General election news – live: Tories accused of spreading false claim aide was hit by Labour protester
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Boris Johnson has come under fire for failing to address a shocking image of a four-year-old boy forced to sleep on a NHS hospital floor – snatching the phone of a reporter attempting to show the image to him and putting it in his pocket.
Health secretary Matt Hancock was met with protesters shouting “shame on you” as he visited Leeds General Infirmary later on Tuesday. The Tories were accused of trying to “cheat and manipulate the media” after incorrectly briefing broadcasters that Mr Hancock’s aide had been punched by a protester.
It came as Mr Johnson faced a backlash over his remarks about EU citizens being able to “treat the UK as if it’s part of their own country”.
Meanwhile, John McDonnell unveiled Labour plans to begin nationalising utility companies within 100 days, while the DUP leader Arlene Foster said the prime minister “broke his word” that the Brexit deal would not include a customs border in the Irish Sea.
During a Question Time special to address the concerns of voters under 30, Nigel Farage was accused of “peddling racism” and “dog-whistle politics” during the Brexit referendum by Jo Swinson and Angela Rayner.
Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley described Mr Farage standing in front of the infamous anti-migration “breaking point” poster as “the lowest moment of my life”.
Swinson: ‘Someone told me to wear lower cut tops’
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said she has had lots of “unsolicited advice” during the campaign – including a tip to wear lower cut tops.
The Lib Dem leader said she has had people telling her to speak and dress differently, but said she will be “true to myself”.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Swinson said: “I get lots and lots of unsolicited advice. I’m not short of people telling me that I should speak differently or wear different shoes or wear different earrings.
“Or in one case, somebody suggested that I should wear lower cut tops. I mean as if that’s going to be the thing that changes the poll rating. I’m not short of unsolicited advice.”
Asked if the “advice” was coming from her own election team, she said: “Not in my election team, but as I say, I do get these gems of advice that come to me.”
Who are the big beasts in danger of losing their seats?
Boris Johnson paid a visit to Iain Duncan Smith’s constituency of Chingford and Wood Green on Sunday – with the former Tory leader at risk of losing the seat to Labour’s Faiza Shaheen.
Sean O’Grady has taken a look at some prominent MPs – including the PM himself – who will be sweating as the results come in on Thursday night.
Boris Johnson giving partner ‘Brexit’ for Christmas
The prime minister has been asking on BBC Radio West Midlands what he’s getting Carrie Symonds for Christmas. “I’m going to get Brexit done,” he replied.
It follows Johnson’s refusal to say whether he would start a family with Symonds. But the PM did predict a baby boom if the UK left the EU.
“Cupid’s darts will fly once we get Brexit done,” he told The Sunday Times. “Romance will bloom across the nation.”
Johnson’s claim that there was a baby boom in 2013 following the London Olympics was rejected by the Full Fact group: the year actually saw the largest fall in births across England and Wales in almost four decades.
Sturgeon: EU referendum would happen before indyref2
Nicola Sturgeon has suggested that another referendum on Brexit would be held before a second vote on Scottish independence next year.
Scotland’s first minister said that Labour’s intention to hold an EU poll within six months of being elected – with a choice between Remain and a deal negotiated by Jeremy Corbyn – would indicate that a Brexit vote would be first on the ballot.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland, she said: “It looks as if the EU one (referendum) would come first and then an independence referendum towards the end of next year. That’s the sequencing.
“In terms of the priority, in order of importance if you like, I want the whole UK to get the opportunity to escape Brexit, but of course an EU referendum doesn’t guarantee that Scotland escapes Brexit, we could have the same result we had in 2016.”
Asked whether a vote to remain in the EU could effectively wipe out the “material change in circumstances” for another Scottish independence vote, Sturgeon said: “I don’t accept that because the material change is, yes, the prospect of Scotland being taken out of the EU, but also the contemptuous way which Scotland has been treated with our interests, our voice, our views, completely ignored.”
Nicola Sturgeon campaigning in Aberdeen (PA)
PM faces heckles and jokes at fish market
Boris Johnson started his final election campaign push with a visit to Grimsby Fish Market.
