would only civil service that you" would only expect on a day that an election is called" and also reports that home office ministers' diaries are being cleared. you won't be able to see this, but there are about 115 journalists here, or waiting expecta ntly. journalists here, or waiting expectantly. we don't yet know whether an announcement will be made, but that speculation has been growing all day and has reached a pitch this afternoon. i am joined now by our political editor chris mason. ~ ., ., now by our political editor chris mason. ~ . ., ~ ., now by our political editor chris mason. ~ ., ., ~ ., mason. what do we know? it looks likel that mason. what do we know? it looks likely that we _ mason. what do we know? it looks likely that we are _ mason. what do we know? it looks likely that we are going _ mason. what do we know? it looks likely that we are going to - mason. what do we know? it looks likely that we are going to hear- likely that we are going to hear from the prime minister soon and he will tell us that parliament will be dissolved and there will be a general election this summer, perhaps at the beginning ofjuly. so we have had a day where, as you were mentioning, there have been elements of choreography slotting into place, where every element could have had a plausible alternative explanation.

cabinet meetings happen every week, usually on a tuesday rather than wednesday, but it was cancelled yesterday because the prime minister was abroad. lots of civil servants say they were encountering bizarre behaviour from officials in say they were encountering bizarre behaviourfrom officials in downing street, not communicating with them in the way they would normally expect. and slowly, the building blocks of a likely announcement started to take place. now sources are emphasising privately that we are emphasising privately that we are probably not many minutes away from that confirmation after lots of discussions in the heart of government going on for some time about when to go for a general election. it's a quirk of the british electoral system that the power lies with the prime minister to pick the date, up to a legal backstop beyond which they cannot go. that is at the tail end of january next year, but the prime minister holds the power of surprise, and this will be and is going to be a surprise. i surprise, and this will be and is

going to be a surprise.- surprise, and this will be and is going to be a surprise. i was going to sa , going to be a surprise. i was going to say. you — going to be a surprise. i was going to say. you are _ going to be a surprise. i was going to say, you are close _ going to be a surprise. i was going to say, you are close to _ going to be a surprise. i was going to say, you are close to this - going to be a surprise. i was going to say, you are close to this and i to say, you are close to this and you have been watching the build—up, but for many people out there, they will be switching the tv on and wondering where this came from. why is he doing it today? mat wondering where this came from. why is he doing it today?— is he doing it today? not only will there be peeple _ is he doing it today? not only will there be people turning _ is he doing it today? not only will there be people turning on - is he doing it today? not only will there be people turning on and i there be people turning on and asking themselves that question, there are people in this postcode, people in this government who themselves are asking that question, because the indications had been from seniorfigures because the indications had been from senior figures until very recently that it was more likely to be in the autumn because the prime minister could allow it to happen then. you would be guaranteed a certain time in government before an outcome that looks shaky as things stand when you look at the opinion polls. it would also give a chance for the economy to improve further. but there have been others close to him who have been saying, look, there is a desire out there for a chance to have a say. and if you are

seen to put that off, that might make it worse for us. and when they say us, they mean the conservative party. so there have been there saying that in his ear. there are also those around the prime minister who have been looking at some of the news of recent weeks like the inflation news we were reporting from seven o'clock this morning. the rate rises of prices is coming very close to the government target, down from 11% when rishi sunak became prime minister. other economic indicators are beginning to look a little better, although lots of people will say hang on, things do still feel difficult. the prime minister acknowledged that this morning. they have their flagship rwanda legislation into law, the idea of sending some migrants to east africa to try, they hope, to put off people attempting small boat crossings. put off people attempting small boat crossinus. �* ., ., ., ., , , crossings. although no one has been sent et. crossings. although no one has been sent yet- it — crossings. although no one has been sent yet. it hasn't _ crossings. although no one has been

sent yet. it hasn't happened - crossings. although no one has been sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. - sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. from that _ sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. from that perspective, _ sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. from that perspective, they - sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. | from that perspective, they could sent yet. it hasn't happened yet. - from that perspective, they could go into the campaign saying that is a clear dividing line with labour, who have said they would stop those flights if they were to win the general election. and with those flights not having gone, the argument that that scheme would prove to be a deterrent has not yet been tested. and if it were to prove not to be a deterrent from a crumb of the conservatives' perspective, perhaps that's best that it becomes an argument that you make rather than have critics being able to point to the opposite if that were to be the case. what else might have been playing in the minds of people in government tempted to go now? it's back to where we started, the surprise factor. we have had various moments this year of speculation. i have been pretty relaxed when my phone has been ringing off the hook at every point prior to today, because it was easy to establish that it was rubbish. i would speak to various folk inside and elsewhere and it would quickly be established that it wasn't going to happen. what

was different today and from last night onwards was that that wasn't happening, and i could tell that this felt different. the conversation, the balance of debate within that building had shifted towards wanting to go sooner rather than later. and there is a surprise element because only those in there, a handful of people around the prime minister, would know and can make a decision. for everyone else in government and the opposition parties, it is a case of getting and back timing or their plans to various hypothetical dates, not knowing when you might want to have that manifesto of promises ready to 90, that manifesto of promises ready to go, whether it's a good idea to do a big announcement this week or not, because maybe we have months yet to go. so it has the power of surprise, and on that side of the ledger,

surprise and where they perceive themselves to have got in the 18 plus months of rishi sunak prime minister, has led them to think this is the best chance for them. so it looks like, here we go. it is worth statin: looks like, here we go. it is worth stating for — looks like, here we go. it is worth stating for anybody _ looks like, here we go. it is worth stating for anybody who _ looks like, here we go. it is worth stating for anybody who happensl looks like, here we go. it is worth i stating for anybody who happens to be switching on, we are here in downing street along with many others from media outlets. there is an expectation that the prime minister is going to make an announcement and it has been building all day, but we don't know whether there will be an announcement and if so, what it's going to be. chris, you have talked about the economy, with better figures today on inflation. you talked about his pledge to stop the small boats. if he were to call an election now, would there be a sort of weighing up on his part and thinking, this is as good as it's going to get?—

thinking, this is as good as it's auoin to net? , . , ., going to get? yes, that is the human rationale the — going to get? yes, that is the human rationale the prime _ going to get? yes, that is the human rationale the prime minister - going to get? yes, that is the human rationale the prime minister is - rationale the prime minister is likely to have come to as a conclusion. i say that for two reasons. one is the shift unshiftable truth that the conservatives have been in powerfor 14 conservatives have been in powerfor 1a years, and there is a difficult headwind for any political government to walk into. in 2010, when labour had been in powerfor 13 years, it became difficult. not necessarily impossible, but it becomes difficult and we have seen that reflected in opinion polls and local and by—election results. there is also a psychological point for both the prime minister and the chancellor. they became prime minister and chancellor as a result of one of the most astonishing moments in contemporary british political history, that incredibly

short period as prime minister that liz truss had. rishi sunak and jeremy hunt, the chancellor, will have felt in the summer of 2022 that their political careers in all likelihood were over stop it was a reasonable expectation that liz truss would serve until a general election and maybe beyond if she was able to win it. they became prime minister and chancellor, the two most commanding figures in british government, not by accident, but by a quirk of history. and that has informed their approach to the last couple of years, that desire to steady the ship, both economically and politically, in their view to restore the reputation of the uk on the international stage after a period where, bluntly, a lot of people had been laughing at the fragility of british politics, and to attempt to give their party the best possible platform for which to

go into an election that was almost always going to be very difficult for them. always going to be very difficult forthem. looking always going to be very difficult for them. looking at the opinion polls and recent election results, thatis polls and recent election results, that is as true now as it would have been later in the year. so whilst there might have been a temptation to go longer because that allows more time in government and potentially for things to brighten further economically, predicting the future is a mug's game and things might have felt worse for them. so it would now seem a racing certainty that after an intense discussion behind that door involving people of different views and different instincts on what is a fine judgment call attempting to weigh up a range of factors, many of which are difficult to extrapolate into the future, they have concluded for themselves and perhaps more broadly for the country too, that now is the right time for a general election.

we are going to come back to you shortly, but i'm going to let you check your phone. i'm sure you are getting lots of messages. we will be back with you shortly. that was chris mason, our political editor. let's crossed in the newsroom now and speak to hannah white from the institute for government, who is in our newsroom. i'm glad you are in the warm and dry in this wet may day. talk us through what we are likely to see, should the prime minister make the announcement that people are expecting? i have to stress, we still don't know, but what would be the protocol? indie stress, we still don't know, but what would be the protocol? we would exect the what would be the protocol? we would exoect the prime _ what would be the protocol? we would expect the prime minister _ what would be the protocol? we would expect the prime minister to _ what would be the protocol? we would expect the prime minister to come - expect the prime minister to come out in the next few minutes or the next hour and make an announcement to say he has already spoken to the king or he is planning to go to the palace to ask for a dissolution of parliament in order to hold a general election. normally, parliament would continue to sit for

a few days to deal with the legislation which is currently going through the house. there are still 16 government bills, which in an ideal world, the government would like to see become law, so there will be what is called a wash up where they took to the opposition parties and try to speed that legislation onto the statute book. then the expectation would be that if you had an election on the 11th of july, you would need to have dissolved parliament by thursday next week. at that point, all mps cease to become mps and theyjust become candidates standing for election and we will be into the general election campaign. find election and we will be into the general election campaign. and why is it the ltth — general election campaign. and why is it the 4th of — general election campaign. and why is it the 4th ofjuly _ general election campaign. and why is it the 4th of july that _ general election campaign. and why is it the 4th ofjuly that people - is it the ltth ofjuly that people are talking about? just is it the 4th ofjuly that people are talking about?— is it the 4th ofjuly that people are talking about? just on the basis of when the — are talking about? just on the basis of when the announcement - are talking about? just on the basis of when the announcement is - are talking about? just on the basis of when the announcement is being

made, the fact that you will need a few days for wash up, for parliament to conclude its business. if you factor in thursday next week as being the last day on which parliament might sit, it's 25 days for an election campaign, 25 working days before the election would then be held. the reasoning people are thinking of is that that would be before english schools break up for the holidays, although not scottish schools, they would already have finished the summer. but there are lots of different calculations that go into picking an election date, as chris was saying.— chris was saying. hannah, i don't know if you were _ chris was saying. hannah, i don't know if you were listening - chris was saying. hannah, i don't know if you were listening to - chris was saying. hannah, i don't| know if you were listening to chris mason, our political editor, who was saying that he read the runes and listens to people and he often dismisses speculation of election took, but people have been responding differently in the last few hours, particularly amongst the civil service. what would change in

a civil servant's behaviour if there is an expectation of a general election? {lit is an expectation of a general election? u, , is an expectation of a general election? _, , . election? of course, the civil service has — election? of course, the civil service has to _ election? of course, the civil service has to be _ election? of course, the civil service has to be careful- election? of course, the civill service has to be careful when election? of course, the civil - service has to be careful when they get into an election campaign to make sure nothing they do can be perceived as working on behalf of the government at that point or to promote the government's interests, because government mps have become candidates for election at that point. but chris will have been referring to examples of meetings being cancelled, ministers seeming to cut short their international travel. for me, the persuasive thing has been the absence of denial. gordon brown is the famous example of a prime minister who allowed speculation about an election being called to run riot and then didn't called to run riot and then didn't call an election. prime ministers are now very cognizant of the fact that they need to shut down that

sort of speculative and quickly if they are not going to call an election. rishi sunak had an opportunity to do that at prime minister's questions today, and he answered in a way which did not shut down the speculation. yes. answered in a way which did not shut down the speculation.— down the speculation. yes, that was a resounding — down the speculation. yes, that was a resounding in _ down the speculation. yes, that was a resounding in its _ down the speculation. yes, that was a resounding in its silence. - down the speculation. yes, that was a resounding in its silence. hannah, | a resounding in its silence. hannah, thank you. i should explain to people watching. people can hear music — there is not a party going on, that is a protest. that is what you can hear in the background. we can speak now to chris wilkins, downing street had a strategy when theresa may was prime minister. you will have been at the heart of government, watching what was going on while theresa may was making her decision to call a general election. what sort of things do prime ministers take into account? there are a number— ministers take into account? there are a number of— ministers take into account? there

are a number of things. _ ministers take into account? there are a number of things. i _ ministers take into account? there are a number of things. i was - ministers take into account? there | are a number of things. i was there in 2017, when we went through this process. we got the cabinet together and announced it to them. the prime minister doesn't have to do that technically, but of course you get your team around, you tell them. you take into account a variety of things. how will the opposition respond? will they be on the back foot? you have to take into account what is going on in the country. it was mentioned thatjuly the ltth might be the date. that does full before the english school holidays, although not the scottish ones. how will the country be feeling? the other thing is what is going on in parliament. the moment you call an election, you then have to go into a process called wash up, and that is what legislation going through parliament that we really need to get on the books, and can we get that through before the campaign?

