Boris Johnson launched his general election campaign with a rally in Birmingham, where he attacked Labour’s Brexit stance as a “Bermuda Triangle” barren of intelligence, and compared Nigel Farage to “candle sellers on the dawn of the electric lightbulb”.
But Labour party deputy leader Tom Watson stole the headlines as he announced his decision to stand down as an MP in the middle of Mr Johnson’s speech, citing reasons “personal, not political” and a desire to campaign about ”the public health challenge facing our country”.
Boris Johnson’s campaign had earlier been thrown into disarray as Alun Cairns quit as Welsh secretary after being accused of “brazenly lying” about his knowledge of an allegation that his former aide sabotaged a rape trial.
The Tories were also accused of doctoring footage to falsely suggest Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer was unable to answer a question about Brexit, while James Cleverly was brutally “empty-chaired” after missing a Sky News interview.
Mr Johnson was criticised for comparing Jeremy Corbyn’s “hatred” of wealth creators to the persecution of the Kulaks – a group of landowning peasants killed by Stalin in the 1930s.
One Tory MP admitted it hadn’t been a “great day” for the party and said “people cocked things up”.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond as the 2019 general election officially gets under way.
PM forced to drop attempt to use civil servants to cost Labour plans
Boris Johnson has been forced to drop his plans to use official Treasury costings of Labour’s key policies after an unprecedented intervention by the cabinet secretary.
It comes as shadow chancellor John McDonnell contacted civil service chiefs on Tuesday morning to denounce attempts to use Whitehall resources hours ahead of the official election period as an “abuse of power”.
A Labour source told The Independent the department claimed it will now not publish the analysis, adding: “It’s a slap in the face for Tory ministers who blatantly attempted to use the civil service for political ends in an unprecedented way.”
All the details here:
'Abuse of power': Boris Johnson forced to drop plan to use civil service resources in attack on Labour
'It's an abuse of power.' says Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnellPM mocked for comparing Corbyn plans to Stalin’s persecution of ‘Kulaks’
Boris Johnson has compared Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, as the PM launches the Tory campaign to remain in power.
As parliament was dissolved ahead of the election, Johnson claimed the opposition leader shared Stalin’s “hatred” of wealth creators, comparing it to the persecution of the Kulaks – a group of affluent peasants killed in the 1930s.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Johnson said Corbyn had taken a stance that demonises billionaires with a “relish and a vindictiveness” not seen since Stalin.
As many pointed out, the dictator was responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Kulaks.
The developments as Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is facing calls to quit over his comments that Grenfell fire victims lacked common sense.
Welsh Alun Cairns is also facing calls to resign after being accused of lying about his knowledge of an allegation that a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.
As well as kicking off the Conservative campaign in the West Midlands later on Wednesday, the PM was expected to visit Buckingham Palace for an audience with the Queen, and announce the start of the election drive in Downing Street.
Rape victim calls on Alun Cairns to quit after aide ‘sabotaged her trial’
The Welsh secretary Alun Cairns is facing calls to resign after being accused of lying about his knowledge of an allegation that a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.
The cabinet minister claims he had been unaware of former staff member Ross England’s role in the collapsed trial until after the story broke last week.
BBC Wales said it had obtained a leaked email sent to Cairns which showed he had been made aware of the allegations as early as August last year.
All the details here:
Rape victim calls on cabinet minister to quit after aide 'sabotaged her trial'
‘The decision is an error of judgment – the cover-up is unforgivable,’ say Alun Cairns’ opponents‘Dangerous’ government ads about universal credit banned by watchdog
A series of Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) ads supposedly debunking myths about universal credit have been banned by the Advertising Standards Agency for making misleading claims.
More details here:
‘Dangerous’ government advert for universal credit ruled misleading by watchdog
Six-page advertorial in Metro newspaper costing £225,000 ruled inaccurate by Advertising Standards AuthorityTories post misleadingly edited Keir Starmer video
The Tories have been accused of releasing a misleading campaign video after doctoring footage to falsely suggest that a senior Labour figure had been unable to answer a question about Brexit.
The clip, posted by the Tories on social media, showed an interview with Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, in which he appeared to have faltered for words when asked about his party’s Brexit policy.
In reality, however, Sir Keir provided a full answer to the question he was asked.
Tories post manipulated video suggesting Labour’s Brexit minister can’t answer questions
Clip doctored to give false impression that Keir Starmer was lost for words over Labour’s Brexit policyTory MP apologises for suggesting Rees-Mogg 'cleverer' than Grenfell victims
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen has apologised for his remarks defending Jacob Rees-Mogg over his Grenfell comments. Rees-Mogg suggested fire victims lacked the “common sense” to flee the building.
