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| General election: Corbyn expresses doubts about Trump's NHS pledge ahead of possible meeting – live news | General election: Corbyn expresses doubts about Trump's NHS pledge ahead of possible meeting – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Doctors and nurses to march to Buckingham Palace, where US president to dine with Queen and other leaders | Doctors and nurses to march to Buckingham Palace, where US president to dine with Queen and other leaders |
| Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, has said that she does not trust President Trump when he says that he does not want the NHS to be included in a UK-US trade deal. (See 10.15am.) Responding to what Trump said this morning, and referring to what the president said in a press conference in Britain in the summer, she said: | |
| Swinson also suggested that Trump’s comments this morning had been coordinated with No 10. Asked if she thought they had been agreed with Downing Street, she replied: | |
| At a campaign event in Perth, where the SNP’s Pete Wishart is hoping to increase his majority of 23 votes over the Tories, I witnessed a phenomenon that it’s important to register is still ongoing: someone bursting into tears as they get a selfie with Nicola Sturgeon. | |
| “How can you not love her?” asked a tearful June Abbott, 69, a long-time independence supporter after the first minister had apologised for making her cry. “She just feels like she’s one of us.” | |
| As cheering activists congregated around Wishart and Sturgeon at the city street stall, many reported what they believe is a change in mood towards their party since the last election campaign. The presence of a Brexit party candidate, who locals say has not been particularly visible, certainly helps in terms of hoovering up some former Tory voters, but Wishart himself was in buoyant mood, telling journalists that the two words doing best on the doorstep were “Boris” and “Johnson” in terms of winning SNP votes. | |
| Speaking to reporters during the visit, Sturgeon repeated concerns that Scotland’s NHS was “on the line” if a Tory-Trump post-Brexit trade deal were to take place. | |
| Asked about continuing concerns from the Scottish Jewish community about the SNP propping up a Corbyn minority administration, she said that she had yet to watch Corbyn’s earlier remarks on antisemitism (see 11.32am), but added: | |
| Speaking at a rally in Bassetlaw earlier Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claimed that his decision to stand down candidates in Tory-held constituencies might have cost up to 24 seats. He said: | Speaking at a rally in Bassetlaw earlier Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claimed that his decision to stand down candidates in Tory-held constituencies might have cost up to 24 seats. He said: |
| Farage also claimed that he deserved the credit for Johnson becoming prime minister. He said: | Farage also claimed that he deserved the credit for Johnson becoming prime minister. He said: |
| Interesting, this analysis is one that Johnson shares himself. In their excellent new book about the Theresa May premiership, May at 10, Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell quote what Johnson said to his supporter Conor Burns on the day of the final ballot of MPs in the summer leadership contest. Johnson said: | Interesting, this analysis is one that Johnson shares himself. In their excellent new book about the Theresa May premiership, May at 10, Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell quote what Johnson said to his supporter Conor Burns on the day of the final ballot of MPs in the summer leadership contest. Johnson said: |
| If you can bear reliving the last three years, May at 10 is well worth reading. Some of the revelations are extraordinary. | If you can bear reliving the last three years, May at 10 is well worth reading. Some of the revelations are extraordinary. |
| Faisal Islam, the BBC’s economics editor, has posted a very good thread on Twitter explaining the extent to which drug prices would be an issue in a UK-US trade deal. It starts here. | Faisal Islam, the BBC’s economics editor, has posted a very good thread on Twitter explaining the extent to which drug prices would be an issue in a UK-US trade deal. It starts here. |
| And here are his conclusions. | And here are his conclusions. |
| From the Times’ Steven Swinford | From the Times’ Steven Swinford |
| Here are the main points from what Jeremy Corbyn said in his interview with Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 earlier about President Trump and the NHS. | Here are the main points from what Jeremy Corbyn said in his interview with Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 earlier about President Trump and the NHS. |
