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General election 2019: Parties concentrate on key messages as election day nears General election 2019: Parties concentrate on key messages as election day nears
(about 1 hour later)
Labour claims NHS under-funding is putting patients at risk and the Tories are warning about a hung parliament, as the election enters its final stretch.Labour claims NHS under-funding is putting patients at risk and the Tories are warning about a hung parliament, as the election enters its final stretch.
With two days to go, Labour is pledging a "relentless focus" on the health service if it wins power.With two days to go, Labour is pledging a "relentless focus" on the health service if it wins power.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try to keep the focus on Brexit and the "danger" of another hung Parliament. Boris Johnson will try to keep the focus on Brexit and the "danger" of another inconclusive result.
In a speech later, he will pledge that the Tories would "smash through the gridlock" if given a majority. In a speech later, the PM will pledge that the Tories would "smash through the gridlock" if given a majority.
The Conservatives are also attacking Labour over the costs of delivering and running new government agencies promised in the party's manifesto.The Conservatives are also attacking Labour over the costs of delivering and running new government agencies promised in the party's manifesto.
It comes after Mr Johnson faced criticism on Monday over his response to an image of a sick four-year-old boy who had to sleep on the floor of a hospital.It comes after Mr Johnson faced criticism on Monday over his response to an image of a sick four-year-old boy who had to sleep on the floor of a hospital.
In other election developments:In other election developments:
'On the brink''On the brink'
Labour says reports produced by NHS trusts in England this month show a health service "in crisis and on the brink".Labour says reports produced by NHS trusts in England this month show a health service "in crisis and on the brink".
The party says an analysis it has conducted of more than 120 NHS trust board papers identified hundreds of risks to patient safety classed as "catastrophic" or "extreme".The party says an analysis it has conducted of more than 120 NHS trust board papers identified hundreds of risks to patient safety classed as "catastrophic" or "extreme".
The majority were linked to spending, staff shortages or failures of privatisation, the party said. The majority were linked to spending, staff shortages or failures of privatisation, the party said. It promised that a Labour government would conduct an immediate audit of the risks revealed.
It promised that a Labour government would conduct an immediate audit of the risks revealed.
The BBC's Reality Check team said the quotes from the NHS boards were genuine but did not give the nationwide picture, which was more mixed.The BBC's Reality Check team said the quotes from the NHS boards were genuine but did not give the nationwide picture, which was more mixed.
Labour said the backlog of maintenance in the NHS is £6.5bn, of which £1.1bn is for "high-risk" repairs.Labour said the backlog of maintenance in the NHS is £6.5bn, of which £1.1bn is for "high-risk" repairs.
Its analysis also found there were 15,844 patient incidents "directly" linked to NHS buildings and facilities, as well as 4,810 clinical incidents caused by building and infrastructure failure.Its analysis also found there were 15,844 patient incidents "directly" linked to NHS buildings and facilities, as well as 4,810 clinical incidents caused by building and infrastructure failure.
And it said there were 1,541 fires recorded by NHS trusts in 2018-19, with 34 people injured.And it said there were 1,541 fires recorded by NHS trusts in 2018-19, with 34 people injured.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "These shocking reports reveal an NHS in crisis and on the brink.Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: "These shocking reports reveal an NHS in crisis and on the brink.
"We pledge that within the first 100 days of a Labour government we will get on top of this to ensure the extra funding we've promised is prioritised to keep patients and staff safe.""We pledge that within the first 100 days of a Labour government we will get on top of this to ensure the extra funding we've promised is prioritised to keep patients and staff safe."
For the Conservatives, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the party was embarking on the "largest" hospital building programmes in UK history, although there is controversy about its pledge to build 40 new hospitals.For the Conservatives, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the party was embarking on the "largest" hospital building programmes in UK history, although there is controversy about its pledge to build 40 new hospitals.
'Clear and present' danger'Clear and present' danger
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has continued to face criticism over his response to a photograph that showed a sick four-year-old boy on the floor of Leeds General Infirmary.Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has continued to face criticism over his response to a photograph that showed a sick four-year-old boy on the floor of Leeds General Infirmary.
An ITV reporter tried to show Mr Johnson the picture on his phone, but he initially refused to look, before taking the device and putting it in his pocket.An ITV reporter tried to show Mr Johnson the picture on his phone, but he initially refused to look, before taking the device and putting it in his pocket.
He later looked, returned the phone and apologised to the family.He later looked, returned the phone and apologised to the family.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the "family want their privacy to be maintained" and for their son Jack "not to be used as a political football".Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the "family want their privacy to be maintained" and for their son Jack "not to be used as a political football".
"This is an election that should be fought on the high ground, rather than an argument of who said what to whom," the Conservative said."This is an election that should be fought on the high ground, rather than an argument of who said what to whom," the Conservative said.
He added that the prime minister expressed "sorrow and regret" for what he saw and apologised to the family, and the health secretary also went to Leeds to apologise.He added that the prime minister expressed "sorrow and regret" for what he saw and apologised to the family, and the health secretary also went to Leeds to apologise.
When challenged on briefings from the Conservative Party that claimed an aide of Mr Hancock was punched by a Labour activist during the visit, which was disproved by video footage, Mr Buckland said he did not know "who briefed what to whom". 'Hospital row'
"What I saw was a very confusing scene of public disorder," he said, adding that he had seen the footage. There were a number of angry protesters outside the hospital who shouted at Mr Hancock and his team when they left.
Two sources told journalists - including the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg and ITV's political editor Robert Peston - that one of Mr Hancock's advisers had been punched by one of the activists. There were also rumours that someone had been arrested.
Once the footage became available, it became clear that that hadn't happened and showed instead that the aide had walked into a protester's outstretched arm. The police also confirmed no arrests had been made.
Challenged on the footage, Mr Buckland said he did not know "who briefed what to whom", adding "what I saw was a very confusing scene of public disorder".
Labour's shadow health secretary Mr Ashworth told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his party was not using Jack's case as a political football, saying: "My heart goes out to Jack and his family."Labour's shadow health secretary Mr Ashworth told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his party was not using Jack's case as a political football, saying: "My heart goes out to Jack and his family."
"Unfortunately across the country these are not one-off events," he said, adding that there are elderly people "wasting away" on trolleys in hospital corridors because there are not enough beds."Unfortunately across the country these are not one-off events," he said, adding that there are elderly people "wasting away" on trolleys in hospital corridors because there are not enough beds.
Elsewhere, Mr Johnson will use a speech later to warn there is a "clear and present" danger of another hung parliament if voters do not turn out to support the Conservatives on Thursday.Elsewhere, Mr Johnson will use a speech later to warn there is a "clear and present" danger of another hung parliament if voters do not turn out to support the Conservatives on Thursday.
On a campaign visit to Staffordshire, he will tell supporters there are "well-financed" efforts to prevent a Tory majority through tactical voting, with just 12 gains by opposition parties enough to make Mr Corbyn prime minister.On a campaign visit to Staffordshire, he will tell supporters there are "well-financed" efforts to prevent a Tory majority through tactical voting, with just 12 gains by opposition parties enough to make Mr Corbyn prime minister.
"On the other hand, the Conservatives need only nine more seats for a majority. But the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has warned that Mr Johnson, who has insisted he can negotiate a new trade agreement with the EU in less than a year, poses the greatest threat to Scotland of "any prime minister in modern times".
"We could finally get Brexit done, end the uncertainty and move on," he will say. "With his plans for Brexit now, and a no-deal Brexit next year, he will put thousands of jobs in Scotland at risk, reduce investment in our public sector and do untold harm to Scotland," she said.