Summary

  • Representatives from Labour, the Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have taken part in a TV debate

  • The Tories and Brexit Party both declined to join Channel 4's 'Britain Decides: The Everything But Brexit Debate'

  • Politicians have been making their final pitches to voters on the morning's political programmes

  • Boris Johnson insisted there would be no checks on goods going between NI and GB under his deal

  • John McDonnell said he worried that the anti-Semitism row may cost Labour votes on Thursday

  • Nigel Farage said the Brexit Party will change its name to the Reform Party after the UK leaves the EU

  • On the campaign trail, the Conservatives are today focusing on their "Australian points-based system"

  • Labour are setting more detail on their plans for social care, including a National Care Service

  • And the Liberal Democrats are talking about investment in infrastructure projects outside London

  1. 'More needs to be done on mental health provision'published at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Angela RaynorImage source, Channel 4/ITN

    James Khan, from Nottingham, asks what each party will do to improve mental health services.

    Another man, a former airman turned-teacher, asks why he can get his broken leg fixed in 12 weeks, but that it takes 12 months to access mental health treatment.

    The Lib Dem's Jo Swinson says it's "heartbreaking" that mental health support is "just not there".

    She describes waiting times of over 12 months as "an absolute scandal". Pressed on her record in the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government, she says her colleague Norman Lamb "did find additional funding" for mental health.

    The SNP's Philippa Whitford defends her party's record on mental health provision, saying it is putting counsellors into schools.

    "These counsellors would be able to work with teachers and headteachers on how to create a supportive environment within schools," and to help children be "resilient".

    The Green Party's Jonathan Bartley says young people feel under pressure about not having security for the future. The culture of testing and league tables in schools makes it worse, he adds.

    Labour's Angela Rayner says she has had first-hand experience of dealing with mental health problems when she became a carer for her mother from around the age of 10.

    "We need to stop people being broken, we need to support people," she says. "It's geting worse now because society's heaping more and more pressure on people."

    Referencing the statistic that one in four adults experience mental illness, Plaid Cymru's Adam Price says: "I am one in four."

    He explains: "I've had times in my life when I've suffered with depression."

    He asks why there are no talking therapies available, when there is so much evidence of the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy.

    Cathy Newman points out that if the Conservatives were there they would say they are trying to put mental health provision on par with physical health provision.

    Read more about what each party is promising for mental health here.

  2. Debaters argue over health service problemspublished at 18:45 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Channel 4

    The first question is on the health service, including how can more nurses be attracted to the profession?

    Labour's Angela Rayner says it is important to both support the nurses already working "to make sure they have the resources", as well as training more nurses.

    She cites Labour's promise of a pay rise for public sector workers.

    Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson says the NHS is a "treasure" as it's there for all of us - but it needs more money.

    She's saying the Lib Dems are proposing that "everybody can pay a bit more on their income tax, a penny on the pound" to help pay for it.

    Meanwhile, the SNP's Philippa Whitford is the first to bring up Brexit - which is not allowed in this debate, which has been dubbed as the "Everything but Brexit debate".

    Of health service funding, she says: "I know you don't want the B word but it is going to make funding worse."

    Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price says nurses are leaving the profession in Wales, just as in England "because of the terrible conditions many of them are having to work under".

    He clashes with Labour's Angela Rayner on that, as Welsh Labour are in power.

    And the Greens' Jonathan Bartley, who says his father was a doctor, replies: "My answer to the question is to let doctors and nurses have a voice... and not to treat the NHS like a political football." He gets a clap for that comment.

  3. Conservatives not joining Channel 4 debatepublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    The Conservatives are not joining tonight's debate, Channel 4 confirms.

    Introducing the other party representatives, presenter Cathy Newman says: "They were of course invited but decided not to join us for this debate."

    (The broadcaster hasn't replaced them with a giant block of ice this time, though...)

  4. Channel 4 debate beginspublished at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Channel 4 debateImage source, Channel 4/ITN

    Presenter Cathy Newman opens the debate, which will take questions from the audience.

    There are five parties represented - Labour, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, SNP and the Green Party.

    She says the Conservatives and the Brexit Party both declined to join tonight's debate.

  5. Johnson responds to criticism from father of London Bridge attack victimpublished at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Boris Johnson has been speaking to ITV News, external about the row over his response following the London Bridge attack last month.

    David Merritt, the father of one of the victims, has accused Mr Johnson of trying to "make political capital" from his son's death.

    It came after Mr Johnson blamed attacker Usman Khan's release from prison on legislation introduced under "a leftie government", and called for longer sentences and an end to automatic release.

    Speaking to ITV News London, Mr Johnson said he had "every sympathy" with the families of those who were killed.

