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| 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 president | Ahead of Trump’s arrival for Nato, Lib Dem leader said leaders should be ‘very careful’ about relationship with the president |
| Some of your questions so far have been about the Gender Recognition Act and the legalisation of cannabis: | |
| Q: Does the Lib Dem manifesto have anything to say about the Gender Recognition Act? Does it want people who self-identify as the opposite sex to be able to obtain a Gender Recognition Certificate and therefore a new birth certificate? Jane, London | |
| The manifesto says this on the issue, in its section on equality: “Complete reform of the Gender Recognition Act to remove the requirement for medical reports, scrap the fee and recognise non-binary gender identities.” In truth, I’ve not covered this area of the manifesto, or talked to any Lib Dems about this, so I don’t know a whole lot more than this. In my defence, the manifesto is 96 pages long. | |
| Q: Are the Lib Dems 100% banning fracking? I want o know this as Jo Swinson has voted in favour of fracking in the past, which I believe is despicable. Jules, Cornwall | |
| Their manifesto is unequivocal on this. On its sections about a green economy four, “priorities for a first parliament”. One says: “Investing in renewable power so that at least 80% of UK electricity is generated from renewables by 2030 – and banning fracking for good.” More generally, Swinson has been keen to try and distance herself from decisions taken under the 2010-15 coalition, when she held a series of junior ministerial roles. It’s up to voters to decide on this. | |
| Q: What are the implications of the legalising cannabis proposal? How popular is it and what do medical professionals say? Michael, 50s, manager in the charity sector, St Albans | |
| That’s arguably a bit outside the remit of this chat, but it’s worth noting that the Lib Dems have advocated drug decriminalisation in earlier elections. The costings document for the current manifesto shows the party would expect revenues of almost £1.5bn a year in duties on cannabis and savings on law enforcement. More widely, you can – and people do – argue endlessly about drug decriminalisation, but there are plenty of experts, and doctors, who argue in favour of it, in various forms, as well as treating the wider issue of drug use as a public health rather than a criminal matter. | |
| I’m Peter Walker, a political correspondent for the Guardian, and will be answering your questions on the Liberal Democrat manifesto today. I have spent much of this election campaign following the party around, including trips on both their battle buses. I have been covering politics since just after the Brexit referendum, and previously wrote about national and international news. Before joining the Guardian I worked for various other organisations, including Agence France-Presse, where I was based in Beijing, Hong Kong and Paris. | |
| If you have a question you can send it to us by filling in the form here. | |
| Nigel Farage is now taking questions. | |
| Asked about his decision to stand down Brexit party candidates in Tory-held constituencies, he says he did not want to take the risk of a hung parliament and putting “that Swinson girl” anywhere near power. | |
| Farage says it is wrong for Labour to say President Trump poses a threat to the EU. | |
| He says it was Labour that extended privatisation in the NHS, leading to the spread of superbugs in hospitals because cleaning services had been privatised, he says. | |
| And that’s it. Farage has finished his speech. | |
| Farage says Donald Trump is arriving in the UK today. | |
| He says the UK can share its secrets with America and other countries in the “five eyes” alliance. | |
| He says the UK is a very significant part of Nato. | |
| He says Emmanuel Macron, the French president, called Nato “brain dead”. | |
| And the EU wants to build a defence union, and flex its muscles around the world. | |
| The Europeans want Nato out of Europe, he claims. | |
| He says he keeps asking if Boris Johnson wants the UK out of the EU defence union. | |
| But the UK cannot serve both the EU defence union and Nato, he says. | |
| He says, if the UK leaves the EU defence union, it will become valueless. It won’t have the muscle it needs. | |
| But if the UK stays a member, that will undermine Nato, he claims. | |
| Nigel Farage is still speaking at the Brexit party event. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is now speaking at the Brexit party event in north Wales. |
| There is a live feed here. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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 Wales | From 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. |