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General election: McDonnell questions truth of Trump's NHS claim - live news General election: McDonnell questions truth of Trump's NHS claim - live news
(32 minutes later)
Shadow chancellor also says Labour will lay out ‘first 100 days’ programme in Birmingham speech as Nato leaders meetShadow chancellor also says Labour will lay out ‘first 100 days’ programme in Birmingham speech as Nato leaders meet
Some interesting questions on different issues from readers here. If you’d like to ask a question in the comments please @Libby or via our form.
Q: Why has reformation of the Gender Recognition Act, present in the 2017 manifesto, been removed in the 2019 manifesto? Is there any explanation or reassurance for trans and non-binary people in Scotland who are alarmed by the signal that this withdrawal sends? Will the results of the publicly funded consultation carried out to gather information for the planned reformation be made available to the taxpayer? Sophie, 29, Edinburgh, software developer
Thanks Sophie, a number of people raised this concern after the manifesto was published, and the Scottish government’s equalities minister Shirley-Anne Somerville sought to reassure them, pointing out that she would be publishing a draft bill following further consultation by the end of the year. But it’s certainly true that this issue has caused a great deal of controversy within the party, with Sturgeon facing a significant amount of push-back on her plans to proceed with a devolved gender recognition act, aimed at streamlining the process by which a transgender person gets legal recognition. The fact that the issue has gone out for consultation twice has alarmed many in the LGBTI community, who saw this as a roll-back from a more solid earlier commitment. But the strength of feeling around the proposals, and the concerns from many women within the party who feel that the impact on equalities legislation and on women-only spaces in particular has not been taken into account , meant that the SG had little option.
Q: This election my vote will go to a party that will legalise cannabis. What is the SNP policy on this? Gavin, Dumfriesshire
Worth noting first of all that drugs laws are reserved to Westminster. Nicola Sturgeon has said that devolution of drug laws is one her key demands should another party seek SNP support for their minority government after the election and the SNP’s manifesto calls for this and - pending devolution - that the UK government should introduce a supervised drug consumption facility in Glasgow. Delegates at the SNP’s autumn conference in Aberdeen in October also backed the decriminalisation of controlled drugs, branding the Misuse Of Drugs Act, which dates back to 1971, as “not fit for purpose”. As you’ll probably know, Scotland is dealing with unprecedented numbers of drug related deaths, and this resolution was linked to attempts to open a safe drugs consumption room in Glasgow, which has so far been blocked by the home office.
Q: What is SNP stand on more support for veterans in Scotland? Anonymous, disabled veteran from service in the Gulf War, Dunfermline
I know that the next Scottish census will include a question about veteran status, a significant change prompted by the British Legion’s campaigning to make it easier to identify and support veterans. I believe that the SNP government was the first UK administration to make this change and also the first to appoint a Veterans’ Commissioner in the autumn of 2018. Practically, there’s support for getting into employment and also for veterans requiring social care, the Scottish Government has exempted the War Disablement Pension from assessment of income – meaning that veterans get the help they need and keep the full value of this pension.
Q: How would a border work between independent-but-in-EU Scotland and out-of-EU England. Would it be a hard border, like the feared one in Scotland? Jack, 29, works in insurance, St Albans
That’s going to be one of the looming questions should there be a second independence referendum campaign, and I’m afraid I can’t give you as much clarity as I’d like at this stage. In 2014, the yes campaign was able to argue that there would be no border between a newly independent Scotland and the rest of the UK because both would remain within the EU. Not so now of course. On The Andrew Marr Show recently, Sturgeon refused to rule out a hard border, saying: “We need to see how things play out and what the final relationship between the UK and the EU will be,” and adding that Boris Johnson’s hard Brexit was not an inevitability.
“As that picture clarifies, I will be honest with the people of Scotland but that opens a situation where Scotland’s best interests depend on being independent and in charge of our own future and I don’t want borders.”
