Summary

  • Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson took part in a BBC Question Time Leaders' Special

  • Each party leader had 30 minutes to answer questions from an audience selected to represent the political make-up of the UK

  • Jeremy Corbyn was on first, followed by Nicola Sturgeon, Jo Swinson and Boris Johnson

  • The Labour leader said he would adopt a neutral stance in a future Brexit referendum

  • Nicola Sturgeon faced questions on her desire for another referendum on Scottish independence

  • Jo Swinson said the Lib Dems "didn't get everything right" during their time in a coalition government with the Conservatives

  • And Boris Johnson was tackled on an unreleased report into alleged Russian interference in UK democracy as well as the NHS

  1. Nicola Sturgeon now answering questionspublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Nicola Sturgeon

    SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon is the second leader to face the audience.

    First question - if there's a hung Parliament, what is the price of your co-operation?

  2. Corbyn wraps things uppublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    A final flourish now.

    "We're not doing any deals with any other parties... I'm fighting this election to win it for Labour and deliver an economy that works for all.

    "Our manifesto, fully prepared, fully costed, this is an opportunity for our country to come together," he says.

    There's plenty of cheering as Jeremy Corbyn comes to a crescendo - and his 30 minutes comes to an end.

    What's the verdict from our political correspondent Iain Watson?

    "So far I think Jeremy Corbyn's wobbliest moment was to suggest there could be 'indyref2' in a couple of years - it will be used by his opponents to say Scotland faces two referendums if he is elected."

  3. Will you deliver on promises to Scotland, Corbyn is askedpublished at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn

    You're promising things for Scotland to try to avoid another independence referendum, very similar to how it was in 2014, but those things were not delivered, the next questioner argues.

    "Since 2014 there's been a Tory government and that's one of the problems," says Jeremy Corbyn in reply.

  4. What has Labour promised Scotland?published at 19:32 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Getty Images

    Jeremy Corbyn pledged £100bn investment in Scotland over a 10-year period as he unveiled the party's manifesto on Thursday.

    Labour's manifesto describes Scottish independence as "economically devastating" and said a UK Labour government would not agree to a request for a referendum "in the early years".

    Read more about what Labour has promised Scotland here.

  5. Analysis: Has Corbyn ever been this specific on a second Scottish independence referendum?published at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    Jeremy Corbyn gives clarity on ruling out a Scottish independence referendum.

    He wouldn't do it for the first two years of a Labour government.

    I don't think he has been so specific before - usually he says not in the 'early years'.

  6. Where does Labour stand on indyref2?published at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Questions now on Jeremy Corbyn's view on Scottish independence.

    He begins by insisting Labour would offer "a massive game-changer" to Scotland in terms of investment.

    He says he doesn't seen an independence referendum as "a priority" for Scotland and "in the early years of a Labour government" he wouldn't support one.

    Pushed to be more specific on what "the early years" means, he somewhat reluctantly says "the first two years, at least".

    Another questioner hits back - why is your priority more important than the priority of the Scottish people?

    Jeremy Corbyn focuses his answer on "the very significance difference" his programme of investment would make to the lives of people in Scotland so he thinks they should welcome that.

    "Surely Scotland needs to be able to address the problems is has?" Mr Corbyn adds.

  7. Big clap for Corbyn on Universal Creditpublished at 19:29 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    A very big round of applause and some whoops as Jeremy Corbyn says Labour would get rid of Universal Credit - the wholesale benefits system overhaul begun under the coalition and is still not completed today.

  8. Labour plan 'would reverse trend in public service investment'published at 19:28 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn now talks tax - 95% of the population will pay no more in tax, 5% will pay more.

    That will bring the UK to a "mid-ranking position" in terms of investment in public service compared to other nations, still below the likes of Germany, the Labour leader argues.

    "We've rolled back investment in public services over the years," he says, "and placed that burden onto individuals."

    Labour wants to reverse that, he adds.

  9. Corbyn focuses on his favourite topic - free broadbandpublished at 19:27 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    At many of his press conferences, Jeremy Corbyn prefers to take three or four questions together.

    Much the same has happened here where the audience raised several topics and he focused on the most favourable topic: free broadband.

