Summary

  • It's the penultimate day of campaigning, ahead of Thursday's general election

  • The BBC has hosted leaders' debates in Scotland and Northern Ireland

  • Boris Johnson faced criticism for his reaction to a photo of a sick child lying on a hospital floor

  • A Conservative minister said the PM did "apologise and empathise", but Labour says the picture shows the impact of Tory "under-funding"

  • Labour's Jon Ashworth was recorded saying his party would not win the election

  • The shadow health secretary later insisted he was joking, and Mr Corbyn said he supported his colleague

  1. Tories investigate candidate over alleged Islamophobiapublished at 21:10 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Linden Kemkaran
    Image caption,

    Linden Kemkaran (pictured) rejected Naz Shah's accusations of Islamophobia

    The Conservatives are investigating a complaint made by Labour candidate Naz Shah that a Tory candidate re-tweeted Islamophobic material.

    In a letter to Conservative chair James Cleverly, Ms Shah called for action over the Twitter activity of the party's candidate Linden Kemkaran.

    This includes allegedly re-tweeting a post calling Islam a "nasty culture".

    The Conservative Party says it is investigating Ms Shah's claims, which have been rejected by Mrs Kemkaran.

    Read our full story here.

  2. BBC Northern Ireland debate beginspublished at 21:06 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Northern Ireland debate

    The Scottish leaders' debate is now finished, and next up we have a BBC debate between Northern Ireland's main parties in front of a studio audience.

    The live debate, which has just started, is being chaired by presenter Noel Thompson.

    The panellists are DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill, Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood, Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken and Alliance leader Naomi Long.

  3. PM at Manchester rally: It's going to be a tight fightpublished at 20:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Boris Johnson

    That's a wrap.

    Mr Johnson only spoke for a few minutes but he ended in familiar fashion: "Let's take this country forward - let's make sure that we go forward with a fantastic agenda to make this country the best place in the world to live, to bring up your kids, to breathe clean air."

    He also reminded supporters that it's a "tight fight" and that the Conservatives can't be complacent.

    Mr Johnson's now doing the rounds and taking obligatory selfies with his supporters.

  4. PM addresses rally in Manchesterpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Boris Johnson

    Away from the Scottish leaders' debate, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is speaking at a rally in Manchester.

    There's a big boo and hiss from the crowd as he tells them the only alternative to a Conservative majority after polling day on Thursday is a coalition between Labour and the SNP.

    He spends most of the speech bad-mouthing the Labour Party and its leader, Jeremy Corbyn - much to the delight of the supporters in the crowd.

    The first big cheer comes as Mr Johnson offers up his familiar campaign line about Brexit: "Let's get it done."

  5. Where is the money coming from?published at 20:53 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Scottish leaders' debate

    The next question is from Danielle Gibson, who says parties are demanding an end to austerity and promising to spend big on things like the NHS and tackling homelessness. She says they're all good ideas, but if we want to spend so much, where is the money coming from?

    Labour's Richard Leonard says in order to boost public services, the burden of taxation must be put on companies and through capital gains tax.

    We are the only party setting out in full view how we will raise the money to turn this country around, he argues.

    The SNP's Nicola Sturgeon says she would like to see progressive taxation and more reasonable and responsible borrowing.

    The first minister says she does not think Labour's figures are entirely credible and adds all the other parties want to renew trident at a cost of £200bn, whereas she would like to see the cash invested in health and education instead.

    I did not come into politics to impose austerity, says Conservative Jackson Carlaw, but the huge financial crisis 10 years ago meant cuts were needed to ensure millions of people in this country were not out of work.

    But we would have millions of people unemployed if the decisions were not made by the UK government, he goes on to say.

    Meanwhile, anti-Brexit Lib Dem Willie Rennie says if we stop Brexit there would be an immediate Remain bonus of £50bn.

    He says the IFS have said the Lib Dem proposals are "radical and prudent" and he argues they are costed.

    The Resolution Foundation has said the proposals are progressive, even more so than Labour's, argues Mr Rennie.

  6. Is capitalism a force for good or bad?published at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Another quickfire question on the BBC Scotland leaders' debate.

    There are mixed responses.

    It's a force for good as long as it is properly moderated, replies Scottish Conservatives' Jackson Carlaw.

    Nicolas Sturgeon thinks unregulated capitalism is a force for bad and calls for more regulation and state ownership where necessary.

    It can be a force for good alongside progressive politics, suggests Lib Dem Willie Rennie.

    And Labour's Richard Leonard says he is broadly in favour of socialism and says a mixture of public ownership and private enterprise is best.

  7. Should it be a criminal offence to lie in Parliament?published at 20:50 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    In yesterday's UK-wide BBC debate, which had an audience of under-30s, Plaid Cymru's Adam Price said he would make lying by politicians a criminal offence.