“Nice to see you, Jeremy,” one market shouted, while another added: “Boo Boris.” Another man could be heard saying: “He brings them out, eh? Phoney b******s.”
We’re expecting the PM to visit four or five Labour-held seats in the Humber and north-east today.
We’re also expecting Jeremy Corbyn to visit Bristol first, then several places in the West Midlands.
Labour’s John McDonnell is set to be make a speech about 11am setting out Labour’s plans for the first 100 days if victorious.
Boris Johnson in Grimsby (Getty)
Brexit has received more coverage than Labour priorities
Media coverage of the general election has been dominated by the Tories’ desired focus on Brexit, rather than Labour’s desired focus on the NHS, according to Loughborough University research.
In a piece for The Conversation, the academics Cristian Vaccari and David Smith state: “The Tories’ top two themes – Brexit and taxation – have received 24.5% of the coverage overall and 29.8% on broadcast TV. By contrast, Labour’s top two issues – health and the environment – have been featured in only 14.1% of all the coverage and 13.4% of the TV coverage.”
Swinson challenged on ‘alienating’ voters with revoke pledge
Jo Swinson was challenged on Lib Dems’ much-criticised election policy of revoking Article 50 if the party was to win a majority – and whether it “alienated” voters.
She told Radio 5 Live: “We’re a party that believes in remaining in the European Union … we found ourselves facing a general election that might be the last opportunity that people would have to stop Brexit.”
She argued that the revoke policy meant they had been “straightforward” with voters. “It does have the benefit of being honest about what we would do … there is a lot of said for that.”
Swinson was also asked about whether she was willing to enter coalition with any party after the election, she said it was “pretty inconceivable” the Lib Dems could form a deal with the Tories.
“At the moment both the Labour party and the Conservatives have gone off to the extremes. Whether or not that will change in the future, it’s very difficult to get involved into hypotheticals.”
‘I’m not sure we can trust the Lib Dems ... Corbyn is promising way too much’
Liberal Dem candidate Wera Hobhouse was asked about tuition fees and maintenance grants during a live Victoria Derbyshire programme debate in Crewe, where undecided voters are asking questions.
“We will make sure maintenance grants are reinstated,” said Hobhouse. “The one thing that’s made it so incredibly difficult for young people to look to the future is the interest that you pay on the tuition fees was introduced after the coalition government by this Tory government – and that has to stop.”
Undecided voter Amelia replied: “I’m not sure we can trust whatever the Lib Dems promise after you broke your promises last time.”
But she also said didn’t know if she could “trust” Labour’s pledge to scrap tuition fees altogether. “I feel like Jeremy Corbyn’s promising way too much,” she said.
‘I can’t believe anything they say any more’
Undecided voter Katie said he was “fed up” with the politicians on the Victoria Derbyshire programme’s live debate.
“Brexit has been a big thing on the truth, because I can’t believe anything they say any more,” she said. “I’ve just had enough.”
Jamal, who runs a youth organisation – who said none of the parties were offering any “prevention” policies on knife crime. “I might just go to the box and tick any box and just walk out,” he said.
‘Hate-mongering’: Boris Johnson faces backlash for comments on EU citizens
There is a growing backlash over Boris Johnson’s negative remarks about EU citizens being able to “treat the UK as if it’s part of their own country.”
The prime minister has been accused of “hate-mongering” and “dog-whistle politics” for his attacks on European migrants living in the UK.
Johnson told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “You’ve seen quite a large number of people coming in from the whole of the EU … able to treat the UK as though it’s basically part of their own country, and the problem with that is there has been no control at all and I don’t think that is democratically accountable.”
David Lammy said: “Boris Johnson attacking our European friends for using the free movement rights we agreed together is the worst of this country.”
The Lib Dems’ Christine Jardine said: “Johnson is demonising the EU nationals who contribute so much to our NHS, social care and economy. This dog-whistle politics is straight out of... Trump’s playbook.”
The commentator Ian Dunt called it “divisive, hateful crap,” while Labour MEP Seb Dance said it showed why Johnson was “unworthy of high office”.
The writer and TV presenter David Weinczok tweeted: “I’m literally shaking - this is hate mongering aimed at me, my partner & 3 million EU citizens.”
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