Boris Johnson news - live: PM faces 'tough' battle in pre-Christmas poll as Brexit Party vows to take Leave-voting seats

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Matt Hancock can't say social care plan will be in Conservative election manifesto

Boris Johnson has said he is prepared for a “tough” general election battle after MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of holding a pre-Christmas poll.

The prime minister last night warned Tory MPs against complacency despite the party’s commanding lead over Labour in most opinion polls.

He is aiming to restore the party’s Commons majority lost by Theresa May in 2017 so he can end three years of deadlock and get his Brexit deal through Parliament.

However, his failure to deliver Brexit by October 31 means the election could prove to be a gamble, with the Tories at risk of losing key Leave-voting seats to the Brexit Party.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the poll offered a “once-in-a-generation” chance to transform the country, while the Lib Dems are confident of picking up seats in key Remain-backing areas.

Key Points

• Pro-EU group to provide tactical voting guide
• Lib Dems could take hundreds of seats, says Swinson
• MPs vote to hold third general election in four years

[30 October 2019 19:43 · Vincent Wood]

Nicky Morgan will not be on the ballot

Lots of MPs are choosing this election as a moment to step down - but few are current cabinet ministers.

Nicky Morgan, the current secretary of state for culture media and sport, has confirmed she will not be standing again citing strain on her family and abuse she has faced in her role as an MP.

Over the last 19 years she also served as Education secretary under David Cameron, and chair of the influential treasury select committee.

She joins the likes of Amber Rudd and Justine Greening as high profile moderate Tory voices step away from the party under the leadership of Boris Johnson.

[30 October 2019 19:57 · Vincent Wood]

More on Nicky Morgan's decision not to run again:

The announcement will come as a blow to Boris Johnson, given that Ms Morgan was one of the most high-profile Tory moderates in his government.

It follows a number of other "One Nation" Conservatives announcing that they are leaving parliament. Earlier on Wednesday, Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, said she would not be seeking re-election. 

Ms Morgan said she had "made the very difficult decision that I can't commit to another five-year term".

[30 October 2019 20:23 · Vincent Wood]

As the election ramps up, Twitter's CEO Jack Dorsey has announced the platform will no longer accept political advertising.

In a lengthy thread on the social media site, Mr Dorsey said "We’ve made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally. We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought."

He added: "While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions."

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