Summary

  • Nato leaders have been at a reception at Buckingham Palace and talks in No 10 ahead of a meeting on Wednesday

  • Opposition leaders are using Donald Trump's attendance at a Nato summit in the UK to seek clarity on any future trade talks

  • Labour has written to the US president highlighting its concerns about the NHS

  • Mr Trump says he will "stay out of the election", work with any future PM and wants "absolutely nothing to do" with the NHS

  • Boris Johnson says he "categorically" rules out the NHS being on the table

  • The Lib Dems want future protections for UK farmers and consumers

  • And they have suspended a staff member over a "faked" email

  • Jeremy Corbyn apologises in a TV interview for incidents of anti-Semitism within Labour Party

  • Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage took BBC audience questions live on air

  • We've been hearing from people in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, about what they want from the election

  • The country heads to the polls on 12 December

  1. How would we cope with an immigration cap of 50,000 a year?published at 09:48 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Wahid, 50, from Sheffield, is in the catering business, and says he sometimes finds it hard to recruit people into higher-skilled roles. He asks Nigel Farage why he wants to cap immigration when there's already a "skills gap" in the UK.

    Mr Farage says: "We're not training enough people to be engineers, nurses and doctors."

    He argues we need fewer young people studying social sciences at university, and more people doing science, technology, engineering and maths.

    He argues where skills gaps do exist, people should be given time-limited work permits. He says the "right to work and settle in the country is a different thing".

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  2. Watch: Farage on whether he has changed his mind about the NHSpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

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    James from Huddersfield says Mr Farage has previously advocated an insurance-based healthcare system and asked if he's changed his mind or is compromising his views to win over Labour voters.

    Mr Farage says he has suggested that "those that can afford it" could take out insurance to "lift the burden off the NHS".

    He says many people already opt out and if you gave them tax breaks, more people might do it.

    Mr Farage says the NHS has become a "political football" and it should be depoliticised.

    On trade talks with the US, he says: "Donald Trump doesn not want to buy the NHS."

    But he does not rule out a deal over pharmaceuticals, saying they should buy drugs wherever it is cheapest.

  3. How do voters know you won't walk away again?published at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Nigel Farage

    Mike in Smethwick asks how people can trust Nigel Farage in the aftermath of Brexit when he walked away from UKIP.

    "I have to put my hands up, I made a huge mistake in 2016," Mr Farage says.

    He says he quit what was a "lonely, difficult journey, facing more abuse than anyone in modern politics".

    But he says he was wrong to trust "establishment politicians".

    "I won’t be going away again," he says.

    Earlier, he was challenged about his criticism of Jeremy Corbyn over his support for Irish Republicanism and over anti-Semitism accusations.

    Presenter Nicky Campbell says Brexit Party candidate Claire Fox defended the Warrington bomb attack. But Mr Farage says there is "no evidence whatsoever" of this.

    Mr Campbell also raises a series of comments Mr Farage made on the conspiracist Alex Jones's show, where he referred to "globalists", the "New World Order" and suggested that bankers had taken over politics. He says these are anti-Semitic tropes.

    Mr Farage says his comments about the "New World Order" had "nothing to do with the Jewish religion" and he has "never had anything to do with anti-Semitism".

  4. How can voters trust you when you're so close to 'your friend' Trump?published at 09:38 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Referring to the impeachment inquiry in the US, Alan, 66, from Southwell, says it's "clear" President Trump "has broken the law and lied", and asks: since you claim him as your friend, how can we trust you?

    Mr Farage asks Alan to imagine if President Obama was still in power, and as a challenger, Mr Trump had got his son a very highly paid directorship in a oil and gas company - in a state whose democracy was pretty fragile - and Obama had ordered an investigation into Mr Trump.

    In this situation, Mr Farage argues the whole world would be saying "thank you Obama, you may be saving us from a corrupt president".

    He says Joe Biden's behaviour in Ukraine was "pretty much an abuse of his position", and if he's the frontrunner to possibly succeed Mr Trump as president, "what on earth is wrong with looking into that?"

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  5. Watch: Farage on whether he is hindering Brexitpublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

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  6. Corbyn's message for Trump, as his convoy passes his housepublished at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn outside SOAS

    Away from Mr Farage's Q&A, Jeremy Corbyn has been speaking outside SOAS University of London this morning - he's there to support cleaners and catering staff who previously organised against their employers.

