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General election: Ashworth dismisses as 'banter' tape of him telling friend Labour will lose – live news General election: Ashworth dismisses as 'banter' tape of him telling friend Labour will lose – live news
(32 minutes later)
Justice secretary Robert Buckland defends Johnson while Labour says NHS is ‘in crisis’Justice secretary Robert Buckland defends Johnson while Labour says NHS is ‘in crisis’
Johnson claims the UK will benefit from Brexit. He cites being able to change animal welfare laws, being able to get rid of the tampon tax, and being able to set up free ports.
He says he wants to be able to level up. Talent is evenly distributed, he says, but opportunity isn’t.
Johnson says he could talk about his plans for childcare, or his plans to make the UK greener.
But there is not much time left. He says we have little time. He has never known such an important election, he says.
There are 48 hours to get rid of the roadblock, he says.
Johnson claims that Jonathan Ashworth admitted in the private conversation leaked today that Jeremy Corbyn would be a security risk.
(Ashworth’s language was not that clear-cut. See 11.44am.)
Boris Johnson is speaking now.
He says everyone should take the opportunity to drive through the gridlock on Thursday.
He claims Labour would increase taxes, to the tune of £2,400 per head.
(This Guardian factcheck explains why this claim is not plausible.)
Javid says there will be an economic crisis within days if Labour takes power.
Boris Johnson is due to hold a Q&A with workers at the JCB plant in Staffordshire.
Sajid Javid, the chancellor, is doing the warm-up speech.
He claims Labour’s policies will guarantee an economic crisis.
A reader put it to me the other day that the best way to view the Boris Johnson campaign is as an extended picture caption competition. It is tempting to agree, but Johnson’s photo opportunities often end up as ready-made TV metaphors, staged on the assumption, one assumes, that the more obvious they are, the harder it will be for broadcasters to ignore them.
This afternoon’s (see 3.09pm) was about the most blatant yet. Johnson is due to explain them in a short speech with these words, which were released in advance overnight by CCHQ. Johnson will say:
But the problem with metaphors is that they can be open to multiple interpretations. To many viewers, this may not convey quite the impression Johnson intended.
1) Brexit is a destructive force. It does not make anything; it just knocks things down.
2) With Brexit, nothing is quite what it seems. These looked like proper bricks. But they were made of polystyrene.
3) After Johnson got through the Brexit “gridlock” he did not know where to go next and ground to a halt.
4) “Get Brexit done.” Johnson did once promise to lie in front of a bulldozer. If you take the view that leaving the EU in January won’t amount to Brexit being done, now the lie is on the front of a bulldozer.
I’m in Staffordshire today on the campaign trail with Boris Johnson, where the Tories are really wheeling out the visual metaphors as the campaign comes to an end.I’m in Staffordshire today on the campaign trail with Boris Johnson, where the Tories are really wheeling out the visual metaphors as the campaign comes to an end.
We’re at a JCB factory - the company chaired by Conservative donor Sir Anthony Bamford. We’re at a factory for JCB, the company chaired by the Conservative donor Sir Anthony Bamford.
A few minutes ago we were ushered downstairs onto a vast factory floor. After a short wait, the prime minister smashed noisily through a wall of polystyrene bricks with “GRIDLOCK” written on it, at the wheel of a digger. A few minutes ago we were ushered downstairs on to a vast factory floor. After a short wait, the prime minister smashed noisily through a wall of polystyrene bricks with “GRIDLOCK” written on it, at the wheel of a digger.
He was then ushered away, as were we: we’re awaiting a Q&A session in a few minutes.He was then ushered away, as were we: we’re awaiting a Q&A session in a few minutes.
From the Daily Mirror’s Oliver MilneFrom the Daily Mirror’s Oliver Milne
As the Scottish party leaders prepare for their BBC Scotland debate in Glasgow this evening, both the SNP and the Scottish Tories are pushing their tactical voting messages, while the personalised campaigning against Nicola Sturgeon steps up.As the Scottish party leaders prepare for their BBC Scotland debate in Glasgow this evening, both the SNP and the Scottish Tories are pushing their tactical voting messages, while the personalised campaigning against Nicola Sturgeon steps up.
In her interview with the Guardian yesterday, Sturgeon noted that “there’s no doubt that there’s a narrative, discussion and consideration around tactical voting in this election that I have not experienced previously”.In her interview with the Guardian yesterday, Sturgeon noted that “there’s no doubt that there’s a narrative, discussion and consideration around tactical voting in this election that I have not experienced previously”.
