Boris Johnson news – live: PM rejects Trump call for Farage general election pact as head-to-head televised leaders debate announced

General election will disrupt one in every 12 nativity plays

One in 12 primary school teachers says the general election is set to disrupt nativity plays and Christmas concerts, a poll suggests.

School leaders are warning that the timing of polling day – December 12 – could prove “particularly disruptive” for primary schools as it is likely to clash with traditional festive events.

A poll by Teacher Tapp of 1,450 primary teachers found that 8 per cent said the election would disrupt a planned activity such as a nativity play or concert, Schools Week reported.

Once secondary school teachers were included, 15 per cent said there would be some kind of disruption, including to end-of-year tests.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), says “the timing of this general election could prove particularly disruptive, landing during a special time of year”.

Labour deputy leader urges broadcasters to challenge Boris Johnson’s ‘fake news’

Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson has written to broadcasters urging them to challenge Boris Johnson if he resorts to “fake news” during the general election campaign.

Mr Watson claimed that politicians and media face “an unprecedented challenge” in the campaign for the 12 December poll because the Conservative leader “wilfully ignores” standards of decency observed by previous leaders.

He issued a list of 12 claims being made by Mr Johnson and other senior Tories in the campaign which Labour branded “false”.

Downing Street says PM has not spoken with Donald Trump

A Number 10 spokesman said Boris Johnson had not spoken to US president Donald Trump about his Brexit deal which was "agreed after they were last in touch".

"The PM's deal takes back control of our money, laws and border and allows us to do trade deals with any country we chose - including the US," they added.

How will Scotland vote in the general election? - Sean O'Grady

James Cleverly claims Farage could let Corbyn into No 10

It doesn’t sound the like Conservatives at all interested in Nigel Farage’s offer of a “Leave alliance”

Tory party chairman James Cleverly said: “A vote for Farage risks letting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street via the back door – and the country spending 2020 having two referendums on Brexit and Scottish independence.

“It will not get Brexit done – and it will create another gridlocked parliament that doesn’t work.”

James Cleverly at Downing Street (AFP) 

Sturgeon claims Corbyn will grant second Scottish referendum

Nicola Sturgeon is to demand the power to stage a second Scottish independence referendum just days after December’s general election – with Scotland’s first minister saying she believes Jeremy Corbyn will agree to grant it.

When asked at an SNP election rally in Leith, Edinburgh, whether she believes Labour would grant a Section 30 Order to enable a vote on Scottish independence, Sturgeon answered emphatically: “Yes.”

Explaining her confidence, she added: “I’m a believer in the power of democracy.”

While Sturgeon has held talks with Corbyn recently, she revealed they did not discuss the issue of independence. “The discussions I’ve had with Jeremy Corbyn over recent months have been understandably about Brexit and the tactics in the House of Commons,” she said.

“I met with him last week - that was the most recent occasion - and that was about Brexit and the prospects, as they were then, of an election. I don’t think Jeremy Corbyn is under any illusions, though, about my position around independence and a referendum.”

Claiming that there is a “huge appetite” for both a second Brexit and Scottish referendum in 2020, Sturgeon said she would send a letter “before Christmas” to whoever is at No 10 requesting powers under Section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to grant the Scottish parliament powers to hold another public vote.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon on campaign trail (EPA) 

Chancellor condemns 'not funny, not acceptable' Rod Liddle column

The Spectator columnist Rod Liddle has attracted a lot of criticism today for his latest piece, in which he suggested he would welcome Muslims not being able to vote.

Liddle wrote: “My own choice of election date would be a day when universities are closed and Muslims are forbidden to do anything on pain of hell, or something.”

Miqdaad Versi, a spokesperson for the Muslim Council, said editor Fraser Nelson “bears ultimate responsibility for the vile racism & Islamophobia” in the magazine.

And now the chancellor Sajid Javid has addressed it, saying the column was “not funny and not acceptable”.

Plaid claims Wales more likely to win Rugby World Cup if they formed government

England are favourites to triumph at the Rugby World Cup final tomorrow, but Wales would be more likely to win the next one under a Plaid Cymru government, the party has said.

Its grassroots sports spokeswoman said Plaid would increase investment into Welsh sport following Wales’ 40-17 loss to New Zealand in a third place play-off game in Tokyo on Friday.

Helen Mary-Jones said: “The route to success is investing in our young people, developing the sports men and women that will lead Wales on the sporting world stage in the future.

“That is before we even mention the huge health benefits this programme would have. With such a radical programme of investment, we can give Wales the best possible chance of winning the next World Cup.”

‘I don’t want to be in the cabinet,’ says Farage

Nigel Farage has had more to say about his idea of a “non-aggression pact” with the Tories.

“There are seats in which we would not stand and there are some seats in which the Conservatives would not stand,” he told PA.

“In particular, old Labour seats that have never ever been Conservative … they, for us, are our number one target.”

Asked about how pleased he was that Trump criticised Johnson’s Brexit deal, he said: “Well I’d known for some time that members of the American administration were very, very worried about what had been signed up to.

“And Trump made it clear that basically if we go along with the terms of this there’ll never be a trade deal with the USA.”

Talking about how he would get along with Mr Johnson in any potential pact, he said: “Do you know what? I get on fine with Mr Johnson. He’s the boss. And I fully accept that. I don’t want anything out of this.

“I’m not asking for any rank, any title, any position. I don’t want to be in the cabinet. I'm not asking for any of those things.

“I just want to actually get us a proper Brexit so we can be an independent country. That’s all I’m asking.”

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage at campaign launch 

Would hundreds of Brexit Party candidates help the Tories, or Labour?

There are conflicting ideas on what Brexit Party candidates standing across the country could mean for the big two parties. Both Tory and Labour figures are doing their best to stay optimistic, it seems.