Tories accused of 'absolutely destroying' UK's relationship with EU - live (2024)

Rishi Sunak's teacher voting Labour

Rishi Sunak's old teacher has given his former pupil a fail – and revealed he is voting Labour.

Nick MacKinnon is backing Sir Keir Starmer's party at the election to punish the PM for betraying the British people over Brexit. The Tory leader's maths teacher at £49,152-a-year Winchester College regarded Sunak as "a good boy".

But now he says of the 44-year-old PM: "I don't know how he sleeps at night after knowingly putting a slow puncture in UK PLC." The prize-winning poet also blasted Sunak's newly unveiled National Service policy as an "opportunistic punt" to garner support among pensioners.

More on the story here.

Can you vote if you're on holiday on 4 July?

Brits who may be abroad when the General Election - scheduled for July 4 - can still vote while on their summer holiday.

Those in England, Scotland and Wales can vote by post or arrange for someone else to vote for them - vote by proxy. However, Brits must apply to vote by proxy if the election or referendum is less than two weeks away and they have not made arrangements by this date - in this instance it will be from Thursday June 20.

The postal ballot will be sent to the address Brits have chosen no earlier than 16 days before the election. Citizens will need to return their ballot before 10pm on polling day.

The vote by proxy process differs for those living in Northern Ireland. If those Brits are temporarily abroad on July 4 and will not have time to receive and return the postal ballot before going abroad, they’ll need to vote by proxy. They cannot apply to have their postal vote sent outside the UK. These options for all of the UK are only suitable for those temporaily abroad on election day, for instance on holiday or a work trip. If Brits live abroad or are moving abroad, they must - in most cases - register as an overseas voter.

Rishi Sunak calls General Election for July 4 - how to vote if you're on summer holiday abroad

Tories have 'absolutely destroyed' Britain's relationship with the EU

The Tories have "absolutely destroyed" Britain's relationship with the EU, according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told BBC One Scotland's The Sunday Show of the Lib Dems' hopes of getting Britain "back into the heart" of Europe.

Speaking with host Martin Geissler, he said the Liberal Democrats are "proud Europeans" and that his party would attempt to rebuild the country's relationship with the EU and encourage free movement.

"The Conservatives have absolutely destroyed our relationship with Europe, there is no trust there right now at all.

"We had one of the hardest possible Brexits and we're still paying the price for that in terms of the goods that we buy in our supermarkets, but also the absence of the skilled workforce that we used to enjoy."

He added: "Lib Dems care passionately about removing the friction, rebuilding bridges, getting back into things like Interpol, moving forward to the free movement of people, reducing those pressures and the frictions that exist and getting us back into the heart of Europe - Lib Dems are passionate Europeans, always will be".

Mr Geissler poised to the party leader that what the Lib Dems really want is to "win over" voters in pro-EU cities in the south of England, using the idea of rejoining the EU as political leverage.

Mr Cole-Hamilton refuted his claim, stating EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen shares his values.

He said he cares "passionately about getting Britain back into the heart of Europe", stating it is necessary for Britain because "we live in a scary world".

He added that Britain is "living in the days of a new cold war". He continued: "When that happens, isolationism won't cut it. You need to build bridges with your nearest partners and Liberal Democrats, my goodness, above all parties care passionately about that and you'll be seeing more about this from us".

Childcare provision will be crucial for swing voters, research says

Support for childcare will be a key point for many swing voters, according to new research.

New analysis from think tank Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) exploring the electoral support for action on childcare – identifying key voter groups and their priorities – reveals that swing voters in England are more likely than average to rank affordable, available childcare as a top priority issue.

Swing voters are 2.3 times more likely if they are parents, and 1.3 more likely as a whole, to prioritise improving childcare availability and costs than the average voter. Over one in 10 swing voters (13 per cent) consider childcare among their top three priorities.

