General election debate – live: Tory minister interrogated over Brexit and NHS crisis, as David Attenborough rebukes ‘disgraceful’ Boris Johnson
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Your support makes all the difference.Party leaders are braced for a televised grilling in the first seven-way debate of the election – but Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are expected to snub the clash.
Senior members of the Tories, Labour, the Greens, Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Brexit Party will each face questions from the audience at a BBC debate in Cardiff, chaired by Nick Robinson.
It comes amid tensions between the BBC and the Tories over Mr Johnson’s refusal to confirm an interview with Andrew Neil, and criticism from David Attenborough over his decision to snub a climate change debate.
The prime minister instead took part in a radio phone-in on LBC, where he was confronted over his past comments about single mothers.
Boris Johnson’s father says ‘absurd’ to call PM a liar
Stanley Johnson has been speaking on the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme about the trust issues his son faces.
Replying to one viewer’s comment describing the prime minister as “Pinocchio”, Johnson Sr. replied: “Pinocchio? That requires a degree of literacy which the great British public doesn’t necessarily have.”
Asked what he meant, he said: “They couldn’t spell Pinocchio if they tried, I should have thought.”
Turning more serious he says: “I think it is utterly absurd and wrong that you can read out, on air, a tweet, coming in from one of your readers, on air, that calls the prime minister a liar. I think it’s amazing you can do that.”
PM: ‘I do not set out to mislead the electorate’
Boris Johnson has tried to explain his comment that the monarchy was “beyond reproach”. He made the remark when asked for his view on the state of the monarchy in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Duke of York.
The PM said: “On the monarchy, the monarchy is the Queen. That in my view, she is beyond reproach. There is a distinction between the monarchy and the royal family and everybody will readily appreciate that.
“It is an obvious definitional (sic) distinction.”
Asked about whether Jacob Rees-Mogg had a future in his team, Johnson said any comments on a future government would be seen as “measuring up the curtains” at Downing Street. He said Rees-Mogg was “in good health, to the best of my knowledge”.
Asked about the idea of trust and lies, he said: “I do not set out to mislead the electorate.”
The PM also denied that he was “running scared” by dragging his heels on committing to an interview with Andrew Neil. In response to a question by the BBC correspondent John Pienaar, he said: “Here I am submitting happily and jointly to your interrogation and there can be no more fearsome interviewer than yourself.”
School inspectors to carry out ‘no-notice’ checks if Conservatives win general election
School inspectors will carry out “no notice” checks if the Conservatives win the general election, as Boris Johnson makes the future of Ofsted an election issue.
Labour has pledged to abolish the inspectorate, blaming it for “high levels of teacher workload and stress” which is driving staff out of the profession.
But the prime minister will instead vow to give Ofsted greater powers and higher funding, arguing that is the way to improve discipline and raise school standards.
BBC refuses to allow Boris Johnson on Andrew Marr show unless he agrees to Andrew Neil grilling
The BBC has refused to allow Boris Johnson to appear on its Andrew Marr programme unless he also agrees to be grilled by Andrew Neil.
No 10 had attempted to defuse the growing controversy over the prime minister’s refusal to appear before the BBC’s most-aggressive interviewer by offering to appear on the rival show, on Sunday morning.
But a BBC spokesperson told The Independent: “The BBC has refused the Conservatives offer to put the prime minister on the Andrew Marr programme until he agrees a date for Andrew Neil.”
(Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire/PA Images)
Boris Johnson caught up in row over 'throat gesture'
In a radio interview on LBC, the prime minister was caught on camera doing what appeared to be a gesture to cut off a caller asking about social care policy.
The footage provoked outrage on social media, as it appeared the PM was trying to dodge the question.
However - Mr Johnson noticed the gesture on a TV in the studio and commented live on air: "The reason I was momentarily distracted is because I was looking at the TV screen and there was a picture of me drawing my hand across my throat.
"But that was only because I was imitating you. I was suddenly mystified to see this picture of myself."
Nick Ferrari, the presenter, later tweeted: "To clarify the PM’s gesture this morning on LBC, this is sign language between me and my producer to signify he needs to stay quiet in my ear.
"It’s been in common use for over 10 years. End of."
PM criticised after admitting no-deal Brexit still a possibility
Labour has described Boris Johnson's Brexit promises as "an utter sham" after he suggested in a press conference that no deal planning would continue - despite his pledge to leave the EU with a deal by the 31 January.
Sir Keir Starmer said : "This is a stark admission from Boris Johnson that a no deal Brexit is still on the table.
"His 'get Brexit done' rhetoric is an utter sham."
Labour cuts into Tory lead, latest poll shows
The latest survey by Panelbase provides more evidence of a narrowing in the polls: Labour are up two points on 34 per cent, cutting the Tory lead from 10 points to eight.
It follows a series of polls this week in which Labour reduced the gap. The findings are likely to worry Tory strategists and fuel their fears of a repeat of 2017.
Labour up in the polls: a direction of travel?
Following the two point boost in the latest Panelbase survey, The New Statesman’s Stephen Bush says there’s “a clear direction of travel in polls now” – in Labour’s favour.
What sort of lead might take us into hung parliament territory? Earlier this month a Conservative source told The Sunday Times: “If you’re in the seven to 10 range it’s squeaky bum time.”
David Gauke endorsed by tactical voting groups
The former Tory minister David Gauke says he is “delighted” now all three major Remain tactical voting organisations have endorsed him.
He is standing as an independent in South West Hertfordshire – and the People’s Vote campaign group have recommended anti-Brexit voters give him their vote next month.
Gauke said: “This means that now all three of the major tactical voting sites have urged voters in South West Herts to lend me their support so I can fight for them in Westminster, helping to bring about a confirmatory referendum and campaigning for Remain.”
BREAKING: Police scrambled to London Bridge
Emergency services have been called to London Bridge amid reports of shots being fired.
BBC correspondent John McManus told BBC News that he had heard several gunshots on London Bridge.
“Just a few minutes ago I was walking across London Bridge on the south bank to the north bank of the bridge,” he said. “There appeared to be a fight going on on the other side of the bridge, with several men attacking one man.”
Various social media users also reported hearing gunshots in the area. One video shows what appears to be police pulling equipment out of a vehicle nearby.
Those in the video can be heard saying: “They’ve actually got guns out. They’ve got the guns out.”
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