    But he added: "What I would say, with great respect, is that I stick to my position, which is that actually I don't think its sensible for people who are convicted of crimes of terrorism such as Usman Khan to be out automatically on early release.

    "I said that long before the event took place - I said it in August."

    And asked whether he would speak to Mr Merritt personally, Mr Johnson replied: "With great respect, I will keep my contacts with families of victims private, if that's all right."

  6. Who's taking part in tonight's debate?published at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Channel 4 is hosting another election debate tonight, with senior figures from some of the main parties.

    Those who are confirmed to take part are Labour's Angela Rayner, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson, co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley, the SNP's Philippa Whitford and Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price.

    It is not yet clear whether the Conservatives or Brexit Party are fielding a candidate - Channel 4 hasn't confirmed, external any candidates from those parties.

    Although, given the theme of the debate is "Everything but Brexit", perhaps it is no surprise that Nigel Farage's party has not put anyone forward.

    The debate airs at 18:30 on Channel 4.

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  7. In case you missed it: Who is paying for the election?published at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Cider, steam train, ThailandImage source, Various

    Another one from yesterday...

    Russian oligarchs. A fashion magnate turned cider maker. A theatre impresario. An online gambling entrepreneur. The wife of a Syrian-born arms trade fixer.

    These are some of the big donors pouring hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of pounds into the political parties, and they are an intriguing bunch. Their largesse pays for the increasingly important online messaging, the battle buses, the rallies, stunts and all the paraphernalia of a 21st Century election campaign.

    All the parties hoover up smaller donations from supporters of more modest means, but these big donations from the mega-wealthy can transform the parties' striking power.

    Read more here.

  8. Corbyn thanks Labour campaigners 'from bottom of my heart'published at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    CorbynImage source, PA Media
    Supporters listen to Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn during an election campaign event at Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre on December 08, 2019 in LlanfairfechanImage source, Getty Images
    Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses supporters during an election campaign event at Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre on December 08, 2019 in Llanfairfechan, WalesImage source, Getty Images

    Jeremy Corbyn continues his speech in Colwyn Bay, assuring the crowd his party's manifesto is fully-costed.

    He adds: "When we've carried out every last word of this manifesto, as an indication of how far behind this country has become, it will just about meet the public spending levels of France or Germany on their services.

    "Because we got ravaged by the Tories and Thatcher from '79 onwards, we've had this idea that somehow or other it is only the individual that matters, never the community."

    He covers some of Labour's key messages - including on the NHS and for free broadband.

    And he adds: "I'm fed up with the young people being brought up with a subliminal message that the public services they've had, the education they've had.... it won't be there for the next generation.

    "Make your own way, do it as an individual.

    "When you go down that road with that philosophy, some people do very well, they can afford to buy education, they can afford to buy healthcare, they can afford to buy pensions. But a lot don't."

    He ends his speech with a thanks "very very much, from the bottom of my heart" to the campaigners and canvassers who have been door-knocking and delivering the pamphlets - despite the rain.

    "Don't let up till 10 o'clock on Thursday night," he adds.

  9. Corbyn: We've opened ourselves up to scrutinypublished at 17:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn in Colwyn Bay

    We promised you Jeremy Corbyn, and here he is.

    The Labour leader has been speaking in various spots in north Wales today, as he continues on the campaign trail.

    The latest event was in Colwyn Bay on the north coast.

    In a dig at his opponent Boris Johnson - who has refused, unlike other party leaders, to be interviewed by the BBC's Andrew Neil - Mr Corbyn says "we have opened ourselves up for questioning to anybody who cares to question us".

    "It seems the prime minister has a problem with his diary management to arrange for interviews to take place".

  10. Battle of the battle buses... at Woodall service stationpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Conservative and Lib Dem battle busImage source, PA Media

    Finally, some drama on the campaign trail!

    A keen passerby snapped this photo of the Lib Dem and Tory election battle buses, which had coincidentally pulled up next to each other at Woodall motorway services on the M1.

    Luckily for Jo Swinson, she was able to spare her blushes as she wasn't on the bus at the time - it was taking journalists back to London from a campaign event in Sheffield.

    Awks...

  11. Are political clubs still political?published at 17:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    David Pittam
    BBC News Online

    Bar worker

    On a street in the Nottinghamshire town of Arnold, there is a Liberal club, a Labour club and a Conservative club, all within a five-minute walk of one another.

    But how much do the people who patronise these establishments actually care about politics?

    Read more here.

  12. In case you missed it: What's it actually like to work in the NHS?published at 16:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Three NHS staff membersImage source, GEORGINA/BBC

    The NHS is one of the key issues in the election campaign as political parties fight to be seen as champions of the health service.

