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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 2 hours 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 and the Tories will focus on key messages around the NHS and Brexit in the final days of the campaign.
With two days to go, Labour is pledging a "relentless focus" on the health service if it wins power. While Labour talks about under-funding risks to patients, the Conservatives are promising an end to "gridlock".
Boris Johnson will try to keep the focus on Brexit and the "danger" of another inconclusive result. But it is not all plain sailing, as a recording has been leaked of shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth criticising Labour's election chances.
In a speech later, the PM will pledge that the Tories would "smash through the gridlock" if given a majority. And Boris Johnson is still facing criticism over his reaction to an image of a sick boy on a hospital floor.
The Conservatives are also attacking Labour over the costs of delivering and running new government agencies promised in the party's manifesto. Elsewhere, the topics of the NHS and Brexit are also dominating on the campaign trail.
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. Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson is due to give a speech on the cost of leaving the EU later.
Meanwhile, Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth has insisted his apparent criticism of Jeremy Corbyn in a leaked secret recording by his Tory activist friend was "banter". And the SNP is proposing legislation to protect the NHS in Scotland from "exploitative" trade deals, with Nicola Sturgeon warning Mr Johnson poses the greatest threat to Scotland of "any prime minister in modern times".
He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire he was "joshing" when he told his friend that he thought there was no way Labour could win the election.
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 is pledging a "relentless focus" on the health service if it wins power after Thursday's poll.
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 reports produced by NHS trusts in England this month show a health service "in crisis and on the brink".
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. It promised that a Labour government would conduct an immediate audit of the risks revealed.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.
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 Mr Ashworth said: "These shocking reports reveal an NHS in crisis and on the brink.Shadow health secretary Mr 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. However, the leaked recording of Mr Ashworth - which shows him telling a Tory activist friend the situation for Labour was "dire" and the party had made a mistake by not getting rid of Mr Corbyn as leader - has distracted from the campaign.
Mr Ashworth has insisted his apparent criticism of the Labour leader was "banter", telling the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire he was "joshing" when he told his friend that he thought there was no way Labour could win the election.
'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. The prime minister will try to keep the focus on Brexit and the "danger" of another inconclusive result in Thursday's election.
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. 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, and they would "smash through the gridlock" if given a majority.
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.
The Conservatives are also attacking Labour over the costs of delivering and running new government agencies promised in the party's manifesto.
But there is distraction for the PM too, as he continued to face criticism over his response to a photograph of a sick four-year-old boy sleeping on the floor of Leeds General Infirmary due to a lack of beds.
On Monday, an ITV reporter tried to show Mr Johnson the picture on his phone, but the prime minister 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 Health Secretary Matt Hancock also went to Leeds to apologise.
'Hospital row' Mr Hancock said the party was embarking on one of the "largest" hospital building programmes in UK history, although there is controversy about its pledge to build 40 new hospitals.
The NHS is high up on the agenda during this election campaign and the facts are clear.
Although ministers have stressed that while other Whitehall budgets were being cut, the NHS did at least get increases over inflation from 2010, health spending in England rose at about half the rate of the historic average.
Annual increases have picked up in the last couple of years, and the Conservative government has promised something closer to the long-run average up till 2023.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have pledged moderately higher increases if they are elected.
The stresses on front line services now partly reflect historic constrained funding.
Staff shortages are another major challenge, with rota gaps restricting the ability of the service to give patients the care they would expect.
That too follows previous shortcomings in workforce planning.
Hospital bed numbers have fallen over the last three decades under successive governments, partly due to the changing patterns of care - with more people having day surgery without the need for overnight stays, and more elderly patients being cared for at home.
But given that hospitals are often close to full, the decline in bed capacity has arguably gone too far.
The political parties know all this and would argue they are trying to address the issues.
But that will take time, and the reality for patients right now is a service close to its limits.
There were a number of angry protesters outside the hospital who shouted at Mr Hancock and his team when they left.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.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.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".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." Mr Corbyn has denied politicising Jack's case, but said the incident "says an awful lot about the NHS" and the "shortage of staff".
"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. The Green Party is focusing its closing days on students - promising to scrap tuition fees and write off existing student debt.
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. Deputy leader Amelia Womack said the move would "deliver justice" to students who faced fees of up to £9,000 a year.
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. At a speech in London, she said: "I am proud to announce that the Green Party would write off student debt for people who paid the highest fees.
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". "If you went to university under the coalition's eye-watering amounts of £9,000 fees, the Greens will wipe that debt, no strings attached."
"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. She added: "Let's end fees, wipe out the debt, education is a public good."
What are the parties promising you?What are the parties promising you?
Use this concise guide to compare where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.Use this concise guide to compare where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.
General election manifesto guideGeneral election manifesto guide
Follow election night on the BBCFollow election night on the BBC