johnson the conservative leader and jeremy corbin the labor leader on december the 6th but joe joe swinson the liberal democrat leader is not invited and the liberal democrats are already consulting their lawyers over the fact that joe swinson was excluded from an i.t.v. debate due to take place on november the 19th just once and has been talking rally here in london and that the election voters are being told that the only choice they have is between a conservative or labor government but that is simply not good enough. now the laws which govern fair and balanced coverage of political parties in the run up to elections long predate the advent of leaders' debates which only started in 2010 and in the light of the liberal democrat complains the electoral reform society is now saying that there really needs to be new rules perhaps even a debates commission we should have a much more clear and transparent and standardized approach to leaders debates when the election season rolls around it shouldn't just be left to deals with certain broadcasters and the whim of particular party leaders of th

we will talk british politics shortly with joe swinson of the liberal democrats. vonnie: let's get to hong kong. raging fires, tear gas, flaming vehicles have all gripped hong kong in battles between protesters and police. of a are growing on a -- crackdown on protesters as police around a university. in the u.s. the senate is preparing for passage of a bill that shows support for protesters supporting democracy in hong kong. when do we expect that vote? >> we are expecting it at some point this week. lawmakers are still getting back to washington so the calendar for the week is not set area the senate will have that this week. the legislation needs to be reconciled with the house version but that is something that could take less than a day. we could be on the cusp shortly of that legislation passing and going on to president trump's desk. >> is there any indication this will impact trade negotiations? >> in the past some of these issues, political issues have come up and not sidetracked the trade talks that have been ongoing. any criticism of hong kong will be s

because joe swinson, politics of it, it's not going to happen.ecausejoe swinson, her first priority isn't to stop brexit, her first priority is to stopjeremy corbyn getting into number ten, much like the tories. there is a dissent on their with labour not doing deals. i've noticed that iain duncan smith's seats, the greens have stepped aside to help labour. that is up to the green stuff, but labour actually hasn't reciprocated oi’ labour actually hasn't reciprocated or offered anything back. it's interesting the way the you say that to me could argue from the tories point of view, they haven't really given echo through anything expected — — except given echo through anything expected —— except explain their deal more thoroughly. so nigel farage has taken the thoroughly. so nigel farage has ta ken the latter thoroughly. so nigel farage has taken the latter he has been given and compromising we are with the greens, clearly. i think and compromising we are with the greens, clearly. ithink what happened there is, yes, boris johnson emphasised, really

joe swinson many votes you may come to her would be from labour voters to centrist for jeremy corbyn's be from labour voters to centrist forjeremy corbyn's party i'iow. centrist forjeremy corbyn's party now. i don't think that will happen and labour does not agree as an idea anyway. what about the idea that was thrown out by nicola sturgeon? she said that she would be willing to form an issue by issue alliance, so to speak. uk labour have been clear in saying there will absolutely be i'io in saying there will absolutely be no electoral packed and no deal. nothing formal whatsoever. however if labour is the biggest party on december 13 if labour is the biggest party on december13 and it if labour is the biggest party on december 13 and it is yet to secure a majority the snp at that point wants to support labour votes on a vote by vote basis, not a kind of dup tory style deal than they can do that. and perhaps in that mix would be an independence forum —— referendum for scotland. they want to keep them at an arm's length at the moment because the tory campaign are poised and ready to try

joe swinson has given an interview to the financial times ruling out helping outjeremy corbyn into numberver the next — already, but over the next four weeks. she has made it very clear that conservatives are going to say and are already saying, if you vote lib dem, you risk putting jeremy corbyn backin dem, you risk putting jeremy corbyn back in number ten downing street —— in numberten back in number ten downing street —— in number ten downing st. she has we are going to spyjeremy corbyn, we are going to spyjeremy corbyn, we are going to spyjeremy corbyn, we are going —— we are not going to supportjeremy corbyn, it will be interesting to see if there is another hung parliament. and if, as she is saying in this interview with the ft, her preferred option is to have another 2020 election, well, is the public going to be grateful for the public going to be grateful for the party who made it possible to have yet another general election in 2020? you wonder. it is interesting, isn't it, it is almost as if she was slightly prodded into saying that she would prefer to have another election tha

anti business to want prosperity in every part of our country and finally liberal democrat leader joe swinson describing her party as the party of business largely because a live government would be committed to scrapping grex it altogether. frankly we have seen enough promise of reviews of business rates from the conservatives it is time for clear action that will give proper help to our small businesses in return the leaders were presented with the c.b.i. own manifesto urging taxation reform an immigration system based on contribution and ambitious targets to address skills shortages across british industry if we're to tackle the challenges of the country faces the climate crisis rescaling tackling rationing inequality that means business and government come together that is the only way we will actually do it while the c.b.i. is gravely worried that a conservative majority in december's election could still lead to a no deal breaks it it also has fears that a brightest and best immigration policy could end up being unbalanced for the economy and it has concerns too that labor's plans to re

let me introduce your audience to joe swinson she is the new leader of the liberal democrats and she's not saying it's the media's you are shyster she is actually saying it's m.p.'s it's politicians to blame as well let's have a listen. i fear that the public watching today will perhaps take the view that this host does not take sufficiently seriously threats of violence we have had the attorney general are here today joke about wife beating and i may our guy today have reported to the police a threat against my own child that has been dismissed as somebody mr speaker this is a disgraceful state of affairs and we must be able to find a way to conduct ourselves question. kimmage our caucus foundation is helping people have better dialogue even if you disagree we can still talk to each other what has happened to m.p.'s where they don't seem to be out to talk to each other and i think probably like the rest of us they are frustrated and they are angry and it was been quite a bit frustrating situation to be having to be so obsessed with one issue when you want to be focused on the things t

we had joe swinson in promising a billion forflood prevention screen in order to speak with some prettyhe moment, because this is happened to them before in 2007. lots of flood defences and they have made a difference but if you're home is flooded again, it doesn't make much of a difference if you're honest and jeremy corbyn has been in bentley and has been with people this afternoon, ed miliband, with people that have been affected by the flooding, the people from the south just want some help and we have been speaking with loads of people who've had to leave their homes with absolutely nothing and whether it be by local or national government, the feel absolutely let down at the moment. the hardestjob in this election is a crunch throw the numbers, tom, you've been looking at all the stuff you've heard from the parties today but labour in the environment agency, what if you find out about what are they saying and secondly, what is it that you have been able to drill down to prove? quite a few spreadsheets and this one. strap yourself in. labour is saying that there is been a 20% cut i

trump's backing and that the trump alliance was thatcherism on steroids meanwhile the lib dems leader joe swinson said the conservative party is effectively the bracks it party now they are out the arithmetic is going to be intriguing if the party contests against labor seats it may be that they split the vote in those seats and give labor a better chance of holding on to some of those marginals that would otherwise have been threatened so the impact on the election could be profound but the contradiction in nigel farage his position was probably best summed up by one commentator who said well look if boris johnson's deal really is brecht's it then frankly the bracks of party shouldn't shouldn't be standing in any seats at all. spain's socialist party says it will act fast at the former government after winning the most seats in sunday's parliamentary election the leader paid a sanchez had hoped that the vote which was the 2nd this year would break the country's political that bloc but with the far right vox party more than doubling its support for the country appears more fragmented than ever be

joe swinson had a tough time justifying the idea of revoking article 50 and stopping brexit immediatelyrom that. she turned up in glasgow today and was harassed up in glasgow by people who really cannot forgive him for some of the austerity measures. and think she voted for when she was a leader at the time but you did —— that was not the reader what she did vote for them. boris johnson that was not the reader what she did vote for them. borisjohnson would not apologise for the things he has written that he defended himself. he said it was a country of free speech but it was a difficult night forjoe swinson. she was asked about liberal democrat bar chart. they certainly put out some questionable bar charts in theircampaign put out some questionable bar charts in their campaign literature, the

anti business to want prosperity in every part of our country and finally liberal democrat leader joe swinson describing her party as the party of business largely because a live government would be committed to scrapping grex it altogether. frankly we have seen enough promises of reviews of business rates from the conservatives it is time for clear action that will give proper help to our small businesses in return the leaders were presented with the c.b.i. own manifesto urging taxation reform an immigration system based on contribution and ambitious targets to address skills shortages across british industry if we're to tackle the challenges of the country faces the climate crisis rescaling tackling regional inequality that means business and government come together that is the only way we will actually do it while the c.b.i. is gravely worried that a conservative majority in december's election could still lead to a no deal bracks it it also has fears that a brightest and best immigration policy could end up being unbalanced for the economy and it has concerns too that labor's plans to re

