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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 leadersDoctors and nurses to march to Buckingham Palace, where US president to dine with Queen and other leaders
The BBC’s Andrew Neil has said the Tories are still refusing to suggest a date for his proposed interview with Boris Johnson.
These are from my colleague Damien Gayle, who is covering the anti-Trump protest in London this afternoon.These are from my colleague Damien Gayle, who is covering the anti-Trump protest in London this afternoon.
And Sky’s Sam Coates has the latest YouGov polling.And Sky’s Sam Coates has the latest YouGov polling.
Here are three polling-related stories/blogs that are worth reading.Here are three polling-related stories/blogs that are worth reading.
The Evening Standard says polling in London shows that Labour is increasing support. It says:The Evening Standard says polling in London shows that Labour is increasing support. It says:
This table has the figures.This table has the figures.
Stephen Bush at the New Statesman says Labour is gaining generally at the Lib Dems’ expense. He says:Stephen Bush at the New Statesman says Labour is gaining generally at the Lib Dems’ expense. He says:
Lord Ashcroft, the former Conservative deputy chairman who is now a polling specialist, says the latest polling he has commissioned shows Boris Johnson extending his lead over Jeremy Corbyn on the best PM measure. He says:Lord Ashcroft, the former Conservative deputy chairman who is now a polling specialist, says the latest polling he has commissioned shows Boris Johnson extending his lead over Jeremy Corbyn on the best PM measure. He says:
The changes marked in the chart are from last week.The changes marked in the chart are from last week.
From the Sun’s Tom Newton DunnFrom the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn
Boris Johnson floated the idea of introducing charges for the NHS, including for ambulance visits, in a Spectator column in 1995, Business Insider’s Adam Bienkov has revealed. In his story Bienkov reports:Boris Johnson floated the idea of introducing charges for the NHS, including for ambulance visits, in a Spectator column in 1995, Business Insider’s Adam Bienkov has revealed. In his story Bienkov reports:
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, has claimed that this proves Johnson has “extremist views on the NHS” and that he does not support the NHS being free at the point of use.Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, has claimed that this proves Johnson has “extremist views on the NHS” and that he does not support the NHS being free at the point of use.
At the time Johnson wrote the Spectator article he was not even an MP. He has not expressed views like this recently, and the Conservative manifesto describes the NHS as representing “the best of this country”, particularly because it is free at the point of use. At the time Johnson wrote the Spectator article he was not an MP. He has not expressed views like this recently, and the Conservative manifesto describes the NHS as representing “the best of this country”, particularly because it is free at the point of use.
Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, has said that she does not trust Donald 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:Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, has said that she does not trust Donald 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: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.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.”“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.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.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: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 SwinfordFrom 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: