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General election: Swinson says Johnson's language puts EU citizens at risk of hate crimes – live General election: Swinson says Johnson's language puts EU citizens at risk of hate crimes – live
(32 minutes later)
The Lib Dem leader will condemn prime minister for his rhetoric about EU citizensThe Lib Dem leader will condemn prime minister for his rhetoric about EU citizens
Hi there, Damien Gayle taking over in London now, covering the morning’s political developments until Andrew Sparrow’s had his Weetabix.
Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, was just speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, attempting more or less to explain away what political observers have described as the worst day so far for the Conservative election campaign. Asked about Johnson’s fumbling response to the photo of Jack Williment-Barr sleeping on the floor of Leeds General infirmary, Buckland said:
The child’s family want privacy, Buckland insisted. In the meantime, general elections ought to be fought “on the high ground, the big issues” rather than “who said what to who”, he chastised. Suggestions that Jack was a symbol of Tory failure to care for the National Health Service were “rather insulting to all the hard-working people in our NHS”, Buckland said. If only the Conservatives could have a chance to implement their “targeted and structured programme”, everything would be fine.
Answering for Johnson’s bizarre pocketing of a television reporter’s phone to avoid looking at Jack’s picture, Buckland gave a kind of defence of temporary delirium:
He saved his strongest words for the rowdy Labour activists outside Leeds General, who Conservative press office had claimed assaulted Matt Hancock’s adviser. The claims, widely reported by senior journalists briefed by senior Tory sources, were quickly disproved by a video of the incident. But, Buckland said:
So there you go.
Boris Johnson has parodied what is perhaps the most famous (and most divisive) scene in Love Actually, in a video he has called Brexit, actually.Boris Johnson has parodied what is perhaps the most famous (and most divisive) scene in Love Actually, in a video he has called Brexit, actually.
It’s pretty painful to watch.It’s pretty painful to watch.
Awkwardly, it’s also not even an original parody. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who was elected as Labour MP for Tooting, did her own version of the Love Actually scene for a campaign advertisement more than a fortnight ago. She is very unimpressed with the fact, in her words, “Boris Johnson has copied my #ElectionActually video.” Her version is below.Awkwardly, it’s also not even an original parody. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who was elected as Labour MP for Tooting, did her own version of the Love Actually scene for a campaign advertisement more than a fortnight ago. She is very unimpressed with the fact, in her words, “Boris Johnson has copied my #ElectionActually video.” Her version is below.
There will be a flurry of campaigning today as the leaders criss-cross the country in a last-minute bid to win votes. Jeremy Corbyn, who will start his day in the north-west before travelling to Glasgow, has told the Guardian he feels confident as the election campaign enters its final days, saying he thought Labour had “got the message out” across the six-week campaign. However, John Crace was at Corbyn’s rally in Bristol yesterday, which he says felt less like the first gig of The Comeback Tour and more like The Long Goodbye.There will be a flurry of campaigning today as the leaders criss-cross the country in a last-minute bid to win votes. Jeremy Corbyn, who will start his day in the north-west before travelling to Glasgow, has told the Guardian he feels confident as the election campaign enters its final days, saying he thought Labour had “got the message out” across the six-week campaign. However, John Crace was at Corbyn’s rally in Bristol yesterday, which he says felt less like the first gig of The Comeback Tour and more like The Long Goodbye.
The day aheadThe day ahead
Busy days all around as party leaders sprint to the finish line.Busy days all around as party leaders sprint to the finish line.
Boris Johnson will start his day in the Midlands with a press conference before travelling up to north-west England in the evening. The Tory leader is expected to head to Manchester for a rally on Tuesday night, via a stop in north Wales to visit businesses.Boris Johnson will start his day in the Midlands with a press conference before travelling up to north-west England in the evening. The Tory leader is expected to head to Manchester for a rally on Tuesday night, via a stop in north Wales to visit businesses.
Jeremy Corbyn will start his day in north-west England at a library before visiting a primary school and a pub in the region, before heading to Glasgow.Jeremy Corbyn will start his day in north-west England at a library before visiting a primary school and a pub in the region, before heading to Glasgow.
The Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson will spend the day in the south-west, canvassing in the area and attending a rally in Somerset. Nigel Farage will be in London, where he is expected to hold a Brexit party press conference.The Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson will spend the day in the south-west, canvassing in the area and attending a rally in Somerset. Nigel Farage will be in London, where he is expected to hold a Brexit party press conference.
The Green party is also staying in London, where it will host an event announcing policies to help students with economic issues.The Green party is also staying in London, where it will host an event announcing policies to help students with economic issues.
Good morning, we’re just two days out from the election and the Conservatives are reeling after what was probably their worst day of the campaign yesterday.Good morning, we’re just two days out from the election and the Conservatives are reeling after what was probably their worst day of the campaign yesterday.
The week did not get off to a great start for the prime minister. Yesterday, Johnson woke up to a photograph of a four-year-old boy being treated on a hospital floor because of a lack of beds on the front page of the Mirror, which later in the day he repeatedly refused on camera to look at, before pocketing the phone of the reporter who tried to show it to him. Marina Hyde on this episode is as brutally funny as you might expect.The week did not get off to a great start for the prime minister. Yesterday, Johnson woke up to a photograph of a four-year-old boy being treated on a hospital floor because of a lack of beds on the front page of the Mirror, which later in the day he repeatedly refused on camera to look at, before pocketing the phone of the reporter who tried to show it to him. Marina Hyde on this episode is as brutally funny as you might expect.
Then Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was dispatched to Leeds General infirmary in an effort to show that the party was taking the case seriously. Johnson’s team wrongly briefing that a Tory aide was “punched” outside the hospital by a leftwing activist, in what was interpreted as a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from the bad news day the Tories were having. The claims quickly turned out to be untrue when video footage showed that the adviser was accidentally brushed in the face and they have now been accused of “lying and cheating” to distract attention from their bad day.Then Matt Hancock, the health secretary, was dispatched to Leeds General infirmary in an effort to show that the party was taking the case seriously. Johnson’s team wrongly briefing that a Tory aide was “punched” outside the hospital by a leftwing activist, in what was interpreted as a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from the bad news day the Tories were having. The claims quickly turned out to be untrue when video footage showed that the adviser was accidentally brushed in the face and they have now been accused of “lying and cheating” to distract attention from their bad day.
Pressure will stay on the Tories today as Jo Swinson accuses Boris Johnson of putting EU citizens in the UK at risk of abuse and hate crimes through a Vote Leave-style “dog whistle” approach to immigration.Pressure will stay on the Tories today as Jo Swinson accuses Boris Johnson of putting EU citizens in the UK at risk of abuse and hate crimes through a Vote Leave-style “dog whistle” approach to immigration.
On a campaign trip to Bath on Tuesday, a seat held by her party, Swinson will condemn the prime minister for his language towards EU citizens, such as saying that too many of them felt able to “treat the UK as if it’s part of their own country”.On a campaign trip to Bath on Tuesday, a seat held by her party, Swinson will condemn the prime minister for his language towards EU citizens, such as saying that too many of them felt able to “treat the UK as if it’s part of their own country”.
Thanks for joining us for the last days of this crazy campaign ride.Thanks for joining us for the last days of this crazy campaign ride.