Climate election debate: ‘Coward’ Boris Johnson replaced by melting ice sculpture as he avoids TV clash amid outrage over NHS remarks

BBC criticised for ‘meh’ post before voter registration deadline

The BBC has been criticised for a social media post about being apathetic about politics just before the voter registration deadline.

As many on social media rushed to encourage friends and family to ensure they were registered to vote, one of the BBC’s official accounts posted a range of tweets that called politics “meh”.

It also encouraged people to send in suggestions of things that were more important than politics, and used a variety of bizarre stickers.

All the details here:

Theresa May unveils Nancy Astor statue

Theresa May is in Plymouth for the unveiling of a statue of Nancy Astor – the first female MP to take her seat in parliament.

Boris Johnson was captured saying hello to the former PM at a post-ceremony event.

Earlier, health secretary Matt Hancock was corrected for claiming Astor was the first woman elected to the Commons.

The first woman elected was actually Constance Markievicz, in 1918 – but as a member of Sinn Fein, she didn’t take her seat. The first women to actually take her seat was Astor, following a by-election in December 1919.

PM’s claim to have been against austerity an ‘outright lie’, says Labour

Boris Johnson’s old Spectator columns that are causing trouble today. But the PM has penned a new one, claiming he told government colleagues in 2010 that “austerity was not the right way forward”.

Laura Pidcock, Labour’s shadow minister for employment rights, has responded.

She said: “This is an outright lie. We know that Boris Johnson thinks that single mothers should be subjected to ‘destitution on a Victorian scale’. The idea he was against vicious cuts that he previously demanded is an insult to people’s intelligence.

“Boris Johnson’s misogyny and class hatred are disgusting and mean he is not fit to be prime minister.”

Tory candidate’s name misspelled on ballot papers

A Conservative candidate has insisted a vote for him was still valid despite his name being spelled incorrectly on the ballot papers.

Jack Gebhard’s middle name of Alexander was missing an ‘N’ when his nomination papers were submitted for him to stand in Wansbeck, Northumberland, against the Labour chairman Ian Lavery.

The town councillor in Morpeth said: “It doesn’t make any difference to the election. I have checked that it doesn’t invalidate the vote.

“I don’t know how it happened. I’m surprised the council didn't make some observation, it’s not like my name is misspelled on the Electoral Roll.”

It would appear the rogue “N” went missing due to a typo.

Northumberland County Council said the ballot papers were printed from information that came from candidates or their agents.

A spokesperson said: “The wording that appears on the ballot paper is taken from the information contained in the statement of persons nominated published by the Acting Returning Officer.

“What appears on the statement, is lifted directly and exactly from the nomination papers submitted by the candidate and his election agent.”

Tories set to win by large majority?

Our friends at Statista have broken down the results of YouGov’s seat projection – based on sea-by-seat polls across the country.

The fate of the big two parties – the Tories on course for 359 seats, with Labour down on 211 – has been getting attention.

But the model’s projected 13 seats for the Lib Dems is remarkable to see, given Jo Swinson was claiming her party could win “hundreds” only a month ago.

Projected seat share (Independent / Statista) 

Man with ‘hostility of women’ jailed after threats made to female MPs

In the latest court case over abuse and threats made towards MPs, a man has been jailed for sending fake anthrax to female politicians.

Richard Hayes, 50, has been jailed for five years for sending white powder to 15 MPs, MEPs and local councillors, writes our home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden.

Exeter Crown Court heard that he was not identified immediately after sending the packages, between April 2011 and April 2014. Hayes was traced through DNA left on envelopes after he was arrested for harassing a former partner last year.

His targets included Labour’s Heidi Alexander, Helen Jones and Emma Reynolds, Tories Chloe Smith, Rebecca Harris, Jessica Lee and Baroness Nicola Blackwood. Hayes also sent the powder – made of flour, protein powder and bicarbonate of soda – to several Liberal Democrats.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he showed a “hostility towards women” and caused numerous emergency incidents and temporary quarantines.

Howard Phillips, of the CPS, said: “Attacks on our elected officials are attacks on the heart of our democracy. They clearly have a personal toll too, and these letters caused significant distress to the recipients and their staff, leaving them in fear for their safety.”

The case came after police released intensified security advice to candidates standing in next month’s general election, following an unprecedented increase in abuse and death threats towards politicians.

Farage says Labour ‘know they can’t win the election’

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has said suggestions Labour could change its campaigning strategy are “almost an acceptance that they have lost the election”.

He was speaking after the BBC reported that Labour insiders had said that the party has so far overestimated the threat from the Lib Dems and underestimated the chances of Leave voters switching from Labour to the Conservatives.

Farage told supporters in Hull that the rumoured move suggests that Jeremy Corbyn’s party is “in trouble”.

He said: “I think the truth of it is, they realise they are now fighting a defensive battle, they know they can’t win the election.

“This is now a defensive strategy to try to hold the seats that they have held for decades, it's almost an acceptance that they have lost the election.”

Nigel Farage at a pub in Hull (PA) 

Johnson definitely avoiding climate change debate tonight

A bit more on tonight's Channel 4 climate change debate. Senior Conservatives have just confirmed that Boris Johnson will not be taking part, saying the prime minister "has a huge amount in his diary".

The Tories offered up Michael Gove for the debate but were rebuffed by Channel 4, which is insisting that only party leaders are allowed to join. Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson, Nicola Sturgeon and Sian Berry have all signed up.

As we reported earlier, the broadcaster is promising to empty-chair the prime minister (along with Nigel Farage, who is also refusing to take part), unless he shows up.

In a strange turn of events, Channel 4 also refused to comment on reports that it has commissioned an ice sculpture of Johnson to melt on stage if he does not take part...

Johnson to be interviewed by Andrew Marr after refusing interview with Andrew Neil

This is bound to ruffle a few feathers. Boris Johnson, who is said to be refusing to sit down for an interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil, despite the other party leaders having done so, is now reportedly set to be appear on the Andrew Marr Show this Sunday. No10 will likely use the appearance to point out that the prime minister is happy to be interviewed by the BBC, but that won't satisfy those who want him to face Neil's forensic scrutiny.

Tory minister defends Boris Johnson's reference to 'tank-topped bum boys' 

Boris Johnson was entitled to refer to gay men as “tank-topped bum boys” because of his right to “free speech”, a Tory candidate has said.

Chris Philp, a justice minister, defended the prime minister’s notorious comment – and said he personally was not offended because he is not homosexual.

Instead, he described it as “colourful language”, before saying he was not prepared “to give a running commentary" on his bosses’ statements.

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