DONALD TRUMP stormed into Britain’s general election battle last night, backing Boris Johnson to be our next PM in his explosive LBC interview.

Follow our live blog below for all the latest General Election 2019 news and updates.

• SANDBACH SPEAKS OUT

  EX-TORY MP Antoinette Sandbach has told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme why she is defecting to the Liberal Democrats

  Speaking to Today this morning, she said: “I realised the Liberal Democrats have the values I share.

  “I felt that I wanted to deliver some of the policies they have that will really deliver for my constituents.

  “Clearly, the Conservative Party have moved their values from where I was.”

  The Eddisbury MP is the fifth Conservative to join Jo Swinson's party this year – with just 42 days to go until the general election.

  She defended the Lib Dems pro-Remain platform and policy of revoking Article 50, saying “for some time now I have argued there should be a confirmatory referendum.”

  Ms Sandbach added: “I think what is being offered now in the deal is so far from what we were promised that we should go back and check that this is really what Britain wants.”

• GET ME OUT OF HERE…

  MEANWHILE, retiring Speaker John Bercow reportedly demanded £1million to appear on I’m A Celebrity.

  He stepped down from his Commons role yesterday after ten years as Speaker, but had already been eyeing up his next move, the Daily Mirror reports.

  An ITV insider told the Mirror the reported fee – which would be the largest in the hit ITV show’s history – had blown Mr Bercow’s chances of appearing.

• HOUSING BOOST

  SAJID JAVID has vowed to spend more than £250 million on 20,000 new homes.

  The Chancellor wants to boost road, schools and transport links across the Midlands, and the east and south east of England.

  His spending would target “areas of high demand”.

• TRUMP BACKS BORIS

  DONALD Trump sensationally waded in on the first day of the election campaign yesterday.

  He blasted Jeremy Corbyn's vision for Britain, and demolished his most powerful attack line – his claims the NHS will be up for sale in a trade deal.

  Mr Trump also praised Boris Johnson as a “fantastic guy” in an interview with Brexit Party boss Nigel Farage on LBC last night.

  His explosive intervention came after Corbyn repeated claims Boris will sell off the NHS to the president if he gets re-elected at the December 12 general election.

  Boris has repeatedly said the NHS is “not for sale” in any future trade deal, and recently announcing a £200million funding boost.

  And Mr Trump rubbished the Labour leader's claims, telling LBC: “We wouldn’t even be involved in it, we’re trying to fix our own health service.
  “It’s not for us to have anything to do with your health service. We’re just talking about trade”.

  He also urged Mr Farage and Mr Johnson to join forced in an “unstoppable” election pact.

  Yesterday the PM kicked off his election campaign with a vow his Brexit deal is “oven ready” and he'll get Britain out of the EU by January.

  And he promised a spending splurge to revitalise Britain's “forgotten towns”.

  Mr Corbyn's own campaign launch hit the skids when his boast he would get Brexit done in just six months was branded “laughable”.

  The leftie leader has vowed to turn the clock back to 2016 by holding another referendum if he becomes PM – but dodged questions on how he would vote.

  And he was snapped in an awkward yet hilarious pose kissing Emily Thornberry's hand.

  Meanwhile the Lib Dems had a boost when they picked up their 20th MP with the defection of Tory rebel Antoinette Sandbach.

  Yesterday was also Speaker Bercow's official last day. He was accused of “defending the indefensible” by not taking action against his pal Keith Vaz over misconduct allegations.

  And that was just day one!

  Follow all the action from day two of the campaign here on our live blog throughout the day.

• THURSDAY NIGHT RECAP

  It's been a busy day in politics as the first day of the election campaign started.Here’s what you’ve missed today if you’re just tuning in.

  • Boris Johnson vowed his Brexit deal is “oven ready” and he'll get Britain out of the EU by January
  • He insisted the current crop of MPs would have never pushed it through as they are determined to block Brexit
  • Jezza said Brexit wasn't complicated as he promised to delay Brexit for six months and push through a second referendum
  • The leftie boss was snapped awkwardly kissing Emily Thornberry's hand
  • The Tories stormed ahead in the polls as voters trust Boris the most on the NHS
  • Donald Trump sensationally weighed into the campaign – and rubbished Corbyn's claims the NHS will be up for sale in a UK-US trade deal
  • In an interview on LBC with Nigel Farage, the US president tore into the Labour leader, while praising Boris Johnson as a “fantastic guy”

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