UK general election latest: Rishi Sunak 'let down country' leaving D-Day events early, says Ed Davey, as parties make fresh pledges - BBC News
Check out our seven most important points from the debate below.
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Rewritten by Alex Binley The pasture was vast and bountiful, providing plenty of sustenance for the cows and sheep that grazed upon it. Their milk and wool were highly coveted by the local villagers, who depended on them for their livelihoods. The animals were well-cared for by the farmers who tended to them daily, ensuring that they were healthy and happy. In return, the cows and sheep provided a source of food and income that sustained the farmers and their families for generations.
The listed timings are in accordance with the time zone of the United Kingdom.
Sunak's Visit To Bishop Auckland In North East England
Live from the Conservative campaign vehicle
Rishi Sunak has recently departed from Bishop Auckland, where he had a chance to interact with volunteers working on an allotment as a part of the Big Help Out initiative. The weather was sunny during his visit.
Once it became known that he was in the vicinity, a group of people gathered, but Mr Sunak swiftly made his exit by slipping into a car.
I inquired about individuals' opinions regarding his progress in the campaign.
Regarding the choice to leave the D-Day ceremonies early, some person expressed indifference. However, the majority held the belief that it was possibly an issue with scheduling on the government's part, rather than an error in judgement on an individual level. While Mr. Sunak has not disclosed the reasoning behind the decision, he has issued an apology and admitted that it was a "mistake."
He will be wrapping up his campaigning for the day later this afternoon, after facing a challenging week.
Starmer Assures 'no Tax Surprises' In Manifesto
We have further updates from Keir Starmer who was actively canvassing with Deborah Meaden, the famous Dragons' Den personality, at a brewery.
Broadcasters inquired if the Labour manifesto would incorporate reductions in taxes and Starmer stated that there would not be any unexpected occurrences concerning tax.
The leader of the Labour party stated that their proposals have been thoroughly evaluated and covered financially. They won't require additional taxes beyond the ones determined previously.
Today, Jonathan Reynolds, who is the shadow business secretary of the party, had a conversation with BBC regarding the tax policies of the Labour party.
Similar to Starmer, Reynolds also expressed that if elected as part of a Labour government, there would be no extra charges imposed on households with regards to income tax or VAT. However, he did acknowledge that the current administration's spending strategies would be passed down, which could include an increase in taxes.
He provided an instance where the individual allocation for payment of taxes is expected to remain the same for a number of years according to the current policies. He honestly acknowledges that they are inheriting these policies but clarifies that it does not align with the untrue statements asserted by the Conservative Party.
Deborah Meaden Partners With Starmer On London Campaign
Today, Keir Starmer is going around North London to campaign with the popular entrepreneur from Dragons' Den, Deborah Meaden.
According to the Labour leader, he aims to create equal opportunities between online businesses and those that have a physical presence.
Today, he is giving special attention to small businesses and outlining his proposals to improve the business rates system, which is a tax on commercial properties. Additionally, he believes that creating a publicly-owned enterprise called Great British Energy would reduce the bills for small businesses.
According to Meaden's statement to the PA news agency, she believes GB Energy is exceptional and fulfills all her priorities.
SNP Leader Claims Sunak's Credibility Ruined Over D-Day Dispute
There is further news regarding the dispute surrounding Sunak departing the D-Day ceremonies ahead of schedule. SNP leader John Swinney has expressed his belief that the prime minister's reliability has been "utterly ruined".
During his campaign in Livingston, West Lothian, Swinney spoke to reporters and criticized the prime minister for neglecting their international duties. He also claimed that the election campaign for the Tories is completely falling apart and not going well.
Don't forget: Sunak participated in the D-Day events both in the UK and in Normandy, but he departed France prior to the international leaders' event. This resulted in many people expressing their disapproval, and Sunak promptly expressed remorse, admitting that "in hindsight, that was a misstep".
Here is a compilation of individuals running for public office in the district of Livingstone.
Davey Of Lib Dems Disappointed With PM's D-Day Actions
We have more updates from Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats. He expressed his surprise and disappointment on how Rishi Sunak chose to leave events to commemorate the D-Day in Normandy ahead of schedule. Davey shared that he was taken aback and felt a bit angry about the situation.
He characterizes the PM's behaviors as a "disappointment for the entire nation."
Davey repeated his political party's demand that the funds given to the Conservative Party by Frank Hester, who was charged with making discriminatory remarks against Labour's Diane Abbott, should be directed towards a charitable organization for veterans.