With the SNP running second in all Scottish Tory seats, she appealed to voters to lend the SNP their votes, adding: “People understand that this election is not going to decide the issue of independence.”With the SNP running second in all Scottish Tory seats, she appealed to voters to lend the SNP their votes, adding: “People understand that this election is not going to decide the issue of independence.”
This morning, Conservative MSPs from Labour backgrounds appealed to current Labour supporters to lend them their votes. Speaking at a campaign event in Bothwell – part of the SNP-held Lanark and Hamilton East constituency, which the Tories are very confident they can win on Thursday – Adam Tomkins, the party’s constitutional affairs spokesperson, said:This morning, Conservative MSPs from Labour backgrounds appealed to current Labour supporters to lend them their votes. Speaking at a campaign event in Bothwell – part of the SNP-held Lanark and Hamilton East constituency, which the Tories are very confident they can win on Thursday – Adam Tomkins, the party’s constitutional affairs spokesperson, said:
The Scottish Lib Dems were likewise pushing the message of “make Nicola Sturgeon think again” at their own campaign event today, underlining how confident pro-union parties are that a focus on the SNP leader herself will galvanise undecideds.The Scottish Lib Dems were likewise pushing the message of “make Nicola Sturgeon think again” at their own campaign event today, underlining how confident pro-union parties are that a focus on the SNP leader herself will galvanise undecideds.
My colleague Peter Walker has a judicious take on the Jonathan Ashworth tape.My colleague Peter Walker has a judicious take on the Jonathan Ashworth tape.
Earlier I said that Labour had released a lengthy dossier, based on information from NHS trusts in England, highlighting risks facing a large number of hospitals. (See 9.20am.) The party claims it shows the NHS is “in crisis and on the brink”.Earlier I said that Labour had released a lengthy dossier, based on information from NHS trusts in England, highlighting risks facing a large number of hospitals. (See 9.20am.) The party claims it shows the NHS is “in crisis and on the brink”.
The full document is now available here, on the Labour website.The full document is now available here, on the Labour website.
From Sky’s Beth RigbyFrom Sky’s Beth Rigby
Dave Merritt also criticised the way Boris Johnson was using Jack’s death in the London Bridge terror attack to justify his law and order agenda in an article for the Guardian last week.Dave Merritt also criticised the way Boris Johnson was using Jack’s death in the London Bridge terror attack to justify his law and order agenda in an article for the Guardian last week.
Jeremy Corbyn attracted a large crowd when he spoke at an event in Nelson in Lancashire this morning. Here is some video.Jeremy Corbyn attracted a large crowd when he spoke at an event in Nelson in Lancashire this morning. Here is some video.
In his appearance on the BBC’s Politics Live Jonathan Ashworth also apologised to the Labour party for his comments about the party being on course to lose – comments that he claimed were part of an attempt to “psych out” the Tories. (See 11.44am and 12.58pm.) He said:In his appearance on the BBC’s Politics Live Jonathan Ashworth also apologised to the Labour party for his comments about the party being on course to lose – comments that he claimed were part of an attempt to “psych out” the Tories. (See 11.44am and 12.58pm.) He said:
Asked if he thought Labour would win on Thursday, he replied: “Yes.” The presenter, Jo Coburn, asked: “And you believe that?” Ashworth replied: “Yes.”Asked if he thought Labour would win on Thursday, he replied: “Yes.” The presenter, Jo Coburn, asked: “And you believe that?” Ashworth replied: “Yes.”
When he announced his decision to stand down in Tory-held seats last month, Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claimed he was doing so because a video message posted on Twitter by Boris Johnson the previous day meant that he had changed his Brexit plans, and that he was now aiming for a “super-Canada-plus” trade deal (acceptable to Farage).When he announced his decision to stand down in Tory-held seats last month, Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claimed he was doing so because a video message posted on Twitter by Boris Johnson the previous day meant that he had changed his Brexit plans, and that he was now aiming for a “super-Canada-plus” trade deal (acceptable to Farage).
