Climate election debate: ‘Coward’ Boris Johnson replaced by melting ice sculpture as he avoids TV clash amid outrage over NHS remarks

The day's developments in Westminster as they happened

Introductory Climate Debate statements from leaders of Labour, SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Greens

An ice sculpture is standing in for Boris Johnson during a Channel 4 debate on climate change after he refused to turn up.

The prime minister joined Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage in declining attend, even though Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson, Nicola Sturgeon and Sian Berry will all take part.

The Tories reacted angrily to the broadcaster’s move, complaining to Ofcom and accusing C4 of “conspiring with Jeremy Corbyn”, while Labour frontbencher Clive Lewis dubbed Mr Johnson “a coward and a bully”.

It came after Labour attacked the PM’s “dark ages” attitudes after highlighting remarks he made in a Spectator column on single mothers. Other unearthed articles show the PM dismissing people’s passion for the NHS being free, and claiming young people had “an almost Nigerian interest in money”.

Key Points

• Melting ice block standing in for Johnson during debate
• Tories on course for majority of 68, according to YouGov model
• Johnson accused of 'dark age' attitudes to women after column unearthed
• Swinson condemns PM over Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
• Johnson accused of 'running scared' from Andrew Neil
• PM to be empty-chaired at climate change debate

[28 November 2019 19:12 · Jon Stone]

Jeremy Corbyn says he wants to host the UN COP summit next year and go further than the Paris target. Nicola Sturgeon says she's the only person on the panel in government to make a difference. Adam Price says Wales can use its "fantastic marine energy resources". Jo Swinson says the target should be 2045; she denies that it's less ambitious than 2030 proposed by Labour and Plaid Cymru. Sian Berry says "we have to do what the science demands" and not the politics.

[28 November 2019 19:28 · Jon Stone]

What would the parties do on transport, exactly?

Jeremy Corbyn says there needs to be a "sensible alternative" to flying; he says London–Berlin was £240 when he looked last week but an airline was offering a flight for around £20. Jo Swinson says the Lib Dems would tax frequent fliers but says HS2 is important so that people can get around the UK cheaply. She says no one thinks of flying to Paris or Brussels from London because of the Eurostar. Sian Berry says HS2 should be cancelled, and Plaid's Adam Price agrees and says the railway is a "vanity project".

[28 November 2019 19:31 · Jon Stone]

The leaders are all talking about what they'd do to stop emissions from housing. They pretty much all say homes need to be properly insulated, one way or the other.

[28 November 2019 19:45 · Jon Stone]

While the party leaders debate, the Tories have meanwhile set up their own parallel debate with just Michael Gove, taking questions via videolink on Facebook

[28 November 2019 19:48 · Jon Stone]

[28 November 2019 19:58 · Jon Stone]

[28 November 2019 20:34 · Chris Baynes]

That's all from us for today - thanks for following.