trump's backing and that the trump alliance was thatcherism on steroids meanwhile the lib dems leader joe swinson said the conservative party is effectively the bracks it party now the out the arithmetic is going to be intriguing if the party contests against labor seats it may be that they split the vote in those seats and give labor a better chance of holding on to some of those marginals that would otherwise have been threatened so the impact on the election could be profound but the contradiction in nigel farage his position was probably best summed up by one commentator who said well look if boris johnson's deal really is bracks it then frankly the bracks of party shouldn't shouldn't be standing in any seats at all. paul byrne reporting there greece and china have signed more than 2 dozen bilateral agreements during a visit to athens by president seizing being greece's prime minister hailed the visit as a new era of economic relations with china the chinese leader was greeted by kiriakou or smits attackers and given an official welcome in the capital athens presidency to a pariah sport which

trump's backing and that the trump alliance was thatcherism on steroids meanwhile the lib dems leader joe swinson said the conservative party is effectively the bracks it party now the out the arithmetic is going to be intriguing if the party contests against labor seats it may be that they split the vote in those seats and give labor a better chance of holding on to some of those marginals that would otherwise have been threatened so the impact on the election could be profound but the contradiction in nigel farage his position was probably best summed up by one commentator who said well look if boris johnson's deal really is brecht's it then frankly the bracks of party shouldn't shouldn't be standing in any seats at all almost 14 years since palestinians lost her presidential elections the main political factions in the territory have agreed it's time to go to the polls again but major hurdles remind before a date to be said including whether israel and the us will allow an election given that a must will likely win a large share of the vote bernard smith reports from gaza. dormant for 13 years

and joe swinson will be involved, as well. the bbc website. just a reminder of those big dates for your diary. fiona bruce will be introducing a question time special. we will hear from borisjohnson, jeremy corbyn, joe swinson and nicola sturgeon. the question time special will be in sheffield. we will see seniorfigures special will be in sheffield. we will see senior figures from the seven major gb political parties in cardiff, not the northern ireland parties, the gb ones. then finally on friday 6th of december, the bbc are spending it its prime ministerial debate, which will be a head—to—head debate between boris johnson and jeremy corbyn. that will be broadcast live from southampton. let's return to the election — and labour have promised a "step—change" in women's working rights if it wins the general election, pledging an increase in the length of statutory maternity pay from nine months to a year. joining us now to discuss labour's pledge on maternity pay, is labour mp cat smith. thank you very much for coming into the

let me introduce your audience to joe swinson she is the new leader of the liberal democrats and she's not saying it's the media as you are shyster she is actually saying it's m.p.'s it's politicians to blame as well let's have a listen. i fear that the public watching today will perhaps take the view that this host does not take sufficiently seriously threats of violence we have had the attorney general are here today joke about wife beating and i may our guy today have reported to the police a threat against my own child that has been dismissed as somebody mr speaker this is a disgraceful state of affairs and we must be able to find a way to conduct ourselves questioning. him the caucus foundation is helping people have better dialogue even if we disagree we can still talk to each other what has happened to m.p.'s where they don't seem to be out to talk to each other and i think probably like the rest of us they are frustrated and they are angry and it was been quite a bit frustrating situation to be having to be so obsessed with one issue when you want to be focusing on things that

trump's backing that the trump alliance was thatcherism on steroids meanwhile the lib dems leader joe swinson said the conservative party is effectively the bracks it party now they are out the arithmetic is going to be intriguing if the party contests against labor seats it may be that they split the vote in those seats and give labor a better chance of holding on to some of those marginals that would otherwise have been threatened so the impact on the election could be profound but the contradiction in nigel farage his position was probably best summed up by one commentator who said well look if boris johnson's deal really is brecht's it then frankly the bracks of party shouldn't should be standing in any seats at all. iran has begun enriching uranium and the latest step away from the 2015 nuclear deal the un's atomic watchdog says iran is producing enrich uranium at an accelerated pace the underground fordo site was activated last week in preparation for the enrichment which is banned under the nuclear accord iranian president hassan rouhani says all steps taken can be reversed if sanction

