General election news – live: Boris Johnson campaign hit after ‘secret plan to sell off NHS’ revealed, as PM’s most senior adviser warns about hung parliament

PM has used ‘crass, offensive and racist’ words, says Baroness Warsi

Tory peer and former co-chair Baroness Warsi said the party had, “dragging and screaming”, finally started to acknowledge the issue of Islamophobia.

Reacting to the partial apology from Johnson over Islamophobia within Conservative ranks, she told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “I think it’s a good start and I’m pleased that finally we are starting to get to a point where hopefully we can start to acknowledge the extent of this issue, apologise for the fact that we have dragged our feet in dealing with it and then hopefully start an independent investigation into dealing with it.”

She added: “Indeed we saw that when Boris (Johnson) made those crass comments around Muslim women wearing the niqab, that many Muslim women, visibly Muslim women, were subsequently attacked on our streets.”

Asked about the PM, she said: “I don’t believe that he is an Islamophobe, but I do believe that there is a space of privilege within which he exists where he feels sadly that there are no consequences to the words that he uses, even when those words are crass, offensive and racist.”

Asked about chancellor Sajid Javid’s earlier comments on the issue, she said he was in a “very difficult position”, adding: “To call out Islamophobia within the Conservative party, to hold the party to account for its racism, is effectively a career-ending moment and I can completely understand why Sajid would not want to be as blunt and as honest as I know he is.”

She added: “I hope that one day Sajid will be braver and bolder but I’m not going to criticise him in the meantime if he has got an eye on his political career.”

Tactical voting in just 57 seats could keep Johnson out of No 10

Fewer than 120,000 anti-Brexit tactical votes in the right seats could deny Boris Johnson an overall majority in the House of Commons, new polling suggests. 

A large-scale survey of almost 40,000 voters found that Conservatives are heading for 366 seats in the Commons, giving Johnson a comfortable majority of 82.

But analysis for the Best for Britain campaign for a second referendum that in 57 seats, the Tory candidate could be defeated by 4,000 or fewer anti-Brexit voters voting tactically.

It means as few as 117,314 pro-EU tactical votes in the right seats could produce a hung parliament.

More details here:

McDonnell says ‘sorry’ for Labour’s handling of antisemitism

John McDonnell has been speaking apologetically about how Labour has handled antisemitism in the party – and claimed Jeremy Corbyn has already apologised despite his refusal to do so on the BBC interview last night.

The shadow chancellor: “I’m really sorry the way we handled it initially, because we’ve learnt lessons from that … if there’s still more lessons to be learnt come and see us and help us.”

“I think we’ve done, in the recent period, we’ve done everything asked us. But there’s more lessons to learn – we’ll always open ourselves up to learning.”

Johnson says he’s not broken his abstinence vow – before taking sip of cider

Boris Johnson has insisted that he has not broken his vow not to drink until he gets Brexit done, as he sipped cider on a visit to Cornwall.

The PM pulled a pint of Rattler – which he struggled to pronounce in a Cornish accent – at the Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm and then appeared unable to resist sampling it.

He told watching press: “I’m not allowed to drink anything ... but I can have a sip as long as everybody understands that this is not properly... This is not breaking my vow.

“I’m not allowed to drink until we get Brexit done but I’m going to have one small sip.”

Boris Johnson sips cider in Cornwall (AP) 

Almost 2.6m young people registered to vote since election called

Our friends at Statista have taken a look at the demographics behind the voter registration surge. The proportion of young people (under the under of 35) applying is almost exactly the same as in 2017 – roughly two-thirds.

But the overall number of people signing up since the start of the campaign is far greater than in the equivalent period two years ago.

Roughly 2,580,000 young people (under the under of 35) applied to register to vote since the end of October.

2019 voter registration surge in context (Statista) 

No date fixed for Andrew Neil vs Boris Johnson

The BBC hasn’t been able to pin Boris Johnson down to a time / date for his Andrew Neil interview. Could it be he’s a tad trepidatious after last night’s grilling of Jeremy Corbyn?

SNP politician’s office hit by graffiti attack

An SNP MSP has said she is “deeply saddened” after her office was vandalised.

The words “SNP out” were spray-painted on Aileen Campbell’s constituency office in Carluke, South Lanarkshire, and a window was smashed overnight on Tuesday.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, she said: “An attack on my office last night, which has been reported to the police, has saddened me deeply.

“I have a duty of care for the people who work in my office and this is clearly upsetting for them, as well as for the other tenants in the building and our neighbours.

“People can disagree about politics, but there is no excuse for mindless aggression, vandalism or violence which causes stress and anxiety in our local communities.”

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said inquiries are ongoing Campbell reported the attack.

Aileen Campbell's office in Carluke (Facebook / Aileen Campbell) 

PM says Britain can be ‘satellite superpower’

Boris Johnson has said in 10 years’ time the UK will be a “space technology satellite superpower”.

Speaking in Truro, Johnson said: “This is the moment to be investing in technology, not just broadband and 4G, but stuff like our fantastic space programme.

“These are going to be long-term jobs for the United Kingdom, and it’s wonderful what’s happening at Newquay now, and by the way, there's going to be another one in Scotland as well.

“So in 10 years’ time, this country will be a space technology satellite superpower because of the investments we're making now.

“It’s going to be good for the whole UK - Scotland, Cornwall, you’re talking about investing in every part of our United Kingdom.”

Boris Johnson speaking in Cornwall (Getty) 

Former Tory deputy PM appears at Lib Dem conference

Michael Heseltine, the former deputy prime minister, appearing at a Liberal Democrat press conference, claims the public have “torn up” their traditional loyalties. 

“I’m here as a proud member of the Conservative Party,” he says. “I have served in government’s led by Ted Heath, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron.” 

“But throughout that entire time there was for my party one overriding argument that we deployed - it was the one theme of post-imperial Britain, and it argued that we should target our destiny at the heart of Europe,” he adds.

He says the country is united across the political divide that is “our personal duty to fight for British influence” and not to make the country poorer. 

Heseltine claims the uncertainty over Brexit will be “perpetuated” all through 2020 as the EU debates the future trade deal and the possibility of a no-deal exit is still on the table. 

“Next year is one of uncertainty,” he adds. 

BBC says no 'date fixed' for Andrew Neil interview with Boris Johnson

After Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon endured a grilling from the BBC's Andrew Neil, the BBC says he will interview Nigel Farage and Jo Swinson next week. 

But, the BBC adds that no date has been fixed for an interview with Mr Johnson and discussions are ongoing...