'I don't travel at the moment on public transport alone' - Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has revealed he does not travel on public transport alone after receiving death threats over his stance on Gaza.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, Mr Streeting, 41, said he has had to "change my movements, change my routine" over his position on Israel and the war.

"It means I don't travel at the moment on public transport alone," he said.

Victoria Atkins is quizzed on new duties for pharmacies

Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, was asked today about plans to get pharmacies to take on some new duties to help free up GPs.

"I want to expand Pharmacy First because it's good for patients walking in off the street. For the seven most basic conditions, we're going to increase the number of conditions that pharmacists can look after," Ms Atkins says.

"It's also good for pharmacists because we want to use these highly skilled professionals to the top of their licence."

Pressed that pharmacists are being given more work and less money, Ms Atkins says this "isn't correct, because we have funded Pharmacy First to the tune of £645m".

Trevor Phillips, "How are pharmacists supposed to do this when they have have had a real terms funding cut of about 16% in the last year"

Victoria Atkins, "This is part of my reforms to the NHS to make it faster, simpler and fairer"

TP, "You're giving pharmacists more work and… pic.twitter.com/IhJJkmTa3v

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) June 2, 2024

Tories have 'absolutely destroyed' Britain's relationship with the EU

The Tories have "absolutely destroyed" Britain's relationship with the EU, according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton told BBC One Scotland's The Sunday Show of the Lib Dems' hopes of getting Britain "back into the heart" of Europe.

Describing the Liberal Democrats as "proud Europeans", he says his party would attempt to rebuild the country's relationship with the EU and encourage free movement.

'I think it is fair for private schools to pay VAT' - Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper insists private schools should pay VAT.

Speaking on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, she says: "I think it is fair for private schools to pay VAT like other organisations do."

But Mr Phillips points out a number of schools have had to close, reportedly due to the likelihood of fees going up under a Labour government.

Ms Cooper adds: "We know that many of these organisations have put their own fees up quite substantially over the last few years. That's for them to deal with.

"But I think it's really important that we have a system that says, look, this is just about fairness and we're going to put that money into investing in the education and the life chances for all young people."

Yvette Cooper says there's been 'a big increase in work migration'

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says there's been "a big increase in work migration".

Speaking on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Ms Cooper said: "We think that migration should come down.

"And that's the plan that Keir is setting out in order to bring net migration down. It has trebled in the last five years under the Conservatives.

"And right at the heart of that is a big increase in work migration."

The shadow home secretary says there has been a "fundamental failure to tackle skills shortages" and to deal with problems in the labour market.

Yvette Cooper, "The whole point of the Labour party is to say the country needs to change, to work for people across the country again"

"We need to rebuild our economy, we need to rebuild our public services"

"We have to turn the page on the Conservatives chaos"

"That's… pic.twitter.com/Y4RVM54JcO

— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) June 2, 2024

'Starmer is just a slightly softer version of the Tory party'

Musician Paul Weller claimed Sir Keir Starmer is "just a slightly softer version of the Tory party".

The 66-year-old, known to fans as the Modfather, said he does not "see much difference" between the Labour leader and the Prime Minister.

Reflecting on the upcoming July 4 General Election, Weller, who grew up in Woking, Surrey, told The Big Issue: "He's just a slightly softer version of the Tory party, isn't he?

"He'd be well served to remember who built the Labour party, trade unions and communists. So, I don't see much difference between him and Sunak and all that mob. The fact that he's a Sir puts me off a little bit in the first place."

Andy Burnham blasts Rishi Sunak for using young people as 'political pawns'

Labour's Andy Burnham today blasts Rishi Sunak for using young people as 'political pawns'.

Writing exclusively in the Mirror, the Greater Manchester Mayor accused the Tories of spending "the past 14 years making life much harder for them and kicking ladders away."

It comes after Mr Sunak launched a policy blitz this week - including plans to force 18-year-olds to join the armed forces or volunteer for a year, while offering a huge tax cut bung to pensioners.

