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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 – as it happened
(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
Ahead of the first December general election in almost 100 years, Jeremy Corbyn said the Labour message “was getting through” and urged his supporters to knock on doors “like our life depends on it”. And taking a swipe at Boris Johnson, who retreated to a fridge in a Yorkshire dairy farm rather than facing questioning, the Labour leader added: “I don’t have to hide in a fridge when somebody comes to asks me a question.”
Boris Johnson said the race was getting “tighter and tighter”, urging supporters they have a “national duty to find every vote to save our country from disaster”.
Michel Barnier, the EU chief Brexit negotiator, said it would be “unrealistic” for the EU to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with the UK by the end next year.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said it had been “a privilege and honour” to lead the party during the election campaign.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who has been campaigning in Edinburgh, urged Scottish voters to back her party, saying that supporting others “risks helping the Tories”.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage fears that a Conservative majority would see “Brexit sold out” and believes “we will be back in crisis by May next year as we face extension to the whole process, which has to be done by 1 July”.
The Green Party promised that its MPs would respond to the “climate emergency alarm”.
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”.
Brandon Lewis, the security minister, told the Peston programme that Boris Johnson “has huge empathy and passion to see people get the very best service and care which is why he wants to increase funding for the NHS” following the furore of the prime minister initially refusing to look at a picture of an ill child lying on the floor at Leeds Infirmary.Brandon Lewis, the security minister, told the Peston programme that Boris Johnson “has huge empathy and passion to see people get the very best service and care which is why he wants to increase funding for the NHS” following the furore of the prime minister initially refusing to look at a picture of an ill child lying on the floor at Leeds Infirmary.
John McDonnell told ITV’s Peston programme he believes Labour will win a majority or “form a minority government and implement our manifesto” without any pacts.John McDonnell told ITV’s Peston programme he believes Labour will win a majority or “form a minority government and implement our manifesto” without any pacts.
He cited the 2017 opinion polls which incorrectly predicted a huge Conservative majority.He cited the 2017 opinion polls which incorrectly predicted a huge Conservative majority.
More than three million women who believe they have been left out of pocket after steep increases to the state pension age have been promised compensation by Labour as part of a £58 billion scheme.More than three million women who believe they have been left out of pocket after steep increases to the state pension age have been promised compensation by Labour as part of a £58 billion scheme.
On the pledge and criticisms over the party’s manifesto on tackling poverty, shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Peston programme: “That will be dealt with by progressive taxation. This is not about benefits, it is about entitlement.On the pledge and criticisms over the party’s manifesto on tackling poverty, shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Peston programme: “That will be dealt with by progressive taxation. This is not about benefits, it is about entitlement.
“We are ending the benefits freeze, scrapping the Bedroom Tax, introducing a real living wage.”“We are ending the benefits freeze, scrapping the Bedroom Tax, introducing a real living wage.”
John McDonnell has praised previous Labour government’s domestic policy on the Peston programme.John McDonnell has praised previous Labour government’s domestic policy on the Peston programme.
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson has restated her position that her party would never enter a coalition with either the Conservatives or a Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn.Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson has restated her position that her party would never enter a coalition with either the Conservatives or a Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn.
She told ITV’s Peston programme that she could work with another Labour leader however.She told ITV’s Peston programme that she could work with another Labour leader however.
Thursday’s Times leads on the threat posed by the Brexit Party.Thursday’s Times leads on the threat posed by the Brexit Party.
Thurday’s Guardian front pageThurday’s Guardian front page
The Telegraph is focusing on a similar theme, saying the election is on a “knife edge”.The Telegraph is focusing on a similar theme, saying the election is on a “knife edge”.
The Financial Times are splashing on polls suggesting the Conservatives’ majority of ten is narrowing.The Financial Times are splashing on polls suggesting the Conservatives’ majority of ten is narrowing.
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.
A poll posted this evening by academic Matthew Goodwin.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.”