Boris Johnson has promised to cut taxes in a “post-Brexit budget” within weeks of the UK leaving the EU. But the plan – based on an existing pledge to raise the threshold for national insurance contributions – was branded as “pure fantasy” and the PM accused of lying.
It comes as Conservative officials are said to be concerned about evidence of a narrowing poll lead over Labour. Appearing on This Morning, Mr Johnson likened Labour's leaked, NHS-related government trade documents to “UFO photos”.
Sajid Javid has claimed Mr Johnson could secure a complex trade deal with the EU “within months”. EU documents leaked to The Independent show leaders in Brussels will issue an election result-day warning to Mr Johnson about the “limited” time to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
Meanwhile, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was grilled by the BBC's Andrew Neil, who issued a challenge to the prime minister, who has dodged appearing on his programme, telling him he has an interview "oven-ready".
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the general election campaign, with only one week until we go to the polls.
Corbyn wrong to claim party dealing with antisemitism, says Jewish Labour Movement – as 70 Labour staffers submit testimonies to probe
A lawyer representing the Jewish Labour Movement has accused the party of not fully investigating all cases of antisemitism within it.
A group of 70 Labour party staffers past and present have submitted sworn statements to the official Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation into antisemitism in the party, according to lawyer James Libson.
Libson, when asked if Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s assertion that every case of antisemitism had been dealt with was incorrect, said: “Very much so,” adding: “There are many, many outstanding complaints, many examples of interference and many examples of double-standards in the way in which complaints are processed.”
Asked if there was evidence that the Labour leader’s office was “interfering” in the investigations process, Libson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There has been interference and that interference has unfortunately become institutional.
“Institutional in the sense that people affiliated with the leader’s office - and now in the actual unit that are investigating - and that at a more basic level, information is passing between the leader's office and investigating unit.”
He added: “Passed by USB sticks, by WhatsApp groups, secret WhatsApp groups.”
PM’s tax cut promise ‘pure fantasy,’ say Lib Dems
Boris Johnson is claiming he will cut taxes for families in a “post-Brexit budget” within weeks of the UK leaving the EU at the end of January.
It’s based on an existing Tory manifesto promise to raise the threshold for national insurance contributions to £9,500. The Times newspaper said it has been told that the planned February budget could also include 15 hours of free childcare a week for two-year-olds.
But the plan has been branded as “pure fantasy” and the PM accused of lying to the public.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Boris Johnson is once again lying to the British public by pretending he can actually deliver on any of these promises.
“This is pure fantasy. A Tory government would remain completely consumed by Brexit not just for the next 100 days, but for years to come.”
New poll shows surge for independent candidates – as Tories fear narrowing poll lead
A Savanta ComRes poll has the Conservatives on 42 per cent and Labour on 32 per cent – no change in the 10 point Tory lead since the company’s last survey.
But the poll for The Telegraph did find a “surge” in support for independent candidates, with six per cent people planning to vote for candidates who don’t belong to any of the main parties.
Chris Hopkins, head of politics at Savanta ComRes, said: “There’s still a lot to play for - including the sharp increase in those who have told us in this poll they’re likely to vote for minor parties or independent candidates - but time is running out for the established parties to make their pitch to voters that a cross should be placed next to their name in one weeks’ time.”
According to The Times, Tory officials are concerned about evidence of a narrowing poll lead and fear the two-day Nato meeting interrupted the campaign at a crucial time many undecided voters are making up their minds.
Isaac Levido, Conservative campaign chief, reportedly told staff the final week is like a “closing statement” in a trial.
Antisemitism cases ‘are being dealt with,’ says Labour
Shadow housing secretary John Healey said Labour has “toughened-up” its approach to tackling antisemitism in the party.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Healey was challenged on whether every case of antisemitism in Labour was being dealt with. He said: “Having been too slow and too weak at the start, the action being taken now has been toughened-up.
“An in-house lawyer, special appeal panels to deal with complaints, new fast-track expulsion powers that are being used.”
He said: “I’m confident that cases coming in are being dealt with and if they are coming in they will be dealt with.”
Healey apologised to the Jewish community who he said “feel let down” by the way the Labour has handled cases of antisemitism in the party.