Earlier this week, Mr Sunak was confronted by a student on the campaign trail who asked: "Why do you hate young people so much?"

Andy Burnham blasts Rishi Sunak for using young people as 'political pawns'

'Sunak's national service plan will have one benefit: getting teenagers to vote'

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, is The Mirror's new columnist, giving his view on the political issues of the day every Sunday and beyond.

In his first column for the Sunday Mirror here below, Andy blasts Rishi Sunak for using young people as 'political pawns'...

Young people of Britain – your country needs you! The day is fast approaching when you will be expected to gather at a designated point in your local community.

Upon presentation of your ID at the desk, you will be issued with your papers. It will then be time for you to do your national service.

The good news is, it will be as simple as this: to put an X in the box that gives Britain a fresh start on July 4. One thing that can be said about Rishi’s national service plan is that it will at least achieve something other politicians have tried and failed to do: get our teenagers out to vote.

'Sunak's national service plan will have one benefit: getting teenagers to vote'

Conservatives want to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK

The Conservative government has pledged £1billion a year in a bid to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK.

The Tories say they would build both GP surgeries and community diagnostic centres if they were re-elected to government. The party wants to build 100 new GP surgeries and modernise another 150.

But the National Audit Office has questioned whether the Tories will be able to secure this.

Labour pledges on migration and learning

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a manifesto promise to slash levels of migration to the UK.

He said last year's net migration figure of 685,000 has "got to come down" as he vowed to "control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first".

While encroaching on traditional Tory territory, he hit out at successive Conservative governments for promising but failing to cut numbers.

Labour also restated its promise to turn the Tories' "botched" apprenticeships levy with a new growth and skills levy, allowing firms to use up to 50% of their levy contributions to fund training through routes other than apprenticeships.

Under the proposal, fronted by shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson, businesses will be given greater flexibility to invest in training courses that meet their skills needs.

David Lammy launches election campaign at his old school

David Lammy returned to his old school as he launched his election campaign in north London.

He shared a video on social media outside Harris Primary Academy, adding Labour is looking to recruit thousands of new teachers to “set children up for life”.

Fantastic to return to my old primary school, Harris Primary Academy, today to launch my Tottenham campaign.

Labour will recruit 6,500 new teachers in key subjects to set children up for life.#VoteLabour on 4th July. pic.twitter.com/I6GQJLDnxF

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 1, 2024

'Five thousands miles, one message'

Keir Starmer has shared a video celebrating the arrival of his new battle bus.

Alongside a montage on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Labour’s campaign bus is here!

“5,000 miles. One message: change with Labour.”

The word change - the party's General Election slogan - appears on the bright red bus more than 30 times.

Labour’s campaign bus is here!

5,000 miles. One message: change with Labour. pic.twitter.com/K0BjaGnzqe

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 1, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer mocks Boris Johnson as he unveils battle bus fridge

Keir Starmer mocked Boris Johnson as Labour unveiled its bright red battle bus.

In 2019 Johnson infamously hid in a fridge to avoid a TV interview in the run-up to the 2019 election. He was seen live on tv retreating inside after a Good Morning Britain reporter ambushed him to ask him to appear on the show.

A camera crew then followed the then PM as he can be seen disappearing behind stacks of milk crates and into the large fridge at the delivery depot.

Today Sir Keir said: "I'm reliably told it has got a fridge in the back of it, so check Boris Johnson isn't in there.”

Other bands to ban politicians from using - or even liking - their music

Several artists have over the years banned political parties from using their material on the campaign trail.

Earlier today it was revealed D:Ream said they would deny any request from Sir Keir Starmer to use their track Things Can Only Get Better in the General Election

In 2022, M People founder Mike Pickering said his band were "livid" when their song, Moving On Up, was used by Liz Truss at the Conservative party conference. Indie band Friendly Fires were furious in 2021 when Boris Johnson used their track Blue Cassette as walk out music.

