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| Boris Johnson denies joking about Donald Trump at Nato reception and not taking him seriously – live news | Boris Johnson denies joking about Donald Trump at Nato reception and not taking him seriously – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US president says he criticised Canada’s defence spending and suggests Trudeau was unhappy about that | US president says he criticised Canada’s defence spending and suggests Trudeau was unhappy about that |
| The BBC’s interview with the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has started. She has been defending her personal popularity ratings and her tactics in the election campaign; particularly her decision to insist on reversing Brexit unilaterally. | |
| The prime minister has claimed people will stop talking about Brexit after the extension period ends on 31 January 2020, despite the fact the UK would then enter the transition period and no future trade deal is in place to come into force at that point. | |
| Asked whether such could happen by ITV News in an interview due to air on Tuesday evening, Boris Johnson said: | |
| The interview, Robert Peston, interjected to tell Johnson that his claim was untrue. | |
| Earlier, we reported that the EU had drawn up plans for how Brexit talks might run if the Tories win the election (see: 5:47pm). | |
| The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has apologised for her part in introducing swingeing cuts when she was part of the Tory-led coalition government. In an interview with the BBC that’s due to be aired in about an hour, she has said the party was wrong to have backed some of the reforms. | The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has apologised for her part in introducing swingeing cuts when she was part of the Tory-led coalition government. In an interview with the BBC that’s due to be aired in about an hour, she has said the party was wrong to have backed some of the reforms. |
| The Lib Dems now propose to scrap the bedroom tax. Asked by Andrew Neil who had voted for its introduction nine times, Swinson replied: | The Lib Dems now propose to scrap the bedroom tax. Asked by Andrew Neil who had voted for its introduction nine times, Swinson replied: |
| Asked a similar question about the benefits cap, she said: | Asked a similar question about the benefits cap, she said: |
| And asked another similar question on health reforms that allow NHS contracts to be put out to private tender, she responded: | And asked another similar question on health reforms that allow NHS contracts to be put out to private tender, she responded: |
| Given those facts, Neil asked, why would people believe her when she says she wants to roll back those policies? Swinson told him: | Given those facts, Neil asked, why would people believe her when she says she wants to roll back those policies? Swinson told him: |
| Neil told her 240,000 people had their benefits cut because she went along with the bedroom tax. Would she like to apologise to them, she was asked. | Neil told her 240,000 people had their benefits cut because she went along with the bedroom tax. Would she like to apologise to them, she was asked. |
| Asked if austerity was a “necessary evil or a terrible mistake”, Swinson said: | Asked if austerity was a “necessary evil or a terrible mistake”, Swinson said: |
| Donald Trump has concluded a two-day visit to the UK without doing anything likely to jeopardise the chances of his close ally Boris Johnson winning the general election a week tomorrow. Given Trump’s toxic reputation in the UK, Tory strategists had been concerned that any form of endorsement might be counter-productive. But yesterday Trump’s comments about the NHS and a trade deal were not unhelpful to the Conservatives and today the proceedings at the Nato summit were largely overshadowed by a puerile row about whether Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, were laughing at Trump behind his back at a reception last night. Johnson denied this (implausibly) and said it was nonsense to suggest that he did not take Trump seriously. But, at a news conference at the end of the summit, he was careful to distance himself from the man who once dubbed him “Britain[’s] Trump” because the two are supposedly ideologically aligned. Johnson sidestepped an invitation to say anything positive about Trump personally, and even avoided mentioning him by name. This might look like the start of a cooling in the relationship, but Trump understands perfectly well how elections work and, elsewhere in the press conference, there was a hint that behind the scenes the alliance is as strong as ever. That came when Johnson suggested that he might end up siding with US demands to exclude the Chinese firm Huawei from building Britain’s 5G networks. When Theresa May was prime minister she was reportedly planning a less Washington-friendly approach; according to a leak from the national security council, she was planning to give Huawei access to non-contentious parts of the 5G network. | Donald Trump has concluded a two-day visit to the UK without doing anything likely to jeopardise the chances of his close ally Boris Johnson winning the general election a week tomorrow. Given Trump’s toxic reputation in the UK, Tory strategists had been concerned that any form of endorsement might be counter-productive. But yesterday Trump’s comments about the NHS and a trade deal were not unhelpful to the Conservatives and today the proceedings at the Nato summit were largely overshadowed by a puerile row about whether Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, were laughing at Trump behind his back at a reception last night. Johnson denied this (implausibly) and said it was nonsense to suggest that he did not take Trump seriously. But, at a news conference at the end of the summit, he was careful to distance himself from the man who once dubbed him “Britain[’s] Trump” because the two are supposedly ideologically aligned. Johnson sidestepped an invitation to say anything positive about Trump personally, and even avoided mentioning him by name. This might look like the start of a cooling in the relationship, but Trump understands perfectly well how elections work and, elsewhere in the press conference, there was a hint that behind the scenes the alliance is as strong as ever. That came when Johnson suggested that he might end up siding with US demands to exclude the Chinese firm Huawei from building Britain’s 5G networks. When Theresa May was prime minister she was reportedly planning a less Washington-friendly approach; according to a leak from the national security council, she was planning to give Huawei access to non-contentious parts of the 5G network. |
