11/05/2017 London News

That's Newsnight with Emily. Here on BBC

This programme has learned that Ukip is not going to field

candidates in at least a quarter of London's constituencies.

The party suffered badly in the local elections,

but it's London Chairman has told us, the decision to withdraw

is to ensure pro-Brexit candidates from other parties win.

Here's our political editor, Tim Donovan.

The man now known as the Brexit Secretary was deployed today

So are you going to vote for us this time?

70% of people in Thurrock voted Leave last year.

So with that job done, will Ukip's support fall away here?

Well, what we're see something a large number of Ukip

They voted Ukip because they wanted Brexit.

Now the question is - who can deliver on Brexit?

We are finding whether it is a Ukip voter or frankly,

an ex-Labour Remain voter, they all want a good deal.

Ukip is standing in Thurrock and they've made Dagenham

and Rainham, held by Labour, their key target.

Orange is, so far as I know, being left alone.

they aren't standing. maybe as many as 25 in the capital,

The party's London Chairman told me it was to protect pro-Brexit former

Ukip branches have decided not to stand against both

Remainers who are in place but where the challenger

is a strong Brexiter, about whose credentials we have no

doubt or Levers who are in place, where their position may be not

How many seats do you think might change hands as a result

We think maybe five, maybe ten will quite

Staying with the election and key policy commitments revealed

in Labour's leaked draft manifesto could have a big

Louisa Preston is here to tell us how?

Labour is saying it'll play for HS2. But they want to link a train with a

tunnel right under the City. Something we've covered on this

programme and which has caused problem for commuters is the

long-running dispute with southern rail. They say they'll end the

practice of driver-only train. So they are saying guards will be back

on trains, rather controversial after everything we have been

through. They want thoond over commuter rail services to the mayor

and transport for London, something we know the mayor will be very

grateful for. As we know, as important as what is in the

manifesto s what is not in it. Can you shed any light on that? Exactly.

It is interesting to see what hasn't made it in. In the entire document,

there is no mention of Heathrow. And I mean Heathrow expansion. Now, that

may well be because we know the mayor is very much in favour of

Gatwick. He doesn't want to go with Heathrow expansion. The Shadow

Chancellor, John McDonnell is an MP next door to Heathrow, he doesn't

want it either but the big unions do want it and so do MPs in the north.

So it is interesting that it hasn't made it in. An interesting one. As

Londoners, are there any other issues we should be aware of? Yes,

Labour is saying that people who earn more than ?80,000 will also be

taxed more. Obviously there are a lot of people in London that earn

that sort of money, so it'll affect London more than many other places

right across the country and on health, we know there's lots of

reorganisation planned in London currently but Labour is saying they

are going to halt all the changes and they are going to get local

health groups back together and focus on patient need rather than

the funding of services. Well, both Labour and Ukip will be

standing in one of London's most hotly contested seats,

that of Croydon Central. It's currently held by the Tories

with the slimmest of majorities. So what are the issues

which are important to people of the area which'll

decide the result? And what are those fighting for your

vote promising this time round? In a seat where the vote was won

by the Conservatives, beating Labour by just 165 votes,

there's everything to play for. A lot has changed since 2015

with Britain voting to leave the EU, so just what is the political

appetite in Croydon Central? We've got some politically

themed doughnuts here. And tell me why you want

to vote Conservatives. Because it's the most

important time in our history that we need one party

to go against Europe. Corbyn as leader and actually

the party at working overall for the benefits of all the people

rather than the elite at the top. Definitely want a blue one

because stability is absolutely key. I like Jeremy Corbyn

and I know a lot of people don't actually like him,

but I think his ideas I think the Labour Party is going

to represent younger people. Before long, we were out

of Conservative and Labour Party doughnuts, and it was time to speak

to some of the candidates. Gavin Barwell is confident

of retaining the seat Croydon Central voted

narrowly to leave the EU. He says the key issue

is who can best lead We clearly feel that,

in Theresa May, we've got the right candidate to provide that strong

and stable leadership and that Jeremy Corbyn actually

would represent a real threat to this country as we go

through the Brexit negotiations. That's absolutely an issue

that we will put front and centre, and it's very interesting that,

if you look at my Labour opponent's leaflets,

there's absolutely no mention So we are off now to meet Sarah

Jones, who is Labour's candidate. She was up against Gavin Barwell

last time, losing out She says she really fancies her

chances this time around. She says her focus is

on local issues, not Two years on, people can see

the impact of the Conservative government and they are starting

to understand that Barwell has People cannot get housing

or get the jobs they want, people are struggling

with their education. There are supply teachers coming

in because there are not enough People are beginning to question,

is this the only way? Ukip needs to be around

because we will be there They picked up nearly 5000 votes

in 2015, finishing third and well above the Lib Dems and

Greens, but things are looking more We cannot ignore what happened

in the local elections last week. Do you get worried that

might affect your vote? It is a unique situation

because we are in the middle of the general election

and the Tories have taken We want a good Brexit

agreement, but we do not On our doughnut run,

there was indecision. And it is those voters

the candidates will need to tempt if they are to win

in London's tightest seat. The Greens and Lib Dems

came fourth and fifth respectively in Croydon Central

at the last election. This is what their

candidates had to say. We do want a strong economy,

but we've also got a social conscience so we do the right things

for people that aren't as well I just want to bring

the whole town together, stop it being divided,

bring the whole town together We believe in a vote,

a final vote, on the final Brexit We believe in progress

and positive solutions. We want to see the economy

work for everybody, not And here's a full list

of candidates standing Well, you can keep

across all developments in the general election -

which is less than a month away- That's at the usual

address - bbc.co.uk/news. And if you're on the move,

download the BBC news app We want to see the economy

work for everybody, not Now the weather.

, yes a humid dead. We have had photographs of the

Now, humid air is coming in hyped. This cloud will be spreading

northwards bringing rain and showers. More cloud will head our

way. Yes, more rain to come across the south-east over night tonight.

The south-west will have rumble of thunders and wetter weather into

Northern Ireland. Scotland will stay dry. On the cool side