The latest headlines in your inbox
Boris Johnson has accused Jeremy Corbyn of “ducking” questions about Brexit and told him to “make up his mind” on the issue ahead of their head-to-head TV clash.
The Prime Minister wrote to the Labour leader just hours before the debate, posing a series of questions about his policy for the UK’s departure from the EU.
Mr Johnson said the upcoming general election is about “breaking the deadlock” in Parliament that has prevented the country from leaving the bloc.
In a letter on Monday night, he told Mr Corbyn: “This election is about breaking the deadlock in parliament that has prevented us from getting Brexit done and working in the interests of the British people.”
He continued: “The public have a right to know where the two candidates for prime minister stand on the big questions facing the country at this election. So far in this campaign, you have ducked those questions.”
Mr Johnson posed four questions to the Labour leader over his stance on the EU:
The PM’s questions for Mr Corbyn
You are proposing a second referendum on EU membership. In that referendum, would you recommend the UK should remain or leave?
Your previous manifesto promised to end freedom of movement, but following your conference it is now Labour Party policy to “maintain and extend” free movement. Would you end, maintain or extend free movement, and would immigration be higher or lower under Corbyn’s Labour?
Asked on Sunday if you were prepared to continue to pay into the EU budget on an ongoing basis, you replied “clearly if you want access to a market there are costs involved”. How much would you be willing to pay into the EU budget in return for “access to markets”?
All 635 Conservative candidates standing at this election have pledged to me that, if elected, they will vote in parliament to pass my Brexit deal. Can you guarantee that every Labour candidate supports your Brexit policy?
During a one-hour televised debate on Tuesday night the two leaders will clash over Brexit in the first half hour and then other issues.
The Liberal Democrats and the SNP have failed in a legal challenge to the lawfulness of the ITV election showdown.
General Election 2019 – In pictures
1/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson eats a candy stick which reads “Back Boris” during a General Election campaign trail stop at Coronation Candy in Blackpool,
AP
2/60
Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson makes a pizza with chef Leonardo Mastrofilippo at Cafe Amisha during her general election campaign tour in London
REUTERS
3/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock during General Election campaigning
PA
4/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Bathpool, Taunton
PA
5/60
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon (R) holds a baby as she campaigns with SNP candidate Catriona MacDonald
AFP via Getty Images
6/60
Jo Swinson at Total Boxer
Jeremy Selwyn
7/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow
PA
8/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a gift card with an image mocking him, during a General Election campaign trail stop in Wells
AP
9/60
Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
10/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steers a tug boat during a General Election campaign stop in the port of Bristol,
AP
11/60
Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
12/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school in Taunton
AFP via Getty Images
13/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wears boxing gloves as he poses with British boxer Dereck Chisora, during his visit to Gator ABC Boxing Club in Ilford
AFP via Getty Images
14/60
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, during General Election campaigning
PA
15/60
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan practices with a sparing partner Tyler Brindle as he visits a community boxing gym in London
Reuters
16/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, drinks from a pint watched by Defence Minister Johnny Mercer (right) as he meets with military veterans at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
PA
17/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with a local woman pushing a wheelbarrow
PA
18/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage attends a general election campaign event in Sedgefield
Reuters
19/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts
PA
20/60
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow
PA
21/60
Britain’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a baby as he meets with supporters at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
AP
22/60
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children’s nursery
AFP via Getty Images
23/60
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills, The Spinning Mill in Leeds
Getty Images
24/60
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery while on the General Election campaign trail in Midsomer Norton
PA
25/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps with the clean up at an opticians as he visits Matlock in Sheffield
Getty Images
26/60
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool
PA
27/60
Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even
Getty Images
28/60
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green
Getty Images
29/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson moves a pallet of chocolate biscuits in a -25 degree celsius storage unit during a general election campaign visit to the headquarters of Iceland Foods in Deeside, northeast Wales
AFP via Getty Images
30/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country
PA
31/60
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eats a cupcake during a visit to a bakery whilst on the election campaign trail in Alloa
PA
32/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Reuters
33/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire
PA
34/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
PA
35/60
Britain’s opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow
AP
36/60
Boris Johnson at Downing Street
Jeremy Selwyn
37/60
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
PA
38/60
Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election
@carriesymonds
39/60
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian
Getty Images
40/60
Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
Reuters
41/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals in North Watford
PA
42/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election
AP
43/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
PA
44/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage stops for a pint of beer with the party’s candidate for Ashfield Martin Daubney (right) during a campaigning stop in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
PA
45/60
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield
Reuters
46/60
Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury’s hand in Battersea
Jeremy Selwyn
47/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC’s The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
48/60
Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party’s election campaign in south London
AFP via Getty Images
49/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign.
