Political news

• General election 2017: May criticised for 'poisoning' negotiations with claims of EU election interference - as it happened

  03-05-2017 22:26 via theguardian.com
  
  All the day’s politics action as parliament is dissolved, local and mayoral elections loom, and the gloves are offMichel Barnier’s press conference - Summary
  Analysis of Tory ‘cost of chaos’ document about Labour’s spending plansLunchtime summaryMay accuses EU figures trying to influence the electionMay’s speech - Snap verdictMay’s speech - Verdict from the Twitter commentariat 9.26pm BSTThis live blog is closing now but here’s a round-up of the da
  
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• Theresa May declares war on Brussels, urging: 'Let me fight for Britain'

  03-05-2017 22:25 via theguardian.com
  
  PM claims European politicians and officials are behind ‘deliberately timed’ threats aimed at influencing election resultTheresa May has launched an extraordinary attack on Brussels, accusing European Union politicians and officials of seeking to disrupt the general election and willing Brexit to fail in a combative address delivered from Downing Street.Speaking after returning from Buckingham Palace to inform the Queen that parliament had been dissolved for the 8 June poll, May deli
  
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• Labour party looks to local elections as foretaste of fortunes in June

  03-05-2017 21:53 via theguardian.com
  
  West Midlands is among battleground areas where Jeremy Corbyn and co are most keenly hoping to hold on to seats
  Labour faces a crucial test across middle England, Wales and Scotland to keep control of historic Labour county councils, in bellwether areas that could give an early picture of the scale of losses the party may face at the general election. The most keenly watched battle, as a potential predictor of the party’s fortunes in England, will be the West Midlands mayoralty, where part
  
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• Steve Bell on Theresa May, the general election and Brexit – cartoon

  03-05-2017 21:48 via theguardian.com
  
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• Tories attack Labour over inheritance tax and spending plans

  03-05-2017 21:43 via theguardian.com
  
  Opposition accused of being unable to fund campaign promises as party insists it has yet to finalise manifestoLabour came under sustained pressure from the Tories over its tax and spending plans on Wednesday, with a series of ministers claiming the party would raise inheritance tax and be unable to fund its campaign promises.
  The opposition was accused by Boris Johnson of planning to halve the threshold at which tax on inheriting estates is levied, while Phillip Hammond and David Davis claimed t
  
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• Brexit may cost MPs and peers the power to pass laws, says former judge

  03-05-2017 21:12 via theguardian.com
  
  Lord Judge says ‘legislative tsunami’ caused by leaving EU poses historic challenge to parliamentary oversight and proceduresThe “legislative tsunami” unleashed by Brexit will deliver the “greatest challenge” in history to the integrity of parliament’s procedures, a former lord chief justice has said. Lord Judge raised his concerns that by the time Brexit is completed and the “great repeal bill” enacted, MPs and peers will have effectively gi
  
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• The Guardian view on MPs and Brexit: give them the tools for the job | Editorial

  03-05-2017 21:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Theresa May seems to think everyone is out of step but her. But MPs will only hold her to account if they demand the tools for the scrutiny jobWhen she called the election to replace the parliament that was formally dissolved this week, Theresa May offered an overriding justification. Parliament, she said, was failing to respect the voters’ leave verdict in the EU referendum. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Greens were all trying to knock the government’s plans off cou
  
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• After Kelvin MacKenzie’s new outrage, has the right abandoned all decency? | Owen Jones

  03-05-2017 20:56 via theguardian.com
  
  The former Sun editor’s ‘joke’ about Corbyn being knifed fits a pattern. Civilised Tories can’t be silent as far-right racism and smears pull the election to the gutterImagine a former Daily Mirror or Guardian editor joking about Theresa May being knifed to death as a cause for national celebration. There would be a national furore. It would be presented as a striking case of how hate-filled, vicious and sadistically intolerant the modern left is. Anyone vaguely on the le
  
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• Local elections: Scottish Labour braced for SNP surge

  03-05-2017 20:46
  Party faces end of majority rule as nationalists look to build on 2012 gains
  
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• Ed Miliband's Fierce Twitter Game Shows Why He's The 'King Of Zing'

