General election LIVE: Boris Johnson challenged by single mum over 'irresponsible' slur during radio phone-in – sky.com, Sky.com

PM asked if he will continue no-deal Brexit preparations

Boris Johnson says the preparation was “thoroughly useful” and the “right thing to have done”.

He adds he is confident Britain will have a “great new” trade deal by end of 2020, but preparations will “remain extant” and there is “no reason to dismantle them”.

Sky’s political editor Beth Rigby challenges Boris Johnson about a magazine column in which he described single mothers as “irresponsible”.

The prime minister says he wrote “millions of words” in his career as a journalist, and it is possible to “twist and distort” some of them.

Labor MP says she won’t vote for party

Labor MP Gisela Stuart – who was part of the Vote Leave campaign in 2016 – is appearing at the news conference with Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

She says she will not be voting for Labor in the general election and is calling for people to back Mr Johnson.

“In this election I will not vote for Jeremy Corbyn, but I can vote for Brexit.

“This is after all the Brexit election, and a vote for Boris Johnson this time round is a vote to get Brexit done.”

At his news conference, Boris Johnson will guarantee to match the current annual budget for farmers in every year of the next parliament.

“We will back British farmers by making sure we leave theCAP (Common Agricultural Policy) and will promote a ‘buyBritish’ rule for public bodies, “the prime minister is expected to say.

Mr Johnson will also say that a Tory government would introduce a new state aid regime to make it easier to protect jobs and industry.

“If we are returned with a majority government we will leave the EU on 31 January and immediately get to work on unleashing the benefits of Brexit, “he is due to say.

“People voted to take back control – and we want to deliver that change.

” One of the crucial ways we will do that is by improving our rules so that we can back British businesses and unleash their true potential.

“We have a great deal that is oven ready, It’s a deal that allows us to take back control of immigration, introduce an Australian-style points based system, and improve our border security.

“And it is a deal that lets us back British businesses helping them to create more jobs in this country

“The alternative would be a return to the broken parliament that has kept the country in gridlock for three years headed up with a Corbyn-Sturgeon coalition of chaos that would force the country into another two divisive referendums in 2020.

“The only way to secure change at this election is to vote for a Conservative majority government to get Brexit done.”

A Labor candidate who was told he was “talking out of his turban” by his Conservative rival has reported him to the police.

Kuldip Sahota announced he had taken the action after Philip Dunne’s remark during a hustings on Wednesday.

He said: “The police have suggested Philip Dunne’s racist comment towards me could constitute a hate crime and I am formally reporting it as such.

“The Conservatives are refusing to suspend Philip Dunne and to strip him of his honor.

“This further exposes Boris Johnson’s lie that he is taking action against racism in his In standing by Philip Dunne, he is endorsing hate and prejudice towards Sikhs.

“His comment about my turban was hateful. He shamed and humiliated me in a public attack on my faith and my community.

“He did not apologize until I called him out, and even when he did , he showed no humility, no self reflection and no understanding of why his words were racist. He is not fit to be an elected representative in our diverse, multicultural country. ”

Johnson gesture during phone-in explained

The gesture – and the reason for it – has been provoking plenty of comment on Twitter.

Our political correspondent unpacks the story behind it.

Over in Brussels, European Council president Donald Tusk teared up as he handed over to his successor

Mr Tusk has given an emotional final speech to the EU after five years in the job.

He thanked everyone at the council “from the bottom of my heart” and added: “Without you I wouldn’t even have survived a week.”

After handing over the presidential bell to new Council president Charles Michel, he was given a minute-long standing ovation.

During which, he said: “Please stop because I will start to cry.”

Mr Michel, the former prime minister of Belgium, made a friendly dig at his predecessor’s cavalier use of social media, saying he will be “more cautious with my tweets. ..at least at the beginning “.

He said he wants to reduce bureaucracy within the EU and will take a commonsense approach, but will speak out when needed.

Pic: Charles Michel (l) receives the European Council presidential bell from Donald Tusk

Labor: Johnson an ‘absolute disgrace’

Reacting to the prime minister’s comments when challenged about a magazine column in which he called single mothers “irresponsible”, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: “Boris Johnson’s refusal to apologise for his hateful comments about single mothers, their children and working class men is an absolute disgrace.

“He tried to deny what he wrote, but the evidence is there in black and white for us all to see, proving once again that he’s a liar as well as a sexist.

“According to Boris Johnson, when I was a young si ngle mum, I should have been pushed into ‘destitution on a Victorian scale’.

“Johnson appallingly and hypocritically claims that children of single mums are ‘ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate’.

“From attacking single mothers working hard to raise their kids, to advocating sexual harassment in the workplace, Boris Johnson has demonstrated his contempt for women and working class people.

“Under the Conservatives we stand to lose the rights we have won over decades of struggle. He is not fit to be an MP, let alone prime minister.”

