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| General election: Swinson condemns Johnson over Trump friendship ahead of London visit – live news | |
| (30 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 |
| 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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.” | “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. | 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”. | 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.” | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | The Lib Dem justice spokesman, Phillip Lee, will be in London to talk about mental health initiatives. |
| Nigel Farage will campaign in North Wales. | 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. | 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 Londonderry. | Sinn Féin will launch its manifesto in Londonderry. |
| Ukip will launch its manifesto in London. | Ukip will launch its manifesto in London. |
| And a new political ad from the Conservatives last night. | 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. | 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: “It seems like there’s three people in the special relationship. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. | Swinson said: “It seems like there’s three people in the special relationship. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. |
| “We obviously have a hugely important relationship with the US. But make no mistake, the current occupant of the White House is not somebody who shares our values. | “We obviously have a hugely important relationship with the US. But make no mistake, the current occupant of the White House is not somebody who shares our values. |
| “This is someone who has boasted about sexually assaulting women, whose policies are discriminatory against people from different religious backgrounds and is separating parents from their children at the border. And we should be very careful with that relationship. The last thing we should have done is roll out the red carpet for a state visit.” | “This is someone who has boasted about sexually assaulting women, whose policies are discriminatory against people from different religious backgrounds and is separating parents from their children at the border. And we should be very careful with that relationship. The last thing we should have done is roll out the red carpet for a state visit.” |
| 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. | 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. |