Summary

  • Voters aged under 30 question top politicians on issues that matter to them, in a Question Time special on BBC One

  • Robert Jenrick (Con), Angela Rayner (Lab), Humza Yousaf (SNP), Jo Swinson (Lib Dem), Adam Price (Plaid Cymru), Jonathan Bartley (Green) and Nigel Farage (Brexit) made up the panel

  • Boris Johnson is criticised for initially refusing to look at an image of a sick child on the floor of an overcrowded hospital

  • Health Secretary Matt Hancock later visits the Leeds hospital to speak to management about the case

  • Mr Johnson also says the possible abolition of the BBC licence fee needs 'looking at'

  • Labour promises to 'end austerity' as John McDonnell sets out what it would do in its first 100 days in government

  • Jo Swinson defends her stance on extending transgender rights as she takes questions from BBC listeners and viewers

  • The BBC has been hearing from people in Crewe about their key issues - especially undecided voters

  • UK voters go to the polls on Thursday

  1. Meet the undecided voterspublished at 19:21 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    The last now in our profile of undecided voters - they've been chatting to the BBC during a day of broadcasting from Crewe, a key marginal seat.

    Kingsley started out as an undecided voter but now feels he has enough reassurance to put his cross in a particular box.

    Kingsley

    Who: Kingsley, 64, retired insurance broker, from south London

    Recent voting history: Local election - Labour mostly, once the Lib Dems; General elections - 2017 Labour

    Summary of 2019 so far: Too much mud-slinging

    Why undecided: Well, up until last Friday Kingsley was undecided - not confident enough to endorse Labour. 'I had a problem with the initial spending promises, I think they were promising far more than they could deliver," he says. But Kingsley had a change of heart during the leaders' debate last Friday: "Jeremy Corbyn pointed out that there were costings shown in the manifesto and he explained a bit more on the programme which swayed me."

    What would you say to a party leader: I would ask Boris Johnson a question. I would ask about the last nine or 10 years when our country has suffered through austerity policies. We’ve now got a general election coming up and all of a sudden we’ve been promised all of this funding - where has this money tree suddenly appeared from? It makes me feel a bit cynical about the country having to go through the nine, 10 years of austerity in the first place?”

    What is the one thing a party could promise which would secure your vote: If there is one thing, it’s on knife crime - if someone could promise me that they are prepared to spend - not just more on police and prison officers - if someone could promise to find the cause as to why someone goes out with a knife in the first place, it would give me more comfort that they are tackling this particular issue at the root cause.

    NHS privatisation: It's worrying me as we could we end up going the American way - being free at the point of entry could become a thing of the past - I think it is a real threat. The fact that they’ve had discussions - it has to be taken seriously.

  2. Crewe's railway industry: 'It's in the genes'published at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Graham RobertsImage source, bbc

    BBC Radio 5 Live has been broadcasting from Crewe today, a town famous for its railway history.

    Graham Roberts is the fifth generation of his family to work on the railways - his great-great grandfather was an engine driver in the 1840s.

    Tony Livesey spoke to Graham in a first class carriage on an old InterCity train.

    "It's in the genes," Graham said, "I can't help it. I was born and bred with steam engines, then diesel, then electric."

    He said when British Rail sold off Crewe Works in the early 1990s it was "quite devastating" for the town, however it's "slowly recovering".

    Graham said he's got mixed views about HS2.

    "I think it will benefit Crewe, both in short and long term, it will provide extra jobs... if we can encourage more people to use it, they're not using cars, it's better for the environment that way, and provided the construction doesn't destroy too much of the natural habitat, it might be worthwhile."

  3. 'Big change is coming'published at 19:17 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Chris Mason
    Political Correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live

    Yes, a lot of people are sick of general elections and big moments in politics because there have been so many of them but this election matters because whoever is the major party of government, big changes will come.

    If the Conservatives win then Brexit happens and it happens within about six weeks, if Labour win or find themselves in government the degree of economic change in terms of how the economy is managed, how the society is managed will be the biggest seen in a generation.

    Whatever happens, by the end of week big change is coming.

  4. What are the undecided voters thinking?published at 19:16 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Tony Livesey has been speaking to undecided voters on BBC Radio 5 live and asking why they are unsure which way they are going to go.

    "I was a Remainer, I want to stay in the EU and that is something that is motivating me," says Lucy from Nantwich. "I have voted Lib Dems before. In this area I am sort of tactically voting. I feel Labour will get in. If Labour can get us a better deal, it is better than that oven-ready one."

