Conservative Research Department Political Brief: General Election 2019 een ullic hear le By Thursday 14 November 2019 ferent) Pevensey 54 forte ee) Tease oe Getting Brexit Done fone re ru eee RENE een Economy: Delivering a strong economy. Per netcat iain a ey Education: Supporting every child.. Crime: Keeping our streets safe BUTT Pera ee CU Ru BOE tere a CR CORN BSN ee tere a a BCT eee Ce RE Pera ta otra eR ee Be el aang Bia coda lang Coal on behalf of the Conservative Party, both at 4 Matthew Parker Street. London, SWIHSHQKey messages Throughout this campaign, here are the key things you need to remember: © The choice at this election is between a majority Conservative government that will end the paralysis and confusion in Parliament, get Brexit done, and let the country move on OR a hung Parliament bringing more confusion and Corbyn in Downing Street. © Only the Conservatives can win @ majority — we only need to win nine more seats to end the gridlock in Parliament. Corbyn can’t win a majority but in a hung parliament he would be propped up by the SNP. ‘© Under Corbyn 2020 would be lost to the chaos of another two referendums ~ one on Brexit and another on Scottish independence. A Conservative Government we can unleash Britain’s potential. Investing in our NHS with 40 new hospitals, cutting crime with 20,000 more police, introducing an Australian style points-based immigration system, and giving businesses and families the economic certainty, they need to plan for the future with confidence. * AND REMEMBER Corbyn’s plan for unlimited and uncontrolled immigration is the biggest threat to our public services including our NHS — as well as his plans to spend £1.2 trillion which would wreck our economy. The choice is clear: With Boris as Prime Minister and a Conservative majority ‘A New Deal wi With Corbyn as Prime Minister and a hung Parliament Politicians going around in circles. the EU has already been agreed. We start the process to get Brexit done immediately | Arguing about Brexit for all of 2020 with more — Britain is out of the EU by the end of January. Business and families have the economic certainty they need to plan for the future. We can get on with other important issues such as supporting the NHS, improving schools and cutting crime. A fair Australian-style points base system that allows us to bring in the talent we need and keep the criminals out. confusion, delay, and indecision ‘A second Brexit referendum — in which Labour might not even back their own plan, A second Scottish independence referendum putting, our Union at risk. ‘No progress on people’s other priorities.General Election 2019 ‘The vote to leave the EU was a vote for change. But nothing has changed since. We are still arguing about Brexit because the 2017 Election created a Parliament where nobody was in charge — creating gridlock, delay, and confusion. ‘And that has meant the real issues that make a difference to voters’ lives ~ being able to get an appointment to see a GP, feeling safe when walking home, making ends meet at the end of the month — have all been ignored. ‘This election is a choice between driving real change for our country or more of the same old politicians arguing. “At this election voters must choose between the certainty that a majority government brings; or a hung Parliament bringing more of the same confusion, indecision, and arguments We have put up with for the last three years. With a Conservative majority government you can be sure that on day one of a new Parliament we will start the process to get Brexit done and we will leave with the great new deal that is already agreed by the end of January ~ giving business and families the confidence to invest in our economy. ‘And when Brexit is done and dusted, we will unleash Britain's potential — investing in infrastructure, technology, and education as the engines that will turbocharge our economy and drive change — improving local high streets and bus services, creating more GP appointments, investing money in schools, introducing an Australian-style points-based immigration system, and putting more police on the streets. In a hung Parliament the only thing you can be sure of is more of the same: more of the same confusion and indecision that have plagued the last three years, more going round in circles, and more arguing over Brexit, leaving Britain stuck in gridlock — with our economy suffocating from uncertainty and stuck in first gear. Only the Conservatives can win a functioning majority government — we only need to win nine more seats than in 2017 to unblock Parliament and get it working again. A vote for anyone else will just create another hung Parliament: © The Liberal Democrats won just 12 seats at the last election and would need to win another 314 to be in power. And as they have ruled out going into coalition with the Conservatives, a Liberal Democrat vote either means Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister or another gridlocked Parliament that doesn’t work. ‘+ A vote for the Brexit Party risks letting a Remain-backing Liberal Democrat or Labour candidate win ~ and that means one less seat for the Conservatives to get Brexit done — creating another gridlocked hung Parliament that doesn’t work. + The Labour Party can’t win a majority under Jeremy Corbyn but he could still become Prime Minister with the help of the Liberal Democrats and Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP — meaning yet more confusion and delay while they argue about what to do on Brexit - and economic disaster for Britain when Labour wreck the economy, just like they always do. And the price of the SNP’s support — another independence referendum in Scotland with yet more politicians arguing. So on 12 December, reject more of the same confusion, delay and indecision we are all sick of. Back Boris and vote Conservative to get a majority government that will Get Brexit Done with a deal, and get Parliament working again, and turbocharge our economy to unleash Britain’s potential.‘Cracks have already appeared in the Remain Alliance: Liberal Democrat latest controversy * Jo Swinson would put the union at risk to stop Brexit ~ refusing rule out a second Scottish independence referendum. When asked if she would rule out working with any Labour leader who opened the door to a second independence referendum, Ms Swinson declined to do so, saying: “Liberal Democrats are clear we are absolutely against having a second independence referendum... That’s pretty hypothetical’.! ‘+ Liberal Democrat President Sal Brinton admitted that the party will finally stop generating ‘fake news’ leaflets and bar charts. ‘We absolutely are. As a result of that I sat down with our senior directors of campaign and worked, looked at this. Last night to make sure, first of all, that instructions go out to people to make sure they get it right and secondly to make sure that we are absolutely clear about what we're trying to say and who said it, absolutely’ ? © Caroline Lucas attacked the Liberal Democrats’ Revoke position as ‘unforgivable’. “If you wanted to send a message to 17.4m people that you don't give a f¥ck about what they just said, why don't you just say so?"® © Green Baroness Jenny Jones accused the Liberal Democrats of telling ‘stupid lies’ about Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith after Sarah Olney claimed he had ‘U-turned on Heathrow expansion’. “Totally unacceptable ftom LDs. Why tell such stupid lies about Zac, who has been consistently opposed to Heathrow expansion for years?" © Liberal Democrat candidates are already engulfed in controversy: o Kevin McNamara stood down as candidate for Thurrock after his offensive tweets came to light, including several where he used the N-word. Offensive Tweets also include one calling a gay Twitter user a “fggot”, and accusing a black man of “Smelling like horse sh*t” ~ an experience he claims “summarises grays”. Grays is in the constituency he was trying to win ©. The Liberal Democrats defended Helen Belcher, their candidate for Chippenham, who had appeared to have tweeted that Israeli leaders were ‘psychopaths’. ‘Trying to work out if there’s a ‘way we can send psychopaths to an isolated place instead of them ending up in charge. #Ukraine #lsrael #ISIS*® | The Scotsman, § November 201, ink ° Good Morning Britain, 7 Novernber 2019, archived > Poliea/OE, Tver 1 November 2019, ink * Bruning Standard 1 November 2018, in » Guido Fakes, 11 November 201, isk “Jewish News. 7 Neventber 2019, leWhen Bor Getting Bre: Done ‘* The Prime Minister has done what many said he could not; we have renegotiated a great new deal which allows us to leave the EU without disruption and this deal has now won the support of the House of Commons. + But Labour and the Liberal Democrats refused to back our Great New Deal which would have seen us already leave the EU. He is now trying to force a second referendum on the British people — meaning more dither and pointless delay. ‘+ The choice at this election is between a majority Conservative government that will end the paralysis and confusion in Parliament, get Brexit done, and let the country move on or a hung Parliament bringing more confusion and Corbyn in Downing Street. took over, everyone said it would be impossible to get a new deal. He’s pulled it off. Boris has: # Forced Brussels to re-open the deal - something many said was impossible. «© Ensured Britain will no longer be bound by EU laws and taxes ~ something many said was impossible. «Ended the supremacy of the European Court in Britain — something many said was impossible. * Removed the backstop and ensured that the people of Northern Ireland are in control of the laws they live by ~something many said was impossible. Pui | mean: 1. Areal Brexit. Our great new deal will ensure that Britain takes back control of its money, its borders and its trade. It ends large payments to the EU budget and will ensure that the whole UK leaves the EU. It will allow us to get Brexit done immediately so we can focus on our other priorities, like the NHS. 2. Ends the ECJ's jurisdiction, Our great new deal removes ECI jurisdiction over Britain's future relationship with the EU and makes clear that we will be an independent country, with our own courts enforcing our own laws. 3. Allows us to introduce an Australian-style points-based system. Free movement and unlimited EU migration will come to an end with this great new deal. We will be able to develop a new and fairer immigration system that keeps out criminals and ensures that we can welcome talented people from around the world. We will take back control of our borders and keep our country safe while welcoming the brightest and the best. 4. Takes back control of our laws. The EU Treaties will no longer be part of UK law. This means that the EU will not be in control of our national life any more — instead our laws will be written by politicians we elect and fire and will be enforced by our cour. 5. Sets a path to a future relationship based on friendship and trade. Our great new deal sets us on a path to a Free Trade Agreement with the EU. It does not bind our hands and ensures that we are in full control of our national life — including foreign policy, security and defence. Any decisions on cooperation on foreign policy, security and defence (or any other matter) will be a sovereign choice for the UK. 6. Takes the whole of the UK out of the customs union, meaning we can strike our own trade deals around the world. The old deal locked us into the customs union with no way out. Now the whole UK will leave the customs union at the end of the implementation period. This will strengthen our union and makes it clear that EU control is coming to an end.Core Background Briefs Conservative achievements since 2010 1. Building our economy after Labour's recession; it is growing, and the unemployment rate is down to its lowest level since the 1970s as more people move into work. The economy has grown by 19 per cent since 2010. By backing business and reforming welfare, the number of people in work has increased by over 3.7 million since 2010.” 2. We've cut taxes for 32 million working people so they keep more of what they earn. To help people with the cost of living we have cut income tax, introduced and increased the National Living Wage, extended free childcare, and frozen fuel duty for nine years.’ 3. Delivering the biggest cash boost ever for the NHS with more invested in frontline services. We are delivering £33.9 billion more for the NHS_by-2023-24, as well as upgrading 20-hospitals around the. country — providing new intensive care wards, children’s units, and new mental health facilities.’ 4, Cracking down on crime with 20,000 more police officers and ensuring criminals receive the punishment they deserve. We are recruiting 20,000 new police officers and making sure that the most serious violent and sexual offenders are properly punished. '° 5. Our school reforms mean more children are getting a good education, wherever they live. We are increasing funding in primary and secondary schools by £14 billion which will lift per pupil funding in ‘every school; our phonics reforms have dramatically improved children’s literacy, meaning we have risen up the international league tables; we are opening free schools in the areas that need them most, which are overwhelmingly rated as either good or outstanding, and reducing the attainment gap.!! 6. Ending the UK’s contribution to global warming by legislating to go Net Zero by 2050. We are the first major economy to legislate for Net Zero emissions by 2050." Boosting regions around the country and ensuring local areas have a greater sense of ownership and influence over the decisions that impact them. We passed the 2011 Localism Act; established the first ever devolution deal in 2014 which has resulted in nine regional mayors; established local Police and Crime Commissioners; created a Northern Powerhouse Strategy and a lands Engine Strategy.'? 8. Embarking on the biggest rail modernisation programme since Victorian times to deliver better, quicker journeys for passengers. We will spend £48 billion delivering major projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, rolling out new trains and upgrading and electrifying hundreds of miles of track.'* 9. Cutting stamp duty for 95 per cent of first-time buyers ~ saving people up to £5,000 on the purchase of their home. Over 340,000 families have benefited from out First-Time Buyers’ Relief since it was introduced in 2017, saving over £804 million. 6 10. We are a truly global Britain providing leadership around the world. We are committed to spending both 0.7 per cent of GNI on International Development and 2 per cent of GDP on defence expenditure, launched an Export Strategy to boost British businesses around the globe and agreed 13 continuity trade deals covering 38 countries.'