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| General election: Johnson insists he opposed early release for terrorists long before London Bridge attack – live news | General election: Johnson insists he opposed early release for terrorists long before London Bridge attack – 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 |
| From the Telegraph’s US editor Ben Riley-Smith | |
| Boris Johnson has rejected claims that he has been opportunistically exploiting the London Bridge attack. In interviews this afternoon he said that he had been calling for some time for longer sentences for serious offenders, and that the Queen’s speech in October even included a bill on this topic. (See 4.55pm) | |
| But the sentencing bill in the Queen’s speech just proposed changing the automatic release point from halfway through a sentence to two-thirds of the way through a sentence for people serving sentences of four years or more for a serious violent or sexual offence. | |
| And the Conservative manifesto, published just five days before the London Bridge attack, effectively just replicated this, proposing “tougher sentencing for the worst offenders” and an end to automatic halfway release from prison for serious crimes. | |
| But now Johnson is proposing new measures: mandatory minimum 14-year sentences for serious terrorist offences, and no early release at all for all terrorism and extremism offences. (See 9.13am.) | |
| From LBC’s Theo Usherwood | From LBC’s Theo Usherwood |
| In a powerful article for the Guardian Dave Merritt, whose son Jack was killed on Friday in the London Bridge terror attack, has said that Jack would have been furious to see his death being used to justify making penal policy more draconian. Here is an extract: | In a powerful article for the Guardian Dave Merritt, whose son Jack was killed on Friday in the London Bridge terror attack, has said that Jack would have been furious to see his death being used to justify making penal policy more draconian. Here is an extract: |
| And here is the article in full: | And here is the article in full: |
| Boris Johnson has been saying more about the London Bridge attacks this afternoon in interviews with reporters. Here are the main points he has been making. | Boris Johnson has been saying more about the London Bridge attacks this afternoon in interviews with reporters. Here are the main points he has been making. |
| Johnson has rejected claims that he has been opportunistically exploiting the London Bridge attack for political purposes. Dave Merritt, whose son Jack was one of the two young prisoner rehabilitation specialists killed in the attack, has urged politicians not to use the attack as a pretext to introduce more draconian penal policies. Without referring directly to Merritt’s comments, Johnson responded by stressing that his commitment to longer sentences for serious offenders was long-standing. He said: | Johnson has rejected claims that he has been opportunistically exploiting the London Bridge attack for political purposes. Dave Merritt, whose son Jack was one of the two young prisoner rehabilitation specialists killed in the attack, has urged politicians not to use the attack as a pretext to introduce more draconian penal policies. Without referring directly to Merritt’s comments, Johnson responded by stressing that his commitment to longer sentences for serious offenders was long-standing. He said: |
| Johnson claimed it was “pretty obvious” that the killer, Usman Khan, was not suitable for early release. Asked if someone like Khan could ever be de-radicalised, he said: | Johnson claimed it was “pretty obvious” that the killer, Usman Khan, was not suitable for early release. Asked if someone like Khan could ever be de-radicalised, he said: |
| He also claimed that it was clear from the outset that Khan was not suitable for rehabilitation. | He also claimed that it was clear from the outset that Khan was not suitable for rehabilitation. |
| Johnson criticised the appeal court’s decision to reduce Khan’s sentence. He said: | Johnson criticised the appeal court’s decision to reduce Khan’s sentence. He said: |
| Welfare cuts were necessary to avoid mass unemployment during the austerity era, Jackson Carlaw, the interim Scottish Conservative leader, has said. On a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in, asked to explain why food bank use had gone up so much while the Conservatives had been in power, Carlaw replied: | Welfare cuts were necessary to avoid mass unemployment during the austerity era, Jackson Carlaw, the interim Scottish Conservative leader, has said. On a BBC Radio Scotland phone-in, asked to explain why food bank use had gone up so much while the Conservatives had been in power, Carlaw replied: |
| Carlaw argued the country was “now at the end of that period of austerity” and he said the Conservatives were now planning changes to the welfare system. He said: | Carlaw argued the country was “now at the end of that period of austerity” and he said the Conservatives were now planning changes to the welfare system. He said: |
| The Tory manifesto does commit the party to reducing the number of reassessments a disabled person must go through when claiming benefits, if a change in their condition is unlikely. | The Tory manifesto does commit the party to reducing the number of reassessments a disabled person must go through when claiming benefits, if a change in their condition is unlikely. |