Sturgeon: ‘Debate to be had about future of the monarcy’ in wake of Prince Andrew controversy

There is a debate to be had around the future of the monarchy in the wake of the Prince Andrew controversy, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The Duke of York has stepped down from public duties amid pressure over his previous friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He was criticized for a BBC Newsnight interview which led to claims he was guilty of a lack of empathy towards the victims of Epstein, who took his own life in prison earlier this year whilst awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

In an interview with ITV News, Ms Sturgeon said a debate about the monarchy should not be a distraction from Epstein’s victims.

However, when asked if the issue made her consider whether the monarchy is fit for purpose, she replied: “I think it raises a number of questions.

“I think there is a debate to be had about the longer term future of the monarchy, one of the things though in the context of Prince Andrew that I feel very strongly about is that a debate about the monarchy shouldn’t be a distraction from Epstein’s victims and how they now get whatever justice they can get and get the truth and the ability to move on.

“And I think while, yes, there is a debate to be had about the former, I don’t think it should become conflated with that or be used in any way to sort of take attention from that.”

PM ‘not going to comment’ on how many children he has

Boris Johnson, when asked how many children he has, says he is “not going to comment”.

The prime minister adds he is “not going to put my children on the pitch in this election campaign “.

PM challenged over calling single mothers ‘irresponsible’

Boris Johnson is asked by a single mother about a column he wrote in the 1990 s in which he described single mothers as “irresponsible” and working-class men as “drunk, criminal and feckless”.

He says: “I want to say to you, I mean absolutely no disrespect to you or anybody.

” These are 25 – year-old quotations culled from articles written I think before I was even in politics. “

The prime minister adds that the piece “says the opposite from what is claimed”.

Mr Johnson claims the reemergence of the quotes is a smear campaign by

“They’re just trying to distract from the reality that they have no pla n to get out of the EU, “he says.

PM on Channel 4 row

Asked about a row between the Tories and Channel 4, Boris Johnson says he wants “a free, fair, exuberant, unbridled media.”

‘Where’s Rees-Mogg?’

Boris Johnson is asked by host Nick Ferrari about the absence of Jacob Rees-Mogg from the airwaves in recent weeks.

The Commons leader has attracted criticism for recent comments about the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire – and there have been suggestions he has been sidelined from the Tory campaign.

“Jacob, in common with all cabinet members, is campaigning across the country,” the prime minister says.

Asked what he said to Mr Rees-Mogg, Mr Johnson says: “I’m not going to go into my conversations with colleagues.”

Pressed on whether he would return as Commons leader after the election, the PM says he is “not going to get into” a “measuring up the curtains type conversation”.

PM pressed on social care plans

Boris Johnson is asked about what his plan is for adult social care.

The prime minister said he wants to ensure that people do not have to sell their homes to pay for care in their old age, but doesn’t say how much this policy will cost.

Mr Johnson adds that the Tories will bring forward an “affordable plan in the lifetime of the next parliament “.

PM: I was ‘ambushed’ by parliament

Boris Johnson is asked if he would rather be prime minister or leave the EU.

He says he would rather have left the EU, then expresses regret about not being able to leave the bloc at the end of October – the last deadline before it was extended.

The prime minister claims he was “ambushed” in a “broken” parliament .

Mr Johnson says the UK will leave the EU on 31 January if the Tories get a majority in the election.

Johnson: Trade talks under way with ‘many countries’

In response to a question about trade deals, Boris Johnson says talks are under way with “many countries”, but cannot say how many deals have been formalized.

The prime minister adds, though, that a number of them are “oven ready” although he will “have to come back and give you the number”.

Pressed further, Mr Johnson says there are “around a dozen” that the UK is currently working on.

Asked to name four of the countries, he identified “ample opportunities to do deals with India, China, Australia, New Zealand “, but added:” I am not going to say they are ‘oven-ready’. “

PM asked if he suffers from a ‘trust deficit’

Boris Johnson is asked by presenter Nick Ferrari about the NHS and suggestions from opponents that it would be “up for sale” under the Tories.

He asks the prime **** if there is a “trust deficit” with him.

Mr Johnson says in response that the NHS “is not for sale under no circumstances” and a government led by him would be prepared to walk away from trade talks with the US if Washington insists on including it in the negotiations.

Good morning

Boris Johnson will be taking questions on a radio phone-in this morning from 9am.

It comes amid a row between the Conservatives and Channel 4 over the broadcaster’s decision to use an ice sculpture in place of the prime minister at a debate on climate issues last night.

The Tories have written to Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, to claim Channel 4’s decision is in breach of its broadcasting code.

You can expect Mr Johnson to be asked about that – and much more besides.

Then, a little after 11, he is due to give a news conference alongside Michael Gove.

Meanwhile, outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will give his valedictory address to the media.

We’ll have the latest updates from Britain a nd Brussels, along with the latest video, analysis and pictures.

Key points:

• Boris Johnson lays out ‘Brexit roadmap’
• Prime minister earlier challenged by single mum over ‘irresponsible’ slur
• He took questions on radio phone-in ahead of news conference
• Tories embroiled in row with Channel 4 after broadcasterused ice sculpture in place of PMin debate
• Labor launches regional manifestos as Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson meets Faith Leaders
• Live reporting by Alan McGuinness, political reporter, and Alix Culbertson, news reporter