Theresa May says the election WILL go ahead on Thursday as parties suspend campaigns today
THERESA MAY today confirmed that the General Election will go ahead as planned on Thursday despite last night's terror attack on London.
Just four days ahead of the vote, the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems announced this morning that they would stop canvassing after the van and knife rampage that left seven dead and 48 injured.
It is the second time in just two weeks that the election campaign has been paused, following the Manchester bombing last month.
However, senior politicians suggested that the campaigns could restart as soon as tonight as the nation seeks to stand defiant in the fact of terror.
And they rejected calls from social media users to delay Thursday's election amidst fears that polling stations could be targeted by terrorists.
The Prime Minister said on the steps of Downing Street today: "Those campaigns will resume in full tomorrow, and the General Election will go ahead as planned on Thursday."
"The Conservative party will not be campaigning nationally today", a spokesman said this morning. "We will review as the day goes on and as more details of the attack emerge".
Jeremy Corbyn announced in a statement that Labour would down tools until this evening "as a mark of respect for those who have died and suffered injury."
He added later: "If we allow these attacks to disrupt our democratic process, we all lose."
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Although the national campaigns are suspended, local campaigns will continue today, allowing parliamentary candidates to canvass voters in their constituencies.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: "The election must go ahead as planned.
"It is right that we suspend our national campaigning for a short while out of respect for those affected by these tragic events, but local campaigning can and must continue."
However, Ukip has refused to suspend any part of its campaign, saying that to do so would be "what the extremists would want us to do".
Leader Paul Nuttall said: "It is time to start honouring our dead with more than just words.
"The only guarantee that will come from our choosing to stall the democratic process again will be more attacks; it is what these cowards want us to do."
Calls are mounting on social media for the general election to be postponed as the atrocity sinks in.
It comes just weeks after the Manchester Arena bombing that left 22 people dead, including children.
But speaking in south London this morning, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "I will vote on Thursday".
He told reporters: "These terrorists want to disrupt our way of life; mixing and mingling on a Saturday night; voting on Thursday.
"We can't let them do that. I'm not an advocate of postponing the election."
Andrew Marr's BBC political talk show was cancelled this morning, but Robert Peston's similar programme on ITV went ahead.
Mr Peston wrote on Twitter: "Striking that many of you think national campaigning should not stop even just for today, because to do so would signal victory for terrorism."
Voters responded to news of last night's election with some fearing that polling stations may be targeted.
Actress Anna Friel called for a movement to call off Thursday's vote, tweeting: "#postponetheelection can we start this."
Christie Walker wrote online: "I worry that the election will be next target. There are 50,000 polling stations. How on earth do we jeep them all safe?"
Maria Nelson said: "To me if you delay campaigning you should delay the election".
calling for the election to be postponed "after a second devastating attack".
Brexit Secretary David Davis dismissed suggestions that the General Election should be postponed, telling Andrew Marr: "I'm not sure it can be legally done."
He added: "There's a balance of things here, on the one hand we want to pay our respects to those who died... on the other hand, these people are doing this because they hate the freedoms we have.
"All the more reason not to defer, not to deflect, as far as possible to keep on course."
Emily Thornberry said that Labour would restart its campaigning this evening as she vowed not to "let this derail our democracy".
She told Mr Marr: "We just can't go on today, in London it's particularly hard for us. People are waking up today not knowing whether one of their relatives or friends is injured.
"I think that the Labour party will begin our national campaigning again this evening, I think that's the right balance.
"We are acutely aware that these people are trying to undermine our democracy and undermine our values."
The Shadow Foreign Secretary also suggested that security officials should consider new measures to protect London's bridges, which have been the centre of two attacks within three months.
Ms Thornberry repeatedly refused to answer questions from Robert Peston on whether or not security issues would become more prominent in the election campaign.
She said, "I don't want to get involved in party political talk" - but went on to claim that Labour is better at listening to the public than the Tories.
Three militants were shot dead by armed cops in Borough Market as hundreds of pub-goers fled in horror.
They had mowed down dozens on London Bridge before crashing near the landmark and stabbing passers-by.
Pictures show the three men dying outside a pub wearing fake bomb vests.
Videos capture the moment police gunfire rings out and revellers hit the floor at a packed bar.
See the latest updates on the attack on our Live Blog here.
London Bridge terror attack - What we know so far
- A van ploughed through pedestrians on London Bridge just after 10pm on Saturday
- Three men wearing fake bomb vests jumped out on the south end of the bridge at Borough Market and began knifing bystanders and pub-goers
- Armed police arrived on the scene and within eight minutes the three terrorists were shot dead
- At least seven victims were killed and 48 people were injured. The injured were being treated across five London hospitals
- Theresa May will chair a Cobra emergency response meeting later after the attack was confirmed to be a terror incident
- Four controlled explosions were heard near The Sun’s offices in London Bridge between 1:20am and 1:50am
- Police appealed for witnesses
- The Met Police opened a casualty bureau for those concerned about family and friends who might have been caught up in the attacks. There are two numbers to call: 0800 096 1233 and 020 7158 0197
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