sometimes a piece of legislation is critical and you can't afford to drop it, so you need to get it through. there is a host of things to think about before you make the call. ., , to think about before you make the call. . , , . , to think about before you make the call. ., , ., call. please stay on the line, i want to bring _ call. please stay on the line, i want to bring in _ call. please stay on the line, i want to bring in another- call. please stay on the line, i | want to bring in another chris, chris mason, our political editor, who has another line to report. yes. who has another line to report. yes, at five o'clock. _ who has another line to report. yes, at five o'clock, in _ who has another line to report. yes, at five o'clock, in around _ who has another line to report. yes, at five o'clock, in around 15 - at five o'clock, in around 15 minutes, we are expecting, although the weather might interfere, the prime minister to address us in downing street with the expectation that he will be calling a general election. the expectation is that we are moments away from a lectern moment, when the prime minister comes out and addresses us. i wonder if the weather might tend him to do it inside, but usually, the expectation is that that lectern appears behind us. to make an obvious point, prime ministers only do this kind of thing when they are making announcements of significant gravity, and the announcement is

going to be that the general election is on its way. thank you. chris wilkins, _ election is on its way. thank you. chris wilkins, to _ election is on its way. thank you. chris wilkins, to come _ election is on its way. thank you. chris wilkins, to come back - election is on its way. thank you. chris wilkins, to come back to . election is on its way. thank you. l chris wilkins, to come back to you, you heard chris mason saying we can report that there will be a lectern out here, probably out in downing street. could it be something else? could it be a different announcement? i could it be a different announcement? ,, ., could it be a different announcement? ~ ., , announcement? i think it would be shockin: announcement? i think it would be shocking at — announcement? i think it would be shocking at this _ announcement? i think it would be shocking at this stage _ announcement? i think it would be shocking at this stage if _ announcement? i think it would be shocking at this stage if it - announcement? i think it would be shocking at this stage if it were. i shocking at this stage if it were. there are a handful of things it could be, buti there are a handful of things it could be, but i think the moment you saw earlier today that the foreign secretary was being called back from his trip and that the defence secretary was being asked to delay his foreign travel, it began to crystallise that this was what was going to happen. then there was speculation about whether the prime minister would call an election but set the date for later in the year, which would be unusual, but there would be arguments in favour. but it does seem now like it is going to be

july the 4th. the point about the lectern moment is that it is the moment a prime minister gets to frame what he wants the general election to be about. it is the one moment, right at the start, where it's on your terms and you say, i'm going to call a general election and this is what that general election is about. and the framing battle about the campaign is all—important. the person who wins the framing and sets what the question is about generally gets a good outcome at the end of the campaign period. so it sounds like that is what we are going to see and it is critical for rishi sunak.— rishi sunak. there had been speculation _ rishi sunak. there had been speculation that _ rishi sunak. there had been speculation that he - rishi sunak. there had been speculation that he might i rishi sunak. there had been| speculation that he might say something at prime minister's questions, but he batted that one away pretty rapidly. as you say, thatis away pretty rapidly. as you say, that is because he wants his moment here by himself, looking prime ministerial in downing street.

that's right. he did say something interesting which did slightly give the game away at prime minister's questions, in answer to a different question. he used a line where he talked about the conservatives providing security for the uk and a secure future. it sounded to me like that was an election slogan that had been agreed. he made a speech just last week which was all about, the future is insecure. there is lots happening in the world, it's a fragile place, and trying to make the argument that in that world, the conservative government is the best one to steward the country through. and he draws on what he did as chancellor during covid etc. so when he used that line earlier, i thought, that's interesting, because thatis thought, that's interesting, because that is the slogan he wants to talk about. so he wants this moment in downing street to say to the country down the barrel into the camera, we are going to have a general election, and this is what i think

it's about. and if you agree, you need to vote for me. it's a rare opportunity to get that moment directly to the country and to frame an issue in those terms.— directly to the country and to frame an issue in those terms. assuming he is auoin to an issue in those terms. assuming he is going to come _ an issue in those terms. assuming he is going to come out _ an issue in those terms. assuming he is going to come out and _ an issue in those terms. assuming he is going to come out and make - an issue in those terms. assuming he is going to come out and make the i is going to come out and make the announcement that everybody is assuming, that he is calling a general election, how much of his strategy will be in place? you have talked about the key points he will want to hit to frame the election, but how much more will have been worked out on top of that? thea;r but how much more will have been worked out on top of that? they will have worked — worked out on top of that? they will have worked out _ worked out on top of that? they will have worked out at _ worked out on top of that? they will have worked out at least _ worked out on top of that? they will have worked out at least a _ worked out on top of that? they will have worked out at least a skeleton | have worked out at least a skeleton of what the next few weeks look like in terms of stories. generally going into a campaign like this, the first few days are all about that framing. every visit and media opportunity and statement is about saying, remember we are having a general election and its about this. for borisjohnson, that

election and its about this. for boris johnson, that was, election and its about this. for borisjohnson, that was, we are having a general election to get brexit done. by the end of the campaign, everyone thought that was what the election was about and borisjohnson won. so they will spend the first few days doing that. then they will have graded out what announcements they want to make and policies they want to land and how that brings the main theme to life. of course, events will happen. the other parties will have their view on that, but they will have a sense of the big policy ideas for the manifesto that they have been working on. the other thing is that they will have a clear sense to a granular level of the seats they think they have won already where they don't have to campaign, and the seats that they need to target. that will be the basis for where the prime minister goes, where the cabinet go, where resources are put

in, where media are targeted. all of that groundwork has been done by the campaign team, it's all ready to go. labour are well prepped as well and i'm sure the other parties are, but by making the announcement today, if thatis by making the announcement today, if that is what he does do, as we expect, he is stealing a march. is the prerogative of the prime minister to have an element of surprise to get one ahead of the other party and start that process quickly. that is the option he has in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you- — in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you. that _ in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you. that is _ in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you. that is chris _ in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you. that is chris wilkins, i in the next hour or so. fascinating, thank you. that is chris wilkins, a l thank you. that is chris wilkins, a former head of strategy for former prime minister theresa may. for anybodyjustjoining us, you're anybody just joining us, you're watching anybodyjustjoining us, you're watching a bbc special. we are waiting for the prime minister rishi sunak to make an announcement. we

are told that a lectern is going to be set up. we are told that a lectern is going to be setup. we assume it is here in downing street, although it is very wet. it's possible that it happens inside downing street, but we are expecting a statement from the prime minister at five o'clock and speculation is rife that he will be calling a general election. while we wait, we can speak to the chief leader writer for the observer newspaper and former labour adviser sonia sodha. labour has been saying for many weeks now, bring it on. will they be pleased? apologies, ho efull will they be pleased? apologies, hopefully you _ will they be pleased? apologies, hopefully you can _ will they be pleased? apologies, hopefully you can hear— will they be pleased? apologies, hopefully you can hear me i will they be pleased? apologies, hopefully you can hear me now. | will they be pleased? apologies, i hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i was 'ust hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i wasjust going _ hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i wasjust going to — hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i wasjust going to say _ hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i was just going to say that hopefully you can hear me now. yes. i wasjust going to say that i think i was just going to say that i think in labour hq, the feeling will be

one of delight, as you hinted. they have prepared to be on an election footing for some weeks and months now. and it's believed that some of the rumours about an early general election originated from labour itself, where you have election chiefs basically warning shadow cabinet members, it could come at any point, you need to be ready. so i think labour wanted the election to be sooner rather than later. so if it does turn out it's on the ltth ofjuly, there will be a feeling of delight. 5ir ofjuly, there will be a feeling of deliuht. . ofjuly, there will be a feeling of deliuht. ,, ,, ., ., delight. sir keir starmer, of course, made _ delight. sir keir starmer, of course, made what - delight. sir keir starmer, of course, made what felt i delight. sir keir starmer, of course, made what felt like | delight. sir keir starmer, of i course, made what felt like the beginning of an election campaign appearance a few days ago? yes. beginning of an election campaign appearance a few days ago? yes, last week it felt like _ appearance a few days ago? yes, last week it felt like we _ appearance a few days ago? yes, last week it felt like we didn't _ appearance a few days ago? yes, last week it felt like we didn't know i week it felt like we didn't know when the general election was going to be. last week, i was thinking it was most likely to be towards the end of the year. but we had a moment

where it felt like both party leaders were launching their long general election campaign. you had rishi sunak give a speech and say, this is a security election. then you had keir starmer come out and launch that pledge card, a strong focus on the economy, the nhs and public services, which is where we know the public are going to be. so i think we can expect in this general election campaign for both parties notjust to be fighting over the issues, but be determined to keep the election campaign on the issues they think they perform most strongly on. that was where you had sunak, the prime minister, trying to make it a general election about international affairs and security. the problem for him is that when you ask the public about what they care about, it is consistently things like the economy and the nhs that come on top. those are issues where labour are way ahead. i

come on top. those are issues where labour are way ahead.— labour are way ahead. i should say to --eole labour are way ahead. i should say to people who _ labour are way ahead. i should say to people who are _ labour are way ahead. i should say to people who are watching, i labour are way ahead. i should say to people who are watching, we i labour are way ahead. i should say| to people who are watching, we are expecting an announcement by the prime minister, but i am being advised that there might be some delay, partly because of the weather. as you can see, lovely may british weather, you can hear the rain coming down. there isn't a lectern out there at the moment. stay tuned, we will bring you the news as soon as it comes. there is still heightened speculation that we will be hearing from the prime minister very soon. in fact, it's been confirmed that we will. but that five o'clock time might have slipped. ah, infact that five o'clock time might have slipped. ah, in fact i am being slipped. ah, infact i am being told... it is slipped. ah, in fact i am being told... it is very few brow, i was told... it is very few brow, i was told a lectern was coming up, but it's a pa system. sorry about that, these things happen! sonia, you were talking about labour wanting to fight on public services, but this

will now be a moment of truth for labour, won't it? they are significantly ahead in the polls, but they have been criticised repeatedly for not being detailed enoughin repeatedly for not being detailed enough in terms of their policies, figures and costing. that is going to have to change now.— figures and costing. that is going to have to change now. well, there is certainly — to have to change now. well, there is certainly going — to have to change now. well, there is certainly going to _ to have to change now. well, there is certainly going to be _ to have to change now. well, there is certainly going to be more i is certainly going to be more scrutiny on labour and their policies as we move into an election. but labour have played a very cautious strategy. they have tied themselves to the same macroeconomic rules that the conservatives have on spending and debt, and that means they have a limited headroom to do the things they would like to do. you have had very careful messaging from labour's shadow chancellor rachel reeves. the labour leadership is clear that anything they say they are going to do that costs money, they will have costed and they were say where the

money is coming from. for example, the extra spending on the nhs, the extra spending on teachers for schools. they say that is all accounted for in terms of specific small bits of tax rises that would hit companies, for example. i expect we will hear more of their policy, but it's true that there have been a lot of labour strategists behind the scenes who have been concerned that there could be some softening of the labour lead during an election campaign as people start to make their minds up. but when you are 20 points ahead in the polls, obviously the strategists are going to be concerned, but that is a very healthy lead going into a general election campaign. find healthy lead going into a general election campaign.— healthy lead going into a general election campaign. and yet, picking u . election campaign. and yet, picking u- on election campaign. and yet, picking up on something — election campaign. and yet, picking up on something you _ election campaign. and yet, picking up on something you said, - election campaign. and yet, picking up on something you said, things i up on something you said, things will improve under labour but there is only limited scope for

improvement. that is not a great message, is it? improvement. that is not a great message. is it?— improvement. that is not a great message, is it? well, the message that labour— message, is it? well, the message that labour are _ message, is it? well, the message that labour are trying _ message, is it? well, the message that labour are trying to _ message, is it? well, the message that labour are trying to put - that labour are trying to put forward for the electorate is that these are difficult circumstances. if they win an election, they will be difficult circumstances to be inheriting. that's because when you look at the economy, there are long—standing issues with productivity, growth and stagnating wages. we have had very high rates of inflation and price rises, even though that has come down. we have seen prices increase by 20% since 2021, so people are not feeling well off when they look at their own family budgets, and labour have the same situation when they look at national spending and tax revenues. so some of what labour are saying is cautious. they are saying, we are not going to go into a general

election promising the kinds of things thatjeremy corbyn did at the last general election. the hope on the labour side will be that that is a realistic pitch and that the country wants change, but they also don't want politicians to be promising them something that they see as magical thinking that they don't believe can be delivered. thank you so much for talking to us. can i bring in chris mason once again? ithink can i bring in chris mason once again? i think you were saying there might be some delay because of the weather, maybe there is but the rain is easing off so perhaps... the weather, maybe there is but the rain is easing off so perhaps. . ._ is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easin: is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off _ is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off and _ is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off and the _ is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off and the sun _ is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off and the sun has i is easing off so perhaps... the rain is easing off and the sun has not i is easing off and the sun has not quite come out, it feels a bit brighter than it did a few minutes ago although it seemed to be getting worse a few minutes ago. it sounds trivial now but it will matter and it will matter in there.— trivial now but it will matter and it will matter in there. because he wants it to — it will matter in there. because he wants it to look _ it will matter in there. because he wants it to look right? _ it will matter in there. because he wants it to look right? yes, i it will matter in there. because he wants it to look right? yes, this i it will matter in there. because he wants it to look right? yes, this isj wants it to look right? yes, this is a moment — wants it to look right? yes, this is a moment where _ wants it to look right? yes, this is a moment where you _ wants it to look right? yes, this is a moment where you are - wants it to look right? yes, this is a moment where you are talking l wants it to look right? yes, this is|

a moment where you are talking to the archives, as a prime minister, this is something that will get played over and over again, it is a chapter in your own story, if you like, as a prime minister, it is part of the country's story. to explain what has been going on in the street as you are in the middle of that conversation, we are seeing elements of the choreography of this moment taking shape. just below my left foot, just beyond the camera, is a giant speaker so we will be able to hear the prime minister's words and why it is about to be attached to the back of it which will make that possible. —— a wire is about to be attached. we will see the lectern appear fairly soon and shortly after that, here from the prime minister. the timing is off and slip, we expected we would hear from him at 5pm and it is three minutes passed and i think it is at least another ten minutes or so away given the time it takes to set things up and test the equipment. but all of that is the detail. where we are this evening is on the brink of a general election campaign, where power will depart this straight. this trait is all about

