United Kingdom

    As we reach the final stages of this bad-tempered election campaign, littered with half-truths, divisive politics and fanciful pledges, is it any wonder that the two main protagonists cannot even look each other in the eye? The BBC leaders’ debate, likely to be the last TV campaign event before the polls open next Thursday, barring Andrew Neil doorstepping the Prime Minister this weekend, was a tetchy hour-long encounter between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn. Except for the first half hour they didn’t quite encounter each other, despite standing six feet apart on stage - instead they talked about their opponent in the manner of an estranged spouse at a marriage guidance session. “Mr Corbyn doesn’t know what his Brexit policy is,” said the Prime Minister without l...

    I'm a student applying for my first ever credit card in a bid to improve my credit score. I've lived at multiple addresses over the past few years, but consider my parents home my permanent address, even though I'm at university for six months of the year now. How should I fill in my application? Should I use my home address or university address, and what do I do when the application asks for my household income and rental payments? George Nixon, This is Money, replies: Your first time applying for credit is often a peculiar catch-22. This is because lenders tend to use your previous credit history when determining whether or not to lend you credit, and in order to get a good credit history you must demonstrate you are a creditworthy borrower. But the sooner you...

    Boris Johnson has this lunchtime rejected the claims contained in a new leaked Treasury analysis of the impact on Northern Ireland of his new Brexit deal. In characteristic Mr Johnson style, he also admitted he hasn't read it. Notwithstanding those two things, the new leak of an internal government presentation from Labour may be the most significant document to enter the public domain during this campaign, and perhaps the most important leak since Yellowhammer no deal planning documents even if it does not change a single result in next week's election. The most controversial element of the prime minister's revised Brexit deal, struck in mid-October, relates to Northern Ireland. This leaves Ulster tied closer to the rest of the European Union than the rest of the ...

    Boris Johnson has refused to do an interview with ITV's Julie Etchingham ahead of the general election, the channel has said. He is the only leader of a major party to turn down the request from the channel’s Tonight programme, having also declined to be interviewed by the BBC’s Andrew Neil. Instead, the broadcaster will show footage of recent interviews with other people and archive footage. A spokesman for ITV said: “The ITV News team making the Boris Johnson Tonight film made the original bid for the Prime Minister when the election was called. “They have contacted his press team on repeated occasions with times and dates offered to film an interview." The spokesman added: “Boris Johnson’s team have today confirmed he will not be taking part. “The programme w...

    US health firms are confident it will be easier to gain access to the NHS and hike the price of medicines after Brexit, a document reveals. The prospectus sets out how pharmaceutical companies will demand new rules that prohibit discrimination against foreign suppliers and end restrictions on the number of suppliers. Written by the US Chamber of Commerce last month, it notes the failed three-long battle to strike a deal with the EU, which collapsed partly because of fears over opening up public health services. And, crucially, it states: Concerns about potential impacts on Britain's National Health Service are being aired. It should prove easier to overcome these challenges with the UK as an individual negotiating partner. The document, revealed by the Mirror, wa...

    Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson have all been caught on a hot mic at the Buckingham Palace NATO reception Tuesday evening, appearing to gossip about Donald Trump and an impromptu lengthy press conference. In a clip being widely shared online the three world leaders seem to be discussing why the French President was late during the London summit, held to mark the alliance's 70th anniversary.  Princess Anne also appears to be in the discussion but the royal remains silent throughout the conversation. None of the men mention Trump by name but Trudeau seems to be referring to the US president's lengthy talks with the media throughout Tuesday. British Prime Minister Johnson asks: Is that why you were late?  Taking a swig of his drink Canadian Prime Min...

    Jeremy Corbyn has apologised to the Jewish community for antisemitic incidents involving Labour party members and said he was dealing with the issue. The Labour leader said: Obviously I’m very sorry for what has happened, after being asked to apologise directly by presenter Philip Schofield, in an interview on ITV’s This Morning. Corbyn has previously apologised for antisemitic incidents involving party members but during the general election campaign he has been dogged by criticism that has not said sorry again when he has been given the opportunity. He declined to apologise four times during an interview with the BBC presenter Andrew Neil. In an exchange with Schofield, who said he was giving him the opportunity to say sorry, Corbyn at first spoke about ways he h...

    Dominic Raab has admitted the US will be able to ramp up the cost of drugs bought by the NHS after Brexit, but insisted the prospect is “hugely unlikely”. Asked if Washington would be free to “jack up prices”, the Foreign Secretary replied: “The Americans will take their decisions.” He then claimed: “I think it’s hugely unlikely, why would they do that?” – prompting Sky News interviewer Adam Boulton to say: “To get more money that’s why.” The comments come after documents released by Labour revealed that drug pricing has been discussed by US and UK negotiators in exploratory talks. Officials from the department for international trade officials had “positive bilaterals” and met with PhRma, the US pharmaceutical lobbing group, to discuss priorities for a future tra...

Boris Johnson’s promise to Get Brexit Done has proved a powerful election slogan, but the prime minister’s critics claim it masks the fact that if he wins the election Britain faces a tough and potentially humiliating trade negotiation with the EU. Michael Heseltine, former deputy prime minister, called it the great delusion, while Ivan Rogers, Britain’s former ambassador to the EU, warned last week of the crisis that is likely to confront us at the Christmas yet to come Christmas 2020. Mr Johnson and fellow ministers have so far brushed aside any idea that a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU would be anything other than simple. Most of the work has already been done, chancellor Sajid Javid claimed. But by insisting that a deal must be done by December 2020, Mr Johnson has set a high...

    Boris Johnson has sought to blame Labour for the release of Usman Khan, the convicted terrorist who murdered two people on London Bridge on Friday, as the aftermath of the attack became an increasingly politicised election issue. In an interview on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, the prime minister said it was ridiculous that someone such as Khan should have been freed midway through an earlier sentence, and pledged to change the law. He said: The reason this killer was out on the streets was because of automatic early release which was brought in by a leftie government. But challenged on the role of cuts to police, probation services and the judicial system under 10 years of Conservative rule, Johnson repeatedly sought to separate himself from this, and present hi...