| Trump denounced Trudeau as “two-faced” and left the summit venue earlier than expected, cancelling a planned press conference, after apparently being riled by the news that fellow leaders were having a joke at his expense last night. His abrupt departure dominated the headlines, overshadowing the otherwise modest achievements of a low-key meeting held to mark Nato’s 70th anniversary. At the meeting Turkey dropped its opposition to a plan to bolster the defences of Baltic states and Poland against Russia. As my colleague Patrick Wintour reports, Nato leaders also agreed to set up a committee of experts to analyse political decision-making after the French president Emmanuel Macron lamented the “brain death” of the military alliance. | Trump denounced Trudeau as “two-faced” and left the summit venue earlier than expected, cancelling a planned press conference, after apparently being riled by the news that fellow leaders were having a joke at his expense last night. His abrupt departure dominated the headlines, overshadowing the otherwise modest achievements of a low-key meeting held to mark Nato’s 70th anniversary. At the meeting Turkey dropped its opposition to a plan to bolster the defences of Baltic states and Poland against Russia. As my colleague Patrick Wintour reports, Nato leaders also agreed to set up a committee of experts to analyse political decision-making after the French president Emmanuel Macron lamented the “brain death” of the military alliance. |
| John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has said he does not accept Trump’s claim that the NHS would not be on the table in trade talks, saying the US president has a “passing relationship with reality and truth”. | John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, has said he does not accept Trump’s claim that the NHS would not be on the table in trade talks, saying the US president has a “passing relationship with reality and truth”. |
| An Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as a bee glued himself to the Liberal Democrats’ battlebus this morning. | An Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as a bee glued himself to the Liberal Democrats’ battlebus this morning. |
| John Longworth, a Brexit party MEP, has had the party whip removed after a row with the leadership over election strategy. | John Longworth, a Brexit party MEP, has had the party whip removed after a row with the leadership over election strategy. |
| The former Labour MP Ivan Lewis, who resigned from the party last year when he was suspended over sexual harassment allegations, has urged people in his Bury South constituency to vote Tory to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street. | The former Labour MP Ivan Lewis, who resigned from the party last year when he was suspended over sexual harassment allegations, has urged people in his Bury South constituency to vote Tory to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street. |
| Black and ethnic minority voters are backing Corbyn in far higher numbers than the overall electorate as the two main political parties vie for their votes in crucial swing seats. | Black and ethnic minority voters are backing Corbyn in far higher numbers than the overall electorate as the two main political parties vie for their votes in crucial swing seats. |
| MPs would be banned from holding second jobs under reforms of the rules governing political donations and lobbying that have been proposed by the Labour party. | MPs would be banned from holding second jobs under reforms of the rules governing political donations and lobbying that have been proposed by the Labour party. |
| That is all from me for tonight. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now. | That is all from me for tonight. My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is writing the blog now. |
| But there is more to come tonight. Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, is being interviewed by Andrew Neil on BBC One at 7.30pm. And Johnson is being interviewed on ITV by Peston. (The programme goes out at 11.15pm, but the interview is broadcast on Twitter at 8pm.) | But there is more to come tonight. Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, is being interviewed by Andrew Neil on BBC One at 7.30pm. And Johnson is being interviewed on ITV by Peston. (The programme goes out at 11.15pm, but the interview is broadcast on Twitter at 8pm.) |
| EU leaders will call for swift action to negotiate a future relationship with the UK, according to a draft declaration likely to be agreed the day after the general election. | EU leaders will call for swift action to negotiate a future relationship with the UK, according to a draft declaration likely to be agreed the day after the general election. |
| EU leaders are holding one of their regular summits in Brussels on 11-12 December, just as British voters are going to the polls and getting the results | EU leaders are holding one of their regular summits in Brussels on 11-12 December, just as British voters are going to the polls and getting the results |
