Comey and England: Today's News for June 8th

Newsweek:

COMEY TESTIMONY OPENING STATEMENT: 

READ FULL PREPARED REMARKS FOR TRUMP-RUSSIA HEARING

James Comey, the FBI director President Donald Trump fired last month, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. But on Wednesday, his prepared opening statement dropped online.

The content mirrored what The New York Times reported was in a series of memos Comey penned after meeting with Trump several times after his November victory. Among the ex-director's claims were that Trump asked Comey to declare his loyalty and, later, to "let this go," referring to an investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn's contacts with Russia. 

Feel free to read the opening statement at the link above.

On the other hand, if you are more of an executive summary type of person:

Circa:

Here are the 7 biggest revelations from James Comey's prepared testimony

Here are the seven biggest revelations. 

1. Trump isn't under investigation
2. Trump and Comey had nine private conversations
3. Trump asked Comey to drop the Flynn investigation
4. Trump did not ask Comey to drop the Russia investigation
5. Trump denied wrongdoing
6. Trump told Comey 'I expect loyalty'
7. Trump asked Comey about 'satellite associates'

You can read the details of each of those revelations at the Circa article.

If the rest of Comey's testimony is anything like this, it will be a whole lot of nothing, because Comey knows he will be considered complicit if he reveals anything damning. At worst, expect Trump to take a few political jabs from this.

The real news today will come from across the proverbial pond...

Express:

FINAL PLEA: May urges voters one last time to back her as 'the future of UK depends on it'

In a statement released ahead of the polling stations opening at 7am this morning, [Prime Minister Theresa May] said: “Today is a day for everybody across the country to fix their sights on the future and vote for a better future of fairness, security and opportunity for all.

“That is the future I want for Britain as we fulfil the promise of Brexit together.

“If we get Brexit right, we can build a Britain that is more prosperous and more secure. A Britain in which prosperity and opportunity is shared by all. A Britain where it’s not where you come from or who your parents are that matter but the talent you have and how hard you are prepared to work. The greatest meritocracy in the world...["]

What to expect?

The Telegraph:

General election polls: Latest tracker and odds

The final general election polls - all published before polling booths open - have given a last minute boost to the Conservatives, after a Labour surge that saw the gap close dramatically.

...Theresa May's Conservatives end with an average of 43 per cent in our poll tracker, while Labour sit on 36.5 per cent. 

Naturally, England's parliamentary system doesn't rely on overall popular votes. however, it looks like May's Conservatives will end up better off after today:

According to the latest forecast by the University of East Anglia's Chris Hanretty, the Conservatives would still gain a strong majority in Parliament.  

Thanks to seat gains in the North of England and Scotland, Theresa May would benefit from a swing of 45 seats and end up with 375 MPs in Parliament. 

Personally, I would rather watch England's election results than James Comey say nothing new.