Politics

Read about the latest UK political news, views and analysis.

Steerpike

The Lib Dems’ Hugh Grant endorsement backfires

The Lib Dems unveiled their secret weapon to revive their flagging election campaign this week. The party managed to win the backing of actor Hugh Grant, who joined Lib Dem candidates Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna on the campaign trail to plug a so-called ‘Remain Alliance’ between several parties to keep the Tories out of power. Only it looks as though there might already be trouble in paradise. In a gloating post on social media, the Lib Dems showed off their celebrity backer this morning and wrote that ‘only the Lib Dems can take seats off the Tories’. But their refusal to point out that Grant was actually supporting tactical voting

Steerpike

‘Just say sorry’: Jeremy Corbyn confronted over anti-Semitism

Jeremy Corbyn has finally said sorry for anti-Semitism within the Labour party. The Labour leader was asked five times by This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield to apologise to worried Jewish people. Finally, he backed down and said he was ‘obviously very sorry for everything that has happened’: Schofield: ‘Here is your opportunity now to apologise to the Jewish community for any anti-Semitism by labour members.’ Corbyn: ‘Look, our party…can I make it clear?’ Schofield: ‘Just say sorry’ Corbyn: ‘Can I make it clear? Wait a minute…’ Schofield: ‘No, just say sorry’ Corbyn: ‘Can I say something?’ Schofield: ‘I want you to say sorry’ Better late than never…  

Steerpike

Watch: Did Labour’s NHS trade leak come from Russia?

One of Labour’s key messages throughout this election has been the future of the NHS. The party has used confidential US-UK trade documents to drive home their message that Boris Johnson wants to sell off parts of the health service to American businesses. But last night, social media experts told Reuters that the leak of these sensitive documents had the hallmarks of foreign interference. Jeremy Corbyn has used the leaked paperwork as a campaigning prop on multiple occasions, including on the ITV leader’s debate last month. Having looked through the documents, Mr S has his own views on the veracity of Labour’s claims… Earlier this morning, Labour frontbencher Laura Pidcock was invited on to

Katy Balls

Election Special: who would want to be an MP?

34 min listen

Why would any woman want to be an MP in this general election? In recent years, parliament has been plagued by horror stories of abuse against MPs, especially female ones, with a number of them leaving the job before their time. So does parliament have a woman problem? Katy Balls speaks to a series of guests, especially a handful of the young women who are looking to join parliament this election. With Paul Goodman, Isabel Hardman, Inaya Folarin Iman, Rebecca Smith, Danielle Rowley and Claire Coutinho. Presented by Katy Balls.

Ross Clark

If Labour want cheaper fares then getting rid of train staff is a good place to start

Another day, another uncosted bribe from Labour. This time, Corbyn is promising to slash a third off rail fares and allow children to travel for free. What wonderful, munificent people we have putting themselves forward to lead us. And of course, it won’t cost the taxpayer an extra penny because, as Labour’s transport spokesman, Andy McDonald, said this morning, it is all coming from a ‘repurposed’ pot of money – money raised through vehicle excise duty, which had been earmarked for road-building. Except, of course, road-building is capital expenditure and subsidising rail fares is current spending. For all its guff about investing in Britain’s future, what Labour is proposing is

Katy Balls

Security moves to top of the election agenda

With ten days to go until polling day, the election campaign has turned to national security. Following the London Bridge knife attack on Friday by a convicted terrorist which left two members of the public dead, the Conservatives have made a concerted effort to get on the front foot on the issue. Over the weekend, Boris Johnson announced plans for tougher sentencing for terrorists – including a minimum sentence of 14 years. There’s more to come – with Johnson to announce a five-point plan to prevent serious criminals and terrorists from entering the country after Brexit. Given that this is the week the NATO summit comes to town, the Tories were

The failed lessons of the London Bridge attack

Some readers have been asking me to comment on the latest London Bridge terrorism incident. And if I have some reluctance it is only because although ennui comes from writing the same article over and over again, that’s nothing like the feeling you get from writing the same article so often that you don’t even need to change the name of the location of the attack each time now. London Bridge 2 has been pored over enough in recent days. The heroism of certain members of the public has rightly been noted. Politicians of all the main parties have tried to pin the blame for the attacker’s early release on

The Conservatives should not give up on Muslim voters

Amongst many leaflets posted and campaigns found around this general election, we can see groups setting out to ‘mobilise the Muslim vote’. I find the term stomach-churning. I’m a director of Faith Matters, which seeks to foster good relationships between all faith communities. I don’t believe in seeing people’s political choices as some form of block activity or vote: religious, racial, or anything else. But identity politics is, unfortunately, on the rise – and we can see plenty of it in this election campaign. I’ve seen a mailshot from one group that declares: “we kicked out 8 Islamophobic MPs in 3 general elections. Help us kick out 14 more in this one!” I was

Sunday shows round-up: 74 convicted terrorists have been released early

Boris Johnson – We will end automatic early release The Prime Minister joined Andrew Marr this morning to give his first extensive interview since Friday’s terror attack on London Bridge. Usman Khan, who was previously convicted for his involvement in plotting to bomb the London Stock Exchange in 2010, killed 2 members of the public, including 25-year-old Jack Merritt. Khan was sentenced to 16 years in prison, but only served half of that before being released under license. Marr challenged Johnson over why the Conservatives had not changed the previous Labour government’s policy of early release for the most violent offenders: BJ: I think it’s repulsive that individuals as dangerous

