Brexit news - live: Boris Johnson vows to secure EU exit if Tories win election, as Lib Dems lay out Remain stance

Former Tory minister Sir Alan Duncan to stand down

Veteran MP Sir Alan Duncan is expected to announce he will not seek re-election in the December poll. Sir Alan, who was Boris Johnson's deputy at the Foreign Office, is the latest in a wave of high-profile MPs quitting parliament.

Sinn Fein hoping to unseat senior DUP figure who was "architect of Brexit"

Michelle O'Neill has said Sinn Fein is hoping to unseat "an architect of Brexit" - DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds - as it aims to increase its number of MPs.

The Sinn Fein vice president said the 12 December general election will be about maximising the return of pro-Remain candidates.

"We will stand in our seven constituencies in which we currently hold seats and we will stand in North Belfast to win that seat," she said.

Standing alongside the party's North Belfast candidate John Finucane, Ms O'Neill made clear their intention to target the constituency's MP Mr Dodds.

"We believe there is a real opportunity in North Belfast to oust someone who has been architect of Brexit, someone who has actively worked against the interests of people who live here on this island, and John Finucane can provide local representation but also will reflect Ireland's interests in all of this mess," she said.

Finucane is the son of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, who was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in one of the most notorious incidents of the Troubles.

PM hints at ban on fracking

Boris Johnson has hinted at a ban on fracking, as he moves to shut down controversies that could backfire on the Conservatives in the general election campaign.

An announcement will be made “shortly”, the prime minister told MPs – after acknowledging that the public had “legitimate anxieties” about the earthquakes that are triggered.

No 10 refused to expand on the comments, but green campaigners seized on them to express hope that the Tories were poised to bow to pressure to outlaw fracking altogether.

Peers start debating the election bill

Members of the House of Lords are debating the Early Parliamentary General Election Bill, as Boris Johnson watches on.

Opening the debate, Lords leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park said: "My Lords, I share the frustration of many around this House. We have sat and watched over the past few months while the House of Commons has repeatedly been unable to achieve a consensus on a way forwards.

"However, a December election has now been supported by the leadership of all major parties in the other place. This presents a chance to resolve the impasse this country has endured for too long."

Shadow leader Baroness Smith of Basildon responded: "The bungling of Brexit has fractured our nation, it's divided friends, families and our politics. If MPs were unable to reach a conclusion on the slightly revamped but inferior deal, I conceded that the way forward would have to be to ask the public to consider the issue."

Lady Smith continued: "It's (a general election) about the vision for the direction of this country, and the Conservative Party will have to stand on its record."

Jo Swinson says she is 'ready to be prime minister'

PA wire 

Launching the Liberal Democrats' election campaign, Jo Swinson said her party was the "biggest and strongest" pro-Remain force in the UK.

Surrounded by her party's MPs, including two former leaders, Ms Swinson said: "I stand here ready to take on Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as candidate to be prime minister.

"We have more more members than ever before, we have raised more money than ever before, and we are joined by MPs joining us from both Labour and the Conservatives."

On prospects of a post-election pact with either the Labour Party and the Conservatives, she said: "Let me be absolutely clear both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are not fit to be prime minister."

EU raises concerns about political disinformation on social networks

Political disinformation is still rife on social networks like Facebook and Twitter and more needs to be done to tackle it, the EU has warned.

With the UK's general election looming the European Commission said tech giants needed to take "serious further steps" to address the issue or that they could face regulation..

The EU's executive praised networks' initiatives to address the issue so far, but said they needed to be more transparent about how they were tackling the problem.

Jeremy Corbyn appears to row back on Scottish independence comments

Jeremy Corbyn said he was "not in favour" of another referendum on Scottish independence "any time soon".

He said in the first "several years" of a Labour government there would be £70 billion invested into Scotland.

Mr Corbyn added: "At a later stage, obviously under the terms of devolution, if the Scottish Parliament demands it, then there could be, at a much later stage, a referendum.

"I make it very clear, we are against Scottish independence and we are certainly not in favour of any referendum in Scotland any time soon."

It comes after his spokesman said Labour could grant another indy ref if they win the election.

No-deal Brexit still possible, EU's Michel Barnier warns

A no-deal Brexit is not yet off the table and there is still a risk of the UK crashing out of the EU, Michel Barnier has said.

Speaking on Wednesday with the UK heading for a general election, the EU's chief negotiator also warned that future trade talks would be "difficult and demanding" .

“The risk of Brexit happening without a ratified deal still exists. We still need to prepare,” Mr Barnier said during a speech in Brussels.

Brexit party consider leaving safe seats for Tories - reports

The Brexit party is considering pulling out of hundreds of Conservative safe seats to give Boris Johnson a clear run in the election - according to the Financial Times.

Instead the party of Nigel Farage is said to be considering focusing its efforts on a small number of pro-Brexit seats.

However the plan could be a double edged sword for Boris Johnson - ensuring the Conservative vote is not split in safe constituencies while also making it difficult for his party to make inroads in the Brexit backing seats he will need to win to return a majority to the commons.

Arron Banks, Leave.EU campaign founder and confidant of Mr Farage, told the paper: "If Nigel takes a tactical, pragmatic approach on where to run to help deliver Brexit he’ll be rewarded by voters"

Lib Dems eye up Jacob Rees-Mogg's seat

The Liberal Democrats appear to have taken an interest in arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg's constituency - and not without reason.

North East Somerset voted to remain by 57.9% in the EU referendum - and despite being firmly held by Mr Rees Mogg in 2017, there appears to have been a burst of support in the region for Jo Swinson's party.

A Survation poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has seen the party pick up an additional 20 points of support, rising into second place behind the Conservatives - who are polling at 44 per cent to their 22 per cent.