power, about where power resides and it resides behind that black door in the house of the prime minister. what we will hear from the prime minister is the moment where that power heads out, it heads out into the hands of the electorate, millions of people making individual decisions that shape how we are governed. of course, between this point and the point that polling stations open, there will be a wall of noise, a huge amount of persuasion. we will hear about promises and manifestos and track records and parties setting out their own case and trying to destroy their own case and trying to destroy their opponents' cases. we will see general election debates, missteps from the various parties, records challenged, argued passionately for and trashed by rivals. and ultimately, that sense that, yes, power will be handed to the electorate. and for all of the noise

and the cynicism and scepticism that can so often wash around politics, we should never forget the significance of this moment, the fact that power will be in the hands of the electorate to make a profound decision about how we are governed for up to the next five years. we are moments away from that official starting gun being fired.— starting gun being fired. chris, you had stood here _ starting gun being fired. chris, you had stood here in _ starting gun being fired. chris, you had stood here in downing - starting gun being fired. chris, you had stood here in downing street | starting gun being fired. chris, you. had stood here in downing street so many times over the last few years for announcements like this and it strikes me that this is m years to the month since the conservatives came into power, since david cameron became the largest party and then spent time negotiating with nick clegg. spent time negotiating with nick clea ., ,., ., spent time negotiating with nick clen. ., ~ spent time negotiating with nick clen. ., «a, clegg. indeed so, and you think of what has happened _ clegg. indeed so, and you think of what has happened over _ clegg. indeed so, and you think of what has happened over those i clegg. indeed so, and you think of what has happened over those 14. what has happened over those 11t years, a period of coalition government for the first time in a very long time, where there was a conversation from the likes of you and me, perfectly reasonably, a question how stable it would be and it turned out it would be a very stable government that last little

time, perhaps more stable than the government that preceded it and came after it, of course, we had all of the noise of the brexit arguments that tore the conservative party into plenty of pieces, divided the country, and redefined how people even articulated their own political outlook. forso even articulated their own political outlook. for so long, even articulated their own political outlook. forso long, people defining themselves as a lover or remainer than any other political affiliation. and then five years ago, borisjohnson secured that very significant majority where all of the talk was the expectation that he had been potentialfor govan to up to ten years, the thought that it would be too big a challenge for the labour party that had suffered its worst general election result since 1985 to possibly haul itself back into competitiveness, let alone the prospect of a potential victory in just one parliamentary term. and yet, here we are on the brink of a general election campaign, where

labourfeel confident, general election campaign, where labour feel confident, they are determined not to be complacent but they look at the polling, the evidence, and listen to the electoral records, and labour believe they have grounds to be confident, and plenty of conservatives, as we embark on the weeks to come, anticipate defeat. but we can put that to one side. that is the backdrop, the conversation that will go on amongst folk like me in the next five or six weeks but again, the power lies with the people. people will decide and campaigns can make a difference. just ask theresa may. she thought backin just ask theresa may. she thought back in 2017, she took a look at the opinion polls, thought a sizeable majority would be useful in trying to deliver brexit, but the general election and the electorate thought otherwise. the campaign went a different way from how many had anticipated. the opinion polls shrivelled from a very wide margin to next to nothing. and the result was a huge surprise. you to next to nothing. and the result was a huge surprise.— to next to nothing. and the result was a huge surprise. you can never tell. you was a huge surprise. you can never tell- you can _

was a huge surprise. you can never tell. you can never— was a huge surprise. you can never tell. you can never tell. _ was a huge surprise. you can never tell. you can never tell. stay i was a huge surprise. you can never tell. you can never tell. stay there | tell. you can never tell. stay there a moment. — tell. you can never tell. stay there a moment. i _ tell. you can never tell. stay there a moment, i know— tell. you can never tell. stay there a moment, i know some _ tell. you can never tell. stay there a moment, i know some people i tell. you can never tell. stay there l a moment, i know some people will tell. you can never tell. stay there i a moment, i know some people will be wondering what the sound behind us is, it has not stopped but i want to show you there are protests going on just outside the downing street gates. there they are, starting up again. this isjust something that is part of the backdrop to broadcasting from downing street. chris, if i can bring you back in, rishi sunak will have had many thoughts but while we can't see it is mine, his legacy will be one of them and that will presumably be hartley why he is going for today, if he is. —— be partly why he is going forward today. his if he is. -- be partly why he is going forward today. his legacy, his lace in going forward today. his legacy, his place in history _ going forward today. his legacy, his place in history in _ going forward today. his legacy, his place in history in the _ going forward today. his legacy, his place in history in the widest - going forward today. his legacy, his place in history in the widest sense | place in history in the widest sense as a prime minister but then also a legacy within the conservative party. that has been part of the tussle that has been going on privately amongst those closest to rishi sunak about when to go for an election. clearly, and perfectly rationally, from the prime minister's perspective, he wants to do that at the point where they

collectively judge that do that at the point where they collectivelyjudge that he gives himself the best chance of doing as well as he possibly can. there have been senior conservatives are saying to him that the fear from their perspective was waiting any longer could make what they fear might be for them a bad situation worse, and therefore, it could be in the interests of the party to go sooner. now, a more negative interpretation of that is plenty privately, from their perspective, it is about minimising the scale of defeat but i don't seek to be presumptive, as i have said because that'll be up to the electorate and up to the campaign is to make their arguments in the next five or six weeks but thatis in the next five or six weeks but that is at the heart of the conversation that has been going on. and he will have had an eye on that. and he will have had an eye on that. and concluding, it will seem, that of all of the could have picked to come out and talk to the country from the lectern, that of all of the dates between now and pretty much the 17th of december, i think it is,

that this, from his perspective, is the best day. that this, from his perspective, is the best day-— the best day. that is the last time... the _ the best day. that is the last time... the 17th _ the best day. that is the last time... the 17th of _ the best day. that is the last| time... the 17th of december the best day. that is the last i time... the 17th of december is the date i time. .. the 17th of december is the date i think— time... the 17th of december is the date i think where _ time... the 17th of december is the date i think where parliament i time... the 17th of december is the | date i think where parliament would have automatically dissolved more or less and we would have had an election at the end of january, up until that point, he has the power to make the decision but beyond that, it would happen anyway. trio that, it would happen anyway. no sooner did i say it has stopped raining than it started raining and your glasses got rather wet so get dry and we will speak to you again shortly. chris mason, our political editor, there. iwould shortly. chris mason, our political editor, there. i would like to speak to hannah white in the newsroom again. she is from the institute for government. you have watched these things over many years. talk to us a bit about the choreography of calling an election.— calling an election. well, the key thin , as calling an election. well, the key thing, as chris _ calling an election. well, the key thing, as chris was _ calling an election. well, the key thing, as chris was saying, i calling an election. well, the key thing, as chris was saying, is i calling an election. well, the key thing, as chris was saying, is for| thing, as chris was saying, is for the prime minister to keep his deliberations very private between him and a very small, trusted group, and not to allow that information to

leak before time and i think rishi sunak has done a very successfuljob if indeed he is calling an election today, it is really only early this morning that the speculation started. i morning that the speculation started. , ., ., . started. i 'ust want to cut in, sor . started. i just want to cut in, sorry- there _ started. i just want to cut in, sorry. there is _ started. i just want to cut in, sorry. there is a _ started. i just want to cut in, sorry. there is a great i started. i just want to cut in, sorry. there is a great deal. started. i just want to cut in, | sorry. there is a great deal of commotion here. not because of the prime minister but because of the lectern. confirmation, if it were needed, that he will in fact be here very shortly. lots of calls from photographers who want it to right in front of them, of course. we have got pa systems roundabout behind us. a great sense of expectation in downing street as you might expect. sorry to focus on an inanimate object, there, but it is partly a sign that this is about to happen. sorry, you are talking about the choreography. ha. sorry, you are talking about the choreography-— choreography. no, it is very important. _ choreography. no, it is very important, so _ choreography. no, it is very important, so what - choreography. no, it is very| important, so what happens choreography. no, it is very i important, so what happens is choreography. no, it is very - important, so what happens is once the decision is made, the prime minister has to are speaking, it is royal prerogative to dissolve

parliament and having been given that permission by the king, then the election date can be set, and also the date of when parliament would meet again after an election can be set. then it is really a question of parliament concluding its business, the government and the opposition parties getting together, looking at what legislation is going through, and agreeing the russia period, what legislation is going to get onto the statute book. some bales might get gutted, controversial bits cut out, other bits going through. the prime minister will be very hopeful that his tobacco and vaping bill gets through and that has a cross—party agreement so that is quite likely. a finance bill also needs to go through and some other, more controversial bills might not make it. then parliament is dissolved and really, that is the point at which the short campaign starts properly. we expect for a lith ofjuly

election, that will happen next thursday. and then you get into the election campaign at some point, normally 18—20 days out from the election, the manifestos are published by the parties. it is a bit variable. often, the opposition tries to get their manifesto in first to steal some of the limelight from the government. but that is very much up to them. and then we would be going up to the lith of july. the other thing that will be going on is in government, the civil service, working very quickly to try to work out what needs to be done before parliament is resolved, whether there are any public appointments or big decisions that they need to make which could not be made during what used to be called the purdah period, when the civil service can't be making big decisions of that kind. there is a big clearing up exercise. bud decisions of that kind. there is a big clearing up exercise. and would it be riaht big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to _ big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to say — big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to say that _ big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to say that we _ big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to say that we have i big clearing up exercise. and would it be right to say that we have beenj it be right to say that we have been in a particularly general election rich area in the last few years?

there was one in 2015, 2017, 2019 and now. how unusual is that? that is re and now. how unusual is that? that is pretty unusual. — and now. how unusual is that? trisgt is pretty unusual, when you think back to 2010, and we had the fixed—term parliaments act introduced as part of the coalition agreement at the start of the parliament and we thought at that time that we were set for a period of elections every five years, that that would be a steady drumbeat, it was no longer up to the prime minister to determine when an election should happen but of course, that reckoned without brexit, it reckoned without the... here he is. in the last five years our country has fought— in the last five years our country has fought through the most challenging time since world war ii. as i challenging time since world war ii. as i stand _ challenging time since world war ii. as i stand here is your prime minister. _ as i stand here is your prime minister. i_ as i stand here is your prime minister, i can't help it reflect my first minister, ican't help it reflect my first proper— minister, i can't help it reflect my first proper introduction to you was 'ust first proper introduction to you was just over_ first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago as i stood behind _ just over four years ago as i stood behind a — just over four years ago as i stood behind a podium upstairs in the

building— behind a podium upstairs in the building behind me. itold you behind a podium upstairs in the building behind me. i told you we faced _ building behind me. i told you we faced a _ building behind me. i told you we faced a generation defining moment and that— faced a generation defining moment and that we as a society would not be judged — and that we as a society would not be judged by some government action but by— be judged by some government action but by visible acts of kindness that we showed one another. you met that challenge _ we showed one another. you met that challenge and then some and i have never— challenge and then some and i have never been — challenge and then some and i have never been prouder to be british. when _ never been prouder to be british. when i _ never been prouder to be british. when i introduced the furlough scheme, — when i introduced the furlough scheme, i did so not because i saw a scheme, ! did so not because i saw a country— scheme, i did so not because i saw a country simply in need of desperate help. _ country simply in need of desperate help, albeit we were, but because i saw a _ help, albeit we were, but because i saw a country whose future hung in the balance. i could be bold and trust _ the balance. i could be bold and trust in — the balance. i could be bold and trust in the _ the balance. i could be bold and trust in the tens of millions of you. _ trust in the tens of millions of you. that _ trust in the tens of millions of you, that you would rise to the moment. — you, that you would rise to the moment, or i can accept the inevitable, millions ofjob losses and pick— inevitable, millions ofjob losses and pick up the pieces. in truth, it was no _ and pick up the pieces. in truth, it was no choice at all. i have never and will _ was no choice at all. i have never and will never leave the people of this country to face the darkest days— this country to face the darkest days alone, and you know that because — days alone, and you know that because you've seen it. as i did then. _ because you've seen it. as i did then. i— because you've seen it. as i did then. iwill— because you've seen it. as i did then, i will forever do everything in my— then, i will forever do everything in my power to provide you with the

strongest _ in my power to provide you with the strongest possible protection i can. that is— strongest possible protection i can. that is my— strongest possible protection i can. that is my promise to you. because, for so _ that is my promise to you. because, for so many— that is my promise to you. because, for so many of us, it's easy to forget — for so many of us, it's easy to forget the _ for so many of us, it's easy to forget the scale of what we've been through _ forget the scale of what we've been through. we were hit by a pandemic that upended normal life. who would have thought that the government would _ have thought that the government would never tell us how many times a day we _ would never tell us how many times a day we could — would never tell us how many times a day we could leave our homes? then, 'ust day we could leave our homes? then, just as _ day we could leave our homes? then, just as we _ day we could leave our homes? then, just as we were recovering from covid. _ just as we were recovering from covid. war— just as we were recovering from covid, war returned to europe with putin's_ covid, war returned to europe with putin's invasion of ukraine sending energy— putin's invasion of ukraine sending energy bills spiralling for that i came _ energy bills spiralling for that i came to — energy bills spiralling for that i came to office above all to restore econonric— came to office above all to restore economic stability of the economic stability— economic stability of the economic stability is — economic stability of the economic stability is the bedrock of any future — stability is the bedrock of any future success step whether that is rising _ future success step whether that is rising wages and good jobs, investment in our public services or the defence — investment in our public services or the defence of the country. because of our— the defence of the country. because of our collective sacrifice and your hard _ of our collective sacrifice and your hard work. — of our collective sacrifice and your hard work, we have reached to mark milestones— hard work, we have reached to mark milestones in delivering that stability, showing that, when we work _ stability, showing that, when we work together, anything is possible. our economy is now growing faster

