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General election: Party leaders cross country in final push for votes – live news General election: Party leaders cross country in final push for votes – live news
(about 1 hour 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
MPs elected tomorrow night will take part in a security and wellbeing induction session for the first time following a surge in abuse and threats against politicians.
MPs will be invited to attend a session in their first week in the role, which a UK Parliament spokesman said will help to “ensure MPs are kept safe and are able to perform their duties”.
It comes after more than 50 MPs chose not to contest the General Election, with four female politicians citing issues of bullying as their reason for standing down.
The session is scheduled to take place on December 17 and will cover cyber security, staying safe on and off the parliamentary estate, and wellbeing services.
A UK Parliament spokesman said: “The safety and security of MPs and their staff both on the Parliamentary Estate and elsewhere is an absolute priority.
“We work closely with local police forces, who are responsible for the security of MPs and their staff away from the Parliamentary Estate, to ensure MPs are kept safe and are able to perform their duties.
“The health and wellbeing of everyone working in Parliament is vital. For this reason, we offer a wide range of confidential services, including an on-site nurse, a 24/7 helpline and free professional counselling, to anyone working here, including MPs, peers, their staff and staff working for both Houses.”
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn have reverted to core campaigning mode, in terms of message and style, on the final day of an election campaign that has failed to enthuse the public but that could have profound consequences for the nation. In polling terms, there has been very little movement in terms of the gap between the two main parties since the beginning of the campaign (although both the Conservatives and Labour have seen their share of the vote rise significantly, at the expense of the Brexit party and the Lib Dems) and this week’s YouGov MRP poll, which rightly or wrongly is assumed to be the best polling guide to the result, has the Tories heading for a majority of 28. But three weeks ago the same YouGov MRP poll had the Tories on course for a majority of 68. The figures suggest a relatively small shift in headline polling numbers can make a big difference to seat numbers; three weeks ago YouGov had the Tories 11 points ahead, and this week it has the gap at nine points (Tories 43%, Labour 34%). And this week’s MRP analysis suggests that, although a Conservative majority of 28 is the central forecast, Johnson could end up with anything between 311 and 367 seats because of the margin of error - meaning a hung parliament (fewer than 326 seats) is a possibility. Johnson’s favoured mode of campaigning has involved posing for photo opportunity, often in a blue-collar work environment with some Brexit metaphor to hand, and today he has been delivering milk, baking (“oven-ready deal”) and doing his bit in a cracker factory. At one point he appeared to take refuge in an industrial fridge to avoid having to talk to Piers Morgan on live TV. Corbyn prefers addressing rallies, and so far he has been speaking in Govan, Middlesbrough, and Rotherham, stressing his commitment to fighting poverty and rescuing the NHS. Jo Swinson has been urging people to vote Lib Dem to “stop Brexit”. And Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, has been arguing that the SNP is the party best placed to defeat the Tories in Scotland.
Michel Barnier, the EU chief Brexit negotiator, has said that it would be “unrealistic” for the EU to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with the UK by the end next year. In a private meeting, a recording of which was leaked to the Independent, he said:
This claim, which is only a marginally blunter version of what he has said in public and which reflects the near-universal consensus in Brussels, undermines Johnson’s claim that he would be able to get a good trade deal negotiated by this time next year. Barnier said one option would to extend the transition period for a year or two. The Conservative party has ruled this out, but the government is likely to come under pressure to do this in the spring (because a decision would have to to be taken by 1 July) and in a speech today Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, said that if the Tories won the election, another Brexit crisis would erupt within months. He said:
This was supposed to be the Brexit election. But Johnson, who has done his best to avoid heavyweight media scrutiny, has managed to get to the end of the campaign without having to explain how he will obtain the quick and beneficial trade deal he is promising, or what in detail it will entail. Commenting on Barnier’s comments, Labour’s Andrew Gwynne said:
The Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has called for a law to stop politicians lying to voters.
The “presidential” nature of a campaign dominated by the leaders of the two largest parties has been illuminated by research that also reveals how Labour and the Conservatives have hidden away senior figures deemed to be embarrassing or “off message”.
That’s all from me for tonight.
My colleague Nadeem Badshah is taking over now.
The Conservatives were given more than £3 million in large donations in the fourth week of the election campaign.
According to the Electoral Commission’s publication of donations above £7,500, the Tory election war chest was boosted by £3.2 million between November 27 and December 3.
Bridgemere UK plc, an umbrella group of real-estate companies and developers, donated £1 million alone to Boris Johnson’s campaign effort.
Labour lagged far behind in terms of four-figure donations, accepting £727,000 in the same period - less than a quarter of what the Tories raked in.
The largest single donation received by Labour came from the GMB union, which donated £290,000 to the campaign to elect Jeremy Corbyn.
In week four, the Brexit Party benefited from £125,000 extra for their campaign, the Liberal Democrats took in an additional £80,000 and the Green Party was given £50,000.
Advance Together, a party set up in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze to call for more local accountability, also reported receiving £22,750.
Overall, the parties reported £4.2 million of donations and £9,171 in loans during the seven-day timeframe.
These are from the academic Paula Surridge.These are from the academic Paula Surridge.