  03-05-2017 20:41
  
  You remember Ed Miliband, right? Ex-Labour Party leader, beat his brother to the job, flunked the 2015 general election?
  Seemed like a nice guy, but faced a hostile right-leaning press who dubbed him Red Ed and repeatedly pictured him awkwardly eating a bacon sandwich. Maybe the ‘Ed Stone’ (above) didn’t help.
  Well, that very same Ed Miliband is enjoying a renaissance thanks to Twitter, the social media platform that arguably did him few favours in his failed climb to power.
  S
  
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• The force May be with you, in a strong and stable war on Brussels | John Crace

  03-05-2017 20:26 via theguardian.com
  
  Only the PM could save Britain from the Evil Empire. The continental press had misrepresented her plans for intergalactic domination This wasn’t an election. It was war. The Queen hadn’t been too happy to hear it during their half-hour meeting, but even a monarch had to bow before the wishes of the Supreme Leader. As her limo returned to Downing Street from Buckingham Palace, Kim Jong-May strode purposefully towards the lectern set up in front of No 10. It was time to address her sub
  
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• This election is vitally important. So why is it so deathly boring? | Suzanne Moore

  03-05-2017 19:56 via theguardian.com
  
  Most people just want it all over and done with. For the Tories, creating a sense of boredom and foregone conclusion is no accidentCan you weaponise boredom? I would say you can have a fair crack at it. Last summer, Tom Watson accused the far-left of deliberately making local Labour party meetings so boring that it would drive away moderates. Regardless of such tactics, I find most meetings boring and unnecessary. In theory everyone should speak, but actually nearly everything that needs to be d
  
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• Theresa May accuses EU of trying to affect UK election

  03-05-2017 19:52 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The PM launches a stinging attack on the "bureaucrats of Brussels" in a Downing Street speech.
  
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• What time will Thursday's 2017 local election results be announced?

  03-05-2017 19:42 via theguardian.com
  
  Thanks to a snap general election, this could be an offbeat set of results, including from the new metro mayoral contestsAll parties usually try to manage expectations at this stage. Labour will want to at least hold its position and minimise losses of seats. The Conservatives have indicated they are seeking to make gains in some traditional Labour areas, given their lead in the polls. Usually, an opposition party would take seats off a governing one, but this is an unusual set of local contests
  
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• What time will the 2017 local election results be announced?

  03-05-2017 19:42 via theguardian.com
  
  Thanks to a snap general election, this could be an offbeat set of results, including from the new metro mayoral contestsAll parties usually try to manage expectations at this stage. Labour will want to at least hold its position and minimise losses of seats. The Conservatives have indicated they are seeking to make gains in some traditional Labour areas, given their lead in the polls. Usually, an opposition party would take seats off a governing one, but this is an unusual set of local contests
  
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• Local elections: Labour warned to expect loss of 100 seats

  03-05-2017 19:41
  Tories target north and Midlands as poll provides pointer to June national vote
  
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• Theresa May accuses EU of meddling in UK general election

  03-05-2017 19:40 via theguardian.com
  
  PM says European politicians and officials are behind ‘deliberately timed’ threats aimed at influencing election result• General election 2017 - live updatesTheresa May accused European politicians and officials of deliberately misrepresenting the UK position over Brexit in an attempt to affect the result of the general election, as she formally launched the campaign.Speaking in Downing Street a few minutes after meeting the Queen following the dissolution of parliament, the pri
  
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• The EU-sual suspects: who might the PM think is meddling? | Dan Roberts

  03-05-2017 19:36 via theguardian.com
  
  Theresa May complains that ‘some in Brussels’ do not want the UK to succeed in Brexit. Who could she be thinking of?• General election 2017 - live updates Continue reading...
  
