In their own words... standout quotes from the election

HERE are some of the key quotes from the general election.

“At this moment of enormous national significance there should be unity here in Westminster, but instead there is division. The country is coming together, but Westminster is not.” — Theresa May, calling for a general election on June 8.

“Much of the media and Establishment are saying this election is a foregone conclusion. They think there are rules in politics, which if you don’t follow by doffing your cap to powerful people, accepting that things can’t really change, then you can’t win. They say I don’t play by the rules — their rules. We can’t win, they say, because we don’t play their game. They’re quite right, I don’t. And a Labour government elected on June 8 won’t play by their rules.” — Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“She could not resist the political equivalent of stealing candy from a baby. We will not allow this to be a coronation. We will make it a contest.” — Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron.

“The general election is about making sure that the Tories don’t get to crush dissent and silence opposition, and steamroller over Scotland, how Scotland has voted and how the Scottish Parliament has voted.” — Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister.

“The biggest risk with Jeremy Corbyn is that people just don’t get what a threat he really is. They watch his meandering and nonsensical questions and feel a terrible twinge of human compassion. Well, they say to themselves ‘He may be a mutton-headed old mugwump, but he is probably harmless.’” — Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

“The best defence for Britain is a government actively engaged in seeking peaceful solutions to the world’s problems. But I am not a pacifist. I accept that military action, under international law and as a genuine last resort, is in some circumstances necessary.” — Jeremy Corbyn.

“There is no Mayism. There is good, solid Conservatism that puts the interests of the country and the interests of ordinary working people at the heart of everything we do in government.” — Theresa May.

“It was 34 years ago, I had a rather splendid afro at the time. I don’t have the same hairstyle, I don’t have the same views” — Diane Abbott, then shadow home secretary, when questioned about her alleged support for the IRA in the 1980s.

“Last night showed that Jeremy Corbyn’s minders can put him in a smart blue suit for an interview with Jeremy Paxman but with his position on Brexit he will find himself alone and naked in the negotiating chamber of the EU.” — Theresa May.

“It showed I have balls.” — Theresa May defending her decision to call a snap election.

“I would view the idea of having to use a nuclear weapon as something that was resulting in a failure in the whole world’s diplomatic system.” — Jeremy Corbyn.

“Well, I don’t want to be Albert Pierrepoint, that’s not what I’m going to go on to when I’m out of politics. What I will say is that, you know, they asked me that question, if I’m prepared to stand up, say that I believe in the death penalty, then you know, maybe I would pull the lever on people like Ian Brady in the past.” — Ukip leader Paul Nuttall on his support for the death penalty.

“Since the emergence of the threat from Islamist-inspired terrorism, our country has made significant progress in disrupting plots and protecting the public. But it is time to say ‘enough is enough’.” — Theresa May.