Dominic Casciani
Home Affairs Correspondent

In the lead-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum, polls suggested immigration was seen as the most pressing issue facing the nation, not EU membership.

Today, concern about immigration is far lower, , externaleven though many of the underlying factors have not changed.

Whether or not we leave the EU, there are a huge number of unanswered questions over exactly what a reformed immigration system would look like.

Read the BBC's analysis of immigration in the UK here.

Image source, AFP

More on the election battles of the small screen - ITV says Boris Johnson will not be sitting down with the broadcaster's Tonight programme before next week's poll.

The programme will broadcast an interview with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn later this evening.

An ITV spokesman said despite contacting the PM's press team on "repeated occasions" to book a time, they confirmed today he will not be taking part.

"The programme will instead feature a profile of the prime minister using fresh interviews with other contributors and archive footage," he added.

In response, Labour Party Chair Ian Lavery has accused the prime minister of "running scared" and having a "born to rule" attitude.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage's interview with Andrew Neil will air in less than an hour - but how did Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson get on when she faced the BBC presenter yesterday?

Ms Swinson said she would not work with the SNP to bring about a new EU referendum if it meant agreeing to another vote on Scottish independence.

Asked about her time serving as a junior minister in the Lib Dem/Conservative coaltion government, she apologised for voting to cut certain benefits.

And she also said she disagreed with her predecessor Sir Vince Cable that her party's pledge to stop Brexit completely had become an "unhelpful distraction".

Read more.

Laura Kuenssberg
BBC political editor

In lots of ways this is a complicated election - but as we enter the final phase, more and more it's about the two big teams - the reds and the blues.

More and more, it's about those two big characters, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

In the next seven days, we're going to hear them both push forward their number one messages.

For the Conservatives, that's about taking us out of the EU next month.

For Labour, it's about dramatically opening up the chequebook for public services.

The UK is seven days away from yet another general election and the internet and airwaves are filled with talk of marginals, hustings and spin.

But what do all these things really mean?

We're here to help.

Use our translator tool to check the meaning of some of the words used around election time.

BBC News Channel

We brought you news earlier that three MEPs have left the Brexit Party and urged voters to back the Conservatives instead.

One of the former Brexit Party MEPs, Lucy Harris, has just spoken to us.

She says her reasons for making the change are that only two parties can win the election - the Labour Party and the Conservatives.

She says Labour's policy to deliver a second EU referendum would mean making a decision between a "botched-up Brexit deal" and remaining in the EU - and that it is therefore "too risky" to do anything other than vote for Mr Johnson.

Earlier, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage pointed to links between the three MEPs and the Conservatives.

He said one [Annunziata Rees-Mogg] is the sister of a cabinet minister [Jacob Rees-Mogg], one has a boyfriend who works in Mr Rees-Mogg's office, and another is a "personal friend" of the prime minster.

Ms Harris says it is a "fact" that she is personally linked to someone in the Conservative Party, but adds: "I have my own brain, I don't need a man to tell me what to do. I'm a strong woman, I make my own decisions."

She also says she's not had any pressure from the Conservatives to make her move.

Here’s a concise guide to where the parties stand on big issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.

You can compare their top priorities and key election pledges – to help you work out which party to vote for on 12 December.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

I've seen the full submission - 53 pages of it - crammed full of examples of anti-Semitic behaviour towards members of the Jewish Labour Movement.

And they've put this together with, to put it basically, the claim that Labour is not getting to grips with the problem.

They say 136 complaints were outstanding in October, while around 100 allegations were not logged in the system at all.

Although Mr Corbyn says he's speeding up the processes for dealing with allegations of anti-Semitism, he's really struggled to take the sting out of this politically toxic issue.

Ben Wright
BBC political correspondent

How can Boris Johnson guarantee he will get a trade deal with the EU by the end of next year? It will be a hugely complex negotiation - covering goods, services, aviation, security and more - and will shape the UK for years to come.

But the PM is determined to convince weary voters the Brexit ordeal is nearly over. Boris Johnson has insisted talks with the EU must not last beyond December 2020 - a red line that critics say hands huge leverage to Brussels.

Mr Johnson has not ruled out leaving without an agreement at the end of it all, but today in Matlock the PM said he could absolutely "guarantee" he would get a deal next year. It was the most emphatic he’s sounded so far.

Brexit deadlines have proved to be very elastic and it’s impossible for the government to know now how the next 12 months of talks will unfold. But for the next seven days the Tories are desperate for their simple, core slogan to carry them over the line.

While a Tory majority would certainly ensure Boris Johnson passes the divorce deal in Parliament - and gets the UK out of the EU by 31st January - completing the subsequent stage of Brexit will surely consume the government’s energies for some time yet.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

Donations to the Conservative Party far outstripped those to the other parties in the third week of the election campaign.

From 20 to 26 November, the Tories reported donations totalling £3.59m, the Electoral Commission said.

Every party is obliged to report any donation over £7,500 to the commission.

Here's a breakdown of what the other parties received in week three:

• Labour - £521,909
• Liberal Democrats - £509,998
• Green Party - £100,000
• Alliance Party of Northern Ireland - £15,000
• Brexit Party - no donations over £7,500
• SNP - no donations over £7,500

The biggest donation in this period was of £1m from financial services businessman Peter Hargreaves, a staunch advocate of the UK leaving the EU.