EU will sound 13 December alarm on no-deal Brexit
EU leaders are set to issue an election result-day warning to Boris Johnson that he has only “limited” time to avoid a no-deal Brexit, leaked documents have revealed.
The PM refused to rule out the possibility of crashing out without a free trade agreement (FTA) in December 2020, abruptly halting a press conference on Wednesday when he was challenged on the issue by The Independent.
The Lib Dems said the developments exposed as a “fallacy” Mr Johnson’s claim to be able to “get Brexit done” on 31 January if he wins next week’s election.
Appearing on ITV’s Peston last night, Johnson claimed everyone would be able to stop talking about Brexit after 31 January, prompting Robert Peston to shout: “That’s not true!”
More details here:
‘Limited’ time for Johnson to avoid no-deal Brexit if he wins election, EU warns
Prime minister refuses to discuss the risks of leaving without a trade deal at the end of 2020Cassetteboy posts new video mocking Boris Johnson
The satirical due Cassetteboy have released a new video highlighting the Tory leader’s “elastic relationship” with the truth, to use a Chris Patton line.
It uses the phrase “can’t trust me” to MC Hammer’s UCan’t Touch This.
Corbyn caught out on The Queen’s Christmas speech?
The Queen’s Christmas speech is trending on Twitter this morning, after Jeremy Corbyn appeared to admit during his ITV interview that he did not know when the Queen’s message is aired on Christmas Day.
Asked whether he sat down to watch Her Majesty’s annual message, he said: “It’s on in the morning, usually we have it on.”
But he was corrected by Julie Etchingham, who told him: “It’s not on in the morning. It’s at three o’clock in the afternoon.”
Corbyn replied by saying he and his family “don’t watch television very much on Christmas Day” and are often out visiting homeless shelters instead.
Since viewing figures for the traditional address have been falling for years, will anyone actually care?
Labour promises to recruit nearly 20,000 more teachers
Jeremy Corbyn’s party has pledged to recruit nearly 20,000 more teachers ensure class sizes are capped at 30.
The party claims about 25,000 staff who are currently “unqualified” would also be fully trained during Labour’s first term in office.
Angela Rayner, shadow education secretary, said Labour will “transform education standards in this country for every child”.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast this morning, Rayner said teachers were currently “leaving the profession at record levels” and claimed that “under the Conservatives you’ve got more cuts and less teachers”.
Brexit Party MEPs quit and back the Tories
A small group of Brexit Party MEPs will effectively quit the party by resigning the whip this morning, as they defy leader Nigel Farage and urge people to vote for the Tories.
The group of rebels includes Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister: Annunziata Rees-Mogg.
She and the others will be explaining their decision and sharing a letter sent to Farage at a press conference in London later this morning.
Swinson vs Neil: how did Lib Dem leader fare?
Our chief commentator John Rentoul has assessed the Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s “brave” performance when interview by Andrew Neil live on the BBC last night.
“She stood up for her record and her principles against the heaviest onslaught modern TV has available,” he writes.
Read more here:
John Rentoul: Jo Swinson knows she will lose – but you’ve got to admire that level of honesty
The Lib Dem leader has shown she’s not afraid of Andrew Neil – and it would seem she’s not afraid of defeat, eitherSajid Javid repeatedly fails to rule out no-deal Brexit
Sajid Javid has repeatedly failed to rule out a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 amid growing concerns the Tory manifesto has left the door open for the UK to crash out without agreement.
In a radio interview this morning, the chancellor said the prospect of a disorderly exit was “remote” as he claimed he had “not a single doubt” that Boris Johnson could secure a complex free trade deal with the EU “within months”.
All the details here:
Sajid Javid repeatedly fails to rule out a no-deal Brexit next year
'There is not a single doubt' that a trade agreement can be agreed 'within months', says chancellorBoris Johnson likens leaked NHS documents to UFO photos
The prime minister is being interviewed by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning.
Johnson tells them he desperately wants “a working majority” to get his Brexit deal passed.
Schofield presses him on the issue of “trust” and asks him why he pledged 50,000 nurses when 19,000 were existing nurses in the NHS. Johnson doesn’t give a direct answer, but said he wanted to retain more staff.
Schofield asked if the nurses would be required, if his government flogs the NHS to the Americans. “Absolute nonsense,” said Johnson. “This is a scare story that comes up time and time again.”