  10. Can you afford broadband pledge?published at 19:26 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Now a question on the plan to part nationalise broadband - a striking idea in the Labour manifesto. The questioner is unconvinced that the idea is a good use of public money.

    Mr Corbyn says it would be a tool for improving productivity and also social justice - to allow everyone access not just those in certain postcodes.

    But can we afford it, Fiona Bruce asks?

    Yes, replies Mr Corbyn.

    "We have to invest in social infrastructure and transport infrastructure for the whole country... this is a serious proposal to help bring economic development to all parts of the country."

  11. Analysis: Corbyn softens on net zero emissionspublished at 19:24 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    'We need to get to net zero emissions' Jeremy Corbyn says - but went along with some unions that did not want this guaranteed by 2030.

  12. Corbyn talks climate policy and green jobspublished at 19:20 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Jeremy Corbyn welcomes the opportunity to talk about climate change and its impact around the world, especially on the poorest.

    The UK has to play its part, to get to net zero emissions, he explains, and such a move could actually lead to millions of jobs - in green energy, in mass insulation projects.

    Our whole strategy is to develop a green industrial revolution - "playing our part in getting to a more sustainable world".

    He says the UK would also insist on strong pollution controls from countries it trades with elsewhere in the world.

  13. How much would Labour raise corporation tax by?published at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Reality Check

    On corporation tax, Jeremy Corbyn says:

    "The biggest business will be asked to pay a little bit more in corporation tax but it will be lower than in 2010 and lower than most industrial countries."

    Under Labour's plan, corporation tax would rise from 19% to 26%, staggered over the next three years. Back in 2010/11 it was 28%.

    Several European countries, at the moment, have higher corporation tax rates than this: France 32% and Belgium 29%. Both countries are planning reductions though: France to 28% and Belgium to 25%

  14. 'Grown-up strategy' from Labourpublished at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    The next questioner says Harold Wilson remained neutral on the first EU referendum in the 1970s so Jeremy Corbyn's position is far from silly - he says Mr Corbyn has "a grown-up strategy".

    That prompts some applause and whooping.

    The next questioner says she appreciates Mr Corbyn's efforts to bring the country back together - but she is also happy with the efforts Labour is making via its policies to address the climate emergency.

  15. Audience groans on Brexitpublished at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    Finally we reach Brexit and the inevitable question on Leave or Remain.

    Interesting that there are groans when Jeremy Corbyn explains the Labour policy - suggesting opponents' attack not so much on Brexit but on indecision may be hitting home with some voters.

  16. Where do you stand on Brexit?published at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    A questioner asks whether Mr Corbyn will campaign to Leave or Remain if he wins power and there's another referendum.

    The Labour leader is greeted with loud groans when he says he'll first negotiate a new "credible" deal with the EU.

    Mr Corbyn doesn't say which way he'll vote, but he wants to end the years of uncertainty but putting things back to the people.

    That gets a round of applause.

    But why do we need another referendum when we've had one already? the questioner asks.

    Mr Corbyn says it's "sensible and reasonable" to ask the question again given all the different forms of Brexit there could be.

  17. Views on Bolivia's former left wing leader - is it going to sway swing voters?published at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    Not sure Jeremy Corbyn's stance on the former left wing leader of Bolivia, Evo Morales, will sway swing voters tonight...

  18. Question on Bolivia's former leaderpublished at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Next question - he asks about Mr Corbyn's support for former Bolivian leader Evo Morales.

    The Labour leader says he spoke to Mr Morales about the situation in the country last year.

    Mr Corbyn says there should be a process of peace in Bolivia now so democratic government can come back.

    "There are very strong feelings on both sides..." says Mr Corbyn, but the right thing now is to try to bring people together.

  19. Corbyn sticks to generalities on attacking anti-Semitismpublished at 19:12 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2019

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    It didn't take long for the anti-Semitism issue to be raised.

    Jeremy Corbyn is asked about his behaviour, rather than the issue more generally, so it is more difficult for him to answer.

    So far he is sticking to generalities in attacking anti-Semitism, though he is being asked about not standing up to those who heckled the Jewish Labour MP Ruth Smeeth at the launch of the report he commissioned in to anti-Semitism.