ELECTION ROUND-UP: Worcester UKIP candidate likens Brexit to "divorce"

Paul Hickling, who is standing in Worcester, has made a plea for ministers to push for a so-called 'hard Brexit' during the looming negotiations.

It comes with EU officials expecting crunch talks with the Prime Minister just 11 days after the General Election.

Mr Hickling, an outsider in the city's contest, said: "The people of this country voted for Brexit, that is the reality.

"For anybody who is against that, it's like saying 'I've got divorced, but I want to sleep in the spare bedroom'.

"No, when you get divorced you move out of the house, it's obvious.

"This country has got to get its independence back, we're the fifth largest economy in the world.

"We're a famous trading nation, we trade with the rest of the world - we're still going to have good relations with the rest of Europe, no-one is doubting that."

It comes as the two main parties have again shifted Brexit to the front of the campaigning, with the Conservatives and Labour trading blows.

Theresa May used a speech to say Jeremy Corbyn's position on Brexit would leave him "alone and naked in the negotiating chamber" with the European Union.

"This is not the time for a weak Government and a weak leader to be making it up as they go along," she said.

But Mr Corbyn hit back today by saying leaving the EU with no deal would lead to "economic disaster".

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has claimed the way the PM had handled Brexit negotiations so far is making Britain "look like ogres", saying: "We're a laughing stock across Europe and we don't need to be."

Mr Hickling made his remarks at Worcester's Cap 'n' Gown pub earlier this week, in front of Tory Brexit minister Robin Walker.

Mr Walker has continued his ministerial work with Brexit secretary David Davis during the election campaign, despite not actually being an MP since parliament was dissolved.

I'M WORRED ABOUT AIRPORTS, SAYS LIB DEM

AN anti-Brexit parliamentary candidate has upped the ante over Britain’s EU divorce - saying he fears a “catastrophe”.

Lib Dem Edward McMillan-Scott has leapt on remarks from the boss of Ryanair that a hard Brexit could result in the UK losing access to Europe’s ‘open skies’.

Mr McMillan-Scott, who is standing in West Worcestershire, said: “This would be a catastrophe for UK tourists and domestic tourism.

“It was Margaret Thatcher who broke the monopoly of the national carriers and encouraged the EU’s bid to open up hundreds of regional airports.”

Ryanair is legally allowed to operate out of the UK under a Europe-wide open skies regulation that admits EU airlines and others into the ‘common travel area’ including Morocco, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.

The policy binds EU members to oversight by the European court of justice and to freedom of movement, two red lines for the UK Government in Brexit talks.

HUSTINGS TOMORROW

PEOPLE are being reminded about an Election hustings taking place at a Worcester school tomorrow evening.

The city’s parliamentary candidates will be at Nunnery Wood High School in Spetchley Road from 6.30pm.

The event has been organised by Rabyia Baig, who is part of the ‘Conservative Future’ movement.

Brexit, the economy, health and social care, immigration and education are some of the topics they are expected to focus on.

POSTER COMES UNDER FIRE

ETHNIC minority politicians in Worcestershire have criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for a ‘patronising’ election poster.

Yesterday a social media Labour poster featured Mr Corbyn stating: “Only Labour can be trusted to unlock the talent of Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority people”.

Mr Corbyn then said ethnic minorities have been “held back” by the Conservatives.

It led to Conservative Sajid Javid sarcastically using his Twitter account to say “thanks, Jeremy”, as well as scores of other Tory parliamentary candidates.

Tory Councillor Allah Ditta, a former Worcester mayor, called the poster “nonsensical”.

BOOKIES ODDS

A BOOKIES today said punters were rushing to put money on Theresa May’s majority falling below 100 seats.

Ladbrokes said its odds were now evens on whether the Government will reach a three-digit figure.

A fresh poll has put the Conservatives on 370 seats after Thursday, with Labour on 199, the SNP on 47 and the Lib Dems on 11.

That would give her an overall majority of 113, but the another poll has put the figure at 90.

Matthew Shaddick, head of political betting at Ladbrokes, said: “The biggest shift in this campaign so far has been the expected size of Conservative majority.

“Ten days ago Theresa May could have expected 150, today it’s 90."