Just to refresh your memory, news came out earlier this week that the Conservative Party received a total of £5 million from Hester back in January – way before his controversial remarks about Abbott became public knowledge. And to add to that, the party also accepted an additional £150,000 from him later on.
Reportedly in 2019, Hester made a statement claiming that Diane Abbott, a longtime member of parliament, caused him to "desire to despise all women of color" and suggested that she should be targeted by gunfire.
Hester expressed regret for his impolite observations about Ms Abbott, but clarified that his statements were not related to her gender or skin tone.
Davey suggests that the Conservative Party ought to donate £5 million of the given amount to a charity that benefits veterans. By doing so, he believes that individuals may be able to establish a limit or boundary to their perceptions.
"It is truly disappointing for our entire nation, our past, and specifically our courageous soldiers. I strongly believe that additional actions should be taken.”
Earlier this week, a representative from the Conservative party remarked that Hester had offered an apology and demonstrated remorse, and as a result, they believe the issue is now settled.
Potholes: Concern Of Lib Dem Chief
Now we're back in Newbury, and Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has been chatting with journalists after finishing up a game of tennis. One question that came up was regarding the promise by the Conservative party to roll back the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) in London, which we touched on previously in our reporting.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats replied, stating that the Conservatives have had a whole year to enact this policy since it was introduced by the Labour mayor, yet they have not done so. It is interesting that they suddenly propose such policies during an election.
According to him, many individuals with whom he conversed who commute to London from places like Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, and Kent are pretty irritated because they didn't receive any assistance with a program to scrap their vehicles.
"What about the pits on the road?" he further adds.
I find it hard to believe the Tories when it comes to their competence in handling potholes and road construction, based on their previous actions.
Will Labour Really Cost Working Households £2,000 As Claimed By The Conservatives?
In the recent debate, Penny Mordaunt from the Conservative Party reiterated their controversial statement that the Labour Party would result in working households losing £2,000. Mark Harper, a senior Conservative member, held up the statement when interviewed on BBC Breakfast on Saturday. However, Jonathan Reynolds from the Labour Party dismissed it as "falsehoods".
The Conservative Party made a statement that the BBC investigated and discovered to be untrue. The Conservative Party's claim suggested that taxes would increase by £2,000, but the BBC found the figure misleading because it includes an additional £500 per year for four years, which is not what one would typically associate with a statement about tax increases.
The statistics regulator has received criticism for this.
The Conservatives have calculated an amount of £2,000, which they believe represents the cost of Labour's proposed expenditures for every household with at least one employed individual. They arrived at this figure by totaling the expected expenses and splitting the result by the number of households in the UK with at least one working person.
However, their financial assessment relies on uncertain presumptions and Labour disagrees with it. Similar to the Conservative party, Labour vows to abstain from raising income tax, National Insurance, or VAT in the upcoming term of Parliament.
The leader of the government stood up for the Conservatives' argument by affirming that the calculations of the Labour Party proposals were performed by Treasury experts. Nevertheless, a correspondence originating from the highest-ranking civil employee at the Treasury refuted this statement, objecting that it could not be considered as an official Civil Service product.
Further information can be found at this link.
Davey Takes Action For National Park Announcement
I am live from the Liberal Democrat campaign bus. We are traveling around the country, spreading our message for the upcoming election. The bus is decorated with bright colors and slogans that represent our party's values. Inside, there is a buzz of excitement as volunteers and candidates discuss ways to engage voters. The aim of our campaign is to encourage people to vote for a brighter future. We believe that by prioritizing issues such as climate change, healthcare, and education, we can create a better society for all. Our party is committed to working towards achieving these goals. As we make our way through different towns and cities, we are met with both support and opposition. However, we remain determined to carry on and make our case to as many people as possible. The election is rapidly approaching, and there is still much work to be done. However, we are confident that our message will resonate with voters and show that the Liberal Democrats are the right choice for a fairer and more inclusive society.
We've made it to Newbury, where Ed Davey and the Liberal Democrat candidate for the area, Lee Dillon, are preparing to play some tennis before their big announcements later on.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats has been having a great time during the campaign and today is his first public appearance.
Before the release of the party's manifesto on Monday, he is set to discuss national parks (as mentioned in the previous post).
Here is a complete rundown of all the individuals competing for the position in Newbury.