And in 2010 The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote on social media: “David Cameron, stop saying that you like The Smiths, no you don't. I forbid you to like it."

Angela Rayner vows not to 'do a Prezza' as she gives first tour of Labour's battle bus

When John Prescott toured the country in the 2001 election campaign he famously ended up punching a voter.

On the maiden voyage of Labour’s 2024 battle bus, Angela Rayner insists this Deputy Leader won’t be whacking anyone but the Tories in debates over policy. “No, no, nobody is going to be assaulting anybody,” she says. “No punching. We want to get back to politics that is kinder. We want to get back to policy. That is what we want to debate in this election.

“We can be constructive. Stop the dirty tricks, like what the Tories did to me. Let’s put a programme of government forward and let the people decide. Do they want change with Labour or more of the same from the Tories?”

Angela Rayner vows not to 'do a Prezza' as she gives first tour of Labour's battle bus

Sunak accused of spending 'levelling up' cash on mainly Tory areas

Rishi Sunak has dismissed accusations his pledge to give several towns £20million will be targeted at predominantly Tory constituencies.

The Conservatives say local people, not those in Westminster, will decide how the money will be spent. Some of the towns proposed to be added include Tamworth, Preston, Corby, Halifax, Bognor Regis, Newtown, Flint, Perth and Newry. More than half of the towns - 17 - standing to benefit were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

Mr Sunak said: “These 30 towns come on top of the 70 towns announced - that's 100 towns across our country who are going to receive £20 million each."

Bandmates 'dismayed' when their song was played over a loudspeaker

D:Ream founding members have said they were “dismayed” when they heard their band’s song playing over a loudspeaker when Rishi Sunak called an election.

Alan Mackenzie and Peter Cunnah earlier said they would deny requests to use their track which was used by New Labour in 1997. Speaking from his recording studio at home in Donegal, Cunnah said: "The fact that it's gone back to a political thing, I find disturbing. I was thinking, can we get on with our lives? But now it's come back.

"You question, are we just some sort of protest song on a speaker down at the end of a street? It's like some very odd piece of gravity that you just can't escape."

Mr Mackenzie added: I don't think politics and music should be linked. It's happened to a lot of other bands as well in America and here because songs get sort of intrinsically linked to something, it can really affect it in a negative way.

"I mean, I'll be voting to get the Tories out, but I don't really want the song to be linked to that."

SNP accused of making 'desperate and dishonest attacks' on Labour

The leader of the SNP has been accused of “resorting to desperate and dishonest attacks” on Labour.

Ian Murray, shadow Scottish secretary and Labour MP for Edinburgh South, said: "John Swinney is resorting to increasingly desperate and dishonest attacks on Labour's plans because the SNP has no record to stand on and no ideas of its own.

"The SNP has missed its green jobs targets, slashed its green jobs funding, given up on climate leadership and turned its back on oil and gas workers - but Labour will make Scotland a clean energy superpower.”

Labour government would cause 'devastation of employment' in Scotland

Scotland’s First Minister says a Labour government would lead to the “devastation of employment” in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking at a media event in the outskirts of Aberdeen, John Swinney was asked if he was confident the SNP will win seats in the general election in July.

He said: “We've got to work very hard to win votes in any election campaign and that's why I'm here in the north east of Scotland.

“I think the Labour party has got a real problem in the north east of Scotland because their policy programme will lead to the devastation of employment in the north east of Scotland through the proposals that they are bringing forward, which will have a significant and damaging impact on employment within the oil and gas sector.

"What I want to make sure of is people understand the dangers of Labour's plans and the damage that could be done to employment.”

Lib Dem candidate says Government has 'failed to fix our crumbling hospitals'

A senior Liberal Democrat candidate has said the Government has "failed to fix our crumbling hospitals".

The party's manifesto will feature a pledge to "reverse cuts to the Public Health Grant" for local authorities in an "invest to save" bid, a spokesperson said.

