Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the 4 July election as a chance to “turn the page” following Rishi Sunak’s shock announcement. Sir Keir gave a campaign speech in Kent and said a Labour government would be an opportunity to “end the chaos” of successive Tory governments. It comes as Conservative MP Dame Eleanor Laing announced she would step down in the latest line of Tories to announce their resignations ahead of July’s election. Tory MPs were left stunned by Sunak’s decision to fire the starting gun for the election, with members describing it as a “kamikaze move.” After the astonishing announcement on Wednesday, political parties have wasted no time in launching their campaigns this morning. Mr Sunak kicked things off touring broadcast studios before visiting all four nations in the UK in two days. He said the economy was “going gangbusters” in his first major election interview today. The prime minister gave his upbeat verdict after being challenged over his claim that the British economy is now growing faster than the US. He also confirmed Rwanda flights won’t take off before the general election.
General election 2024 live: Keir Starmer’s Labour hails chance to ‘turn the page’ as Tory MP to step down
Key takeaways from Rishi Sunak’s general election announcement
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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the 4 July election as a chance to “turn the page” following Rishi Sunak’s shock announcement.
Sir Keir gave a campaign speech in Kent and said a Labour government would be an opportunity to “end the chaos” of successive Tory governments.
It comes as Conservative MP Dame Eleanor Laing announced she would step down in the latest line of Tories to announce their resignations ahead of July’s election.
Tory MPs were left stunned by Sunak’s decision to fire the starting gun for the election, with members describing it as a “kamikaze move”.
After the astonishing announcement on Wednesday, political parties have wasted no time in launching their campaigns this morning.
Mr Sunak kicked things off touring broadcast studios before visiting all four nations in the UK in two days. He said the economy was “going gangbusters” in his first major election interview today.
The prime minister gave his upbeat verdict after being challenged over his claim that the British economy is now growing faster than the US. He also confirmed Rwanda flights won’t take off before the general election.
Key Points
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Tories use Lord Kitchener-style poster to warn voters
The Conservative party has poked fun at Labour and warned voters of the threat of Reform UK.
Mocking a version of the famous First World War “Lord Kitchener Wants You” poster, the Tories’ official social media account has shared a picture of a smiling Sir Keir Starmer pointing at voters.
The X post read: “Keir Starmer knows that the more people who vote Reform, the more seats he will win in Parliament.”
(@Conservatives/Twitter)
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:40
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Rishi Sunak arrives in Scotland for campaign launch
The prime minister has landed in the Scottish Highlands to convince Sotts to vote Conservative.
The trip is part of an election campaign tour across the country.
His next stop will be Northern Ireland for Friday.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:31
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Another Tory MP bites the dust
Conservative MP Huw Merriman has announced that he is standing down from the general election.
The MP for Bexhill and Battle sat at the Transport Select Committee for seven years.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:24
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What laws can the Conservative government pass before the general election?
The Conservatives and Labour have held talks to work out what outstanding legislation can be rushed through parliament to become law before the Commons closes for the general election, Kate Devlin reports.
Compensations for victims of the subpostmaster scandal: This is due to become law after the House of Lords finished scrutinising it on Thursday. But an 11th hour attempt by peers to exonerate more subpostmasters caught up in the scandal has been quashed amid the scramble.Ticket tout reform: Peers ended a stand-off on ticket tout reform as part of the push to sign off new laws. Victims and prisoners bill: Set to be passed on Friday, this Bill is designed to improve the support and guidance offered to victims of crime and other major incidents. This should also include compensation to victims of the infected blood scandal.Smoking ban: Rishi Sunak’s flagship anti-smoking legislation is set to be lost. Opposition MPs said they were “perplexed” that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will not be included in the wash-up after it was trumpeted by the prime minister.Martyn’s Law: Martyn’s Law is named after one of the 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017. Penny Mordaunt gave no guarantees as she told MPs: “Matters such as Martyn’s Law, which is a brilliant initiative, will be part of the wash-up process and I hope to be able to update the House in the coming day.”
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:20
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Tory chairman: Lib Dem votes to open door to Labour government
Richard Holden says voting the Liberal Democrats won’t accomplish anything except a Labour win.
The chairman of the Conservative Party said: “A vote for the Liberal Democrats cannot deliver anything apart from a Keir Starmer-led Labour Government which would increase taxes on hard-working families by £2,094, taking us back to square one.
“Sir Keir Starmer wants people to vote for the Liberal Democrats because he knows this means more seats for Labour in Parliament.
“The choice at the election is clear: stick with the plan in an increasingly uncertain world by choosing bold action for a safer, more secure and more prosperous future with Rishi Sunak, or go back to square one with Sir Keir Starmer and the same old Labour.”
(James Manning/PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:05
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Record high number of asylum claims granted
The number of people granted asylum in the UK has reached its highest level in 40 years, Holly Bancroft reports.
A record 68,564 people were granted refugee status or other types of leave to remain in the year to March – the highest number for any 12-month period since records began in 1984, Home Office figures show.
The data also reveals the department has still not cleared thousands of asylum applications from a backlog of cases awaiting a decision.
More than 100,000 people are still stuck waiting for a decision, with the LibDems describing the backlog as “sky high”.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 16:00
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John Curtice warns Sunak that Tory election victory would ‘biggest turnaround in history’
The Tories would need the biggest turnaround in the polls in British general election history to pull off a shock victory, Britain’s two leading pollsters have warned.
Professor Sir John Curtice and Lord Robert Hayward have both noted that a party has never before come from so far behind in the polls to win a general election.
The biggest bounce so far was Labour under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 which gained 10 points on Theresa May’s Conservatives but still came 55 seats behind in a hung parliament.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 15:58
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Post Office Inquiry: Paula Vennells faces tough questioning
Former Post Office boss is being quizzed about whether she sought to “minimise” compensation paid to wrongfully accused subpostmasters.
The inquiry was shown an email in which she suggests hope that the mediation scheme would pay out minimal compensation.
(Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry)
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 15:48
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Another independent candidate launches an electoral campaign
Downing Street’s favorite pet Larry the Cat is putting a paw forward to defend the Westminster constituency.
The unofficial account posted: “Time for a change.”
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 15:32
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Watch: Moment Rishi Sunak ‘scores own goal’
Sunak asks Welsh voters if they’re looking forward to Euros – but team didn’t qualify
Rishi Sunak asked Welsh brewery staff if they were looking forward to football later this summer as a potential source of revenue, despite the national team not qualifying for the Euro 2024 tournament. The prime minister met voters at the Vale of Glamorgan Brewery in Barry with Wales secretary David TC Davies and Vale of Glamorgan MP Alun Cairns. Mr Sunak, who is teetotal, discussed his party’s support for the sector during a brief campaign stop. His question about the football was met with a brief moment of silence before laughter erupted.
Salma Ouaguira23 May 2024 15:16
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2024-sunak-starmer-labour-4th-july-b2550022.html