Read our full story here.

You can see all of the big donations to parties on the Electoral Commission's website., external

Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party is the next leader to take part in a 30-minute interview with Andrew Neil.

Watch it at 7pm on BBC One, and keep an eye on this page for ongoing commentary.

If you've missed any of the other exchanges, head to these links on iPlayer to catch up:

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour

Nicola Sturgeon, SNP

Jo Swinson, Liberal Democrats

Adam Price, Plaid Cymru

Last night's interview with Jo Swinson sparked plenty of reaction from commentators and on social media - here's our roundup.

The general election is just days away. Some politicians are keen to frame it as the Brexit election - but does that hold true for Britain's poorest families?

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live has been hearing from people in Croydon today – so which issues are crucial to their vote?

Image source, Nikki

Nikki says: “I think it’s the priorities of the NHS and mental health because those issues usually get overlooked by things like Brexit. For me, Labour focus on [these things] and that’s what I am voting for."

On Brexit, Nikki says she feels it needs to be “over and done with already... the government is spending so much time on it that other issues are being overlooked”.

Image source, Michelle

Michelle tutors children with special educational needs.

She says, "I feel like a lot of headway has been made in the last few years but I’ve been to schools where there’s little to no funding for additional support.

"I am excited that the Conservatives, in their manifesto, are promising more funding for schools – I don’t know where that money is going to come from but that’s what they promised…"

Michelle voted Remain in the EU referendum, but says "I see the value of democracy and delivering Brexit.

"I am quite unsure how Brexit will turn out, I have a lot of mixed feelings, but the right way forward is getting it done so you can talk about other issues."

Image source, REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is calling on supporters of all parties to "come together" to "lock Boris Johnson out of power".

Speaking while touring the country in her campaign bus - emblazoned with the slogan "stop Brexit" - Ms Sturgeon says the prime minister has been "evading scrutiny" during the election campaign.

Mr Johnson has not agreed to be interviewed by the BBC's Andrew Neil and opted not to take part in a climate change debate - events Ms Sturgeon has taken part in.

"Boris Johnson has ducked and dived, evading scrutiny throughout this whole campaign and no wonder because everybody knows that if he gets his way he drags Scotland out of the EU against our will, out of the single market and the customs union," she says.

She urges Scots to use their votes to "lock Boris Johnson out of power" to negate the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

"No matter how you voted in the past, let's come together in this election to make sure that our future is not determined by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives," she adds.

On Friday evening, the BBC will be broadcasting a live head-to-head debate between the Conservative and Labour leaders, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

The debate, which is taking place in Southampton, is the last scheduled meeting between the two party leaders before next Thursday's general election.

The hour-long programme, hosted by Nick Robinson, starts at 20:30.

Everything you need to know about the debate, including how to watch it, is contained in this piece.

Earlier today, Jeremy Corbyn revealed plans to cut class sizes to 30 pupils across all schools in England. Labour would do this, Mr Corbyn said, by recruiting 20,000 new teachers.

The Labour leader continues his whistlestop tour of schools, to tell students and staff about his plan for 20,000 more teachers in England.

Stopping off in Rugby, Jeremy Corbyn asks pupils for their thoughts on how to devise a confidential way to approach mental health problems in schools.

Mr Corbyn then joins these dinner ladies to help dish out some locally-sourced lunch options. On the menu: burgers, hot dogs and vegetable curry.

Finally, Mr Corbyn urges pupils to "use their vote carefully".

When they point out they're too young to vote, he instead suggests they might vote Labour in a mock school election.

In his experience, he says, the turnout is often higher in school elections than in the real thing.

If you're just joining us, here's a summary of the big developments in the election campaign so far today:

• Boris Johnson has promised to pass his Brexit deal and bring a Budget within 100 days, if he is elected PM
• Labour has made education pledges - in addition to what it says in its manifesto - to cap class sizes at 30 pupils across all schools in England by recruiting 20,000 extra teachers
• But on a school visit to promote these plans, leader Jeremy Corbyn had to defend his response to anti-Semitism within his party.
• That defence came after statements made by serving and ex-Labour officials about the party's handling of anti-Semitism allegations were made public
• Meanwhile Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has hit out at three MEPs who quit the party and are now urging voters to back the Conservatives in the election
• And Conservatives in one constituency have been branded "pathetic" for setting up a website in their Labour rival's name and filling it with anti-Labour messages
• Finally, with one week until polling day, we've been looking into whether or not the key issues for voters have changed over the course of the election campaign

BBC News Channel

Back to our focus on Croydon for a moment.

Dexter Simms is the owner of Mula Cake, a small clothing line for young people, and says the "broken promises" of politicians have made him unsure how to cast his vote.

"It's a bit confusing to be honest, and it's leaving me a bit torn," he says.

"I want support from politicians and from the government but what I'm hearing is a little bit of broken promises."

He adds that he feels like he's in a "catch 22" because he is "Labour born and bred, because I'm a people's champion, but I've also got a Conservative mindset about independence and business".

Check out our policy guide to compare the key pledges of all of the major political parties across the UK.