"Lib Dems Vow 3+ New National Parks"
Now, we will examine the main promise made by the Liberal Democrats today - their proposal to establish a minimum of three additional national parks in case they emerge victorious in the election.
The party is anticipated to add this proposal to their manifesto, which will result in an increase of national parks to a total of 13 in England. Additionally, the party plans to allocate an additional £50 million per year towards the maintenance and development of both the new and preexisting parks.
There are several potential areas for the new parks, such as the Chilterns, the Surrey Hills, and the Northumberland coastline.
The political group has also expressed disapproval towards the Conservative Party for not keeping their promise from their 2019 document to establish fresh national parks.
PM's Silence Today: Reasons And Implications
I'm coming to you live from the Conservative campaign vehicle on the way to the polls.
Today, Rishi Sunak is on a campaign trail in the North East, presumably to focus on his plans as a potential prime minister rather than discussing D-Day extensively.
However, we have been informed that he will not be communicating with us, the media of the whole country, and no discussion will take place. An optional informal gathering, where journalists can ask the PM some questions off the record, has been called off. The reason given to us is that there are time limitations.
If you were curious, Sunak does not use his party's campaign bus for traveling. Additionally, the special section reserved for important guests at the rear of the bus has been unoccupied by Conservative nominees for the past 48 hours.
The Conservative party is currently highlighting their plans to maintain the reductions in stamp duty for less expensive property purchases. Additionally, they are proposing to make London Mayor Sadiq Khan discard his ULEZ initiative, which obliges individuals with older, more polluting vehicles to pay for driving in the city. Their message of supporting drivers proved to be an effective strategy for the Tories in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election last year, which was previously held by Boris Johnson.
"Why Isn't Unite Endorsing Manifesto?" Asked Reynolds
Continuing with Jonathan Reynolds from the Labour Party, he was questioned about the recent BBC report indicating that the Labour Party's primary supporter, Unite, has declined to support the party's manifesto for the general election.
He announces that the party has finalized its manifesto and is scheduled to be introduced next week. He mentions that it promotes the interests of businesses and workers, and aims to enhance the business and investment environment.
"If there are any differences in policy among the unions, it is up to them to resolve it," he explains.
Reynolds is questioned about a report indicating that Unite believes the manifesto falls short in safeguarding the rights of workers and employment opportunities within the oil and gas sector.
According to him, the Labour party is presenting a complete program on the rights of employees that would offer increased security in their professional environment.
Regarding the choice to not provide more licenses for oil and gas initiatives in the North Sea, the speaker expressed that we must understand that regardless of what happens with those licenses, the North Sea is declining. It's essential to ensure we make the necessary changes during the transition period.
He is also asked about Unite's supposed donation of £3 million to the Labour party during the 2019 general election. The questioner inquires if there have been any promises made for the upcoming election. Reynolds responds by explaining that he doesn't handle those matters, and clarifies that their policies are not influenced by any specific donations or income sources.
Reynolds: Labour To Inherit Tory Tax Hikes
Earlier on BBC Breakfast, the Conservatives provided their standpoint. However, now we have the latest updates from the show's conversation with Jonathan Reynolds from Labour.
According to him, the Tories have spread "falsehoods" and made "deceptive" remarks regarding his party's taxation proposals.
During a discussion with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned that if Labour were in power, taxes would increase by £2,000 for each household that is employed.
In easier language: Reynolds promised that if the Labour government came to power, they would not make households pay more taxes like income tax or VAT. However, he mentioned that they would have to follow the government's spending plans which includes increasing some taxes.
He provided an instance of the individual allowance for income tax, which according to the plans in place, will be kept at the same level for multiple years. He also honestly acknowledged that they are conforming to these plans, but refutes the unfounded allegations made by the Conservative Party.
According to him, the Labour Party has plans for "measures that generate income". However, he did not categorize them as taxes that would affect households. As an instance, he cited an idea to modify the way private equity executives and non-domiciled individuals are taxed on their earnings.
Harper Refutes Tory Accusations On Labour's Tax Plan Accuracy
We have received further updates from Mark Harper who answered various inquiries during his appearance on BBC Breakfast.
He was questioned about whether the Conservative Party will uphold their statements about the tax proposals of the Labour Party amidst the considerable disapproval of their methods of conveying the information.
