Boris Johnson news – live: PM rambles about Anthony Gormley to school children, after contradicting own government in false Brexit claims to supporters
Follow all the latest developments
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK
Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight
Boris Johnson has insisted Northern Ireland businesses can put customs forms “in the bin” as he doubled down on his claims there would be no checks on goods coming into Great Britain under his Brexit deal.
He faced questions on the campaign trail after footage emerged of the prime minister contradicting his own cabinet ministers by saying there would be no checks at the border.
The Tory leader inspired bemusement as he told party members that he had secured a “great” Brexit deal for Northern Ireland – by retaining access to the single market and freedom of movement.
Elsewhere, Mr Johnson told a group of school children the sculptor Sir Antony Gormley was “an interesting chap” but his work had been too expensive to commission for the 2012 Olympics.
It comes as veteran Labour candidate Dame Margaret Hodge declined to say whether she would prefer Jeremy Corbyn or Mr Johnson as PM, while Nicola Sturgeon claimed a hung parliament would give the SNP the “power” to demand an independence referendum in 2020 and try to stop Brexit.
Keir Starmer says PM ‘making it up as he goes along’
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer has had more to say about Boris Johnson’s rambling speech about his Brexit deal in Northern Ireland.
“He’s making it up as he goes along,” said Starmer. “He’s either doesn’t know the details of the deal he’s negotiated, or he isn’t being straight about it.”
“You’ve got the Brexit secretary saying there will be checks [on goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain] and the prime minister … saying, ‘No there won’t’.”
Labour falls behind the Tories in northern strongholds
A slump in Labour support since the last election has seen the party fall behind Tories in key northern strongholds, a massive new YouGov poll has found.
Our political editor has the details on the fall in support in crucial areas like the North-West and Yorkshire & Humber regions.
Farage: Brexit Party can beat Labour in Wales
The Brexit Party is the only party with a chance of toppling Labour in its South Wales heartland, Nigel Farage has said.
The Brexit Party leader told supporters in the Welsh town of Pontypool that his party could beat Labour in the General Election if Boris Johnson reverses his decision not to enter into a “Leave” pact for the poll.
Farage said: “There were five million people that voted Brexit, then voted Labour in the 2017 general election.
“Here in South Wales so many constituencies voted leave and now have a Remainer MP. An MP that wants to put a second referendum to the people with not really much of a choice.
The choice Mr Corbyn wants to give us is Remain versus a new form of Remain. Labour will crush the result of that referendum.”
Referring to the Tories refusing to enter into an agreement with his party, Farage later said: “It’s not too late for Boris. He hasn’t launched his manifesto, a general election is a chance to press the reset button. I’d love to see him move from where he is.”
Nigel Farage preparing his speech in Pontypool (PA)
Labour vows to 'dismantle structural barriers' for women in the workplace
Shadow women and equalities minister Dawn Butler has unveiled new policies of flexible working and increased maternity leave.
Ms Butler said white, straight men have "a privilege code to the lift", fast tracking them into managerial positions.
She added that a Labour government would "lay the grounds for an elevator" for women, to help them secure a level playing field in the world of work.
Speaking to a group of businesswomen at the Business and Technology Centre in Stevenage, Ms Butler said Labour's workplace reforms are "a common sense approach to the modern way of life".
Questioned on Labour's policy of businesses having to offer flexible working in all positions or explain why it cannot be offered for a particular role, she added: "It's really quite easy, it works."
Ms Butler also met the all-female team at Lawrence Dean Recruitment, adding that it was "amazing" that the company's director Kelly Notley had found flexible working "simple to incorporate".
Labour’s northern slump
Here are those YouGov polls which show Labour falling behind the Tories in North West and Yorkshire & Humber. They company’s huge regional survey shows Labour down on its 2017 results almost everywhere: they make bad reading for Jeremy Corbyn.
Sketch: What did we do to deserve this idiots-only Battle Royale?
Indy sketchwriter Tom Peck says: "From a cabinet officer who's had to resign over the collapse of a rape trial to the Lib Dems refusing to put anyone at all into Downing Street, this election has become a farce of dangerous toddlers."
Former cabinet minister unimpressed with Johnson's Brexit blunder
David Gauke, the former justice secretary, criticised a video recording of the prime minister claiming businesses will not have to undergo checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain - contradicting the Brexit secretary and the Northern Ireland secretary.
PM ditches booze until after Brexit
Boris Johnson claimed he has given up drinking until after Brexit is sorted. His apparent "do or dry" pledge follows his failure to keep his "do or die" promise to deliver Brexit by October 31.
His remarks came while chatting about health matters with nurses at the King's Mill Hospital in Nottinghamshire, where he said: "I've had to give it up until we get Brexit done."
However, Mr Johnson was also watched sipping whisky during a distillery visit in Scotland on Thursday, casting doubt on his commitment to the alcohol ban.
Shadow minister says focus should be on election rather discussion of Tom Watson's successor
Laura Pidcock has put out a statement seeking to quash rumours about the Labour deputy leadership position - cannily referring to rumours she could be in the running.
Tom Watson’s departure could usher in a new era for Labour – but a swift victory is unlikely
"One day, a hopeful figure will at last re-learn the lessons of the past and drag the party back to the centre, listen to the electorate, and take the battle to the Conservatives," the Independent's editorial reads.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies