Brexit news - live: Boris Johnson vows to secure EU exit if Tories win election, as Lib Dems lay out Remain stance
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has said he is prepared for a “tough” general election battle after MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of holding a pre-Christmas poll.
The prime minister last night warned Tory MPs against complacency despite the party’s commanding lead over Labour in most opinion polls.
He is aiming to restore the party’s Commons majority lost by Theresa May in 2017 so he can end three years of deadlock and get his Brexit deal through Parliament.
However, his failure to deliver Brexit by October 31 means the election could prove to be a gamble, with the Tories at risk of losing key Leave-voting seats to the Brexit Party.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the poll offered a “once-in-a-generation” chance to transform the country, while the Lib Dems are confident of picking up seats in key Remain-backing areas.
Matt Hancock claims NHS is ‘off the table’ to Donald Trump
Health secretary Matt Hancock has been asked whether the price of medicines used in the NHS would be on or off the table in a future, post-Brexit trade agreement with Donald Trump. He said: “It is off the table.”
Pressed on why drug pricing has been reportedly mentioned between British and American trade officials, Hancock told Today: “It is off the table. There has been no agreement and no formal meetings. There is no mandate for how these trade talks will happen.”
He added that it is “against the government’s policy to make any changes to drug pricing”.
Hancock was asked if he would like to apologise on behalf of the Conservative party for breaking their “do or die” promise that Brexit would take place on 31 October.
“No – because it’s parliament that’s blocked delivering Brexit,” he said.
He also claimed said the Tories were offering people a “positive, optimistic, one-nation agenda” which he thinks can bring the country together.
Hancock repeated his promise about the NHS and Donald Trump when he later appeared on Sky News, saying: “The NHS is off the table in any trade talks.”
Tory MP Patrick McLoughlin standing down at election
The Conservative MP Patrick McLoughlin, in the Commons since 1986 and a former transport minister, says he won’t be seeking re-election in December.
BREAKING: Amber Rudd will not stand at December election
Some discussion this morning about whether Amber Rudd could come back into the Tory fold with 11 other MPs. But she has now confirmed she will not be standing at the next election.
Tories worried about knocking on doors at Christmas
More nervousness ahead of the election campaign? According to one Conservative who has spoken to Sky News’ Sam Coates, few colleagues are “certain” the pre-Christmas poll is a good idea.
But the concerns about campaigning at this time of year are not unique to the Tories. One Labour said they are “quite worried if anyone will want to deliver any leaflets”.
Tories ‘not ready’ to publish social care plan, says health secretary
The Conservative general election manifesto may not contain firm proposals to solve the social care crisis, the health secretary has admitted.
Matt Hancock said his party was “working on a plan” – after the controversy derailed Theresa May’s campaign in 2017 – but added: “We are not ready to publish it yet.”
Our deputy political editor has more.
At least 50 MPs standing down at 2019 general election
After Amber Rudd’s big news about standing down, there are now at least 50 current MPs who won’t be seeking re-election in December. It’s a remarkable number. And we could be in store for more in the days ahead.
Gavin Freeguard of the Institute for Government has been keeping a running total. He posted this before the Rudd and Patrick McLoughlin announcements.
Tactical voting by Remainers could deny Johnson victory
Boris Johnson is on course to win a Commons majority of 44 unless Remain voters work tactically to block a Tory victory and ensure an EU-backing leadership, according to a study by the Best for Britain campaign.
Our political correspondent Lizzy Buchan is at the Best for Britain event this morning, and will have more details soon. But the research suggests there is still all to play for.
If less than a third of pro-Remain voters – 30 per cent – used their vote tactically they could swing the election and secure a Remain majority of four. The seat-by-seat analysis also shows that if 40 per cent of pro-Remain voters worked tactically then they could return a majority of 36.
Heseltine says Corbyn cannot become prime minister
Plenty of talk already about whether any coalitions are possible if there’s a hung parliament after the 12 December poll.
Former deputy PM Michael Heseltine, who very recently predicted that the Tories would not get a majority, has said this morning that Labour will not be in a position to form a government whatever happens.
“The idea of Jeremy Corbyn becoming prime minister is unacceptable, but he’s not going to be prime minister. There’s no way he can come from where he is in the polls to become prime minister.”
Asked about a “rainbow coalition” made up of Labour, Lib Dems and the SNP, Heseltine said: “The Lib Dems were badly bitten by their association with the Conservatives in coalition.”
“They’re not going to shack up with Jeremy Corbyn with the sort of things he’s said to believe. There’s just no way they’re going to do.”
Former MI5 chief says ‘hard to see security upside’ of Brexit
Lord Jonathan Evans, former director general of MI5 from 2007 to 2013, has told an event hosted by the Policy Exchange think tank that it is “hard to see any security upside” after Brexit.
He was part of a panel in London on Wednesday discussing how crime and security strategies could be affected after Brexit.
Security minister Brandon Lewis told the audience the prime minister’s deal means the government has a “really ambitious programme to have a really strong relationship around security” with Europe after Brexit.
But Lord Alan West, head of the Royal Navy from 2002 to 2006 and security minister from 2007 to 2010, said: “If we stay in or come out, it’s not going to make that much difference to our security.”
Sturgeon will interpret SNP win in Scotland as ‘unequivocal’ demand for indyref2
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has claimed an election victory for the SNP north of the border would be an “unequivocal and irresistible demand” for a second vote on independence.
Campaigning in Stirling – a seat the SNP hope to seize from the Tories – Sturgeon insisted: “Westminster is broken. It’s time to take Scotland’s future into Scotland's hands.
“The number one issue for Scotland at the election is this: who should determine our future – Boris Johnson or the people who live here?”
Sturgeon added: “A general election is Scotland’s chance to come together to reaffirm our opposition to Brexit and our right to decide.
“Labour can’t win in Scotland. The Liberal Democrats can’t be trusted – they’ve put a right-wing Tory government into power before. Scotland has been ignored and treated with contempt by Westminster, and this election is an opportunity to bring that to an end.
“A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland’s right to choose our own future.”
Scotland's first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon
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