| Corbyn said he hoped to be able to tell President Trump tonight that the NHS would not be for sale in UK-US trade talks. The two men are both attending a Buckingham Palace reception for the Nato summit. Corbyn said, if he got the chance, he would deliver a message to Trump. Asked what he would say, he replied: | Corbyn said he hoped to be able to tell President Trump tonight that the NHS would not be for sale in UK-US trade talks. The two men are both attending a Buckingham Palace reception for the Nato summit. Corbyn said, if he got the chance, he would deliver a message to Trump. Asked what he would say, he replied: |
| Corbyn also stressed that he would be polite. He was “always polite”, he said. | Corbyn also stressed that he would be polite. He was “always polite”, he said. |
| Corbyn said he would ask Trump to change the guidelines issued to his trade negotiators to reflect the fact that the NHS was not on the table. Asked what he would say to Trump if Trump told him that he did not want access to the NHS, Corbyn replied: | Corbyn said he would ask Trump to change the guidelines issued to his trade negotiators to reflect the fact that the NHS was not on the table. Asked what he would say to Trump if Trump told him that he did not want access to the NHS, Corbyn replied: |
| But Corbyn also expressed scepticism about the assurances that Trump has given on this subject today. Asked about Trump saying this morning that the US would not want access to the NHS, even if that were offered “on a silver platter” (see 10.15am), Corbyn replied: | But Corbyn also expressed scepticism about the assurances that Trump has given on this subject today. Asked about Trump saying this morning that the US would not want access to the NHS, even if that were offered “on a silver platter” (see 10.15am), Corbyn replied: |
| Corbyn was referring to the talks between UK and US officials described in detail in confidential government papers that were leaked and released by Labour last week. When it was put to him that those papers did not contain evidence of British officials agreeing that the US would get access to the NHS in a trade deal, Corbyn replied: | Corbyn was referring to the talks between UK and US officials described in detail in confidential government papers that were leaked and released by Labour last week. When it was put to him that those papers did not contain evidence of British officials agreeing that the US would get access to the NHS in a trade deal, Corbyn replied: |
| Corbyn dismissed the significance of the claim in the Conservative election manifesto that “when we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table.” Asked about this assurance, Corbyn replied: | Corbyn dismissed the significance of the claim in the Conservative election manifesto that “when we are negotiating trade deals, the NHS will not be on the table.” Asked about this assurance, Corbyn replied: |
| This is what the Tory manifesto says in full on this point: | This is what the Tory manifesto says in full on this point: |
| Corbyn said, if he became prime minister, he would be respectful towards Trump in their dealings. Asked how he would treat the US president, he replied: | Corbyn said, if he became prime minister, he would be respectful towards Trump in their dealings. Asked how he would treat the US president, he replied: |
| And this is from my colleague Rowena Mason, who was with Boris Johnson in Salisbury this morning. | And this is from my colleague Rowena Mason, who was with Boris Johnson in Salisbury this morning. |
| From CNN’s Daniel Dale | From CNN’s Daniel Dale |
| From BuzzFeed’s Mark Di Stefano | From BuzzFeed’s Mark Di Stefano |
| Q: You have the lowest popularity ratings for a leader since records began. Does that worry you? | Q: You have the lowest popularity ratings for a leader since records began. Does that worry you? |
| Corbyn says he does not comment on polls. He will not start now. | Corbyn says he does not comment on polls. He will not start now. |
| This is not just about him, he says. | This is not just about him, he says. |
| He says he has a lot of highly motivated candidates who want to win the election. | He says he has a lot of highly motivated candidates who want to win the election. |
| The interview is over. Vine says they asked if there was a record Corbyn wanted to play. He says he was told Get Ready, by the Temptations. | The interview is over. Vine says they asked if there was a record Corbyn wanted to play. He says he was told Get Ready, by the Temptations. |