Q: How far into nationalism is the SNP prepared to go? We’ve seen the effects of nationalism in Italy, amongst the far-right in Germany and with the EDL in England as well as with Trump in North America, for but a few examples. Do you consider it a potentially dangerous path to travel? Tim Eslip, middle-aged professional, England
The SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, was questioned on precisely this at the Edinburgh Fringe festival this August, so I think it’s helpful to reproduce her answers at length, since it was the most comprehensive I’ve heard her on this in a while. Asked about the types of nationalism you refer to, she told the audience during an interview with Matt Forde that the “civic nationalism” of the SNP was “on another spectrum altogether” from “far right, racist, insular movements” seen in other parts of the world.
Asked by comedian Matt Forde about Scottish nationalism, Sturgeon said: “A lot of the regimes called nationalist today are not countries striving to be independent, because often they already are, but are based on some kind of racial exceptionalism, or superiority often very illiberal and oppressive of minorities, and Scottish independence is not just at the other end of the spectrum of that, but on another spectrum altogether
Questioned specifically about a protester who had been pictured on the Royal Mile with an “England get out of Scotland” banner, Sturgeon said: “The person with that banner does not speak for the SNP. That kind of sentiment has no place in Scotland. You can’t get to a situation in any party where you say we’ll never attract the wrong kind of person but you can be absolutely vehement and resolute about calling it out. The people who put up that banner, I don’t want them in the SNP.”
This is from Bloomberg’s Sebastian Salek.
I have not seen the text of his speech, but will post more on it when I can track down a copy.
Here’s more on the economics of an independent Scotland ...
Q: Given that GERS (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland) for 2018-9 shows a deficit of £12.6bn or 7.7% of Scottish GDP, how would an independent Scotland pay for the extra spending proposals in the SNP manifesto or even current levels of spending. Richard, Australia
Thanks Richard - that’s precisely the question that the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which published an analysis of the SNP’s manifesto spending pledges in the Scotsman this morning, asked. As others have noted, the SNP manifesto was notably slim on costings, and associate director of the IFS David Phillips suggests that this may be because the spending plans would necessitate more, not less, austerity for Scotland if it were to become independent. As I set out in an earlier post on this live blog, Phillips points out that pledges including increasing NHS spending across the UK by £136 per head to close the gap with Scotland, an end to the two-child benefit cap and an increased national living wage, would require significant outlay at a time when an independent Scotland was also starting out with a serious budget deficit.
Phillips adds: “Pursuing the types of policies suggested in the SNP manifesto in an independent Scotland would mean either those cuts would have to be even bigger, or other taxes would have to be increased to pay for the proposed net giveaways ... in the short-term at least, independence would likely necessitate more not less austerity.”
The SNP’s own growth commission report on the economics of independence, which came out in 2018, accepted that a newly independent Scotland would have to cut spending significantly in order to manage its deficit. Analysing the report at the time, the IFS commended it for being honest about “the challenging public finance position an independent Scotland would start life with”.
However, it went on to dispute claims that its economic strategy would end austerity, suggesting it in fact implied cuts in spending and benefits equal to 4% of GDP over a 10-year period.
Questioned about Scotland’s notional deficit by Andrew Neil last week, which stands at 7% according to current figures, and whether it could hinder renewed membership of the EU (EU members’ budget deficits must not exceed 3% of GDP) Nicola Sturgeon argued: “Our task is to get our deficit reducing faster. That is principally through growing our economy faster which remaining in the EU or returning to the EU helps us to do.”
My colleague Richard Partington has been factchecking the John McDonnell claim that a Labour government would save families an average of £6,700 a year.
Here is his verdict.
And here is the full article.
According to Joe Murphy and Nicholas Cecil in the Evening Standard, No 10 sources have been keen to insist that Boris Johnson was not one of the world leaders joking about Donald Trump at the reception last night. Here is an extract from their story.According to Joe Murphy and Nicholas Cecil in the Evening Standard, No 10 sources have been keen to insist that Boris Johnson was not one of the world leaders joking about Donald Trump at the reception last night. Here is an extract from their story.