® 2 ONS, Labour market state, 10 September 2019, ink ‘HM Treasry, Autumn Budge 2018, 29 October 2018, ln ° Mansi, 7 nusry 2019, YoL6S2 Cole, inks HM Treasury, Speech, 4 September 201, lnk; NHS England, NHS Long Term Plan, 7 Janutry 2019, link, DDHSC, News Sion, 7Jantary 2019, link " Ml, Speech 1 Reform, 16 February 2019, link; Mol, News Story, 12 August 2019, link; MOI, Press Release, 17 September 2019, links Home Office, Press Release, 26 July 2019, tk; Home Ofice, News Soy, 5 September 2019, lnk 'NOfE, Pres Release, 30 August 2019, lnk DEE, News Story 27 September 218, lnk; UK DIE, Press Relas, 9 September 2019.link: DIE. Press Release, 13 December 2018, ink ™ prime Minister's OiceBEIS, Pres Relea, 12 June 2019, link, ° Home Ofer, scvessed 25 Api 2017, links LGC, Direct Btcted Mayors, accessed 12 July 201, link: HMT, Policy paper, 23 November 2016, ink: MHCLG, Policy Paper, 8 March 201 ERM, Budget 2018, 29 Octobe 2018, ink, "SHMRC, Quarterly Stamp Duty Land Tax iiss, 31 July 2019, Link 'SHMT, Poey Paper 4 September 209 inks MOD, Iniemational Defence Expendire 2018, 9 August 2019, lnk: DIT, Press Release, 21 August 2018, link, ‘BBC News, September 2019, ikEconomy: Delivering a strong economy ‘© Under the Conservatives, we've seen a growing economy, with rising wages and unemployment at a historic low. But we must do more to realise the benefits of Brexit. © That’s why we will continue to back businesses with lower taxes, better infrastructure and strike new post-Brexit free trade deals around the world to create more opportunities here at home. * This will mean that we can continue to create more higher paying jobs, fund the public services on which we all rely and get Britain back on the road to a brighter future, Hardworking families paid the price for Labour's economic mismanagement: Labour left us unprepared for the financial crisis and the deficit soared to a post-war record. In 2010, Labour admitted there was ‘no money” left and the UK was borrowing £1 for every £4 we spent, compared with £1 in £34 spent in 2018-19.!” © Unemployment rose by nearly half a million — leaving people without the security of a wage. When Labour left office in May 2010, unemployment had risen by 23 per cent.'8 + Labour hit working people in the pocket with higher taxes. They scrapped the 10p tax rate and hit over 5 million of the lowest paid with larger tax bills.'* Our careful management of the economy is paying off: © Our economy is growing, and the unemployment rate is down to its lowest level since the 1970s as more people move into work. The economy has grown by 19 per cent since 2010. By backing business and reforming welfare, the number of people in work has increased by over 3.7 million since 2010.” © We've cut taxes for 32 million working people so they keep more of what they earn, To help people with the cost of living we have cut income tax, introduced and increased the National Living Wage, extended free childcare, and frozen fuel duty for nine years.”! ‘* We've backed businesses by cutting corporation tax and helping people to start their own small business. By cutting corporation tax from 28 per cent to 19 per cent, we have encouraged more businesses to invest and grow in the UK. The British Business Bank has also provided support worth £5.9 billion of finance to over 82,000 smaller businesses across the country, giving them a chance to expand.” But we know we must do more to ensure no community Is left behind: © We have set out a domestic agenda to level up regional growth and opportunities in every corner of the UK, delivering the change the people voted for. The Prime Minister has pledged a new rail route between Manchester and Leeds to improve transport links actoss the North. We have announced £5 billion to support gigabit broadband across the hardest-to-reach areas of the country, alongside £300 million of new funding for Growth Deals across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”? © We delivered a Spending Round, setting out day-to-day funding increases of £13.8 billion so that we can spend more on the public’s priorities. Compared to the previous year, departments will get a £13.8 "ONS, Public Sector Finances, 19 Octobe 2018, link; The Guardian, 22 December 200, link Th Express, 18May 2010, link: Twiter, Fl Fact, 24 July 201, link ONS, Labow Markt, 16 Ostober 2018, link "House of Commons Library Income tthe 1p starting rte, 6 Maceh 2013, ik: IFS, 2 May 2018, ine ® ONS, Labour market atsis, 10 September 2013, le 8 HM tresury, datum Budget 2018, 29 October 2018, lnk. ® Bniish Business Bank 11 February 2018, ie ® Prime Miniser's Otice, Press Release, 28 July 2018, lnk: Conservames, 1 October 2019 inkbillion real term increase in day-to-day spending. We are making sure people see additional funding for the NHS in their frontline services, hiring 20,000 new police officers and properly funding our schools.”* © We will take advantage of the opportunities of leaving the EU, with new free trade deals and freeports creating jobs across the country. Up to ten freeports will be created after we leave the EU, attracting global businesses and creating jobs for local people. We will also be free to operate an independent trade policy for the first time in 45 years.2> keep taxes low and raise wages to put more money in peoples’ pockets ~ increasing the nal Living Wage to two thirds of the median by 2024, ending low pay. The NLW is set to be £10.50 in 2024, benefiting over 4 million people.” * We will be champions of business to deliver more good jobs across the whole country and pay for our public services. We will make Britain the best place in the world to start, grow and run a business and build on our strengths as a global hub for innovation, technology and enterprise. It’s only with thriving businesses that we can raise the money to pay for the public services we all rely on. The Liberal Democrats want to hike taxes on working people: + The Liberal Democrats will hike income tax, hitting hard working people in the pocket. In 2019 their conference voted to hike the basic, higher and additional rates of Income Tax by a penny.”” * The Liberal Democrats want to reverse the capital gains tax cuts and abolish the marriage allowance — squeezing families from every direction.”* ‘+ The Liberal Democrats want to increase taxes on alcohol. They want to introduce ‘minimum unit pricing in England’ — even taxing people at the pub? + The Liberal Democrats want children to pay taxes owed by their dead parents. They want to scrap capital gains forgiveness at death - meaning a double tax with both inheritance tax and a tax on the increase in a property’s value. % IMT, Spending Round 4 September 2019, link S DIT, Nowe Story, 2 August 2019, Link ® Conservunes, 30 September 2019, ike ® Liberal Democrats, Conference motion F15, 15 September 2018, nk, 3 Liberal Democrats, 2017, ink The Dally Miro, 17 September 2016, Link Liberal Democrats, Confrence Motion 15,18 September 2019, link Giving Everyone a Sake, Liberal Democrats. 