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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
(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
The Metro are also going with election day.
Thursday’s front pages are filtering through, starting with the Independent.
Jeremy Corbyn, speaking in east London at his last campaign event of the day, told the audience: “Tomorrow we’re our knocking on doors like our life depends on it, as the lives of many do.”
He recounts enthusiastic Labour events around the country “in the big city, the small places”, adding: “You wouldn’t know it from much of the media reporting of the election. It’s commentators speculating on other commentators.”
He interrupts shouting from the audience by saying: “No, no, no, we believe in a free press, I just wish they’d free themselves from the shackles of the billionaires.”
Boris Johnson concluded his campaigning by attending a large rally at the Copper Box in Stratford, east London, a venue used during the London 2012 Olympics.
The Conservative leader asked if the crowd of several hundred were “pumped up”, “energised” and “motivated” - to which they shouted “yes”.
Johnson said: “I sincerely hope so everybody.”
Listing his manifesto pledges, the prime minister continues with a promise of “50,000 new nurses... 50,000 more nurses I should say… while the BBC are checking it.”
He is referencing his party’s pledge to increase the number of nurses in the NHS England workforce by 50,000 by 2024-5.
Jeremy Corbyn makes his final speech before the country goes to the polls tomorrow.Jeremy Corbyn makes his final speech before the country goes to the polls tomorrow.
A poll posted this evening by academic Matthew Goodwin.A poll posted this evening by academic Matthew Goodwin.
Marina Hyde on the final day of campaigning and ‘fridge gate’.Marina Hyde on the final day of campaigning and ‘fridge gate’.
“We begin with a fact-check. This general election campaign has officially been going on since around the mid-cretaceous period.“We begin with a fact-check. This general election campaign has officially been going on since around the mid-cretaceous period.
“Its final day saw an update to the list of things you shouldn’t keep in the fridge, with the likes of honey, potatoes and avocados now joined by “the UK prime minister.”“Its final day saw an update to the list of things you shouldn’t keep in the fridge, with the likes of honey, potatoes and avocados now joined by “the UK prime minister.”
Boris Johnson’s final election rally before the big day.Boris Johnson’s final election rally before the big day.
Lord Heseltine on his view of the candidates to become prime minister.Lord Heseltine on his view of the candidates to become prime minister.
The Conservatives told the Andrew Neil Show they do not want to put anyone up for interview the night before the election.The Conservatives told the Andrew Neil Show they do not want to put anyone up for interview the night before the election.
Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has criticised Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, saying the prime minister had “pivoted” back to closer alignment with the EU and away from what had won over his party.Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib has criticised Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, saying the prime minister had “pivoted” back to closer alignment with the EU and away from what had won over his party.
He believes Nigel Farage’s decision to stand down in Tory-held seats may have been a mistake.He believes Nigel Farage’s decision to stand down in Tory-held seats may have been a mistake.
Habib told The Andrew Neil Show: “With the benefit of hindsight, we would not have pulled out of so many seats.Habib told The Andrew Neil Show: “With the benefit of hindsight, we would not have pulled out of so many seats.
“With the benefit of hindsight, and given where the prime minister is going, we probably shouldn’t have pulled out of all those seats.”“With the benefit of hindsight, and given where the prime minister is going, we probably shouldn’t have pulled out of all those seats.”
Jeremy Corbyn speaking in Bedford this evening courtesy of my colleague Elena Morresi.
The BBC’s Andrew Neil asked the Green’s co-leader Sian Berry what the point was of causing “pain” to people from policies including banning gas heating and cutting flights if China continues to pump carbon into the air.
Berry said: “There is a climate emergency, the children are on the streets around the entire globe.
“You cannot argue the UK shouldn’t [act].”
She added: “China needs to come on board with the same reductions.
“What’s your argument, that we should not bother? That we should not be the climate leaders?
“It is not pain - we are talking about building a better Britain.”
Jo Swinson says the Lib Dems are not discussing coalitions.
Asked by Andrew Neil whether he has read the report by the Jewish Labour movement, Andy McDonald said he has not read the report in its entirety but feels “incredibly saddened” by the incidents.
“But equally I feel absolutely determined as a member of shadow cabinet... to root this out and Jeremy Corbyn is committed to this cause”.
The shadow transport secretary added Corbyn has “made strides ever since he became leader”, and wants to see anti-Semitism “tackled in wider society”.
Andy McDonald, the Labour candidate for Middlesbrough, has responded to the BBC’s Andrew Neil saying the percentage difference between the Conservatives’ and Labour’s plans on spending for the NHS is tiny.
McDonald said: “Look at cancelling nursing bursaries.
“What a ridiculous thing to do when we need nurses in the NHS.”
McDonald said “every step is counter-intuitive” by the Conservatives, adding: “That’s why we need the change.”
Speaking in Bedford, Jeremy Corbyn told supporters the Liberal Democrats and Tories took the “political decision to impose austerity on this country.”
He said the austerity is evident through the “boarded-up shops, the dead High Streets, the closed youth centres”.
And taking a swipe at Boris Johnson, the Labour leader added: “I don’t have to hide in a fridge when somebody comes to asks me a question.”
FridgeGate is currently trending on Twitter
An IT error has resulted in some people who are not registered to vote being “wrongly informed” that they can take part in the election.
The Electoral Commission said a glitch in software used by some councils had led to a “small number” of ineligible people being told they could vote.
The watchdog told the BBC it is working with local authorities affected to ensure those affected do not turn up to vote in error.
It is understood the error related to software supplied to councils by Electoral Reform Services, which helps run elections on behalf of local authorities and other organisations.
The Electoral Commission says it only became aware of the issue this morning.
Senior Conservative sources are distancing the party from acid attack claims in north London, according to BuzzFeed.
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.”