Summary

  • Boris Johnson answered questions from the public in a special programme on 5 Live, the BBC News Channel and online

  • PM was asked about labour skills post-Brexit, HS2, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and his plans to reverse Beeching railway cuts

  • The public also quizzed him about the NHS, how many children he has and alleged Russian interference in UK elections

  • Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn promises free full-fibre broadband for every home in the UK by 2030, through part-nationalising BT and taxing tech giants

  • Tories pledge measures to help "left behind" towns, including business rate cuts for small firms

  • Liberal Democrats promise a £100bn climate fund over five years

  • The Green Party pledges a universal basic income by 2025, with every adult receiving a minimum of £89 per week

  1. What happened today? Broadband, buses and bitterpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Nigel Farage at the Wellington Inn in Eastwood, NottinghamshireImage source, Matthew Cooper/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Regulars at the Wellington Inn in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, bought Nigel Farage a pint of bitter

    That's all for today's live coverage of the general election campaign, ahead of the country going to the polls on 12 December.

    Today's top news lines included:

    - The PM took questions from the public on everything from floods to family. Mr Johnson also denied claims Brexit Party election candidates were offered peerages to persuade them not to stand against Conservative candidates

    - Labour promised to give every home and business in the UK free full-fibre broadband by 2030, if it won the election

    - The Liberal Democrats pledged a £100bn climate fund over the next five years, if the party won

    - The Green Party pledged to introduce a universal basic income by 2025, which would see every adult receiving a minimum of £89 per week

    - SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon wasn't campaigning today - but she was kept busy at a meeting of the British-Irish council in Dublin

    - A man who threatened Change UK leader Anna Soubry, referencing the murdered MP Jo Cox, was jailed for a year

    - And US President Donald Trump confirmed he will travel to London 10 days before the UK goes to the polls

    We'll be back tomorrow - have a great evening.

    Boris Johnson's bus in ManchesterImage source, Frank Augstein-WPA Pool/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson unveiled his campaign bus in Manchester

  2. 'We were double-crossed' by candidate, says Faragepublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Nigel FarageImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Mr Farage meeting voters in Nottinghamshire

    Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage says one of his MEPs deliberately sabotaged any chance of fielding a candidate in a West Midlands constituency.

    He accuses Rupert Lowe of "disgusting behaviour" in withdrawing his nomination for the seat moments before the deadline, when no replacement could be found.

    Mr Lowe announced his withdrawal on Twitter, external one minute before the nomination deadline for candidates yesterday, saying he did not want to split the pro-Brexit vote and let in Labour.

    Mr Farage apologises to party supporters in the constituency. "I'm sorry - we have been double-crossed, let down badly by a man who has behaved dishonestly," he says.

    He has previously accused Conservatives of offering peerages and other inducements to his candidates in other constituencies to persuade them not to run. But the Tories have denied this.

  3. PM has 'stolen Corbyn's magic money tree', say Lib Demspublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Ed Davey

    Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Ed Davey is accusing Labour and the Conservatives of spending plans that are "fantasies".

    In a speech in Yorkshire, he tells party supporters: "Boris Johnson has snuck into Jeremy Cobyn’s allotment and stolen his magic money tree."

    Mr Davey promises to make sure Britain's budget is balanced throughout a Lib Dem government.

    But he also pledges £100bn of investment in reducing carbon emissions, £120bn on well-being and mental health, and £130bn for infrastructure.

    And he says the party would restore "Britain's best trade agreement ever" - membership of the EU.

    Labour and the Tories will struggle to deliver their spending plans after Brexit because it will be difficult to attract construction workers, he suggests.

    He also criticises Labour's plans to nationalise broadband and offer it free at the point of use. "We won't put Big Brother in charge of your broadband," he says.

  4. Watch: PM refuses to say how many children he haspublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Earlier, the PM told BBC's 5 Live that the assertion his children have never been to state school "was wrong" but declined to say how many children he has.

    Click here to listen back to Your Election Questions with Boris Johnson on BBC Sounds.

    Media caption,

    Election 2019: Boris Johnson questioned about his children and state school

  5. On the campaign trailpublished at 16:22 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    BBC Political Correspondent tweets...

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  6. 'Jo Cox' threat to Anna Soubry: Man jailed for sending letterpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Anna SoubryImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The letter was sent to Anna Soubry at her constituency office in Nottingham

    A man who threatened Change UK leader Anna Soubry, referencing the murdered MP Jo Cox, has been jailed for a year.

    Alden Bryce Barlow, 55, of Milton Walk, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, sent a letter to Ms Soubry in her constituency in Nottingham.

    The message read: "Cox was first, you are next" and referred to Ms Soubry as "treacherous" and "worthless".

