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/dec/02/general-election-swinson-condemns-johnson-over-trump-friendship-ahead-of-london-visit-live

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
General election: Council tax more likely to go up under Tories than Labour, IFS suggests – live news General election: Council tax more likely to go up under Tories than Labour, IFS suggests – live news
(32 minutes later)
Ahead of Trump’s arrival for Nato, Lib Dem leader said leaders should be ‘very careful’ about relationship with the presidentAhead of Trump’s arrival for Nato, Lib Dem leader said leaders should be ‘very careful’ about relationship with the president
Nigel Farage is still speaking at the Brexit party events.
He says leavers may like Boris Johnson. They might be related to one of his many children, Farage says. He then suggests he should not have said that.
But leavers should vote for the Brexit party, he says, to ensure that they get the Brexit they voted for.
Ask our experts a question
As part of a new series you can ask our political team any questions you have about the general election, and they will post their responses on the politics live blog between 12.30pm and 1.30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until polling week.
Today, Peter Walker, a political correspondent for the Guardian, will answer your questions about the Liberal Democrat manifesto. You can ask your question via our form here.
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now speaking at the Brexit party event in north Wales.
There is a live feed here.
Farage says he appeared in the seven-party ITV debate last night. He says it was a competition to see who could appear the most virtuous.
He says the other people in the debate were a “bunch of robots”. Their answers were pre-prepared, he says. And even their final statements; Farage complains that his rivals had scripted their final statements before the debate was over.
He says the London Bridge attack should be a cause for concern. But it should also be a matter of concern that there are 74 convicted terrorists free on the streets, and another 400 people at large who went to fight for Islamic State.
Farage says jihadists should be locked up for life.
And here is some more from the Institute for Fiscal Studies briefing on the election promises and local government funding. (See 10.51am.)And here is some more from the Institute for Fiscal Studies briefing on the election promises and local government funding. (See 10.51am.)
Council funding in England has fallen by 24% per head since 2009-10, the IFS says. It explains:Council funding in England has fallen by 24% per head since 2009-10, the IFS says. It explains:
Council funding in the most deprived areas has fallen by even more, the IFS says. It explains:Council funding in the most deprived areas has fallen by even more, the IFS says. It explains:
The Conservative plan to ensure that people do not have to sell their home to pay for their social care could discriminate against renters and people who have moved to a smaller home, the IFS says. It argues:The Conservative plan to ensure that people do not have to sell their home to pay for their social care could discriminate against renters and people who have moved to a smaller home, the IFS says. It argues:
All three main parties have unfunded commitments on adult social care spending, the IFS says, “suggesting this will be an important and potentially problematic issue whoever forms the next government”.All three main parties have unfunded commitments on adult social care spending, the IFS says, “suggesting this will be an important and potentially problematic issue whoever forms the next government”.
From my colleague Kate Proctor, who is covering a Brexit party event in north WalesFrom my colleague Kate Proctor, who is covering a Brexit party event in north Wales
Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan, the major of London, are paying tribute to the victims of the London Bridge attack at a vigil this morning. This is from Sky’s Jason Farrell.Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan, the major of London, are paying tribute to the victims of the London Bridge attack at a vigil this morning. This is from Sky’s Jason Farrell.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published a briefing on the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat plans for local government funding. This is not an issue that has attracted much attention in the campaign so far, but it deserves some focus because councils provide vital services – and the gap between what’s on offer from the Tories and Labour is vast.The Institute for Fiscal Studies has published a briefing on the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat plans for local government funding. This is not an issue that has attracted much attention in the campaign so far, but it deserves some focus because councils provide vital services – and the gap between what’s on offer from the Tories and Labour is vast.
Although the Conservatives claim to be a low-tax party, under their plans it is more likely that council tax would have to rise, the IFS suggests.Although the Conservatives claim to be a low-tax party, under their plans it is more likely that council tax would have to rise, the IFS suggests.
Here is an excerpt from the briefing, which covers plans for local government funding in England.Here is an excerpt from the briefing, which covers plans for local government funding in England.
Of course, there would be less need for council tax rises under Labour because local authorities would be getting more funding as a result tax increases imposed by Labour elsewhere in the system.Of course, there would be less need for council tax rises under Labour because local authorities would be getting more funding as a result tax increases imposed by Labour elsewhere in the system.