Schofield asked again: is the health service on the table in any post-Brexit trade deal? “No,” said Johnson, calling it a “rock solid guarantee”.
What about Labour’s documents? “There are photos that purport to show there are UFOs.”
Boris Johnson grilled over infamous ‘letter box’ comments
This Morning host Phillip Schofield asked Boris Johnson if it was right for a prime minister to describe Muslim women who wear the veil as looking like “letter boxes”.
Johnson replied: “People dig out all sorts of articles … I’ve already said sorry for any offense cause and I say it again.”
The PM repeated his claims his old articles had been taken out of context and actually make “quite the opposite” argument to what has been reported. “What we have to do is have an inquiry over xenophobia and prejudice of all kinds.”
Asked about his column ridiculing single mothers and their children, he said: “I don’t think this is the time to talk about articles written quite a long time ago,” and attempted to talk about Tory policies to help mothers instead.
Questioned more about his Brexit promises, Schofield asked: “Can you get us out cleanly, do you promise?” Johnson replied: “I absolutely promise.”
The PM also said people should not feel unsafe as Britain is “one of the safest countries in the world,” despite last week’s terrorist attack at London Bridge.
“Simple things like stopping the early release of serious and violent criminals, that’s what we've got to do. We’ve got to stop people coming out early and then committing the same sorts of crimes again.”
Johnson admitted it was “quite incredible” that attacker Usman Khan did not see the parole board before being released.
Tories are the ‘only option’ for Brexit backers, say three Brexit Party MEPs as they quit
More on that major blow for Nigel Farage, as three Brexit Party MEPs announced they were quitting to back the Tories.
The group of MEPs, include Jacob Rees-Mogg’s sister Annunziata, said: “We need a strong Leave-supporting government to deliver the Brexit 17.4 million voted for.”
“The Conservatives are the only option for Brexit supporters and democrats alike,” she added.
Reacting to the decision, Farage said he was “disappointed”, but added they “don’t seem to understand that we saved the Conservative Party from large scale losses” by standing down candidates in the south west of England.
All the details here:
Nigel Farage suffers major blow as three Brexit Party MEPs resign to join the Tories
Annunziata Rees-Mogg says: 'Conservatives are the only option'Former Labour MP tells people not to vote for Labour
It won’t come as a shock to Jeremy Corbyn, but ex-Labour MP Joan Ryan – who quit in February – has become the latest former party figure to urge voters not to back the party at this election.
Appearing alongside Ian Austin, she reportedly said Labour had moved in a “terrifying” direction under Corbyn.
This Morning interviewers get selfie with Boris Johnson
Lots of people are getting annoyed by this Boris Johnson photo with This Morning’s Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
The Tory leader has ducked the forensic questioning of the BBC’s Andrew Neil – someone who might not get quite so excited about a selfie.
Labour pledges to recruit 20,000 more teachers to reduce class sizes
Labour has pledged to recruit nearly 20,000 more teachers to ensure class sizes are capped at 30.
About 25,000 staff who are currently “unqualified” would also be fully trained during Labour’s first term in office if the party won the 12 December general election, the party insisted.
Under new plans to improve education standards, Labour has also promised £7bn to tackle overdue repairs and install safety measures, like sprinklers.
Jewish group accuses Jeremy Corbyn of creating ‘welcoming refuge’ for antisemitism
Seventy Labour staffers past and present have given sworn evidence about antisemitism to the equality watchdog as part of a major investigation into the allegations dogging the party.
In a submission to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the Jewish Labour Movement accused Jeremy Corbyn of creating a “welcoming refuge” for antisemitism in the party by “publicly supporting antisemites and antisemitic tropes”.
The leaked dossier also contains a bombshell allegation that staffers were ordered to upload cases onto USB sticks and deliver them to Mr Corbyn’s team to review - despite the Labour leader’s insistence that the complaints process was independent.
BBC’s Question Time ‘manel’ condemned, prompting last-minute change
This week’s BBC Question Time panel has been receiving a lot of flak on social media. Harriet Harman was among the many questioning why five men were booked to represent the parties.
Labour’s Laura Pidcock had pulled out, so Jon Ashworth stepped in instead, creating an all-male panel. Since then, Ashworth has stepped aside for female colleague, Annaliese Dodds.