| While the EU is keen not take sides, officials read British election polls and see a Conservative Brexit on 31 January as the most likely outcome. This leaked document, seen by the Guardian, sets out the next steps in that scenario | While the EU is keen not take sides, officials read British election polls and see a Conservative Brexit on 31 January as the most likely outcome. This leaked document, seen by the Guardian, sets out the next steps in that scenario |
| EU leaders will call on the European commission to draw up “a comprehensive mandate for a future relationship with the UK immediately after its withdrawal”, while calling on ministers in the general affairs council to “swiftly” adopt that mandate and other relevant decisions. | EU leaders will call on the European commission to draw up “a comprehensive mandate for a future relationship with the UK immediately after its withdrawal”, while calling on ministers in the general affairs council to “swiftly” adopt that mandate and other relevant decisions. |
| The commission negotiates trade deals on behalf of the EU, after the 28 member states, soon to be 27, have drawn up a mandate for talks. | The commission negotiates trade deals on behalf of the EU, after the 28 member states, soon to be 27, have drawn up a mandate for talks. |
| “Negotiations should be organised in a way that makes the best possible use of the limited time available for negotiation and ratification by the end of the transition,” states the document. | “Negotiations should be organised in a way that makes the best possible use of the limited time available for negotiation and ratification by the end of the transition,” states the document. |
| That is an implicit recognition that not everything can be done in 11 months and the EU will have to prioritise, something EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in a recent interview. | That is an implicit recognition that not everything can be done in 11 months and the EU will have to prioritise, something EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said in a recent interview. |
| Barnier has said a basic free trade agreement would be possible to negotiate in Johnson’s preferred timetable of 11 months, although some EU diplomats are more sceptical. | Barnier has said a basic free trade agreement would be possible to negotiate in Johnson’s preferred timetable of 11 months, although some EU diplomats are more sceptical. |
| The text also welcomes the continuing role for Barnier, who has won plaudits in Brussels for his coolness and diligence in keeping everyone informed. It says: | The text also welcomes the continuing role for Barnier, who has won plaudits in Brussels for his coolness and diligence in keeping everyone informed. It says: |
| That statement could be seen as a warning shot to the commission’s trade department not to try and run the British talks in secret, as well as assurance to small member states that their voices will be heard | That statement could be seen as a warning shot to the commission’s trade department not to try and run the British talks in secret, as well as assurance to small member states that their voices will be heard |
| The text also states: | The text also states: |
| The reference to “statements and declarations” is important: it is a message to EU member states that agreements on tricky issues, such as Gibraltar, will be carried over into the next phase on Brexit. In other words, the EU does not have to reopen these arguments again. | The reference to “statements and declarations” is important: it is a message to EU member states that agreements on tricky issues, such as Gibraltar, will be carried over into the next phase on Brexit. In other words, the EU does not have to reopen these arguments again. |
| The leaked document should be read as the EU getting its house in order to avoid any procedural snarl-ups in Brussels, thus avoiding blame if talks fail. | The leaked document should be read as the EU getting its house in order to avoid any procedural snarl-ups in Brussels, thus avoiding blame if talks fail. |
| Missing from the document is any mention of no-deal (the EU thinks this is less likely and that its plans are in order) or a renegotiation. If Jeremy Corbyn confounded expectations and moved into 10 Downing Street, the EU would once again open talks, but would await first a request for a Brexit extension. | Missing from the document is any mention of no-deal (the EU thinks this is less likely and that its plans are in order) or a renegotiation. If Jeremy Corbyn confounded expectations and moved into 10 Downing Street, the EU would once again open talks, but would await first a request for a Brexit extension. |
| Some of Boris Johnson’s campaign visits seem designed entirely to construct visual metaphors for TV reporters. That is certainly the case with his visit to Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes. (See 4.39pm.) Just in case any reporters missed the hint, Johnson declared: | Some of Boris Johnson’s campaign visits seem designed entirely to construct visual metaphors for TV reporters. That is certainly the case with his visit to Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes. (See 4.39pm.) Just in case any reporters missed the hint, Johnson declared: |
| This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. | This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. |
| These are from the BBC’s Ross Hawkins, who has spent more time on the road than most journalists this election. | These are from the BBC’s Ross Hawkins, who has spent more time on the road than most journalists this election. |