than anyone predicted, outpacing germany. — than anyone predicted, outpacing germany, france and the us. this morning. — germany, france and the us. this morning. it — germany, france and the us. this morning, it was confirmed that inflation — morning, it was confirmed that inflation is _ morning, it was confirmed that inflation is back to normal for top this means — inflation is back to normal for top this means that the pressure on prices _ this means that the pressure on prices will— this means that the pressure on prices will ease and mortgage rates will come _ prices will ease and mortgage rates will come down. this is proof that the plan _ will come down. this is proof that the plan and priorities i set out are working. i recognise that it has not always— are working. i recognise that it has not always been easy. some of you will only— not always been easy. some of you will onlyjust be starting to feel the benefit and for some it might still be _ the benefit and for some it might still be hard when you look at your bank— still be hard when you look at your bank balance. but this hard earned economic— bank balance. but this hard earned economic stability was only ever meant _ economic stability was only ever meant to— economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning. the question— meant to be the beginning. the question now is how and who do you trust _ question now is how and who do you trust to— question now is how and who do you trust to turn — question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure _ trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our— secure future for you, your family and our country. now is the moment for britain _ and our country. now is the moment for britain to — and our country. now is the moment for britain to choose its future. to decide _ for britain to choose its future. to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going _ the progress we have made or risk going back— the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and — going back to square one with no plan and certainty. earlier today, i spoke _ plan and certainty. earlier today, i spoke with— plan and certainty. earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request— spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of

parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general— this request and we will have a general election on the 4th ofjuly. this election will take place at a time _ this election will take place at a time when the world is more dangerous and it has been since the end of— dangerous and it has been since the end of the _ dangerous and it has been since the end of the cold war. russia is waging — end of the cold war. russia is waging a _ end of the cold war. russia is waging a brutal war in ukraine and will not _ waging a brutal war in ukraine and will not stop there if he succeeds. that war— will not stop there if he succeeds. that war has very little to clear the risk — that war has very little to clear the risk to _ that war has very little to clear the risk to our energy security in the risk to our energy security in the middle east, the forces of islamist— the middle east, the forces of islamist extremism threaten regional and ultimately global stability. these — and ultimately global stability. these tensions are exploited by extremists who seek to undermine our values _ extremists who seek to undermine our values and _ extremists who seek to undermine our values and divide our society. china is looking _ values and divide our society. china is looking to — values and divide our society. china is looking to dominate the 215t—century staying the lead in technology, and migration is being weaponised by hostile states to threaten — weaponised by hostile states to threaten the integrity of our borders _ threaten the integrity of our borders. these uncertain times call for a _ borders. these uncertain times call for a clear— borders. these uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to fora clear plan and bold action to chart— for a clear plan and bold action to chart a _ for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future. you _ chart a course to a secure future. you must — chart a course to a secure future. you must choose in this election who has that—

you must choose in this election who has that plan, who is prepared to take the — has that plan, who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure _ take the bold action necessary to secure a — take the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country — secure a better future for our country and our children. i cannot and will— country and our children. i cannot and will not — country and our children. i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything — and will not claim that we have got everything right. no government should — everything right. no government should. but i am proud of what we have _ should. but i am proud of what we have achieved together the bold actions — have achieved together the bold actions we have taken, and i am confident— actions we have taken, and i am confident about what we can do in the future — confident about what we can do in the future. we have tackled inflation, controlled debt, and increased state pension by £900. we have reduced taxes on investment and seize the _ have reduced taxes on investment and seize the opportunities of brexit to make _ seize the opportunities of brexit to make this — seize the opportunities of brexit to make this the best country in the world _ make this the best country in the world to — make this the best country in the world to grow a business. with the continent — world to grow a business. with the continent of funding in time hsz ensure _ continent of funding in time hsz ensure it — continent of funding in time hsz ensure it is now training the doctors _ ensure it is now training the doctors and nurses it needs in the deck— doctors and nurses it needs in the deck it's— doctors and nurses it needs in the deck it's a — doctors and nurses it needs in the deck it's a comfortable we have reformed — deck it's a comfortable we have reformed education and our children are now— reformed education and our children are now the — reformed education and our children are now the best readers in the western— are now the best readers in the western world. we have prioritised energy— western world. we have prioritised energy security and your family finances — energy security and your family finances over in very little dogma in our— finances over in very little dogma in our approach to net 04 double we

have fully— in our approach to net 04 double we have fully funded an increase in defence — have fully funded an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of gdp for top we _ defence spending to 2.5% of gdp for top we made a decision to invest more _ top we made a decision to invest more in — top we made a decision to invest more in local transport that you actually— more in local transport that you actually use rather than endlessly plough _ actually use rather than endlessly plough more money into hsz. we set out a _ plough more money into hsz. we set out a compressor plan to reform the welfare _ out a compressor plan to reform the welfare system, to make it fair for those _ welfare system, to make it fair for those who — welfare system, to make it fair for those who pay for it as well as those — those who pay for it as well as those who _ those who pay for it as well as those who need it. immigration is finally— those who need it. immigration is finally coming down and we are stopping — finally coming down and we are stopping the boats with our rwanda partnership. and we will ensure that the next _ partnership. and we will ensure that the next generation grows up smoke—free. i hope that my work since _ smoke—free. i hope that my work since i_ smoke—free. i hope that my work since i became prime minister shows that we _ since i became prime minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take _ that we have a plan and are prepared to take hold — that we have a plan and are prepared to take bold action necessary for our country— to take bold action necessary for our country to flourish. i have stuck — our country to flourish. i have stuck with _ our country to flourish. i have stuck with that plan and always been honest _ stuck with that plan and always been honest with you about what is needed. — honest with you about what is needed, even when that's been difficult — needed, even when that's been difficult. because i am guided by doing _ difficult. because i am guided by doing what is right for our country, not what _ doing what is right for our country, not what is — doing what is right for our country, not what is easy. i can't say the same _ not what is easy. i can't say the same thing _ not what is easy. i can't say the same thing for the labour party. because — same thing for the labour party. because i— same thing for the labour party. because i don't know what they offer

and, because i don't know what they offer and. in _ because i don't know what they offer and, in truth, i don't think you know— and, in truth, i don't think you know either. and that's because they have no— know either. and that's because they have no plan. there is no bold action — have no plan. there is no bold action as _ have no plan. there is no bold action as a _ have no plan. there is no bold action. as a result, the future can only— action. as a result, the future can only be _ action. as a result, the future can only be uncertain with them step on the 5th _ only be uncertain with them step on the 5th of— only be uncertain with them step on the 5th ofjuly, either keir starmer or i the 5th ofjuly, either keir starmer or i will— the 5th ofjuly, either keir starmer or i will be — the 5th ofjuly, either keir starmer or i will be prime minister. he has shown— or i will be prime minister. he has shown time — or i will be prime minister. he has shown time and time again that he will take _ shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything — will take the easy way out and do anything to get power. if he was happy— anything to get power. if he was happy to— anything to get power. if he was happy to abandon all the promises he made _ happy to abandon all the promises he made to— happy to abandon all the promises he made to become labour leader once he -ot made to become labour leader once he got the _ made to become labour leader once he got the job. _ made to become labour leader once he got the job, how can you know he would _ got the job, how can you know he would do — got the job, how can you know he would do exactly the same thing if he were _ would do exactly the same thing if he were to — would do exactly the same thing if he were to become prime minister? if you don't— he were to become prime minister? if you don't have the conviction to stick— you don't have the conviction to stick to— you don't have the conviction to stick to anything you say, if you don't _ stick to anything you say, if you don't have _ stick to anything you say, if you don't have the courage to tell people — don't have the courage to tell people what you want to do, and if you don't— people what you want to do, and if you don't have a plan, how can you possibly— you don't have a plan, how can you possibly be — you don't have a plan, how can you possibly be trusted to lead our country. — possibly be trusted to lead our country, especially at this most uncertain— country, especially at this most uncertain of times? over the next few weeks. — uncertain of times? over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote _ few weeks, i will fight for every vote i— few weeks, i will fight for every vote iwill— few weeks, i will fight for every vote. i will earn your trust and i will prove —

vote. i will earn your trust and i will prove to you that only a conservative government led by me will not _ conservative government led by me will not put our hard earned economic— will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk, can restore — economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country— restore pride and confidence in our country and — restore pride and confidence in our country and with a clear plan and bold action — country and with a clear plan and bold action will deliver a secure future — bold action will deliver a secure future for— bold action will deliver a secure future for you, your family and our united _ future for you, your family and our united kingdom.— future for you, your family and our united kingdom. there we have it, the statement _ united kingdom. there we have it, the statement from _ united kingdom. there we have it, the statement from the _ united kingdom. there we have it, the statement from the prime i the statement from the prime minister that everybody has been waiting for. mate, as you saw, in the pouring rain. —— it was made. possibly it became the worst kept secret in westminster, the prime minister confirming a general election for thursday the 4th of july. i'mjoint election for thursday the 4th of july. i'm joint by vicki young, who was listening to everything. some very clear themes emerging what he

said. ,, . , , ., , very clear themes emerging what he said. ,. said. security being the really big one. you might _ said. security being the really big one. you might remember- said. security being the really big one. you might remember last i said. security being the really big i one. you might remember last week rishi sunak made a speech about security, and that started to feel like a general election campaign as he laid out those themes. that is what he and the conservative party are going to focus on. they are going to talk about security and the risks to the country and he will argue that he has helped people through difficult times. we will hear a lot about that because the conservative record is patchy and there is a reason they are so far behind in the opinion. the argument they will make is we have been through a difficult time, with a pandemic, the russian invasion of ukraine, all of these putting huge pressure on the country, and he will say that, first as chancellor, with the furlough scheme, and since then, he has helped people difficult time and he will contrast that with labour and he will say they have no plan. the challenge for labour so keir starmer is the leader of the

opposition, which is not the same. he will have to introduce himself again to the british people and lay out what a labour government would do, and what the tories will try and do, and what the tories will try and do is say that they don't have a they don't have policies and people have no idea what they will do. i think you could see that framing from the outset. iie think you could see that framing from the outset.— think you could see that framing from the outset. he spoke initially about challenging _ from the outset. he spoke initially about challenging times, - from the outset. he spoke initially about challenging times, about i about challenging times, about generation defining times, and he linked that to his own role as chancellor, the furlough scheme, reminding people through the covid days of the role he played. that’s days of the role he played. that's riaht, days of the role he played. that's right. that _ days of the role he played. that's right, that was _ days of the role he played. that's right, that was a _ days of the role he played. that's right, that was a huge _ days of the role he played. that's right, that was a huge step i days of the role he played. that's right, that was a huge step for i days of the role he played. that's i right, that was a huge step for him. he was a veryjunior minister and he had a meteoric rise to chancellor and then now prime minister. he wants to remind people how the

conservative government help them. of course, that is without mentioning the other things that went on during covid and all sorts of questions that were asked during borisjohnson time, about partygate, and the cabinet now living. through the pouring rain, with the work and pensions secretary in the middle of the worth saying that there is shot among tory mps about all of this. i was in the commons as these rumours were circulating and when you said, it looks like a general election is on, i couldn't really believe it, because so many of them, lots of them are standing down, lots of them know they will lose their seats. i think they all thought it would be the autumn step he didn't have an election in may at the same time as the locals and he is now saying the 4th ofjuly to dub what has changed? they all thought that, by not go in may, it would be autumn, so i think they are so bright it has happened.

