06/06/2017 The Election Wrap

Hello and welcome to The Election Wrap, your guide

Now put down the game console, and listen up.

Yes you, dear young voters, aged 18 to 25.

You could be key to who wins the election.

main parties face questions from a youthful Newsbeat audience,

in Manchester, in the final TV debate of the campaign.

We'll be in Bradford West, one of the youngest constituencies

in the country, to find out the issues that matter

to the under 25s, dear oh dear, the most apathetic group of voters

With crucial Brexit talks due to start just 11

days after the election, it's claimed the debate surrounding

leaving the EU has hardly figured in the campaign.

We'll have the view from Brussels on our election.

And we should do more of this - bring together in peace

and harmony voices usually hoarse from shouting at each other.

Gina Miller, the woman who took the government to court

over Article 50 and won, talks Brexit, with the former Ukip

I do not understand the inflexible way we're going towards

negotiations. Why not just leave, why negotiate. So civilised.

And mulling all this over, my guests political commentator

Jo Phillips and Times columnist Iain Martin.

Let's bring you up to date with the latest developments

Theresa May returns to her central message that only the Conservatives

offer stable government and warns that the election could

If we lose just six seats then the government loses its majority. And

if we lose just six seats we could see Jeremy Corbyn in Number Ten

Downing St. Diane Abbott looking after our national security. John

McDonnell at the Treasury with our economy. And the strings being

pulled by Nicola Sturgeon. Jeremy Corbyn remains

hopeful he can win. He says he's attracted thousands

of people to back Labour because it offers hope

and campaigned on a We are nearly at the end of this

campaign and we have done dozens of events all over the country and you

know what, everywhere we go the crowds get bigger, people are

determined to show that this election can be won by Labour but we

are also offering something very different to the Conservatives. We

are offering hope that they are offering something else.

And Nicola Sturgeon reckons the outcome in Scotland could be vital.

And Paul Nuttall insisted that his party is the patriotic party and its

policies on immigration and foreign aid will come to be seen as ahead of

their time. The Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron,

thinks it's possible what he terms the Conservatives'

arrogance at this The approach they took to this

election, assuming a landslide and taking the people of the country for

granted. So a vote for the Conservatives on Thursday will be

heard by Theresa May as an endorsement of the dementia attacks

but also police cut and cuts to health and school as well.

A lot of talk about security inevitably but the parties now

perhaps returning to their core messages? They're trying to get it

back but I think the issue of course of the tragic and appalling events

of Saturday is overshadowing everything. And there are questions

about police numbers, about security. Questions about prevention

of extremism and how we fund and support the security services. That

is not going to go away and neither should it because it is a big issue.

And whoever aspires to be in Downing Street on Friday needs to address

those issues very clearly. They're trying to get back but this has been

a fractious election. Very difficult. We had those appalling

attacks, we had leaders who have their own issues in getting their

message out and that has been hampering them. And the Tories so

far ahead of the beginning of this campaign and pegged right back. It

has been fascinating in many respects. Some of the viewers might

disagree! At full price -- for precisely the reason you have said,

one party starting with an enormous lead which has been eroded. I think

you have those closing messages returning to the message with which

they began the campaign, it is about getting out the vote, turning out

their existing voters. You are beyond the stage in the campaign we

could hope to convert anyone so the Tories are going back to that strong

and stable position and Jeremy Corbyn with his hope and all the

rest of it. And now it is about maximising the vote, the get out the

vote operation. I think the biggest fear is because it has been such a

ghastly campaign, and probably all the party leaders would agree, the

biggest fear is no one bothers on Thursday. And there is a low turnout

and dreadful weather. And that is not good for any of us. I think it

is particularly fascinating election because we are seeing a big sea

change, ostensibly returned to the 2-party politics, the disappearance

of Ukip potentially, the Liberal Democrats staggering, and the

re-emergence of quite a strong labour tribal vote.

Well, could the youth vote be key to this election?

Tonight the seven main parties face questions from a Newsbeat audience

of 18-to-25-year olds in Manchester in the final TV debate.

I think we're going to hear from the audience tonight a lot of passion,

we talk about young voters being apathetic but having gone around the

UK in this election talking to merrily under 25 about how they're

going to vote and why they're not, a lot of care about the issues, low

wages, their chances of going to university, equal rights. What turns

them off is the language of politics and performance of politicians on

the TV and radio. Jonathan Blake. Fewer than half of young people

voted in the 2015 general election - so will they be more likely to turn

out this time round? We've been in Bradford West,

one of the youngest constituencies in the country, talking to a group

of under 25s. Labour have the biggest poll lead

amongst the young voters so what does not make of the party the

Jeremy Corbyn? I think he is a great party leader. I worry if he becomes

Prime Minister, would he be able to talk internationally. So not

everyone convinced. And what about Prime Minister Theresa May question

mark she is good as party leader but they have been in power for 18 years

now and I do not feel as a student I have got what I wanted from them. So

what do these bright young things one from the party they vote for?

Mental health is a big issue at the moment. There should be much more

emphasis on helping those who have mental health issues. The NHS should

be posted because of the cuts to funding. With Jeremy Hunt going

against junior doctors, that has put pressure on the NHS and a lot more

funding needs to be put in. I believe if you are capable of going

to university you should not have to pay a fee. Because you worked hard

to get there. And what about the Brexit word, 73% of the Young voted

to stay in the EU. I voted to stay in. I voted to stay. Remain. I feel

the Lib Dems are more open about Brexit and talking about a second

referendum before the final deal goes through. We do not normally

associate young voters for some reason with the Conservative Party.

There is a long tradition of this is voters tend to move towards the

centre or a little bit right as they get older. But the Tory party has a

particular problem this time and that is compounded by the fact that

I think they just expected that not to matter. They did not anticipate a

surge amongst young voters for Jeremy Corbyn. The question is

whether they will turn out. But also the Tories took the bizarre step of

declaring war on older voters through the so-called dementia

attacks. Voters they thought were signed, sealed and delivered, those

older voters, it is striking that the Conservatives do not in a

manifesto merely have a message of opportunity or aspiration for young

voters about getting on housing ladder. All of that kind of stuff.

Is there any policy designed to get to someone under 30? It is strange

because although the Conservatives have had a problem with younger

voters, they have been quite good, Margaret Thatcher, McMillan, David

Cameron, in terms of talking about that ladder of opportunity. They

have had a way of appealing to aspiration. But it is striking and

you see it and hear it from focus groups and use it in the vox pops.

People of that age just a bit baffled, why they would vote

Conservative. Then again you have the young Jeremy Corbyn fans. They

only have to pay ?1 to join the party and he is galvanising them.

They think that money grows on trees! If Jeremy Corbyn is offering

or peddling hope, that is what use is all about, hope. But I think it

is astonishing that the Tories went out of their way to is not alienate

but certainly sow seeds of doubt amongst their coffee -- their core

voters. If that was their attempt to say we know that young people should

not be paying the fuel allowance for rich pensioners, they did not do

that in a good way. Of course the answer is you want a strong economy

and entrepreneurial stuff, but nothing about aspiration. And the

Lib Dems, you know, and the SNP... Well the Lib Dems had their

manifesto launch in a discotheque! Appealing to young people!

Will our friends at BBC economy have put together a little Malaysian

appealing to younger voters. Is there an argument that of the more

all the problems in Britain they might just go away? Historically

there has not been the case. The CBA is represented all over the UK and

we are getting bigger and bigger. In Manchester in 2015 56% of registered

voters did not vote. Most of them were young people. We are proud of

them. They are shaping the future of this country without even lifting a

finger. Those are used to upload pictures of their food. So join the

CBA party today. It is easy, you do not have to do anything. The CDA

party, ignore the problems of the UK and they might just go away. CBA

party? Are we allowed to say that? Can't be bothered. Now the turnout

for 18 to 24-year-old in the referendum campaign was 64%. Which

is pretty good. You have to ask why David Cameron did not at that stage

lower the voting age to 16 for the referendum. And why would you not do

that and then making voting compulsory. That is part of the

Labour manifesto. I think they do want to do that. And the Lib Dems as

well and the SNP have already done it. But that apathy, it was

suggested by Jonathan Blake, is apparently because politicians of a

certain age do not know how to talk to young people. This has always

been the case, I do a lot of work with schools and debating groups and

I find young people are incredibly engaged about politics. That is at

school. And I cannot wait to vote. I was involved with the Home Office

with John Denham in getting out the youth vote. But in fact what happens

is by the time they get to 19, 20, 25, they're so busy with their own

opinions but they forget actually that you have to make that effort

and get your name on a register and get down to the polling station

before ten o'clock at night. And for the Labour fortunes to go up and

down on Thursday, those young people have got to put down their game

console or whatever, generalising ridiculously, but they've got to get

out and make the effort. So much of the election depends on precisely

that. If you look at the opinion polls in the last few weeks which

put Labour much closer to the the pollsters that have narrowed the gap

are predicated there being a high turnout. Something like 75, 80% of

young voters which has never happened before. But anything is

possible, we live in the era of Brexit and Donald Trump. There has

been a lot of big increases in terms of voter registration, Labour might

be doing something underneath the surface on social media. That has

not really been picked up on yet. So it is possible. Well if the

Conservatives can be bothered to increased their majority on Thursday

they will have to do well to win some of the seats they won in 2015.

One of their top target seats is Newcastle-Under-Lyme

Labour have held the seat since 1922, but they are defending

What do voters there want to see from their politicians?

It is the birthplace of the man who created the modern-day circus.

Newcastle-under-Lyme in North Staffordshire. We created the circus

ring. The foreman has come to town with his act, not that different to

the general election. Political spin, juggling campaigns, and

performance. Sound familiar? Politics can sometimes feel like a

bit of the circus so what will the candidates here do? Police numbers

in terms of neighbourhood policing have stayed the same and that is

important in terms of intelligence gathering feeding through. As we've

seen from Theresa May we need to look again at what legislation might

be needed as the world and technology evolves. We've said we

will invest in the security services, in more policemen on the

front line and beef up our security apparatus. Under Theresa May after

six years at the Home Office it has been cut and cut and cut. The

impression some people get is that we in the Lib Dems think we allowed

too much freedom to too many people and therefore we're not going to put

the procedures in place to restrain those people incline towards

terrorism. That is not the case. Voters have returned Labour MP here

since 1919, 98 years. Can they do it again? But this time around the

candidates are walking a tightrope. Labour contend with a slim majority

of 650 in 2015, it is a balancing act. The marginal seat has attracted

celebrities aboard. Steve Coogan out for Labour at the new Vic Theatre.

But the real drama is coming on Thursday. Who will wobble, who will

fall and who will be the last man standing?

650 votes separating the parties. Theresa May we are hearing has just

said that she will beef up some human rights laws if they stop us

from tackling terrorism. Is that the kind of tough rhetoric that could

swing it in a constituency where there are just a handful of votes?