If you want to ask a question in the comments please @Libby, so they’re easier to find.If you want to ask a question in the comments please @Libby, so they’re easier to find.
Many of you have been asking about the economics of an independent Scotland.Many of you have been asking about the economics of an independent Scotland.
Q: This is a question that the Scottish press don’t ask. What would the cost of setting up the structure of an independent Scotland be and where will the newly independent Scotland get the money? Robert, 68, retired, EdinburghQ: This is a question that the Scottish press don’t ask. What would the cost of setting up the structure of an independent Scotland be and where will the newly independent Scotland get the money? Robert, 68, retired, Edinburgh
Hi Robert, you’ll recall this was a much-disputed area during the 2014 campaign. A Treasury report in May of that year estimated the costs of setting up an independent state to be around £1.5 billion - including £750m to create a new tax regime and £400m for computers and IT for welfare - but this was vigorously challenged by then first minister Alex Salmond. Prof Patrick Dunleavy of LSE was quoted by both the UK and Scottish governments as the leading expert on transition costs, and he suggested that “start-up costs” would come in at around £200m but then a further £900m would be required for tax and welfare infrastructure. Nicola Sturgeon confirmed in September this year that she had instructed civil servants to work on a second white paper to convince voters of the case for independence, although it should be noted that the original version relied heavily on projected oil revenues which have since plummeted. Hi Robert, you’ll recall this was a much-disputed area during the 2014 campaign. A Treasury report in May of that year estimated the costs of setting up an independent state to be around £1.5bn - including £750m to create a new tax regime and £400m for computers and IT for welfare - but this was vigorously challenged by the then first minister, Alex Salmond. Prof Patrick Dunleavy of LSE was quoted by both the UK and Scottish governments as the leading expert on transition costs, and he suggested that “start-up costs” would come in at around £200m but then a further £900m would be required for tax and welfare infrastructure. Nicola Sturgeon confirmed in September this year that she had instructed civil servants to work on a second white paper to convince voters of the case for independence, although it should be noted that the original version relied heavily on projected oil revenues which have since plummeted.
Q: Would an independent Scotland find it easier to join EFTA rather than the EU, which would give an independent Scotland many of the benefits which eg. Norway has, but also allow us to opt out of CFP and the CAP? Q: Would an independent Scotland find it easier to join Efta rather than the EU, which would give an independent Scotland many of the benefits which eg. Norway has, but also allow us to opt out of CFP and the CAP?
While the SNP has explored the possibility of rejoining the single market via the European Free Trade Association, with the option of returning to full EU membership later, the response from other member states are mixed. In 2017, Iceland’s foreign minister warned that Scotland could not apply to join EFTA until after it had fully separated from the UK, but in the same year Norway said it would keep an open mind to Scottish membership. While the SNP has explored the possibility of rejoining the single market via the European Free Trade Association, with the option of returning to full EU membership later, the response from other member states is mixed. In 2017, Iceland’s foreign minister warned that Scotland could not apply to join Efta until after it had fully separated from the UK, but in the same year Norway said it would keep an open mind to Scottish membership.
Accession to Efta is seen as more straightforward than re-joining the EU, but it is not certain that Scotland would then be allowed into the European Economic Area, membership of which would still have to be agreed by the EU. New members of Efta must be accepted unanimously by the existing four members: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Accession to Efta is seen as more straightforward than rejoining the EU, but it is not certain that Scotland would then be allowed into the European Economic Area, membership of which would still have to be agreed by the EU. New members of Efta must be accepted unanimously by the existing four members: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Since the Brexit vote, there have been some encouraging noises from EU officials that an independent Scotland could automatically join the EU or inherit the UK’s membership after it leaves. But in 2017, Jacqueline Minor, the European commission’s head of representation in the UK, warned that Scotland would need to formally apply after leaving the UK, although it could be fast-tracked because it already complies with EU rules and regulations.Since the Brexit vote, there have been some encouraging noises from EU officials that an independent Scotland could automatically join the EU or inherit the UK’s membership after it leaves. But in 2017, Jacqueline Minor, the European commission’s head of representation in the UK, warned that Scotland would need to formally apply after leaving the UK, although it could be fast-tracked because it already complies with EU rules and regulations.
