Campaign highlights: Corbyn plans schools boost as Farage hit by defections
Three MEPs quit the Brexit Party, while Jeremy Corbyn faced more accusations over anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
A series of departures from the Brexit Party provided a boost for Boris Johnson during Thursday’s campaigning, while Jeremy Corbyn was again fending off accusations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.
Here are some of the highlights:
– Three MEPs quit the Brexit Party and urged people to vote Conservative
Annunziata Rees-Mogg – sister of Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg – Lance Forman and Lucy Harris dramatically announced they would leave Nigel Farage’s party to back Boris Johnson’s push to “get Brexit done”.
– Boris Johnson backs his chances of securing a trade deal with the EU by December 2020
The Prime Minister said he thought he could get a deal with Brussels by the end of the transition period next year – and suggested a no-deal crash-out would not happen.
Asked if it was a “cast-iron guarantee”, Mr Johnson said: “The possibility you allude to simply will not happen.”
– Jeremy Corbyn denies Labour has become a “welcoming refuge” for anti-Semites under his leadership
Seventy Labour Party staff past and present submitted sworn statements to the official investigation into anti-Semitism in the party, lawyers said.
Following the disclosure, Mr Corbyn denied the party had become a “welcoming refuge” for anti-Semites under his leadership.
– Mr Johnson says he could “certainly” eat “the funny stuff” on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
ITV’s This Morning host Holly Willoughby had suggested Mr Johnson could follow in his father’s footsteps and appear on the show, in which famous faces are cast away to a remote jungle campsite in Australia.
– Labour wants to offer free healthy breakfasts to all primary school children
Under a proposal to “poverty proof” England’s schools and reduce the number going hungry, the party would offer free healthy breakfasts to all primary school pupils and pilot the scheme in secondary schools.
Tweet of the day
After being grilled on the This Morning sofa, Boris Johnson poses for a selfie with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
Picture of the day
Three more Brexit Party MEPs quit to back the PM’s EU departure deal.