24 September 201% ink,Health: Strengthening our NHS ‘+ By keeping our economy strong we've been able to support our NHS since 2010. But because of the Brexit deadlock it recently hasn’t had the attention it deserves. + That’s why we are providing the biggest cash boost in the history of the NHS and the Prime Minister is making it his immediate task to ensure that people start seeing this funding in their local GP surgeries and local hospitals. And by getting Brexit done we can do even more. © This will make a real difference to the lives of NHS staff and patients. And we can all have the peace of mind that the NHS will be there for our children and grandchildren into the future. Getting our country back on the road to a brighter future by: Confirming our commitment to deliver the biggest cash boost ever for the NHS. We are delivering £33.9 billion more for the NHS by 2023-24, with an initial £6.2 billion increase this year.™! © Upgrading 20 hospitals and building 40 new ones, ensuring extra funding for the NHS goes straight to the front line. We are providing £850 million for 20 hospital upgrades, £2.7 billion for the first six new hospitals plus seed funding for the further 34 hospitals to progress their projects.*? © Boost mental health services to ensure everyone receives the care they need. £2.3 billion of the £33.9 billion funding boost for the NHS will be spent on mental health services — improving services with a focus on prevention, community services and young people. ‘* Supporting the NHS workforce to continue delivering world class care. We have announced a £210 million funding boost for frontline NHS staff, including a £1,000 personal development budget for every nurse, midwife and allied health professional to support delivery of our NHS Long Term Plan. There are already over 17,100 more doctors than in May 2010, and over 16,900 more nurses on our wards.™* «Renewing efforts to improve vaccination uptakes and restoring the UK’s measles-free status. We have outlined a series of measures to encourage vaccination programmes, including strengthening the role of immunisation professionals, addressing parental concerns and misinformation around vaccinations and delivering a comprehensive strategy this autumn to eradicate measles, mumps and rubella.°> Jeremy Corbyn cannot be trusted to fund the NHS: * Labour offered less money for the NHS. Labour's manifesto committed 2.2 per cent more a year, which they said would make the NHS ‘the envy of the world’. This is much less than our 3.4 per cent a year.>* * The NHS in Wales has been underfunded by Labour. Health spending in England increased by 22.6 per cent between 2010-11 and 2017-18, but only increased by 17.4 per cent in Wales over the same time period. If it had increased at the same rate, NHS Wales would have over £315 million more to spend.2” Q: Will the NHS be part of trade talks with the USA? Under no circumstances would we agree to any free trade deal that put the NHS on the table. The Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have been clear that itis not for sale. » Marsan, 7 January 2019, Yo 652 Col 62 link: HM Treasury, Speech, 4 September 2019, ink 2 DHSC, Press Release. 5 August 2013, lnk. DISC, News tory 29 Sepeeiber 2019, lnk NHS England, NHS Long Term Plan, 7 Jasuary 2049, lik, Prime Ministers Office, Press Release, 17 June 2019, ink: The Independent, 28 September 2019, link: DHSC, News Sor, 20 Augst 2019, ink TIM Treasury, New Slory, 3 Septomber 2019, link; NHS Digi, VHS Workrce Statistice~ Jame 2019, 26 September 2019, ink DHSC, News Sto, 18 August 2013, ink % The Healt Foundation, 16 May 2017, ik Labour Manifesto 2017 lin TMT, Comnry and repional anaes 2018: Table AIT, 12 November 2 link Links HIM, Comey and regional anal 2018: Table 411,20 Noverber 2018, 9Education: Supporting every child + Every child should have the chance to succeed in life. And that starts with access to a good school place, no matter their background or where they live. ‘+ That’s why we are increasing school funding by £14 billion, with those areas historically underfunded receiving the greatest increase. And we're supporting teachers to manage their workload while also improving standards and discipline. ‘+ We want every parent to be confident that their children are getting the best start in life, one that will allow them to fulfil their potential and put them on a path toa brighter future. Getting our country back on the road to a brighter future by: + Increasing funding in primary and secondary schools by £14 billion so-every child gets a good education. We will lift per pupil funding to a minimum of £5,000 for secondary school pupils next year and £4,000 for primary school pupils by 2021-22, and provide £700 million more for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities next year. «Investing £400 million in education for 16-19-year-olds, including further education and sixth form colleges, to ensure they get the skills they need. This funding will tain and teach our young people the skills they need for well-paid jobs in the modem economy. The boost is the single biggest annual increase for the sector since 2010. ‘* Raising teachers’ salaries and benefits, recognising teaching as the high-value, prestigious profession it is. In the biggest reform to teacher pay in a generation, we are increasing salaries for new teachers to £30,000 by 2022-23 and fully funding increased contributions into the Teacher’s Pension ‘Scheme, so that school leaders can focus as much of their resources as possible on the front line.“ ‘+ Improving literacy so all children are prepared for their future. England has risen to joint eighth place in the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, up from joint tenth in 2011 and the historic low of 19th under Labour. Thanks to our phonics reforms, 163,000 more six-year-olds are on track to become fluent readers compared to 2012." Jeremy Corbyn cannot deliver the change people want: «Labour puts ideology ahead of children’s education — opposing good schools, standardised testing and inspections — which will drive down standards. Labour want to scrap academies, grammars and free schools, which are amongst the best in the country, and abolish SATS and other testing to monitor children’s progress. They also want to abolish Ofsted, which provides impartial information for parents, and private schools, seizing their assets. ? ‘* Under Labour, education standards fell — they cannot be trusted with your children’s education. Between 2000 and 2009, England fell from seventh to 25th in reading, eighth to 28th in maths, and fourth to 16th in science in the PISA league tables." Q: Has school funding been cut? Recently our schools have not received the attention they deserve, which is why the Prime Minister has committed to increase the minimum level of per pupil funding in primary and secondary schools and return education funding to previous levels by the end of this Parliament. DIE, Press Release, 30 August 2019 ink » DIE, Nowe Stony, 31 August 2019, ink “DIE, News Stor, 2 September 2019, ink DIF, News Star, 77 Seprember 2018, Ink ‘© Angela Rayner, Speach to Labour Par Conference 2019, link: BC News, 16 April 2019, Unk: Labour List, 22 September 2018, link ‘DEE Press Rela, 7 December 2010, ikCrime: Keeping our streets safe + The increase in serious violence is deeply worrying and sadly some people no longer feel as safe as they should. It is the Prime Minister's priority to make our streets safer —_and we've already begun work to do just that. ‘© That's why we're putting 20,000 more police on our streets, giving them the powers, kit and backing they need - like extending their powers to stop and search and reviewing sentences so that we can keep serious criminals in prison for longer. © We're send a clear message to criminals — we are coming after you. Meaning the law-abiding majority can live their lives free from the fear of crime. Getting our country back on the road toa brighter future by: iring 20,000 additional police officers to keep our streets safe. The unprecedented drive to deliver 20,000 more police officers over the next three years has begun with the launch of a national recruitment campaign, overseen by a new National Policing Board and backed by £750 million next year. * Giving the police the powers they need to protect the public. We are making it simpler for the police to use emergency stop and search powers and giving Chief Constables the power and resources to equip more of their officers with Tasers.