With the possible exception of Nicola Sturgeon, John McDonnell is probably the stand-out media performer of this campaign. His speeches always contain an essential seriousness, but he can also handle media questions without sounding evasive or tetchy as soon as they turn hostile. This wasn’t the most newsy speech of the campaign, and it will be overshadowed by events at that Nato conference later, but he conveyed a positive message and he took quite a large number of critical questions without tripping up. Here are the main points.With the possible exception of Nicola Sturgeon, John McDonnell is probably the stand-out media performer of this campaign. His speeches always contain an essential seriousness, but he can also handle media questions without sounding evasive or tetchy as soon as they turn hostile. This wasn’t the most newsy speech of the campaign, and it will be overshadowed by events at that Nato conference later, but he conveyed a positive message and he took quite a large number of critical questions without tripping up. Here are the main points.
McDonnell refused to accept Donald Trump’s claims that the NHS would not be on the table in trade talks, saying the US president had a “passing relationship with reality and truth”. Asked if he thought Trump was lying when he said this yesterday, McDonnell all but said yes. He replied:McDonnell refused to accept Donald Trump’s claims that the NHS would not be on the table in trade talks, saying the US president had a “passing relationship with reality and truth”. Asked if he thought Trump was lying when he said this yesterday, McDonnell all but said yes. He replied:
He joked about a Corbyn government having difficult relations with Trump. Asked to respond to what Trump said yesterday about being able to work with Corbyn if he became PM, McDonnell said:He joked about a Corbyn government having difficult relations with Trump. Asked to respond to what Trump said yesterday about being able to work with Corbyn if he became PM, McDonnell said:
The line about the election prompted laughter from the audience. McDonnell then went on:The line about the election prompted laughter from the audience. McDonnell then went on:
McDonnell said Labour would announce details of its “first 100 days” programme before polling day. (See 11.40am.)McDonnell said Labour would announce details of its “first 100 days” programme before polling day. (See 11.40am.)
He described compensating the Waspi (Women Against State Pensions Inequality) women as being akin to bailing out the banks. (See 11.52am.)He described compensating the Waspi (Women Against State Pensions Inequality) women as being akin to bailing out the banks. (See 11.52am.)
He suggested the extent of poverty in the UK was incompatible with the values of Christianity. In his speech he said:He suggested the extent of poverty in the UK was incompatible with the values of Christianity. In his speech he said:
McDonnell brought up a Roman Catholic and for a while trained for the priesthood before deciding that his vocation lay elsewhere.McDonnell brought up a Roman Catholic and for a while trained for the priesthood before deciding that his vocation lay elsewhere.
He said a Labour government would save families an average of £6,700. Families with someone eligible for free personal care would save more than £7,000, he said. (See 11.29am.)He said a Labour government would save families an average of £6,700. Families with someone eligible for free personal care would save more than £7,000, he said. (See 11.29am.)
You have been sending in your questions about the SNP manifesto, policies and campaign which I will be answering until 1.30pm. You can share your questions with us via our form here.You have been sending in your questions about the SNP manifesto, policies and campaign which I will be answering until 1.30pm. You can share your questions with us via our form here.
Many of you have asked questions about the state of education in Scotland.Many of you have asked questions about the state of education in Scotland.
