With only two weeks to go until the general election, Rishi Sunak was accused of “lying through his teeth” as he defended the Tories’ record on housing after 14 years on a brutal LBC phone-in this morning. The prime minister faced fierce criticism from voters who slammed him for failing to improve living standards and for being unable to relate to “struggling people” for being richer than the King. But Mr Sunak received a rare piece of good news this morning after official figures confirmed a drop in the rate of inflation as the rate of Consumer Prices Index fell to 2 per cent in May. However, the Tories are still fighting against bruising polling results with chancellor Jeremy Hunt predicting that Labour could be in power for “a very long time” if Sir Keir Starmer wins by a landslide. Mel Stride also warned the party could secure the “largest majority virtually in the history of this country” if the polls hold until July 4.
General election latest: Sunak accused of ‘lying through his teeth’ at LBC phone-in as PM gets inflation boost
Grant Shapps says Tories ‘fighting for every single vote’ as he faces questions on campaign
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With only two weeks to go until the general election, Rishi Sunak was accused of “lying through his teeth” as he defended the Tories’ record on housing after 14 years on a brutal LBC phone-in this morning.
The prime minister faced fierce criticism from voters who slammed him for failing to improve living standards and for being unable to relate to “struggling people” for being richer than the King.
But Mr Sunak received a rare piece of good news this morning after official figures confirmed a drop in the rate of inflation as the rate of Consumer Prices Index fell to 2 per cent in May.
However, the Tories are still fighting against bruising polling results with chancellor Jeremy Hunt predicting that Labour could be in power for “a very long time” if Sir Keir Starmer wins by a landslide. Mel Stride also warned the party could secure the “largest majority virtually in the history of this country” if the polls hold until July 4.
Elsewhere, SNP leader John Swinney will launch the party’s manifesto in Edinburgh where he will call for an “end to Westimnster cuts” and call for a £10bn boost in NHS spending.
Key Points
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Nigel Farage vows to ‘finish’ with Labour
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 10:24
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Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves campaign at the frozen foods aisle
Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during a visit to Morrisons in Wiltshire (Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speak to a person at a Morrisons supermarket (REUTERS)
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 10:14
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Trott: Last thing families need is a ‘tax raising Labour government’
Chief secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott has doubled down on attacks on Labour’s tax plans.
The frontbencher said the “last thing families need now is an unaccountable tax raising Labour government with a big majority”.
The senior Tory said: “Keir Starmer has already said anyone who has savings is fair game for Labour’s £2,094 in higher council tax and other tax rises.
“Now Rachel Reeves has added family homes, pensions, and the other tax rises she used to propose to Labour’s tax targets. Labour think the British people will hand them a blank cheque, without saying what they would spend it on, or which taxes they will hike to pay for it.
“With inflation back under control, the last thing families need now is an unaccountable tax raising Labour government with a big majority, locked into power for a generation through votes for 16 year-olds, putting up council tax.”
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 10:09
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Swinney: Nigel Farage could become Tory leader and prime minister in future
Scotland’s first minister has said Nigel Farage will one day become Conservative leader.
Asked if the right-wing politician and former Ukip leader could cross the floor following the election and become Tory leader, Mr Swinney said: “Yes, I think there is every possibility. I might even go as far as to say ‘likelihood’ that might be the case.
“I don’t recognise the Conservative Party. It is is just drifting itself into a position where, actually, it is really quite at ease with the arguments of Nigel Farage.”
Mr Swinney went on to say it is even a “possibility” that Mr Farage could become prime minister in future, should a Labour government installed on July 4 fail to impress enough to remain in power long-term.
It comes the Reform UK leader was touted as a potential candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak if he quits following the election. But Mr Farage has distanced himself from joining the Tories, saying: “I have no intention of being a member of the Conservative Party at any point.”
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is climbing in the polls (PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 10:05
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Breaking: Another blow for Rishi Sunak as migrant numbers soar
More than 800 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in a single day – a new record for the year so far and a major blow for Rishi Sunak’s flagging election hopes, Archie Mitchell reports.
The prime minister has put stopping the small boats crossing the Channel at the heart of his government, but has so far failed to bring the numbers down.
The Home Office said 882 people made the journey in 15 boats on Tuesday, taking the total number of arrivals this year to 12,313, also a new record.
The figure is also 18 per cent higher than the same time last year.
The tally of crossings since Mr Sunak, who pledged to “stop the boats”, became PM in October 2022 is almost 50,000, now standing at 49,376.
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 10:00
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Calls for Covid fine amnesty by senior Tories to ‘wipe slate clean’ for nearly 30,000 prosecuted
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 09:51
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Stride: Labour on course for ‘largest majority virtually in the history of this country’
Mel Stride has warned Labour could deliver the “largest majority virtually in the history of this country” if current polling materialises on July 4.
The work and pensions secretary said recent polls results confirmed the Conservatives are a “long way behind” Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Stride told the BBC: “That shows us a long way behind Labour and, indeed, if you take those polls and extrapolate that into a result, you could end up seeing a Labour government with 450 or 460 seats, the largest majority virtually in the history of this country.
“And I think the question that Grant is servicing, which I think is a perfectly sensible question to ask, is that if that is where it goes – if the polls are right, and they stick where they are through to election day and that is the result – it is to some degree about what government colour you get, but it is also substantially about what kind of opposition you’re going to get.
“And whether you’re going to have a Parliament that is able actually to hold a government to account or not.”
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 09:46
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SNP manifesto to pledge “major investment” in the NHS
The SNP is set to unveil its manifesto with plans to launch a “major investment” in the NHS.
First minister and party leader John Swinney will this morning urge for an “end to Westimnster cuts” and call the next governmnet to boost NHS spending by a minimum of £10bn each year.
The manifesto will aslo include plans for investment in other public services, pledges to reverse the “damaging failure of Brexit” and support for hard-up families during the cost of living crisis.
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 09:41
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Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 09:36
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Labour to make changes in UK-EU relationship
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has said Labour would seek to “make changes” in “some areas” to the UK’s relationship with the EU.
But denied that the party will start a process to reverse Brexit if it wins the election.
Ms Reeves told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We’re not going to go back into the EU, the Customs Union. Those are our red lines. So I never tend to think about Customs Union or free movement of labour.
“But I don’t believe that the deal that Boris Johnson got is the best deal that we could have got or is in our best interest.
“So there are some areas where we do want to see reform. We want a veterinary agreement to make it easier for our fantastic farming and fishing industries to export, and to reduce for all businesses some of those delays at the borders.”
Ms Reeves added: “There are areas where we are seeking to make changes because we believe it’s in our national interest to do so.”
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 09:35
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2024-sunak-starmer-reform-snp-manifesto-b2565089.html