and also a prime minister election when they are so far behind in the polls, when they don't have to, is very unusual tojohn major is the nearest equivalent that we have, really, in recent times, in 1997, but he was running out of time for the he held it right at the end of the he held it right at the end of the parliament. rishi sunak doesn't have to do this election until january but he's decided to go now and i think a lot of people will speculate about that, presumably because he doesn't think in some going to improve in the short term enough to change the dial. i think there are lots of tory mps frustrated. he has announced various measures and none of it seems to have shifted the polls so now deciding it's time to go, but it leaves a lot of tory mps near the end of their career. i leaves a lot of tory mps near the end of their career.— leaves a lot of tory mps near the end of their career. i want to bring in professor— end of their career. i want to bring in professor sir _ end of their career. i want to bring in professor sirjohn _ end of their career. i want to bring in professor sirjohn curtis - end of their career. i want to bring in professor sirjohn curtis from i in professor sirjohn curtis from the university of strathclyde, who looks at the election prospects and figures for us every year. good to have you on the programme. speaking

to vicki young point, a lot of shop among tory mps, given where the conservatives are in the polls to stop spell out the challenge for the main parties now we are about to enter a general election campaign. the conservatives do face a major challenge — the conservatives do face a major challenge. it's a challenge not dissimilar to thatjohn challenge. it's a challenge not dissimilar to that john major faced in 19 to _ dissimilar to that john major faced in 19 to seven, but he almost went all the _ in 19 to seven, but he almost went all the way— in 19 to seven, but he almost went all the way to the legal limit of that parliament. on average in the polls so— that parliament. on average in the polls so far— that parliament. on average in the polls so far this month, the labour party— polls so far this month, the labour party on— polls so far this month, the labour party on 44% are 21 points ahead of the conservatives on 23%. that is an enormous _ the conservatives on 23%. that is an enormous figure to turn around. particularly if you bear in mind that. _ particularly if you bear in mind that. even— particularly if you bear in mind that, even if the polls narrow and perhaps _ that, even if the polls narrow and perhaps we get into the area of a hung _ perhaps we get into the area of a hung parliament, which perhaps is at the top _ hung parliament, which perhaps is at the top end _ hung parliament, which perhaps is at the top end of reasonable expectation for the conservatives, because _ expectation for the conservatives, because neither the lib dems nor the

snp are _ because neither the lib dems nor the snp are willing to vote for a minority— snp are willing to vote for a minority conservative kings speech, the conservatives have to get themselves almost back to 320 seats if richie _ themselves almost back to 320 seats if richie said it desperately if rishi — if richie said it desperately if rishi sunak is to remain in downing street _ rishi sunak is to remain in downing street for— rishi sunak is to remain in downing street. forthe rishi sunak is to remain in downing street. for the other parties, the lib street. for the other parties, the lib dems — street. for the other parties, the lib dems are running on average at around _ lib dems are running on average at around 11% — lib dems are running on average at around 11%. no better than they were back in— around 11%. no better than they were back in 2019, but they are hoping to profit _ back in 2019, but they are hoping to profit from — back in 2019, but they are hoping to profit from conservative misfortune in those _ profit from conservative misfortune in those constituencies where they start in— in those constituencies where they start in second place. one challenge the conservatives face is that things have got more difficult in the last— things have got more difficult in the last six months in that the party— the last six months in that the party that— the last six months in that the party that is now picking up most votes _ party that is now picking up most votes from — party that is now picking up most votes from the conservatives is not labour _ votes from the conservatives is not labour but — votes from the conservatives is not labour but reform uk, running at about— labour but reform uk, running at about 12%~ — labour but reform uk, running at about 12%. we should remember that reform _ about 12%. we should remember that reform uk. _ about 12%. we should remember that reform uk, the brexit party, did not stand _ reform uk, the brexit party, did not stand in— reform uk, the brexit party, did not stand in conservative held constituencies in 2019 to dub if richard — constituencies in 2019 to dub if richard tice stick to his determination to do so this time, even _ determination to do so this time, even if—

determination to do so this time, even if reform uk gets squeezed, the getting _ even if reform uk gets squeezed, the getting five or 6%, which will be off the _ getting five or 6%, which will be off the concept of total in the seats — off the concept of total in the seats they are trying to defend. the greens _ seats they are trying to defend. the greens will— seats they are trying to defend. the greens will be hope. they have had their best _ greens will be hope. they have had their best set of local poll results and they— their best set of local poll results and they have one or two constituencies they have their eye on, constituencies they have their eye on. and _ constituencies they have their eye on, and caroline lucas is standing down _ on, and caroline lucas is standing down in _ on, and caroline lucas is standing down in brighton. north of the border. — down in brighton. north of the border. i— down in brighton. north of the border, i think the snp will not welcome — border, i think the snp will not welcome this early election. they have _ welcome this early election. they have just — welcome this early election. they have just replaced their leader, john— have just replaced their leader, john swinney is hoping to turn things— john swinney is hoping to turn things around and at the moment they are running _ things around and at the moment they are running about five or six points behind _ are running about five or six points behind labour in the polls. the truth _ behind labour in the polls. the truth is — behind labour in the polls. the truth is this looks like an election for labour— truth is this looks like an election for labour to win and i guess there are almost— for labour to win and i guess there are almost two words which come to mind. _ are almost two words which come to mind. so— are almost two words which come to mind. so far— are almost two words which come to mind, so faras are almost two words which come to mind, so far as the prime minister decision— mind, so far as the prime minister decision is— mind, so far as the prime minister decision is concerned, he is either very brave — decision is concerned, he is either very brave or— decision is concerned, he is either very brave or extremely foolhardy, and we _ very brave or extremely foolhardy, and we will — very brave or extremely foolhardy, and we will discover in the early hours _ and we will discover in the early hours of— and we will discover in the early hours ofjuly the 5th which of those

judgments prove to be correct. you seak judgments prove to be correct. you speak about _ judgments prove to be correct. gm. speak about labour being so far ahead in the polls, yet they go on talking about not being complacent, and there are electoral changes as well. there are boundary changes. does that make it more difficult for labour? ,., ., , does that make it more difficult for labour? ., , . ., , does that make it more difficult for labour? ., ,~ ., , ., does that make it more difficult for labour? ., , . ., , ., .,~ labour? the boundary changes do make it somewhat more _ labour? the boundary changes do make it somewhat more difficult _ labour? the boundary changes do make it somewhat more difficult for _ it somewhat more difficult for labour — it somewhat more difficult for labour so _ it somewhat more difficult for labour so whereas, in the standard arithmetic. — labour so whereas, in the standard arithmetic, the labour party needed around _ arithmetic, the labour party needed around a _ arithmetic, the labour party needed around a 12— arithmetic, the labour party needed around a 12 point lead over the conservatives to get a majority of one on _ conservatives to get a majority of one on the — conservatives to get a majority of one on the old boundaries, that now looks— one on the old boundaries, that now looks more — one on the old boundaries, that now looks more like 13 to 14%, so the boundary — looks more like 13 to 14%, so the boundary changes make things a bit more _ boundary changes make things a bit more difficult for labour but not dramatically so. however, one challenge— dramatically so. however, one challenge that faces the conservatives is that both those so mrp polls, the big holes where the interview— mrp polls, the big holes where the interview a lot of people, or if you look at _ interview a lot of people, or if you look at the — interview a lot of people, or if you look at the local elections two or three _

look at the local elections two or three weeks ago, a clear parting in both is— three weeks ago, a clear parting in both is that — three weeks ago, a clear parting in both is that the conservative vote is falling — both is that the conservative vote is falling more heavily in places where — is falling more heavily in places where they were previously strongest, which under our electoral system _ strongest, which under our electoral system is _ strongest, which under our electoral system is potentially very bad news indeed _ system is potentially very bad news indeed in — system is potentially very bad news indeed. in other words, system is potentially very bad news indeed. in otherwords, it means that. _ indeed. in otherwords, it means that. for— indeed. in otherwords, it means that. for any— indeed. in otherwords, it means that, for any given share of the vote. _ that, for any given share of the vote. the — that, for any given share of the vote, the conservatives are at risk of losing _ vote, the conservatives are at risk of losing more seats than they'd otherwise — of losing more seats than they'd otherwise expect in an electoral system — otherwise expect in an electoral system that was very kind to them in 2019 and _ system that was very kind to them in 2019 and enabled borisjohnson system that was very kind to them in 2019 and enabled boris johnson to -et 2019 and enabled boris johnson to get an— 2019 and enabled boris johnson to get an overall majority. if the local— get an overall majority. if the local elections are any guide, and the opinion— local elections are any guide, and the opinion polls are any guide, the electoral— the opinion polls are any guide, the electoral system will be nothing like so — electoral system will be nothing like so kind to the conservatives this time. — like so kind to the conservatives this time, and much the same was the case in _ this time, and much the same was the case in 97. _ this time, and much the same was the case in 97, when the tories faced a not dissimilar situation with their vote falling heavily. always good to talk to you. thank you very _ always good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed. i am always good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed.- always good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed. i am going to co you very much indeed. i am going to no shortl you very much indeed. i am going to go shortly to — you very much indeed. i am going to go shortly to a _ you very much indeed. i am going to go shortly to a former _ you very much indeed. i am going to go shortly to a former downing i go shortly to a former downing street adviser but i want to bring

vicki young back in, our deputy political editor, lots of people contacting you given the announcement.- contacting you given the announcement. , , ., announcement. this is about the choreography — announcement. this is about the choreography of _ announcement. this is about the choreography of what _ announcement. this is about the choreography of what happens i announcement. this is about the i choreography of what happens next. from downing street, the prime minister has asked the king to claim the dissolution of parliament. his majesty has done that and will comply with that request. parliament will be prorogued on the 24th of may, this friday and dissolution will take place on the 30th of may. it was supposed to be recess, it is half term for many schools next week, that is done in terms of parliament. they will do as many bits of legislation as they can get through in that short time. the general election on the 4th ofjuly, the new parliament will be summoned to meet on tuesday the 9th ofjuly, the first thing they do is elect a speaker, they swear in members and the state opening will be on the 17th ofjuly. just one other thing, in terms of a response from labour, there has not been anything official yet apart from angela rayner, the

deputy leader of the labour party, seen walking through the building across the road saying, bring it on and a tweet has gone out saying the same thing from rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor. back same thing from rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor.— shadow chancellor. back with you shortl , shadow chancellor. back with you shortly. lots _ shadow chancellor. back with you shortly. lots of — shadow chancellor. back with you shortly, lots of dates _ shadow chancellor. back with you shortly, lots of dates for - shadow chancellor. back with you shortly, lots of dates for the i shortly, lots of dates for the diaries. as i said, i want to go back to sirjohn curtice now... i beg your pardon... we are going to speak now to mo hussein, a former downing street adviser and a press office adviser. good to have you on the programme. hearing from rishi sunak, there, what did you think about the presentation and what he had to say? about the presentation and what he had to sa ? ~ ., , about the presentation and what he hadtosa? about the presentation and what he hadto sa ? ~ , ., had to say? well, there has been a lot of grumbling — had to say? well, there has been a lot of grumbling about _ had to say? well, there has been a lot of grumbling about this - had to say? well, there has been a lot of grumbling about this today i lot of grumbling about this today and number 10 lot of grumbling about this today and numberio were not lot of grumbling about this today and number 10 were not doing very much _ and number 10 were not doing very much on _ and number 10 were not doing very much on the communications side to try to _ much on the communications side to try to lock— much on the communications side to try to lock it — much on the communications side to try to lock it down which in itself is quite — try to lock it down which in itself is quite telling. i think there has been _ is quite telling. i think there has been a _ is quite telling. i think there has been a big — is quite telling. i think there has been a big debate around, do you go long. _ been a big debate around, do you go long. or— been a big debate around, do you go long. or do _ been a big debate around, do you go long, or do you go early? looking at

the economic data the government has had recently, whether it is the inflation — had recently, whether it is the inflation statistics or a bit more growth — inflation statistics or a bit more growth that we saw last week, considering the migration stats are coming _ considering the migration stats are coming out tomorrow, potentially first flight to rwanda, it feels there — first flight to rwanda, it feels there is— first flight to rwanda, it feels there is a choreography are slightly better— there is a choreography are slightly better news for the government that can probably capitalise on rather than _ can probably capitalise on rather than perhaps wait and potentially squander. i think that has been the debate _ squander. i think that has been the debate behind the scenes. clearly, the people who wanted to move quickly— the people who wanted to move quickly seem to have won the argument. in quickly seem to have won the argument-— quickly seem to have won the arc ument. , ., ., ., ., argument. in terms of what he had to sa , what argument. in terms of what he had to say. what did — argument. in terms of what he had to say. what did you _ argument. in terms of what he had to say, what did you take _ argument. in terms of what he had to say, what did you take away - argument. in terms of what he had to say, what did you take away from i say, what did you take away from that? the framing in which he wants his campaign to run. it is interesting _ his campaign to run. it is interesting because i his campaign to run. it is interesting because the i his campaign to run. it is interesting because the prime minister— interesting because the prime minister does not have many cards to play. minister does not have many cards to play he _ minister does not have many cards to play. he made quite big commitments, but the _ play. he made quite big commitments, but the one _ play. he made quite big commitments, but the one that is closest to being met. _ but the one that is closest to being met. on— but the one that is closest to being met, on inflation, we saw the outcome _ met, on inflation, we saw the outcome is _ met, on inflation, we saw the outcome is that today. i think him saying. _ outcome is that today. i think him saying, look, we're not saying everything is perfect, the job has

not been — everything is perfect, the job has not been fully completed but i have shown _ not been fully completed but i have shown you — not been fully completed but i have shown you that i can make these changes. — shown you that i can make these changes. i— shown you that i can make these changes, i think safety first card, stick— changes, i think safety first card, stick with— changes, i think safety first card, stick with me rather than throwing it all to _ stick with me rather than throwing it all to the — stick with me rather than throwing it all to the wind and risking another— it all to the wind and risking another change, i think that is probably— another change, i think that is probably the strongest card he has and that— probably the strongest card he has and that is— probably the strongest card he has and that is what we will hear a lot more _ and that is what we will hear a lot more about. it was interesting he spoke _ more about. it was interesting he spoke about his previous role as ghancellon _ spoke about his previous role as chancellor. that is when he really connected — chancellor. that is when he really connected with the country in a very different— connected with the country in a very different way, not least with the furlough — different way, not least with the furlough scheme, when he was paying people's— furlough scheme, when he was paying people's wages for quite along period — people's wages for quite along period of— people's wages for quite along period of time and he was far more popular. _ period of time and he was far more popular, firstly, than he is now. i think— popular, firstly, than he is now. i think looking back to that time and reminding — think looking back to that time and reminding people of his role then was telling. again, that will be a recurring — was telling. again, that will be a recurring theme. with that does come a risk— recurring theme. with that does come a risk because you are also opening yourself— a risk because you are also opening yourself up — a risk because you are also opening yourself up to answering questions about— yourself up to answering questions about the — yourself up to answering questions about the longer term conservative record. _ about the longer term conservative record. not — about the longer term conservative record, notjust your about the longer term conservative record, not just your role as chancellor. and then i think in talking — chancellor. and then i think in talking about security in general, we have — talking about security in general, we have heard him talk about that before. _ we have heard him talk about that before. i_

