Live Reporting
By Alice Evans and John Hand
All times stated are UK
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Swinson has a dig at Labor too
Copyright: BBC
The Lib Dem leader also weighs in on Labor’s last-minute talks about elements of its manifesto – including what its
Senior members of the Labor Party are debating whether to include a commitment to “maintain and extend” free movement rights for migrants, asdemanded by delegatesat the party conference in September.
“The Labor Party is generally divided. We can see that, “Ms Swinson says.
“It shouldn’t be difficult to just say that immigration is a good thing. It’s positive for our country, it helps our public services, and it helps our economy generally. “
“Liberal Democrats are very clear about that,” she adds.
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Swinson plants tree to dig into Tories over pledge clash
(Hollie Adams / Getty Images) Copyright: Hollie Adams / Getty Images
Jo Swinson plants a tree in Hampstead, north London, to markher party’s pledge to plant (million trees a year) if it wins the election.
Asked if the plan – which is twice as ambitious as the target set by the Conservatives – was too ambitious, the leader of the Lib Dems says: “We need to be ambitious. We are facing a climate emergency. “
Referencing the children she met while planting the tree, she adds that the UK must do “everything we can … for their future”.
“Planting trees is one of the best things we can do,” she adds. “It’s good for air quality, it’s good for mental health … and trees absorb carbon dioxide.”
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Sturgeon calls for changed Scotland of ‘hope and optimism’
(BBC)Copyright: BBC
Speaking on Arbroath Harbor, the SNP leader says her party is the only major challenger to the Conservative Party in every single Tory-held seat in Scotland.
“If we want to send Boris Johnson packing … then the way to do that in this election is to vote for the SNP, “she adds.
Ms Sturgeon also talks about wanting to build a Scotland of “hope and optimism”.
Sturgeon: A vote for Tories is a vote for Farage’s ideas
Nicola Sturgeon is speaking to voters and activisits in Arbroath, on the North Sea coast of Scotland.
“A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for Nigel Farage’s policies and his view of the world, “she says.
“We don’t have to accept that future for Scotland.”
(days left to register to vote …)
Ashworth: We need our international NHS staff
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth spoke briefly about Labor’s immigration policy as he arrived at the party’s meeting in London.
Party figures are debating whether to include a commitment to “maintain and extend” free movement rights for migrants, asdemanded by delegatesat September’s party conference.
The Party’s 2017 manifesto said free movement – giving EU citizens the right to work and seek employment in the UK and UK citizens the same right in other EU countries – would end with Brexit.
On his way into the meeting, Mr Ashworth said: “We need to make sure we’ve got international staff – nurses and doctors who continue to work for the NHS. “
A week is a long time in politics – part 2
How are candidates chosen?
Again from last Sunday, we explained how political parties choose their candidates, which is rather timely now that all the names
Step this wayif you’ve always wanted to know the answers to these questions:
- What is a parliamentary candidate?
- Can anyone become an MP?
- What happens after the deadline for nominations?
- How do parties select their candidates?
- What is emergency selection?
- Are UK parliamentary candidates representative of the UK population?
‘End racism’, says Abbott
Copyright: Dominc Lipinski / PA Wire
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott was quick a nd to the point as she walked past those protesters outside the Labor meeting who are chanting their support for continued free movement across the EU.
“End racism,” was her two-word message.
‘I’ll write you a letter’ – PM knocks doors in Mansfield
Copyright: Stefan Rousseau / PA Wire
Boris Johnson has been door-knocking in Mansfield to start his Saturday – and reporters from the PA news agency were there with him.
The PM was welcomed by Lucy Camm who said: “You have definitely got our vote. “
But Susan Kitchen, 71, quizzed the PM on Brexit.
She told PA: “I told him I was worried about the deal he was making and asked him specifically if their laws could overrule our laws because that’s what I’ve heard.
“He said no, absolutely not, so I says to him if you’re wrong I’m going to write you a letter – and it won’t be pleasant. “
TV debate confirmed for Scottish party leaders
(Google)Copyright: Google
Image caption: STV studios in Glasgow Leaders for the SNP, Labor, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will take part in a debate broadcast by STV on 3 December.
STV say the format of the hour-long broadcast will see the party leaders debate each other directly.
They’ll also take questions from host Colin Mackay, the broadcaster’s political editor.
The Scottish Greens say they are “extremely disappointed” to not have been invited to take part in the program.
They’re the only political party with seats in the Scottish Parliament to be excluded from the debate. The Brexit Party and Ukip – who are standing in 15 and seven Scottish seats respectively – have also not been invited to take part.
A Scottish Greens spok esman said: “Unlike the other parties the Scottish Greens don’t have unlimited resources and millionaire donors. That’s why our local branches need to decide carefully how to deploy resources and unfortunately that means we can’t stand everywhere. It’s deeply depressing that STV has allowed an unfair voting system and financial advantage, rather than actual political influence, to drive its decision. “
STV says it is planning a series of interviews with party leaders – including those from the Brexit Party and Scottish Greens – due to be aired at a later date.
In pictures: Protesters outside Labor manifesto meeting
(Dominc Lipinski / PA Wire) ************************* () Co pyright: Dominc Lipinski / PA Wire
Image caption: Protesters call out to Jeremy Corbyn as he arrives at the meeting in Savoy Place, L ondon Copyright: Dominc Lipinski / PA Wire
Image caption: Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite the union, speaks to a protester outside the venue Copyright: Dominc Lipinski / PA Wire
Image caption: The media circus descended on the Labor Party’s general secretary, Jennie Formby, as she arrived Free movement among big decisions today
To add some context to that protest outside the Labor manifesto meeting, you might remember that in September delegates at the Labor Party conference voted to urge Jeremy Corbyn to include a commitment to the free movement of people, in the party’s next election manifesto.
