Election latest: PM 'disappointed' by aide's bet on election date - as Labour launch 'change' manifesto (2024)

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Sir Keir Starmer said he "rejects the argument" tax rises are required to rebuild public services - as he insisted there will be "no return to austerity" under a Labour government.

The Number 10 hopeful told Sky's political editor Beth Rigby that he will "properly fund" the UK's creaking infrastructure - despite very few giveaways in his manifesto.

The Labour leader has ruled out raising income tax, national insurance and VAT in the policy document - prompting the Institute for Fiscal Studies to warn his flagship promise to deliver "genuine change" is in jeopardy.

It was put to Sir Keir that, given he does not want to raise taxes, he does not have enough money to rebuild public services after years of cuts.

But he said: "I reject that argument. I reject this suggestion that is out there - that all we can hope for with our economy is that we flatline, forever.

"I understand after 14 years why people don't necessarily believe that we can grow our economy. I do think we can grow our economy. We've got serious plans in here."

Sir Keir pointed to his pledges to overhaul planning laws to build housing and infrastructure more quickly, establish a publicly owned clean energy company and set up a National Wealth Fund to invest in industry.

Read more here:

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the Conservative and Labour manifestos offer a "clear choice" between tax cuts and tax rises.

He says the Labour plan, unveiled today, "made clear that taxes are going to rise".

In contrast, he says the Conservatives would cut taxes for people "at every stage of their life" should they win the next election.

"Multiple independent sources demonstrate that the tax burden under Labour will rise to the highest levels in history," he says.

In their manifesto, Labour have ruled out income tax, national insurance and VAT rises.

But the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has once again accused Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats of participating in a "conspiracy of silence" over the financial difficulties facing the next government (see post at 15.18pm).

Rishi Sunak was speaking from the G7 summit in Italy, where he has announced new Russia sanctions and set out details of a £240m aid package that will be provided to Ukraine. It is part of the £2.5bn aid package announced by the PM on a trip to Kyiv in Ukraine earlier this year.

You can take a look our summary of the party manifestos unveiled so far here:

Rishi Sunak has said allegations over his close parliamentary aide Craig Williams placing a bet on a July election date are "very disappointing".

Mr Williams placed a £100 bet on a July election just days before Mr Sunak named the date as 4 July, The Guardian first reported.

He has apologised for placing the bet, but refused to say whether he did so on the basis of insider information.

The prime minister would not be drawn on questions about whether Mr Williams knew he was calling an election in July when he made his bet, saying it "wouldn't be appropriate to comment" while there is an ongoing confidential, independent inquiry.

Mr Williams served as Mr Sunak's parliamentary private secretary, his eyes and ears in the House of Commons, and is standing again as an MP in next month's election.

You can read more here:

The leader of the Lib Dems is taking the assault course that is an election campaign literally today as he once again found himself on an adrenaline-fuelled adventure.

Three weeks of campaigning have seen Sir Ed Davey take a splash at an aqua park, join Sky correspondent Matthew Thompson on a waterslide in Frome and ride rollercoasters at Thorpe Park - to name just a few.

Today he found himself on an assault course near Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

And he appears to have impressed the owner, Peter, who told him he was "quite fast".

Sir Ed's message was focused on getting young carers educational support, but he also commented on an investigation into a close aide of Rishi Sunak who has admitted placing a bet on when the election would be held (see post at 10.05am).

If he knew the outcome, placing a bet on it would have been "morally questionable", he said.

Sir Keir Starmer says Labour's newly unveiled manifesto rejects "fundamentally the proposal that Britain can't do better".

"Britain can do better. Britain will do better," he says.

He is speaking in Cheshire, hours after Labour launched its election manifesto.

Should Labour win the election, he says they will "take the country forward", and that will be felt "in every community across the country".

He says work to "secure and stabilise our economy" will "start on day one of a Labour government".

He goes on to outline Labour's key manifesto pledges.

You can read all the key points from Labour's manifestohere, and follow live reaction and analysis here in the Politics Hub.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has once again accused Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats of participating in a "conspiracy of silence" over the difficulties facing the next government.

Director Paul Johnson said the fiscal challenges are "perfectly clear" and whoever forms the next government won't get away with a "shock and horror" routine once they get into power.

He made the comments in his initial analysis of Labour's manifesto.

He said Labour's "big promises" on the NHS will require "big spending", which leaves them with a "problem".

Given the £17.5bn of borrowing over the next five years to fund a green prosperity plan, there is "literally no room" for more spending than that already planned by the current Sunak government.

That includes cuts to investment spending and unprotected departments like transport and justice - something Sir Keir Starmer has "effectively ruled out".

While the economic growth Labour is promising would make things easier, if it doesn't transpire then there will have to be cuts or tax rises.

Another think tank, the Resolution Foundation, has also suggested the party would have to raise taxes more than they've said.

Mr Johnson characterised the public service spending increases and tax rises - like VAT on private schools - promised in the manifesto as "trivial".

To see a full breakdown of Labour's key manifesto pledges, check out our pinned post at the top of this page - or watch Ed Conway's breakdown:

At the halfway point of the general election campaign, the bad news for the man who triggered it just keeps on coming.

Polling from YouGov reveals 72% of Britons have an unfavourable view of Rishi Sunak - the highest level of disapproval recorded by the pollster since he became PM.

After a slight boost in his approval rating after calling the election, just 21% of Britons have a favourable view of Mr Sunak, giving him a net approval rating of -51.

Voters are also not happy with the Conservative Party overall -70% have a negative view, compared to just 21% with a positive view.

Starmer on the up - but most still don't like him

Meanwhile, the number of Britons with a positive view of the Labour leader has hit the highest level since late 2022, with 39% feeling favourably towards Sir Keir Starmer.

That said, 51% of people still have an unfavourable view, meaning his net score sits in the negative still, at -12.

The Labour Party overall very much divides opinion, with 44% having a positive view, and 47% holding a negative one.

How are the smaller parties faring?

The popularity of the Lib Dems has increased slightly since the election was called, now at 37% (up 4% since mid-May), with 47% having a negative view (no change).

It is the best score for the Lib Dems this parliament.

The Greens are also doing better - and are the only party of whom there is a net positive view: 41% have a favourable opinion towards them and 40% an unfavourable one.

And Reform has also seen its favourability increase - albeit from a very low base.

In mid-May, 20% of Britons had a favourable view of the party, and that figure has risen to 27%.

But a majority - 56% - have a negative view of the party, which has increased from 48% before the election.

After years of questions over exactly what Labour would do if in government, the party has now unveiled its manifesto, including its tax and spend plans.

Our economics and data editor Ed Conwayhas provisionally crunched the numbers to work out:

• How much Labour will raise in tax versus how much it will spend (spoiler: it's cautious);
• How those plans compare to the other main parties;
• How they compare to Labour's manifesto proposals in 2019 and 2017;
• The effect on the tax burden over the next five years.

Watch Ed's full analysis below:

By Tomos Evans, Wales reporter

It was all about Wales getting its "fair share" of funding.

That was the main call from Plaid Cymru as it launched its manifesto in Cardiff.

Dozens of party faithful gathered inside the Welsh capital's Temple of Peace.

After some initial technical difficulties with the translation facilities, the message was clear.

In Plaid Cymru's view, "the Tories are finished" - but they want to hold the next UK government to account.

Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth and three of the party's candidates were greeted with a standing ovation as they entered the room.

Keira Marshall, the party's candidate in Cardiff West, opened proceedings, telling those gathered it was "high time Farage was put in his place", prompting chuckles from the audience.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd candidate Liz Saville Roberts received applause for a call to show Sir Keir Starmer that "there's no such thing as a safe seat".

Party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth challenged the next UK government to show they were "serious about Wales and resolve the long-standing fair-funding issues".

Mr ap Iorwerth's parting shot was to urge supporters not to give the next government a "free pass" - a message which was well-received by the audience in the room, who again gave their leader a standing ovation.

The challenge now for Plaid will be to get its message to voters across Wales.

Unite, Labour's biggest trade union backer, has released a statement following the publication of the party's manifesto - and it is hardly a ringing endorsem*nt.

Sharon Graham, the union's general secretary, said Unite "wants a change in government" and "workers need Labour to win".

But with public services having been "driven into the ground", and plans to cut back on fossil fuels, there needs to be "more money" spent to ensure the country bounces back from "years of Tory neglect".

"Whilst we all want growth and Labour's proposed changes may move the dial somewhat - that alone is not likely to be enough," she added.

She called on Labour to "listen to workers and communities", and be "bold".

Unite did not endorse Labour's manifesto when it was formally agreed at a crunch meeting of the party's leadership last Friday.

The union said while it did push through changes in some areas, Labour crossed their red lines of revision to workers' rights plans and its pledge to stop new oil and has exploration without, it claims, a real plan to replace those jobs.