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• General election 2017: Sturgeon says May's speech 'deeply irresponsible' and could 'poison' Brexit talks – politics live

  03-05-2017 19:30 via theguardian.com
  
  All the day’s politics action as parliament is dissolved, local and mayoral elections loom, and the gloves are offMichel Barnier’s press conference - Summary
  Analysis of Tory ‘cost of chaos’ document about Labour’s spending plansLunchtime summaryMay accuses EU figures trying to influence the electionMay’s speech - Snap verdictMay’s speech - Verdict from the Twitter commentariat 6.30pm BSTThe Labour MP, John Woodcock, faced a last-minute de-selection moti
  
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• Spain sets sights on Gibraltar model in Brexit talks

  03-05-2017 19:09
  Madrid likely to target incentives that have drawn financial services to UK territory
  
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• Theresa May accuses Brussels of trying to influence UK election

  03-05-2017 19:01
  Prime minister says EU politicians are making ‘threats against Britain’
  
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• May accuses Brussels of trying to influence UK election

  03-05-2017 19:01
  Prime minister says EU politicians are making ‘threats against Britain’
  
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• FT News: Stakes raised in Brexit talks

  03-05-2017 19:01
  Theresa May's acrimonious dinner with EU officials and the growing Brexit bill
  
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• Brexit talks: how ready is Britain’s team?

  03-05-2017 19:00 via theguardian.com
  
  David Davis boasts of his department’s cool, pragmatic approach to the EU negotiation​, but a shortage of expertise and mounting hostility on the other side of the Channel points to trouble aheadIf body language alone were enough to secure a favourable exit deal from the European Union, then Britain’s plucky band of negotiators would have nothing to worry about. “Cool heads, strong leadership and traditional British resolve” will get us through, Brexit secretary Dav
  
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• Why the environment must be at the heart of the UK general election | Letters

  03-05-2017 18:48 via theguardian.com
  
  Fears about climate change, air pollution, waste and possible changes to the Hunting Act concern readers from Brian May and Ranulph Fiennes to James Marsden of Much MarcleAs party leaders prepare to sign off on their election manifestos, we would like to draw their attention to a policy that has the overwhelming support of the British public.While 52% of British people voted to leave the EU, 84% want the ban on hunting foxes to stay, according to the latest Ipsos Mori data. In addition, 88%
  
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• David Davis' Photo Opportunity Attacking Jeremy Corbyn Turns Into 'The Thick Of It' Moment

  03-05-2017 18:29
  
  David Davis and Philip Hammond today condemned Jeremy Corbyn while standing behind a sign that warned the Labour leader threatened “more debt, higher taxes”.
  Unless, that is, you photographed Davis from this angle, in which case it looked like he was the one posing that risk.And this angle.Or this one.Mischief makers on social media used crops of photos to warn that Davis and Hammond represented ‘Hell for your family’ as well as debt and taxes.People were quicker to poin
  
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• Theresa May: talking loudly but carrying a small stick | Martin Kettle

  03-05-2017 18:19 via theguardian.com
  
  Her statement decrying EU meddling in the election was right out of the Donald Trump playbook. It’s consensus, not conflict, that will get Britain the deal it needsThe opinion polls may show the Conservatives nearly 20 points ahead of Labour, but the signs from Theresa May’s camp this week are that they are getting surprisingly twitchy. Improbable though this may seem – and it almost certainly is a bluff – it is a reminder that May has put her own job on the line for the
  
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• Theresa May's Chips And The Other Awkward Moments The General Election Has Given Us So Far

  03-05-2017 18:16
  
  We’re still more than a month away from polling day but this general election has already provided a slew of wonderfully awkward moments.
  This election has five weeks to run but it has already given us things to rival 2015’s Ed Stone and bacon sandwiches.
  From car crash interviews to unfortunately-timed photos, here’s a rundown of some of the most priceless moments so far...
  1. Theresa May chips in
  You’d have though the prime minister might have learned from gen
  
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• Donald Trump of Doncaster bids for mayoral glory

  03-05-2017 18:00
  Eddie Todd is among eight candidates vying to be elected to regional seats of power
  
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• The six Brexit traps that will defeat Theresa May | Yanis Varoufakis

  03-05-2017 17:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Two years ago Yanis Varoufakis led Greece’s failed attempt to negotiate with the EU. He explains how the Brussels establishment will do everything to frustrate and outmanoeuvre the British prime minister, using tactics ranging from truth reversal to ‘the Penelope ruse’“It’s yours against mine.” That’s how Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, put it to me during our first encounter in early 2015 – referring to our respective dem
  
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• The six Brexit traps that will defeat Theresa May

  03-05-2017 17:57 via theguardian.com
  
  Two years ago Yanis Varoufakis led Greece’s failed attempt to negotiate with the EU. He explains how the Brussels establishment will do everything to frustrate and outmanoeuvre the British prime minister, using tactics ranging from truth reversal to ‘the Penelope ruse’“It’s yours against mine.” That’s how Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, put it to me during our first encounter in early 2015 – referring to our respective dem
  
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• Hartlepool voters: tell us which issues will decide this election

  03-05-2017 17:56 via theguardian.com
  
  The Guardian’s Josh Halliday is reporting from the constituency of Hartlepool to find out what issues people there most care about – and he wants your helpIn the run-up to 8 June, Guardian journalists will be reporting in-depth on a range of constituencies around the country, with the aim of telling stories about the election that come from beyond the political bubble. As part of that project, Josh Halliday will be reporting from the parliamentary constituency of Hartlepool.The const
  
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• ITV says it will hold election debate with or without May or Corbyn

  03-05-2017 17:48 via theguardian.com
  
  Broadcaster has no plans to use empty chairs in place of Conservative or Labour leaders, who have refused to take part• General election 2017 – live updatesITV has said it will hold an election debate with or without either Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn, but is not planning to embarrass them with empty chairs.
  Should the Conservative and Labour leaders not attend, the most high-profile party chiefs would be the Scottish National party’s Nicola Sturgeon and Tim Farron of the Liber
  
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• Unidentified Brussels figures are meddling in election, says May – video

  03-05-2017 17:35 via theguardian.com
  
  Theresa May visits the Queen in Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to announce the June polls. In her dissolution speech outside No 10, the prime minister accuses some EU officials of trying to make Brexit negotiations difficult in an attempt to influence the general election
  General election 2017 – live updates
  Continue reading...
  
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• 'Tory uprising' claim puts school funding row centre stage in campaign

  03-05-2017 17:35 via theguardian.com
  
  On second day of George Osborne’s editorship, string of Tories call on PM in London Evening Standard to rethink plansThe row over planned changes to school funding has taken centre stage in the general election campaign after a string of Conservative politicians called on the prime minister to rethink government proposals.On the second day of George Osborne’s editorship of the London Evening Standard, the former chancellor chose to lead the newspaper with a story that said Theresa Ma
  
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• UK's financial obligations to EU will be 'incontestable', says Barnier

  03-05-2017 17:03 via theguardian.com
  
  EU’s chief negotiator says: ‘Commitments have been made and those responsibilities have to be honoured’The EU’s chief negotiator has admitted to a clash with Theresa May during last week’s dinner in Downing Street and warned that the size of the multibillion pound bill the British government will be presented on leaving the bloc will be “incontestable”.Michel Barnier told reporters the “clock was ticking” on the time left to come to an agreem
  
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• Theresa May: EU trying to affect UK election

  03-05-2017 16:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  UK Prime Minister Theresa May says EU and European press have been trying to affect the result of the UK general election with Brexit "threats" and "misrepresentation".
  
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• Theresa May Accuses EU Of Using 'Threats' To Deliberately Interfere In UK General Election

  03-05-2017 16:55
  
  Theresa May says the European Commission has hardened its negotiating stance "to affect the result of the general election" pic.twitter.com/NP0GLam1o0— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 3, 2017
  Theresa May has accused the European Union of seeking to influence the result of the UK general election through threats, as she formally fired the starting gun on the campaign and asked voters to back her over Jeremy Corbyn.
  In an extraordinary statement on the steps of No.10 Downing Street, the prime minis
  
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• Record Number Of Women Labour Candidates For 2017 UK General Election

  03-05-2017 16:29
  
  Labour has approved its highest ever percentage of women candidates for a general election.
  Roughly 41% of the party’s candidates will be female and 59% men after the party’s ruling National Executive Committee signed off its would-be MPs for the June 8.
  A record number of black and minority ethnic candidates was also approved.
  The full NEC list, leaked to HuffPost UK, shows the party has now agreed all but one of its candidates for the 2017 general election.
  In 13 seats where Labou
  
