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| World leaders gather at Buckingham Palace before Nato summit – as it happened | |
| (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 |
| That’s all from us for this evening. If you’d like to read more on today’s Nato reception, my colleague Caroline Davies has the full story: | That’s all from us for this evening. If you’d like to read more on today’s Nato reception, my colleague Caroline Davies has the full story: |
| And Andrew Sparrow has put together this detailed summary of the day’s politics news: | And Andrew Sparrow has put together this detailed summary of the day’s politics news: |
| The faking of an email that was used to back up the Lib Dems’ claims in a row with a news website over an embarrassing story was “utterly unacceptable”, the party’s leader has said. | The faking of an email that was used to back up the Lib Dems’ claims in a row with a news website over an embarrassing story was “utterly unacceptable”, the party’s leader has said. |
| A senior member of the party’s campaign team was suspended over the debacle last week. | A senior member of the party’s campaign team was suspended over the debacle last week. |
| This evening, the Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said: | This evening, the Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said: |
| We reported earlier that the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had said he was planning to confront Donald Trump over the plausibility of his assurances on the NHS during a reception at Buckingham Palace this evening (see: 2.44pm). | We reported earlier that the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had said he was planning to confront Donald Trump over the plausibility of his assurances on the NHS during a reception at Buckingham Palace this evening (see: 2.44pm). |
| There was some skepticism about whether or not Corbyn would be able to address the subject with Trump and the Guardian now understands he did not get the opportunity to do so. | There was some skepticism about whether or not Corbyn would be able to address the subject with Trump and the Guardian now understands he did not get the opportunity to do so. |
| Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, were left out in the cold outside No 10 as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, were invited to go inside ahead of them. | Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, were left out in the cold outside No 10 as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the Italian prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, were invited to go inside ahead of them. |
| The world leaders arrived at the Downing Street reception together in the US president’s car, the Beast, this evening. A choir ran through Christmas songs as guests began arriving, including Hark the Herald Angel, Walking in a Winter Wonderland and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. | The world leaders arrived at the Downing Street reception together in the US president’s car, the Beast, this evening. A choir ran through Christmas songs as guests began arriving, including Hark the Herald Angel, Walking in a Winter Wonderland and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. |
| Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, had arrived about 20 minutes earlier, followed shortly after by Justin Trudeau, then Angela Merkel, who stopped to admire the choir. | Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, had arrived about 20 minutes earlier, followed shortly after by Justin Trudeau, then Angela Merkel, who stopped to admire the choir. |
| The US president and first lady paused on the steps of No 10 for photographs but did not speak before entering. | The US president and first lady paused on the steps of No 10 for photographs but did not speak before entering. |
| The prime minister has met the German chancellor and the French and Turkish presidents this evening to discuss Syria, Libya and counter-terrorism. A Downing Street spokesman said: | The prime minister has met the German chancellor and the French and Turkish presidents this evening to discuss Syria, Libya and counter-terrorism. A Downing Street spokesman said: |
| This is Kevin Rawlinson taking over the liveblog for the evening. | This is Kevin Rawlinson taking over the liveblog for the evening. |
| My colleague Vikram Dodd has this report on the damning comments of the former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, Robert Quick, who attacks the prime minister for peddling “cliches” about sentencing laws after last Friday’s terror attack. Quick says cuts to police numbers have played the greater role in jeopardising public safety. | My colleague Vikram Dodd has this report on the damning comments of the former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, Robert Quick, who attacks the prime minister for peddling “cliches” about sentencing laws after last Friday’s terror attack. Quick says cuts to police numbers have played the greater role in jeopardising public safety. |
| Donald Trump has sought to counter Labour claims that the NHS would be at risk under a UK-US trade deal by saying he would not want it even “on a silver platter”. With the election just over a week away, the Tories have been worried that any overt endorsement of Boris Johnson by the US president could backfire. But they have also been anxious for him to respond to Jeremy Corbyn’s much-repeated allegation (which clearly has some traction with the public) that a Trump trade deal would pose a threat to the NHS, particularly via possible higher drugs prices. As a result, in an extended press briefing this morning, Trump staged an intervention in the election - while claiming to be doing the opposite. The intervention came when he was asked if the NHS should be included in trade negotiations. He replied: | Donald Trump has sought to counter Labour claims that the NHS would be at risk under a UK-US trade deal by saying he would not want it even “on a silver platter”. With the election just over a week away, the Tories have been worried that any overt endorsement of Boris Johnson by the US president could backfire. But they have also been anxious for him to respond to Jeremy Corbyn’s much-repeated allegation (which clearly has some traction with the public) that a Trump trade deal would pose a threat to the NHS, particularly via possible higher drugs prices. As a result, in an extended press briefing this morning, Trump staged an intervention in the election - while claiming to be doing the opposite. The intervention came when he was asked if the NHS should be included in trade negotiations. He replied: |