    "I am still undecided between the SNP or Labour," adds Jim from Glasgow. "I voted for Leave. The major issue I have with that at the moment is I am really fed up with people saying leave means leave - just get on with it. As far as I am concerned what I voted for three-and-a-half years ago to leave is nothing like what it is now."

    And finally, Nick from Birmingham says: "I am waiting for one compelling statement that will change my mind."

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  5. When is the Scotland leaders' debate?published at 19:14 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Scottish leaders' debate

    We're on the final stretch of our election campaign debates, but for Scottish viewers there's still an important one to come.

    Tomorrow, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Tories' Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and Scottish Lib Dems' Willie Rennie will all face questions live on TV from the audience.

    The leaders' debate will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland and on iPlayer from 20:00 to 21:00 on Tuesday and streamed live on the BBC News website, where you can also follow the latest reaction and analysis on our live page.

  6. Analysis: Licence fee debate not unique to UKpublished at 19:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    David Sillito
    Media and Arts correspondent

    Earlier, Boris Johnson said the possible abolition of the BBC licence fee needs "looking at".

    Speaking at a rally in Sunderland, the prime minister questioned how much longer funding a broadcaster out of "a general tax" could be "justified".

    Our correspondent says it's not the first time a politician has raised some questions about the TV licence. This is a debate that is going on across the whole of Europe

    Denmark just recently got rid of their TV licences and replaced it with a form of income tax.

    Others have brought in advertising or direct government funding. If you're in Italy or Greece, it's just added to the electricity bill.

    In Germany you pay a tax and it's not linked at all to whether you even have a TV or not.

    So here are lots of countries all thinking about well, the world is moving very fast. Does a licence based on a television make sense in the long run?

    However, what will actually possibly happen in Britain, the arrangements between the government and the BBC, is done through the charter.

    The last charter was settled in 2017 and that runs for 11 years. So if this is going to follow the normal pattern of the charter renewal, we're not looking at any change until 2027, 2028.

    However, every five years there's a little look at the licence fee, sometimes a change at how much it actually costs. So that would come in about 2022.

    That's the established negotiation process between the government and BBC at the moment.

    So if you're looking for a big change for the licence fee, the likelihood is that it won't be happening for a number of years yet.

    Read our story here.

  7. Meet the undecided voterspublished at 19:03 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Another face from Crewe - undecided voter Dee. She's one of a panel selected for the BBC by opinion research consultancy, Britain Thinks, to be representative in age, location, gender, race, class and voting history.

    They may not be sure where to put their cross on Thursday, but three key areas of concern emerged - NHS privatisation, Brexit, and trust in politics.

    Dee

    Who: Dee, 19, student, from Crewe

    Recent voting history: First-time voter

    Summary of election so far: Confusing, annoying and Brexit

    Why undecided: I am undecided because when you ask the politician a question they never answer it properly and they tend to go round the world before getting to the point. I feel like they are trying to put the other politicians down as a person rather than the policies that they stand for.

    What would you say to a party leader: Jeremy Corbyn, I would ask him about his animal welfare manifesto, about section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, because I am strongly against it - banned breeds - it’s ridiculous to say a dog is dangerous totally because of their breed.

    What is the one thing a party could promise which would secure your vote: My vote could be secured by a few things: 1. A climate change plan, a plan to get emissions down, cutting the number of diesel cars on the road; 2.Free tuition fees for everyone; 3. Reduce the use of single use plastics.

    On Brexit: Fed up of hearing about it - we had our say, the majority said to leave, we should do that. I do think there should be another referendum because there are a lot of people who were not eligible to vote and we also have a clearer picture of what’s happening.

  8. In pictures: Day 34 of the campaignpublished at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn rally in BristolImage source, Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Supporters of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn gathered for a rally outside Bristol's City Hall

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Ben Stansall/REUTERS
    Image caption,

    Boris Johnson attended a Q&A session in the town of Washington, near Sunderland

    SNP leader Nicola SturgeonImage source, EPA/Robert Perry
    Image caption,

    SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon made muffins on a campaign visit to Wallace Tea Rooms in Lanark

    Mr Corbyn at Forest Green Rovers Football Club stadiumImage source, ISABEL INFANTES/AFP via Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Mr Corbyn's day of campaigning included a visit to Forest Green Rovers Football Club's stadium in Nailsworth, near Stroud

    Jo Swinson
    Image caption,

    Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson answered people's questions on BBC Radio 5 Live and the news channel this morning

    Boris JohnsonImage source, Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Mr Johnson jumped on a plane to get from Grimsby Fish Market to Teesside

    Nicola SturgeonImage source, ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Ms Sturgeon fitted in some festive fun with children in Rutherglen, south east of Glasgow

  9. Meet the undecided voterspublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Another face now from Crewe, a key marginal seat, where the BBC has been talking to a panel of voters yet to make up their minds.