    He was jailed at Sheffield Crown Court and given a 10-year order preventing him from contacting Ms Soubry.

    Read our full story here.

  7. 'Come and debate me Sajid,' says Lib Dems deputypublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    The Liberal Democrats deputy leader Sir Ed Davey has given a speech in Leeds.

    He challenged Chancellor Sajid Javid to a debate and said the Lib Dems are the party of "fiscal rectitude" up against the "fiscal incontinence" of the Conservatives and Labour.

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  8. Did you know Parliament has an official election artist?published at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Nicky HirstImage source, ©intherightlightphotography

    Did you know Parliament has an official election artist?

    For the 12 December poll it's been revealed Nicky Hirst will take on the task. The London-based artist will produce a piece of work inspired by observations she makes during the campaign.

    The artwork will join the Parliamentary Art Collection, which documents and illustrates the history of Parliament over the centuries.

    Ms Hirst says taking on the role was "an honour".

    Her art is described as often taking something intangible and making it concrete and visible - such as the below examples.

    "Being the election artist is a rare opportunity to come to the campaign with an open mind to observe and document what candidates are saying," Ms Hirst says.

    "I want to be as honest and transparent as possible about what I see as I immerse myself in this world."

    Nicky Hirst artworkImage source, Nicky Hirst
    Nicky Hirst artworkImage source, Nicky Hirst
  9. Your Questions Answered: Paternity leavepublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Your Questions Answered logo

    Confused by the latest election developments? Got a question about polling or policy? Or is there anything else you'd like us to explain?

    Send your questions to BBC News via the form on this page and we'll do our best to answer them.

    Today we have been answering questions specifically about childcare and family benefits and finances, like this one from Andy Barnard in Maidenhead:

    Q - Does the year's maternity pay also apply to fathers?

    A - Statutory maternity pay (SMP) is paid for 39 weeks. For the first six weeks it is paid at 90% of their average weekly earnings before tax. The following 33 weeks is paid at at £148.68 per week or 90% of their average weekly earnings, whichever is the lower.

    But some employers offer maternity pay that is more than the statutory rate.

    Shared parental leave allows parents - after birth or adoption - to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay between them.

    Paternity leave is a period of either one or two consecutive weeks that fathers or partners can take off from work to care for their baby or child. The father or partner can receive statutory paternity pay of £148.68 per week, provided they have worked for their company for 26 weeks.

    You can read more questions on childcare and family benefits here.

  10. BT poses new question about Labour's broadband costspublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Rory Cellan-Jones
    Technology correspondent

    Labour has said building the British Broadband network will cost £20 billion and once completed running costs will amount to £230 million per year.

    A source at BT has pointed out that Openreach has 33,000 employees and shadow chancellor John McDonnell has guaranteed that none will lose their jobs.

    The source says that operational expenses figure equates to a salary of less than £7,000 per employee.

  11. PM lists 11 Downing St (not 10) as home addresspublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Boris Johnson's details on the nomination form

    Boris Johnson has put his address as 11, not 10, Downing Street in a statement of candidates for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency., external

    That’s because he lives in the larger flat above 11 Downing Street, while Chancellor Sajid Javid lives in the smaller No 10 flat.

    When Theresa May and David Cameron went to the polls as prime minister, they each listed their constituency homes as their addresses.

    Mr Johnson does not have an address in Uxbridge.

  12. Clinton: Online election atmosphere 'heavily misogynistic'published at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Hillary ClintonImage source, REUTERS/Simon Dawson
    Image caption,

    Hillary Clinton pictured in London while promoting her book earlier this week

    Hillary Clinton has criticised the "heavily misogynistic" atmosphere online which has seen female parliamentary candidates announce they are not standing in the general election.

    The former US secretary of state highlighted the "intimidation" faced by female politicians at a panel discussion at Swansea University.

    Mrs Clinton - whose grandparents were Welsh - said: "Unfortunately, the atmosphere online is heavily misogynistic because apparently the people, and it's predominantly, though not exclusively, men who spend their time going after women of prominence in whatever field they are in and just can't let it go. "

    "What they say is often vile, and when I was in London over the last few days, a number of people told me about women not standing for Parliament this time because of the threats they have received.

    "And it's really particular to them. Threats of death and terrible attacks, including going after their families, in particular mentioning their children."

    The former US presidential candidate said she had met with an unnamed female politician who decided not to stand in the 12 December election because, Mrs Clinton was told, "I just can't take it".

    Here's our piece from last month about women MPs saying abuse forced them from politics.

    Mrs Clinton said: "It is a terrible loss and a loss to democracy if anybody is intimidated out of running, and disproportionately the people choosing not to run in the first instance or for re-election are women."

