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General election: poll suggests Tory lead narrows as campaign enters last day – live General election: poll suggests Tory lead narrows as campaign enters last day – live news
(32 minutes later)
Labour and the Conservatives in scramble for votes on the final day of campaigningLabour and the Conservatives in scramble for votes on the final day of campaigning
Morning, I’m Aamna Mohdin taking over the blog from Kate Lyon on the last day of the campaign. The Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price, has proposed a bill to make lying by politicians a criminal offence.
Prime minister Boris Johnson started his day helping load milk and orange juice bottles onto a delivery vehicle in West Yorkshire. He will be crisscrossing around the country, making stops in the Midlands, Wales and London, urging voters to give him the majority he needs to “Get Brexit done.” Called the elected representatives (prohibition of deception) bill, under the legislation elected politicians in the European, Westminster and devolved parliaments would face criminal charges if they knowingly mislead the public.
Last night, YouGov’s second much-hyped constituency-by-constituency poll suggests Labour is now two points up, cutting the predicted Tory majority down from 68 seats to 28. YouGov said that while the Tories remain favourites, a hung parliament cannot be ruled out. The party would seek to introduce a form of the law in the next parliament.
When asked about the narrowing polls, the prime minister told broadcasters: “This could not be more critical, it could not be tighter - I just say to everybody the risk is very real that we could tomorrow be going into another hung parliament. Price said: “People have lost faith in our politics, and we have a duty to restore it before it’s too late. It’s depressing that it has come to this, but if we need a law to stop politicians from lying then that is what should be in place.”
Price said he proposed a similar draft law more than 10 years ago, following the Iraq war. “Our politics, once again, faces a crisis of confidence thanks to the fake news, fake views and fake figures that have been peddled, particularly by the main two Westminster parties.”
He added: “Over half a century ago we made it illegal for companies to lie to us with the Trade Descriptions Act. Sadly, it looks like now we need the same principle to apply to politicians.
“Honesty is the most important currency in politics. We have to protect it, before it reaches moral bankruptcy.”
Remember, the Guardian’s factchecking team is here to help decipher what claims are true and what are false.
Boris Johnson’s first stop on the last day of the campaign
Morning, I’m Aamna Mohdin, taking over the blog from Kate Lyons on the last day of the campaign.
Boris Johnson started his day helping load milk and orange juice bottles on to a delivery vehicle in West Yorkshire. He will be crisscrossing around the country, making stops in the Midlands, Wales and London, urging voters to give him the majority he needs to “get Brexit done”.
Last night, YouGov’s second much-hyped constituency-by-constituency poll suggests Labour is two points up, cutting the predicted Tory majority down from 68 seats to 28. YouGov said that while the Tories remain favourites, a hung parliament cannot be ruled out.
When asked about the narrowing polls, the prime minister told broadcasters: “This could not be more critical, it could not be tighter – I just say to everybody the risk is very real that we could tomorrow be going into another hung parliament.
“That’s more drift, more dither, more delay, more paralysis for this country.”“That’s more drift, more dither, more delay, more paralysis for this country.”
Pressed on whether he was nervous, Johnson replied: “We’re fighting for every vote.”Pressed on whether he was nervous, Johnson replied: “We’re fighting for every vote.”
The papers todayThe papers today
Boris Johnson is up and running, as is the Guardian’s political editor Heather Stewart.Boris Johnson is up and running, as is the Guardian’s political editor Heather Stewart.
Other election news at a glance:Other election news at a glance:
A woman has claimed her Facebook account was hacked after it was used to post false information claiming a photograph of an ill boy on the floor of a hospital was staged for political purposes.A woman has claimed her Facebook account was hacked after it was used to post false information claiming a photograph of an ill boy on the floor of a hospital was staged for political purposes.
Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed as “banter” a recording of Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, saying Labour would not win the election.Jeremy Corbyn has dismissed as “banter” a recording of Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, saying Labour would not win the election.
Jo Swinson has accused Boris Johnson of showing “an empathy bypass” in his attitude to other people.Jo Swinson has accused Boris Johnson of showing “an empathy bypass” in his attitude to other people.
How was a PM on day release for nicking a phone allowed in a JCB, asks John Crace.How was a PM on day release for nicking a phone allowed in a JCB, asks John Crace.
Want to vote tactically? We have a region-by-region guide.Want to vote tactically? We have a region-by-region guide.
Huw Edwards has said “the stakes are very high” for the BBC’s general coverage amid Conservative threats to examine the BBC licence fee and Channel 4’s broadcasting remit after the election.Huw Edwards has said “the stakes are very high” for the BBC’s general coverage amid Conservative threats to examine the BBC licence fee and Channel 4’s broadcasting remit after the election.
Health secretary Matt Hancock won’t talk to us, say “bullied” doctors at his local hospital in Suffolk.Health secretary Matt Hancock won’t talk to us, say “bullied” doctors at his local hospital in Suffolk.
The Conservatives have opened a second investigation into Hastings candidate Sally-Ann Hart, this time for alleged Islamophobia.The Conservatives have opened a second investigation into Hastings candidate Sally-Ann Hart, this time for alleged Islamophobia.
Here’s Labour’s campaign ad this morning, invoking the Blitz spirit.Here’s Labour’s campaign ad this morning, invoking the Blitz spirit.
The day aheadThe day ahead
A busy day all round. Johnson will be travelling from Yorkshire to the Midlands, Wales and London.A busy day all round. Johnson will be travelling from Yorkshire to the Midlands, Wales and London.
Jo Swinson will be making appearances at a series of rallies. She is targeting Lib Dem seats around Surrey and the London area.Jo Swinson will be making appearances at a series of rallies. She is targeting Lib Dem seats around Surrey and the London area.
Nigel Farage is back on the campaign trail and will be in Yorkshire backed by local prospective parliamentary candidates.Nigel Farage is back on the campaign trail and will be in Yorkshire backed by local prospective parliamentary candidates.
Nicola Sturgeon will join SNP candidates on the final day of campaigning in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Dunbartonshire.Nicola Sturgeon will join SNP candidates on the final day of campaigning in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Dunbartonshire.
Hello and welcome to our politics liveblog, the last of the campaign.Hello and welcome to our politics liveblog, the last of the campaign.
This is it, the end is in sight, but not before one final flurry of campaigning effort from all the parties.This is it, the end is in sight, but not before one final flurry of campaigning effort from all the parties.
Labour and the Conservatives are in a frantic scramble for votes as the last day of campaigning begins. Both parties have labelled Thursday’s vote the “most important in a generation” .Labour and the Conservatives are in a frantic scramble for votes as the last day of campaigning begins. Both parties have labelled Thursday’s vote the “most important in a generation” .
Neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn are wasting a moment of their last day. The prime minister will be crisscrossing the country from Yorkshire to the Midlands, Wales and London on Wednesday, delivering his message that the Conservatives need only another 12 seats to win a majority and that only his party can “get Brexit done”.Neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn are wasting a moment of their last day. The prime minister will be crisscrossing the country from Yorkshire to the Midlands, Wales and London on Wednesday, delivering his message that the Conservatives need only another 12 seats to win a majority and that only his party can “get Brexit done”.
Meanwhile, Corbyn will start his day in Scotland before visiting at least five key seats in a whirlwind tour across England, calling for those who are undecided to “vote for hope in this election”.Meanwhile, Corbyn will start his day in Scotland before visiting at least five key seats in a whirlwind tour across England, calling for those who are undecided to “vote for hope in this election”.
Both sides insist the election remains closely fought and that polls giving the Conservatives a lead could be wrong.Both sides insist the election remains closely fought and that polls giving the Conservatives a lead could be wrong.
The release of YouGov’s second and much-hyped constituency-by-constituency poll suggests this is not just a line from the parties and we are in for a nerve-jangling finish. Compared with the first poll, Labour is two points up, meaning Boris Johnson’s notional majority has been cut from 68 to 28 as his party’s predicted seat count falls by 20 to 339 and Labour’s improves by the same amount to 231. The SNP takes 41 and the Liberal Democrats 15, with some particularly surprising Lib Dem gains predicted.The release of YouGov’s second and much-hyped constituency-by-constituency poll suggests this is not just a line from the parties and we are in for a nerve-jangling finish. Compared with the first poll, Labour is two points up, meaning Boris Johnson’s notional majority has been cut from 68 to 28 as his party’s predicted seat count falls by 20 to 339 and Labour’s improves by the same amount to 231. The SNP takes 41 and the Liberal Democrats 15, with some particularly surprising Lib Dem gains predicted.
Thanks for travelling this campaign road with us. We’ll bring you all the news today (and of course tomorrow when the vote actually happens).Thanks for travelling this campaign road with us. We’ll bring you all the news today (and of course tomorrow when the vote actually happens).