Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Speaking as the Liberal Democrats prepare to unveil plans on equalities and human rights, party candidate Luciana Berger said if anyone identified as a woman, then the law should treat them as such.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that anyone who was "born as one identity and identifying as another" should be respected.

Former head of the UK diplomatic service Sir Simon Fraser says he believes Donald Tusk is a friend of the UK, but argues urging British voters "not to give up" on stopping Brexit was "not the right thing to do".

"I think the principle that politicians don't comment on the electoral affairs of other countries is a wise principle," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk has urged British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit, warning that leaving the EU would leave the UK a "second-rate player".

"The UK election takes place in one month. Can things still be turned around? The only words that come to my mind today are simply: Don't give up," he said.

Mr Tusk has repeatedly hinted he would like to see the UK stay in the bloc - but his comments, in the midst of an election campaign, are likely to be controversial.

He acknowledged this in his speech, adding his remarks were "something I wouldn't have dared to say a few months ago, as I could be fired for being too frank".

Mr Tusk is due to stand down from his role on 1 December, when he will be replaced by former Belgian PM Charles Michel.

The UK is due to leave the EU at the end of January 2020. Here's a reminder of where the parties stand on Brexit.

Ms Pidcock's comments on BBC Radio 4's Today programme come as the Labour Party vows to close the gender pay gap by 2030 if it wins the election.

The party wants to introduce a Worker's Protection Agency with powers to fine organisations that fail to report gender pay. It would also certify firms with more than 250 employees that were meeting gender equality criteria on recruitment, career progression, pay and work-life balance.

The Conservative Party says Labour is "over-promising" and that the pay gap - the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for men and women - is at a record low.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says firms share the Labour Party's goal but sanctions would be "adding bureaucracy".

Responding to CBI's comments, Ms Pidcock says: "I don't think it's a bureaucratic requirement to say that women should be paid the same, I think actually there are some really easy things that employers can do, and actually really good employers already do it."

Mr Farage says he is not standing as a candidate because he couldn't tour the country if he were "hunkered down" in one seat.

He also tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the election will be "decided by tactical voting decisions all across the country".

Got any questions about tactical voting? Find the answers in our explainer here.

Image source, PA Wire

The Conservative Party would rather risk losing the election than form a Leave alliance with the Brexit Party, says Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

"There are very clearly seats in which we are the lead challenger and there are other seats in which [the Conservatives] are the lead challenger to Labour, and we could have done a deal on that basis. But the priority for the Conservative Party [is that] they do not want the Brexit Party to get seats in Parliament," he tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"They'd rather risk not winning the election than having a Leave majority, a Leave alliance."

His comments come after the Brexit Party announced it will not stand candidates in the 317 seats won by the Conservatives at the 2017 general election.

Mr Farage had planned to run candidates in 600 seats after Mr Johnson rejected his offer of a Leave alliance to deliver Brexit, but came under pressure - from his own party as well as the Conservatives - not to split the pro-Brexit vote. Mr Farage said his party would focus its efforts on trying to take seats held by Labour.

Image source, Getty Images

Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger says she wishes Labour had been involved in the Unite to Remain alliance discussions.

Anti-Brexit parties Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have formed an electoral pact, external, agreeing not to stand against each other in dozens of seats across England and Wales.

Ms Berger was asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme why her party is standing against pro-Remain Labour and independent candidates.

The Lib Dems have put up candidates against former Conservative minister David Gauke in South West Hertfordshire and Labour's Rosie Duffield in Canterbury.

"I wish that the Labour Party had been involved in the Unite to Remain discussions.They had ample opportunity to do so, they refused to engage in those talks," she says.

"We heard it from one of their most senior members that the Labour Party is not the party of Remain, and if people want to remain in this election then they have to back the Liberal Democrats."

Hello and welcome to today’s general election live page.

We’ll be bringing you the latest updates as Westminster’s politicians begin another day on the campaign trail.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will take his campaign to the South West today, as the Conservative Party promises to reduce "immigration overall" in the UK.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn continues his tour of Scotland as his party pledges to close the gender pay gap by 2030 if it wins.

Meanwhile, outgoing European Council President Donald Tusk has weighed in on the election, urging British voters not to "give up" on stopping Brexit.