Conservative party chairman James Cleverly and Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear have shared a frank exchange of opinion on Twitter:
A Conservative party spokesperson has accused Channel 4 of bias.A Conservative party spokesperson has accused Channel 4 of bias.
“We are deeply disappointed that Channel 4 News has conspired with Jeremy Corbyn to block the Conservatives from making the case for tackling climate change and protecting the environment in this evening’s debate,” they said.“Under this Government the UK was the first advanced economy in the world to legislate for a net zero target and we’ve reduced emissions faster than any other advanced economy while continuing to grow our economy. Broadcasters have important responsibilities to present a balanced debate representing all parties, and Michael Gove was well qualified to represent the Conservative position at this evening’s debate.”“We are deeply disappointed that Channel 4 News has conspired with Jeremy Corbyn to block the Conservatives from making the case for tackling climate change and protecting the environment in this evening’s debate,” they said.“Under this Government the UK was the first advanced economy in the world to legislate for a net zero target and we’ve reduced emissions faster than any other advanced economy while continuing to grow our economy. Broadcasters have important responsibilities to present a balanced debate representing all parties, and Michael Gove was well qualified to represent the Conservative position at this evening’s debate.”
Michael Gove was turned away from the debate, which was for party leaders only, after Boris Johnson refused to attend.Michael Gove was turned away from the debate, which was for party leaders only, after Boris Johnson refused to attend.
The Conservatives are now threatening to review the channel’s broadcasting remit after it decided to replace Boris Johnson with a melting ice sculpture during the debate.The Conservatives are now threatening to review the channel’s broadcasting remit after it decided to replace Boris Johnson with a melting ice sculpture during the debate.
This from Holly Gillibrand, a 14-year-old FridaysForFuture activist in Scotland on the climate debate:This from Holly Gillibrand, a 14-year-old FridaysForFuture activist in Scotland on the climate debate:
Michael Gove, who attempted to replace Boris Johnson in the Channel 4 climate debate, was confronted at the channel’s London studios by a 15-year-old climate activist.Michael Gove, who attempted to replace Boris Johnson in the Channel 4 climate debate, was confronted at the channel’s London studios by a 15-year-old climate activist.
As he was turned away from the debate after being told it was for party leaders only, he was confronted by Izzy Warren, who lambasted the prime minister’s failure to attend.As he was turned away from the debate after being told it was for party leaders only, he was confronted by Izzy Warren, who lambasted the prime minister’s failure to attend.
She told him: “What young people think is Boris Johnson’s showing up to discuss Brexit, he’s showing up to discuss all these other issues.She told him: “What young people think is Boris Johnson’s showing up to discuss Brexit, he’s showing up to discuss all these other issues.
“And actually he’s not here to talk about the climate. He’s not here to talk about what is ultimately the most pressing issue.”“And actually he’s not here to talk about the climate. He’s not here to talk about what is ultimately the most pressing issue.”
Michael Gove - a former environment secretary - replied: “I’m here. I can talk about it.”Michael Gove - a former environment secretary - replied: “I’m here. I can talk about it.”
You can watch the exchange in full below:You can watch the exchange in full below: