General election debate: Seven parties take part in ITV clash as Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn skip encounter

Politicians clash over NHS, climate change and Donald Trump

General Election 2019: Opinion polls over the last seven days

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn both dodged the seven-way “leaders debate” on ITV on Sunday night.

The leaders of all major parties were invited to take part in the stand-off but Labour and the Conservatives were represented by shadow justice minister Richard Burgon and chief secretary of the Treasury Rishi Sunak.

They shared the stage with Jo Swinson for the Lib Dems, the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage, Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon of the SNP, ​Green Party co-leader Sian Berry and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price.

Among the issues discussed were the London Bridge terror attacks, Donald Trump, the NHS, social care and climate change.

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Key Points

• Nigel Farage defends Trump: 'Men say dreadful things sometimes'
• Leaders clash over early release of London Bridge terrorist
• Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn dodge leaders' debate
• Leaders of Lib Dems, Greens, Brexit Party and SNP feature in seven-way clash

[1 December 2019 17:34 · Peter Stubley]

Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the ITV "leaders debate" featuring the seven major political parties.

It kicks off at 7pm and is due to last two hours. Will they all survive the contest? Let's find out.

[1 December 2019 17:45 · Peter Stubley]

Neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn are taking part, however.

As a result the seven-way leaders' debate will feature on five party leaders from the Greens, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Brexit Party....

Jeremy Corbyn will be represented by Richard Burgon, the shadow justice secretary.

Boris Johnson will be represented by Rishi Sunak, the chief secretary to the Treasury.

[1 December 2019 17:51 · Peter Stubley]

ITV journalist Julie Etchingham is moderating the debate and the set looks like a cross between the TV shows The Cube and Take Me Out.

Here's the confirmed list of politicians taking part:

[1 December 2019 18:03 · Peter Stubley]

The debate takes place as the two main party leaders continue to blame each other for the terror attack on London Bridge.

Earlier this evening the two victims were identified as Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23. Three others were injured.

Boris Johnson has insisted that cuts to probation and other public services played no part in the attack. Instead, he says Labour are responsible for the law which allowed the killer to be released - nearly a year ago - on licence automatically half way through his 16-year sentence.

[1 December 2019 18:20 · Peter Stubley]

The attack prompted an urgent review of convicted terrorists out on licence and on Saturday evening a 34-year-old man was arrested in Stoke-on-Trent.

West Midlands Police released this statement at around 6pm today:

Officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit have arrested a man in Stoke-on-Trent.

A search warrant was conducted last night (30 Nov) in connection to a wider on-going review of existing licence conditions of convicted terrorism offenders.

As a result of a search of his home address, the 34-year-old was arrested on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

These searches continue.

There is no information to suggest that the arrested man was involved in the incident at London Bridge on Friday.

There was no immediate risk to public safety. 

[1 December 2019 18:29 · Peter Stubley]

A selection of responses to Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn's decision to skip the ITV election debate this evening.

[1 December 2019 18:53 · Peter Stubley]

There's just over five minutes minutes to go until the debate - keen viewers can tune into ITV now to catch the closing credits of a Harry Potter film.

[1 December 2019 19:00 · Peter Stubley]

Cue the dramatic music - to reveal (in order of importance?) Jo Swinson, Nigel Farage, RIchard Burgon, Rishi Sunak, Sian Berry, Adam Price and Nicola Sturgeon.

[1 December 2019 19:02 · Peter Stubley]

Host Julie Etchingham confirms all the leaders were invited but "neither the Labour nor the Conservatives decided to send theirs".

[1 December 2019 19:03 · Peter Stubley]

Jo Swinson says Boris Johnson "can't be bothered to debate" and claims that Nigel Farage is happy to help the Conservative leader win the general election.