** ‘* Conducting an urgent review of sentencing to ensure the public are properly protected from the most dangerous criminals. This review will ensure violent and sexual offenders are serving the right sentences. We are also extending the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme so more vietims can appeal the sentences offenders receive, and legislating to prevent the automatic release of the most serious violent and sexual offenders at the half way point of their sentence.*® ‘* Creating 10,000 extra prison places to hold the additional offenders who will be caught, charged and sentenced. Up to £2.5 billion will be spent on creating modem, efficient prisons to better reform criminals and keep the public safe, while an extra £100 million will aid the crackdown on crime within prisons.” Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party are soft on crime: * Labour would not give the police the resources they need to tackle crime. Labour voted against making an additional £970 million available to the police this year and would only provide an additional 10,000 more police officers, half the amount we are delivering.** * Or the powers they need to keep our streets safe. Labour oppose stronger stop and search powers and Knife Crime Prevention Orders ~ important measures the police need to reduce serious violence.” + Labour would not punish criminals properly. Labour would scrap sentences of six months of less, meaning criminals like burglars would not go to prison. Jeremy Corbyn has personally opposed tough sentences for criminals and voted against jail time for repeat knife carriers.°° Q: Are you accepting that police cuts led to an increase in crime? The rise we've seen in serious violence is deeply worrying, which is why we are putting 20,000 extra police on our streets and giving them the powers they need to keep people safe. “ Home Ofiee, Press Release, 25 July 2013 link, Home Office, News Story, September 2019, ink ‘Home Office News Sor, 11 August 219, ink: Home Office, News Story, 27 eptember 2019, nk, “Mol, News Sor, 12 Augst 3015, ink: Mo, Press Release, 17 Septoniber 2019, links Mod, Prse Relate 1 October 2019 inks Cabinet Ofc, Queen’ ‘Speech, 18 October 2019, ke “Phos, Pres Release 1 August 2019, ink; Mol, Press Release, 13 August 2019, lin “Hansard, 5 February 2019, Division 21,3 February 2019, ink: Labovr Party, Manso 2017, ceed 2 May 2018, ink * Labour Press 14 August 3019, ik, Th Su, & Mare 201, Link. > Labour Pest 21 September 2019, ine Hansrg, 15 Apel 1994, CoLS8,link; Hansard, 17 June 2014, Division, ink iThe Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats: Just more delay and confusion ‘© Trying to ignore the referendum and cancel Brexit will mean we keep on arguing whilst important issues — like the NHS, schools and police — don’t get the attention they deserve. © On the rare occasions the Liberal Democrats move beyond Brexit, they’ve shown that they don’t share the values and priorities of the British people. They want higher taxes on working people, softer punishments for kr crime and uncontrolled immigration. * No matter what they say now, a vote for the Liberal Democrats would risk putting Corbyn in Downing Street — with dodgy election pacts happening across the country. The Liberal Democrats are determined to keep on arguing about Brexit: * The Liberal Democrats would revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit. Swinson said: ‘We got into this mess as a result of having a referendum in the first place and that [revoking Article 50] is the only satisfactory way out of it’! Jo Swinson, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has admitted she still would not respect the result of a second referendum unless it is a vote to remain, Asked if she would vote to implement Brexit in Parliament if voters backed it again, Swinson said: ‘No, because I was elected on a firm manifesto pledge for Scotland’s pledge in the UK and Britain’s place in the European Union’. ‘Jo Swinson would put the union at risk in her bid to stop Brexit, When asked if she would rule out working with any Labour leader who opened the door to a second Scottish independence referendum, ‘Swinson declined to do so, saying: ‘that’s pretty hypothetical’.* Jo Swinson said that the Liberal Democrats will campaign to re-join the EU after we leave. She said they would continue fighting ‘those arguments to have the closest possible relationship, which also makes it much more easy for us to join again’. Chuka Umunna, Liberal Democrat MP, will not rule out joining the Euro — putting our strong economy at risk. Asked if he would be ready for the UK, as an applicant member, to sign up to the euro and a European army, Umunna refused to rule it out.** The Liberal Democrats would put Corbyn in Downing Street if it meant stopping Brexit: * Jo Swinson said she would consider a coali never in any future scenario’. jon with the Labour Party. Swinson said ‘I have not said * Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats were looking to form dodgy election pacts — coercing voters by limiting their choices. “We want to work with others... Particularly on the Brexit issue. So we will look to see if we can work with them ... We will have some discussions. They are already ongoing’.*” ‘+ Sarah Olney said they will work with ‘whoever’ will help stop Brexit. ‘If we don't win a majority, and I am prepared to say that I think that’s a more likely outcome, then we will certainly work with whoever else in parliament is committed to getting a second referendum." ° Bvening Standard, September 201 2 The Sun, 23 hy 201, 2 The Scotman 8 Noveber 201, lik The Times, 19 Aust 201, ik 2 The Independent, 18 Senter 201, ink % Byoning Standard, | Say 2019, ik BBC One, Breakfart, 30 Occber 2019, chive °° Titer Sam Blix. B Nvenber 2019, ineThe Liberal Democrats want to hike taxes on working people ‘+ The Liberal Democrats will hike income tax, hitting hard working people in the pocket. In 2019 their conference voted to hike the basic, higher and additional rates of Income Tax by a penny.*? ‘* The Liberal Democrats want to reverse the capital gains tax cuts and abolish the marriage allowance — squeezing families from every direction. © The Liberal Democrats want to increase taxes on alcohol. They want to introduce ‘minimum unit pricing in England’ — even taxing people at the pub.