Politics

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn in final scramble for votes as rivals prepare for last day of election campaign



Boris Johnson has outlined his main pledges ahead of the final day of campaigning for the General Election, as his rival Jeremy Corbyn urged the public to “vote for hope”.

The Prime Minister is vowing to deliver Brexit by January 31 and is still promising 50,000 more nurses, despite conceding that this pledge only involves recruiting 31,000 new staff.

Also in a final scramble for votes in the final 24 hours of campaigning, Labour leader Mr Corbyn is set to make a last-ditch plea to those who remain undecided ahead of the poll.

The rivals’ bids come as a major poll predicted the Conservative Party would win a majority of 28 seats, but indicated that the race has tightened in the past few weeks.

Jeremy Corbyn mans the phones at a phone banking session in Glasgow on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

Mr Johnson said the Conservatives would deliver 40 new hospitals, but this figure has also been challenged over recent weeks in the build up to the election on Thursday.

The Tory leader defended the number, but the 40 hospitals pledge has come in for criticism after it emerged just six trusts have been allocated £2.7 billion for building projects for completion by 2025. The other 34 projects for delivery by 2030 have so far just been promised £100 million of “seed funding”.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the “seed funding” will allow hospital trusts to carry out design and planning work in preparation for the moment funds become available to start construction.

Mr Corbyn is calling on the public to “vote for hope” and back his party in “the most important election in a generation”.

A day before the election, the Labour leader will reiterate his party’s renationalisation plans, its vow to “save our NHS” and highlight a promise to boost the minimum wage for all workers.

He will also spell out to supporters in the Labour stronghold of Middlesbrough his pledge to hold a second referendum on a “credible” Leave deal and Remain.

Election 2019: December 10 round-up

Labour will go into the General Election on Thursday as rank outsider for overall victory, but the party insists Mr Corbyn becoming the next prime minister is still on the cards.

To achieve this – or to deprive Mr Johnson’s Conservatives of a majority – they will need to win over those who have still not made up their minds.

Outlining his pledges, Mr Johnson vowed for tougher sentences and 20,000 more police, which would replace those lost amid budget cuts since 2010.

He has also vowed that an Australian-style points-based immigration system would be implemented, and for investment in science, education, infrastructure and action to reach Net Zero by 2050.

And he has promised to honour all of these pledges without raising the rate of income tax, VAT or National Insurance.

Ahead of his final day campaigning, Mr Johnson said: “This election is the most important in a lifetime. The result will define the next decade, will we go forward, grow as a country, unleash our potential?

“Or will we remain stuck, stood still, unable to make any progress?

“Tomorrow at the ballot box you have the opportunity to tell politicians that you want Brexit done.

‘Get Brexit done’: A digger that was driven by Boris Johnson during a campaign stunt in Staffordshire (REUTERS)

He continued: “Tell them that the people of this great country will no longer be ignored.”

“Tell them that in this country we believe in and treasure our democracy and that politicians don’t get to choose which votes they respect.

“Tell them that you want them to stop going round in circles and refocus on our schools, hospitals and keeping our streets safe.

“Tell them that they need to stop squabbling, move the country forward and unleash our potential.

“There’s only one way to tell them that. And that’s by voting Conservative.

“Whatever else anyone is offering, what you’ll get is more of the same.

“A hung parliament delivering nothing but delay, deadlock and more divisive referendums.

“A lost decade of division, delay and deadlock.

“Let’s make 2020 about the people of this country and not its politicians.”

He added: “We have one more day. Make sure you have your voice heard.

“Vote to honour the promises of the past and for a brighter vision of the future.”

In his speech later, Mr Corbyn is expected to say: “My message to all those voters who are still undecided is that you can vote for hope in this election. It’s time for a pay rise for 12 million people, for lower fares and bills and for free childcare.

“We will put money in your pocket because you deserve it. The richest and big business will pay for it.

“We will save our NHS by giving it the money it needs, ending privatisation and by not selling it out to Trump.

“And Labour will get Brexit sorted – we will secure a good deal for working people, and give you the final say.

“This is the most important election in a generation and people have the chance on Thursday to vote for a government for the many, not the few.”

The latest YouGov poll estimated 13% of voters are yet to decide which party they will choose.

And around two-thirds of those behind a 3.2-million surge in applications to vote since the election was called were aged under 35.

Labour will hope those younger voters, who tend to be far more inclined to vote for the party, will turn out on Thursday and deliver a shock to the Tories.

 

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