Boris Johnson news – live: PM rambles about Anthony Gormley to school children, after contradicting own government in false Brexit claims to supporters

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General Election 2019: What you need to know

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.

Key Points

• PM contradicts his own government with Brexit deal claims
• Dame Margaret Hodge refuses to back Corbyn
• Labour candidate stands down following 'Shylock' comment
• SNP could back Corbyn-led government for indyref2, says Sturgeon
• Labour falls behind Tories in northern strongholds, poll shows

[8 November 2019 17:40 · Andy Gregory]

Jo Swinson sets out hardline stance on Scottish IndyRef2

The Liberal Democrats would never allow another Scottish independence referendum, Ms Swinson has told voters north of the border.

On a campaign visit to North East Fife, which the Lib Dems lost to the SNP by just two votes in 2017, Ms Swinson said another referendum is "the last thing we need", warning it would just create further "chaos".

Ms Swinson said that her party was the only one explicitly opposing both Brexit and Scottish independence, and said the Tories' post-Brexit plans to attract more doctors and nurses were "insulting" medical workers.

Fife reflected the national mood in the 2014 independence referendum, voting No by just over 55 per cent.

[8 November 2019 18:37 · Andy Gregory]

Blocked Russia report 'revealed Moscow's network of agents and allies in UK'

The parliamentary report on Russian interference into British democracy – which committee chairman Dominic Grieve alleged Boris Johnson had personally blocked ahead of the election – showed how Moscow had developed a network of agents and allies across the political spectrum, sources have told CNN.

One witness described the development as "potentially the most significant threat to the UK's institutions and its ways of life", according to a testimony shown to reporters. 

Russian agents are reportedly targeting House of Commons research roles and gaining citizenship in order to funnel cash into political parties.

[8 November 2019 18:55 · Andy Gregory]

Would-be Labour candidate releases statement on selection row

Sally Gimson had been selected by local members to run for the Bassetlaw seat in Nottinghamshire.

But she was later told that complaints had been made about her conduct, and after a national executive hearing chaired by Momentum’s Jon Lansman, she was told the body would not endorse her.

Ms Gimson previously said she had been thrown out on “trumped-up charges”.

She has tweeted her statement in full.

[8 November 2019 19:03 · Andy Gregory]

Cameron's failures in war highlight the decline in British leadership – a trend that is only likely to continue

“It is worth reading Mr Cameron’s [new autobiography] to understand his failings since most of the party leaders in the upcoming general election are even worse,” writes Patrick Cockburn.