Moment Keir Starmer heckled by climate protester as he sets out Labour manifesto
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Senior Conservative and Labour figures will be grilled on their parties’ respective plans for government tonight in the second seven-way live TV debate ahead of the general election.
Penny Mordaunt, the Tory former Commons leader, and Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, and Nigel Farage are among those taking part in the clash on ITV which starts at 8.30pm.
The debate, which also includes senior figures from the Liberal Democrats, SNP, Reform and the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, takes place after the Tories hit their joint lowest standing in a weekly tracker poll.
Mr Farage’s Reform has taken its biggest share of the vote yet as the row over Rishi Sunak’s D-Day gaffe appeared to take effect.
Earlier, the Labour Party launched its manifesto. Leader Sir Keir Starmer vowed to focus on economic growth and “stability” as he outlined plans to raise £8bn including through VAT on private school fees, closing loopholes, and a windfall tax on oil and gas giants – to fund more NHS appointments and other priorities.
He warned voters that “challenges don’t disappear overnight” and presented the manifesto as not a quick fix but a “long-term plan” for change.
1718304064Leaders and senior figures to take part in seven-way debateLeaders and senior figures from the UK’s main political parties are taking part in the second seven-way debate tonight ahead of the general election.
Penny Mordaunt, the Tory former Commons leader and Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader are among those taking part in the clash on ITV.
Below is a full schedule of all the remaining debates to take place.
Matt Mathers13 June 2024 19:41
1718303418Comment | ‘Starmer sceptics’ are propelling him to victoryAt the election’s halfway point, the party’s seemingly unassailable 20-point lead over the Tories is down to an unlikely cohort of voters – those unhappy with the man they will make prime minister, writes pollster Keiran Pedley.
“All voting coalitions contain diverse groups of people, especially when they include more than 40 per cent of voters. An interesting dynamic with Labour’s is that just under a third (31 per cent) of those currently saying they will vote Labour in a few weeks’ time tell us they are dissatisfied with the job Keir Starmer is doing as leader. Meaning they will vote Labour despite not being happy with the man they will make prime minister.”
So, who is this group and what issues do they care about? Looking at Ipsos data going back to the start of the year can shed some light, Pedley explains.
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 19:30
1718301618Starmer given 100 days by trade unions to make good on promisesKeir Starmer will have just 100 days to make good on his promises to Britain’s workers, TUC president Matt Wrack has said.
The Fire Brigade Union (FBU) general secretary sad he and other union leaders will hold Starmer’s “feet to the fire” over the commitments in his manifesto, David Maddox reports.
In a statement, Mr Wrack said: “The Fire Brigades Union has fought hard for this manifesto to deliver for firefighters, by committing to national standards for the fire and rescue service and defending collective bargaining in our sector.
“For fourteen years, workers have faced constant attacks on their pay, pensions and public services under Conservative rule.
“Labour’s commitment to strengthening workers’ rights has the potential to improve the lives of millions. Reversing recent draconian anti-trade union laws will be a vital first step in undoing the damage of the last decade.
“It will be our duty to ensure that a new Labour government makes good on these promises within the first 100 days of taking power. We will hold Labour’s feet to the fire.”
Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 19:00
1718300439Sunak’s Tories hit Truss level of all time low support as Farage’s Reform closes the gapThe Tories have hit their joint lowest standing in the weekly tracker poll as Nigel Farage’s Reform takes its biggest share yet as the aftermath of Rishi Sunak’s D-Day gaffe takes effect.
The prime minister apologised for skipping part of the commemorations to do an election interview for ITV last week but the first weekly tracker poll taken by Techne UK after the fiasco reveals the depth of public anger.
Full report:
Matt Mathers13 June 2024 18:40
1718299818Labour’s new tax and spend plansLabour has outlined its tax plans to fund its election pledges. While the Tories claim they would need to raise £38.5billion to meet their commitments, Labour says it needs an extra £7.35billion out of the £8.6billion it plans to raise, David Maddox reports.
On page 127 of the manifesto, Labour provides a menu on how it will fund its promises including 6,500 more maths teaches and bringing down NHS waiting lists.
The menu includes £7.35billion of new revenues. These include £5.23billion closing non-dom loopholes and tackling tax avoidance, £1.51billion adding VAT to private school fees, £565million closing the carried interest rate loophole and £40million increasing stamp duty for non-UK residents buying properties in the UK.
Added to that is a £1.2billion windfall tax on energy companies bringing the new taxes up to £8.6billion.
(AP)Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 18:30
1718299228General election 2024: What are Labour and the Conservatives’s plans to tackle the housing crisis?Labour and the Conservatives have now unveiled their plans for government and both have put home building at the heart of their plans to tackle the housing crisis.
While Sir Keir Starmer has emphasised the need for more affordable social homes and ending homelessness, Rishi Sunak has pledged a new Help to Buy scheme and new criteria for who gets to live in council housing.
Full report:
Matt Mathers13 June 2024 18:20
1718298918Farage claims Reform candidate’s Hitler comments were just ‘pub speak’Salma Ouaguira13 June 2024 18:15
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