Transcript: Boris Johnson on Andrew Marr

Boris Johnson appeared on the Andrew Marr Show this morning. Marr grilled the Prime Minister on everything from NHS spending to Andrew Neil. Read the full transcript here: Andrew Marr: Simple question to start with, how could such a man be released onto the streets of Britain after serving only eight years? My final guest this morning is the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. How could it happen, Boris Johnson? Boris Johnson: Well, I’m afraid that when you look at the case, there are a number of conclusions that one can immediately draw. And that is, of course, first of all, Andrew, that I pay tribute to the emergency services, the

Charles Moore

All belief systems must accept the danger of ridicule

In the ‘whataboutery’ which now dominates British politics, no mention of Labour anti-Semitism is complete without a counter-accusation of Tory Islamophobia. It swiftly followed the Chief Rabbi’s condemnation of Labour anti-Semitism on Tuesday. There may well be people in the Conservative party who have an irrational hatred of Muslims, but the term ‘Islamophobia’ should be absolutely resisted. Unlike anti-Semitism, this is a concocted concept. A strand of Muslim thought sees all criticism of the prophet Mohammed and his faith as blasphemy and labours worldwide to ban it. Such Muslims are driven mad by the way Jews can cry ‘racism’ when they are attacked, whereas they cannot. But in fact this

Could Corbyn cling on if Labour lose?

Unless Jeremy Corbyn defies the odds, it looks unlikely that the Labour leader will become prime minister come 13 December. So what might happen if Corbyn loses for a second time? Will he try to cling on? Is there life for Labour after Corbyn? Before the campaign began, John McDonnell conceded Corbyn could not remain leader if the party loses. If that sounded conclusive from the shadow chancellor, Len McCluskey subsequently muddied the water. Instead of Corbyn immediately stepping down, there should, he said, be ‘a period of reflection’ after any defeat. ‘We need to consider the election result’, he went on, ‘If it was a defeat … then we’d have

James Forsyth

If Trump wants to dent Corbyn’s election chances, he should just ignore him

If Donald Trump really doesn’t want Jeremy Corbyn to become Prime Minister, he should, I say in the Sun this morning, just ignore the Labour leader when he comes to London for the Nato summit next week. The Labour leader would like nothing more than to get into a war of words with the US President. If he can turn this election into a question of whose side are you on – his or Donald Trump’s? – it’ll be that rare thing, a popularity contest that Corbyn can win. Those close to Boris Johnson are hoping that Donald Trump keeps schtum next week: and doesn’t get involved in any dramatics.

Andrew Marr: my interviewing style

My Sunday job is to ask questions; but in this campaign there is a line of criticism of television interviewing which makes me pause. The rise of misnamed social media (mostly Twitter) makes it all too easy to clip and post ‘Gotcha!’ moments, when a politician appears to be gasping for air at a particularly pertinent question. Two or three such moments now win the wearisome accolade of ‘a car crash interview’. So (goes the criticism) interviewers are under increasing pressure to skew their shows that way — go for cheap shots, get them online, and hope they go viral. I admit it’s a temptation. But as compared with fact-primed,

Brendan O’Neill

Boris Johnson and the ‘piccaninny’ smear

Boris Johnson likes to call black people ‘piccaninnies’. Everyone’s saying it. Even Stormzy said it this week in his endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn. It is ‘criminally dangerous’ to give the keys of Downing Street back to a man who refers to ‘black people as “piccaninnies” with “watermelon smiles”’, the grime superstar said. Whether Stormzy also thinks it is criminally dangerous to elect as PM a man who counts as ‘friends’ an organisation that literally wants to destroy the Jewish homeland is not clear. But hey, Jews don’t matter very much. We’ve all learned that over the past few years. But does Boris really call black people ‘piccaninnies’? Has he ever? The

‘Get Brexit done’? Boris is in danger of making May’s mistake

I’d love for James Kirkup to be right when he claims I am wrong about Boris Johnson. And as he knows vastly more than me about Tory party politics, it’s really not easy to disagree. But I must confess I remain to be convinced. To start with, here’s why I want him to be right: I expect the EU to prioritise a deal on tariff-free, quota free trade in goods – with extensive so-called “level playing field” conditionality – and on fisheries. And to “park” many other issues till after 2020. Michel Barnier duly confirmed exactly that to the European Parliament this week. I am well aware that some will say

Isabel Hardman

Election debate: leaders squabble over how they can stop Brexit

For a seven-way debate which didn’t even feature the two main party leaders, tonight’s BBC election programme was remarkably good. It felt as though it started with a jolt, with all the senior politicians present looking dazed as they struggled to find the words to respond to this afternoon’s terror attack at London Bridge. It is too early to debate the consequences, the policies which may change, the mistakes made and so on, and the awkwardness was palpable. There was visible relief when they were able to move on to the second question, and a different topic. Because Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn had both sent along substitutes, the debate

Tom Goodenough

‘This country will never be cowed’: Boris responds to London Bridge attack

Boris Johnson has just released a statement in response to the terrorist attack at London Bridge this afternoon. Several people were stabbed before a man wearing a fake suicide vest was shot dead by police. The Prime Minister, who returned to Downing Street from his constituency following the incident, said his message to terrorists is that ‘this country will never be cowed or divided or intimidated by this sort of attack’. Here is his full statement: ‘I’ve just been briefed by the commissioner and assistant commissioner of the metropolitan police about the events at London Bridge this afternoon. While this is an ongoing investigation, the police can confirm that this

Steerpike

Labour’s cut and paste regional manifestos

Is the Labour party starting to panic? After a YouGov forecast this week suggested that the Tories could win scores of seats in the North of England, the Labour party appear to have made a rushed attempt to address regional inequality today. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell announced this morning that not only would his party have a manifesto for the whole of the UK, Labour would also launch a separate manifesto for every single region of England – to tackle the scourge of our country’s regional disparities. According to Labour, the manifestos showed that the party is committed to ‘delivering change’ and ‘will benefit every person and community in Britain.’ It’s usually