General Election 2017: Ukip manifesto launch
Ukip first party to restart national campaign after Manchester attack
Paul Nuttall commits party to 'one in, one out' immigration system
Also pledges to cut foreign aid budget, ban Sharia law
Minute's silence to be held across UK for victims at 11am
Paul Nuttall has launched Ukip's General Election manifesto this morning with a flagship policy of introducing a “one in, one out” immigration system.
Ukip was the first of the UK's political parties to restart national campaigning after the election fight was suspended in the wake of the Manchester terror attack.
Mr Nuttall unveiled a raft of policies designed to try and kick start a resurgence in the party's popularity with Ukip currently languishing in the opinion polls and apparently on course for a disastrous set of results on June 8.
Ukip | 2017 manifesto key points
The manifesto includes policies to ban the practice of Sharia law, place a moratorium on new Islamic faith schools and cut the UK's foreign aid budget.
The manifesto launch came after Mr Nuttall insisted that Ukip is "not racist".
Suzanne Evans moves to clarify Theresa May remarks
"I think she must bear some responsibility" says Suzanne Evans of May on terror. Clarifies that politicians are to blame for "circumstances"
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 25, 2017
Suzanne Evans says Theresa May "must bear some responsibility" for the Manchester terror attack. Then in the next breath denies it.
— Kevin Schofield (@PolhomeEditor) May 25, 2017
Suzanne Evans suggests Theresa May 'must bear some responsibility' for Manchester attack
Suzanne Evans: May "must bear some responsibility" for Manchester attack: "The European Union is equally culpable"
— Alex Wickham (@WikiGuido) May 25, 2017
Ukip deputy Suzanne Evans suggests Theresa May must bear some responsibility for Manchester attacks because of police cuts (also blames EU)
— Rowena Mason (@rowenamason) May 25, 2017
UKIP's Suzanne Evans says Theresa May must bear some responsibility for Manchester due to failings as her time as Home Secretary.
— Theo Usherwood (@theousherwood) May 25, 2017
Paul Nuttall now facing questions from the press
The Ukip leader is asked if he is trying to exploit the Manchester terror attack.
He says that the manifesto "went to print on Saturday night" and that nothing had been changed because of the attack.
Another journalists suggests that Mr Nuttall's comments about lighting candles are an insult to victims.
Activists boo and one yells : "Don't patronise us!"
Suzanne Evans: Ukip only party serious about tackling radical Islam
Suzanne Evans: Ukip is the only partly that is serious about tackling the threat of radical Islam in Britain.
— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) May 25, 2017
Ukip pledge to scrap House of Lords
Suzanne Evans says Ukip would abolish the upper chamber.
She says the plans would reduce the number of politicians in Westminster from 1,475 to 700.
Applause as Suzanne Evans says #Ukip would abolish the House of Lords
— Laura Hughes (@Laura_K_Hughes) May 25, 2017
Suzanne Evans sets out Ukip's housing plans
Ukip pledge to build hundreds of thousands of factory-built, modular homes that cost under £100k, so are affordable on average wage of £26k
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) May 25, 2017
Ukip would keep the state pension triple lock
Suzanne Evans says Ukip would keep the pensions triple lock as she says people should not be concerned at the party's plans to cut foreign aid spending.
She says UK foreign aid spending would remain at an equivalent level to that of the US.
"We will not shirk our international responsibilities," she says.
Free bus passes, eye tests guaranteed for all over-60s if @ukip wins the election, plus the guaranteed 2.5 per cent increase in pensions
— Christopher Hope �� (@christopherhope) May 25, 2017
Suzanne Evans sets out NHS funding plans
Evans says Ukip wants to see £11bn raised for NHS & social care by reducing overseas aid budget from 0.7% of national income to 0.2% #GE2017
— Richard Wheeler (@richard_kaputt) May 25, 2017
Ukip 'the only party promising not to raise taxes'
Suzanne Evans says that scrapping things like the HS2 "vanity project" and ending UK contributions to the UK will save £35 billion a year by the end of the next parliament.
She says that means no tax increases are needed to fund Ukip's manifesto plans.
She says Ukip is the "only party promising not to raise taxes".
Ukip is the "only party promising not to raise any taxes", @SuzanneEvans1 declares #ge2017
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) May 25, 2017
Ukip: Government must not pay Brexit divorce bill
Suzanne Evans says post-Brexit the UK should have no freedom of movement obligations.
She says that the next government should not pay any divorce bill.
She says the Ukip manifesto is "fully costed".
Ukip would boost UK defence budget by £1 billion
Suzanne Evans says Britain must have a well resourced military and that Ukip would boost the defence budget by £1 billion.
She repeats Mr Nuttall's earlier promise to increase armed forces personnel by 20,000 by the end of the next parliament.
