Boris Johnson news: PM delivers rambling Brexit speech on election trail, after being repeatedly jeered by angry members of public
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Boris Johnson has delivered a rambling election speech after being repeatedly heckled by residents during his visit to South Yorkshire – six days after severe flooding hit the area.
It comes as the People’s Vote campaign group has released a list of more than 100 “Remainer” candidates who will receive backing in a bid to stop the Conservatives winning the general election.
Lib Dem Tim Walker withdrew from the race in Canterbury in a bid to help the Labour candidate keep out the local Tory Brexiteer. But party bosses provoked outrage when they said the party will field another candidate instead.
To see events as they unfolded, follow our coverage below
Gove rejects idea of no-deal Brexit as attempt to ‘raise bogies’
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said former Tory David Gauke was “wrong in what he says about this general election”.
Gauke earlier told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that a Conservative majority will result in a “disastrous” no-deal Brexit.
“In all likelihood at the end of 2020 we will leave the implementation period without a deal with the EU, on WTO terms, in effect on no-deal terms, that I believe would be disastrous for the prosperity of this country - whole sectors would become unviable,” said Gauke.
Gove responded: “Everyone knows that the prime minister wants a deal and the government is determined to secure one.”
Pressed on no-deal, he told Today: “It’s a hypothesis which has been put by people who have consistently... sought to raise bogies and to make people’s flesh creep when the reality has been our prime minister has managed to secure a deal which puts us on a path towards, not just free trade and friendly co-operation with the EU, but also good trade deals with other countries and other regional trade blocs.”
Gove added: “The only way in which we can prevent chaos happening, the only way in which we can stop more referendums and more paralysis in parliament is by having a working Conservative majority which can get parliament working again.”
PM visits South Yorkshire – six days after floods hit
Boris Johnson is visiting Fishlake, near Doncaster in South Yorkshire this morning, but as many are pointing out, it comes six days after flooding hit the area.
He is set to do one pooled interview, and isn’t speaking to any regional media about the work going on for affected residents and businesses.
Nearly 100 soldiers have arrived to aid communities which have been cut off by flooding. Personnel from the Light Dragoons were spotted laying down sandbags in Stainforth part of Doncaster on Wednesday morning and attempting to shore up the village’s bridge.
Johnson was seen speaking to one Doncaster official about relief efforts, asking: “Have you got enough stuff?”
Speaking to one resident, the PM said: “I’m very grateful to everybody in the community.”
The PM announced funding for locals councils to help affected households would be made available to the tune of £500 per eligible household. Up to £2,500 would be available for small to medium-sized businesses which have suffered severe impacts and which are not covered by insurance.
He is expected to visit the West Midlands this afternoon.
Yorkshire councillor says more spent on flood defences in the South
A Labour councillor for Stainforth, one of the South Yorkshire town’s worst-hit by the flooding, has claimed there is a big divide depriving the north of appropriate flood defences.
Phil Bedford said recent flooding could have been avoided if they had more resources, telling talkRADIO: “There’s twice as much spent per head on the south of England as there is on the north of England on flood defenses.”
“Great defences can stop flooding – this could have been avoided, definitely.”
Prime minister heckled on his visit to flood-hit Yorkshire
Boris Johnson has been heckled on his visit to the Fishlake area near Doncaster in South Yorkshire days after the region was struck by major flooding.
Onlookers were heard shouting “where have you been?” and “you took your time”, as the prime minister arrived in an area hit by the floods.
Another resident was heard saying: “I’m not talking to you … You’ve not helped us.”
One resident was more welcoming, telling Johnson: “Go get ‘em.”
Ex-Tory MP convicted of faking expenses stands down
A former Tory MP who was convicted of faking expenses claims has stood down as a candidate for a new seat hours after it was announced he would stand.
Chris Davies said he would no longer be contesting the Ynys Mon seat in North Wales for the election “following critical comments in the media”.
Davies was sacked as MP for Brecon and Radnorshire in June after a recall petition was signed by more than 10,000 people, triggered by his conviction for faking expenses claims. He then lost to Lib Dem Jane Dodds in a subsequent by-election.
On Tuesday the announcement that he was to stand in Ynys Mon was met by criticism from other parties.
Plaid Cymru candidate Aled ap Dafydd said: “By imposing a convicted former MP who was found guilty of a false expenses claim as the candidate … This makes a mockery of the people of the island.”
Deputy leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Baroness Christine Humphreys, said: “People deserve better.”
On Tuesday evening the Welsh Conservatives released a statement from Davies announcing he would no longer stand.
Davies said: “Given the reaction in the media to the idea of me being a candidate, I have decided to pull out of the selection process. I would not want to put my wife and family through any more distress.”
Labour leader heckled in Glasgow
Boris Johnson isn’t the only getting heckled this morning. Jeremy Corbyn was also shouted at during his visit to Glasgow, according to Sky News’ Tom Rayner.
Asked about the scarf he was wearing a man was said to have shouted: “I’m surprised you’re not wearing an Islamic Jihad scarf.”
Corbyn begin a two-day tour of Scotland, a former Labour stronghold which is no longer such promising territory.
Although Labour activists will give him a warm welcome, some Labour candidates are alarmed the leader has softened the party’s opposition to a second referendum on Scottish independence, in the hope of landing SNP support for a minority Labour government.
Corbyn confronted by angry voter in Scotland
There’s now video of Jeremy Corbyn getting heckled outside a Labour rally in Glasgow.
“Do you think the man who’s going to be prime minister of this country should be a terrorist sympathiser Mr Corbyn?”
“Who’s going to be the first terrorist invited to the House of Commons when you’re prime minister?”
Ushered away by Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, the heckler said: “Aye, he’s running away.”
Elon Musk says Brexit made him decides against factory in UK
The electric vehicle pioneer Elon Musk has picked Germany for his new factory because of Brexit, embarrassing Boris Johnson as he prepares to pledge a “clean energy revolution”.
The prime minister is due to make a televised speech at an electric car plant in the West Midlands – but the visit risks being overshadowed by Musk’s change of heart.
Labour will ‘literally rebuild’ NHS, says shadow health secretary
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the NHS is “crying out for a financial rescue plan and real change”.
Our correspondent Lizzy Buchan has been listening to his speech, and says Ashworth has pledged to commit an additional £15bn capital investment to rebuild “crumbling hospitals” as the health service would be “literally rebuilt under a Labour government”.
‘F*** the government’: PM heckled again in Yorkshire
Boris Johnson has been heckled for a second time in South Yorkshire.
As the prime minister’s team tried to visit a community centre in a flood-hit area of Fishlake, a man shouted: “Everyone’s in poverty – the whole country’s a joke,” said the man in a clip shared by LBC.
He added: “F*** the government, f*** the council – people are living on the streets, kids are living in the streets, nobody gives a f*** about them. Sort it out.”
“Biggest thieves in the country them.”
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