    But the US President's arrival in the UK hasn't escaped his attention.

    “Today, Donald Trump has arrived in Britain – I saw it because his convoy went past my house last night, so I know he's here", he tells the crowd.

    He takes the opportunity to remind them of his views on the NHS in any future trade deal.

    "We welcome all visitors and we should always treat people with respect and politeness, but I very gently and quite simply but extremely firmly say this, in any trade deal with the US, with a Labour government, public services will not be put on the table.

    "Our NHS will not be put up for sale to anybody, because public services are there for a reason, they’re not there to be sold off to international firms that want to come in and run our NHS.”

    You can read more about this issue here, along with the Tory response (it's not for sale). And Reality Check has had a close look at the claims and counter claims in this article.

  7. Why do you feel the need to jump in bed with the Tories?published at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Farage

    Wayne in Birmingham says he's a Leaver but believes there should be an alternative to the Conservative Party for Brexit supporters. He asks why Mr Farage jumped into bed with the Tories.

    Mr Farage says it was because Boris Johnson made a shift "for my benefit" from his original deal to pursue a "super Canada-plus free trade deal without political alignment".

    Standing against the Tories in the south of England would mean "a rash of Liberal Democrat seats taking us towards second referendum", he says.

    "Much as I don’t trust the Conservatives, I'm fighting a campaign to hold them to account," he adds.

    He denies that this trade deal will lower consumer standards or harm UK farmers, saying the products are already in UK shops.

  8. Have you stopped caring about Brexit?published at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Emily, 19, from Worthing, says Boris Johnson has negotiated a "strong deal" and asks Nigel Farage why he didn't support it.

    Mr Farage argues in some ways, Mr Johnson's deal is "worse than staying in the EU", as it leaves the UK bound by some European Court of Justice rulings.

    But the Brexit Party leader says he was cheered when Mr Johnson said he would "not stay with political and regulatory alignment", and pursue a Canada-style free trade deal.

  9. Are you the Remainers' secret weapon?published at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Nigel Farage

    Guy, 21, from Lancaster, asks Nigel Farage if by standing Brexit candidates in Labour-Tory marginals, he is allowing Labour in?

    Mr Farage says: "There are millions of Labour Leave voters out there who would not vote Conservative if you paid them."

    He believes many seats are becoming three-way contests, which if anything will help the Conservatives.

    Challenged why the Brexit party is only registering 3% in some national opinion polls, Mr Farage claims his party would be "on about 14%" if it was standing in every seat in the country.

  10. Do you accept the seriousness of climate change?published at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    The first question comes from presenter Nicky Campbell, who says that the World Meteorological Organisation has released a report saying 2019 ends a decade of "exceptional heat" in the world. Does Mr Farage accept the seriousness of climate change?

    Mr Farage says the first time the UN said we faced an "existential crisis" over the climate was 1989.

    He says man is "clearly" impacting the climate because there are "a lot more people" but he says if we act "unilaterally" it will mean closing British industry, taking us backwards and plunging "millions into fuel poverty".

    Mr Farage says China is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions that the US, Europe and Japan combined.

    He says we should become world leaders in tree planting and denies he ever called climate change a "scam".

  11. Nigel Farage is live taking your questionspublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    The Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage, is now in the 5 Live studio for his hour-long Q&A.

    You can watch the interview here - and you can watch other leaders' attempts here.

    We'll let you know what he says. You can take part by tweeting your questions to @BBCPolitics, using #BBCYourQuestions or texting 85058.

  12. Farage: Trump should speak out on NHS 'fib'published at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Breakfast

    Nigel Farage

    Nigel Farage tells BBC Breakfast that Donald Trump should speak out on the UK general election to deny the "complete fib" that he wants to "buy the NHS".

    He says it would be "appropriate" to say that, since EU leaders comment on UK politics "every single day".

    Mr Farage says it would be "quite awkward" for him to meet the US president with the general election going on and says they last spoke "eight or nine weeks ago".

    He also says this is a "critical period" for Nato and that the UK faces a choice between the EU's own defence force and "sticking with Nato and the Five Eyes intelligence network".

  13. Nigel Farage Q&A coming up shortlypublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    The Brexit Party leader, Nigel Farage, is joining Nicky Campbell for a general election Q&A special shortly.

