15/05/2017 The Election Wrap

Hello and welcome to The Election Wrap -

our guide to all the election news of the day.

And voters have been grilling Theresa May,

I'm talking about everybody, not just me. Everybody who's got

learning disabilities. I want them not to have their money taken away

and leaving them crippled. As well as pounding the streets,

the PM's been giving interviews to regional reporters,

and found time for a bit of new Politicians of every stripe

are desperately trying to connect with voters,

and we'll be asking, what is the best tactic,

for successful communication? We'll take a look at how

the campaign is faring in the East of England,

where the Lib Dems are trying to fight off a determined

Conservative challenge, And what about Northeast Scotland,

where the SNP are working hard to keep a seat they've

held since the 1980s, If you don't read the manifesto, you

don't know what they are going to do. It's quite important to know

what's happening to your country. And Plaid Cymru's leader

Leanne Wood goes for a spin with Victoria Derbyshire,

where she's asked about God... But is revealing a politician's

personal side always a good idea? We'll discuss that and much more

with our two panellists: Katy Balls from the Spectator and Jason Beattie

of The Daily Mirror. But before all that,

let's catch up on the big developments from the campaign

trail, on Monday 15th May. Some have suggested Theresa May

needs to meet more ordinary voters. Well, no problems with that

today when she was out I'm serious, I want you to do

something for us. We've got a lot of plans for people with mental health.

And learning disabilities. I've got mild learning disabilities and I

have carers. People jumped on the bandwagon and have got houses they

shouldn't have got. You've done a marvellous job. Keep it up. We want

to leave. Providing an elected. Well tough questions

followed the Prime Minister, when she took part in a lengthy

Facebook Live interview One question came from

a well known viewer. Perhaps surprisingly, I've got a

question from a Jeremy Corbyn of Islington. He says, as Prime

Minister you have served your elite friends by giving them tax cuts.

Housing is at its lowest since 2010 and the NHS is in crisis. Do you not

think the British people deserve to see you debate live on television.

What I think is more important is that I and he take the question

directly from the voters. I don't think people get much from seeing

politicians have a go at each other. They want to hear directly.

As well as heckling the Prime Minister over refusing

to do the TV debates, Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has been

He told nurses about his plans to inject an extra 37 billion pounds

And later on he gave supporters a preview of what may be in Labour's

Tomorrow, our manifesto will be launched in Bradford. Many of you

have had a sneak preview anyway. You may have had some ideas fed to you.

It's the manifesto that will deal with the is use of health and

housing and of education within our society. But it's also a manifesto

that values people. That doesn't want so many of our elderly lacking

the services they need but, above all, living in isolation and

loneliness. So many of our young people wracked with debt because

they went to college all university and unable to work at the level of

their skills because we haven't had the proper investment in sustainable

industries for the future and new technologies.

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron says he wants to abolish

the public sector pay cap, which limits pay rises

He says nurses could be ?780 a year better off.

And he revealed himself to be a secret Star Wars fan,

telling nurses "We are literally, to quote Princess Leia,

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has demanded

the Scottish Government has a role in the UK's Brexit negotiations.

The SNP government wants Scotland to remain in the EU,

and in particular the single market.

This election gives me a mandate to demand that Scotland is represented

in the UK negotiating team, that our interests are central to these

negotiations. That matters because jobs, living standards and

investment will be affected by the outcome of Brexit Pisi agents. We've

seen Theresa May dismiss out of hand sensible compromise proposal by the

Scottish Government to protect our place in the single market. This

gives as an opportunity to give these proposals democratic

legitimacy. -- the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

Let's speak my guests who are with me for tonight's

programme, Katy Balls from the Spectator and Jason

Theresa May out on the stump. She did she deal with that person

speaking to her quite heatedly out on the streets. She's been

criticised for not getting out and about and meeting members of the

public. Today she did it for the first time. She met some members of

the public and they were... It was as difficult as you could imagine.

You don't want to be too harsh. You criticise her when she is not out

there and you criticise her for getting and if all today. Some

people were quite supported but she was confronted on the issues she is

most vulnerable on, welfare cuts which have hurt an awful lot of

people. Here was a photo with a genuine grievance, who has had

disability payments cuts because of the introduction of pips. She had

this line that could have come from an opposition manifesto, why does

all the money go to the fact cats -- the fat cat and why not us? Jeremy

Corbyn must be happy about the NHS being in the debate. Labour want to

make this whole election about domestic issues partly because they

are weak on Brexit and can't decide their position. They are hoping to

flesh out what they can do to help ordinary voters day to day. We are

going to talk to you later. As we've been hearing Theresa May

has been in the South of England, talking to voters about her plans

to boost workers' rights. She's also been taking questions

from regional media -- including this interview by BBC

South Today's presenter Was their money from years combined

that was used to pay for day-to-day health care? Was that why we were in

this situation? The NHS has to take care of its cyber security. I

understand that warnings were given that it had to be up-to-date. 150

countries are involved in this and 200,000 victims, according to Europe

poll. We take cyber security very seriously. We setup the new national

cyber Security Centre which has been working with the NHS and with staff

in the NHS to ensure that patient care has been compromised. Let's

talk about Brexit. BMW are building the mini at Cowley around the

corner. They are not committing to building the electric mini until

they know what is going to happen in the future. Companies like BMW will

be looking for the government to produce a good deal for the UK so we

have is free and frictionless trade across borders with DEV. We have

planned to go into those negotiations working for a comp

rents of free trade agreement. We want to make sure that the

automotive sector which is important here and in other parts of the UK is

competitive into the future. To do that, you need strong and stable

leadership and a strong and in those negotiations.

One area where Brexit is very much part of the election debate is Moray

It's a seat that's been held by the SNP since the '80s,

but the Conservatives hope they can win it back in a few weeks time.

Our Scotland political correspondent Nick Eardley is in Burghead

Nick, over to you. I'm standing right on Scotland's north-east

coast. This is the area of Scotland that came closest to voting to leave

the European Union that in June. Every local counting area returned a

remaining results but it was extraordinarily close here. What

role is Brexit playing in the general election debate? This seat

is held by the SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson. The Conservatives

are hoping to revive here and they are talking about this as a main

target seat. I have been trying to look at the battle for Moray and

cooking a dish. This is the home of the famous Colleen skink soup. The

locals who catch this stuff are mixed with a large agricultural

sector, service sector and staff here at the hotel. Ian Watson voted

remain. If anything is happening, we've just got to make sure it's the

best that can be. Angus Robson has been MP here since 2001. One of the

year's most vocal supporters at Westminster. It's going to be me or

a Tory who is going to give a blank cheque to Theresa May which I don't

think is going to be a good idea given how important the single

market is for the economy of Moray. The SNP had a 9000 majority in 2015.

Top Tories think their message to voters is getting through. They are

concerned that the Scottish Nationalists will take as out of

Westminster and go straight back into Europe. The majority of people

who voted remain are concerned that their vote is taken as a proxy to

hold another divisive independence referendum. We are going to fight

the Tory hard Brexit because we believe it will be very damaging to

the economy. Especially as Moray relies on exports in the food and

drink industry. We are the only party that can offer them the other

opportunity to look at how we fit into Europe in the long term and how

Scotland can remain in the UK. Back at the hotel, the verdict on my

attempt at the local dish. I would serve it. The issue here is whether

Moray will turn conservative blue. And here is a full list

of candidates standing Now, although the wind may have been

taken out of Labour's sails after last week's leak,

but this week of the campaign is expected to see a series

of stage-managed launches of the party manifestos -

the official pitch to voters. As those carefully considered

promises make their way to the printers,

Ellie Price from the BBC's Daily Politics team

has been to Newcastle. Where she's conducted a very

unscientific poll on how much attention voters actually pay

to party manifestos. Welcome to Gateshead and Newcastle

where there is an air of anticipation because this week the

party published their manifestos. Do they affect the way you vote? Yes or

no? I was brought up to be a Labour voter. Nearly, Diane Abbott, Jeremy

Corbyn, Thornbury? Really, no. There is nothing they can say in their

manifesto. Tories are going to concentrate on Brexit and strong and

stable leadership. A shallow one-liner that they have come up

with. I don't think we are going to get any more. I couldn't vote for

Jeremy Corbyn if he was last man on earth. Whatever he says in the

manifesto? Exactly. Because he won't carry it out. Will you vote for the

Tories regardless of what is in their manifesto? Yes. I'll scan

through it. I'm not going to read the whole thing. It doesn't matter

what they say. Any of you going to read the party manifestos? What? I

don't know what that is. I'm going to read them to give them an equal

chance. If you don't read the manifesto, you don't know what they

are going to do. And it is quite important to know what's happening

to your country. Corbyn has been a good leader and he will be a good

leader for the future. We know what is in it. We know what is in it!

With the manifesto change the way you vote? Probably not. I'm going to

vote for the best option to get rid of the Tories. It's going to be

tactical. Already decided, thank you. Labour seats in this part of

the world have traditionally been pretty safe. The results today,

pretty marginal. But overall it seems the party manifestos won't

influence the way people vote. Probably the most considered comment

came from a six-year-old girl. Do people actually bother with the

manifestos, even though this is a crucial week when you think about

it? And the six-year-old obviously can't vote. Give her time. A lot of

people have already made their minds up. Certain policies will begin to

cut through especially when they have to go and defend them over the

next few weeks. We saw in a Mirror poll that the Labour draft manifesto

was popular. People like the policies but they don't like the man

leading the party that has those policies. Your paper did the poll.

They say that the manifesto will have costing. It is estimated that

80 billion pounds worth of promises are in there. They are saying it is

fully costed and responsible and reliable but will the sums add up?

There is going to be a team of Tory staffers at HQ tomorrow going

through it line by line. You hope that Labour has done the same amount

of homework. Up to now, they have used tax-raising measures such as

capital gains tax to pay for various objectives. Which of them are nailed

down and have they done it thoroughly enough not to leave

themselves open to attack. That's the important thing tomorrow.