we have heard him talk about that before, i am we have heard him talk about that before, lam not we have heard him talk about that before, i am not sure that wider message — before, i am not sure that wider message around geopolitics and defence — message around geopolitics and defence necessarily cuts through on the doorstep. i am not sure people are going _ the doorstep. i am not sure people are going to vote on that. but add into that _ are going to vote on that. but add into that mix that the world is unstable. _ into that mix that the world is unstable, do you really want to make another _ unstable, do you really want to make another change and potentially ruin the small— another change and potentially ruin the small progress we have made, again. _ the small progress we have made, again. that — the small progress we have made, again, that will be a consistent theme — again, that will be a consistent theme as — again, that will be a consistent theme as well, from the not many choices— theme as well, from the not many choices that he has.— choices that he has. very good to talk to you _ choices that he has. very good to talk to you and _ choices that he has. very good to talk to you and thank _ choices that he has. very good to talk to you and thank you - choices that he has. very good to talk to you and thank you very i choices that he has. very good to i talk to you and thank you very much, mo hussein, there, a former downing street adviser. i would like to go now to our correspondent in glasgow, lorna gordon. just looking at the election and what rishi sunak had to say, what kind of battle lines will there be in scotland? has there yet been any political reaction there? remember, the last time there was a general election here in scotland, the snp won the most seats by a considerable margin. but i think it

is fair to say it will be a much more competitive general election this time around. remember, labour won this part of west central scotland, hamilton and rutherglen —— rutherglen and hamilton west, in a by—election last year and they will be hoping to win the seat again and other seats like it in west central scotland, east of edinburgh and perhaps as far afield as the western isles. certainly, the polling suggests that the last five polls have put labour of 36% in scotland and the snp on 31% or 32%. it is only li%, 5% difference but it is how it affects their seats and there are a lot of marginal seats here in scotland that they will be hoping to wrestle back from the snp. the conservatives plus my response has been that they are feeling quite confident and they will be looking perhaps to gain seats in the north—east of scotland as well. it is a challenge for scotland's new

first minister, john swinney, who is just in post. he has had a new cabinet. today he was setting out his priorities for government and that has been swept aside with the news of a general election injuly. he is going to have to get his head, and his party and his campaigning gear to hold on those seats in scotland. you know, there is a lot to play for, here. yes scotland. you know, there is a lot to play for. here-— scotland. you know, there is a lot to play for, here. yes indeed. thank ou ve to play for, here. yes indeed. thank you very much. _ to play for, here. yes indeed. thank you very much, lorna. _ to play for, here. yes indeed. thank you very much, lorna. now- to play for, here. yes indeed. thank you very much, lorna. now let's - to play for, here. yes indeed. thank you very much, lorna. now let's go | you very much, lorna. now let's go to cardiff and speak to thomas morgan, the news of the election date, the lith ofjuly, just made in the last few minutes, has there been any reaction? hal the last few minutes, has there been any reaction?— any reaction? not so far, i think, reall , any reaction? not so far, i think, really. back— any reaction? not so far, i think, really. back in — any reaction? not so far, i think, really, back in 2019 _ any reaction? not so far, i think, really, back in 2019 when - any reaction? not so far, i think, really, back in 2019 when we - any reaction? not so far, i think, i really, back in 2019 when we looked at the fight in wales, it was focused almost entirely up in north—east wales, the so—called red wool seats, and most of the voters there switched from red to blue. if

there switched from red to blue. if the polls remain as they are, and i am sure it looks like they could switch back, really. that is where much of the campaign will be focused over the next couple of weeks. however, the make—up of those constituencies will be different because injuly, a0 mps in wales become 32. what does that mean? in certain seats, labour may be targeting some of the big hitters, three former welsh secretary seats and the current welsh secretary may be up for grabs. the only seat that is not changing is anglesey which todayit is not changing is anglesey which today it was announced will be the next preferred site for a nuclear power plant across the uk. this will be a big election for everybody and a focus in wales will be on the key battlegrounds but here in south wales, there has been some disquiet amongst the public, especially because the 20 mph speed limit that is now going to be changed after

such a backlash here in wales. how will that affect voting from judy —— from the ath ofjuly? there is also pressure on the still relatively new first minister vaughan gething after the donation he received for his leadership campaign, £200,000 given to him by a man that was quite convicted of environmental offences. no doubt the tories will use those two things to attack labour here in wales, and they will also go after labour's track record of education and health here in wales, and the reverse from labour will no doubt be about not receiving enough money from westminster to fund public services. ., .,, from westminster to fund public services. ., ., ., , services. tomos morgan in cardiff, thank ou services. tomos morgan in cardiff, thank you very _ services. tomos morgan in cardiff, thank you very much. _ services. tomos morgan in cardiff, thank you very much. let's - services. tomos morgan in cardiff, thank you very much. let's rosterl thank you very much. let's roster belfast and speak to our ireland correspondent sarah gavin, and from scotland and wales we heard the points that the first ministers and their respective assemblies are relatively new and that could also be said for michelle o'neill. what

are the issues going to be in northern ireland?— are the issues going to be in northern ireland? , ., , , northern ireland? yes, absolutely. northern ireland? yes, absolutely. northern ireland's _ northern ireland? yes, absolutely. northern ireland's power-sharing l northern ireland's power—sharing government is just up and running again, for really only a matter of months after a two—year hiatus. as you say, michelle o'neill of sinn fein, the first ministerfor the first time, and emma little—pengelly, the deputy first ministerfrom little—pengelly, the deputy first minister from the little—pengelly, the deputy first ministerfrom the dup, we havejust started to have a bit of reaction from the political party starting to trickle through. we have heard from the dup who say the government was running out of steam, as they put it. and we have heard from the sdlp who have called the election operation remove the tories. they are making their stance very clear. there are 18 westminster seat in northern ireland, just to remind you and they are mainly split between the two biggest political parties in northern ireland, so the dup has

eight and sinn fein has seven. as i say, power—sharing hasjust been eight and sinn fein has seven. as i say, power—sharing has just been up and running a matter of weeks and when stormont came back, it did so with sinn fein as the biggest party. they will certainly be hoping to recreate that success at westminster, even though they have an abstention is policy, which means their mps do not actually take their seats. calling this election, it could definitely be argued it is bad timing for the dup. back in march, theirformer timing for the dup. back in march, their former leader sirjeffrey donaldson stood down after being accused of rape. he is now facing ten other sexual offences charges, historical charges. he is denying all of those but his solicitor did say today that he will not be standing for election. then there is a new leader of the dup, gavin robinson, who is now facing, just weeks into his newjob, leading his party through a general election. also, he will be defending his seat

in east belfast. as always in northern ireland, there is lots in the mix and lots to consider between now and july the ath.— now and july the ath. thank you very much indeed. _ now and july the ath. thank you very much indeed, our _ now and july the ath. thank you very much indeed, our ireland _ much indeed, our ireland correspondent sarah gavin and vicki young is still here with me, the deputy political editor, we are waiting for the labour leader to say something. £31 waiting for the labour leader to say somethina. _, , waiting for the labour leader to say somethina. u, , ., waiting for the labour leader to say somethina. u, , ., ., something. of course, we are waiting for that and — something. of course, we are waiting for that and sir _ something. of course, we are waiting for that and sir keir— something. of course, we are waiting for that and sir keir starmer- something. of course, we are waiting for that and sir keir starmer has - for that and sir keir starmer has posted a video which says, give the tories five more years and things will only get worse, britain deserves better than that. the theme is change. it is a lot sunnier wherever he is than it is here. this will be a huge period of time for him. he has not led the party through a general election before. there will be scrutiny for his party and himself like never before. there will be a loss of pressure on labour to say what they will do. they want the election to be fought on the tories' record, and the tories want it to be fought on what might happen next and they want to put lots of

pressure on labour about what their plans are, whether those plans are detailed. but a lot of things need answering, a lot of things need fixing, and both sides will come under a lot of scrutiny about what they are going to do about it. i think for sir keir starmer, being that far ahead in the polls puts a certain pressure as well, a different kind of pressure. it is theirs to lose _ different kind of pressure. it is theirs to lose to _ different kind of pressure. it is theirs to lose to a _ different kind of pressure. it is theirs to lose to a certain extent? it is apart from the fact that if you look at the last general election result, labour did so badly, they have a lot of room to catch up, they have to win over 120 seats they don't currently hold. that is a lot. it seats they don't currently hold. that is a lot.— that is a lot. it is a big hill. there are _ that is a lot. it is a big hill. there are lots _ that is a lot. it is a big hill. there are lots of _ that is a lot. it is a big hill. there are lots of places - that is a lot. it is a big hill. l there are lots of places they that is a lot. it is a big hill. - there are lots of places they have to win, they will look at recent local election results and feel buoyed by the fact they were winning and lots of parts of england, not just in the north or the cities, lots of other places, too. but they also know they cannot be complacent and that has been the message from them for months and months, that they are not complacent because they

do understand how big a challenge it is going to be for them over the next few weeks.— is going to be for them over the next few weeks. ., ~ , ., , . next few weeks. thank you very much as alwa s. next few weeks. thank you very much as always. vicki _ next few weeks. thank you very much as always. vicki young, _ next few weeks. thank you very much as always. vicki young, our _ next few weeks. thank you very much as always. vicki young, our deputy i as always. vicki young, our deputy political editor. if you happen to be just political editor. if you happen to bejustjoining us, the news is that the prime minister has announced the date of a general election but i am going to take you to sir keir starmer, the labour leader. applause tonight the prime minister is finally announced the next general election, a moment the country needs and has been waiting for, and whereby the force of our democracy power returns to you, a chance to change for the better your future, your community, your country. it will feel like a long campaign, i am sure of that but, no matter what else is said and done, that

opportunity for change is what this election is about. over the course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party, returned it once more to the service of working people. all we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country and return britain to the service of working people. to that purpose, we offer... why you should change britain with labour. one, because we will stop the chaos. look at the sewage in our rivers, people waiting on trolleys in a&e, prime virtually unpunished, mortgages and food prices through the roof. it's all, every bit of it, a direct result of the tory chaos in

westminster. time and again, they pursue their own interests rather than tackling the issues that affect your family. than tackling the issues that affect yourfamily. and, if they than tackling the issues that affect your family. and, if they get another five years, they will feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. nothing will change. a vote for labour is a vote for stability, economic and political, politics that treads more likely on all our lives, a vote to stop the chaos. two, because it's time for change. our offer is to reset both our economy and our politics so that they once again serve the interests of working people. we totally reject the tory view that economic strength somehow different for those at the top. over the past 1a years, through all the crises we have had to face,

sticking with that idea has left our country exposed, insecure and unable to unlock the potential of every community. but a vote for labour is a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote for change. and finally, three, because we have a long—term plan to rebuild britain a plan that is ready to go, fully costed and fully funded. we can deliver economic stability, cut the nhs waiting times, secure our borders with a new border security command, harness great british energy to cut your bills for good, tackle anti—social behaviour and get the teachers we need in your children's classroom. but, most importantly of all, we do all this with a new

spirit of service, country first, party second, a rejection of the gesture politics you will see in this campaign, i have no doubt, from the tories and the snp. i am well aware of the cynicism people hold towards politicians at the moment. but i came into politics late, and served our country as leader of the crown prosecution service, and i helped the police service in northern ireland to gain the consent of all communities. service of our country is the reason and the only reason why i am standing here now, asking for your vote. and i believe, with patience, determination and that commitment to service, there is so much pride and potential we can unlock across our country. so here it is. the future of the country in

your hands. on the ath ofjuly, you have the choice, and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain and change our country. thank you. applause sur keir starmer, labour leader, responding to the call of a general election here in a very wet downing street. welcome to westminster. let me bring in vicki young, who has been listening to what keir starmer said. he was in the dry. we shall rishi sunak absolutely drowned. but they were both repeating their messages on this huge, momentous day. messages on this huge, momentous da . , ., messages on this huge, momentous da . , ., ., ., messages on this huge, momentous da. ., day. they are both going to be -auttin day. they are both going to be putting out _ day. they are both going to be putting out how _ day. they are both going to be putting out how they _ day. they are both going to be putting out how they are - day. they are both going to be putting out how they are going day. they are both going to be i putting out how they are going to fight this election campaign. for the prime minister, is going to talk

about security, about the work he did during covid as chancellor, how he helped people through a difficult time, the conservatives want to talk about the plan they have, they say they have a it’s about the plan they have, they say they have a— they have a it's starting to work, they have a it's starting to work, the economy _ they have a it's starting to work, the economy is _ they have a it's starting to work, the economy is turning - they have a it's starting to work, the economy is turning around, | they have a it's starting to work, - the economy is turning around, stick with us and it's going to be ok. labour want to fight this election on the conservatives' record. they don't want to forget about what happened in downing street with partygate, they don't want people to forget about liz truss. they want to talk about the conservatives' record empower over 1a years and particularly the economy, keir starmer, so far labour have played it safe. they have gone out and talked about trust. shadow chancellor rachel reeves talks a lot about trust economics. she wants people to feel they can trust her with their money for the there has been a problem with labour and the economy, that they really do want to

turn around. you can see here how it's going to be fought, with the economy, of course, at the centre. let's talk about the drum of today, because it's very wet. this was the last moment, anyway, rishi sunak could call it before the summer, before the schools break up and summer holidays begin, and yet a little westminster seems to have been taken by surprise. i heard a tip yesterday, there was speculation, but there has been speculation, but there has been speculation for a long time and i heard diaries were being cleared. the reason people are still cisapride is that the tories are so far behind in the polls. what is the calculation of call it now without waiting for some potential economic improvement? it’s. waiting for some potential economic improvement?— improvement? it's, unusualfora prime minister _ improvement? it's, unusualfora prime minister that _ improvement? it's, unusualfora prime minister that behind - improvement? it's, unusualfora prime minister that behind iron l improvement? it's, unusualfora| prime minister that behind iron in the polls to call an election when he doesn't live he could have waited untiljanuary next year. also the fact he didn't choose to do it in

may. the pig slurry was around the local elections. it would have been the obvious time to do it, on the same day, and once that moment had passed, i think lots of tory mps thought, it's going to be the autumn, they hope that something turns up and the economy starts turning around, and then that has all changed in the last couple of days. good news today on inflation and yet, on the other side of it, a little speculation that interest rates won't be cut in the summer as early as people had hoped. that would have been something the government would have hoped would happen. people with mortgages would have started to see their bills coming down. if they are not going to, it raises the question, what are we waiting for? are we waiting for flights to rwanda? what if those flights to rwanda? what if those flights take off and then over the summer more migrants come across the channel, it will look like it hasn't worked. so there was jeopardy in waiting as well. i’m worked. so there was 'eopardy in waiting as well._ waiting as well. i'm 'oined by charles walker, _ waiting as well. i'm 'oined by charles walker, a _ waiting as well. i'm joined by i charles walker, a conservative waiting as well. i'm joined by - charles walker, a conservative mp for your reaction to the

announcement. i for your reaction to the announcement.- for your reaction to the announcement. . , , , , for your reaction to the announcement. ., , , , , . announcement. i was surprised. we heard rumours _ announcement. i was surprised. we heard rumours in — announcement. i was surprised. we heard rumours in the _ announcement. i was surprised. we heard rumours in the tearoom - announcement. i was surprised. we heard rumours in the tearoom but l heard rumours in the tearoom but that is_ heard rumours in the tearoom but that is from — heard rumours in the tearoom but that is from monday and that's what we thought they were, just rumours, and it— we thought they were, just rumours, and it was_ we thought they were, just rumours, and it was really only this morning at around — and it was really only this morning at around 10am that these rumours began _ at around 10am that these rumours began to— at around 10am that these rumours began to gain some purchase with colleagues, and here we are, just after— colleagues, and here we are, just after 5:30pm, colleagues, and here we are, just after5z30pm, nearly colleagues, and here we are, just after 5:30pm, nearly 6pm, colleagues, and here we are, just after5z30pm, nearly 6pm, looking colleagues, and here we are, just after 5:30pm, nearly 6pm, looking at after 5:30pm, nearly 6pm, looking at a six-week— after 5:30pm, nearly 6pm, looking at a six—week election campaign. are a six-week election campaign. are ou a six—week election campaign. site: you standing? a six-week election campaign. are you standing? no, _ a six-week election campaign. are you standing? no, i— a six-week election campaign. are you standing? no, i announced - a six-week election campaign. are | you standing? no, i announced well over two years _ you standing? no, i announced well over two years ago _ you standing? no, i announced well over two years ago that _ you standing? no, i announced well over two years ago that i _ you standing? no, i announced well over two years ago that i wasn't - over two years ago that i wasn't standing, — over two years ago that i wasn't standing, but i spoke to the candidate who is fighting my seat for the _ candidate who is fighting my seat for the conservatives and wished him luck for the conservatives and wished him tuckiust _ for the conservatives and wished him luckjust before coming on air with you _ luckjust before coming on air with you to— luck 'ust before coming on air with 0“. ., ., ., luck 'ust before coming on air with ou. ., ., ., ., ., ., you. to ask about the drama and the o tics at you. to ask about the drama and the optics at the — you. to ask about the drama and the optics at the moment, _ you. to ask about the drama and the optics at the moment, it's _ you. to ask about the drama and the optics at the moment, it's a - you. to ask about the drama and the optics at the moment, it's a very - optics at the moment, it's a very wet day, the prime minister control the weather, but in terms of how this is going to look to voters turning on the news, looking at a very soggy prime minister and

frankly, making an address for quite a few minutes, is that a big risk? most of it will be forgotten. it's a six-week— most of it will be forgotten. it's a six—week campaign it feels very immediate now because it'sjust been launched, _ immediate now because it'sjust been launched, but there are rhythms to general— launched, but there are rhythms to general election campaigns, as you said the _ general election campaigns, as you said the prime minister can choose the date _ said the prime minister can choose the date of— said the prime minister can choose the date of polling but not what is happening on the weather front. this is the _ happening on the weather front. this is the first— happening on the weather front. this is the first of az days, and there is the first of az days, and there is going — is the first of az days, and there is going to — is the first of az days, and there is going to be lots of ups and downs. — is going to be lots of ups and downs, both for keir starmer and rishi _ downs, both for keir starmer and rishi sunak. it's the political fight — rishi sunak. it's the political fight of— rishi sunak. it's the political fight of both life —— both men's lives _ fight of both life —— both men's lives one _ fight of both life —— both men's lives. one wants to stay in number ten and _ lives. one wants to stay in number ten and one — lives. one wants to stay in number ten and one wants the keys. do you think rishi sunak— ten and one wants the keys. do you think rishi sunak believes _ ten and one wants the keys. do you think rishi sunak believes he - ten and one wants the keys. do you think rishi sunak believes he can i think rishi sunak believes he can win this? the economy, the inflation numbers today indicated potentially improving, the energy prices might

be coming down in the autumn. that's why so many had calculated the conservative best chance would be in october or november. what is your sense with your fellow conservative mps who want to stay in the commons question of is the state giving them the best chance? the question of is the state giving them the best chance?— question of is the state giving them the best chance? the prime minister clearly believes _ the best chance? the prime minister clearly believes now _ the best chance? the prime minister clearly believes now is _ the best chance? the prime minister clearly believes now is the _ the best chance? the prime minister clearly believes now is the chance i clearly believes now is the chance to go _ clearly believes now is the chance to go against really good inflation figures, _ to go against really good inflation figures, so he has made the decision _ figures, so he has made the decision. he wouldn't have made it lightiy_ decision. he wouldn't have made it lightly but — decision. he wouldn't have made it lightly but he thinks this is the best— lightly but he thinks this is the best window in which to fight a general— best window in which to fight a general election campaign. we can argue _ general election campaign. we can argue about should it be november or october. _ argue about should it be november or october, should have been may? but it is when— october, should have been may? but it is when it _ october, should have been may? but it is when it is, and it'sjuly the 4th _ it is when it is, and it'sjuly the 4th, and — it is when it is, and it'sjuly the ath, and that the contest that my colleagues will have to fight. the starting — colleagues will have to fight. the starting gun has been fired and people — starting gun has been fired and people now will be getting their leaflets — people now will be getting their leaflets ready and looking at their canvassing schedules, clearing their diaries, _ canvassing schedules, clearing their diaries, getting ready to submit the nomination papers to the returning officer. _ nomination papers to the returning officer. and — nomination papers to the returning officer, and the campaigning started

as soon— officer, and the campaigning started as soon as _ officer, and the campaigning started as soon as he appeared on the steps of number— as soon as he appeared on the steps of numberten. mr as soon as he appeared on the steps of number ten.— as soon as he appeared on the steps of number ten. mr walker, in terms of number ten. mr walker, in terms ofthe of number ten. mr walker, in terms of the key issues, _ of number ten. mr walker, in terms of the key issues, the _ of number ten. mr walker, in terms of the key issues, the things - of number ten. mr walker, in terms of the key issues, the things your i of the key issues, the things your constituents have been talking to you about, i know you are not fighting for your seat, but what do you think are the key questions the conservatives can persuade people on? ~ , , . ~' on? the prime minister said, stick the course. _ on? the prime minister said, stick the course. we — on? the prime minister said, stick the course, we were _ on? the prime minister said, stick the course, we were battling i on? the prime minister said, stick the course, we were battling the l the course, we were battling the headwinds of covid, then china pursuing — headwinds of covid, then china pursuing zero crowd: rush apothecary invasion of ukraine creating an energy shock, and the prime minister will say, they do not probe i was with you through the difficult times, and i say, if i took these measures, and some of them were difficult, putting up some of them were difficult, putting up taxes, we would get back to a good footing again. i up taxes, we would get back to a good footing again.— up taxes, we would get back to a good footing again. i know that is what the basis _ good footing again. i know that is what the basis of _ good footing again. i know that is what the basis of our _ good footing again. i know that is what the basis of our election i what the basis of our election campaign is going to be. i said we need— campaign is going to be. i said we need to—

campaign is going to be. i said we need to stick the course, we have stuck _ need to stick the course, we have stuck the — need to stick the course, we have stuck the course and now we are beginning — stuck the course and now we are beginning to reap the dividends. thank— beginning to reap the dividends. thank you — beginning to reap the dividends. thank you very much indeed for joining us. let me update you on what happened earlier, because without rishi sunak saying he met the king and he met directly after a the king and he met directly after a the meeting lasted, according to police sources, about 15 minutes and it took place on the normal wednesday prime minister is audience in the usual private audience room for. let's listen now to ed davey, the leader of the liberal democrats, for his reaction to today announcement of an election. the lib dems are fighting _ announcement of an election. the lib dems are fighting a _ announcement of an election. the lib dems are fighting a strong _ announcement of an election. the lib dems are fighting a strong campaignl dems are fighting a strong campaign across— dems are fighting a strong campaign across the _ dems are fighting a strong campaign across the country and in many parts of the _ across the country and in many parts of the country it is the lib dems heat _ of the country it is the lib dems heat the — of the country it is the lib dems beat the conservatives. we are here

in surrey _ beat the conservatives. we are here in surrey. everyone knows the battle here is— in surrey. everyone knows the battle here is between the lib dems and the conservatives. sony other counties across _ conservatives. sony other counties across the — conservatives. sony other counties across the home counties, in the south-west — across the home counties, in the south—west of england, in many other places. _ south—west of england, in many other places. too, _ south—west of england, in many other places, too, if people want to get rid of— places, too, if people want to get rid of their— places, too, if people want to get rid of their conservative mp, they need _ rid of their conservative mp, they need to— rid of their conservative mp, they need to vote liberal democrat, and they can _ need to vote liberal democrat, and they can get that local champion to stand _ they can get that local champion to stand up— they can get that local champion to stand up forthem. they can get that local champion to stand up for them. can chemical the lib dems _ stand up for them. can chemical the lib dems will be hoping to stand up for them. can chemical the lib dems will be hoping— lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip _ lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip it's _ lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip it's been _ lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip it's been tight - lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip it's been tight in i lib dems will be hoping to beat the tories to dip it's been tight in the l tories to dip it's been tight in the past but the conservatives have struggled in the polls lately flip let's get that it is from snp leader john swinney. i let's get that it is from snp leader john swinney-— let's get that it is from snp leader john swinney. i am pleased we have an election — john swinney. i am pleased we have an election date. _ john swinney. i am pleased we have an election date. i _ john swinney. i am pleased we have an election date. i look— john swinney. i am pleased we have an election date. i look forward i an election date. i look forward enormously to leading my party into this election campaign. i stood for the party— this election campaign. i stood for the party leadership knowing we would _ the party leadership knowing we would have an election soon. it's sooner— would have an election soon. it's sooner than— would have an election soon. it's sooner than i think everybody thought. _ sooner than i think everybody thought, but it's welcome. i welcome the opportunity to remove the tory government. and to put scotland first _ government. and to put scotland

first. that's what i will be sent to the public, — first. that's what i will be sent to the public, but i also have to say that i_ the public, but i also have to say that i think— the public, but i also have to say that i think this is perhaps the latest — that i think this is perhaps the latest act _ that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government to call an election— conservative government to call an election during the scottish summer school— election during the scottish summer school holidays, with the school on holiday— school holidays, with the school on holiday lry— school holidays, with the school on holiday by the day of polling, which will not _ holiday by the day of polling, which will not have been given a moment thought— will not have been given a moment thought by— will not have been given a moment thought by the tory election planners. it shows the contempt the tories _ planners. it shows the contempt the tories have — planners. it shows the contempt the tories have a scotland. john swinney. — tories have a scotland. john swinney. the _ tories have a scotland. john swinney, the snp _ tories have a scotland. john swinney, the snp leader, i tories have a scotland. irvin swinney, the snp leader, with the uk now plunged into a general election. there has been immense amounts of speculation about this yesterday, i heard talk in a meeting in the body behind me, diaries were being cleared for this afternoon of a potential general election being announced, as that is exactly what has happened. rishi sunak came out here in the last hour, standing in the rain, making a fairly long

speech for a few minutes, outlining his push to the country to secure the public vote. it comes at the end of 1a years of conservative government, with labour well ahead in the polls. keir starmer sounded optimistic, but of course it is now “p optimistic, but of course it is now up to the campaigners and the public to cast their vote onjuly up to the campaigners and the public to cast their vote on july the up to the campaigners and the public to cast their vote onjuly the ath. more coming up on bbc news. today at six, we're live in downing street as rishi sunak calls a general election for the ath ofjuly. speaking less than an hour ago, in the pouring rain he said he had a plan for the future and it was up to the people to make a decision. now is the moment for britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.