Even in an interview with Pink News, Boris Johnson has still refused to apologise for referring to gay men as “tank-topped bum boys” in a column in the 1990s.Even in an interview with Pink News, Boris Johnson has still refused to apologise for referring to gay men as “tank-topped bum boys” in a column in the 1990s.
The Guardian’s latest Politics Weekly podcast is out. Rowena Mason is joined by Jennifer Williams, Will Tanner, and Chris Prosser to attempt to predict what way the election will go tomorrow, and ponder what life might be like when it’s all over. Plus, Heather Stewart rings in to tell us how the prime minister is feeling after what has been a wobbly last campaign week.The Guardian’s latest Politics Weekly podcast is out. Rowena Mason is joined by Jennifer Williams, Will Tanner, and Chris Prosser to attempt to predict what way the election will go tomorrow, and ponder what life might be like when it’s all over. Plus, Heather Stewart rings in to tell us how the prime minister is feeling after what has been a wobbly last campaign week.
The Labour party has released figures that it says shows it has won the social media campaign. It says on Facebook Jeremy Corbyn and Labour have achieved 86.2m views on campaign videos, compared to only 24.5m for Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.The Labour party has released figures that it says shows it has won the social media campaign. It says on Facebook Jeremy Corbyn and Labour have achieved 86.2m views on campaign videos, compared to only 24.5m for Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.
From my colleague Severin CarrellFrom my colleague Severin Carrell
The youth vote may yet turn out to be significant in tomorrow’s general election, but in Cardiff as many as 200 students may not be able to vote because of registration error.The youth vote may yet turn out to be significant in tomorrow’s general election, but in Cardiff as many as 200 students may not be able to vote because of registration error.
Students were urged to register ahead of the November 26 deadline, and told to include their flat number as well as their street address. According to Cardiff council around 200 applications - many from students in halls - were invalid because of incomplete addresses.Students were urged to register ahead of the November 26 deadline, and told to include their flat number as well as their street address. According to Cardiff council around 200 applications - many from students in halls - were invalid because of incomplete addresses.
Students told Wales Online they had filled their details in correctly and claimed there had been no contact from the local authority alerting them to any error. Morgan Cullen, 19, who studies at the University of South Wales, said:Students told Wales Online they had filled their details in correctly and claimed there had been no contact from the local authority alerting them to any error. Morgan Cullen, 19, who studies at the University of South Wales, said:
President of the National Union of Students Wales, Rob Simkins, urged the council to intervene to ensure that the affected students are added to the electoral register in time and can vote. “This is the general election that will define our futures and students are demanding that their voices be heard.”President of the National Union of Students Wales, Rob Simkins, urged the council to intervene to ensure that the affected students are added to the electoral register in time and can vote. “This is the general election that will define our futures and students are demanding that their voices be heard.”
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has been recorded telling a private meeting that the EU would not be able to conclude a full trade negotiation with the EU by the end of next year, as Boris Johnson claims. As the Independent reports in its scoop, Barnier said:Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, has been recorded telling a private meeting that the EU would not be able to conclude a full trade negotiation with the EU by the end of next year, as Boris Johnson claims. As the Independent reports in its scoop, Barnier said:
This supports the claim made by Nigel Farage in a speech this morning: that the UK will face a Brexit crisis in the spring, when the government comes under pressure to agree an extension to the transition period (that the Tory manifesto rules out). (See 11.35am.)This supports the claim made by Nigel Farage in a speech this morning: that the UK will face a Brexit crisis in the spring, when the government comes under pressure to agree an extension to the transition period (that the Tory manifesto rules out). (See 11.35am.)
As my colleague Jennifer Rankin points out, this is much the same as what Barnier has been saying in public on this topic, only with a slightly more negative twist.As my colleague Jennifer Rankin points out, this is much the same as what Barnier has been saying in public on this topic, only with a slightly more negative twist.
Around 200 people gathered in Dinnington, Rotherham, to see Jeremy Corbyn give a 12 minute stump speech in the rain. Rother Valley has been Labour since its creation in 1918, but YouGov’s MRP poll has it down as a possible Tory gain tomorrow.Around 200 people gathered in Dinnington, Rotherham, to see Jeremy Corbyn give a 12 minute stump speech in the rain. Rother Valley has been Labour since its creation in 1918, but YouGov’s MRP poll has it down as a possible Tory gain tomorrow.
The Labour leader emerged from his party’s battle bus - for one of six planned campaign visits on Wednesday - to chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”. He said:The Labour leader emerged from his party’s battle bus - for one of six planned campaign visits on Wednesday - to chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”. He said:
He said the manifesto was the product of the work of “thousands of people in our party and our unions and our communities”. The document’s policies would only bring UK public spending up to the same levels as France and Germany, said Corbyn. “That’s how far backwards we’ve gone since Margaret Thatcher moved into Downing Street,” he said, to boos from the crowd. “And Tony Blair,” said one man.He said the manifesto was the product of the work of “thousands of people in our party and our unions and our communities”. The document’s policies would only bring UK public spending up to the same levels as France and Germany, said Corbyn. “That’s how far backwards we’ve gone since Margaret Thatcher moved into Downing Street,” he said, to boos from the crowd. “And Tony Blair,” said one man.