Let's move on to the Election in East Anglia and the Conservative

campaign to win North Norfolk from the Lib Dems stepped up today.

The Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss was in North Walsham,

Labour has also made the seat a target.

North Norfolk is the only Lib Dem seat in Norfolk, Suffolk or Essex

and the Conservatives want it. Today, a Tory big fun was drafted

in. The Justice Secretary and South West Norfolk candidate Liz Trust. We

have fought to get things like the AA 11 of grade, to get RAF Marham

secured, to get the a 47 further upgraded. We want the great

Conservative MP here in North Norfolk that can help us fight for a

better deal for the whole county. The numbers are pretty stark. Ukip

Ukip voters from 2015 switch to the Ukip voters from 2015 switch to the

Conservatives, Lib Dem Norman Lamb could be out. He took North Norfolk

from the Conservatives in 2001 but defending a majority of 4500, he's

fighting for his future as an MP. We knew that it was going to be a

target seat and we're ready for them. Norman has a huge track record

that their candidate doesn't have. He's been their representative for

16 years and worked hard for them for that time. What can they put up

against that? North Norfolk was a Labour seat until 1970. Recently

Labour has come third. This time, they say local party members are

their biggest weapon. We have almost 700 members, more than all of the

other parties combined. Unlike the Tories and Lib Dems who are shipping

in volunteers, we have a lot of members locally. It's like going

back to the old days with just three candidates but will that translate

to an easy decision for voters come election day?

And here is the full list of candidates standing

You're watching The Election Wrap in BBC News - some of the other

Jeremy Corbyn has defended the appointment of a former

Communist Party member, who once expressed "solidarity"

with North Korea, to his election campaign team.

The Labour leader said he did not believe Andrew Murray,

seen here in the foreground, was a Stalinist, and stressed

his "special skills" were being used to "temporarily" help the campaign.

Ukip's economy spokesman, Patrick O'Flynn has defended

the party's decision to stand aside in some seats for

Mr O'Flynn said they were fielding candidates in just over

half of the 650 seats because of the "radically

He insisted the party was aiming to win a "cluster"

The Green Party has pledged to scrap what it calls "pointless" SATs,

and abolish academies, as part of plans to shake up

The party says it wants to free teachers and children from national

tests and put "enjoyment" back into schools.

To the campaign in Wales now and the Nationalist party

Plaid Cymru say they wouldn't rule out a coalition with Labour if it

meant stopping the Conservatives in "wreaking havoc in Wales".

The party's leader Leanne Wood has taken a road trip with the BBC's

But as you can imagine she wasn't only asked about the campaign.

But when I was younger and a student, I tried a few things.

I would rather not go into the details of

So, in that sense, you have broken the law in the past. Have you broken

any other laws? Possibly some driving offences. No others that I'm

aware of. Do you believe in God? No. Why? No evidence has come my way

that would convince me that God exists. I'm asking you this because

the leader of the Lib Dems was irritated that nobody else was as

this. Is gay sex a sin? No. In your house, do you have girl jobs and boy

jobs? No. In my house, my partner does most of the house work so they

are all his jobs really. I've put on some music to relieve the stress.

# It's all over the front page, you give me road rage...

# You're driving me crazy, thinking you're maybe... When I told my

daughter I was doing a car interview, my daughter said are you

going to do car karaoke? I said, no way. Victoria is doing that for the

whole of the campaign. We will bring you every episode here on BBC News.

Politics and personality. We saw Leanne Wood trying to show a

different side of who she is. Do these attempts to personalise

politicians actually work? For somebody like her who was not

very well known, it's probably not a bad idea. Although, Cerys Matthews

is properly being sick into a paper bag. It's now incumbent for

politicians to pretend if they have a personality even if they don't in

some cases. It is always a risk. Sometimes you may show a side of

yourself which might not play quite so well with voters. I think it's

inevitable now, part of modern electioneering, they want to see

what you're like, kind of, in real life, so to speak. You sometimes

find in real life they are even more boring than in public life. A lot of

people say it is about issues and policies. But they don't want a

robot running the country sometimes. I think we are turning away from

putting so much emphasis on personality. With David Cameron and

Ed Miliband in 2015, they did too many PR interviews. Too many for Ed

Miliband because it revealed that he had two kitchens. Theresa May did

one on the one show that showed her softer side but people like that she

has no nonsense and that is why she has such a following. Is Jeremy

Corbyn the best that this or is he too chilled sometimes? Sometimes.

But he gave a very chilled interview and moments later gave a very

passionate speech. He is extraordinarily consistent for good

or bad. For 40 years he has had the same beliefs. He is very comfortable

with being Jeremy Corbyn. The danger is when you try to feign a something

that you are not. I don't think that is going to happen with Corbyn. He

likes potholes and he believes deeply in socialism.

That's it for Election Wrap, thank you again Katy Balls

and Jason Beattie, stay tuned for all the news headlines