    While many assumed this election was going to be all about, yep, you guessed it, Brexit, the future of the NHS has been another top priority for voters.

    Hospitals in all parts of the UK are struggling to meet key targets in A&E, cancer care and routine operations.

    We've been speaking to staff to find out what it's actually like working in the NHS.

  13. In case you missed it: What happens if a candidate dies?published at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Anthony WatchornImage source, Melton Times
    Image caption,

    Anthony Watchorn was one of six candidates standing in Rutland and Melton

    We're using this brief hiatus in activity to go back through some of our best content of the weekend.

    In case you missed yesterday's edition of Your Questions Answered, we thought we'd remind you of it.

    There was shock in the East Midlands constituency of Rutland and Melton last week when the death was announced of independent candidate Anthony Watchorn.

    His family said the 69-year-old died in hospital after falling ill. He had been due to take part in a debate days afterwards.

    With thousands of candidates standing across the country, deaths during an election campaign are rare but not unheard of.

    Connor from Edinburgh asks why independent candidates are treated differently from those who represent a political party when they die. Read the answers here.

  14. Get excited (!) - there's another TV debate tonightpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    We promised to tell you more about the Channel 4 debate tonight, so here goes:

    Senior figures from the Lib Dems, Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party will answer questions in front of an audience of undecided voters.

    But there's a twist - participants will only be able to discuss - and there's a clue in the title - Everything but Brexit. It airs at 18:30.

    And if you're feeling a little tired of all these TV debates, read our piece about how they could be improved (and yes, it includes a suggestion to turn off their microphones).

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  15. Test your election 2019 knowledge in 14 questionspublished at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Goat, scones, glasses and a newspaper

    We won't lie to you, we've hit a quiet patch. Jeremy Corbyn is expected to speak at another rally in Colwyn Bay shortly, but the other leaders appear to have gone quiet.

    We'll be seeing a bit more action at 6:30 PM when Channel 4 hosts another debate - The Everything But Brexit Debate. We'll tell you more about that shortly.

    So for now, here's a chance to kick back and test your knowledge of the general election campaign so far.

    Enjoy!

  16. Who are the Scots who won't vote in the election?published at 15:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Buchanan Street in GlasgowImage source, Getty Images

    About a third of the record four million people across Scotland who are registered to vote in next Thursday's general election are not expected to do so.

    Many simply won't get round to voting this time, while others have never voted.

    But with disillusionment with politics and politicians said to be on the rise, some say they no longer want to endorse what they claim is a broken system.

    Claire Diamond has been speaking to some of those who will be steering clear of the ballot box.

  17. In pictures: No rest day for political leaderspublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Jo SwinsonImage source, Danny Lawson/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson went canvassing in Sheffield

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Ben Stansall/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid a visit to the Conservative Party's campaign headquarters

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Ben Stansall/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mr Johnson called on his team to "drive for the line"

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn met a young supporter in Bangor

    Labour supporters in WalesImage source, Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mr Corbyn spoke to about 400 party supporters at Bangor University

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon was at the BBC in London to be interviewed by Andrew Marr

  18. City-hopping with Swinsonpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Our reporter is following the Lib Dem leader around...

    Olivia Richwald
    BBC Look North

    Olivia Richwald

    The Lib Dem leader's main message today has been about a regional rebalancing fund of £50bn which should be spent in the north - of course, that's a message that goes down very well up here at the Lib Dem's South Yorkshire headquarters in Sheffield.

    It's not a new announcement, though, as it's all in the Lib Dem manifesto.

    Plans include more railway electrification and more charging points for eletric cars, as well as better broadband access.

    Ms Swinson's had a very busy day.

    She did a live television interview this morning, she's speaking to reporters in Sheffield now, and I'm told she'll be out campaigning after she finishes up.

    Tonight she'll whizz back up the M1 to Leeds for a live debate on Channel 4.

  19. Swinson stirs up supporters in Sheffieldpublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 December 2019

    Jo Swinson in SheffieldImage source, Reuters

    The leader of the Liberal Democrats is in Sheffield encouraging her supporters on the final push of the general election campaign.

    "So much [of] our country's future hinges on what we all collectively do in the next few days," Jo Swinson tells her team ahead of another afternoon of knocking doors.

    She calls for everyone to bear in mind that some seats in the last election came down to "a handful of votes" (for example Fife North East, where the Lib Dems lost out to the SNP by a mere two votes).

    "When you wake up and deliver those 'good mornings' when there's frost on the ground, I want you to know that everything that you do will make that difference," Ms Swinson tells the Sheffield crowd.

    "We're doing this for the future - for our country's future."