BREAKING Ukip manifesto: 20,000 more soldiers costing £1billion by 2022, plus thousands more border guards and prison officers #GE2017
— Christopher Hope �� (@christopherhope) May 25, 2017
Ukip would test social attitudes of would-be immigrants
UKIP pledges to test the social attitudes of potential immigrants to ensure they believe women and LGBT people are equal members of society.
— Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) May 25, 2017
Ukip: Many immigrants do not try to adapt to UK way of life
Suzanne Evans attacks the "failures of multiculturalism" as she claims many of the people who have moved to the UK have "never even tried to adapt to our way of life".
She says Ukip would ban the wearing of "dehumanising" burkas as she says there is "no human right to conceal your identity".
Ukip 'only party committed to a balanced migration policy'
Suzanne Evans attacking Theresa May on defence and immigration pointing out her lengthy tenure as Home Secretary.
She says that "nothing will change" with a Tory landslide election victory.
She says Ukip is the "only party committed to a balanced migration policy" as she sets out plans to achieve net migration level of zero.
She also says that Ukip when it can it will deport extremists, "no excuses".
Ukip pledge to reverse cuts to UK's police, security and defence budgets
Mr Nuttall says Ukip is proposing a "patriotic agenda".
He hands over to Suzanne Evans, the party's deputy chairman, who is now detailing Ukip's manifesto plans.
She says Ukip would reverse cuts to police, security and defence budgets.
Paul Nuttall: Ukip is the UK's Brexit insurance policy
He says on Brexit that "Ukip is the country's insurance policy and if the government begins to backslide it must know that Ukip will be there".
He says Ukip will be proven right about "Britain's integration emergency".
Ukip pledge £11 billion extra a year for NHS
UKIP also promising 11bn extra a year for NHS taken from foreign aid budget
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) May 25, 2017
Paul Nuttall attacks 'radical Islam'
Radical Islam is a cancer that needs to be cut out, says Nuttall
— Owen Bennett (@owenjbennett) May 25, 2017
He says that anyone from the UK who goes to fight for Isil should have to forfeit their passport and never be allowed to return.
Paul Nuttall: Not enough to just light candles in wake of terror attack
Mr Nuttall says the manifesto launch can "send a message" to terrorists that they cannot derail democracy.
He says that it is "not enough to light candles" and that action needs to be taken in numerous policy areas.
He says the problem of terror will not be solved if politicians are too "cowardly" not to acknowledge where the problem lies.
Paul Nuttall starts manifesto launch by paying tribute to Manchester victims
Mr Nuttall starts the manifesto launch by offering condolences to the families of the victims of the Manchester attack.
He condemns the "cruel and evil act of terrorism" as he says that the "vast majority of the Muslim population in this country are peaceful".
he says a more "muscular" approach to social integration is needed.
He says Ukip is pleding to boost police numbers by 20,000 and troop numbers by 20,000.
Ukip 'only handing out copies of manifesto after official launch'
UKIP say they're only giving out copies of their manifesto *after* the main bit of the launch... Will we get to question them on it? pic.twitter.com/5a4zoi8xas
— Dan Bloom (@danbloom1) May 25, 2017
Ukip manifesto launch 'packed'
Ukip policy launches in recent weeks have been relatively sparse in terms of attendance but according to those on the ground the party's manifesto launch is still a draw.
It's already a very packed room, a contrast to the slightly more-thinly attended recent Ukip press conferences.
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) May 25, 2017
Ukip manifesto launch in central London. "Britain Together" states the banner behind the microphone. #GE2017
— Richard Wheeler (@richard_kaputt) May 25, 2017
Ukip manifesto title: 'Britain Together'
Here it is pic.twitter.com/TKdgQms8Nk
— Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) May 25, 2017
Ukip general election manifesto launch to start at 10.15am
Ukip will restart its national election campaign today but the other major parties are waiting until tomorrow as a result of the Manchester suicide bombing.
Paul Nuttall justified the decision to launch the party's manifesto by saying that "we cannot be cowed" by terror.
In a statement he said: "We are all horrified by the horrific events that took place in Manchester. Following those events it is right and proper that political parties suspended their campaigns for a short period as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives or suffered appalling injuries.
"But we cannot be cowed or allow our way of life to be undermined by those who wish to do us harm. These people hate the way we live, hate our freedom and hate our democracy."
Read my statement on why UKIP will be launching its manifesto tomorrow https://t.co/gaCR5WXxej
— Paul Nuttall (@paulnuttallukip) May 24, 2017
Mr Nuttall said the "best response" to the attack would be to "ensure that the democratic process continues".
He said: "For those who say that nothing must change, but then complain, it is by prolonging the disruption to normality that we allow the terrorists to win. Politics has never been more important, politicians must deal with these issues."
