General election 2019: Jo Swinson promises £50bn ‘Remain bonus’ for services Lib Dem leader says cash saved from scrapping Brexit could be used for hospitals and schools

Jo Swinson will promise a £50bn “Remain bonus” for hospitals, schools and other public services from cancelling Brexit as she launches the Liberal Democrat election campaign.

The party is putting its pledge to revoke the 2016 referendum result at the heart of its appeal to Remain-supporting voters.

Its challenge is to turn its recent political momentum – including the defection of five Tory and three Labour MPs – into electoral gains next month.

The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

Ms Swinson announced that the Lib Dems are threatening legal action against ITV for failing to include her in a planned televised leaders’ debate on 19 December with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn.

“We will take any action required to make sure that that voice of Remain is represented in those debates,” she said. “We are taking legal advice and we will pursue legal avenues if ITV do not change their format.”

One policy charge

At the launch in central London, she will counter accusations that her party has only one key policy by arguing that stopping Brexit will release large amounts of cash for struggling services.

The Lib Dems claim that the economy will be nearly two per cent bigger if Britain remains in the European Union than if it leaves with Boris Johnson’s deal.

It calculates that the UK would reap a dividend worth £50bn over five years from higher economic growth and resulting tax receipts as a result of continued membership.

Ms Swinson said: “The Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up to stop Brexit and build a brighter future for the UK.

“Brexit has taken far longer and cost far more than anyone said it would. But any form of Brexit will damage our jobs, our economy and our public services, starving them of vital cash as the economy struggles along.

Need to build on base

“The Liberal Democrats will stop Brexit and then use the £50bn Remain Bonus to invest in our public services.”

Her party enters the campaign averaging around 16 per cent support in the polls and facing the challenge of building on that base rather than falling victim to a squeeze by the Tories and Labour.

If it can double its current seat tally of 20 it would look certain to wield influence in a hung Parliament.