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General election: Trump claims even if NHS 'handed on silver platter' in trade deal, US doesn't want it – live news General election: Trump claims even if NHS 'handed on silver platter' in trade deal, US doesn't want it – live news
(31 minutes later)
Doctors and nurses will march to Buckingham Palace, where the US president will be dining with Queen and other leadersDoctors and nurses will march to Buckingham Palace, where the US president will be dining with Queen and other leaders
Channel 4 has been cleared over its use of an ice sculpture to stand in for Boris Johnson during a debate on climate change, Ofcom has said. As PA Media reports, Ofcom said the prop “was not a representation of the prime minister personally”, and that “little editorial focus was given to it, either visually or in references made by the presenter or debate participants”.
The Conservatives complained that the broadcaster failed to allow the former environment secretary Michael Gove to be its representative for the debate, during which party leaders faced questions over how they would tackle climate change.
Rejecting the complaint, Ofcom said:
Boris Johnson said he could “categorically rule out” that “any part of the NHS will be on the table in any trade negotiations”, including pharmaceuticals, when he spoke to reporters during a campaign visit to Salisbury this morning. He described Labour claims that the NHS was under threat (see 9.19am) as “pure Loch Ness Monster, Bermuda Triangle stuff”.
Asked if Donald Trump’s support was an embarrassment to him, Johnson said:
Any readers requiring an explanation of the “Bermuda Triangle” jibe will find one on Wikipedia here. Like many of Johnson’s cultural references, this one relates to something prominent in the media in the 1970s.
Almost a third of voters now say they will vote tactically in the election, according to polling carried out for the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), with the proportion rising rapidly.Almost a third of voters now say they will vote tactically in the election, according to polling carried out for the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), with the proportion rising rapidly.
The polling by BMG found 30% of people said they would be “voting for the best-positioned party/candidate to keep out another party/candidate that I dislike” on 12 December. This is up from 22% saying this at the start of the election campaign, and 24% in a parallel poll last week.The polling by BMG found 30% of people said they would be “voting for the best-positioned party/candidate to keep out another party/candidate that I dislike” on 12 December. This is up from 22% saying this at the start of the election campaign, and 24% in a parallel poll last week.
Only 51% of people said they would pick “the candidate/party I most prefer, regardless of how likely they are to win”.Only 51% of people said they would pick “the candidate/party I most prefer, regardless of how likely they are to win”.
The ERS, which has long campaigned for a move from the first-past-the-post electoral system to a proportional method, said the polling “should sound alarm bells for our democracy”, adding that given the sometimes contradictory advice on who to vote for tactically in different seats, the election could become “a lottery”.The ERS, which has long campaigned for a move from the first-past-the-post electoral system to a proportional method, said the polling “should sound alarm bells for our democracy”, adding that given the sometimes contradictory advice on who to vote for tactically in different seats, the election could become “a lottery”.
In his ITV This Morning interview Jeremy Corbyn also said that he was “very sorry” for “everything that has happened” in his party regarding antisemitism.In his ITV This Morning interview Jeremy Corbyn also said that he was “very sorry” for “everything that has happened” in his party regarding antisemitism.
This came when he came under repeated pressure to say sorry from the presenter, Phillip Schofield. (See 10.56am.) Corbyn said:This came when he came under repeated pressure to say sorry from the presenter, Phillip Schofield. (See 10.56am.) Corbyn said:
Corbyn has apologised to the Jewish community several times in the past for his party’s handling of antisemitism, but he caused controversy when he refused to apologise last week when challenged to do so in his interview with the BBC’s Andrew Neil.Corbyn has apologised to the Jewish community several times in the past for his party’s handling of antisemitism, but he caused controversy when he refused to apologise last week when challenged to do so in his interview with the BBC’s Andrew Neil.
That interview was mostly rather bland, but at the end Jeremy Corbyn said something that at face value sounded very interesting.That interview was mostly rather bland, but at the end Jeremy Corbyn said something that at face value sounded very interesting.
Phillip Schofield asked:Phillip Schofield asked:
Corbyn replied:Corbyn replied:
Taken literally, Corbyn seems to be saying he intends to stay on as Labour leader for a full parliamentary term regardless of whether or not he wins the election.Taken literally, Corbyn seems to be saying he intends to stay on as Labour leader for a full parliamentary term regardless of whether or not he wins the election.
