Boris Johnson news – live: PM challenged over NHS funding plan as Labour attacks ‘billionaires’ manifesto’

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(REUTERS/Phil Noble)

Boris Johnson faced scrutiny as he launched the Tory manifesto over its lack of a long term plan for social care, with the party’s commitment of £1bn a year having already been announced in September.

The document, titled “Get Brexit Done, Unleash Britain’s Potential”, also promises £1bn for primary schools to develop after-school and holiday childcare.

His pledge of “50,000 more nurses” led to accusations of “deceit”, as it turned out to include 18,500 existing nurses hopes to convince not to leave the workplace.

The PM also stumbled when quizzed on the Tories' fake fact checking debacle, stuttering incoherently before turning a series of metaphors about croutons, minestrone and the Bermuda Triangle into an attack on Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit stance.

Nigel Farage welcomed the manifesto, particularly on immigration, and claimed he recognised many of the ideas within it, as they resembled many of Ukip’s in the 2015 election.

Jacob Rees-Mogg was the only cabinet member not in attendance at Telford, continuing his conspicuous absence ever since he questioned Grenfell victims ”common sense” in following official advice.

Key Points

• Johnson launches manifesto
• McDonnell scrutinised over tax plans
• Labour pledges compensation for pension age rise

[24 November 2019 16:55 · Andy Gregory]

Lack of significant policy action in Tory manifesto 'remarkable' and will see austerity-driven cuts to services 'baked in', says IFS

The amount of tax and spending proposals would be modest for a budget, let alone a blueprint for five years in government, the Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson said, criticising the "remarkable" lack of policy.

"In part that is because the chancellor announced some big spending rises back In September," he said. "Other than for health and schools, though, that was a one-off increase.

"Taken at face value today’s manifesto suggests that for most services, in terms of day-to-day spending, that’s it.

"Health and school spending will continue to rise. Give or take pennies, other public services, and working age benefits, will see the cuts to their day-to-day budgets of the last decade baked in."

[24 November 2019 17:18 · Andy Gregory]

Thanks for reading about the day's events here, that's all from me this evening.

Here are a few political highlights from The Independent today: 

Magid Magid: Stopping a Tory majority isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s our best chance of saving the planet

As a prison GP, the Conservative Party’s heartless approach to crime makes me feel complicit in needless suffering