General election debate – live: Tory minister interrogated over Brexit and NHS crisis, as David Attenborough rebukes ‘disgraceful’ Boris Johnson

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Boris Johnson refuses to say how many children he has

Party leaders are braced for a televised grilling in the first seven-way debate of the election – but Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are expected to snub the clash.

Senior members of the Tories, Labour, the Greens, Lib Dems, SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Brexit Party will each face questions from the audience at a BBC debate in Cardiff, chaired by Nick Robinson.

It comes amid tensions between the BBC and the Tories over Mr Johnson’s refusal to confirm an interview with Andrew Neil, and criticism from David Attenborough over his decision to snub a climate change debate.

The prime minister instead took part in a radio phone-in on LBC, where he was confronted over his past comments about single mothers.​

Key Points

• PM pays tribute to 'extraordinary bravery' of public in terror attack
• BBC rejects Johnson's offer to appear on Marr after Neil refusal
• Labour cuts Tory poll lead by two points
• PM refuses to say how many children he has in live radio interview
• Tories told to take down Facebook election ads by BBC

[29 November 2019 19:46 · Jon Stone]

Labour's Rebecca Long Bailey says "it's right that Jeremy's taken a neutral stance" and says Mr Corbyn can be an "honest broker". She raises a smile on social media by calling Michel Barnier "Michael Barnier".

[29 November 2019 19:50 · Jon Stone]

A quick-fire question round: asked if they'd use a nuke: Sturgeon, Price, and Lucas say no, never – Swinson, Sunak, Tice, and Long-Bailey say yes.

[29 November 2019 20:07 · Jon Stone]

An audience member asks about the NHS being up for sale in a post-Brexit trade deal. 

Tory Rishi Sunak says "The NHS is not for sale, never has been, and never will be".

Labour's Rebecca Long-Bailey says documents uncovered this week show that drug prices would have to rise as part of a trade deal with the US - and detail meetings with US trade negotiators about the service.

She says the evidence if "clear for all to see". Nicola Sturgeon agrees and says I "simply do not trust him", referring to Boris Johnson.

Caroline Lucas says "why would we trust Boris Johnson?" listing previous lies and misleading things he's said about the health service, such as on recruiting nurses and building hospitals. 

Brexiteer Richard Tice repeatedly talks over the women speakers saying "its ludicrous, its nonsense". Sunak says the criticisms are a "desperate conspiracy theory". Swinson says Brexit will make it all worse.

[29 November 2019 20:25 · Jon Stone]

Here's an earlier clash about Brexit 

[29 November 2019 21:06 · Jon Stone]

That debate went off more or less without news incident – here's a clash from near the end where it's probably fair to say Nicola Sturgeon got the better of Brexiteer Richard Tice.