*! © The Liberal Democrats want children to pay taxes owed by their dead parents. They want to scrap capital gains forgiveness at death — meaning a double tax with both inheritance tax and a tax on the increase ina property’s value. __ = a And the Liberal Democrats want to hike taxes on homes © The Liberal Democrats want a massive hike in inheritance tax. They want to ‘tax recipients of transfers at current income tax rates. All transfers ~ including large gifts — would be taxed’. Anything above a £250,000 lifetime allowance would be taxed up to 45 per cent — which would presumably mean monitoring financial transfers between family members. * The Liberal Democrats back Corbyn’s garden tax ~ hitting families across the country with a bill of up to £3,837. A study of the Land Value Tax by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Greens admitted that those with gardens will pay much more: ‘The winners are those plots that have little or no garden’. + Jo Swinson has made it clear that she would support a new tax on homes. ‘We want to introduce a new mansion tax on properties over £2 million because, you know, high end property is very undertaxed.”* The Liberal Democrats would hit businesses - damaging our economy and risking jobs ‘+ The Liberal Democrats want to hike taxes on workers and businesses ~ raising corporation tax to 20 per cent. They want to increase corporation tax to 20 per cent. * The Liberal Democrats have called for a ‘land value tax’ on business. Vince Cable has called for an ‘experiment’ tax ‘on property value’ 7 + The Liberal Democrats opposed freeports — discouraging investment where it is most needed. They claimed they would be ‘tax havens’ that create ‘unfaimness in the tax system’. © The Liberal Democrats want to limit trade with the US. They committed to end trading with ‘countries opposed to our liberal values’ — but only cite ‘Donald Trump and an assertive Russia’ as illiberal. > Literal Democrats, Conference maton F15, 15 September 2019, lnk, © Liberal Democrats, 2017, tk. The Daily Moro, 17 September 2016, lnk Literal Demers, Confrence MouonF13, 13 September 201, lnk © Giving Everyone 2 Sake, Liberal Democrats, 24 September 2018, link © Giving Everyone 2 Sake Liberal Democrats 24 September 2018, Lk The Express, 31 May 2017, like © YouTabe,sram:Enersaiemert. 3 July 2014, link Liberal Demers, Conference motion F7, 14 September of Taxation, 18 May 2017, ink tax Land Not Iestnent, Libra! Democrat, 30 August 2018, ink; The Guardian, 2 hy 2017, ink "Liberal Denote, Conference motion F714 September 2019, in; Literal Demactats, Confrence Day, 1 September 2018, is © Liberal Dimoorot Manfoto 2017 accessed 4 je 2019, i 19, link Literal Democrat, Coferance Motion FS, 1S September 2018, inks Chartered IainteThe Liberal Democrats are soft on crime The Liberal Democrats would make our streets more dangerous * Christine Jardine said criminals should not fear the police. ‘I take such an issue with Priti Patel’s stance — people being terrified of the police.’ + The Liberal Democrats want to limit Stop and Search ~ making it harder to get dangerous weapons off our streets. They have pledged to end what they claim is ‘the disproportionate use of Stop and Search.’7! + The Liberal Democrats want to scrap technology the police need to catch criminals. They have called to ‘immediately halting the use of facial recognition surveillance by the police and regulate any use of data and artificial intelligence by the police through primary legislation.’ ‘The Liberal Democrats want to legalise drugs. The Liberal Democrats want to ‘regulate and control” the drug market — starting legalising cannabis and ‘decriminalising’ all drug possession.”* And weaken our justice system - so we can’t lock criminals up * The Liberal Democrats will stop sending people to prison for carrying knives and acid — making our streets more dangerous. They want to end ‘mandatory sentences for possession of knives and corrosive substances’.”* + The Liberal Democrats don’t believe serious criminals should be kept in prison. Theit conference adopted a policy of: ‘Conducting a sentencing review with a view to reducing long sentences’ use.”* © The Liberal Democrats want to end the use of prison for women — even if they commit the same +76 crimes as men. They want to end the use of prison for women, except for the most serious" crimes’. ‘+ The Liberal Democrats want to allow criminals to hide previous convietions from employers. They want to reform ‘criminal record disclosure rules so that people do not have to declare irrelevant old or minor convictions... Removing questions about criminal convictions from application forms’.”” While making our country more vulnerable to terrorist attacks © The Liberal Democrats think ISIS fighters should keep their British citizenship ‘under any circumstances’. ‘People born British should not be deprived of their British citizenship under any circumstances - those who commit crimes should face justice in the UK’."* * The Liberal Democrats want to abolish the police database of terrorists — which is used to track terror suspects. They want to ‘abolish the National Extremist Database, which currently holds detailed accounts of people’s movements and political actions’.”” + They want to let hate preachers off — allowing them to spread extremism. They ‘remain unconvinced that non-violent extremism necessarily or regularly leads directly to a threat to public safety’. * Mai! One, 13 Septem: 2019 lnk. "Liberal Democrats, Conference Hotion F26, 16 September 201, link "Literal Democrats, Conference ModonF26, 16 September 2019, Link, BEC News, 22 August 2017 lnk Te Independent 23 June 2013, Unk “Literal Democrats, Cvfernce modon F12, 14 September 2019, Link. "Liberal Democrats, Conference modon £12, 14 September 2019, Link. Libera Democrats, Conference modon F12, 14 September 2019, Link. °Liheral Democrats, Confrence movon 2, 4 September 2019 ne ™ Liberal Democrats, Conference Motion F3, 17 September 2019, ink. Liberal Demoerats Safe and Fre Ply Paper 123, Auturn Conference 2016, lnk © Liberal Democrats, Safe an Free Policy Paper 123, Avturn Conference 2016, lnk 14The Liberal Democrats don’t share people’s values ‘+ Hove and Portslade candidate Beatrice Bass complained that the election ‘better not ruin my [two month] ski season’. ‘December and January are for winter sports not campaigning’.*! ‘* Kevin McNamara stood down as candidate for Thurrock after his offensive tweets came to light, cluding several where he used the N-word. ‘Offensive Tweets also include one calling a gay Twitter user a “P*ggot”, and accusing a black man of “Smelling like horse sh*t” ~ an experience he claims “summarises grays”. Grays being an area of Essex... in the constituency he’s trying to win votes in...’.? ‘+ Wera Hobhouse was forced to apologise again for comparing Gaza to Nazi ghettos. Hobhouse tweeted in 2014 that ‘#gaza seems to remind terribly of Nazi ghettos in which Jews were trapped during Holocaust.’ Another tweet sent the following year read: “Israel cynically using memory of the Holocaust”. The Liberal Democrats are out of touch with the British people © The Liberal Democrats want to scrap the promotion of ‘British values.’ They want to ‘amend the use of ‘British values’ to ‘universal democratic values’... we should refer to ‘universal values’ instead’. + They want to replace our nuclear deterrent with unarmed missiles —a move branded ‘extraordinary and dangerous’ by senior admirals. The Party’s defence policy paper suggested a ‘declaratory policy of going to sea only with unarmed missiles and store a reduced stockpile of warheads’.