According to the UK statistics regulation body, it is not possible for the audience of the leaders' debate on Tuesday night to figure out that the amount mentioned by Sunak, which claims that the Labour party would increase taxes up to £2,000 per working household, is the total sum for four years.
The assertion made by the Prime Minister that non-partisan Treasury officials were responsible for analyzing the expenses associated with Labour's plans was challenged after a high-ranking government employee stated that they were not involved in determining the amount.
According to Harper, his political party plans to persistently assert that Labour Party's policies would lead to an additional tax burden of £2,000 for working households. He argues that evidence laid out in a specific document unequivocally shows that this projection applies to the average family for the duration of a five-year parliamentary term.
He explains that the expenses are either estimates generated by the Treasury or, in a few occurrences, they are computations crafted by the Labour Party. He emphasizes that they used logical presumptions instead of improbable ones.
When asked about the statement made by Nick Davies, the programme director at the Institute for Government, who claimed that the figure was "misleading" when backed by his team's research, Harper disagreed.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, expressed that the number was completely untrue. During the discussion last night, his deputy, Angela Rayner, stated that it was a falsehood.
Harper: Sunak's Early Exit From D-Day A 'Mistake'
Recently, we received information from Mark Harper, who is a prominent member of the Conservative party, during his appearance on BBC Breakfast.
When questioned about Rishi Sunak's choice to depart from D-Day festivities prematurely on Thursday, the transportation secretary voices his concurrence with the PM's remark that it was an "error" and emphasizes that Sunak has expressed remorse about the incident.
Harper mentions that Sunak participated in various affairs within the United Kingdom and was present at the British functions held in Normandy.
When questioned if he would side with another important member of the Conservative party, Penny Mordaunt, who labeled the choice as "utterly incorrect", Harper responded by saying: "It was an error. Everyone makes mistakes. The Prime Minister made a mistake and has taken responsibility for it by apologizing."
7 Lessons From BBC's Multi-party Election Debate
The BBC's election debate from last night is the main topic in today's political news. In case you skipped the 90-minute debate on Friday, here are the important points to remember.
Mordaunt adds her voice to the criticism against Sunak regarding D-Day. 2. Trump rallies supporters in North Carolina Trump gathers his supporters in North Carolina for a rally. 3. Johnson condemns Belarus over opposition crackdown Johnson denounces Belarus regarding their crackdown on opposition. 4. Biden unveils economic plan Biden reveals his economic strategy. 5. Record-breaking heatwave hits California California experiences an unprecedented heatwave. 6. US and China continue trade talks The US and China maintain ongoing negotiations on trade. 7. Canadian government announces new COVID-19 support measures The Canadian government declares new measures of assistance for COVID-19. 8. WHO warns of resurgence of COVID-19 in Europe The World Health Organization cautions about a new outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe. 9. Facebook bans QAnon accounts Facebook prohibits QAnon accounts. 10. UK government launches campaign to tackle obesity The UK government initiates a mission to address obesity.
Opposing groups criticized Rishi Sunak's choice to depart from D-Day activities prematurely on Thursday. The Prime Minister has expressed regret; however, the Commons Leader, who represented the Conservative Party during the discussion, Penny Mordaunt, shared her view, labeling the Prime Minister's actions as "totally mistaken".
. 2. Mordaunt and Rayner had a strong argument.
The arbitrary selection process resulted in the Tories and Labour officials being positioned next to each other, causing many of the other participants to observe as they argued during the discussion. However, they did eventually make amends by shaking hands and sharing a jovial moment towards the end.
Flynn criticizes the reduction of public service funding In this statement, "lands blows on" is a figure of speech that suggests a forceful criticism of the government's decisions. To convey the same idea in simpler language, we can use "criticizes" instead. Additionally, "public service cuts" can be rephrased as "reduction of public service funding" to make it clearer what aspect of the government's actions is being criticized.
During his address, Stephen Flynn, leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster, received favorable reactions from the crowd and was met with abundant applause. His remarks on tuition fees in Scotland being nonexistent and his advocacy for immigration as a crucial aspect for public services and enterprises gained particular appreciation. However, Flynn neglected to touch upon discussions regarding Scottish independence.
Plaid, the Greens and the SNP are the most critical of Farage.
Mordaunt didn't pay much attention to Nigel Farage and didn't seem eager to directly criticize him. However, she did not ignore the smaller political groups. The leader of the Reform UK party argued that immigration was a "one versus six" issue and believed that the UK was experiencing a "population crisis."