| The New Statesman has published its election leader article and it has said that it cannot back any of the three main parties. It does come quite close to backing the Green party, saying it would like to see more Green MPs in parliament, although it won’t endorse the Greens because it says they are not in a position to govern. | The New Statesman has published its election leader article and it has said that it cannot back any of the three main parties. It does come quite close to backing the Green party, saying it would like to see more Green MPs in parliament, although it won’t endorse the Greens because it says they are not in a position to govern. |
| The New Statesman is broadly on the left and in the past it has backed Labour. But it says it cannot do so because of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. It says: | The New Statesman is broadly on the left and in the past it has backed Labour. But it says it cannot do so because of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. It says: |
| Before becoming Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn described Nato as “a danger to world peace” and said it should have been disbanded at the end of the cold war. Channel 4 News has a roundup of some of his quotes on the topic here. | Before becoming Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn described Nato as “a danger to world peace” and said it should have been disbanded at the end of the cold war. Channel 4 News has a roundup of some of his quotes on the topic here. |
| Today, asked what had made him change his mind and commit to the UK remaining in Nato, Corbyn replied: | Today, asked what had made him change his mind and commit to the UK remaining in Nato, Corbyn replied: |
| Pressed on what had personally made him change his mind, he replied: | Pressed on what had personally made him change his mind, he replied: |
| Asked if he thought Nato now contributed to world peace, he replied: | Asked if he thought Nato now contributed to world peace, he replied: |
| Here are the main points from Boris Johnson’s press conference at the end of the Nato summit. | Here are the main points from Boris Johnson’s press conference at the end of the Nato summit. |
| Johnson denied laughing at President Trump at a reception last night and not taking him seriously. (See 2.36am) | Johnson denied laughing at President Trump at a reception last night and not taking him seriously. (See 2.36am) |
| Johnson sidestepped an opportunity to praise Trump personally. (See 2.50pm.) In fact, it was almost a case of “Donald who?” as Johnson got through the whole press conference without mentioning the president once by name. | Johnson sidestepped an opportunity to praise Trump personally. (See 2.50pm.) In fact, it was almost a case of “Donald who?” as Johnson got through the whole press conference without mentioning the president once by name. |
| Johnson claimed that Jeremy Corbyn wanted to “destroy Nato”. At times he used the press conference for blatant electioneering, and he ended it with what amounted to a version of his standard election stump speech. He said: | Johnson claimed that Jeremy Corbyn wanted to “destroy Nato”. At times he used the press conference for blatant electioneering, and he ended it with what amounted to a version of his standard election stump speech. He said: |
| In the past Corbyn did oppose Nato membership, but as Labour leader he has accepted party policy, and the majority view in the party, which is for the UK to remain a Nato member. And, although Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, signed a Commons early day motion in the 1980s opposing MI5, that is not a view that she has supported for years. | In the past Corbyn did oppose Nato membership, but as Labour leader he has accepted party policy, and the majority view in the party, which is for the UK to remain a Nato member. And, although Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, signed a Commons early day motion in the 1980s opposing MI5, that is not a view that she has supported for years. |
| Johnson said that “national security interests” would be a key issue when the government decided whether to let the Chinese firm Huawei play a role in building the UK’s 5G network. Asked about this, he replied: | Johnson said that “national security interests” would be a key issue when the government decided whether to let the Chinese firm Huawei play a role in building the UK’s 5G network. Asked about this, he replied: |
| HuffPost’s Paul Waugh took this as a hint that Huawei will be excluded from this work (a decision that would please the US, which has urged the UK not to allow the company to have a role in constructing the 5G network). | HuffPost’s Paul Waugh took this as a hint that Huawei will be excluded from this work (a decision that would please the US, which has urged the UK not to allow the company to have a role in constructing the 5G network). |
| Johnson also made a more general point about China posing a threat in the technology sector. Asked whether it should be seen as a strategic partner or an enemy, he replied: | Johnson also made a more general point about China posing a threat in the technology sector. Asked whether it should be seen as a strategic partner or an enemy, he replied: |
| Johnson implied that he was opposed to allowing Britons who fought for Islamic State to return to the country. Asked whether they should be allowed back, he replied: | Johnson implied that he was opposed to allowing Britons who fought for Islamic State to return to the country. Asked whether they should be allowed back, he replied: |
| Johnson said he was not worried about how a dossier about the UK-US trade talks was leaked. (See 2.18pm.) This is a rare example of Johnson snubbing his former employer the Daily Telegraph, which in its splash story on Monday suggested this might be part of a Russian plot. | Johnson said he was not worried about how a dossier about the UK-US trade talks was leaked. (See 2.18pm.) This is a rare example of Johnson snubbing his former employer the Daily Telegraph, which in its splash story on Monday suggested this might be part of a Russian plot. |