It might do. I wonder, I would question whether the terrible events

of the last few weeks on the terror front, I would wonder if it is that

simple for the Conservatives. Because there is only questions to

answer, for example about the Borough Market three, why they were

not picked up. And the record of Theresa May in Home Office. I would

question with so little time to go where they really that makes a

difference. It suggests the Conservatives after a pretty rugby

campaign are worried. You wrote an article which has been quoted by a

lot of people, a few days ago, that suggested that this was the worst

Conservative campaign since what, the Second World War? Since the

First World War. Since 1906. Where they went backwards. I think to

begin with such an enormous lead and such a weak opponent, and then to

really make quite a spectacular mess of it, I cannot remember an election

in which the Conservative campaign has been so vulnerable as this. I

think also there's something about her quality of leadership and the

way in which she has been exposed to the public and found wanting. To an

extent. The strong and stable, build everything around Theresa May,

addiction the Conservative brand, that is fine and then things began

to go wrong with a manifesto, Labour fought a better campaign than

anticipated. In the last ten days, Lynton Crosby, the Australian

election guru who had not been in full control, has effectively taken

full control of the campaign. And they've tried to move it on to a

much more disciplined and clear message. But one of the fascinating

things, when it is all over on Friday, no matter the size of

majority think they will be a lot of Tory disquiet about how a lead of 20

points was potentially squandered. Those shortcomings suggested in

Theresa May and her campaign but Jeremy Corbyn on the campaign stump

has been brilliant. That is a fact. Absolutely and he engages with

people and they like him, they find him affable. That's a different

question as to whether you want him running the country and Diane Abbott

at the Home Office. That is the Tory argument. Exactly. But he is much

better with people. I think Theresa May, she does not have that kind of

human warmth. Frankly we're not voting for our friends, but for

someone we think is the best leadership. But the Tories have

always been absolutely bang on with discipline, disciplined getting

their supporters, sticking to the message, and that was what Tony

Blair and Alastair Campbell brought to the 1997 election campaign, they

learned the only way to do it by discipline. And it has just gone to

pot. Astonishingly bad. We have got one more full day of campaigning to

go. Do you expect that tomorrow, Brexit, Brexit, Brexit from the

Conservatives? 11 days before the substantive talks begin on a

sleeping. They have done the strong and stable tough -- stuff today and

the final message I think will have a lot to do with Brexit. The logic

makes perfect sense. I think we might look back on the campaign and

think that the Tories closed in the final few days in quite a clever way

and I think that is about the Brexit message, motivating former Ukip

voters of that is the key for the Tories. David Cameron won the last

election with 35% of the vote, and if after some wobbling as the polls

suggest, there is a large chunk of that 4 million Ukip vote, say 2

million, swapping over to the Conservatives, in the right places,

that takes the Conservatives into the majority of 50, 60, 70

territory. For the Ukip voter, hearing the Brexit word is very

important. I think Labour are going to try to get it back onto that.

What happens is beyond anyone's control and that may swing things

but I think they had a plan and I think the Labour Party will get it

back and try to go for the Carter, Reagan thing. Jeremy Corbyn wants to

offer hope and to a certain extent Theresa May is offering clear. So

we're back to that whole Brexit campaign which was based on fear or

threat. I think that is damaging for us as a democracy. A lot of people I

think, and particularly Theresa May will be glad when Friday comes but I

think what happens afterwards, if we have a hung parliament, Jeremy

Corbyn unassailable because probably he will get more votes than Ed

Miliband. Theresa May now probably holed below the water line unless

she can pull something out of the bag. Very interesting indeed.

With the general election round the corner, my colleague

Victoria Derbyshire's been organising a series

of Election Blind Dates - a lunch between two people with very

This time it's the turn of Gina Miller - the woman who took

the government to court over Article 50 and won - and Godfrey Bloom,

a former UKIP politician known for making controversial remarks -

I'm Godfrey Bloom. I was a founder member of Ukip but it is not for me.

But every time I see Theresa May on television my pen hovers over the

ballot vote. She's very good at running a church fete but as from

running a country I rather not. I would hope that this is not a date

with someone who has no respect for women. I'm Gina Miller, I took the

government to court. My voting history has been for the Labour

Party because it is all but Brexit so I will vote Lib Dem. Hello! How

lovely to see you. And you. Do you think we have given already more

away with the Brexit negotiations then we should have done. Rather

than getting too much away to Ali I think it is the mood, all the

Europeans on the other side of the table must be now looking at us and

thinking we can be as strict as possible because this Prime Minister

will buckle under pressure. I do not understand the inflexible way we're

going towards these negotiations. Why are we negotiating, why not just

leave? What happens next if we just leave? When I left my club, my

London club, I wrote a very nice letter and said it was marvellous

and goodbye. They said sorry to lose you, goodbye. What are we

negotiating? The question I asked was what happens next. What happens

next is we just leave. They have already said it's not that simple.

Do people know what they voted for? You're saying people are stupid and

do not understand what they voted for? I have been hearing a lot of

this. If why the day before the referendum the biggest Google search

was what is the European Union. That was the biggest search by millions.

Always the same when you meet your fellow, so much more common ground

than you ever imagined. What is positive, we can disagree and agree

but have a civilised conversation. It was pretty civilised, at the

beginning! It drifted off a bit at the end. Mr Bloom Megan Giglia the

British public knew what they were voting for. -- Mr Bloom making it

clear. A second referendum? I do not think so, we are where we are. So I

think not. I do not think there is the public appetite for that. But

the idea of a hard Brexit, is that what people voted for? I think they

voted to leave the European Union. And we believe in a number of

different ways. But the Lib Dems have had problems, the country has

moved on. Those who voted for Brexit are glad it is happening and the

other half who voted to remain, they it is going to happen. That is about

three quarters of the country. It has been great to have you, thank

you very much. And that is it from Election Wrap for today. Thank you