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. Do politicians tackle the problems facing students?published at 17:52 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    We've been with Bath Spa University students today, finding out what the forthcoming general election means to young people.

    This film was made by Film, Television and Digital Production BA (Hons)students.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Students share whether they think politicians are tackling the problems they face

  2. Labour says Tory winter fuel policy is 'starting to unravel'published at 17:52 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Andrew GwynneImage source, Getty Images

    Labour's election campaign chairman Andrew Gwynne says the Conservatives have "got it wrong" on the winter fuel allowance.

    "When the Scottish Tory leader comes out against her own party's attack on pensioner incomes I think it's fair to say the policy is starting to unravel," he said.

    "The Tory attack on pensioners' winter fuel allowance is unfair and outrageous, and lays bare the threat they pose to pensioners' security and living standards.

    "The Tories should admit they've got it wrong, apologise and drop it immediately."

  3. 'Sanctions' threat over illegal contentpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Theresa MayImage source, Reuters

    Online companies could face fines or prosecution if they fail to remove illegal content, under Conservative plans for stricter internet regulation.

    The party has also proposed an industry-wide levy, dubbed a "Twitter tax", to fund "preventative activity to counter internet harms".

    Labour said it had "pressed for tough new codes" in the past but the government had "categorically refused".

    The Liberal Democrats said more needed to be done "to find a real solution".

    Read more

  4. Johnson and McDonnell both oppose party line on Heathrowpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    LBC

    Heathrow AirportImage source, PA

    Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has told LBC radio that he is still opposed to expanding Heathrow Airport - despite it being in the Conservative manifesto.

    The former London mayor told LBC: "I think it is the wrong solution and I think particularly the noise and the vehicular and air pollution difficulties will be very difficult indeed."

    On this, he has some common ground with Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell - who has also campaigned against building a third runway at Heathrow, as a local MP, while his party backs the plan.

    Mr McDonnell said at a press conference this morning: "The Labour Party supports the work of the Airports Commission, as you know that's recommended a third runway at Heathrow." He said the party's position was subject to the airport "meeting those conditions about environmental protections and economic benefits to the area".

    "Obviously as the constituency MP, I have historically campaigned against Heathrow being expanded because I don't think it will be able to meet those conditions."

  5. BBC Election Panel: Your thoughts on transportpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    The BBC is running an election panel, asking voters for their thoughts ahead of 8 June.

    We asked:

    Labour has proposed the railways should be re-nationalised. What are your views? What other transport or infrastructure issues need tackling, in your view, if any?

    Train

    You said:

    Beatrice Benson, Shrewsbury: "I believe franchising has improved the railways massively, and although prices for train journeys are at an all time high, I don't see the solution lying in re-nationalisation."

    Rachel, Stoke: "I believe that they should be re-nationalised following the end of the franchise deal with private railway companies. This would allow the government to control the rising prices of rail tickets and may make the railway service more reliable. It would also allow the government to reap in the profit currently being made by private companies, such as Virgin."

    Paul Cheshire, Shrewsbury: "Yes they should."

  6. Reality Check: How many pensioners are living in poverty?published at 17:44 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Temperature controlImage source, PA

    The claim: 1.7 million pensioners are living in poverty and a million in fuel poverty.

    Reality Check verdict: The figure for pensioners who are defined as living in poverty in the UK is a bit higher than that at 1.9 million. There isn't a specific figure for the number of pensioners in fuel poverty in the UK but a million is not an unreasonable estimate based on the figures that we do have.

    Read our analysis

  7. Farron labels Scottish secretary 'a fourth rate Michael Fish'published at 17:39 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Michael Fish
    Image caption,

    Former BBC weatherman Michael Fish has been unexpectedly name-checked in the election campaign

    Lib Dem leader Tim Farron labelled Scottish Secretary David Mundell "a fourth rate Michael Fish" for suggesting that a colder climate was a factor in a policy difference between the Scottish and UK Conservatives over the winter fuel allowance.

    BBC political correspondent Iain Watson says that if he were "a fifth rate Michael Fish" he would say that in some parts of the west of Scotland it tends to be warmer in winter than in the south east of England.

    Iain adds that the striking aspect of this story is that, in effect, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson is appealing to SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon "not to introduce a policy favoured by her own prime minister, Theresa May".

    He tells the BBC News Channel that there has been "quite a bit of incoming attack on the Conservative policy announced yesterday" - both overtly and behind the scenes.

    However, Theresa May has argued that it is "not about how cold you are but about how wealthy you are" and well-off pensioners should not receive winter fuel allowance as a universal benefit.

  8. Musician sends MPs 'Brexit postcards'published at 17:26 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Mark Savage
    Music reporter

    Anneke ScottImage source, John Croft

    A British musician is sending MPs a postcard from every European city where she performs, to highlight her concerns over Brexit.

    Anneke Scott, external, a horn player who works with dozens of European orchestras, says her livelihood is at risk if she cannot travel freely around the EU.

    To drive the point home, she takes a photo at every concert she plays, and uses an app to turn it into a postcard.

    She tells the BBC she has sent "in the region of 270" of them since February.

    "The bulk of my work is with orchestras on the continent, and it struck me that sending postcards would be a very tangible way of giving MPs an impression of my working life and the implications of Brexit," said Scott.