®° + The Lib Dems have put forward ‘pro-pimp’ policies on prostitution — and have suggested prostitution should be suggested as a career to schoolchildren. Spokesperson: “Liberal Democrats will decriminalise the sale and purchase of sex, and the management of sex work’. The then Cheltenham. Chairman, Dennis Parsons, said school career advisors are not allowed to mention prostitution as a line of work, then added: ‘Why shouldn’t they?" He then compared prostitution to being an accountant.** The Liberal Democrats cannot understand why anyone in the country voted for Brexit * Liberal Democrat MPs have said that people who voted to leave the EU are ‘buffoons’. Layla Moran has branded Brexiteers ‘buffoons’. Chuka Umunna said: ‘This is at the heart of the xenophobic, backwards-looking nationalism of Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party, UKIP, and... the Conservatives’.*” * Wera Hobhouse called the ‘angry’ public ‘spoiled and selfish’, claiming they just don’t want to ‘share in the wealth of our country’. ‘A lot of ‘angry’ people are spoiled and selfish who do not want to share in the wealth of our country. They don’t give two straws about the real poverty’. + Layla Moran admitted that their campaign literature is likely to mislead people. PRESENTER: The way you remove the Labour standing and make it look like a Lib Dem Conservative race, that’s not accurate. MORAN: I agree and actually I think people need to look very carefully at their bar charts.” The Liberal Democrats would waste taxpayer money + The Liberal Democrats would give a free smartphone to everyone claiming benefits. They want to enable ‘people using the benefits system to request access to a basic smartphone for a year’.”” * The Liberal Democrats want to cut taxes for tourists — but raise them for everyone else. They want to ‘reduce taxation on tourism ... Reducing VAT on visitor accommodation and attractions’.! " Gxado Fawkes § Noverber 2019, ink © Guudo Fawies, 11 November 2019, nk © Jewish News. 11 November 2015, lik “Liberal Democrats, Saf and Fee Polly Paper 123, Autumn Conference 2016, ik Express, 25 August 2013, ink Sat, 18 September 2016, ink: IT 1 September 2018, lnk £ Expres, 16 Setcmbe 2015, ike 8 Wrea's blog, 24 ay 2014 BBC Radio 4, Today Programme, 4 November 2019, achive ‘Liberal Demcer, Conference motion F10, 14 September 2019, ink "Liberal Democrats, Confrence Motion F3, 16 September 2019, rk 15Liberal Democrat Hypocrisy Jo Swinson has picks and chooses which predictions to accept © Jo Swinson is constantly railing against the £350 million for the NHS that was cited by Vote Leave. “How many patients will wait, propped up on plastic chairs in hospital corridors, for that £350 million a week he promised on the side of a bus? That’s why the Liberal Democrats say Bollocks to Brexit. And Bollocks to Boris while we're at it’ ”? + BUT now Jo Swinson has promised a £50 billion ‘Remain bonus’ for public services if Britain stays in the EU. ‘We know that that Remain bonus will be £50 billion that we can spend on our public services, investing in our schools and in the welfare system to help the poorest in our society. So every ‘vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to stop Brexit and invest that £50 billion in our public +93 Jo Swinson holds others to a higher standard than she holds herself: ‘+ Jo Swinson has said that Corbyn is not ‘fit’ to lead after “failing to tackle antisemitism in his own party’. ‘I don’t know how I can be clearer — I do not think he is fit to be prime minister... He has failed to tackle antisemitism in his own party’.°* © BUT she has failed to tackle antisemitism in her own Party. For example, Wera Hobhouse claimed that ‘Israel [is] cynically using the memory of the Holocaust’ and compared Gaza to ‘Nazi ghettos’ without sanetion.®® Jo Swinson campaigns for things in public but doesn't apply the same principles when she stands to benefit financially: + Jo Swinson has joined Extinction Rebellion protests — campaigning against fossil fuels. She has said “The climate emergency is threatening our children’s future. I joined Extinction Rebellion on their march because I believe passionately in the urgency of this cause’.% * BUT she has accepted tens of thousands of pounds in donations from the fossil fuel industry. Swinson has accepted £14,000 in donations from Mark Petterson. He is a director of Warwick Energy Ltd ~a firm with fracking licences across England. She has also accepted £40,000 from Liz Desmond, the chief investment officer of Mondrian which invests in fossil fuels.” 30 Swinson wants to stop people from doing things which she does herself: ‘© Jo Swinson has demanded a new frequent flyer tax ~ making it more expensive for families to take a summer holiday abroad. In a speech endorsing the Party's policy she said: ‘The climate emergency is an existential threat, and only our party has the bold and detailed plan to tackle it’.* © BUT she took thirty-eight flights herself last year— with the costs claimed back on her expenses. She took to the skies an average of once every nine days in 2018 as she shuttled between London and her East Dunbartonshire constituency on the outskirts of Glasgow.” The Times, 24 June 2019, ink 2 Jo Swinson, Spech to Liberal Demoerat campaign launch, 5 November 2019, atshived Guarda 13 September 201, Lk ° Mai on Sunday. 13 September 2019, hives, ° Pole Home, 19 July 2019, ink. Daily Record, 9 June 2018, ink, The Ferret, 30 July 201, lin, Sun, 18 September 2019, ink. Sum, 18 September 2019 nk.Good news on the economy Continuing to break employment records ‘© The latest jobs figures show that there are over 3.6 million more people in work since 2010, meaning families have greater financial security and can plan for their future with confidence. The Conservatives have a proven track record on delivering on jobs, with 32.7 million people currently in ‘work. The number of people who are unemployed is 1.3 million, falling by 1.2 million since we came into government.'© © The number of children living in long-term workless households is at a record low and has fallen every year since 2010, meaning greater financial stability for families. In 2018, there were just over 1 million children living in a long-term workless household ~ the lowest level on record, and a reduction from 1.6 million in 2010. The proportion of all children in a long-term workless household is also at a record low of 8.2 per cent and has fallen from 14.0 per cent since 2010,1¢ ‘* The gender pay gap is at a record low. In 2019 the UK's gender pay gap for all employees fell to 17.3 per cent, down from 27.5 per cent when the survey began in 1997. We have introduced regulations which ‘mean all large employers must now report their own gender pay gap data.'? © The proportion of low-paid jobs stands at a record low — with more people earning a fair and decent wage thanks to our reforms. In 2019, 16.2 per cent of all employee jobs were low-paid, when considered in terms of hourly earnings ~ the lowest proportion of low-paid employee jobs by hourly pay since the series began in 1997. We are backing businesses to create more, higher-paying jobs and our National Living Wage is helping to eliminate low-pay altogether.'