Boris Johnson news – live: PM launches Conservative election campaign after day of gaffes and mishaps
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson launched his general election campaign with a rally in Birmingham, where he attacked Labour’s Brexit stance as a “Bermuda Triangle” barren of intelligence, and compared Nigel Farage to “candle sellers on the dawn of the electric lightbulb”.
But Labour party deputy leader Tom Watson stole the headlines as he announced his decision to stand down as an MP in the middle of Mr Johnson’s speech, citing reasons “personal, not political” and a desire to campaign about ”the public health challenge facing our country”.
Boris Johnson’s campaign had earlier been thrown into disarray as Alun Cairns quit as Welsh secretary after being accused of “brazenly lying” about his knowledge of an allegation that his former aide sabotaged a rape trial.
The Tories were also accused of doctoring footage to falsely suggest Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer was unable to answer a question about Brexit, while James Cleverly was brutally “empty-chaired” after missing a Sky News interview.
Mr Johnson was criticised for comparing Jeremy Corbyn’s “hatred” of wealth creators to the persecution of the Kulaks – a group of landowning peasants killed by Stalin in the 1930s.
One Tory MP admitted it hadn’t been a “great day” for the party and said “people cocked things up”.
Swinson criticises ‘shocking’ Rees-Mogg remarks
The Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has been speaking at the launch of her election campaign bus (I know, I know – they’ll launch anything these days).
She condemned the comments made by Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg on the Grenfell fire disaster.
Swinson said: “Having watched the footage of Jacob Rees-Mogg I was speechless. I did find that footage absolutely shocking. And I question why he is where he is still.”
Asked if she feared a dirty election campaign, she said she would present a positive message to voters. “I am happy to take on both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn, neither of whom is fit to be prime minister, whatever.”
PM says the Queen does ‘tough interview’
In a video posted on Twitter, Boris Johnson is shown in the back of his car heading to Buckingham Palace, explaining why he thinks we’re having an election on 12 December.
He says an audience with Her Majesty is “always a very tough interview because she always asks the best questions and the question today is: why are we having this election?”
“There’s only one reason. I’m afraid that parliament is paralysed.”
We’re told he’ll give a speech outside Downing Street at around 1pm – and he is set to appear at a Tory rally in the West Midlands this evening.
BREAKING: Welsh secretary Alun Cairns has resigned
The cabinet minister Alun Cairns had claimed he had been unaware of former staff member Ross England’s role in the collapsed rape trial until after the story broke last week.
But leaked emails showed the Welsh secretary had been made aware of the allegations as early as August last year.
In his resignation letter, Cairns said he will “fully cooperate with the investigation under the ministerial code”.
Labour MP calls on Alun Cairns to stand down as MP
Christina Rees, shadow secretary of state for Wales said: "Alun Cairns stepping down as Secretary of State is far from the end of the matter, and is a shoddy halfway house that will fool nobody.
"He has still not explained his behaviour and still not addressed the grave issues raised by the leaked emails yesterday.
"Worse still, neither he nor any senior Welsh Tory have apologised to one person who most deserves it - the victim herself.
"He should do the right thing - apologise, and step down as a candidate."
Tory MP blames ‘young person’ for doctored video
A Conservative MP has blamed “a young person” on the party’s campaign team for doctoring a video of a Labour shadow minister.
Mansfield MP Ben Bradley admitted the video was one of a series of “cock-ups” which marred the first day of the official Tory campaign for the 12 December general election.
But he rejected the idea that Tories were running “a cynical campaign of lies”, insisting that issues like the disputed video and Jacob Rees-Mogg’s Grenfell Tower gaffe were “mistakes”.
Boris Johnson says he does 'not want an election' as he launches election campaign
The PM, speaking outside Downing Street, says he "does not want an election", as he officially launches the election campaign for 12 December. He says he just had a meeting with the Queen, and that parliament has now been dissolved.
He said: "I've just been to see Her Majesty the Queen earlier on and she agreed to dissolve Parliament for an election.
"And I want you to know of course it that I don't want an early election and no one much wants to have an election in December, but we've got to the stage where we have no choice because our parliament is paralysed, it's been stuck in a rut for three and a half years.
"And I'm afraid our MPs are just refusing, time and again to deliver Brexit and honour the mandate of the people.
" I can tell you, I've got to the stage where I've been wanting to chew my own tie in frustration because, in a sense, we're so nearly there.
"We've got a deal, oven ready, by which we can leave the EU in just a few weeks."
Alun Cairns talks up achievements of government in resignation letter
In his correspondence with the PM, the former cabinet minister talked up the achievements of Boris Johnson's government, and securing a new Brexit deal.
He wrote:
"It has been an honour to serve in your Government and a privilege to see the positive steps you have made in such a short time. Your work to secure a deal to leave the European Union has been extraordinary and the opportunities it brings are exciting for all parts of the country. I thank you for your commitment to the Union and the way in which you have made it central to all areas of government policy.
"My experience of seeing your work first hand with Cabinet colleagues gives me confidence for the future. Your vision and drive to move the country forward to meet the opportunities of Brexit and to protect and enhance public services is exemplary.
"I will continue to work to support your vision and ambitions for the country and am grateful for the honour of serving in your Cabinet."
PM warns of '2020 horror show of dither and delay' from Corbyn
Boris Johnson also uses his speech from outside Downing Street to attack Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party and "spend the whole of 2020 in horror show of dither and delay" over Brexit.
"We don't even know what side he would take", Johnson adds.
He added a future Conservative government would begin pushing through its Brexit deal within the immediate days after the general election in December.
Kit Malhouse says he’s ‘been dissolved’
The policing minister Kit Malhouse has sent out a very strange tweet. Presumably referring to the fact he’s no longer MP and only a candidate, he suggests people “can work out what that means for my legal status now I’ve been dissolved”.
And there’s a blink-and-you’ll-definitely-miss-it slide show of Kit with his supporters.
What’s the Brexit deal Labour wants to negotiate with Brussels?
Jeremy Corbyn says he wants to negotiate a “better” Brexit deal with the EU within around three months and put it to the public within six months.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has taken a close look at exactly what the Labour leader wants to achieve.
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