Asked yesterday if Rees-Mogg thought he was “cleverer” than the people who took the fire brigade’s stay put advice, Bridgen said: “But we want very clever people running the country, don’t we?”
He says this morning: “I realise that what I said was wrong and caused a great deal of distress and offence.”
Rees-Mogg revealed his arrogance, says Diane Abbott
Labour’s shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Jacob Rees-Mogg had shown an “arrogance” with his comments on Grenfell Tower and the ‘stay put’ policy.
“There was one staircase. What were they meant to do? Run out of the building with firefighters running up the same staircase?”
She said some residents had rung emergency services a host of times during the fateful evening in 2017 and were told to stay put.
“It reflects an arrogance about Jacob Rees-Mogg that is not going to help the Tories at this election,” Abbott told the BBC.
Abbott denied that members of the shadow cabinet were ready to campaign for Remain no matter what deal Labour brings back from Brussels if it wins the next election.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer have both signalled their support for Remain during a second referendum.
“I don’t think anyone has said they will vote for Remain, come what may,” said Ms Abbott on the BBC. “What we will do is negotiate a better deal and have a referendum on that better deal and Remain for people to vote.”
Tory chairman denies party ‘doctored’ Keir Starmer video
The Tory party chairman James Cleverly has been ridiculed after denying his party “doctored” a video to portray a senior Labour figure stumbling on Brexit – insisting the “a light-hearted” clip had merely been shortened.
He faced a storm of criticism after the social media clip showed Sir Keir Starmer appearing to falter when, in reality, he had provided a full answer to the question he was asked.
Cleverly refused to apologise or even accept it was misleading. “We edited the video, just like you edit stuff on your programme, just like everybody else, because we needed to shorten the video,” he said.
All the details here:
Tory minister scrambles to defend manipulated video in bruising live TV interview with Piers Morgan
'We needed to shorten the video', James Cleverly claims - arguing tampered clip was merely 'light-hearted, satirical'Sturgeon says it’s her ‘intention’ to hold indyref2 in 2020
Nicola Sturgeon says the demand for a second referendum on Scottish independence will become “irresistible” if the SNP “wins” the election in Scotland.
The SNP leader said resistance to allowing Scottish voters to choose for themselves would “crumble” in the face of such a result. She told the BBC she wants a referendum in 2020.
“If we win this election the demand becomes irresistible,” Scotland’s first minister claimed.
Sturgeon, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, said: “It is my intention to have a referendum next year.
“On this question of will Westminster allow it or not, we are the start of an election campaign - this is an opportunity for the people in Scotland to have their say and make their views known.
“If the SNP win this election, I think that demand becomes irresistible. This idea that for self-interest reasons Westminster politicians can stand in the way of people in Scotland choosing their own future - we already see that start to crumble."
Sturgeon said Labour were already “pretty much conceding” it could not stand in the way of a second independence vote and added: “I suspect it won’t be too much longer until we see the Tories struggle to maintain that argument as well.”
Tory chairman mocked by Kay Burley for leaving her with ‘empty chair’
The Sky News host Kay Burley is very, very annoyed that Tory party chairman James Cleverly has turned down a chance to appear on her programme and answer questions about the scandals engulfing his party.
Burley showed an empty chair and said she had wanted to ask him about the prime minister comparing Jeremy Corbyn to Stalin’s persecution of lawndowning peasants, Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Grenfell comments, and the Welsh secretary’s claim to have had no knowledge his former aide “sabotaged” a rape trial. She reeled off several other gaffes and controversies involving the Conservatives.
“There’s your empty chair,” she said.
“I know that No 10 Downing Street watch this programme. I know the spin doctors at No 10 Downing Street had absolutely reassured me via text that when politicians were doing the rounds in the morning they would be doing this show. And yet we have an empty chair. Where on earth is he?”
Ed Vaizey won’t be standing at general election
And another Tory moderate bites the dust. Ed Vaizey – once culture secretary under David Cameron – has announced he is not standing in his constituency of Wantage and Didcot.
In a letter to Boris Johnson, he says he remains an “enthusiastic supporter” of the PM and will campaign for his successor candidate in Oxfordshire.
Tory chairman responds to Kay Burley’s ‘empty chair’ stunt
The Conservative party chairman James Cleverly has fired back at the Sky News host Kay Burley after she taunted him for failing to appear on her show. “We have an empty chair,” she said. “Where on earth is he?”
Cleverly said he was booked to go on talkRADIO at the same time Sky News “cut to an empty chair”.
He said: “I’m good at multitasking but cannot be in two studios at the same time.”
Boris Johnson is off to see the Queen
The prime minister has left Downing Street and is now visiting Buckingham Palace, where he will inform Her Majesty there’s a general election taking place. I’m sure she knows already, but there you go.
DUP MP won’t stand at election after admitting ‘mistakes’
Veteran DUP MP David Simpson has announced he will not stand in the election.
His decision not to seek re-election in Upper Bann, the seat he’s held since 2005, comes after newspaper revelations about his private life and an extra marital affair.
“In recent times it has been well publicised that I made a mistake that brought hurt to my wife and family as well as bringing heartache to another family,” he said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.
“These were my mistakes and for them I am truly sorry. I have learned from my failings and my wife and children have given me a precious second chance and together we intend to look to the future together.”
Tory MP says doctored campaign video a ‘cock up’ – and calls Rees-Mogg comments ‘shoddy wording’
Ben Bradley, the Tory MP for Mansfield, has been talking about the slew of gaffes and scandals enveloping the party’s election campaign.
Asked about Jacob Rees-Mogg’s comments suggesting Grenfell victims had lacked “common sense”, Bradley told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Jacob has apologised and explained – I think it was more a case of shoddy wording than anything else.”
Questioned about the doctored Tory campaign video designed to portray Sir Keir Starmer failing to answer a question on Brexit, Bradley admitted: “A lot of the time people just cock things up. And yesterday wasn’t a great day because people cocked things up.”
Asked if the video should now be removed, he said: “It’s probably quite a young person in the digital department that’s done something that they though was good.”
“I don’t buy into this idea there’s a cynical campaign of lies. These things just tend to be mistakes … I think it’s a cock up.”
The Mansfield MP was then asked about the prime minister comparing Jeremy Corbyn’s “hatred” of wealth creators to the persecution of the Kulaks – a group of landowning peasants killed by the Soviet dictator in the 1930s.
“The point is absolutely true when you’ve got Jeremy Corbyn talking about booting all the billionaires out the country.”
Green co-leader says party ‘don’t fear the future’
Sian Berry, the Green Party’s co-leader, has been speaking to Bristol at the party’s election campaign launch.
She said: “Let’s be honest about the situation, we know these are dark times – it’s easy to fear the future. The threat of Brexit hangs over our heads, the climate emergency rages, and our fragile democracy is under attack.”
“But despite all this the Greens don’t fear the future, we are the future,” Berry added.
“We stand at the threshold of what could be the most exciting and prosperous period of our country’s history. Because taking action in the climate emergency isn’t just about averting disaster, it’s about creating a brand new Britain.”
Bercow says Brexit ‘biggest mistake since the war’
John Bercow, the former Speaker, is speaking at the Foreign Press Association.
According to the Repubblica journalist Antonello Guerrera, he described Brexit as “the biggest mistake of this country after the war ... It’s better to be part of the [EU] power bloc.”
That’s sure to irritate Brexiteers. But they already hated him anyway. He predicted Brexit “won’t be resolved any time soon”.
Bercow taunted Boris Johnson over the prorogation case saying the PM lost “eleven-nil”.
He also defended his approach to Brexit-related legislation by saying: “My job was to stand up for the rights of the House of Commons. No apology for championing the rights of parliament.”
Corbyn condemns Rees-Mogg and leaders who think ‘they’re above us all’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been talking about Jacob Rees-Mogg and Grenfell victims at his speech in Telford.
“Actually there is one more thing you need to know,” he said. “They shamefully seem to think the victims of the Grenfell fire died because they didn’t have the common sense to save themselves.”
“I’ll tell you what’s common sense: Don’t put flammable cladding on people’s homes. That’s common sense.
“Don’t close fire stations and don't cut fire fighters. That’s common sense.
“And don’t ignore residents when they tell you their home is a death trap. And what this all comes back to is what I was talking about earlier: leadership.
“Do you want leaders who think they’re above us all? Who think the rules they make for everyone else don’t apply to them?”
Nigel Farage heckled in Workington
A woman shouted “fascist” as she left the room midway through Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage’s speech in Workington. She was followed out by a woman wearing a T-shirt which said “Bollocks to Brexit”.
Continuing his speech in Workington, Farage criticised both Labour and the Conservatives.
The Brexit Party leader said: “If you are a Leave voter, you cannot vote Labour in this election because it's clear they will betray your vote.”