    It was an idea that a couple of the other party representatives attending yesterday liked, with the Green Party's Jonathan Bartley and SNP's Humza Yousaf saying they were interested in the idea.

    Tonight's debate has a similar discussion with a quickfire question: Should it be a criminal offence to lie in Parliament?

    Short and snappy answers from the four leaders to this:

    • Labour's Richard Leonard: Prisons are already overcrowded so he is not sure locking up politicians is the right thing to do, adding it should perhaps be a civil crime
    • Conservatives' Jackson Carlaw: No, but it's a resignation matter
    • SNP's Nicola Sturgeon: It is not something politicians should do regardless of whether it is an offence; she also criticises Boris Johnson for lying
    • Lib Dems' Willie Rennie: Agrees with the first minister about Boris Johnson
  8. Would parties do a deal to keep Boris Johnson out of No 10?published at 20:47 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard
    Image caption,

    No deals, says Scottish Labour's Richard Leonard

    BBC host Sarah Smith asks if SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon would look to do a deal with Labour and the Lib Dems to keep the Conservatives out of government.

    She replies that she would hope a progressive alliance could be formed to keep the Conservatives out.

    Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says both Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are unfit to be prime minister so the Lib Dems will not do any deal that puts either in power.

    Meanwhile, Labour's Richard Leonard says: "We will not enter into any deals, pacts or coalition arrangements."

    The people have the choice to elect a Labour government he says.

    The choice is a Boris Johnson or a Jeremy Corbyn government, the Scottish Labour leader says - adding he hopes people will vote for his party.

    =

  9. Facebook issues statement on post about hospital boypublished at 20:44 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    A bit more now on our earlier post about the misinformation war over the boy pictured sleeping on the floor of a hospital.

    Yesterday's campaigning was dominated by criticism of Boris Johnson's response to a photo of Jack lying on the floor in A&E.

    But as the debate swirled, this post emerged on Facebook claiming that, according to "a good friend" who is a senior nursing sister at Leeds Hospital, the boy's mother staged the photo to send to the media and that, in fact, the boy did have a hospital trolley.

    The independent fact checking organisation, Full Fact, has now confirmed the posts (rather than the photo) were fake.

    A statement from Facebook says: “Full Fact have now officially rated this content as false - so if it's still being shared it will now appear much lower in people's news feeds with a grey overlay screen saying 'false information' linking to Full Fact's post."

    You can read Reality Check's piece about how the fake post spread here.

  10. Would no one party gaining overall control be bad?published at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Nicola Sturgeon

    Another question, and this time it's from Davie Graham, who asks if a hung Parliament, with no single party in overall control, would necessarily be a bad thing.

    For the Scottish Conservatives' interim leader Jackson Carlaw, the answer is yes - a hung parliament would be a bad thing.

    He says public services are currently suffering because the constitution is Nicola Sturgeon's first, second and third priorities.

    First minister and SNP leader Ms Sturgeon points out there has been a material change since the first independence referendum and adds she does not accept the EU referendum result because Scotland voted against it.

  11. No-show for Tories on radio phone-inpublished at 20:32 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Meanwhile south of the border, LBC has pulled its radio phone-in with a senior Conservative minister after the party said it could not find anyone to conduct the hour-long interview in person.

    The Tories offered up Transport Secretary Grant Shapps but on the condition he could do it from home. LBC said the call-in had to be filmed in the studio.

    Presenter Iain Dale - a former aide to senior Tory David Davis - said it was not good enough when the Tories "had a week to find someone to do that slot".

    Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth, whose leaked comments about Jeremy Corbyn have dominated news headlines today, is due on LBC later tonight.

    "Credit to him for actually keeping the appointment," Dale said.

    "He could easily have pulled out but he is not a wimp and he [is] going to come and face the music."

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  12. Will Scottish independence inevitably follow Brexit?published at 20:26 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Scottish leaders

    The next question in the debate is on Scottish independence. Matthew Brickell asks if it is inevitable that Scotland will vote for independence if the UK eventually leaves the European Union.

    People have seen the economic damage of Brexit and will be put off independence, suggests Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie, who has led the party since 2011

    "We shouldn't mount chaos upon chaos."

    The questioner says he thinks independence is more likely after the "arrogance of the Westminster government" in its treatment of the Union.

    "Well you wouldn't expect me to agree with that," says Jackson Carlaw.

    The Scottish Conservative interim leader says in each referendum one side has not accepted the outcome that is politically divisive.

    He doesn't believe there will be a second independence referendum, citing the once in a generation pledge.

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says: "It's not democracy if people are not allowed to change their minds when the circumstances have changed."

    She adds that she believes people in Scotland will vote to be independent when given the choice again.

