Campaign round-up: Nine days to go

It’s nine days until voters go to the polls – here’s a quick look at how the elections are shaping up across the country.

Message of the day

Scottish Labour will use newly devolved powers to support young homebuyers with a “first-time buyer ISA” paid for by reversing the cut to air passenger duty introduced by the SNP.

“Austerity has robbed a generation of young people of aspiration. So many young people in Scotland are stuck in a cycle from which they can’t escape. They end up renting to save for a deposit, but the rent is so high they simply can’t put enough money away,” Kezia Dugdale.

“Labour will help first time buyers save for a deposit so that a couple each saving £100 per month can expect to have a £15,000 deposit after 3 years. We think helping a working class family own a home is more important than making a business class flight cheaper.”

Forecasts

Following yesterday’s Welsh Assembly predictions, the University of Cardiff has released a study on Westminster voting intentions. Labour is polling better here, at 37 per cent – compared to 33 per cent for the devolved assembly – which could provide ammunition for Corbyn-supporters.

The Daily Telegraph has released another in their wave of EU referendum polls, saying it is “all to play for”. Remain has the edge at 51 per cent – this is a drop of four per cent, which will be a blow to those who thought Barack Obama’s intervention would seal the deal. However, with three per cent still undecided, the next seven weeks could change everything.

Quote of the Day

“According to Michael Gove, we should emulate Albania.  Boris Johnson says we should ignore the President of the United States because of his Kenyan ancestry, and Chris Grayling (a man who lights up a room when he leaves it) says that our country is never on the winning side whenever there’s a vote at the Council of Ministers when the facts show that we get our way on the vast majority of occasions.” – Alan Johnson, speaking at USDAW conference today about the importance of a Remain vote.

Meme watch

George Galloway is apparently promising to poison up to 10,000 people – either that or he needs to hire a new scribe to cut out the grammatical errors in his propaganda material.

And our opponents?

Zac Goldsmith was interviewed in the HuffPost, repeating his message that Sadiq Khan is irresponsible for promising to freeze tube and bus fares. The lethargic Conservative candidate, who is lagging in the polls, added little new information, but did enlighten the world that his first name is actually Frank.