let me introduce your audience to joe swinson she is the new leader of the liberal democrats and she's not saying it's the media's you are shyster she is actually saying it's m.p.'s it's politicians to blame as well let's have a listen. i fear that the public watching today will perhaps take the view that this host does not take sufficiently seriously threats of violence we have had the attorney general are here today joke about wife beating and i may our god today have reported to the police a threat against my own child that has been dismissed as somebody mr speaker this is a disgraceful state of affairs and we must be able to find a way to conduct ourselves questioning. him the caucus foundation is helping people have better dialogue even if we disagree we can still talk to each other what has happened to m.p.'s where they don't seem to be at the top to each other and i think probably like the rest of us they are frustrated and they are angry and it was been quite a bit frustrating situation to be having to be so obsessed with one issue when you want to be focusing on things that th

jess: another poll shows joe swinson's popularity has plummeted in the last week.in popularity has come from remain voters. she has a very strong message. she said, i can be prime minister, even though she only has 13 seats, and some people find it uncomfortable that the lib dems would completely revoke article 50 without a referendum power, and sheo has not one over the public like they hoped she would -- won over the public like they hoped she would. francine: we are two weeks away and people can change their mind. way you seen a shift in the we look at things and the way voters latch onto policies at the last minute? huw: trying to be led by the data and get out and about, the data is telling us there is resistance to the labour and lib dems's messages. the one potential goal is where labour and the lib dems make a to allow-- mistake boris johnson an election in his honeymoon period. we keep on hearing that maybe there is money waiting on the sidelines to come back into the u.k. or come into the u.k. when we have more clarity on what happens. will that come afte

joe swinson has said that everybody felt heartbroken by what they had witnessed today, and the huge, the public and emergency services. the snp leader nicola sturgeon has said that there had been exceptional acts of bravery on behalf of the public. and rebecca long—bailey said, i'm sure everyone's thoughts are with friends and families of those injured, and two people who we know have tragically died. the chief secretary of the treasury of the conservatives paid tribute to the police for their incredible bravery. just to remind you that the prime minister has cancelled all political activity tomorrow, as well, to concentrate on events that are taking place at london bridge. you are watching bbc news. two people have been killed in what police have called a terrorist incident on london bridge. shortly before 2pm this afternoon, armed officers shot dead a man believed to be wearing a hoax explosive device. members of the public ran towards the man who had a nice, and went on to restrain him until police were able to step in. tom edwards reports on how events unfolded. this footage show

it is about get brexit done, absolutely, very different emphasis to joe brexit done, absolutely, very different emphasis tojoe swinson the liberal democrats, ——jo swinson. he is trying to show people that if we do get that done we're not to overspend "like labour might", and we may not see that period of austerity. looking at the main parties, we have all their ma nifestoes main parties, we have all their manifestoes now, from the point of view of education, what excites you most? education is your area of speciality, you work with state schools across the country, you know the pressure they are under, you know the lack of resources, you know what they need. i was really excited, prior to the manifestoes, the talk about extra additional funding, the problem is that the devil is in the detail. when you look at the detail, this particular ma nifesto look at the detail, this particular manifesto that came out yesterday from the conservative party, if you spread 200 and messy feeling —— £250 million for childcare over the early yea rs, million for childcare over the early years, that ends up being a child —— a couple of

joe biden. with just over three weeks to polling day, the liberal democrat leader, jo swinson, has launched herd what they call a new future for the uk inside the european union. the party claims that staying in the eu will give a £50 billion boost to spend on public services. and on climate change, they're setting a target of generating 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030. 0ur political editor, laura kuenssberg, has more details. the voice of remain, jo swinson! how she wants to make a big entrance onto the national stage. why she believes the lib dems matter. we are the only party that can win a significant number of seats from the conservatives and deprive them a majority. applause but while the nightclubs different enough to the other parties, can stopping brexit at all costs really appeal? the manifesto calls brexit a national humiliation. is that a way to describe what was a democratic decision? i do believe it has become a national embarrassment for our country. when you speak to people, they look at us with puzzlement. what message does it send to leave voters? very ca