ITV Live Debate: Rolling headlines

Live from Salford in Greater Manchester, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn go head to head in their first TV debate. The UK leaders  will set out how they would break the political deadlock and heal a divided nation. The debate is being  moderated by Julie Etchingham.  

Live rolling quotes from Labour leader Corbyn and Tory party leader Johnson:

Corbyn:

• Corbyn claims Johnson’s UK-US trade deal would take seven years to negotiate.
• Corbyn says he would negotiate a new deal, and have a referendum, with a credible leave option.
• He says it is “nonsense” to suggest that Johnson would sort out Brexit by January.
• He says it would take Johnson seven years to negotiate a trade deal with the US. And the US trade deal would be incompatible with a trade deal with the EU.
• In answr to Johnson  asking  if Corbyn wants to do a deal, and he asks if he will campaign for his own deal, Corbyn says the following:*
• Corbyn says he wants to bring people together;
• Corbyn repeats the point about a trade deal with the US taking seven years;
• And he claims Corbyn has already indicated this deal would put the  NHS  at risk;
• Etchingham says Corbyn ducked the question about whether he would campaign for remain or leave.

MORE TO COME

Johnson:

• Entire conservative party supports Brexit deal.
• UK will leave EU  on 31st Jan 2020.
• Conservative party can get brexit deal passed ‘in next few weeks’.
• Johnson says he wants a mandate to govern. But Corbyn wants to strike a new deal, he says.
• He asks if Corbyn wants to do a deal, and he asks if he will campaign for his own deal (see what Corbyn said above).*
• NHS will never be for sale.  

MORE TO COME

FX implications:

With respect to the pound, considering the lack of liquidity, there could be some movement depending n what is said and how much of the debate is related to Brexit. However, as analysts at TD Securities explained, “Leaders’ debates are rarely decisive events, but in such an unpredictable general election, we’ll be watching extra closely for any potential turning points.” GBP/USD had ben as high as 1.2970 on the day but has given back some ground to the lowest point in the lead into the event down to 1.2910, likely on profit-taking – GBP/JPY is down to test the 200-hour moving average, (Yen is a  safe haven  and GBP/JPY can be a big mover).