Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister Credit: Henry Nicholls /AFP Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will kick off their general election campaigns today, six weeks before the country goes to the polls on July 4.
The Prime Minister will tour broadcast studios early this morning before embarking on a two-day whistlestop trip taking in all four nations of the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, will head to the south east England in a sign he wants to make inroads in Tory areas.
In London, Reform UK’s leader Richard Tice will stage a press conference setting out his party’s plans.
The party’s most high-profile figure, honorary president Nigel Farage, said he was thinking about whether to return to frontline politics by standing in the July 4 election.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is expected to visit one of his party’s target seats as he launches a campaign expected to focus on ousting Conservative MPs from Tory strongholds.
You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here.
Live Reporting Related Stories 23 May 2024 • 7:19am
7:18AM
Sunak says he chose July 4 because ‘economic stability has been restored’ Rishi Sunak is starting his day by answering questions on GB News.
Asked why he had chosen to hold the election on July 4, the Prime Minister said that “economic stability is now returning to the country” and it was “clear that we have turned a corner”.
Speaking in Derby, he said: “So now is the moment to look to the future and the world is clearly in a more uncertain place than it has been in decades and the question for the country is, the choice at this election is, who has got the boldest ideas, the clearest plan to provide a secure future for you and your family.
“That is the choice at this election, now that the economic stability has been restored we can turn to that question and that is the conversation I look forward to having.”
7:14AM
Lib Dem manifesto not ready yet The Liberal Democrats’ manifesto is “very advanced” but not yet ready, the party’s deputy leader has said.
Daisy Cooper told LBC: “Our ideas are fairly advanced but, as you won’t be surprised to hear, given the announcement yesterday was a bit of a surprise, there’s a little bit of work to do to cross the Ts and dot the Is.”
She also said her party would be “focusing our resources” on areas “where we’re in the best position” to beat Tory MPs.
“There are 80 seats around the country where Liberal Democrats are in second place to the Conservatives, and it’s in those areas where in order to beat the Conservative MP, people need to vote for the Liberal Democrats,” she said.
7:11AM
Lib Dems categorically rule out election pact with any other party The Liberal Democrats have categorically ruled out making any general election deals with any of the other political parties.
Daisy Cooper, the party’s deputy leader, said there would “absolutely not” be any pacts during the campaign which begins in earnest today.
However, she swerved questions about whether the Lib Dems would be open to forming a government with Labour afterwards.
Ms Cooper told LBC: “There have never been any pacts and there won’t be any pacts because we don’t need any pacts.”
On whether the Lib Dems would hold government-forming talks with Labour if it comes short of a majority, she said: “I’m not going to think about anything that happens after 10pm on polling day.
“We are completely focused on winning as many votes as possible and beating Conservative MPs right now.”
7:10AM
Sunak and Starmer to kick off general election campaigns The leaders of the UK’s political parties will kick off their general election campaigns in earnest today after Rishi Sunak triggered the national contest on July 4.
Mr Sunak will do a mini broadcast round before embarking on a two-day whistlestop tour of all four UK nations.
Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, will head to the south east England in a sign he wants to make inroads in Tory areas.
Richard Tice, the Reform UK leader, will hold a press conference in London setting out his party’s plans while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is expected to visit one of his party’s target seats.
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