| This was, of course, disingenuous because one person who started the rumour was Trump himself, when he said in a press conference in the UK in June that “everything is on the table ... NHS or anything else”. Given Trump’s reputation when it comes to honesty, his assurance may have little or no impact on public opinion, and it ignores the granular detail of how a trade deal could impact negatively on British healthcare (which almost certainly would not involve US companies buying NHS hospitals). But, for the Conservatives, it is at least a quote they can use. | This was, of course, disingenuous because one person who started the rumour was Trump himself, when he said in a press conference in the UK in June that “everything is on the table ... NHS or anything else”. Given Trump’s reputation when it comes to honesty, his assurance may have little or no impact on public opinion, and it ignores the granular detail of how a trade deal could impact negatively on British healthcare (which almost certainly would not involve US companies buying NHS hospitals). But, for the Conservatives, it is at least a quote they can use. |
| On broader electoral issues, Trump ostensibly avoided the temptation to take sides. He claimed that he had “no thoughts” on the election and, although he said he thought Johnson was “very capable”, he also said he could work with Corbyn if he became prime minister. Asked about this, he replied: | On broader electoral issues, Trump ostensibly avoided the temptation to take sides. He claimed that he had “no thoughts” on the election and, although he said he thought Johnson was “very capable”, he also said he could work with Corbyn if he became prime minister. Asked about this, he replied: |
| This was also disingenuous because, only a few weeks ago, Trump had very clear thoughts on the election: he thought Corbyn would be “bad” for the UK, and he wanted Johnson to align with Nigel Farage. In a rare display of self-awareness that helped to explain his relative reticence, Trump also told the press conference today that intervening in the election would not be helpful because in Britain “they may not like me”. | This was also disingenuous because, only a few weeks ago, Trump had very clear thoughts on the election: he thought Corbyn would be “bad” for the UK, and he wanted Johnson to align with Nigel Farage. In a rare display of self-awareness that helped to explain his relative reticence, Trump also told the press conference today that intervening in the election would not be helpful because in Britain “they may not like me”. |
| During his day in London Trump also managed to send share prices falling around the world, by saying a trade deal with China might be more than a year away, and to traduce the French president, Emmanuel Macron (for being rude about Nato, of all things - even Trump himself once called it “obsolete”). So, on the Trump mayhem front, the UK got off quite lightly. | During his day in London Trump also managed to send share prices falling around the world, by saying a trade deal with China might be more than a year away, and to traduce the French president, Emmanuel Macron (for being rude about Nato, of all things - even Trump himself once called it “obsolete”). So, on the Trump mayhem front, the UK got off quite lightly. |
| Corbyn has cast doubt on the plausibility of Trump’s NHS assurances and said he intends to take the matter up with the president at a reception at Buckingham Palace early this evening. As I write, it is not clear yet whether the two men will be able to have a proper conversation – or whether their encounter (if it happens at all) will not get beyond pleasantries. | Corbyn has cast doubt on the plausibility of Trump’s NHS assurances and said he intends to take the matter up with the president at a reception at Buckingham Palace early this evening. As I write, it is not clear yet whether the two men will be able to have a proper conversation – or whether their encounter (if it happens at all) will not get beyond pleasantries. |
| Channel 4 has been cleared of bias by the media regulator after replacing Johnson with a melting block of ice during last week’s leadership debate on the climate crisis. | Channel 4 has been cleared of bias by the media regulator after replacing Johnson with a melting block of ice during last week’s leadership debate on the climate crisis. |
| Nigel Farage has claimed that Johnson only became prime minister because he launched the Brexit party this year out of anger about Theresa May’s handling of Brexit. He may be right. A new biography of May claims Johnson has said something similar in private. | Nigel Farage has claimed that Johnson only became prime minister because he launched the Brexit party this year out of anger about Theresa May’s handling of Brexit. He may be right. A new biography of May claims Johnson has said something similar in private. |
| Corbyn has apologised for antisemitic incidents involving Labour party members and said he was dealing with the issue. | Corbyn has apologised for antisemitic incidents involving Labour party members and said he was dealing with the issue. |
| A host of leading cultural figures, including the actors Steve Coogan, Mark Rylance and Julie Christie, the grime artist Kano and the writer and environmentalist Naomi Klein, have united to back Corbyn and praised Labour for prioritising “people and planet over profit”. | A host of leading cultural figures, including the actors Steve Coogan, Mark Rylance and Julie Christie, the grime artist Kano and the writer and environmentalist Naomi Klein, have united to back Corbyn and praised Labour for prioritising “people and planet over profit”. |
| That’s all from me for this evening. | That’s all from me for this evening. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. |
| The BBC’s Andrew Neil has said the Tories are still refusing to suggest a date for his proposed interview with Boris Johnson. | 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. |