General election news - live: Tories plunged into spate of fresh fake news scandals, as BBC admits 'mistake' over edited Boris Johnson footage

Majority of young people say they’ll vote Labour

Our friends at Statista have taken a look at the latest voting intention numbers based on age. As you might expect, there’s a significant split – with 51 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds saying they will vote Labour, and 66 per cent of the over 70s saying they will vote for the Tories.

Election voting intention by age group (Statista) 

‘Don’t do that’: Internet pioneer condemns Tories’ fake fact checker

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, has said it was “unbelievable” and “brazen” that the Tories re-named its official press office account “factcheckuk” during the recent election debate.

“That was impersonation. Don’t do that. Don’t trust people who do that,” he said.

Umunna says Lib Dems will uphold Nato commitments

The Lib Dems’ spokesman for foreign affairs Chuka Umunna has said his party will uphold the UK's commitments to Nato.

Speaking in Watford, Umunna said: “UK voters have a choice to make at this election.

“Give a majority to Boris Johnson, a man who is determined to take us out of the European Union, who has chosen to align with right-wing authoritarian nationalist forces, who are opposed to the liberal international rules based order.

“Or elect as many Liberal Democrat MPs as possible, necessary to deprive Johnson of a majority and ensure the arithmetic in a new House of Commons can deliver a people’s vote and pave the way to secure not only Britain’s place in the heart of Europe, but as a world leader too.”

He added: “The situation is pressing, it is urgent and we’ve got just 17 days to do it.”

Umunna said Nato “must reform and adapt” but said the Lib Dems would ensure the UK upholds its responsibilities to the alliance, including by spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence.

He said it was “alarming” that other members of Nato’s commitment to the alliance is “less than fulsome”.

Queen’s Speech before Christmas, vows No 10

The Queen’s Speech will be fast-tracked and held before Christmas if the Tories win the election, as Boris Johnson seeks to ram through his Brexit deal within weeks. 

Downing Street said a session of the new parliament will be held on Tuesday 17 December if there is no change in government, allowing time for the traditional swearing in of new MPs.

Minister sticks by ‘50,000 more nurses’ promise

The Home Office minister Brandon Lewis has been challenged on that “50,000 more nurses” pledge, asked on BBC Politics Live if the party can “guarantee” the number.

The Conservatives have admitted that the figure includes almost 19,000 existing nurses the government simply wants to retain. 

“It is about getting retention right … around a third of it is improving retention,” Lewis said. “This will mean we will have 50,000 more nurses than we would have otherwise had.”

IDS office hit by anti-Tory graffiti

Iain Duncan Smith has posted some photos of his office after it was covered in anti-Conservative graffiti, including a familiar “Tories out” message.

Condemning the “democracy-hating thugs”, the former party leader demanded: “All opposition candidates must condemn such intimidation & criminal behaviour.”

Editorial: Boris Johnson’s tax pledges won’t ‘unleash potential’ 

“Tax is a big issue at every general election and this one is no exception. Boris Johnson had intended to make a splash at the launch of the Conservatives’ manifesto by announcing a plan to take the lowest paid out of tax by raising the salary at which national insurance starts to bite to the same level as income tax. But he managed to steal his own thunder by blurting out his headline-grabbing announcement on the campaign trail last week.”

PM shears sheep, serves lamb baps and agitates bull

Boris Johnson has sheared a sheep as he visited the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Llanelwedd, Wales.

The PM took a pair of scissors to the North Country Cheviot as he toured the agricultural show in the marginal Brecon and Radnorshire constituency. It was won by the Liberal Democrats at a by-election earlier this year.

Johnson also served several beef and lamb baps at a food stall at the show, donning an apron as he asked customers: “Can I interest you in a lamb bap?”

He then inspected some prize cattle in the bull ring, but one black bull became agitated as Johnson toured the arena and had to be walked away.

Boris Johnson at Royal Welsh Winter Fair (Getty) 

Labour supporter, 72, attacked while out canvassing

An elderly Labour supporter was taken to hospital with a suspected broken jaw after he was attacked on a doorstep while campaigning in South Yorkshire.

The 72-year-old retired plasterer, who The Independent has chosen not to name, was allegedly assaulted by a man while out canvassing in the Rotherham village of Hellaby. Police have since arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH).

More details here:

Conservatives unveil ‘Prime Ditherer’ campaign poster

After unveiling the Tories’ new anti-Corbyn “Prime Ditherer” ad, health secretary Matt Hancock insisted his own party is playing it straight on the NHS.

“I’ve heard the Labour Party make some accusations and, of course, they would because they want to distract from the fact that their leader is the prime ditherer and they've got nothing positive to say.”

Hancock insisted that there would be 50,000 more nurses under a Tory government, despite the party’s admission the number includes almost 19,000 existing nurses the government simply wants to retain.

Pressed on whether there will actually be 50,000 more nurses than the current number, Hancock said: “Precisely. 50,000 more nurses. There’s currently just over 280,000 nurses in the NHS and our commitment is to take that to just over 330,000 nurses in the NHS.

“That’s 50,000 more nurses and that’s what we are going to do.”

Asked who came up with the “Prime Ditherer” phrase, culture secretary Nicky Morgan said: “I think it was somebody from CCHQ. We’ve got a very talented team.”

Asked about the “50,000 more nurses” pledge, she said: “What the manifesto very clearly says is 50,000 more nurses by 2025, and there’s a variety of different ways in which we’ll make sure that the number of nurses by 2025 is 50,000 higher than it is today.”

Matt Hancock and Nicky Morgan (PA)