The Liberal Democrats are reminded of unpleasant experiences when it comes to tuition fees. 4. Property ownership gap widens in the UK In the United Kingdom, the disparity in property ownership is becoming even greater.
Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has accepted that her party's choice to increase tuition fees during their coalition with the Conservatives in 2010 remains a sensitive issue. The decision was a challenging one for the party.
in the Brexit debate. The NHS was a topic that created a lot of tension and disagreement during the Brexit discussions. 7. The politician made a sweeping statement about immigration. The politician uttered a broad and general statement about immigration. 8. The corporation was caught in a scandal. The company was embroiled in a controversy. 9. The charity received a windfall from a generous donor. The charity was gifted a large sum of money by a generous benefactor. 10. The professor's research garnered international acclaim. The professor's studies gained worldwide recognition.
Some people have compared the NHS to a national religion, but Farage thinks that the UK should look to the French system as an example. He thinks that the current NHS model is not effective. However, the SNP's Flynn thinks that Farage wants to privatize the NHS, whereas the Lib Dems' Cooper believes that it's not about the model itself, but the amount of money that is put into it.
Minor political groups are expecting for the Labour party to triumph.
During the last 30 seconds of their statements, Labour and Conservatives made disapproving comments towards one another. However, three out of the remaining five politicians presumed that Labour will emerge victorious in the election.
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BBC's Huge Debate: Electioncast
What's Trending On Headlines?
For the second consecutive day, the newspapers are mostly focused on the aftermath of Rishi Sunak's choice to depart from the D-Day ceremonies early.
It's important to note that Sunak received a lot of negative feedback, including from his own political party, for departing from an event that was meant to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. He has since expressed regret for his actions.
The FT Weekend has reported that a member of the Conservative Party has referred to the current situation as a "present for Farage". Other papers such as the Guardian and the Mirror have also highlighted the frustration within the Tory party regarding the matter.
The i weekend reported that the Tories are feeling hopeless due to a mistake made by Sunak on D-Day which has allegedly ruined their chances of winning the election.
During the BBC debate last night, Sunak was criticized for leaving the event early. The Times reported that Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader, spoke out against the PM's decision, stating that it was "totally incorrect".
The Telegraph reports on the Conservatives' proposal to eliminate stamp duty for first-time buyers who purchase properties valued up to £425,000. Meanwhile, the Mail adopts a unique approach by neglecting to highlight the election on its front page and instead spotlighting the ongoing efforts to locate missing TV host Michael Mosley.
You can access the complete paper review by clicking on the provided link.
Labour's Goal: Aid For Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses
The Labour party will be present in various places, presenting their ideas to support entrepreneurs and small companies.
The statement declares that if they are victorious in the election, they will revamp the business rates system to benefit local shops and also enact stricter measures to prevent delayed invoice payments.
This is a continuation of the party's previously disclosed plans in November.
According to the Liberal Democrats, they would consider restructuring the business rates scheme as well.
You can find the complete article about the recent policy declaration by the Labour party in this section.
Tories' Plan For Stamp Duty
As mentioned earlier, the Conservative Party is anticipated to discuss their proposal of permanently eliminating stamp duty for individuals purchasing a home for the first time and valued up to £425,000, should they win the election.
This policy will affect real estate in both England and Northern Ireland.
The First Time Buyers' Relief has a nil-rate threshold of up to £425,000, which is expected to come to an end by the end of March next year.
For further information regarding the proposals, you can find additional details at this location.
It is anticipated that they will also reveal their intention to implement a fresh regulation that would prohibit the implementation of pay-per-mile road taxes and retract the enlargement of the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London in the event of their victory.
"Welcome To A New Day!"
Greetings and a warm welcome to our live election coverage on this fantastic day to begin your weekend.
Yesterday evening, individuals from the largest seven political parties presented their arguments in a BBC election discussion.
Today, while on the election campaign route, it is anticipated that the Conservative Party will unveil a policy of doing away with stamp duty entirely for individuals purchasing residences for the first time that value up to £425,000 in England and Northern Ireland.
In the meantime, the Labour Party has committed to eliminating business rates and taking strong measures against delayed payments to small businesses. The specific alternative to business rates proposed by Labour is currently unknown.
The campaign trail is set to receive visits from the Liberal Democrats and the SNP as well.
Stick around as we bring you up to speed on what happened last night and preview the upcoming campaign events.