    Mrs Clinton led the panel entitled Gutsy Welsh Women - a nod to her new book, co-authored with her daughter Chelsea - alongside senior education figures in Wales.

  13. Johnson v Corbyn photo opportunities from the campaign trailpublished at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Boris Johnson on a visit to Coronation Candy in BlackpoolImage source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson on a visit to Coronation Candy in Blackpool

    Jeremy Corbyn holds up a painting given to him by a local artist during a speech in MorecambeImage source, OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Jeremy Corbyn holds up a painting given to him by a local artist during a speech in Morecambe

  14. Reversing Beeching rail cuts would cost 'far more' than £500mpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    TrainsImage source, PA Media

    Earlier today when answering questions from the public, the prime minister said that the Tories would invest £500m to reverse the cuts to railway lines and stations made in the 1960s.

    More than 5,000 miles of track and nearly 1,500 stations closed between 1964 and 1970, after a report by British Railways chairman Richard Beeching.

    But rail experts say that the money is not enough to restore services to all the places cut off by those cuts.

    "It is not going to buy you very much railway. A rebuilt railway costs millions for each kilometre," says Sim Harris, managing editor of industry newspaper Railnews.

    "It would cost far more than that to really reverse Beeching."

    The Conservatives say that among the possible locations for new or reopened lines are Ashington, Seaton Delaval and Blyth in Northumberland; Skelmersdale in Lancashire; Thornton-Cleveleys and Fleetwood in Lancashire; and Willenhall and Darlaston in the West Midlands.

    But the party has not provided any more details on how it would fund a reversal of the Beeching cuts.

  15. ICYMI: Young voters watch paid for political ads on Facebookpublished at 15:29 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    A group of young voters in Leeds watch the most viewed political ads on Facebook - at the time of recording - from the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.

    "I think they might have wasted quite a bit of money," one tells BBC podcast The Next Episode.

    BBC Radio 1 tweets the full video below and listen to the podcast here.

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  16. Boris Johnson BBC phone-in fact-checkedpublished at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    Reality Check

    Boris Johnson

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson took questions from the public in a phone-in broadcast on 5 Live and the BBC News Channel earlier today.

    Reality Check has been looking at some of the claims he made during the hour-long programme, which include comments on stop and search and knife crime, taking back control of VAT and a second Scottish referendum.

    Read the full story here.

  17. Will fibre broadband be obsolete by 2030 - and what about 5G?published at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    BBC Technology

    Fibre optic wiresImage source, Getty Images

    Here's a bit more about Labour's promise to give every home and business in the UK free full-fibre broadband by 2030 if it wins the general election.

    The plan would see millions more properties given access to a full-fibre connection, though Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "a crackpot scheme".

    But if the plan went ahead and was completed on time, would it still be useful in 2030? Read our full story here.

  18. Will British Broadband look like South Korea?published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    One of the comparisons that shadow chancellor John McDonnell made in setting out his plans for part-nationalising BT to provide free fibre optic broadband was with South Korea.

    Mr McDonnell said the country has 98% coverage with full-fibre broadband, compared to 8% to 10% in the UK.

    But BBC economics editor Faisal Islam says the comparison doesn't completely stand up.

    While South Korea has state involvement in planning and coordinating the building of fibre infrastructure, it isn't run by state-owned companies.

    Instead, it is mostly privately funded in a "super-competitive market".

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  19. Donald Trump confirms pre-election UK visitpublished at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    The Queen and President Trump inspect troops during his 2018 visitImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    The Queen and President Trump inspect troops during his 2018 visit

    US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will travel to London 10 days before the election.

    He will be in the capital with the first lady for the Nato summit between 2 and 4 December.

    Mr Trump will also attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, which will be hosted by the Queen.

    The president has previously been criticised for voicing his opinions of British political leaders, including Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

    Read our full story here.

  20. Scottish young voters on 'a barrage of broken promises'published at 14:50 Greenwich Mean Time 15 November 2019

    BBC Newsbeat

    Newsbeat election campervan in Aberdeen

    Meanwhile, BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat is broadcasting from its special election campervan as it tours the UK.

    The "living room on wheels" is in Aberdeen to hear what young voters there care about. One big topic is Scottish independence.

    Matthew says he is proud to be British and campaigned for "no" during the 2014 independence referendum - but that it is "increasingly becoming more difficult" to justify that position "especially if there's a no-deal Brexit".

    Wray disagrees. "I was a staunch leave man during the indy ref," he says. "We've lived under Westminster rule for a long time and it's been a constant barrage of broken promises."

    Kimberley says she agrees with Matthew "in the sense that it's getting harder to not vote SNP because a lot of their points are valid, but I too enjoy being British". "There's a lot of broken promises," she adds.

    Newsbeat will be back in Aberdeen at 17:45 BST.