The Labour leader climbed back on the bus to more chants of “Oh Jezza, we love you”. “Thank you for giving us hope, Jeremy,” shouted one man.The Labour leader climbed back on the bus to more chants of “Oh Jezza, we love you”. “Thank you for giving us hope, Jeremy,” shouted one man.
On a relatively quiet day - at least, in news terms; there is a lot of campaigning taking place, but not much is being said that has not been said before – here is a campaign reading list: two features on Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn respectively, from non-Guardian writers.
Andrew Sullivan in the New York magazine argues that for all Boris Johnson’s flaws (and Sullivan is quite explicit about them), he is “quietly forging a new conservatism” and could be “pioneering a path for other western parties of the center right confronted by the rise of populist extremism”.
Jack Shenker for Vice describes a weekend on the campaign trail with Jeremy Corbyn, and explains how he is reshaping politics.
Losing candidates standing in Dominic Raab’s former constituency may not be invited to deliver speeches after the declaration as council officials try to manage overwhelming interest from the world’s media and the public.
The electoral authorities overseeing the count for Esher and Walton have said they will only guarantee that the winner will be able to address the crowd assembled at the count. An Elmbridge borough council spokesperson said: “If the winning candidate would like to make a short speech, following the result declaration, that is fine.”
This decision represents a U-turn, sources close to candidates say. The returning officer’s staff had initially warned on Tuesday that they would break with convention and stop any statements from a stage at the count at Sandown Park Racecourse.
Raab is one of the big names who could be unseated in Thursday’s election, and provide Friday with a so-called “Portillo moment”, according to new analysis by YouGov released on Tuesday.
Officials say that the council is trying to cope with a series of logistical problems brought on by a demand for access to the count.
More than 33 media outlets are seeking accreditation at one of the most keenly anticipated results – usually Elmbridge Borough council has zero requests for media access for elections in a seat that has been held by the Tories for more than a century.
Raab is facing a challenge from Monica Harding, the Lib Dem candidate, in the prosperous, leafy seat. YouGov’s analysis says the foreign secretary’s 23,000-strong majority in Esher and Walton could be overturned by the Liberal Democrats, who are currently just 2% behind him.
The Labour leader in Wales, Mark Drakeford, has described Boris Johnson’s visit to a Welsh wrapping present factory (see 3.16pm) as a Christmas gift for the prime minister’s opponents. Drakeford said:
But Drakeford also admitted that Jeremy Corbyn was not going down well with everyone in Wales. He said:
Drakeford was doing some last-minute campaigning in Bridgend with his party’s candidate, Madeleine Moon.
He said this was a “fork-in-the-road” election. Ending up with the Tories would be disastrous for Wales, he said. “More cuts, more neglect, more focus on things that matter to a few people and don’t matter at all to most people.”
The alternative was a Labour government “with a genuine hope about something different, serious about climate change, determined to invest in our public services, determined to change the nature of our country so it works for the bulk of people rather than being organised around the things that only reward those who have already got more than they will ever know what to do with.”
Fifteen former Labour MPs have signed a message for an advert that has been placed in the Manchester Evening News and other regional newspapers urging people not to vote Labour. It says Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to be prime minister.
Asked about the message, Corbyn said the ex-MPs should “look themselves in the mirror” and ask if they really want to let in the Tories again. He went on:
Boris Johnson’s campaign took a festive turn as he visited a south Wales firm which is said to be the Queen’s Christmas cracker supplier, the Press Association reports. He helped box up rolls of wrapping paper - a case of putting round tubes in a square hole - before joining staff at IG Design Group in pulling crackers. The PM read out the joke in one of the crackers, asking: “What can you make that cannot be seen? The answer is a noise.”
As PA reports, the noise of laughter was not heard, so the PM added: “What can you get done by Christmas? Brexit.” Some laughter was heard at this point, with Johnson commending those who got the “right answer”.
Discarded on the floor nearby was another of the pieces of paper from a cracker, which had as its charade prompt the movie The Good, The Bad And The Ugly”.
Here is Paul Williams, the Labour candidate in Stockton South, a Labour-held marginal, welcoming the fact that he has had an endorsement from his Lib Dem opponent. (See 12.23pm.)
This move has been backed by the Vote for a Final Say campaign, which wants a second referendum on Brexit. It has released this list of constituencies where it is urging the third-placed candidate to “step aside” for the person who has the best chance of beating the Tories.
(At this point candidates cannot “step aside”; the ballot papers have been printed, and names cannot be removed. But candidates can vote for other people, and urge their supporters to vote for other people.)
The comedian Steve Coogan has said Alan Partridge would have voted for Brexit. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s PM programme, Coogan said:
Brexit was supposed to be all about taking back control. But, as my colleague Jennifer Rankin points out, one of the ironies of the current situation is that at the EU summit taking place tomorrow the person who might end up casting a vote on behalf of the UK will be Charles Michel, the former prime minister of Belgium who is the new president of the European council.
Jennifer sent me this explanation of how this will work in practice.