Boris Johnson news – live: PM challenged over NHS funding plan as Labour attacks ‘billionaires’ manifesto’
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson faced scrutiny as he launched the Tory manifesto over its lack of a long term plan for social care, with the party’s commitment of £1bn a year having already been announced in September.
The document, titled “Get Brexit Done, Unleash Britain’s Potential”, also promises £1bn for primary schools to develop after-school and holiday childcare.
His pledge of “50,000 more nurses” led to accusations of “deceit”, as it turned out to include 18,500 existing nurses hopes to convince not to leave the workplace.
The PM also stumbled when quizzed on the Tories' fake fact checking debacle, stuttering incoherently before turning a series of metaphors about croutons, minestrone and the Bermuda Triangle into an attack on Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit stance.
Nigel Farage welcomed the manifesto, particularly on immigration, and claimed he recognised many of the ideas within it, as they resembled many of Ukip’s in the 2015 election.
Jacob Rees-Mogg was the only cabinet member not in attendance at Telford, continuing his conspicuous absence ever since he questioned Grenfell victims ”common sense” in following official advice.
Poll suggests calamity for Labour in Scotland
Labour is set to lose all but one of its seats in Scotland, according to a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times
It suggested that only Ian Murray will be returned to the House of Commons.
Mr Murray, a frequent critic of leader Jeremy Corbyn, was the sole Labour MP north of the border in 2015.
The poll, which surveyed 1,009 people in Scotland, found that support for the Labour Party in Scotland could dip from 27 per cent to 20 per cent.
Boris Johnson arrives in Wolverhampton ahead of manifesto launch
The PM then reportedly set off for Telford by car, where a sizeable group of protesters awaited him, carrying a large anti-racism banner.
Not long to wait now until the Conservatives launch their manifesto - a document Sajid Javid described earlier as "the most detailed most transparent costings that have ever been published in British electoral history by any party".
BBC under fire again for Johnson footage edit
The BBC has again been forced to explain why footage casting Boris Johnson in an undesirable light appears to have been edited in his favour.
In this instance, an edit removed the Question Time audience laughing as the PM was questioned over his trustworthiness.
The BBC responded on Twitter: "This clip, which was played in full on the 10 o’clock news last night, was shortened for timing reasons in today’s lunchtime bulletin.
"We’ve fully covered Boris Johnson’s appearance on the BBC QT special, and the reaction to it, across our outlets."
The broadcaster faced criticism recently after old footage of the PM placing a Remembrance wreath was shown instead of the up-to-date version, for which Mr Johnson was criticised.
Lib Dem candidate 'deeply sorry' for 'sexist, ableist and classist' social media comments
Ben Mathis, the Lib Dem candidate in Diane Abbott's Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency, has been forced to apologise for a raft of offensive Twitter posts, but claimed: "The fight to stop Brexit is far too important to be derailed by ill-advised tweets."
Unearthed by EastLondonLines, the historic posts see Mathis refer to women as b****es and use the word "retard".
Alex Armitage, the Green Party candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, told Eastlondonlines: "These comments are sexist, ableist, classist and derogatory. This type of language – and the attitudes implied – are not welcome in Hackney."
A former Labour press officer appeared to detail some of the tweets in this thread:
Mr Mathis, whose Twitter is currently private, told EastLondonLines: "As a regular user of Twitter for over a decade, I have taken part in many great conversations and robust debates, as well as occasionally using it as a place simply to vent.
“I try to do this in a reasonable and respectful tone, but I have recently been challenged over a small selection of tweets from some years back, and while some of them were written in very specific contexts, they are nevertheless not things I would say or write now.
“Anyone who knows me or has followed my account for any length of time will know that these tweets do not represent who I was then and certainly are not an accurate representation of who I am as a person today. I am deeply sorry to anyone I have upset or offended.”
Boris Johnson arrives in Telford for manifesto launch
Dan Kitwood/AFP
...brandishing a copy of the new manifesto against a Very British Bus.
Reuters/Phil Noble
...As protesters made their presence felt outside.
Dan Kitwood/Getty
Chancellor has ‘no doubt’ about Brexit trade agreement despite plans to resume no-deal prepations
Sajid Javid refused to say whether he will set aside money to prepare for the possibility that the UK fails to secure a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU by the end of 2020, Andrew Woodcock reports.
Mr Javid’s deputy Rishi Sunak effectively confirmed on Saturday that a crash-out on World Trade Organisation terms remains a possibility if the Conservatives win the 12 December election, as he revealed that the government’s no-deal preparations committee will resume meetings following the vote.
The chancellor insisted to Sky News' Sophy Ridge he has “no doubt” that an FTA can be negotiated within 11 months of the UK’s formal withdrawal from the EU, which will take place on 31 January if Boris Johnson wins an overall majority.
James Cleverly kicks off the manifesto launch
He says it is “a promise to listen to you”, to “make sure parliament works for your priorities”.
The Tory chairman says a Corbyn government would bring “navel-gazing” and “more political games”.
...And Boris Johnson takes to the stage
The crowd are treated to the same inoffensive noughties-esque guitar riffs they were at the campaign launch, as chants of "Boris" appear.
PM attacks Corbyn’s neutrality on Brexit
Boris Johnson says: “He used to be indecisive, now he’s not so sure” – to rapturous applause.
He then engages in a mildly pantomime “do we want more dither?” Audience happy to engage with a booming: “NO”.
Johnson unleashing a splurge of pledges.
Tories will bring 20,000 more police officers, invest millions every week in science, schools, apprenticeships and infrastructure, but control debt at the same time.
And reach net-zero emissions.
"We can do all these things without raising our tax, VAT or national insurance contributions," he says.
He says Telford is a fitting choice for the launch, as the place that sparked the industrial revolution. Britain under his leadership will "level up".
PM then talks about making "electrons swoosh" in a point about electric cars, buses and planes".
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