Brexit news: Latest updates at 5am from the past 12 hours
Here is your daily briefing on all the General Election and Brexit news from the past 12 hours.
Boris Johnson has been quizzed about Russian interference in UK politics, the police have launched their biggest ever operation to protect election candidates, and the Lib Dems have pledged £100bn to tackle climate change.
Prime minister quizzed by radio listeners
Boris Johnson has been quizzed on his private life, Russian interference in UK politics, and Labour’s plans to provide free broadband for all.
The prime minister was taking part in a phone-in with listeners on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Asked why he had declined to publish a report by parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee on the possibility of Russian interference in British politics, he said: “Because I see absolutely no reason to change the normal procedures for publishing ISC reports just because there is an election.”
The report includes evidence from the intelligence services concerning alleged attempts by Russia to influence the results of the 2016 EU referendum and 2017 general election.
Dominic Grieve QC MP, chair of the ISC, said last week that the report had been sent to the prime minister for clearance on October 17, and called for it to be published.
The prime minister said there was “no evidence” of Russian interference.
During the interview, he also said claims that none of his children had attended state school were “wrong” and called Labour’s plans to provide free broadband to all homes and businesses a “crazed communist scheme”.
Police launch operation to protect candidates
The police are to launch their biggest ever operation to protect parliamentary candidates over the course of the election campaign, it has been announced.
Instances of threats or harassment will be monitored by a dedicated unit, with any emerging trends being identified and investigated, the Guardian reported.
Candidates will be briefed on danger signs to watch for, and will also be urged not to go door-knocking alone.
The issue of MPs’ security has gained heightened attention since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox during the 2016 EU referendum campaign.
The announcement comes the same day a man was jailed for sending a threatening letter to Remain-supporting MP Anna Soubry.
Alden Bryce Barlow, 55, from Doncaster, was given a 12-month sentence over the letter, received by Soubry’s constituency office on October 14, which read: “COX WAS FIRST YOU ARE NEXT”.
Police have also told candidates that rude, distasteful, or shocking are likely to be considered to fall within the bounds of free speech.
Lib Dems pledge £100bn to fight climate change
The Liberal Democrats would commit £100 billion to help combat climate change if they win the general election, the party’s finance spokesperson has said.
Speaking at an event in Leeds, deputy leader Sir Ed Davey said the plans would also bring savings to consumers in the long-term.
He said the scheme would include “a new £10bn renewable power fund to leverage in over £100bn of extra private climate investment”.
“This will fast-track deployment of clean energy, to make Britain not just the world leader in offshore wind, but also the global number one in tidal power too,” he said.
“And we will invest £15bn more to make every building in the country greener, with an emergency ten-year programme to save energy, end fuel poverty and cut heating bills.”
The party has said it will not do any deal with the Conservatives or Labour after the election, but would vote “issue by issue” with a minority Conservative or Labour government.
Green Party pledges Universal Basic Income
The Green Party has said it would introduce a universal basic income for everyone by 2025 if it were to form a government.
Speaking to the BBC, party co-leader Sian Berry said the plan would see every adult receive a minimum of £89 per week with no means testing, and that it would replace the current Universal Credit system of benefits.
She said the scheme would cost taxpayers an additional £76bn a year, and would be funded by a new carbon tax as well as taxes on higher earners.
“The problem with our benefits system, and it’s been made worse by the Conservatives over the last nine years, is it’s conditional and it’s punitive,” Berry said.
It leaves gaps for people to fall through as a threat, and we need to take that threat away and rethink welfare altogether, and this is our solution.”
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“Only the Green Party has the policies and ambition to eliminate the cruelty of the benefits system and tackle poverty head-on.
A guaranteed minimum income for every UK resident is a further building block of the Green New Deal that will transform all our lives.”
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