| But the manifesto does not say anything specific about reducing the sanctions imposed on people who abuse the benefits system. I’ve asked the Scottish Conservatives to clarify what Carlaw was referring to when he raised this point in the phone-in, and I will post the reply when I get one. | But the manifesto does not say anything specific about reducing the sanctions imposed on people who abuse the benefits system. I’ve asked the Scottish Conservatives to clarify what Carlaw was referring to when he raised this point in the phone-in, and I will post the reply when I get one. |
| UPDATE: A Tory source says, when Carlaw spoke about the penalty being reduced for benefits abuse, he was just referring to the manifesto commitment to reduce the number of assessments disabled people need to undergo. | UPDATE: A Tory source says, when Carlaw spoke about the penalty being reduced for benefits abuse, he was just referring to the manifesto commitment to reduce the number of assessments disabled people need to undergo. |
| Phillip Lee, the former Tory justice minister who is now a Lib Dem candidate and justice spokesman for new party, has intensified his criticism of Boris Johnson’s response to the London Bridge terror attack. Expanding on what he told Sky News this morning (see 9.13am), Lee told PA Media: | Phillip Lee, the former Tory justice minister who is now a Lib Dem candidate and justice spokesman for new party, has intensified his criticism of Boris Johnson’s response to the London Bridge terror attack. Expanding on what he told Sky News this morning (see 9.13am), Lee told PA Media: |
| Asked if he believed Johnson had tried to use the aftermath of the attack for political advantage in the election, Lee said: | Asked if he believed Johnson had tried to use the aftermath of the attack for political advantage in the election, Lee said: |
| Lee said the issues raised by the case of Usman Khan were complex. | Lee said the issues raised by the case of Usman Khan were complex. |
| The Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard, has claimed there could be a swing of undecided voters toward his party. Speaking to PA Media, he said that polling should be taken “with a pinch of salt”. He went on: | The Scottish Labour leader, Richard Leonard, has claimed there could be a swing of undecided voters toward his party. Speaking to PA Media, he said that polling should be taken “with a pinch of salt”. He went on: |
| Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader, has said that her party’s voice is heard “loud and clear” at Westminster despite the fact that the party does not take its seats in the Commons. Speaking at the Sinn Féin manifesto launch in Derry, she said: | Mary Lou McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader, has said that her party’s voice is heard “loud and clear” at Westminster despite the fact that the party does not take its seats in the Commons. Speaking at the Sinn Féin manifesto launch in Derry, she said: |
| McDonald argued that her party’s “relentless representation” had been heard in Dublin, Brussels and Washington and helped inform the EU’s negotiating stance on Brexit. | McDonald argued that her party’s “relentless representation” had been heard in Dublin, Brussels and Washington and helped inform the EU’s negotiating stance on Brexit. |
| McDonald also rejected suggestions that Irish MPs could go to Westminster and stop Brexit. Pointing to the DUP’’s record, she said: | McDonald also rejected suggestions that Irish MPs could go to Westminster and stop Brexit. Pointing to the DUP’’s record, she said: |
| On the subject of Nigel Farage and the NHS (see 1.16pm), this is from Labour’s Richard Burgon, who debated with Farage in the seven-party ITV debate last night. | On the subject of Nigel Farage and the NHS (see 1.16pm), this is from Labour’s Richard Burgon, who debated with Farage in the seven-party ITV debate last night. |
| The truth has become a “disposable commodity” in this election, Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance party in Northern Ireland, has claimed. Long, who is a candidate in East Belfast, said this is the first election where she has felt that truth is being treated as opinion. | The truth has become a “disposable commodity” in this election, Naomi Long, leader of the Alliance party in Northern Ireland, has claimed. Long, who is a candidate in East Belfast, said this is the first election where she has felt that truth is being treated as opinion. |
| Thanks for all your questions | Thanks for all your questions |
| Next up will be the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks. She will be answering any questions you may have about the SNP at 12.30pm on Wednesday. | Next up will be the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks. She will be answering any questions you may have about the SNP at 12.30pm on Wednesday. |
| You can ask your question via our form here. | You can ask your question via our form here. |
| Q: There are quite a few claims that the manifesto talks about all cars becoming electric with 80% renewable energy. However, political parties are scarce on describing how they will meet this claim. What is the strategy for green energy research, application and electric car infrastructure implementation? Jordan Bizzell, 24, architectural assistant, London | Q: There are quite a few claims that the manifesto talks about all cars becoming electric with 80% renewable energy. However, political parties are scarce on describing how they will meet this claim. What is the strategy for green energy research, application and electric car infrastructure implementation? Jordan Bizzell, 24, architectural assistant, London |
