Sheffield played host on Friday night to a special edition of Question Time with leaders of the four main political parties.
Held in The Octagon, the programme took questions from the audience to Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson and Nicola Sturgeon on a variety of issues.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was first to the stage. For the first time, he outlined that he would remain neutral in a Brexit referendum under a Labour government.
Mr Corbyn said: “One, we negotiate a credible deal with the European Union. Secondly, we will put that alongside remain in a referendum.
And I will adopt as prime minister, if I am at the time, a neutral stance so that I can credibly carry out the results of that to bring our communities and country together, rather than continuing in endless debate about the EU and Brexit.”
“I don’t see a priority in Scotland of having an independence referendum”
Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will not be supporting a referendum on Scottish independence during its ‘early years’ in government. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/L8FQ37fM7W
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 22, 2019
Corbyn says he doesn’t see a second Scottish independence referendum as “a priority” and “in the early years of a Labour government” he wouldn’t support one.
Pushed for specifics on what “the early years” meant, he said, “the first two years, at least”.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon’s time on stage was largely focused on said independence.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We will use the SNP’s influence, if we have it, responsibly. Of course, to stand up for Scotland, but also to stand up for progressive values across the UK.”
Nicola Sturgeon says she “could not put Boris Johnson into Downing Street” and that Jeremy Corbyn isn’t her choice of Labour leader, but she could work with him if he respects the right of the people of Scotland to determine their own future.
“It’s not for Westminster to decide, it’s for the people of Scotland” is the message from @NicolaSturgeon this evening on the future of Scottish independence #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/BsYuwLNlWP
— The Fulwood Post (@FulwoodPost) November 22, 2019
Ms Sturgeon added that she did not feel that she has put independence before other issues, but that Labour manifesto policies like scrapping tuition fees were already enacted in Scotland.
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson faced numerous questions on whether their policy to outright revoke Article 50 is democratic.
Ms Swinson said: “Not for one second does that [policy] mean I think people who voted Leave are stupid, we disagree.”
“You can disagree with me, but you lost!” says a frustrated audience member.
On joining forces with Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson says she “absolutely would work collaboratively” with him, but ruled out a coalition.
“Do you regret voting consistently with the Conservatives in favour of harsh and uncaring benefit cuts?”
“We got stuff wrong and we in the future, going forward, are determined to get it right”
Jo Swinson answers an audience question on her voting record. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/u1hPGok7Sa
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 22, 2019
Put under pressure over their 2010 coalition with the Conservative party, Ms Swinson said: We got stuff wrong and we in the future, going forward, are determined to get it right.”
Last to the stage was the Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader Boris Johnson.
He was immediately asked if it is important for politicians to tell the truth.
“I think it is absolutely vital and I think the issue of trust is central to this election,” he replied.
The Prime Minister then moved onto the failure to deliver Brexit, to great frustration from the audience.
One member of the audience became particularly irate over the issue of the Russian interference report into the EU referendum.
Mr Johnson said there was “absolutely no evidence” to suggest Russia had interfered with the election and did not want to interfere with the “normal timetable” of the release of the report.
The questioner responded stating that this was not true and should have been released last month.
“This is complete Bermuda Triangle stuff,” Boris Johnson replied.
“Racist rhetoric in this country is rife, will you admit you have personally contributed to this?”
“I have genuinely never intended to cause hurt or pain to anyone”
Boris Johnson defends previous comments he made as a journalist. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/zCOQK7qo2i
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) November 22, 2019
The Prime Minister was also asked to apologise for his alleged role in contributing to racist rhetoric in the UK.
“I have genuinely never intended to cause hurt or pain to anyone”, Mr Johnson replied. However, the prime minister conceded that things that may be seen as offensive could be found in his articles.
The Fulwood Post will continue to bring you up to date coverage the election period continues.