In her BBC phone-in Nicola Sturgeon said she would like to see the SNP represented in the talks with the EU that would take place if Labour formed a government and negotiated a new Brexit deal. This issue came up in response to a question about fishing. Asked if the SNP would want to have someone negotiating alongside Labour on this, Sturgeon replied:In her BBC phone-in Nicola Sturgeon said she would like to see the SNP represented in the talks with the EU that would take place if Labour formed a government and negotiated a new Brexit deal. This issue came up in response to a question about fishing. Asked if the SNP would want to have someone negotiating alongside Labour on this, Sturgeon replied:
When asked if this meant she wanted “someone at the table”, she replied:When asked if this meant she wanted “someone at the table”, she replied:
Fishing is an awkward topic for the SNP because the EU’s common fisheries policy is hugely unpopular with the Scottish fishing industry, and the Conservatives are fond of arguing that the SNP plan to stay in or rejoin the EU amounts to staying in or rejoining the CFP.Fishing is an awkward topic for the SNP because the EU’s common fisheries policy is hugely unpopular with the Scottish fishing industry, and the Conservatives are fond of arguing that the SNP plan to stay in or rejoin the EU amounts to staying in or rejoining the CFP.
Sturgeon said that she wanted to see the CFP “fundamentally changed and reformed”. But she also argued that the Conservatives were misleading fishermen in implying that after Brexit they would get everything they wanted. Access to UK waters for EU fishermen would end up being part of the overall trade negotiation, she suggested.Sturgeon said that she wanted to see the CFP “fundamentally changed and reformed”. But she also argued that the Conservatives were misleading fishermen in implying that after Brexit they would get everything they wanted. Access to UK waters for EU fishermen would end up being part of the overall trade negotiation, she suggested.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister and the SNP leader, has been going a phone-in on Radio 5 Live and BBC News. Asked how she would vote if she live in England in a Labour/Lib Dem marginal, she at first replied that she could not say. She did not like either of them, she said:Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister and the SNP leader, has been going a phone-in on Radio 5 Live and BBC News. Asked how she would vote if she live in England in a Labour/Lib Dem marginal, she at first replied that she could not say. She did not like either of them, she said:
But she concluded saying she would urge people to vote tactically to keep the Tories out.But she concluded saying she would urge people to vote tactically to keep the Tories out.
Survation has released a new poll overnight. Confirming an impression given by some of the polls in the Sunday papers, it suggests that the Conservative lead over Labour is narrowing slightly - although the Conservatives are still well ahead. As you all know, these figures are not necessarily a reliable guide to the election result – although they are not necessarily wrong either.Survation has released a new poll overnight. Confirming an impression given by some of the polls in the Sunday papers, it suggests that the Conservative lead over Labour is narrowing slightly - although the Conservatives are still well ahead. As you all know, these figures are not necessarily a reliable guide to the election result – although they are not necessarily wrong either.
Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report has a good summary of the Sunday newspaper polling here.Anthony Wells at UK Polling Report has a good summary of the Sunday newspaper polling here.
Here is the BBC’s Norman Smith on the Tory argument that the last Labour government was soft on terrorism.Here is the BBC’s Norman Smith on the Tory argument that the last Labour government was soft on terrorism.
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Amy Walker.
Here is the full quote from Phillip Lee earlier (see 8.20am) about Boris Johnson’s call for longer jail sentences for terrorists following the London Bridge attack on Friday. Lee, a Tory justice minister from 2016 until he resigned over Brexit in 2018, said Johnson was not being realistic because there weren’t enough prison places for this sort of policy. Lee is now the Lib Dem justice spokesman and the party’s candidate in Wokingham, where he is hoping to unseat the Tory Brexiter John Redwood.
Lee told Sky News:
This is what Johnson said on Saturday about sentencing after the London Bridge attack.
These two polices both go further than what Johnson was proposing in the Conservative published less than a week earlier. In the manifesto, on sentencing, the Tories were just calling for “tougher sentencing for the worst offenders” and an end to automatic halfway release from prison for serious crimes.
The justice secretary, Robert Buckland, has reasserted the prime minister’s pledge to implement tougher sentences for prisoners convicted of terrorist or extremism offences.
His comments came after the family of one of the victim’s of Friday’s attack near London Bridge asked for their son’s death not to be used for kneejerk political reaction.
Speaking to BBC Radio Four’s Today programme, Buckland said:
More criticism is being directed at the government’s own policies, after Boris Johnson tried to blame Labour for the release of a terrorist who stabbed two people to death on Friday.
The Lib Dem justice spokesman, Dr Phillip Lee, who served as a justice minister in Theresa May’s government, accused the prime minister of taking from the “Trump playbook”, adding that Conservative plans to extend prison sentences would be “extremely difficult” to put into practice because of a lack of prison spaces.