| On the subject of renewable energy, the party does have some ambitious plans to shift to more sustainable sources, as well as energy-saving measures such as home insulation. It’s arguably not as ambitious as the Labour “green industrial revolution” plan, let alone that of the Greens (who came up with the green new deal concept), and credibility for such programmes can be debated. One issue is that it is sometimes hard to tell how well new energy mixes will work before they’re in place. For example, there was huge scepticism in the past about the cost and reliability of wind power … until wind power ended up being cheaper and more reliable than many said. | On the subject of renewable energy, the party does have some ambitious plans to shift to more sustainable sources, as well as energy-saving measures such as home insulation. It’s arguably not as ambitious as the Labour “green industrial revolution” plan, let alone that of the Greens (who came up with the green new deal concept), and credibility for such programmes can be debated. One issue is that it is sometimes hard to tell how well new energy mixes will work before they’re in place. For example, there was huge scepticism in the past about the cost and reliability of wind power … until wind power ended up being cheaper and more reliable than many said. |
| The party says all new cars should be electric by 2030, but also wants to invest more in public transport and active travel (walking and cycling, that is). E-car infrastructure is a tricky business in general, not least for people who don’t have driveways and need on-street charging. Entirely off the subject of the Lib Dems and on to my own interests, it’s worth noting that while e-cars are, of course, much better than, say, diesel ones, they don’t solve lots of other issues such as congestion, road danger, health issues from inactive lifestyles and so on. They don’t even solve all pollution problems, given new research into the problems caused by particulates from tyre and brake wear. But I digress. | The party says all new cars should be electric by 2030, but also wants to invest more in public transport and active travel (walking and cycling, that is). E-car infrastructure is a tricky business in general, not least for people who don’t have driveways and need on-street charging. Entirely off the subject of the Lib Dems and on to my own interests, it’s worth noting that while e-cars are, of course, much better than, say, diesel ones, they don’t solve lots of other issues such as congestion, road danger, health issues from inactive lifestyles and so on. They don’t even solve all pollution problems, given new research into the problems caused by particulates from tyre and brake wear. But I digress. |
| Q: What is the thinking behind ‘help to rent’? Wouldn’t it just make renters such as myself poorer and more burdened with debt? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to limit the size of deposits? Nathaniel McKenzie, 26, publisher, London | Q: What is the thinking behind ‘help to rent’? Wouldn’t it just make renters such as myself poorer and more burdened with debt? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to limit the size of deposits? Nathaniel McKenzie, 26, publisher, London |
| On the assumption you mean the “rent to own” idea, this seems to be an idea to help people be able to buy a home – but only if they want to. This would be for social housing, letting people who cannot afford to raise a deposit to buy a property instead buy their social home over 30 years, by letting their rent payments gradually pay off the cost of the home. This is, of course, in part a long-term help-to-buy scheme, which would deplete the stock of social housing, But the party says it would build at least 100,000 new social rent homes every year. | On the assumption you mean the “rent to own” idea, this seems to be an idea to help people be able to buy a home – but only if they want to. This would be for social housing, letting people who cannot afford to raise a deposit to buy a property instead buy their social home over 30 years, by letting their rent payments gradually pay off the cost of the home. This is, of course, in part a long-term help-to-buy scheme, which would deplete the stock of social housing, But the party says it would build at least 100,000 new social rent homes every year. |
| In an interview with Paul Waugh for HuffPost UK, Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said that leave-voting seats in the north of England and the Midlands were Labour’s “achilles heel” at this election. Many people in these areas were not yet sure how to vote, he said. | In an interview with Paul Waugh for HuffPost UK, Len McCluskey, the Unite general secretary, said that leave-voting seats in the north of England and the Midlands were Labour’s “achilles heel” at this election. Many people in these areas were not yet sure how to vote, he said. |
| McCluskey said that, if Labour were to form a government and negotiate a new version of Brexit, Unite could hold a special conference to decide whether it would back the deal, instead of backing remain as it did in 2016. | McCluskey said that, if Labour were to form a government and negotiate a new version of Brexit, Unite could hold a special conference to decide whether it would back the deal, instead of backing remain as it did in 2016. |
| A strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, McCluskey also acknowledged that his leadership was an issue for some voters. But he suggested that the media and disloyal Labour MPs were largely responsible for this being a problem. He explained: | A strong supporter of Jeremy Corbyn, McCluskey also acknowledged that his leadership was an issue for some voters. But he suggested that the media and disloyal Labour MPs were largely responsible for this being a problem. He explained: |