But, taking into account the context (ie, the reference to carrying out the Labour manifesto, and being in government) it seems much more likely that Corbyn was addressing the point about whether he intended to serve a full term as prime minister if he wins the election. (He does - or at least, he always says he does when asked this question.)But, taking into account the context (ie, the reference to carrying out the Labour manifesto, and being in government) it seems much more likely that Corbyn was addressing the point about whether he intended to serve a full term as prime minister if he wins the election. (He does - or at least, he always says he does when asked this question.)
There are very few people in the Labour party who would expect him to stay on for another five years as leader if the party loses, and that does not seem to be what he meant to say. But I will ask the party for clarification. There are very few people at the top of the Labour party who would expect him to stay on for another five years as leader if the party loses, and that does not seem to be what he meant to say. But I will ask the party for clarification.
UPDATE: I have amended the paragraph above to say there are very few people at the top of the Labour party who think Jeremy Corbyn could stay on for five years if he loses. The original sentence said that was the view in the party as a whole. It might be, but we don’t know that the membership as a whole thinks on this point, and some members would want Corbyn to stay on for as long as he wanted.
Q: Aren’t you exhausted by the campaigning?Q: Aren’t you exhausted by the campaigning?
No, says Corbyn.No, says Corbyn.
He says he believes in public service. He believes in representing people. And he wants to have a society where we don’t have food banks, or child poverty.He says he believes in public service. He believes in representing people. And he wants to have a society where we don’t have food banks, or child poverty.
He says he is inspired by the wisdom he encounters.He says he is inspired by the wisdom he encounters.
He says he goes around with a note book. He writes notes everywhere he goes. He says everyone you meet knows something you don’t.He says he goes around with a note book. He writes notes everywhere he goes. He says everyone you meet knows something you don’t.
Q: What happens if you don’t win?Q: What happens if you don’t win?
Corbyn says he intends to win.Corbyn says he intends to win.
Q: But if you don’t?Q: But if you don’t?
Corbyn says his principles and life will be the same.Corbyn says his principles and life will be the same.
Corbyn says, when he became Labour leader, there were no processes for dealing with antisemitism. He introduced those, plus a fast-track disciplinary system. And a system of education.Corbyn says, when he became Labour leader, there were no processes for dealing with antisemitism. He introduced those, plus a fast-track disciplinary system. And a system of education.
He says a rabbi was attacked in north London this week. That was disgusting. He has discussed this with other rabbis, he says.He says a rabbi was attacked in north London this week. That was disgusting. He has discussed this with other rabbis, he says.
Q: Will you apologise to the Jewish community for any antisemitism committed by Labour members?Q: Will you apologise to the Jewish community for any antisemitism committed by Labour members?
Corbyn starts an explanation.Corbyn starts an explanation.
Schofield intervenes: “Just say sorry.”Schofield intervenes: “Just say sorry.”
Corbyn says he has said sorry for what has happened.Corbyn says he has said sorry for what has happened.
He says antisemitism is a poison. You know what happens, from 20th century history, if it is allowed to continue.He says antisemitism is a poison. You know what happens, from 20th century history, if it is allowed to continue.
Q: Many people will fear that, if you tax big business more, prices will go up for everyone.Q: Many people will fear that, if you tax big business more, prices will go up for everyone.
Corbyn says people need higher wages. And we need to so something about child poverty. Raising wages is good, he says.Corbyn says people need higher wages. And we need to so something about child poverty. Raising wages is good, he says.
He says he wants to invest in infrastructure and training.He says he wants to invest in infrastructure and training.
Q: President Trump said today he wants nothing to do with the NHS. And it has been claimed that you obtained a dossier about UK-US trade talks that the Russians might have helped to publicise.Q: President Trump said today he wants nothing to do with the NHS. And it has been claimed that you obtained a dossier about UK-US trade talks that the Russians might have helped to publicise.
Corbyn says no one has suggested that that dossier was not accurate.Corbyn says no one has suggested that that dossier was not accurate.
Trump himself has said in the past that everything would be on the table in trade talks.Trump himself has said in the past that everything would be on the table in trade talks.
Q: Diane Abbott has called for the abolition of groups like MI5. And you have called for similar things?Q: Diane Abbott has called for the abolition of groups like MI5. And you have called for similar things?