In the last election, Labor’s manifesto vowed to end free movement when the UK leaves the European Union.
More details in our story from the time,here.
(BBC)Copyright: BBC
Corbyn arrives for key meeting
Jeremy Corbyn has arrived at the meeting, being held in London, that will finalize Labor’s election manifesto .
He was accompanied by shadow chancellor John McDonnell.
Just minutes later, Len McCluskey, leader of the Unite union, arrived. He went over and spoke to protesters who were chanting in support of maintaining the free movement of workers across the EU.
“I’m going to support free movement, and I support migrant workers,” he told them.
How should prime ministers respond to floods?
Copyright: DANNY LAWSON / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
Image caption: Boris Johnson talks to locals after floods in Stainforth , South Yorkshire Earlier this morning , the form er leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, criticized Boris Johnson’s response to the recent floods in Yorkshire.
Sir Vince told Sky’s Sophy Ridgy that Tony Blair or David Cameron would have visited areas affected by flooding “on day one”.
Having a quick Google, it does look like Mr Cameron went to a fair few flood sites during his time in No 10.
(In December) he went to York after hundreds of people were forced out of their homes. The year before that he went to flood-hit parts of Pembrokeshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire.
Copyright: Darren Staples / PA Wire
Image caption: 2015: Then-PM David Cameron visits flood sites in York Back in 2000, then-PM Tony Blair visited flood victims in Gloucester. Like Mr Johnson, he was heckled by some locals – with one saying: “It’s all right for you in your nice warm office but we’ve waited six years. It will happen again and it will cost millions.”
Sir Vince said both Mr Blair and Mr Cameron “would have conveyed empathy” on these visits, “which Johnson doesn ‘t’.
“I mean, the Tories regard hi m as a great electoral savior. I’m afraid I don’t think he’s showing signs of that, “he added.
“I think to be a really top class politician, an effective prime minister, you have to have this ability to empathize with people and their problems, and he doesn’t […] he just didn’t come across right .
A week is a long time in politics – part 1
We know you’re busy, busy people so you might have missed some of our best election content during the week – features we hope will help you make sense of what is going on.
During the day we’ll flag up some of the most useful pieces that you can read today to bring you bang up to date.
Last Sunday we brought you the tale of the one place in the UK that won’t be offering voters any choice. Did you know that the Speaker traditionally runs unopposed in his / her own constituency because the other major parties do not field candidates?
That is the fate of Chorley this time around, asyou can read here.
(UK Parliament)Copyright: UK Parliament
Image caption: Sir Lindsay Hoyle (right) has replaced John Bercow as Speaker The only woman standing for the Ulster Unionist Party
Whilea record number of women are standing in the election, Jill Macauley is the only woman among the 16 candidates standing for the Ulster Unionist Party.
The Northern Irish local councillor, who describes herself as a “multitasker and political aficionado” on Twitter, is standing in the South Down constituency – which about 20 miles south of Belfast.
Here’s a picture of her at a local voter registration event a couple of days ago.
Before Parliament dissolved for the election, the MP for South Down was Sinn Féin’s Chris Hazzard. He’s campaigning for re-election after becoming an MP in 2017.
You can see the full list of candidates for the South Down constituency – as well people vying for seats across the whole of Northern Ireland –in our main story.
Watch: Mopping up this week’s election highlights
Video content
(Video caption: General election) : What happened this week? From Labor’s working hours confusion to the prime minister’s frosty reception in Yorkshire, here are some highlights of this week on the election campaign trail.
Where else can you fast-forward through an entire week in less than four minutes?
Electoral fraud claims: Met Police statement in full
There’s a lot of reaction this morning to news ofthe police looking into allegations of electoral fraud, after claims the Tories offered peerages to Brexit Party election candidates to persuade them to stand down.
When we spoke to the Met Police press office, they were keen to make clear they don ‘ t comment on individual cases – so their comments “do not necessarily” refer to the Conservative Party.
Here’s their statement in full:
Quote Message: The MPS has received two allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in relation to the 2019 general election. The MPS Special Inquiry Team is responsible for investigating all such criminal allegations. Both allegations are currently being assessed. The MPS will not be providing comment about individual cases. from Metropolitan Police spokeswoman
MPS has received two allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in relation to the 2019 general election. The MPS Special Inquiry Team is responsible for investigating all such criminal allegations. Both allegations are currently being assessed. The MPS will not be providing comment about individual cases.
Gove: Electoral fraud probe ‘pretty nonsensical’
Today Program
BBC Radio 4
Copyright: PA Media
Image caption: Ann Widdecombe, a Brexit Party candidate, said she would swear on the Bible she had been approached. Cabinet Minister Michael Gove says calls for an investigation into electoral fraud by the Conservative Party sound “pretty nonsensical”.
The Brexit Party’s Ann Widdecombe said she was offered a role in the next phase of Brexit negotiations if she agreed to stand down as a candidate in the marginal seat of Plymouth Sutton and Devonport.
And Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage hassaid senior figures have been offered inducements, such as government jobs, in return for not running against Conservative candidates.
Pressed on whether anyone in the Conservative Party was looking into the accusations, he said: “Well, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Police say they areassessing two allegations of electoral fraud.
How many candidates are the parties standing?
Copyright: EPA
Image caption: The Lib Dems are set to field 188 female candidates A record number of women look set to stand for Parliament next month, with female candidates likely to comprise about a third of the total.
Provisional Press Association analysis found 1, 120 of 3, 322 registered candidates were women.
The Conservatives and Labor are set to field candidates in ever y constituency in Britain, except Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s seat in Chorley in Lancashire.
(BBC)Copyright: BBC
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