Boris Johnson warns Labour-SNP pact would mean ‘Groundhog Day nightmare’

Boris Johnson has stressed the importance of this election Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Boris Johnson has claimed a Jeremy Corbyn government propped up by the SNP would lead to another parliamentary “Groundhog Day nightmare”, as the General Election campaign entered its final week.

Describing the December 12 poll as an “historic election” like those of 1906, 1945 and 1979 which led to dramatic changes in the governing party, the Prime Minister said the impact of the vote would be felt for decades to come.

He claimed that unlike the previous memorable polls, it is not a single party that has lost its way but the entire Parliament – and he urged the public to vote “to go forward” as the “British always do when faced with a historic choice”.

In a letter to the nation, Mr Johnson said: “In 1906, the Liberal government won a majority and the balance of power crucially tipped towards democracy.

“In 1945, the Conservative Party had lost its way and the Attlee government created the NHS – one of the great achievements in British politics in the 20th century. And in 1979 the Thatcher government dragged Britain out of the nightmare of the 1970s.

“Now in 2019, we face another of these historic elections. Like 1906, 1945 and 1979, the impact of this election will be felt for decades to come. But unlike those elections, in 2019 it is not a single party that has lost its way, but the entire Parliament.”

Accusing MPs who campaigned to Remain in the EU of doing “everything in their power to delay, obstruct, and block Britain’s exit”, he said the country faces a simple choice: “To move forwards or go back to the past.”

The prime minister wrote: “I, of course, respect the views of the millions who voted Remain in 2016 but I also strongly believe that politicians promised to respect that referendum result and they must, therefore, respect it.

Credit: PA Graphics

“Nothing could do more damage to our democracy than for Parliament to break the promises made because politicians don’t agree with the voters.

“If you agree with me, then please talk about this choice to your friends and family over the next few days. Make sure they understand what is at stake. Let’s wake up on Friday 13th and go forwards with a Conservative majority government.

“Let’s not go back into a parliamentary Groundhog Day nightmare with Jeremy Corbyn propped up by Nicola Sturgeon.”

Labour leader Mr Corbyn, meanwhile, said voters have the chance to vote for the “most ambitious plan to transform our country in decades, and the chance to grasp a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change”.

Jeremy Corbyn claimed the Tories have offered nothing but negativity during the election campaign Credit: Victoria Jones/PA

He said his party had “caught the Tories red-handed trying to sell out our NHS for a toxic deal with Trump” and “caught out Boris Johnson peddling falsehoods about his own Brexit deal”.

He added: “Boris Johnson’s Conservatives have offered nothing in this election but negativity and a hollow slogan that’s a fraud on the British people.

“It’s no wonder Johnson has avoided scrutiny. He doesn’t tell the truth and he isn’t being straight with the British people. He cannot be trusted to deliver Brexit, or anything else.

“The most powerful people in Britain – the billionaires, the tax dodgers, the bad bosses and the big polluters – will do anything to stop real change, because the system is rigged in their favour and they don’t want to pay their fair share of tax.

“But a Labour government will be on your side.”

On Sunday, Labour will set out plans to introduce free personal care for older people with £10 billion of additional funding by 2023-24.

Meanwhile the Tories will outline their proposals for a post-Brexit immigration system which they claim will enable the UK to “attract the brightest and the best from around the world” while getting overall immigration down.

It came as Savanta ComRes polling for the Sunday Telegraph suggested the Conservative lead is narrowing ahead of Thursday’s election.

The poll places the Tories on 41% – down one point from a midweek poll by the same researchers. Labour are up one point to 33%, and the Liberal Democrats remain on 12%.