| Corbyn says he would be an “honest broker” in a second referendum campaign. | Corbyn says he would be an “honest broker” in a second referendum campaign. |
| Q: What happens if your team negotiates a fantastic Brexit deal, and you can hardly contain your excitement? | Q: What happens if your team negotiates a fantastic Brexit deal, and you can hardly contain your excitement? |
| Corbyn says he can contain his excitement in all circumstances. | Corbyn says he can contain his excitement in all circumstances. |
| Q: But what happens if it is so good that you should campaign for it? | Q: But what happens if it is so good that you should campaign for it? |
| Corbyn says he wants the public to take the decision. | Corbyn says he wants the public to take the decision. |
| Q: In your heart of hearts you are a Brexiter, aren’t you? | Q: In your heart of hearts you are a Brexiter, aren’t you? |
| Corbyn says he has been accused of many things. He wants a prosperous economy, and for the people to make the final decision. | Corbyn says he has been accused of many things. He wants a prosperous economy, and for the people to make the final decision. |
| Q: You are promising lots of free stuff. Can you afford this? | Q: You are promising lots of free stuff. Can you afford this? |
| Referring to broadband, Corbyn says this is an essential service. | Referring to broadband, Corbyn says this is an essential service. |
| Q: The IFS says it is unlikely Labour will be able to raise the sums it needs for its plans. | Q: The IFS says it is unlikely Labour will be able to raise the sums it needs for its plans. |
| Corbyn says that is what the IFS says. He says Labour thinks it can raise the money. There is a debate to be had about this, he says. He says the Labour party has spoken to the IFS about this. | Corbyn says that is what the IFS says. He says Labour thinks it can raise the money. There is a debate to be had about this, he says. He says the Labour party has spoken to the IFS about this. |
| Q: And, after the manifesto came out, you announced plans to spend £58bn compensating the Waspi women. Where does that money come from? | Q: And, after the manifesto came out, you announced plans to spend £58bn compensating the Waspi women. Where does that money come from? |
| Corbyn says Labour would use the “headroom” available. | Corbyn says Labour would use the “headroom” available. |
| Is it right to break a contract with these women, he asks. He says these women paid into the system expecting a pension. | Is it right to break a contract with these women, he asks. He says these women paid into the system expecting a pension. |
| Q: Shouldn’t Labour have pointed out in the 1990s what the government was doing on this? | Q: Shouldn’t Labour have pointed out in the 1990s what the government was doing on this? |
| Corbyn says Labour has said it will address this, and it will. | Corbyn says Labour has said it will address this, and it will. |
| And here are some lines from earlier in the interview. | And here are some lines from earlier in the interview. |
| Jeremy Corbyn is being interviewed by Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 now. | Jeremy Corbyn is being interviewed by Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 now. |
| Q: Dave Merritt, whose father Jack was killed in the London Bridge attack, said he did not want politicians to exploit his son’s death. But hasn’t Labour done some of this as well as the Conservatives, by talking about spending cuts? | Q: Dave Merritt, whose father Jack was killed in the London Bridge attack, said he did not want politicians to exploit his son’s death. But hasn’t Labour done some of this as well as the Conservatives, by talking about spending cuts? |
| Corbyn says he met Dave Merritt at the vigil yesterday. He says resources for prisons and the Probation Service are an issue. | Corbyn says he met Dave Merritt at the vigil yesterday. He says resources for prisons and the Probation Service are an issue. |
| Q: But won’t lots of people support the Tory ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ approach? | Q: But won’t lots of people support the Tory ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ approach? |
| Corbyn says this would require many more prison places. And eventually prisoners come out. | Corbyn says this would require many more prison places. And eventually prisoners come out. |
| Q: Doesn’t this case suggest deradicalisation does not work? | Q: Doesn’t this case suggest deradicalisation does not work? |
| Corbyn says the government should not allow prisons to become a breeding ground for extremism. | Corbyn says the government should not allow prisons to become a breeding ground for extremism. |