Summary

  • Campaigning suspended after Manchester blast

  • Prime Minister will chair emergency Cobra meeting

  • Lib Dems leader calls off Gibraltar visit

  • SNP postpones manifesto launch

  1. Defence row illustrates Labour 'chaos' - Toriespublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Theresa MayImage source, ITN

    The Conservatives are doing their best to exploit divisions at the top of the Labour Party over Trident nuclear weapons, suggesting, not for the first time, that it shows the party is not fit to govern.

    "It shows what a chaotic and divided team would be put in charge of the UK's Brexit negotiations if Jeremy Corbyn makes it to Downing Street on 8 June," the party says in a statement.

    It also repeats claims that a Labour government would have to be propped up by the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Greens.

    One new line - which is also being used in Tory Facebook ads - is that this "will happen if the Conservatives lose just six seats on June 8".

  2. Two million register to vote since 18 Aprilpublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Image of the Elizabeth Clock Tower within the Palace of WestminsterImage source, AFP

    More than two million people have registered to vote in the month since Theresa May said she wanted to hold a snap general election on 8 June.

    The highest number of registrations so far was on 18 April, the day the prime minister made her announcement, when just over 150,000 people applied.

    The number of young people registering is the highest of any age group.

    The deadline to register online through the official website is 23.59 GMT on Monday 22 May.

    The latest official figures published in March, before the election was called, showed that 45.7 million people were registered to vote in a general election as of 1 December 2016.

    The Electoral Commission have warned that approximately seven million people across Britain who are eligible to vote are not registered, including 30% of under 34s while only 28% of home movers in the past year have registered. Read more

  3. UKIP will be 'bigger than ever in two years' - Paul Nuttallpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Paul Nuttall and Peter HarrisImage source, Getty Images

    UKIP in two years' time will be "bigger than it's ever been", the party's leader Paul Nuttall has told the Press Association.

    Mr Nuttall was speaking in Dagenham, where he's been campaigning alongside UKIP's candidate there, Peter Harris.

    Asked if UKIP will do better than at the 2015 general election, Mr Nuttall said: "We are not putting up as many candidates. We took the decision, the very honourable decision, to give Brexiteers a free ride... therefore we put country above party in this election.

    "In effect it is a unique election because it is about Brexit."

  4. Supporter gets telling off from Corbynpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Press Association's Arj Singh tweets

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is campaigning in Wirral West, Merseyside.

    One Labour supporter got a telling off from Mr Corbyn when he shouted at the constituency's former Tory MP, Esther McVey.

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  5. 'Enthusiastic activist'published at 17:25 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Press Association's Sam Lister tweets

    Theresa May has been out canvassing in Ealing, alongside the Conservative candidate Joy Morrissey.

    But one voter had other ideas when the prime minister offered him a leaflet...

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  6. Rivals are flat cap lookalikespublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Daily Record editor tweets ...

    Have UKIP Leader Paul Nuttall and the SNP's Stewart Hosie found some common ground?

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  7. Second independence referendum 'not priority', says Sturgeonpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Nicola Sturgeon drinks tea with voters in EdinburghImage source, PA

    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she remains committed to holding a second independence referendum - but added that it was not her priority in this election.

    Speaking in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said: "There is an opportunity in this election to strengthen Scotland's hand in the Brexit negotiations, because Theresa May is not just pursuing Brexit, she's pursuing an extreme form of Brexit that will put thousands of Scottish jobs on the line.

    "When we have clarity on the deal - and I am working on the timetable that Theresa May is talking about here - then Scotland should have a choice."

  8. Labour selfiepublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Jeremy Corbyn tweets

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has tweeted a selfie with EastEnders actress Maddy Hill - who opened his rally in Birmingham - and shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey.

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  9. In pictures: Theresa May on the campaign trailpublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Theresa May has been out canvassing in Ealing, west London, after addressing a rally there.

    Theresa MayImage source, AFP/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The prime minister went canvassing door-to-door in west London

    Theresa MayImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    She was with the Conservative candidate for Ealing Central and Acton, Joy Morrissey

    Theresa MayImage source, AFP/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    She earlier spoke at a rally at Ealing Conservative Association

    Labour Party supportersImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The prime minister was driven past protesters as she left the rally

  10. Labour gaining ground on Conservatives, poll suggestspublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    The Conservatives are 12% ahead of Labour but Jeremy Corbyn's party has gained some ground in the past week, the latest opinion poll suggests.

    The Conservatives are on 46% - unchanged from a week ago - and Labour are on 34%, up two percentage points, according to the Orb poll for The Telegraph.

    The Liberal Democrats fell 1 point to 7% and UKIP gained 1 point to 7%.

    The poll was conducted between May 17 and 18, but the size of the sample was not given.

  11. State-backed mortgages for young - Corbynpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    BBC Newsbeat

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, PA

    Jeremy Corbyn has told Radio 1 Newsbeat Labour are working on a "state backed mortgage scheme" to help young people buy a home.

    Speaking after a rally in Birmingham on Saturday the Labour leader said the party wanted to "encourage home ownership" as well as rented accommodation - adding that "very high deposits" were part of the problem.

    He said a state-backed mortgage scheme could help young people "get access to mortgages for starter homes".

    Labour will set out its policies for first time buyers in a housing manifesto on Tuesday.

  12. Trident is 'wrong priority,' says Sturgeonpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, PA

    The Trident nuclear weapon is "the wrong priority", Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

    Speaking on the campaign trail in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said: "At a time when we are being told there is not enough money to protect pensioners, the government seems able to find billions upon billions of pounds to renew Trident nuclear weapons."

    Ms Sturgeon also attacked Labour, saying they are "not strong enough to stand up to the Tories".

    "They are not going to win this election and I don't think they are capable of being the strong opposition that we need," she added.

  13. Labour 'would not be able to defend UK' - Theresa Maypublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Theresa MayImage source, AFP/Getty Images

    Theresa May has seized on Labour's divisions over Trident nuclear weapons.

    The Prime Minister said that Labour "would not be able to defend this country" if they won the election, adding that the Conservatives were "unequivocally committed to the Trident nuclear deterrent".

    Mrs May was speaking at a rally in west London.

    Jeremy Corbyn earlier stressed Labour had a manifesto commitment to renewing Trident after two senior members of the shadow cabinet - Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffiths and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry - disagreed on their party's stance.

  14. In pictures: Saturday's campaignpublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    So far on Saturday we've had the Greens, Lib Dems and Labour out on the stump and Theresa May has just been addressing activists in Ealing so we will bring you more of that soon.

    In the meantime, here's some of pictures of the day so far...

    Theresa May in EalingImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Theresa May has been addressing party activists in Ealing

    Jeremy Corbyn poses for photos in BirminghamImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Jeremy Corbyn was on comfortable ground, addressing party supporters at a rally in Birmingham

    Labour activists in BirminghamImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Labour activists ahead of the rally addressed by Mr Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell

    Paul Nuttall campaigning in ClactonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    UKIP's Paul Nuttall grabs an ice cream on the campaign trail in Clacton-on-Sea

    Paul Nuttall in DagenhamImage source, Afp
    Image caption,

    Continuing a well-established tradition of politicians sampling the local dish, Mr Nuttall was also happy to grab a pie and mash in Dagenham

    Ruth Davidson in EdinburghImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Conservative leader in Scotland, Ruth Davidson, got a warm welcome from this four legged supporter

    Vince Cable at Lib Dem poster launchImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The Lib Dems are using this poster launch to highlight what they say is the "regressive alliance" between the Conservatives and UKIP

  15. Theresa May: 'Let's put Brexit division behind us'published at 14:45 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Theresa MayImage source, ITN

    Theresa May has said that she wants to put the divisions caused by Brexit "behind us" and "get on with the job of making a success of Brexit.

    Speaking to party activists in west London this afternoon, Mrs May said: "I know that many people in this city in the referendum last year voted Remain and were disappointed with the outcome.

    "I know that at times the referendum campaign was divisive. We can all remember the strength of feeling that was shown during the campaign.

    "But I think now is the time to put the division behind us. Because in this country when we've had a vote we respect the result. So let's put the divisions of the past behind us and get on with the job of making a success of Brexit."

  16. Are Lib Dems a 'reverse UKIP'?published at 14:32 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Lib Dem peer Lord Paddick has been on the BBC News Channel, and was asked if, with the party's focus on fighting Brexit, it is in danger of becoming a one issue party - or a "reverse UKIP".

    Lord Paddick said it was difficult to talk about other issues without considering Brexit: "We're not going to be able to properly fund our health service, social care, our schools if we have a devasating impact of Brexit... All these policies are inextricably linked ... a hard Brexit is going to be incredibly damaging to our economy".

    The party has unveiled an election poster today that fuses together an image of Mrs May with former UKIP leader Nigel Farage under the tag line "vote her, get him"..

  17. 'One in, one out' migration needed, says UKIP's Nuttallpublished at 14:11 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Paul Nuttall

    More from the campaign trail: UKIP leader Paul Nuttall has said that immigration needs to be balanced in order to reduce pressure on public services and help communities.

    Speaking during a campaign event in Essex, Mr Nuttall rejected a report from the Global Future Foundation, external which said that Britain needs net migration of more than 200,000 every year in order to avoid "catastrophic economic consequences".

    The UKIP leader said: "They are completely wrong. What we need is a system of managed migration or balanced migration whereby we have one in, one out; because if we continue on the same road we're on....we will have 80 million by the middle of the century.

    "It puts pressure on housing, on schools, on hospitals and actually it breaks up communities and turns communities upside down."

    Quote Message

    What we need to do is to get many of our own people into work first before we bring people in to to take up the jobs British people should be doing.

  18. Labour 'committed to Trident' - Corbynpublished at 13:57 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Sky

    Jeremy Corbyn has been reiterating Labour's commitment to the Trident nuclear deterrent, following a disagreement between two senior members of the shadow cabinet yesterday.

    Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffiths said her colleague Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, was wrong to suggest that the party's support for Trident could be changed in a defence review were Labour to gain power.

    Mr Corbyn had to repeat the Labour Party policy on Trident when questioned by reporters.

    The Labour leader said the party's manifesto made it clear that it had "come to a decision and is committed to Trident".

  19. A future in politics for Eddie Izzard?published at 13:14 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    Eddie IzzardImage source, Getty Images

    Comedian and long-time Labour supporter Eddie Izzard has suggested he could become a politician in an interview with The Times Magazine, external.

    He said: "I don't really want to do the politics, but I think I have certain attributes.

    "A lot of people with decent values will not go into politics because they feel they are going to get pummelled."

  20. Greens leader warns against 'ignoring' the youngpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 20 May 2017

    The co-leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, has warned Britain's parties not to ignore the wishes and futures of young people.

    Speaking at the launch of his party's youth manifesto this morning in London, Mr Bartley said: "A political party that fails to work with and listen to young people; ignores them in favour of older people; that thinks of the future only in terms of their tenure in office, not the lifetime of today's youth, is not a political party at all but a closed off clique."

    Outlining policies to scrap university tuition fees, writing off student debt, providing affordable housing and paying those on internships "a living wage".

    Mr Bartley said: "We can build a raft for young people negotiating the Brexit storm. We can make schools and universities a springboard for life and we can offer young people a better future."

    Jonathan Bartley