Paul Dadge said he was "extremely proud" as he announced the news on Twitter.

Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter

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The Conservatives'  Margot James argues that plans for hospital service closures are not "Tory plans", they have been "developed within the NHS".

She says this is not something that should be party political. 

"These are NHS plans to make the service more sustainable over the long term," she insists.

Presenter Jo Coburn asks if she backs a pay increase for NHS staff - which Labour are promising. She says she wants to see "an affordable increase".

Jeremy Corbyn has accused the Conservative party of having an "air of desperation" about it with its attack on him in the early stages of the general election campaign. Speaking after the launch by the Conservatives of a poster on Labour's tax and spending policies entitled: "Corbyn - No Bombs for our Army, One Big Bombshell for Your Family", Mr Corbyn said all commitments made by his party so far had been fully costed and were fully funded.

The Labour leader said: "The Conservatives actually know that, because they must have read the statements we've put out. It seems to me that only two weeks into the election there's an air of desperation approaching the Tory campaign, because we will not be raising tax for the low paid, we will not be raising tax for middle income earners, but we will be protecting the triple lock on pensions, we will be ensuring our schools."

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"We weren't considering walking away paying nothing," says Conservative business minister Margot James. "We will pay something, but it's got to be consistent with what we end up owing, not some figure just dreamt up at the early stage of the negotiations."

She adds: "We will pay what we will owe as part of a deal that the prime minister will bring back."

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"I do think there's a lot of positioning going on," says Labour's Barry Gardiner, when asked about the rumours of a €100bn Brexit "bill". 

There could be "possible liabilities" but there could also be significant "returns" for the UK as well, he goes on. 

He thinks the best possible deal would be a "total package" that came with the maximum amount of "friction-free trade".

"Upfront costs have to be offset against the eventual benefit," Mr Gardiner concludes.

Gisela Stuart, the former Labour MP who was a key figure in the Leave campaign last year, is adamant the European Court of Justice must not continue to have influence over UK affairs - even though Michel Barnier said a short time ago that it inevitably would.

She says:

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Daily Mirror columnist Susie Boniface says Labour's answer to that sort of "presidential" campaigning from the Tories is to try to bring things down to local level.

"We don't pick the person who is prime minister and it's the local MP who fights for schools and hospitals," she says. 

Labour want voters to "try and think about what's going to affect you most. It's going to be your MP," she adds.

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James Forsyth, from the Spectator, says that for Theresa May this election is in no small part about "liberating herself from David Cameron and George Osborne's manifesto". She's going to have "permission" for her own policies - like grammar schools - which she wouldn't have got through before, he says.

"Her own personal authority will be strengthened because this is going to be her personal victory," he goes on, noting that when she campaigns, especially in the north, she doesn't do so with a Conservative banner behind her.

"It just says, 'Theresa May, strong and stable leadership'."

Summing up Michel Barnier's earlier remarks:

• The EU believes the UK has "incontestable" liabilities - i.e. owings - that must be honoured when it leaves. If it doesn't there could be "explosive" consequences because EU programmes, including those giving support to countries such as Ukraine and Turkey, might have to be cut 
• But it's not a "bill" and is definitely not a "punishment"
• Brexit negotiations will not be "painless" and those under the impression there will be "no material impact" on UK-EU relations are sorely mistaken
• But everyone wants things to work out in the end, so we should all remain "clear-headed"
• The European Court of Justice will retain its role in adjudicating in disputes between the EU and UK where European law is involved. Specifically, the ECJ would "quite clearly" have the power to rule on the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit
• He and Theresa May both love mountain-walking - and if the shared passions tells us anything, it is that we should "always keep our eye on the summit"

Business minister Margot James and shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner are the guests of the day on Wednesday's Daily Politics from 12:00 BST.

They will start off by looking at reports the UK could be asked to pay 100 billion euros to the EU as part of a so-called Brexit divorce bill, before turning to Labour's campaigning on NHS cuts.

Andrew Neil and Jo Coburn will also be covering the last campaigning day for the local elections with Conservative, Labour, SNP, Green, UKIP, Lib Dem, and Plaid Cymru representatives.

The UK "can no longer afford to contract out aid policy to Bono and Bob Geldof" - so say UKIP's Paul Nuttall and Patrick O'Flynn, who have been discussing international development spending in the last half hour.

Mr O'Flynn, above in front of a rather retro pair of curtains, says there has been an "aid bonanza", while his colleague adds: "We are not afraid to say charity begins at home."

UKIP believes the country can save £10bn a year by slashing spending on foreign aid - and the party thinks a significant portion of the British people agree.

Tim Farron had a somewhat heated exchange earlier with a Leave supporter who said he was accusing people like him of not knowing what they voted for. Malcolm Baker said people like him were being accused of being racist.

"Loads of my mates voted Leave, I don't think they're racist," says Mr Farron, attempting to interject.

"Yes you do," Mr Baker hits back.

The Lib Dem leader then changed tack, asking: "Have you got grandchildren? Are you proud they will inherit a poorer, less well-off, less secure country?" 

"I'm proud that we will come out of Europe," Mr Baker replied.

The Press Association's Sam Lister shared this video of the moment.

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