“We never really had enough prison places in all the time I was a justice minister,” the former Conservative MP told Kay Burley on Sky News’ flagship breakfast show.
Lee argued that investment in police, the courts and probation had “all got to be working well” in order to bolster the criminal justice system so that we are “able to lock up people like Usman Khan for much longer, indeed forever”.
Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, has been talking to BBC Radio 5 Live this morning, after the party announced plans to cut rail fares.
Asked to justify plans to use funds from vehicle excise duty that had formerly been earmarked for road-building to subsidise cheaper rail fares, McDonald said: “You cannot road-build your way out of a climate crisis.”
He added that concerns over the environmental emergency “is what will be delivering my thinking if I’m going to take over at the Department for Transport”.
The proposal would immediately reduce the price of season tickets and other regulated fares by a third, as well as simplifying the ticketing system across the country, according to Labour.
Morning, Amy Walker here, I’ll be taking over the politics liveblog for the next hour or so.
Nick Hardwick, the former head of the Parole Board, has criticised government changes to the criminal justice system after the London Bridge attacker Usman Khan was released from prison under licence.
“The cuts and reorganisations of the prisons and probation service have made them much less able to do their jobs and keep the rest of us safe,” Hardwick told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“We’ve neglected the criminal justice system for too long and now the chickens are coming home to roost.”
The comments came after Boris Johnson was criticised on Sunday for his attempt to turn the attack into an election issue, blaming Labour for Khan’s early release.
Hardwick described what he called “silly political point-scoring” as “deeply disrespectful to the family and friends of the people who were killed”.
He also argued that “day-to-day engagement” was needed to help rehabilitate prisoners. He added: “Simply addressing policing, simply addressing sentencing won’t work, it’s a pipeline.”
Vigil to be held in London for London Bridge victims
PA Media reports a vigil will be held to pay tribute to the victims killed in the London Bridge terror attack and to honour the emergency services and members of the public who responded to the incident.
Former University of Cambridge students Saskia Jones, 23, and Jack Merritt, 25, were fatally stabbed by 28-year-old convicted terrorist Usman Khan in Friday’s attack.
The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, will be among those due to gather at 11am on Monday at a remembrance service at Guildhall Yard, where Londoners will be able to lay flowers.
It comes as West Midlands police said a 34-year-old man arrested in Stoke-on-Trent on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts had been recalled to prison due to a suspected breach of his licence conditions.
What’s happening today:
Labour has announced what it is billing as the biggest ever plan to cut rail fares, promising to immediately reduce the price of season tickets by a third. Jeremy Corbyn will be in London to talk rail policies.
Boris Johnson will be in the south of England before he heads to a rally in the east of England.
The Lib Dem justice spokesman, Phillip Lee, will be in London to talk about mental health initiatives.
Nigel Farage will campaign in North Wales.
Nicola Sturgeon will visit Lockerbie, where she will warn that rural Scotland is among the areas most at risk from a bad Brexit deal.
Sinn Féin will launch its manifesto in Derry.
Ukip will launch its manifesto in London.
And a new political ad from the Conservatives last night.
In light of the plea from Jack Merritt’s family that his death not be used for political ends, there are some interesting front pages today.
David Merritt, the father of the man killed in the attack, has taken issue with the front pages of the Mail and Express, urging them not to use his son’s death “to promote your vile propaganda”.
And, in very different coverage, here’s the front page of today’s Cambridge News, which is the paper from the town that Merritt and the other victim Saskia Jones studied and lived.
Good morning and welcome to the first day of the last full week of the election campaign. We’re in the home stretch now, folks.
Yesterday was a big day for politicians being controversial on TV. Boris Johnson was accused of using his extended sit-down with Andrew Marr to make the London Bridge attacks political, by laying the blame for the release of the attacker at Labour’s feet, despite pleas from the family of one of the victims not to exploit victims’ deaths.
Meanwhile, party leaders attacked the prime minister for his closeness to Donald Trump in a seven-way TV debate on the eve of the US president’s visit to the UK for a Nato summit.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru all expressed concern about Johnson’s relationship with Trump, with Nicola Sturgeon saying he should “sup with a very long spoon” when dealing with the president.
Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, was applauded for a speech condemning Trump for his comments on women and religious minorities, while Richard Burgon, Labour’s shadow justice secretary, accused Trump and Johnson of “conspiring” together.
Swinson said:
We’ll be bringing you the political news throughout the day and into the night, thanks for reading along. You can reach me on Twitter here, get in touch with any comments, questions, jokes, before I hand over the blog to my colleague in the next hour or so.