    "If one arrives every day saying, 'I'm working for a French ensemble in Belgium,' or, 'now I'm teaching in Berlin', my hope is that their mailbag is going to give them some appreciation of the gravity of the situation."

    Read more

  9. What issue is closest to students' hearts?published at 17:07 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Media caption,

    Watch: Poverty and animal cruelty are two of the issues raised

    We've been live at Bath Spa University today, speaking to students about the general election.

    One of the questions we posed was about the issues closest to their hearts.

  10. Reality Check: Conservative manifesto on immigrationpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Reality Check logo

    What are the Tories proposing to meet their aim of bringing net migration down to tens of thousands?

    The claim: Brexit Secretary David Davis has said the Conservatives aim to bring immigration down to "sustainable levels as soon as is economically viable". In its manifesto, the Party repeated its commitment to reduce annual net migration to less than 100,000.

    The verdict: There is simply not enough detail in the published proposals to predict their impact on non-EU migration. In terms of migration from the EU, the Conservatives plan to end freedom of movement, but they have yet to set out a policy to replace it.

    Read our analysis of the figures

  11. What campaign moments have you missed?published at 17:00 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    See a sweary candidate, a confrontational voter and a forgetful leader in our 60-second catch-up.

    Read More
  12. SNP: Decision on EU should be made in Scotlandpublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    The World at One
    BBC Radio 4

    SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie admits a high number of his supporters voted to leave the EU but he argues they understand that the final decision on his country leaving the European Union "must be made in Scotland".

    Mr Hosie says his party does not need 50% of the vote for a mandate to have second referendum on Scottish Independence. Otherwise, he says, it will be "impossible for Theresa May to claim she has a mandate for Brexit if her party polls less than 50% of the UK vote".

  13. Taking a crystal ball to the election campaignpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    This Week

    After a week when the larger UK parties revealed their manifesto pledges, Miranda Green used a crystal ball to see where the campaigns were heading, in a film rounding up the political week for BBC1's This Week.

  14. Remain voters: ‘We don't want a second referendum’published at 16:45 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Media caption,

    Seven Remain voters from Bedford discuss the election over dinner

    When Theresa May strode out of the door of Number 10 to call this election she claimed it was all about Brexit and not about her desire for her own mandate and a bigger Commons majority.

    So how important is Brexit to the average voter?

    Last week Nick Robinson heard from people in Halifax who voted Leave in the EU referendum.

    This week he shares a Thai takeaway with seven people who voted Remain in the Conservative marginal seat of Bedford.

  15. Young people engaged with election campaign?published at 16:45 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    This Week

    Media caption,

    General election 2017: Doc Brown on young people and politics

    Young people are more interested in politics ahead of this general election than previous elections, says Ben Bailey Smith - better known as Doc Brown.

    But the rapper, comedian and actor said they are likely to be less interested in party politics than ever.

    He spoke to This Week present Andrew Neil about lowering the voting age to 16, and how Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum have changed the views of younger people.

  16. Watch: Why young Londoners should vote in the general electionpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Rachael Farrington from Voting Counts, external wants to get more young Londoners to vote in elections, regardless of their political leaning.

    In the EU referendum, only 64% of voters aged 18-24 went to the polls compared to 90% of over-65s. She says if young voters don't take part in elections then policies will continue to be geared towards older voters.

  17. Euro press criticises 'Ice Queen' electionpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    European media see the UK election as a Conservative power grab - and see little opposition to Theresa May on Brexit.

    Read More
  18. David Attenborough for prime minister?published at 16:22 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Sir David AttenboroughImage source, PA

    He's cavorted with silverback gorillas in the forests of Rwanda - making him the perfect candidate to be boss of the Westminster jungle, according to a poll.

    Sir David Attenborough was selected as the best celebrity prime minister, followed by Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and actor Emma Watson.

    Documentary maker Louis Theroux, inventor Sir James Dyson, actor Sir Ian McKellen, presenter Jeremy Clarkson, comedian Rowan Atkinson, journalist Piers Morgan and columnist Katie Hopkins made up the top 10.

    It's one of those "just for fun" things that you always see at election time.

    The YouGov and 38 degrees survey of 1,851 British adults found 37% of respondents aged 25 and over preferred Sir David, while Ms Watson was favourite among 39% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

  19. Labour says curbs on winter fuel payments 'sick and sneaky'published at 16:21 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, PA

    Plans to limit the number of pensioners who get winter fuel payments are "sick and sneaky", Labour has claimed.

    Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said 10 million people would be hit by Tory proposals to means-test the allowance.

    Labour, which says it will retain universal payments if it wins power, has suggested that axing them increases the risk of people dying this winter.

    The Tories say help will go to those most in need but there is opposition to the policy from the party in Scotland.

    Read the full story

  20. May and Davidson promise to stand up to SNPpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 19 May 2017

    Theresa May and Ruth DavidsonImage source, Getty Images

    Theresa May and Ruth Davidson have made a pledge to stand up to the Scottish National Party at the launch of the Scottish Conservatives' manifesto.

    They were speaking at an event in Edinburgh.

    Scottish party leader Ms Davidson told the gathering that the election on 8 June was about "bringing the SNP down to size".

    Prime minister Mrs May said the Conservatives were the "only party" able to stand up to the SNP.

    Read the full story