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• May expected to challenge right of EU citizens to bring family to Britain

  03-05-2017 15:56 via theguardian.com
  
  EU negotiation guidelines put Brussels and London on collision course over issue of non-European spouses after BrexitA major clash over the unrestricted right of EU citizens living in Britain to continue to bring spouses and other immediate family to live with them in the UK after Brexit is expected after the publication of the official negotiation guidelines.The EU’s guidelines state that any reciprocal deal on the rights of EU citizens in the UK must also cover “their family member
  
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• Election 2017: Parliament dissolved and UK has no MPs

  03-05-2017 15:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The UK has no MPs after Parliament was prorogued last week and then dissolved in the early hours of Wednesday.
  
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• The EU knows Theresa May is deluded on Brexit. And soon the Tories will | Nick Clegg

  03-05-2017 15:15 via theguardian.com
  
  While the EU27 defend their national interests, the Brexiteers destroy ours: their vision of economic utopia cannot fend off the cold facts of economic realityStilted, awkward, tense. Reports of last week’s dinner between Theresa May and Jean Claude Juncker were revealing. It doesn’t surprise me that the Brexit talks have started on an awkward footing. The Conservatives, after all, are imperiously conducting a general election as if it were no more than a coronation: hardly an atmosp
  
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• Politicians woo voters ahead of 4 May poll

  03-05-2017 15:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Political parties gear up for the last day of campaigning ahead of Thursday's local elections.
  
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• UK 'will not pay 100bn euro Brexit bill'

  03-05-2017 15:07 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The EU says the UK must "settle its accounts" - but ministers say they won't pay 100bn euros.
  
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• General election 2017: Senior Tories to urge May to ditch school funding reforms – politics live

  03-05-2017 15:06 via theguardian.com
  
  All the day’s politics action as parliament is dissolved, local and mayoral elections loom, and the gloves are offLabour to pledge immediate halt of hospital closures
  The Snap: sign up for our daily election email – and read today’s
  Michel Barnier’s press conference - SummaryAnalysis of Tory ‘cost of chaos’ document about Labour’s spending plans 2.06pm BST 1.44pm BSTThe Conservatives sent their document costing Labour’s spending plans to journalist
  
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• Michel Barnier rebuffs Theresa May on Brexit talks

  03-05-2017 14:56
  EU negotiator insists UK must agree to settle liabilities before trade talks start
  
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• Secrecy is not the best tactic for Theresa May

  03-05-2017 14:48
  UK appears to be constantly on the back foot and the victims of EU spin
  
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• ITV Challenges Theresa May And Jeremy Corbyn To Take Part In Live TV Election Debate

  03-05-2017 14:33
  
  Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn will be invited to take part in a live TV election debate hosted by ITV.
  But the broadcaster said the debate would go ahead even if the leaders of the two main parties refused to take part.
  The prime minister has ruled out joining any head-to-head debates. The Labour leader has said he wants to be involved in a debate, but only if May is also on the stage.
  ITV today announced its Leaders’ Debate will air on Thursday May 18th at 8pm, and will be moderated
  
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• Greens Leader Jonathan Bartley Grilled On Progressive Alliances By Sixth Former

  03-05-2017 14:28
  
  Green Party co-leader Jonathan Bartley didn’t get off lightly when he visited a school assembly to talk about air pollution.
  The former Streatham Parliamentary hopeful held an assembly at Dunraven School in his home constituency on Wednesday, to set out his party’s plans to tackle the UK’s filthy air.
  The school is one of the 90 in London most affected by poor air quality and the Greens have accused the government of ‘not caring’ about the problem, which is linked
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn has one thing Theresa May lacks: a personality | Maurice Mcleod

  03-05-2017 14:25 via theguardian.com
  
  While the Tories are doing their best to keep the prime minister away from real people and tough questions, the Labour leader is happiest on the campaign trailThe Conservative strategy for this snap election has quickly become clear: it is about personalities rather than politics. The Tories are convinced that Theresa May’s record- high approval ratings will carry her to a landslide victory on 8 June. Related: If ever there was a time to vote Labour, it is now | George MonbiotContinue read
  
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