  13. In pictures: Calls for Corbyn in Glasgow campaign centrepublished at 20:18 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    It's not just the debate that's happening in Glasgow this evening.

    After visits to a library, primary school and pub in north-west England, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has gone north of the border to the Scottish city.

    He joins Labour Party activists making calls to supporters and prospective voters.

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Jane Barlow/PA Wire
    Jeremy CorbynImage source, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
  14. Scottish leaders' debate kicks off with question about trustpublished at 20:12 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Scottish leaders' debate

    The Scottish leaders' debate has begun, and is being broadcast live from Glasgow.

    The four leaders of Scotland's main parties are here: the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, Conservatives' Jackson Carlaw, Labour's Richard Leonard, and the Lib Dems' Willie Rennie.

    The first question is on the mistrust of politicians and it comes from a doctor from Glasgow. She asks: How do the leaders feel about politicians being mistrusted?

    Ms Sturgeon, who is the first minister of Scotland, says she thinks politicians "have forgotten we're opponents, not enemies" and "stopped trying as hard as we should to understand things from another person's point of view".

    "Social media exacerbates that," she says.

    Asked how he feels, Scottish Conservatives' Mr Carlaw says "we live in a less deferential age" - but says politicians do work together on some issues.

    He thinks it's "right and correct" to question everything politicians say.

    Scottish Labour's Mr Leonard says that "part of leadership is listening" - and "there are times where people are guilty of transposing their own priorities rather than listening to the priorities" of the communities politicians are elected to serve.

    And Mr Rennie says the mistrust of politicians "deeply concerns me".

    "Public service was something I was brought up to believe was a force for good," he says, and for people to distrust it concerns him.

  15. Election debate bingo?published at 20:00 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    We're moments away from BBC Scotland's leaders' debate, and our political journalist has made a bingo card for the occasion...

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  16. Watch: What shouldn't you do at a polling station?published at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Chi Chi Izundu explains what you should avoid doing when you go to cast your vote in the election on Thursday.

    Media caption,

    General election 2019: What shouldn't you do at a polling station?

    What shouldn't you do at a polling station?

    Chi Chi Izundu explains what should avoid doing when you go to cast your vote in the UK general election.

    Read More
  17. UK ports 'preparing to host EU customs checks'published at 19:50 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Faisal Islam
    BBC Economics Editor

    PortImage source, Getty Images

    The shipping industry is drawing up plans for EU border checks in Britain for trade bound for Northern Ireland.

    The BBC has learned that freight could be diverted through ports with space for inspections such as Liverpool and Stranraer, despite the government denying checks will be necessary.

    Customs staff at the relevant ports could include EU representatives, under the details of the new withdrawal deal.

    Read more here.

  18. Watch: London Bridge victim's dad 'found PM offensive'published at 19:42 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    The father of one of the victims of the London Bridge attack has accused Boris Johnson of using his son's death "to score points" in the general election.

    After the attack on 29 November, the prime minister blamed Usman Khan's early release from prison on legislation introduced under the Labour government.

    The father of Cambridge graduate Jack Merritt, who was stabbed to death in the attack, told Sky News that "instead of seeing a tragedy, Boris Johnson saw an opportunity".

    London Bridge victim's dad 'found PM offensive'

    Dave Merritt accuses Boris Johnson of using his son Jack's death to "score points" in the election.

    Read More
  19. Northern Irish leaders set for debatepublished at 19:36 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    UTV election debateImage source, UTV
    Image caption,

    The five main Stormont parties clashed in a UTV election debate on Sunday - and they're on the BBC tonight

    In the final run up to the election, the BBC is broadcasting a debate between Northern Ireland's main parties in front of a studio audience.

    The panellists are Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP), Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Fein), Colum Eastwood (SDLP), Steve Aiken (UUP) and Naomi Long (Alliance).

    The programme will be on BBC One Northern Ireland (and HD) as well as BBC Parliament, at 21:00 tonight - or you can catch up on it after that here.

    First, though, the BBC Scotland leaders' debate is taking place at 20:00.

  20. Analysis: Ashworth's remarks make tricky day for Labourpublished at 19:31 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2019

    Laura Kuenssberg
    BBC political editor

    This has definitely been a tricky day for the Labour Party.

    Tricky not just because of the embarrassment of Jonathan Ashworth's remarks which were never meant to make it into the public domain.

    But tricky because they ring true with some of the conversations you hear in private from Labour candidates around the country who talk about the struggles they have on the doorstep and also the concerns that we've heard from some voters in parts of the country who worry about Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

    We know that he has a very enthusiastic core of supporters - we've seen them round the country - but there's no question that his leadership is an issue for many people inside his party as well as for voters, many of whom still have not made up their mind.

    So just at this almost final moment in this campaign, the issue of his leadership that has been hanging around for years now has come blasting back into this election campaign just when he needed it least.