Q: Does Ms Sturgeon recognise the pledge, “Judge me on my record for education”? As she has not narrowed the attainment gap why should parents and children give her more than an F? Iain RF MacIain, 45, working in education, Scottish BordersQ: Does Ms Sturgeon recognise the pledge, “Judge me on my record for education”? As she has not narrowed the attainment gap why should parents and children give her more than an F? Iain RF MacIain, 45, working in education, Scottish Borders
Interesting you mention that today - you no doubt saw the latest Pisa report yesterday, which saw Scotland achieve its lowest scores in maths and science since it first took part in the survey almost 20 years ago, and reported that pupils’ performance in reading tests had recovered only to the level it was at in 2012. A professor of education at Edinburgh Uni, Lindsay Paterson, described children’s reading performance as “stagnating around mediocrity”, arguing that the reason the attainment gap on reading had narrowed was because middle class kids were getting worse. Education secretary John Swinney described the results as “very encouraging”, while accepting there were still challenges. The problem is that this is just one element of the overall picture, as you’ll know if you work in education yourself. Interesting you mention that today – you no doubt saw the latest Pisa report yesterday, which saw Scotland achieve its lowest scores in maths and science since it first took part in the survey almost 20 years ago, and reported that pupils’ performance in reading tests had recovered only to the level it was at in 2012. A professor of education at Edinburgh University, Lindsay Paterson, described children’s reading performance as “stagnating around mediocrity”, arguing that the reason the attainment gap on reading had narrowed was because middle-class kids were getting worse. The education secretary, John Swinney, described the results as “very encouraging”, while accepting there were still challenges. The problem is that this is just one element of the overall picture, as you’ll know if you work in education yourself.
Another serious concern is teacher shortages - in rural Scotland we have some of the most severe shortage in Europe; also the numbers of days lost to stress-related illness for teachers who are in post; and worries about availability of subjects to children taking high school exams, with reports of kids travelling for hours each week to access teaching in their chosen subject which is only available in another school in their council area. Another serious concern is teacher shortages. In rural Scotland we have some of the most severe shortages in Europe; also the numbers of days lost to stress-related illness for teachers who are in post; and worries about availability of subjects to children taking high school exams, with reports of kids travelling for hours each week to access teaching in their chosen subject which is only available in another school in their council area.
Q: Why don’t the SNP stand candidates in England or Wales? From the reactions to debate it seems they’d win a lot of people over. Levi, 20, student, CaerphillyQ: Why don’t the SNP stand candidates in England or Wales? From the reactions to debate it seems they’d win a lot of people over. Levi, 20, student, Caerphilly
As a nationalist party whose primary aim is Scottish independence, the SNP has only ever fielded candidates in Scotland, but it’s a question that often comes up - particularly after viewers have been impressed by Nicola Sturgeon’s performance in UK-wide televised debates. As a nationalist party whose primary aim is Scottish independence, the SNP has only ever fielded candidates in Scotland, but it’s a question that often comes up – particularly after viewers have been impressed by Nicola Sturgeon’s performance in UK-wide televised debates.
Indeed, the question of whether non-residents of Scotland could vote for the SNP featured in a list of most searched-for terms provided by Google after Sturgeon impressed voters across the UK in the first leaders’ debate of the 2015 general election campaign.Indeed, the question of whether non-residents of Scotland could vote for the SNP featured in a list of most searched-for terms provided by Google after Sturgeon impressed voters across the UK in the first leaders’ debate of the 2015 general election campaign.
And the SNP is well aware of the usefulness of appealing to voters elsewhere: the question of whether Labour could make a post-election pact with the SNP has become one of the key debates of the general election - but also one of the Conservatives’ main attack lines. And the SNP is well aware of the usefulness of appealing to voters elsewhere: the question of whether Labour could make a post-election pact with the SNP has become one of the key debates of the general election – but also one of the Conservatives’ main attack lines.
I’m Libby Brooks, the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, and will be answering your questions on the SNP manifesto, policies and campaign today. I’m based in Glasgow and returned to Scotland – where I grew up – on a six month secondment to help out with coverage of the 2014 independence referendum and since then I’ve reported on some of the most seismic developments in Scottish politics for decades. Before that I was an editor and columnist on the Opinion desk and has also written for features, foreign and home news over the years. I’m Libby Brooks, the Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, and will be answering your questions on the SNP manifesto, policies and campaign today. I’m based in Glasgow and returned to Scotland – where I grew up – on a six-month secondment to help out with coverage of the 2014 independence referendum and since then I’ve reported on some of the most seismic developments in Scottish politics for decades. Before that I was an editor and columnist on the opinion desk and have also written for features, foreign and home news over the years.