Announcing the General Election pledge, Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "The Conservative Party has decimated public health funding, leaving Britain with a ticking time bomb of health challenges.

"The public health crisis in our country has Rishi Sunak's fingerprints all over it. He has slashed funding for vital local services that support children, failed to fix our crumbling hospitals and overseen a stark rise in health inequality.

"The Liberal Democrats would reverse these scandalous cuts and invest in empowering local communities and individuals to lead healthier lives. It is time to recognise that it is far cheaper to prevent ill health than to treat it."

'We're the only ones that have a plan that is working'

Rishui Sunak insists the Conservative Party has the "only plan that is working when it comes to the economy".

The Prime Minister, 44, reiterates that the Conservatives can deliver a better future - in "direct contrast" with the Labour Party.

"We're just over a week into this and what is clear is that we're the only ones that have a plan that is working when it comes to the economy. We're the only ones who are putting ideas on the table," Mr Sunak says.

Rishi Sunak faces criticism his pledge is targeting Tory constituencies

More than half of the towns - 17 - standing to benefit in Rishi Sunak's plan to "transform" the economy were represented by Tory MPs in the last parliament.

Asked about accusations that he is trying to buy votes there, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: "These 30 towns come on top of the 70 towns that have been announced - that's 100 towns across our country that are going to receive £20 million each."

He said the methodology used to select the towns had been used "multiple times before" based on "an objective set of criteria", including "levelling-up needs, looking at economic opportunities, skills, health and life expectancy".

Mr Sunak also insisted he is "going right across the country" when asked about his campaign's focus so far on seats that are being defended at the election by the Conservatives.

The Tory leader said he is the only one "that's actually got a plan" to get people back to work as he dismissed Labour's proposals.

Rishi Sunak unveils his 'battle bus' in the North East of England

Rishi Sunak is in the North East of England, where he is launching the Conservative Party campaign bus - just hours after the Labour Party did the same.

He says it is "only the Conservatives" that deliver "economic stability", pointing to lower inflation and a bounce back from COVID.

"The choice is who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future," Mr Sunak says, adding the "only certainly" with Labour is they will "run out of money".

He says this is as clear as "night follows day".

Former Tory MP Julian Knight to stand as an independent

Former Conservative MP Julian Knight has announced he will stand as an independent in the general election.

The MP for Solihull was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party in December 2022 after it emerged he was being investigated by police over a claim of serious sexual assault.

Mr Knight has always maintained his innocence and on April 2, 2023, the Metropolitan Police dropped the investigation without questioning him.

But he remained suspended from the Tory parliamentary party as the chief whip, who organises the MPs, said "further complaints" had been made against him - allegations he rejects. Now, he will stand as an independent in Solihull, which is a Tory stronghold.

After discussions with family, conservative members and constituents I have decided to run as an Independent in the forthcoming election.

— Julian Knight (@julianknight15) May 31, 2024

Labour's 'battle bus' departs west London

Labour's battle bus has departed west London with Angela Rayner aboard.

It will make its first stops in the East of England later on Saturday: the first visit on the party's 5,000-mile tour, fronted by the deputy leader.

Sir Keir Starmer says 'we're not in 1997' when asked about D:Ream's snub

Sir Keir Starmer said "we're not in 1997" when asked about a snub from the pop group behind New Labour's victory anthem Things Will Only Get Better.

D:Ream's founding members said they would deny any request from Labour to use the track in the upcoming General Election, expressing regret at letting former party leader Sir Tony Blair have permission in 1997.

At Labour's campaign bus launch in Uxbridge, Sir Keir told LBC: "Well, look, we're not in 1997. We're in 2024.

"The choice before the country is absolutely stark. We've had now 14 years of chaos and division. And if the Tories get back in there's just going to be more of the same.

"We can turn the page, we can start anew rebuild our country with Labour. And we will have a song for that moment if we're privileged enough to come in to serve."