    Speaking to them, three key areas of concern have emerged - NHS privatisation, Brexit and trust in politics.

    Read more on why it's so hard for many people to make up their minds.

    Aodhan

    Who: Aodhan, 22, student, from Birmingham

    Recent voting history: Local elections - not voted; General elections - Labour

    Summary of 2019 so far: Distracted, divisive and unnecessary

    Why undecided: Because I don’t feel represented by any of the parties or manifestos as a whole.

    What would you say to a party leader: How can Jeremy Corbyn ensure the survival of Leftist progressive policies? How can he make sure that the socialist government he hopes to build is not disrupted by future governments? I don’t want someone else to get back into power and reverse any of the positive changes he makes.

    What is the one thing a party could promise which would secure your vote: Foreign policy decisions made with a humanist philosophy in mind rather than a capitalist philosophy.

    On Brexit: I was a Remainer - I would like to see a second referendum, and also isolationist politics avoided

  10. What has happened in the TV debates so far?published at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    .

    Ahead of the latest televised election special tonight, here's what we have seen from the politicians to date...

  11. Who's appearing in tonight's debate?published at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    The BBC's Emma Barnett is hosting a special election edition of Question Time tonight, specifically aimed at voters who are aged under 30.

    The full line up has been confirmed, with all seven main parties being represented.

    For four politicians on the panel tonight, it's the second night on the trot that they've faced questions.

    Angela Rayner, Jo Swinson, Adam Price and Jonathan Bartley all appeared on Channel 4's debate on Sunday night.

    But unlike last night's Channel 4 debate, tonight the Conservatives and Brexit Party are choosing to take part.

    The 90-minute will be broadcast on BBC One at 20:30 GMT tonight.

    Question Time debate
  12. How do Corbyn and Johnson's itineraries compare?published at 18:30 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Jeremy Corbyn has spent nearly half of his time on the campaign trail in Conservative marginal seats - with 31 of his 68 campaign visits being to Tory constituencies that are on Labour's target list, according to analysis by the Press Association news agency.

    Mr Corbyn has been to only one Tory stronghold - and that was to take part in one of the televised debates.

    He's been to slightly more Labour strongholds (16) than Labour marginals (13).

    Meanwhile, Boris Johnson appears to have a different strategy. He's been to only 12 Labour marginal seats so far, out of a total of 54 visits.

    He has also been to 10 Labour strongholds and 19 marginal seats being defended by the Tories.

    And while Mr Johnson has been to one Liberal Democrat seat - Brecon & Radnorshire - Mr Corbyn has not been to any.

  13. Meet the undecided voterspublished at 18:12 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Another undecided voter - one of a panel yet to make up their minds ahead of Thursday.

    Could undecideds make the difference this week? Read more to find out.

    Hans

    Who: Hans, 31, mortgage broker, from Woolwich

    Recent voting history: Local elections - not sure; General elections - Conservative

    Summary of 2019 so far: Mud-slinging and Brexit

    Why undecided: I’m not sure who is genuine and both parties are offering me things that I like and things that I disagree with.

    What would you say to a party leader: I would ask Boris Johnson 'What do you plan to do about the rising cost of living as it’s getting harder for young people to move out of the family home and start their lives?'

    What is the one thing a party could promise which would secure your vote: More investment in property and housing especially for young people

    On Brexit: I was a Leaver but I would change my mind if there was another referendum because I wasn’t told all of the facts. I was lied to and I didn’t know the extent to which I would be affected.

  14. Recap: What's going on with the photo of the sick boy?published at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Nick Eardley
    Political correspondent

    The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been to Leeds General Infirmary today, speaking with hospital management about the case

    This is all about four-year-old Jack, front page of the Daily Mirror this morning, who was in for overnight treatment to be monitored. The hospital's released a statement confirming that.

    But because there were no beds available, his mother had to make him a makeshift bed out of coats. That picture of the young boy has gone viral today.

    Boris Johnson was asked by a reporter about it earlier today. The reporter tried to show Mr Johnson a picture of Jack on the floor of this hospital.

    And the prime minister frankly was reluctant to engage on the issue, wouldn't look at the photo, didn't want to talk about it, ended up with the reporter's phone which had the picture on it in his pocket before eventually bringing the phone back out and then eventually after a few minutes apologising for what had happened.

    This has become a big issue today on the general election campaign because the Labour Party are saying it shows the Conservatives don't care. The Lib Dems are saying something similar.

    It appears the health secretary has been scrambled there to try and limit some of the damage done by that.

    Why is it such a big issue? For the simple reason that one of the main attacks that Labour have been using on the Conservatives is the NHS is not being funded properly and is not safe under the Conservative Party - something that Mr Johnson has denied time and time again.

    But just the video of that reaction to that picture of Jack... Some people are raising questions of whether he was empathetic or not and whether he took it seriously enough.

  15. Freeman: Look at PM's leadership recordpublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Radio 4 PM

    Also on Radio 4's PM programme, Conservative candidate George Freeman is asked whether or not people can trust his leader, Boris Johnson.

    He says what's crucial to answer that question is to look at Mr Johnson's leadership record.

    Mr Freeman says Mr Johnson "defied the odds" by serving two terms as London mayor in a Labour city, and that as foreign secretary Mr Johnson "took on the Russians" when they expelled dozens of UK diplomats.

    And he says as PM he's "managed to successfully renegotiate" a withdrawal agreement for the UK to leave the EU.

  16. Where are parties giving each other a 'free run'?published at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Media caption,

    Some parties are joining forces to boost their chances in the 2019 general election.

  17. McDonald: Working class 'trounced' since 2010published at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Radio 4 PM

    The discussion between the Conservative George Freeman and Labour's Andy McDonald on Radio 4' s PM programme gets rather heated as they debate which party has the interests of working class people at heart.

    Mr Freeman says traditional Labour voters "don't' believe" that Jeremy Corbyn is going to be able to "fulfil all his promises".

    Mr McDonald retorts that George Freeman isn't interested in the working class and "what they've suffered since 2010" because the Conservatives "look after the wealthiest".

    Mr Freeman say he "deeply resents" that, calling it "old class warfare".

    Mr McDonald agrees, saying: "It is class warfare, George. The working class have been absolutely trounced since 2010. It's about time the emphasis is shifted back in their favour."

  18. Corbyn 'demonised' by the presspublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Radio 4 PM

    In this election, polls suggest that both party leaders have popularity challenges.

    The shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald blames the "demonisation" of the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn "at the hands of the mainstream media" which is "trying to deny us our democracy".

    "I find that quite disgusting quite frankly. We don't have an honest, objective and evidence-based discussion," Mr McDonald says.

    And he anticipates more to come as election day approaches...

  19. Watch: Video shows exchanges as Hancock leaves hospitalpublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    The BBC's political editor has shared a video showing the moment Health Secretary Matt Hancock was heckled by protesters as he left Leeds General Infirmary.

    He had been there to talk about a picture which has gone viral, showing a sick four-year-old boy who had to sleep on the floor of the hospital.

    Earlier, there had been unconfirmed reports that the exchange had turned nasty - but the video shows there was no violence and a member of Mr Hancock's team walked into a protester's arm.

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  20. Meet the undecided voterspublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 9 December 2019

    Time for another trip to Crewe, a key marginal at this election, where the BBC has been meeting undecided voters. The BBC commissioned an opinion research consultancy, Britain Thinks, to put together a sample of voters - representative in age, location, gender, race, class and voting history. Three key concerns emerged - NHS privatisation, Brexit and trust.

    People like Gabrielle have been asking questions of our experts in an effort to come to some conclusion about Thursday's decision.

    Gabrielle

    Who: Gabrielle, 25, retail worker, from Birmingham

    Recent voting history: Local elections - Conservative; General elections - 2017 Conservative; 2015 Green

    Summary of election so far: Apprehensive, sly and pointless

    Why undecided: I think there’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and parties are trying to offer much more than they are capable of.

    What would you say to a party leader: I'd ask Jeremy Corbyn 'why do you think it is acceptable to charge the top 5% more tax when they won’t be paying much tax themselves i.e. the politicians themselves?'

    What is the one thing a party could promise which would secure your vote: If the parties could make their policies and stick to them, they would secure my vote.

    On Brexit: I voted Remain, but as the majority voted to leave, we should have followed through with it years ago when the referendum took place.