®> ‘A regional breakdown of low-paid jobs — and the change since 2000 — can be found below: Region Proportion of low-paid | Proportion of low-paid employce jobs (2000) _ | employee jobs (2019) ‘North West 29.7 18.6 North East 32.8 19.9 ‘Yorkshire and the Humber 32.1 19.6 West Midlands 29.4 18.7 East Midlands 32.5 20.1 East 28.6 16.5 South East 25.1 3 South West 32.8 17.7 London 18.3 8.7 Wales 32.3 19.1 Scotland 30.3 14.5 Northem Ireland 33.2 21.1 Making the United Kingdom the best place to start and grow a business ‘The UK is one of the top 10 countries for doing business in the world, according to the World Bank, and we are committed to supporting businesses in the UK and across the world to attract investment to boost our economy. In the World Bank’s Doing Business 2020 report, the UK ranked eighth on the list of the top countries for ease of business, rising from ninth last year. The UK’s latest ranking means the UK is the 2nd best place to do business in the G7 after the United States and the 2nd best in Western Europe after Denmark.!* "ONS, Labour Marat Overview, 15 October 209, Linke "1 ONS, Chiron living im longterm wore ousohold inthe UK: 2018.28 Octobe 2019, Un "ONS, Gender py gop the UK 29 October 2018, link GEO, Press Release, | August 2018, ink "ONS, Low and hgh pay inthe LIK, 29 Oca 2018, "™ World Bank, Downy Suainess 2020, 28 Oxtber 2019, ink.The Labour Party + Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour would spend 2020 on two chaotic referendums, would wreck our economy and place our public services under pressure with unlimited and uncontrolled immigration. ‘+ Corbyn’s Labour can’t win a majority and would lead to a hung parliament propped up by the SNP meaning we'd lose 2020 to the chaos of two referendums — on Brexit and another on Scottish independence. And the biggest threat to public services like our NHS are his plans for unlimited and uncontrolled immigration whilst his plans to spend £1.2 trillion would wreck our economy. * Under Corbyn’s Labour and the SNP we would have more of the same confusion and indecision that has plagued the last three years. And still no focus and no change on the real issues that matter, and further economic uncertainty for businesses and families. Jeremy Corbyn won't deliver Brexit and will spend 2020 on two referendums : + Jeremy Corbyn would delay Brexit for a second referendum meaning we can’t move on. Corbyn would delay Brexit to hold another referendum yet he doesn’t know whether he'd campaign to leave or remain, '°> + Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon would cook up a dirty backroom deal for a second Scottish independence referendum and break up our union. Corbyn would do a backroom deal with the SNP by letting them have another referendum and break up Britain.'°° Jeremy Corbyn would mean uncontrolled and unlimited immigration ‘+ New research shows that net migration could increase to 840,000 under a Corbyn-led Labour Government which would put public services under increasing pressure. The analysis of Labour's proposals for open borders - which uses official figures and the Government's own methodology - reveals that net migration could increase to 840,000 per year if Jeremy Corbyn is elected as Prime Minister. Jeremy Corbyn would wreck the economy + Corbyn’s Labour would spend an extra £1.2 trillion — enough to keep our NHS running for nine years. When taken over a five-year period, Labour’s 2017 Manifesto commitments added up to more than £600 billion, Since then, they've made over £590 billion of extra spending pledges." © Taxpayers would have to pay £2,400 more for Jeremy Corbyn’s reckless spending. Corbyn would have to pass the bill onto ordinary works and it would cost every taxpayer £2,400 a year ~ the equivalent to the average person's monthly pay. Labour would not bring about the change that people voted for: * Labour will let criminals off the hook by ending short sentencing meaning more criminals on our streets and not in prison. Labour would leave criminals who have committed offences such as burglary, theft and assault and other offences on our streets, failing to punish them properly for their erimes.'"* ‘+ Labour want to close the best performing schools and return to their legacy of falling standards. Labour want to close some of the most successful schools including free schools and academies. They just don’t care about making sure your child goes to a good school with their plans to abolish Ofsted. The Sun 31 October 201, link ‘© The Telegraph 30 Octobe 2019 link °© The Conservative Party, The Real Cost ofa Labour Goverament, 10 November 2019, avaliable upon eau °* Labour Press, 2 Sepeet 2019, link "BBC News, 2 September 2019, ln: DIE, Press Release, 30 April 201, ik 18The Brexit Party ‘+ Supporting the Brexit Party will only create more delay and confusion instead of the change that people voted for in the Brexit referendum. + You might like what the Brexit Party say, but you won’t like what they deliver. A vote for them will let Labour and the Lib Dems in — creating a hung Parliament where nobody is in charge and nothing gets done — just more delay, more confusion, and more indecision, with more arguing over what to do on Brexit. + And with Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister our country will face his extreme economic ideas and ‘won't be able to move on a brighter future. A vote for the Brexit Party will let Labour and the Liberal Democrats in * Nigel Farage himself has admitted that there is a ‘very real’ risk that a vote for the Brexit Party will mean Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street and stopping Brexit. STUDIO: There is more than @ reality that you would split the Brexit vote. So do you accept that there is at least a risk that you could be the last hope of Remainers and those campaigning for @ People's Vote? At least a risk? NIGEL FARAGE: I think you are right John, I think the risk of the vote being split is very real, very real. We saw it in Peterborough, you know we were the lead challenger to the incumbent Labour Party, and because there was a Conservative candidate, the Labour Party won by 600 votes.!"° * Voting for the Brexit Party won't help get Brexit done. In every Parliamentary by-election the Brexit Party have so far contested, the number of votes cast for the party has been greater than the winning candidate's majority over the Conservatives.” ‘* Nigel Farage would prefer more delay and confusion instead of getting Brexit done. Boris Johnson has secured a good deal for the country that respects the referendum result, but Farage is instead choosing further delay to pursue his unattainable vision of Brexit - risking Brexit altogether. The Brexit Party don’t have a plan to deal with the other issues people want addressed * The Brexit Party has refused to publish a manifesto for elections — and this decision has been defended by Nigel Farage. He said: ‘I will never ever use the word manifesto again. Manifesto to me has a word association with lie, because that’s what we've had in election after election’.!" ‘+ The Brexit Party cannot agree on anything. A party whose key MEPs include Claire Fox, a Libertarian Marxist, and Ann Widdecombe, a social conservative, may agree on leaving the EU but not on much else. "BBC News, | November 2019, archived The Guardian 2 Augis2019, ink "RBC One, The Andrew Marr Show, 12 May 2019, achive