Corbyn says he is not calling for the abolition of MI5. But he wants these organisations to be accountable.Corbyn says he is not calling for the abolition of MI5. But he wants these organisations to be accountable.
Jeremy Corbyn is being interview now by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.Jeremy Corbyn is being interview now by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Q: Boris Johnson says in the Sun today that the country would not be safe with you as PM. Is that true?Q: Boris Johnson says in the Sun today that the country would not be safe with you as PM. Is that true?
Corbyn says his first job as PM would be to keep people safe. That requires more spending on the police. And, internationally, we should not allow there to be vast areas of ungoverned space.Corbyn says his first job as PM would be to keep people safe. That requires more spending on the police. And, internationally, we should not allow there to be vast areas of ungoverned space.
Q: Should terrorists serve life sentences?Q: Should terrorists serve life sentences?
Corbyn says it depends what they did. Sentences should be decided by courts. But the Prison Service is woefully underfunded, he says.Corbyn says it depends what they did. Sentences should be decided by courts. But the Prison Service is woefully underfunded, he says.
He says the lesson from the London Bridge attack is that we need to improve this.He says the lesson from the London Bridge attack is that we need to improve this.
Jeremy Corbyn is about to give an interview to ITV’s This Morning.Jeremy Corbyn is about to give an interview to ITV’s This Morning.
At his press briefing President Trump was asked about Prince Andrew. Trump claimed he did not know him.At his press briefing President Trump was asked about Prince Andrew. Trump claimed he did not know him.
As BuzzFeed’s Mark Di Stafano points out, the picture archive suggests otherwise.As BuzzFeed’s Mark Di Stafano points out, the picture archive suggests otherwise.
At his press briefing President Trump was most critical of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who recently said that Nato was suffering “brain death”.At his press briefing President Trump was most critical of his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who recently said that Nato was suffering “brain death”.
Trump said Macron’s comments were “very insulting”. He also said has “very surprised” at Macron’s analysis. He said:Trump said Macron’s comments were “very insulting”. He also said has “very surprised” at Macron’s analysis. He said:
Trump said Macron was being “very disrespectful” to other members of the Nato alliance members, and he attacked Macron’s own domestic record.Trump said Macron was being “very disrespectful” to other members of the Nato alliance members, and he attacked Macron’s own domestic record.
Trump is not necessarily the best person to complain about people being rude about Nato. Before he became president, he called the alliance “obsolete” in an interview in 2016. Only this week he also called some of its members “delinquent”.Trump is not necessarily the best person to complain about people being rude about Nato. Before he became president, he called the alliance “obsolete” in an interview in 2016. Only this week he also called some of its members “delinquent”.
The Trump press briefing is over.The Trump press briefing is over.
According to Sky, he was only expected to say a few words at what had been billed as essentially a photo opportunity. Instead he took questions for around 50 minutes.According to Sky, he was only expected to say a few words at what had been billed as essentially a photo opportunity. Instead he took questions for around 50 minutes.
I will be post more from what he said shortly.I will be post more from what he said shortly.
This is what President Trump said when he was asked if he thought the NHS should be on the table in trade deals. He replied:This is what President Trump said when he was asked if he thought the NHS should be on the table in trade deals. He replied:
Trump has just been asked if he thinks Jeremy Corbyn needs to do more to tackle the problem of antisemitism in his party. He says he does not know anything about this issue.Trump has just been asked if he thinks Jeremy Corbyn needs to do more to tackle the problem of antisemitism in his party. He says he does not know anything about this issue.
This is what President Trump said about the UK election.This is what President Trump said about the UK election.
But Trump also said he would be meeting Boris Johnson while he is in the UK for the Nato meeting. Asked if there would be a meeting, he said:But Trump also said he would be meeting Boris Johnson while he is in the UK for the Nato meeting. Asked if there would be a meeting, he said:
Asked why he was staying out of the election, Trump said:Asked why he was staying out of the election, Trump said:
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he predicted the result of the Brexit referendum in advance, when he was visiting his golf course in Scotland. As explained here, this is not true.Trump has repeatedly claimed that he predicted the result of the Brexit referendum in advance, when he was visiting his golf course in Scotland. As explained here, this is not true.