PA
50/60
Nigel Farage at the Brexit Party’s election campaign launch
AP
51/60
Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds
Getty Images
52/60
Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
53/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen
PA
54/60
Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street in London
Reuters
55/60
Jeremy Corbyn meeting the party faithful during a rally while on the campaign trail in Swindon
PA
56/60
Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street
Reuters
57/60
Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
58/60
Nigel Farage gives the thumbs up
PA
59/60
Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes
PA
60/60
Government advisor Dominic Cummings walks along Whitehall on his way to Downing Street wearing a bulldog clip
Getty Images
1/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson eats a candy stick which reads “Back Boris” during a General Election campaign trail stop at Coronation Candy in Blackpool,
AP
2/60
Britain’s Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson makes a pizza with chef Leonardo Mastrofilippo at Cafe Amisha during her general election campaign tour in London
REUTERS
3/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage looks out from a window on the Kestrel crabbing boat in Grimsby fish dock during General Election campaigning
PA
4/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to West Monkton CEVC Primary School in Bathpool, Taunton
PA
5/60
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon (R) holds a baby as she campaigns with SNP candidate Catriona MacDonald
AFP via Getty Images
6/60
Jo Swinson at Total Boxer
Jeremy Selwyn
7/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Temple in Glasgow
PA
8/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a gift card with an image mocking him, during a General Election campaign trail stop in Wells
AP
9/60
Nigel Farage holds a fish during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
10/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson steers a tug boat during a General Election campaign stop in the port of Bristol,
AP
11/60
Nigel Farage takes a mouthful of homemade cheesecake during a stop at the Grimsby Seafood Village during General Election campaigning
PA
12/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds Rosie the rabbit during a visit to a primary school in Taunton
AFP via Getty Images
13/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage wears boxing gloves as he poses with British boxer Dereck Chisora, during his visit to Gator ABC Boxing Club in Ilford
AFP via Getty Images
14/60
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tries a scone in Bentley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, during General Election campaigning
PA
15/60
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan practices with a sparing partner Tyler Brindle as he visits a community boxing gym in London
Reuters
16/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, drinks from a pint watched by Defence Minister Johnny Mercer (right) as he meets with military veterans at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
PA
17/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with a local woman pushing a wheelbarrow
PA
18/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage attends a general election campaign event in Sedgefield
Reuters
19/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to The Shed, a Climate Challenge community project at North Edinburgh Arts
PA
20/60
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to the Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre in Glasgow
PA
21/60
Britain’ Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a baby as he meets with supporters at the Lych Gate Tavern in Wolverhampton
AP
22/60
Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon visits Blosson Tree children’s nursery
AFP via Getty Images
23/60
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn laughs during a visit to the Scrap Creative Reuse Arts Project, Sunny Bank Mills, The Spinning Mill in Leeds
Getty Images
24/60
Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson eats a marshmallow during a visit to Free Rangers Nursery while on the General Election campaign trail in Midsomer Norton
PA
25/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps with the clean up at an opticians as he visits Matlock in Sheffield
Getty Images
26/60
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn unveils the Labour battle bus while on the General Election campaign trail in Liverpool
PA
27/60
Brexit party leader Nigel Farage eats fish and chips from Whitehaven Fish Bar Takeaway Restaurant during a walkabout after attending an election campaign even
Getty Images
28/60
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson attends an election campaign event in Golders Green
Getty Images
29/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson moves a pallet of chocolate biscuits in a -25 degree celsius storage unit during a general election campaign visit to the headquarters of Iceland Foods in Deeside, northeast Wales
AFP via Getty Images
30/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson tries his hand at making an Antony Gormley inspired clay figure during an arts class whilst visiting the George Spencer Academy in Nottingham, while on the General Election campaign trail around the country
PA
31/60
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon eats a cupcake during a visit to a bakery whilst on the election campaign trail in Alloa
PA
32/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson helps quality control staff during a general election campaign visit to the Tayto Castle crisp factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Reuters
33/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Bolsover Boxing Club near Chesterfield in Derbyshire
PA
34/60
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the campaign trail on Thursday
PA
35/60
Britain’s opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a speech during their election campaign event on Brexit in Harlow
AP
36/60
Boris Johnson at Downing Street
Jeremy Selwyn
37/60
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie (right) and party General Election campaign chairman Alex Cole-Hamilton on the General Election campaign trail in Blackhall, Edinburgh
PA
38/60
Carrie Symonds shares a picture of Dilyn the dog ready for the General Election
@carriesymonds
39/60
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a guitar as she visits Dalkeith Community Hub with Owen Thompson, SNP election candidate for Midlothian
Getty Images
40/60
Boris Johnson speaks to staff at the East Midlands and East of England Genomic Laboratory Hub, in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge
Reuters
41/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson during a visit to Sigma Pharmaceuticals in North Watford
PA
42/60
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street on route to Buckingham Palace ahead of an audience with Queen Elizabeth II and the formal start of the General Election
AP
43/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage addresses supporters at the Washington Central Hotel in Workington
PA
44/60
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage stops for a pint of beer with the party’s candidate for Ashfield Martin Daubney (right) during a campaigning stop in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
PA
45/60
Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice poses as he wears boxing gloves at a general election campaign event at Bolsover Boxing Club in Chesterfield
Reuters
46/60
Jeremy Corbyn kisses Emily Thornbury’s hand in Battersea
Jeremy Selwyn
47/60
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson takes a selfie as she appears on BBCC’s The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
48/60
Jeremy Corbyn prepares to launch the Labour Party’s election campaign in south London
AFP via Getty Images
49/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon helps to serve soup during a visit to the Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries, to meet voters and activists while on the General Election campaign.
PA
50/60
Nigel Farage at the Brexit Party’s election campaign launch
AP
51/60
Boris Johnson looks at old photographs of London with students at Abbots Green Primary Academy in Bury St Edmunds
Getty Images
52/60
Nigel Farage on The Andrew Marr Show
BBC/AFP via Getty Images
53/60
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has a coffee in Cafe Gelato, Rutherglen
PA
54/60
Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street in London
Reuters
55/60
Jeremy Corbyn meeting the party faithful during a rally while on the campaign trail in Swindon
PA
56/60
Larry the cat walks outside Downing Street
Reuters
57/60
Boris Johnson as he leaves 10 Downing Street
AFP via Getty Images
58/60
Nigel Farage gives the thumbs up
PA
59/60
Jeremy Corbyn takes a selfie while on the General Election campaign trail in Milton Keynes
PA
60/60
Government advisor Dominic Cummings walks along Whitehall on his way to Downing Street wearing a bulldog clip
Getty Images
The Lib Dems had argued the exclusion of its leader Jo Swinson was depriving millions of viewers of the chance to hear the argument for remaining in the European Union.
At a High Court judicial review bid, the party claimed the primetime debate was “undemocratic” and ITV was in breach of strict rules around impartiality and balance in election campaigns.
But Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Warby rejected the legal challenge to the broadcaster’s decision to exclude the Lib Dems as well as the Scottish National Party.
In the ruling, the judges found ITV was not exercising a “public function” so could not be challenged with a judicial review, and the parties should complain to regulator OfCom if it has problems with the debate format.
Mr Johnson’s allies back the decision to hold a debate with just the PM and Mr Corbyn. Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News: “We broadly have a two party system,” adding: “Credibly only two people are going to be, or are likely to be prime minister, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.
“It’s important the electorate see the two on offer. Nicola Sturgeon cannot be prime minister. The SNP are not even standing in a majority of seats. Jo Swinson’s chances are very small.”
Lawyers for the SNP said the party represents a range of views which would not be represented in a debate between Labour and the Conservatives, including on Brexit and Scottish independence.
ITV lawyers contended its decision was not capable of challenge in the courts and that, in any event, there is no basis for alleging any unlawful conduct on its part.
Sky News has proposed a November 28 date for its debate, while the BBC has confirmed it will host two debates, on November 29 and December 6, in addition to a series of Question Time specials.
Speaking after the ruling, Liberal Democrat president Sal Brinton said: “Televised debates between political party leaders should be framed in stronger legislation.
“But more than that, our democracy should not be in the hands of invisible corporate structures, and arrangements for such debates should always be accessible and transparent.
“We will not set our principles aside, we will continue this fight. Not just for this General Election, but for our future democracy too.”
The SNP’s leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, said: “It was already clear that the Westminster political system is utterly broken and incapable of properly representing Scotland’s interests.
“What is now clear is that the UK broadcasting system is similarly incapable. Indeed the result of the decision to exclude the SNP is to discriminate against Scottish voters and to effectively treat them as second-class citizens.
“That is, quite simply, a democratic disgrace, and the fact that election law and broadcasting codes allow such gross unfairness is unacceptable.”
ITV said in a statement: “We welcome the court’s decision and will continue with our comprehensive election coverage as planned.”
The debate will air on ITV at 8pm on Tuesday.