Leaders in pre-election clash over NHS, Brexit and economy

The Labour leader said voters had a "once in a generation" chance to save the NHS, which was in "greater danger" than at any time in its history. He said voters had the chance to back "real change" and an end to austerity. But the PM warned of "economic catastrophe" and "political disaster" if Labour got into power. Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll. The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday has begun its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed. And the electoral authorities have set a deadline of the end of Tuesday 26 November for people to register to vote. The cut-off point to apply for postal votes is the same day, but at 17:00 GMT.
In their final encounter in Parliament before the election, the two leaders exchanged barbs over their political values and disputed their parties' respective records on the NHS.
Final Commons clash, for now
The Labour leader accused the PM - who he has challenged to a one-on-one TV debate - of running down the health service, saying cuts to funding had contributed to rising waiting times for cancer treatment and operations. He said a Labour government would reverse what he said was the growing privatisation of the NHS, saying it existed to "make people better, not make the wealthy few richer".
"The choice at this election cannot be clearer," he said. "People have the choice to vote for real change after years of Conservative and Lib Dem cuts, privatisation and tax handouts for the richest." Mr Johnson said he agreed voters faced a "stark choice" between a government spending "unrivalled" sums on the NHS and a Labour party that would "wreck the economy".
Dismissing the Labour leader as an "Islingtonian protester" rather than a real leader, he said Mr Corbyn's "flip-flopping" over Brexit would lead to more years of "toxic, tedious, torpor". While 2020 would be a "wonderful year" under a Tory government, he said electing Jeremy Corbyn would result in further referendums on Europe and Scottish independence. "That is the future. Drift and dither under the Labour Party or taking the country forward to a brighter future under the Conservatives. That is the choice the country faces."
The election comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs.
What happens next?
The Early Parliamentary General Election Bill - which prompts the election - will be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday.
If peers make any amendments to the bill, it will head back to the Commons for MPs to approve or reject the changes.
Once passed, the bill will receive Royal Assent - when the Queen formally agrees to the bill becoming law.
On Monday 4 November, MPs are due to elect a new Speaker to replace John Bercow.
Just after midnight on Wednesday 6 November, Parliament will be shut down or "dissolved" - meaning every seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant.
Five weeks later, the country will go to the polls for the first December election since 1923.
Vocabulary
Brexit [ˈbrɛɡzɪt] – выход Великобритании из ЕС - Brexit is the scheduled withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU).
The Labour leader [ˈleɪbə ˈliːdə] – лидер лейбористов - The Leader of the Labour Party is the most senior political figure within the Labour Party in the United Kingdom.
The legislation - [leʤɪsˈleɪʃn] – законодательство - The act of giving or enacting laws.
Parliament - [ˈpɑːləmənt] – парламент - It is the supreme legislative assembly of Great Britain and Ireland, consisting of the king or queen and the three estates of the realm, viz., the lords spiritual, the lords temporal, and the commons.
The political values – [pəˈlɪtɪkəl ˈvæljuːz] – политические ценности - Political values are political relationships, institutions, organizations, views and ideas. These can be resulting from the transforming, creative practice of certain social forces.
NHS - The National Health Service in the United Kingdom includes NHS England, NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and the affiliated Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland.
a PM – [ə ˌpiːˈem] – премьер-министр - One of the highest functionaries in the organization of civil government, standing next to the sovereign or executive head.
a debate – [dɪˈbeɪt] – дискуссия - It is a discussion about a subject on which people have different views.
the elections - [ɪˈlekʃnz] – выборы - The acts of choosing or selecting one or more from a greater number of persons, things, courses, or rights. The choice of an alternative.
the Labour Party - [ˈleɪbə ˈpɑːtɪ] - The Labour Party UK US one of the three main political parties in the UK, originally started to try to improve conditions for working class people.
General Election Bill – [ˈʤenərəl ɪˈlekʃn bɪl] - General Election Bill is a bill of the United Kingdom Parliament, which makes provision to hold a parliamentary general election to the House of Commons in the United Kingdom for 12 December 2019.
Royal Assent - [ˈrɔɪəl əˈsent] – королевская санкция - The act of assenting; the act of admitting or agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval.