Boris Johnson news – live: PM rejects Trump call for Farage general election pact as head-to-head televised leaders debate announced
Follow all the latest developments
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has rejected Donald Trump's advice to form a Brexit pact with Nigel Farage in the general election.
He told Sophy Ridge of Sky News that he has "ruled out a pact with everybody because I don't think it's sensible to do that".
Mr Farage says if Mr Johnson does not agree to a “Leave alliance”, he has 500 candidates ready to stand across Britain. Polling guru John Curtice said it was likely the Brexit Party would harm the Tories more than Labour if candidates were fielded across the country.
The prime minister's refusal of a pact came as ITV announced plans for a televised election debate in which he and Jeremy Corbyn will go head-to-head.
Brexit Party promises Labour voters 'cheaper food and cheaper bras'
Nigel Farage has vowed to win over Labour voters at the election by promising them "cheaper food and cheaper bras".
Announcing his strategy for the 12 December poll, the Brexit Party leader said his demand for the UK to leave the EU without a deal would reduce prices of "everything from underwear to shoes to food".
Leaders agree to televised election debate
Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn will both take part in a head-to-head televised leaders’ general election debate on 19 November, ITV has announced.
Two days ago, the Labour leader challenged the prime minister to join such a debate, seen as crucial in swaying voters.
Splitting the Leave vote is not guaranteed
Predictions that the Brexit Party will split the Leave vote may be too simplistic, writes Jon Stone, our Europe correspondent.
One reason is that some voters are socially conservative and prefer Faragism to Labour – but will never vote Tory. Read his analysis here:
Johnson 'resisting' TV programmes with other party leaders
It is understood that Boris Johnson is resisting taking part in broadcasts featuring leaders of parties other than the official opposition, such as the Liberal Democrats’ Jo Swinson.
The leaders' debate on ITV on 19 November will be followed by a live interview-based programme in which other parties will be able to comment on the head-to-head debate and set out their own electoral agenda.
Lib Dems condemn TV debate 'stitch-up'
The Liberal Democrats have criticised the first head-to-head TV debate between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn as a "cosy stitch-up" to exclude Jo Swinson, the party's leader.
"This is a cosy stitch-up between the two establishment party leaders to try to shut out the woman leader of the strongest party of Remain," a Lib Dem source said.
"They're running scared, but we aren't going to let them get away."
Farage plan 'a blow to Johnson hopes of victory'
Nigel Farage's plan to field Brexit Party candidates in every seat are not good news for Boris Johnson, a leading polling expert says.
Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University said: “For every one voter who has moved from Labour to the Brexit Party, there are two that have moved from the Conservatives to the Brexit Party."
PM rules out Farage pact
Boris Johnson has ruled out any electoral pact with Nigel Farage's Brexit party following the intervention of Donald Trump on LBC yesterday.
The US president called for the Prime Minister to team up with the Brexit Party leader to form an "unstoppable force" for the December 12 vote.
However asked if he would form an alliance with Mr Farage, the PM told the BBC: "Now the difficulty about doing deals with any other party is that any other party, or voting for any other party, simply risks putting Jeremy Corbyn into No 10.
"And the problem with that is that his plan for Brexit is basically yet more dither and delay."
A Number 10 source confirmed that this explicitly meant no deals with the Brexit Party.
Johnson says Trump is wrong on Brexit deal
After going against President Trump's suggestion of an electoral pact with Nigel Farage, Mr Johnson has also gone against the US leader's assertion that his Brexit deal could stand in the way of a trade agreement between the two countries.
Mr Trump told Nigel Farage on his LBC radio show: "To be honest with you... this deal... under certain aspects of the deal... you can't do it, you can't trade.
However Mr Johnson has said his US counterpart is wrong.
"I'm afraid I don't wish to cast any aspersions on the president of the United States but in that respect he's patently in error, anybody who looks at our deal can see that it's a great deal," he said.
Boris blames 'innovation' of Benn act for broken Brexit promise
Boris Johnson has said his repeated promises to leave the EU by 31 October were broken because of the unprecedented nature of the Benn act - despite standing by the Brexit deadline even after the legislation was revealed and voted on.
Asked why he should still be trusted after reneging on the Brexit deadline, Mr Johnson said "nobody had ever seen any law like" the legislation that had forced him to request an extension to Article 50.
Speaking on Sky News, he called the legislation a "constitutional innovation" and that he "didn't want" to send the letter to the EU extending article 50.
He added: "It's a matter of deep regret. All we need to do now is get on and do it,"
File handed to prosecutors over Vote Leave
Officers investigating alleged breaches of election law by the official Brexit campaign have passed a file to prosecutors, Scotland Yard has said.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Vote Leave - which counted among its directors Dominic Cummings, who is now a senior adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson - after being passed material by the Electoral Commission.
The campaign group was fined £61,000 in July last year after the commission found it had exceeded its legal spending limit of £7 million by almost £500,000.
On Friday, a spokesman said a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last month regarding Vote Leave and youth Brexit group BeLeave, which was set up by Darren Grimes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments