Bremain BrexElection Briefing 7
Welcome to our final Briefing. We have some really interesting stories that you will not have seen on the Bremain site. To whet your appetite “Confessions of a Canvasser” is a MUST read!
Jeremy Corbyn breaks post-attack truce Labour leader says Theresa May trying to ‘protect public on the cheap.’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Prime Minister Theresa May of attempting to “protect the public on the cheap” by cutting police budgets and promised more police officers and a pay rise for those already serving, in his first speech since Saturday’s London terror attack. Speaking Sunday evening, less than 24 hours after three attackers killed seven and injured dozens in central London,…….” (Charlie Cooper Politico 4 June)
Theresa May, you need personality to play personality politics.
The Tories tried to make this General Election about personalities rather than policies. And it’s starting to backfire. On what planet did anyone at Conservative Party HQ think that would be a good idea when their leader has the emotional intelligence of the Terminator? (Kae Kurd iNews 5 June)
Invisible Election
Invisible election: The online battle for General Election votes.
Hundreds of people tell Sky the three main parties are using “dark ads” and the internet to secretly target voters. The parties are using data and targeted digital ads as never before as we enter the home straight in this General Election. Hundreds of voters across the country have participated in Sky News’ Invisible Election Project seeking to understand how – and by who – “dark ads” that are not normally visible elsewhere are being used. (Faisal Islam Political Editor Sky News 6 June)
Confessions of a canvasser: Facing down dogs, nudity and Oliver Cromwell.
To the ordinary citizen, especially in a marginal constituency, the ritual of door-knocking before an election can be tiring. They never seem to knock when you’re at a loss for something to do. It’s always as we’re chopping carrots, about to walk the dog, watching a movie. But spare a thought for those who are doing the canvassing, walking the streets of this nation and braving every driveway, no matter how many protective dogs may lie in wait, all in the name of democracy. (Karl McDonald iNews 7 June)
How do you beat a rival 70 times richer than you? Inside Labour’s cash-strapped campaign
For every pound donated to Labour, someone handed the Tories £70. In the first two weeks of the general election campaign, the Conservatives raised £4,388,000 in individual donations. The Lib Dems raised £340,000, and Labour raised £61,300. In other words, for every pound donated to Labour, someone handed the Tories £70. (Julia Rampen New Statesman 7 June)
Britain goes to the polls 104 years to the day since suffragette Emily Davison died for the right to vote.
Organisers of the Women’s March London, which led thousands in the UK capital on a demonstration on Donald Trump’s inauguration day, wrote on Twitter: “104 years ago today. Emily Wilding Davison dies in the struggle to win women the vote. Use it.” Emily Davison died after blocking the path of King George V’s horse at the Epsom Derby on June 4, 1913. (Eleanor Rose Evening Standard 8 June)
Both parties are glad we’re not grilling them on economic policy.
The shadow of the financial crisis still hangs over us. We have had the lowest earnings growth and lowest interest rates in, very nearly, recorded history. We have suffered a long-term squeeze on public spending and still face a national debt which has more than doubled since 2008. And with Brexit on the way, we are layering a big dose of economic uncertainty on top. (Paul Johnson Evening Standard 8 June)
The result is objectively hilarious – but we should still be angry at the Tories for screwing things up, again.
Whatever happened to the national interest? I’m not sure, if I’m honest, which was my favourite moment of last night. The exit poll: that was good, obviously, and a much needed corrective to the trauma of 2015, when at least one member of the NS politics team literally screamed. Last night, by contrast, there was singing. (John Elledge New Statesman 9 June)
The Conservatives will pay a steep price for relying on the DUP The much-maligned Northern Irish party’s positions defy stereotype, and could incur the wrath of Tory backbenchers – derailing May’s Brexit plans….The DUP were among the most enthusiastic advocates for Brexit, but that is not to say they share the priorities of the hard leave wing of the parliamentary Tory party. (Patrick Maguire New Statesman 9 June)
No glee in Brussels as May’s General Election gamble backfires backfires. Almost exactly a year after the EU referendum, no one in Europe is remotely clear on what sort of Brexit Britain wants. From the EU perspective, a strong UK government was the desired outcome. They were relatively agnostic about what colour the government was. But the consensus has been that a strong UK government would have reduced the chances of domestic UK bickering and increased the chances of a deal acceptable for both sides. (Mark Stone Europe Correspondent Sky News 10 June)
Corbyn vows to meet Merkel ‘straight away’ if he becomes PM Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to fly to Berlin to meet Chancellor Angela Merkel “straight away” to negotiate Brexit if he wins the General Election. The Labour leader was asked by Sky News how he would deal with Brexit negotiations if he becomes Prime Minister next Friday, and what he would say to Mrs Merkel in particular. “Ich bin ein Corbyn” joked the Labour leader in reply at his Brexit speech in Basildon in Essex. 
What’s gone wrong with the Conservative campaign? Theresa May’s weaknesses and a lack of popular policies have driven the Tories backwards. Theresa May called the general election in more favourable circumstances than any prime minister since 1945. The Conservatives had a 19-point poll lead. Labour appeared the weakest opposition for decades. And Brexit had gifted May a project to unite a fragmented right. Many anticipated a remorseless march to victory. But the election has not proceeded as the Tories intended. 
Tories believe momentum is swinging back their way (honestly) Conservative campaign HQ wants to move the conversation back to Brexit and leadership, where they believe they have the edge. They may be wrong, complacent or just out of touch, but among the most senior ranks at Conservative campaign headquarters they believe the U.K. general election is about to get boring again. 
UK General Election polls: Two thirds of 18 to 24 year olds plan to back Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, poll suggests Two thirds of youngsters who are certain to vote in the General Election plan to back Labour, according to a new poll. The ICM survey found 68 per cent of aged 18 to 24 year olds who are registered and say they are “certain” to vote plan to support Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour. Sixteen per cent said they would vote for the Conservatives, while 8 per cent said they would go for the Lib Dems. 
All party leaders except Theresa May and Paul Nuttall sign EU citizen pledge The Home is Here campaign asks candidates to commit to guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals. The leaders of the Tories and Ukip have refused to back a pledge to campaign for the rights of EU citizens signed by all the other mainstream parties. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, Green co-leader Caroline Lucas and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood have all signed up to the Home is Here pledge. 
Conservatives cancel election campaign relaunch as poll lead over Labour evaporates Tories decline to say why event was scrapped – a decision taken as news of major poll shift emerges The Conservatives cancelled the relaunch of their election campaign, as nervousness grew over the party’s evaporating lead in the opinion polls. Faced with the likelihood of difficult questions about the Tory campaign, David Davis suddenly pulled out of a planned event in central London earlier today. With Theresa May abroad at the G7 summit in Sicily, it meant the effective relaunch of the Tory campaign, after the three-day pause because of the Manchester bombings, was put on hold. 
Defence secretary Michael Fallon slams Jeremy Corbyn’s terror quotes – only to realise they came from Boris Johnson Michael Fallon was left red-faced after he blasted quotes seemingly from Jeremy Corbyn on the war against terror – only to realise they were the views of Boris Johnson. The defence secretary attacked the Labour leader’s policy on defence and views on extremism in Britain, with Mr Corbyn claiming on Friday the war on terror is “simply not working”. 
If you’re under 18, Theresa May doesn’t want you to be allowed a vote. Theresa May has resisted calls to lower the voting age to 16, insisting young people could get involved in politics without casting a ballot. If you are 16 or 17 you can get married, join the armed forces and if you are working you will have to pay tax. And yet you have no say when it comes to picking the next Government. And the Prime Minister thinks this is fair. 
Labour candidate Rupa Huq: We don’t want a load of Theresa May clones in Parliament “Brex-terminate, Brex-terminate,” mocks Rupa Huq in a robotic voice. It’s also an imitation of what Parliament could sound like, in her view, if too many MPs in favour of a hard Brexit are elected on 8 June. “We don’t want a load of Theresa May clones,” says the pro-EU Labour politician, who is fighting for re-selection in Ealing Central and Acton. 
Theresa May says the Conservatives stand for gender equality. Tell that to the Tory councillor who says pregnant women shouldn’t become MPs. I wonder if anyone asked David Cameron, Matthew Hancock or Jeremy Hunt if they would be too busy changing nappies to undertake their dual roles as MPs and cabinet ministers when their babies were born? “How can a woman who is just about to give birth take on a role as MP?” This is the question a Tory councillor asked of Catherine Atkinson, the Labour candidate for Erewash. Not fifty years ago. This happened last week. 
Brexit takes centre stage in TV debate as Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn absent UKIP’s leader Paul Nuttall found himself outnumbered by 4-1 on Brexit and other issues in a party leaders’ TV debate that was snubbed by Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Nuttall was also isolated on immigration and grammar schools as he battled against the Lib Dems’ Tim Farron, Caroline Lucas of the Greens, the SNP’s Nicola Sturgeon and Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru. 
Comedian Eddie Izzard hoping to become Labour politician The 55-year-old comedian revealed his ambition to enter the political arena in an interview with The Times Magazine. He outlined a vision of “the whole world of seven billion people all having a fair chance”. And Izzard issued his support for Labour leader Mr Corbyn, saying he “believes in what he [Corbyn] says”. 
Caroline Lucas Greens attack Jeremy Corbyn as progressive alliance hopes fade.
Land of make-believe The Tory and Labour parties fail to face the realities of Brexit FOG in channel: continent cut off is an (alas apocryphal) newspaper headline that points to the innate British sense of superiority. Victory in two world wars and a long history without invasion has given Britain a sense of detachment from its European neighbours. As a result, it was always a reluctant member of the European Union. 
Students just blew the general election wide open with one hell of a shock for Theresa May Front-runner Theresa May could be in for one hell of a shock. Students have blown the general election wide open, as 93% say they are registered to vote on 8 June. And the majority of that 93% plan to use their vote either for Labour or to tactically remove the Conservatives from power. Stepping back from the students, a striking 530,982 under-35s have registered to vote since May called the election. Over half of these people are 18-24. Labour has a solid lead with under-40s, meaning a high turnout from young people could dramatically change the result. 
Greens withdraw Oxford West and Abingdon candidate in bid to oust Tories The Green Party has withdrawn its candidate from an Oxfordshire constituency in a move it hopes will help defeat the Tories. The Greens have now urged Labour to also stand aside in Oxford West and Abingdon and allow the Liberal Democrats to stand against health minister Nicola Blackwood. Sarah Wood, chairwoman of the Oxfordshire Green Party, said: “Our political system is broken, and it makes no sense that parties with many common values stand against each other and let the Tories through.” 
EU demands three million citizens be allowed to stay in UK after Brexit, including people with no proof of residency ‘We will not discuss our future relationship with the UK until the 27 member states are reassured that all citizens will be treated properly and humanely’ The EU has toughened its stance on the fate of three million EU citizens in the UK, demanding even for those with no proof of residency are allowed to stay after Brexit. The lead negotiator for Brussels insisted “red tape” must not be allowed to stand in the way of EU nationals remaining with full rights. “Individuals legally residing in the UK today must remain residents after withdrawal, including in those cases when people have no documents to prove residency,” Michel Barnier said. 