At his press conference today Farage claimed that Johnson had again changed his Brexit plans, and he said that as a result he would spoil his ballot paper on Thursday, instead of voting Tory. (He lives in a Tory-held constituency, where his own party is not standing.) Farage said:At his press conference today Farage claimed that Johnson had again changed his Brexit plans, and he said that as a result he would spoil his ballot paper on Thursday, instead of voting Tory. (He lives in a Tory-held constituency, where his own party is not standing.) Farage said:
Although Farage is now claiming that Johnson has changed Brexit policy twice during the election, in truth Johnson’s policy has not changed at all. The PM has negotiated a new version of the 540-page withdrawal agreement (pdf), which has been published and which would determine the form of the UK’s departure from the UK. He has also published a much shorter political declaration (pdf) which gives some information about the sort of trade deal with the EU that he would want to negotiate next year, although most of the crucial detail remains to be negotiated.Although Farage is now claiming that Johnson has changed Brexit policy twice during the election, in truth Johnson’s policy has not changed at all. The PM has negotiated a new version of the 540-page withdrawal agreement (pdf), which has been published and which would determine the form of the UK’s departure from the UK. He has also published a much shorter political declaration (pdf) which gives some information about the sort of trade deal with the EU that he would want to negotiate next year, although most of the crucial detail remains to be negotiated.
What is true, though, is that as the campaign has been going on, Johnson and other Tories have increasingly been suggesting that the fact that he has an “oven-ready” withdrawal agreement ready to go (which is true) also means that his eventual UK-EU trade deal is also nearly complete (which is not true at all).What is true, though, is that as the campaign has been going on, Johnson and other Tories have increasingly been suggesting that the fact that he has an “oven-ready” withdrawal agreement ready to go (which is true) also means that his eventual UK-EU trade deal is also nearly complete (which is not true at all).
Johnson was doing this in the BBC debate on Friday and was doing it again in a campaign Q&A yesterday. It is not clear whether he was being deliberately misleading, or just cavalier with the truth. Partly this is happening because the term “Brexit deal” is ambiguous. Sometimes it is used to refer to the withdrawal agreement, and sometimes it is used to refer to the proposed post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. Johnson seems to be exploiting this ambiguity for his own advantage.Johnson was doing this in the BBC debate on Friday and was doing it again in a campaign Q&A yesterday. It is not clear whether he was being deliberately misleading, or just cavalier with the truth. Partly this is happening because the term “Brexit deal” is ambiguous. Sometimes it is used to refer to the withdrawal agreement, and sometimes it is used to refer to the proposed post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. Johnson seems to be exploiting this ambiguity for his own advantage.
At a news conference in Westminster Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, urged leave voters to vote tactically at the election and back his party rather than the Conservatives. The Brexit party is not standing in Tory-held seats, but it does hope to win in some Labour seats where Farage thinks the Tories have no chance. He told the press conference:At a news conference in Westminster Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, urged leave voters to vote tactically at the election and back his party rather than the Conservatives. The Brexit party is not standing in Tory-held seats, but it does hope to win in some Labour seats where Farage thinks the Tories have no chance. He told the press conference:
Jonathan Ashworth is now saying that when he told his Tory activist friend that Labour was bound to lose the general election (see 11.44am), he was actually just trying to “psych out” the opposition. He told the BBC’s Politics Live he was speaking to Greig Baker, a Tory activist and old friend who runs a political intelligence agency. Ashworth went on:Jonathan Ashworth is now saying that when he told his Tory activist friend that Labour was bound to lose the general election (see 11.44am), he was actually just trying to “psych out” the opposition. He told the BBC’s Politics Live he was speaking to Greig Baker, a Tory activist and old friend who runs a political intelligence agency. Ashworth went on:
Almost 200 reports were made to police about parliamentary candidate safety in less than three weeks during the election campaign, PA Media reports. Around half of the 198 reports made between 15 November and 4 December were serious enough to be treated as crimes, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told the news agency. Most of the incidents were allegations of malicious communications online. There were also reports of criminal damage and harassment.Almost 200 reports were made to police about parliamentary candidate safety in less than three weeks during the election campaign, PA Media reports. Around half of the 198 reports made between 15 November and 4 December were serious enough to be treated as crimes, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) told the news agency. Most of the incidents were allegations of malicious communications online. There were also reports of criminal damage and harassment.
As PA reports, there were three reports of assaults against campaign volunteers but none against candidates and the incidents were not thought to be serious. A third of reports came from campaign volunteers and staff, with the remainder coming from candidates themselves, the NPCC said. The body said it had not seen trends of abuse being directed against any one particular party.As PA reports, there were three reports of assaults against campaign volunteers but none against candidates and the incidents were not thought to be serious. A third of reports came from campaign volunteers and staff, with the remainder coming from candidates themselves, the NPCC said. The body said it had not seen trends of abuse being directed against any one particular party.