General election 2019 latest: manifestos and 'contracts with the people'
The Week’s daily round-up of how the election campaign is unfolding
It’s less than three weeks to go until the 12 December general election, and voters are being absolutely spoiled rotten by parties publishing manifestos.
Labour’s manifesto launch managed to knock the Andrew formerly known as Prince off the front pages, with promises of higher NHS spending, a second Brexit referendum and the biggest house-building programme since the Second World War.
The Brexit Party will unveil its policies later today, with Nigel Farage saying he will not publish a manifesto but will instead make a “contract with the British people”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Plaid Cymru aren’t a party for such stunts, and will publish their manifesto later today. Leader Adam Price will call for a £20bn “green jobs revolution” in Wales and back a second EU referendum.
The Tories are yet to publish their manifesto, but that hasn’t lost them the backing of donors. The party has raised £5.7m in the first week of the official election campaign, well ahead of Labour’s £218,500, the Lib Dems’ £275,000 and the Brexit Party’s £250,000. The figures only include donations over £7,500.
The Conservative government ran the highest October budget deficit in five years, borrowing far more than was expected. Spending jumped to £11.2 billion last month, £2.3 billion higher than October 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The former SNP leader Alex Salmond has appeared in court charged with 14 sexual offences, including an attempted rape and 10 sexual assaults.
Google has banned highly targeted political advertising from all of its platforms, limiting targeting to age, gender and general location.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Is academic freedom in peril?
Today's Big Question Faculty punishments are on the rise
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why are Democrats suddenly focused on Donald Trump's mental acuity?
Today's Big Question As Election Day looms, Kamala Harris and her allies are mounting a late-stage attack on the former president's mental health — but why now? And will it matter to voters?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Alex Salmond: charismatic politician who nearly broke up the Union
In the Spotlight Remembering the former First Minister who 'normalised' the cause of Scottish independence
By The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published