    You can tune in from 09:00 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Live or the BBC News Channel.

    We'll be covering the highlights. You can get in touch with your questions by tweeting @BBCPolitics, using #BBCYourQuestions or texting 85058.

    Nigel Farage Your Questions Answered
  14. Will Trump intervene in the election campaign?published at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    BBC Breakfast

    On BBC Breakfast, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab denies that there's any fear that the US president - who has previously been outspoken in his support for Boris Johnson - will intervene in the election campaign on his visit.

    It comes at a time when opposition parties are raising concerns about plans for a future US trade deal, saying it could mean higher drug prices for the NHS and lower food safety standards.

    Asked if the UK has sought any private assurances that Mr Trump will stay out of the election, Mr Raab says: "They wouldn’t be very private if we were discussing them on air."

    He again says there will be "absolutely no negotiation" on the NHS and drug prices in future trade talks.

    Asked whether the case of Harry Dunn will be raised with the US, Mr Raab says he has had "no contact from representatives from the parents" asking him to bring it up.

    He says he is "focused on removing obstacles to police doing their job, and the CPS making their decision", to give the family "some semblance of solace on what is a really tragic case".

  15. Johnson claims Corbyn is a 'security risk'published at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Boris Johnson has given an interview to today's Sun., external

    In the article, the PM tells voters Jeremy Corbyn is a security risk who will "bow down to Britain’s enemies". As evidence, he says the Labour leader has a long history of siding with the UK's "enemies".

    "Every time he has the chance, he sides with our enemies. He spent the long years of the Cold War basically on the other side," he says.

    At the start of a two-day Nato summit in London, the prime minister warns that the UK’s closest allies, including the United States, are "very anxious" about trusting Mr Corbyn with secret intelligence.

    The Sun
  16. What difference will tactical voting make in the election?published at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Woman on a bus looking thoughtfulImage source, lechatnoir

    The issue of tactical voting is looming large in discussions about how the 2019 general election will play out.

    Tactical voting happens when a voter abandons the party or candidate they prefer, and votes for one with a better chance of winning locally - often, but not always, in order to defeat a disliked candidate.

    But how much difference could it make in the upcoming poll?

    Read analysis from the University of Oxford's election specialist Prof Stephen Fisher here.

  17. Claimed Russian link to NHS trade leak 'a distraction', says Labourpublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    Over on Sky News, Labour's Laura Pidcock has been questioned about reports suggesting that leaked trade papers suggesting the NHS and drug prices could be under discussion in future US trade talks originated from Russia.

    Reports by Reuters and the Daily Telegraph have quoted researchers who claim that the documents appeared on social media websites used in previous Russia leaks and made similar errors in language.

    But Ms Pidcock says the discussion is an attempt to distract from the substance of the documents, whose authenticity has not been disproven.

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  18. Sinn Féin attacks DUP's 'crazy Brexit agenda'published at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    ICYMI...

    Mary Lou McDonaldImage source, Getty Images

    The Sinn Féin president has accused the Democratic Unionist Party of using its "crazy" Brexit agenda as a badge of honour at Westminster.

    Mary Lou McDonald was speaking at the unveiling of her party's general election manifesto , externalin Londonderry.

    The party's 15-page document focuses mainly on Brexit and Irish unity.

    Addressing the manifesto event, Ms McDonald attacked the claim the solution to Brexit would only be found in the House of Commons.

    "The farce of a notion that you go into the house of chaos at Westminster... [with] Jacob Rees-Mogg as he reclines on the green benches and snoozes off is fanciful," she said.

    Read the full story here.

  19. Labour pledges to tackle poverty among disabled peoplepublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 3 December 2019

    The Labour Party is aiming to highlight its campaign pledges for disabled people today, as Jeremy Corbyn says their treatment by the government should be a "source of shame".

    Mr Corbyn accuses the government of "devastating cuts to social security support, to cruel and unnecessary assessments, and a complete failure to address the disability employment gap".

    The party's disability manifesto promises to abolish the "punitive sanctions regime" and "dehumanising" disability assessments.

    It also pledges to halve the disability employment gap by bringing back specialist employment advisors, requiring larger companies to report their disability pay gap and giving people the right to disability leave, among other measures.

    And the party promises increases in benefits and other reforms, estimated to cost £2.6bn by 2023-24.