If you have a question you can send it to us by filling in the form here.If you have a question you can send it to us by filling in the form here.
Here is the full text of the John McDonnell speech.Here is the full text of the John McDonnell speech.
McDonnell says he thinks that, just as the Attlee government is remembered for founding the NHS, the Corbyn government will be remembered for setting up a national education service.McDonnell says he thinks that, just as the Attlee government is remembered for founding the NHS, the Corbyn government will be remembered for setting up a national education service.
Education is not a commodity, he says. It is a gift from one generation to another. The national education service will transform lives, he says.Education is not a commodity, he says. It is a gift from one generation to another. The national education service will transform lives, he says.
He says the number of young people involved in Labour’s campaign is terrific. He says he thinks people will be surprised by how many young people turn out to vote next week.He says the number of young people involved in Labour’s campaign is terrific. He says he thinks people will be surprised by how many young people turn out to vote next week.
Young people have forced the climate crisis onto the agenda, he says. This is a make-or-break moment for the world.Young people have forced the climate crisis onto the agenda, he says. This is a make-or-break moment for the world.
And that’s it. The Q&A is over.And that’s it. The Q&A is over.
I will post a summary soon.I will post a summary soon.
Q: Why were you not more explicit about the Waspi women pledge in the manifesto?Q: Why were you not more explicit about the Waspi women pledge in the manifesto?
McDonnell says he was working on this for 18 months. He was worried if it got announced on manifesto day, it would be swamped by other issues. And he says he wanted the policy to be launched on a day when Labour could also launch its calculator, to show how much women might get. That took a lot of work, he says.McDonnell says he was working on this for 18 months. He was worried if it got announced on manifesto day, it would be swamped by other issues. And he says he wanted the policy to be launched on a day when Labour could also launch its calculator, to show how much women might get. That took a lot of work, he says.
He says the money will be paid over five years. If the government had lost the court case on this, it would have to have paid up anyway.He says the money will be paid over five years. If the government had lost the court case on this, it would have to have paid up anyway.
He says this is a lot of money. But £100bn has been given away to the rich in tax cuts, he says. And he says when the banks were in trouble, hundreds of billions were found to bail them out.He says this is a lot of money. But £100bn has been given away to the rich in tax cuts, he says. And he says when the banks were in trouble, hundreds of billions were found to bail them out.
He says he wanted a scheme that was straightforward and readily implementable. He is proud of it, he says.He says he wanted a scheme that was straightforward and readily implementable. He is proud of it, he says.
McDonnell says Labour will reintroduce sectoral collective bargaining for wages. That will lead to wages going up, he says.McDonnell says Labour will reintroduce sectoral collective bargaining for wages. That will lead to wages going up, he says.
Q: Do you support the RMT holding a 27-day rail strike?Q: Do you support the RMT holding a 27-day rail strike?
McDonnell says he hopes both sides will get around the table to negotiate. He says the union is trying to address safety issues.McDonnell says he hopes both sides will get around the table to negotiate. He says the union is trying to address safety issues.
Q: Are you worried about leave supporters not backing Labour? And what has happened to prominent remainers like Keir Starmer, who are not being put up by the party for interviews?Q: Are you worried about leave supporters not backing Labour? And what has happened to prominent remainers like Keir Starmer, who are not being put up by the party for interviews?
McDonnell says people like Starmer are campaigning all over the country.McDonnell says people like Starmer are campaigning all over the country.
On Brexit, he says Labour would let the people decide.On Brexit, he says Labour would let the people decide.
But he says this election is not just about Brexit. People are asking about other issues, he says.But he says this election is not just about Brexit. People are asking about other issues, he says.