BBC leaders debate - live: Corbyn and Boris Johnson clash on racism, security and Brexit as snap poll finds viewers thought PM edged encounter
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will go head to head for a final TV clash as both leaders scramble to turn the tide of the election campaign in the final week.
The BBC debate comes as Labour narrowed the Tory poll lead with a four-point bounce and Jeremy Corbyn unveiled leaked Northern Ireland-related Brexit documents, claiming they show the public has been misled.
Meanwhile, Sir John Major urged traditional Conservative voters to ditch Boris Johnson's party in favour of independent rebels, as hundreds gathered at a rally in London to demand a Final Say referendum.
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the general election campaign, with only six days until we go to the polls.
Andrew Neil goes on the attack over PM’s failure to agree interview
As he closed his interview with Nigel Farage, Andrew Neil set aside several minutes last night to shame Boris Johnson for failing to submit to a prime-time grilling of his own.
“Leaders’ interviews have been a key part of the BBC’s prime-time election coverage for decades. We do them on your behalf to scrutinise and hold to account those who would govern us. That is democracy,” Neil said.
“It is not too late. We have an interview prepared. Oven-ready, as Mr Johnson likes to say.”
Neil said his questions would’ve been about why so many people who know Johnson “deemed him to be untrustworthy”.
Major and Blair come together for second referendum rally
Two former prime ministers – Sir John Major and Tony Blair – are to address a Final Say rally where supporters of a second EU referendum will call for tactical voting to block a Tory majority.
The rally in London is the most explosive intervention in the campaign so far by the two ex-PMs, who contested a general election 22 years ago, both of whom are staunch opponents of Brexit.
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Gove: Allowing EU citizens to vote would be ‘unfair’
Cabinet minister Michael Gove has said allowing EU citizens to vote in another Brexit referendum would go against the principle of democratic fairness.
Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Gove said: “There’s a basic principle of democratic fairness. It is the case that EU nationals don’t vote, have never voted, in general elections, and therefore don’t vote, have never voted in referendums like the Brexit referendum - and, therefore, we just think it would be unfair.
“It’s a bit like a rugby league final, 13 players on either side. If one team suddenly said we’re going to play rugby union instead and bring two extra players onto the field, that simply wouldn’t be fair.”
He added that he understands Labour’s argument but that it is “fundamentally an assault on the basic democratic principle”.
“What makes it worse, I think, to fair-minded observers is the idea that the referendum next time round, if the Labour party were to come into power, would be run according to different rules, and rules that every objective observer says would be more likely to favour Remain,” he said.
It follow Boris Johnson’s claim yesterday that Labour would “rig” a second Brexit vote – appearing to refer to the idea of allowing EU nationals and possibly 16 and 17-year-olds to take part.
Gove added that the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister has to be taken “very seriously”.
Asked whether the election is on a knife edge, he said: “Oh yes, we do have to take very seriously the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister.”
Labour wants to put business advisers in Post Offices
Labour has announced plans to set up a network of business advisers in Post Office branches to help small firms access support and finance.
The party said that a Corbyn-led government create a Post Office bank called the Post Bank and appoint experts at larger branches to help advise local businesses.
Rebecca Long-Bailey, the shadow business secretary, announced the plans as she unveiled 20 pledges designed to help small businesses and reinvigorate high streets.
Boris Johnson dodges ITV interview
The prime minister has snubbed a second showpiece TV election interview, despite mounting criticism of his refusal to face Andrew Neil.
ITV News has revealed that it offered the prime minister several times and dates for its Tonight programme hosted by Julie Etchingham, but has now accepted it will not take place.
“Every other leader of Great Britain’s main political parties that has been approached has done an interview for Tonight,” a source said.
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YouGov poll shows Tory surge in Scotland
The latest survey by YouGov shows the Tories up six points north of the border, on 28 per cent. The polling guru Sir John Curtice told The Times it suggests the party could win eight seats in Scotland.
Jo Swinson throws beanbag at Boris Johnson toy
The Lib Dem leader hasn’t had a great campaign, forced to watch her personal and party poll ratings decline. But she appears to be having fun anyway.
Swinson leader held up a Boris Johnson toy at a rally in Edinburg last night – then threw a beanbag at the thing in thing in a game of “topple Boris”.
She also had a serious, if slightly below-the-belt, point to make: Johnson cannot be trusted to look after the UK’s “family of nations” because “all know he’s not much of a family man”.
Jo Swinson grimaces at stuffed toy in Edinburgh (PA)
Labour’s Rebecca Long-Bailey hasn’t read antisemitism submission
Shadow business secretary Rebecca-Long Bailey admitted she has not read the Jewish Labour Movement’s submission but said that some of the comments are “shocking”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Long-Bailey said: “I haven’t looked at it, no. I’ve certainly seen media reports.
“And what I’d say is, I mean some of the comments that I’ve seen in the press have been absolutely shocking and the Labour party would never under any circumstances condone any antisemitic behaviour in the way that’s been outlined in that report.”
She added that the Labour Party “did not deal with the problem quickly enough when it was first presented” but that now they have “sped up our processes”.
On EU citizens being able to vote in a potential future Brexit referendum, Long-Bailey added: “I think it’s right.
“I think it’s fair to ensure that those people have the opportunity to vote over their future, because essentially this isn't just about the future of people who were born here, it's about the future of people who contribute to our economy and have done for a very, very long time.”
Long-Bailey was also questioned on Labour’s claim that the average family would save £6,700 a year under a Labour government, something the Institute for Fiscal Studies has described the chances of as “remote”.
Addressing the claim, she said: “That’s why it’s important that the word ‘average’ is used – we’ve not said that every single family will benefit in this way.”
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