on the ath ofjuly you have the choice. — on the ath ofjuly you have the choice, and together we can stop the chaos, _ choice, and together we can stop the chaos, we _ choice, and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start— chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to _ chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain, and change our country — start to rebuild britain, and change our country. thank you. in a special programme we'll bring you all the reaction from here in downing street and across the uk. iam i am pleased to hear we are having a general election. people need to go out and vote and get to the voting stations. stay with us here on bbc news for continuing coverage and analysis from our team of correspondents in the uk and around the world. good evening from downing street,

where in the last hour it isa it is a special extended six o'clock news, we are on for an hour because the prime minister has announced there will be a general election on there will be a general election on the ath ofjuly. it ends months of speculation over when the united kingdom would go to the polls. battling against the rain and loud music mr sunak said he was proud of what he had been achieved and said it was the moment for britain to choose its future and he would fight for every vote. the labour leader sir keir starmer said this was the moment the country needs and has been waiting for and said labour had a long—term plan to rebuild britain and he ended his speech by saying that we can change our country. in a moment how to our political editor chris mason, but first let's what the prime minister rishi sunak had to say. the prime minister rishi sunak had to sa . ., , ., ., to say. now is the moment for britain to _ to say. now is the moment for britain to choose _ to say. now is the moment for britain to choose its _ to say. now is the moment for britain to choose its future, i to say. now is the moment for britain to choose its future, to | britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no

plan and no certainty. earlier today i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the ath ofjuly. ichris election on the ath ofjuly. chris is indeed here _ election on the ath ofjuly. chris is indeed here with _ election on the ath ofjuly. chris is indeed here with me. - election on the ath ofjuly. chris is indeed here with me. a i is indeed here with me. a momentous day for any prime minister. thea;r is indeed here with me. a momentous day for any prime minister.— day for any prime minister. they are some of the — day for any prime minister. they are some of the most _ day for any prime minister. they are some of the most powerful- day for any prime minister. they are some of the most powerful words i day for any prime minister. they are l some of the most powerful words that you hearfrom some of the most powerful words that you hear from a some of the most powerful words that you hearfrom a prime minister, when they make that decision for the power lies with them up until you get to the legal codeword, parliament will dissolve until an election will happen and we were well away from that, it could have carried on until december. our prime minister has the capacity to surprise. there will be surprise around the uk is watching our conversation. there is a price for here, including in government and in the wider conservative party because there had been a sense that it looked more likely that the election would come in the autumn and the prime minister might want to have a

guarantee of two years in downing street before that appointment with the electorate but instead a conclusion reached by the people behind that door, a very small collection of advisers around the prime minister that their best chance was to go now. we had a little snippet varied from the prime minister. ih little snippet varied from the prime minister. , ., little snippet varied from the prime minister. ,., ., minister. in the pouring rain, with music bearing _ minister. in the pouring rain, with music bearing out, _ minister. in the pouring rain, with music bearing out, not _ minister. in the pouring rain, with music bearing out, not happy i music bearing out, not happy circumstances.— music bearing out, not happy circumstances. , ., circumstances. indeed, everyone in downina circumstances. indeed, everyone in downing street _ circumstances. indeed, everyone in downing street has _ circumstances. indeed, everyone in downing street has had _ circumstances. indeed, everyone in downing street has had on - circumstances. indeed, everyone in downing street has had on an i downing street has had on an voluntary hair wash, the brollies have been well worked through. the campaigners have been in whitehall blaring out their music and it is a reminder, the noise on the argument and a passion. the reminder, the noise on the argument and a passion-— and a passion. the things you can control. exactly _ and a passion. the things you can control. exactly and _ and a passion. the things you can control. exactly and will - and a passion. the things you can control. exactly and will head i and a passion. the things you can j control. exactly and will head into this period _ control. exactly and will head into this period were _ control. exactly and will head into this period were rishi _ control. exactly and will head into this period were rishi sunak- control. exactly and will head into this period were rishi sunak and i this period were rishi sunak and keir starmer and leaders from the scottish national party and the liberal democrats and others will be making plenty of arguments. that is just beginning, after quite the most extraordinary afternoon, of

politics, announcements, weather, and the news that the election is coming. the lectern in place, cameras poised, and in the last hour the prime minister calling a general election. in prime minister calling a general election. ., , , ., , ., election. in the last five years our country has _ election. in the last five years our country has fought _ election. in the last five years our country has fought through i election. in the last five years our country has fought through the i election. in the last five years our. country has fought through the most challenging time since the second world war. as i stand here as your prime minister, i can't help but reflect that my first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago. i stood behind one of the podiums, upstairs in the building behind me, itold you of the podiums, upstairs in the building behind me, i told you that we faced a generation defining moment and that we as a society would not bejudged by some government action but by the small acts of kindness that we showed one another. you met that challenge and then some. and i have never been prouder to be british. and when i introduced the furlough scheme, i did so not because i saw a country simply in need of desperate help albeit we were, but because i saw a

country whose future hung in the balance. i could be bold and trust in the tens of millions of you at home that you would rise to the moment, or i could accept the inevitable, millions ofjob losses and pick up the pieces. in truth, it was no choice at all. i have never and will never leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone, and she knew that because you have seen it. as i did then i will forever do everything in my power to provide you with the strongest possible protection i can. that is my promise to you. i came to office above all to restore economic stability. economic stability is the bedrock of any future success, whether that is rising wages and good jobs, whether that is rising wages and goodjobs, investment whether that is rising wages and good jobs, investment in our public services, or the defence of the country. and because of our collective sacrifice and your hard work, we have reached two major milestones in delivering that

stability. showing that when we work together anything is possible. our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing germany, france and the united states. and this morning it was confirmed that inflation is back to normal. this means that the pressure on prices will ease and mortgage rates will come down. this is proof that the plan and priorities i set out are working. i recognise that it is not always been easy, some of you will onlyjust be starting to feel the benefits, and for some it might still be hard when you look at your bank balance. but this hardened economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning. the question now is how and who do you trust to turn that foundation into a secure future for you, your family and our country? now is the moment for britain to choose its future. to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made for risk

going back to square one with no plan and no certainty. earlier today i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. peking has granted his request and we will have a general election on the ofjuly. the request and we will have a general election on the ofjuly.— election on the ofjuly. the music blarin: , election on the ofjuly. the music blaring. rain _ election on the ofjuly. the music blaring, rain pouring, _ election on the ofjuly. the music blaring, rain pouring, and - election on the ofjuly. the music blaring, rain pouring, and more l election on the ofjuly. the music- blaring, rain pouring, and more from rishi sunak. this blaring, rain pouring, and more from rishi sunak-— rishi sunak. this election will take - lace rishi sunak. this election will take lace at a rishi sunak. this election will take place at a time _ rishi sunak. this election will take place at a time when _ rishi sunak. this election will take place at a time when the _ rishi sunak. this election will take place at a time when the world i rishi sunak. this election will take place at a time when the world is l place at a time when the world is more dangerous than it has been since the end of the cold war. these uncertain times call for a clear plan and build action to chart a course to a secure future. you must choose in this election who has that plan, who is prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country and our children? i cannot and will not claim that we have got everything right. no government should. but i am proud that what we have achieved together, the bold actions we have taken, and i am confident about what

we can do in the future. i hope that my work since i became prime minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take bold action necessary for our country to flourish. i have stuck with that plan and always been honest with you about what is needed even when that has been difficult. because i am guided by doing what is right for our country, but is easy. over the next few weeks i will fight for every vote. i will earn your trust and i will prove to you that only a conservative government led by me will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk, can restore pride and confidence in our country, and with a clear plan and build action will deliver a secure future for you, your family and our united kingdom. 50 future for you, your family and our united kingdom.— united kingdom. so this is it, a reneral united kingdom. so this is it, a general election _ united kingdom. so this is it, a general election is _ united kingdom. so this is it, a general election is on. -

united kingdom. so this is it, a general election is on. power. united kingdom. so this is it, a i general election is on. power will leave this most powerful of streets and you will be able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. the cabinet had been summoned for a meeting to confirm what had become the talk of westminster. parliament would be dissolved, campaigns would begin. and tonight they are already under way. begin. and tonight they are already underway. it begin. and tonight they are already under wa . ~ ., ., under way. it will feel like a long campaign. _ under way. it will feel like a long campaign. i _ under way. it will feel like a long campaign. i am _ under way. it will feel like a long campaign, i am sure _ under way. it will feel like a long campaign, i am sure of- under way. it will feel like a long campaign, i am sure of that. i under way. it will feel like a long campaign, i am sure of that. but under way. it will feel like a long i campaign, i am sure of that. but no ntatter— campaign, i am sure of that. but no matter what— campaign, i am sure of that. but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. it is that opportunity for change is what this election is about.— this election is about. it is a welcome — this election is about. it is a welcome opportunity - this election is about. it is a welcome opportunity to i this election is about. it is a i welcome opportunity to remove this election is about. it is a - welcome opportunity to remove the tory government _ welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and _ welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and to _ welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and to put - welcome opportunity to remove the. tory government and to put scotland first. tory government and to put scotland first that _ tory government and to put scotland first that is— tory government and to put scotland first. that is what _ tory government and to put scotland first. that is what i— tory government and to put scotland first. that is what i will— tory government and to put scotland first. that is what i will be _ tory government and to put scotland first. that is what i will be saying i first. that is what i will be saying to the _ first. that is what i will be saying to the public _ first. that is what i will be saying to the public. but _ first. that is what i will be saying to the public. but i _ first. that is what i will be saying to the public. but i also - first. that is what i will be saying to the public. but i also have i to the public. but i also have to site that — to the public. but i also have to site that l — to the public. but i also have to site that i think— to the public. but i also have to site that i think this _ to the public. but i also have to site that i think this is - to the public. but i also have to site that i think this is perhapsl site that i think this is perhaps the latest _ site that i think this is perhaps the latest act _ site that i think this is perhaps the latest act of _ site that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect i site that i think this is perhaps. the latest act of disrespect from a conservative _ the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government - the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government to i the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government to call i the latest act of disrespect from ai conservative government to call an election— conservative government to call an election during _ conservative government to call an election during the _ conservative government to call an election during the scottish - conservative government to call an. election during the scottish summer holiday, _ election during the scottish summer holiday school— election during the scottish summer holiday, school holidays. _ election during the scottish summer holiday, school holidays. it- election during the scottish summer holiday, school holidays. [it is- election during the scottish summer holiday, school holidays.— holiday, school holidays. it is the onl art holiday, school holidays. it is the only part of _ holiday, school holidays. it is the only part of the — holiday, school holidays. it is the only part of the country _ holiday, school holidays. it is the only part of the country the i holiday, school holidays. it is the. only part of the country the liberal democrats can beat the preservatives

and people are crying out for change and people are crying out for change and want to vote for somebody who will champion them and the community. will champion them and the community-— will champion them and the community. will champion them and the communi . �* ., , ., community. and so the noise and the arc ument community. and so the noise and the argument and — community. and so the noise and the argument and the _ community. and so the noise and the argument and the persuasion - community. and so the noise and the argument and the persuasion begins, and then it is over to you, to decide who governs the uk for the next five years. chris and i are joined by our economics editor faisal islam but i should first say that through no fault of chris but the sound quality on that piece was a bit affected by the weather. apologies for that. we have weeks of campaigning now, what is the tip of the campaign going to be like? the likel the campaign going to be like? tie: likely contours in terms of the battle between the conservatives and labour is as you might imagine, after a long period of a party being in government is for the conservatives are concerned. you will hear from conservatives are concerned. you will hearfrom rishi sunak, and other conservatives. an argument about stability, that suggests do you really trust this as a moment for change? and from labour, change will be the word they come back to

again and again. why, because change is the most powerful word in politics if, and it is an f, if people are reassured that that is the change they are tempted to turn to. and so when i speak to senior figures in the labour party and indeedin figures in the labour party and indeed in the conservatives and elsewhere, the recurring message they come back to me with when they do focus groups, speaking to people about how they might be motivated to vote, it is one that is reflected from many, that after a long period in government there is a desire for people to have a site and the most recurrent thing that people say is often, maybe this is that moment for a change. so from labour's perspective that is what you can expect them to seize on. they are already seizing on it tonight. that is the battle if you like between the conservatives and labour as to the conservatives and labour as to the main party in government, the other side of thejuly election. but of course there is a whole host of other contests going on as well. how

about the scottish national party performing, in scotland for so long so dominant, funny and full suggesting there labour are competitive again. that could prove crucial in the arithmetic we are looking at on election night. you have to liberal democrats as well, also hoping to be in a strong position than they have been recent years, the northern ireland parties, the green party, plaid cymru, to wish nationalists. that flotilla of election arguments is just setting sail tonight and at some point it will feel like a frenetic six weeks, and for some it might be a long six weeks, it will be a profound significance six weeks or so and the country decides who it would like to live behind that black door in the second week ofjuly, the other side of the general election. istate second week ofjuly, the other side of the general election.— of the general election. we will hear more _ of the general election. we will hear more about _ of the general election. we will hear more about that _ of the general election. we will hear more about that flotilla i of the general election. we willl hear more about that flotilla and the nations in just hear more about that flotilla and the nations injust a moment. faisal islam, the announcement today coincides with inflation coming down to 2.3%. how much of a that have beenin

to 2.3%. how much of a that have been in what we heard today? i don't think it was a coincidence. it was very much _ it was a coincidence. it was very much done _ it was a coincidence. it was very much done on purpose. to peg your election— date or the announcement of that date or the announcement of that date to— date or the announcement of that date to a — date or the announcement of that date to a figure. if it had come in a bit _ date to a figure. if it had come in a bit higher— date to a figure. if it had come in a bit higher would they have not done _ a bit higher would they have not done what i have done today, they didn't know the number— done today, they didn't know the number until this morning, watch jeopardy, — number until this morning, watch jeopardy, but it isn'tjust that figure. — jeopardy, but it isn'tjust that figure, we should first say about the inflation number, it has come down _ the inflation number, it has come down to— the inflation number, it has come down to normal levels, it was at 11% a year—and—a—half ago. they seek some _ a year—and—a—half ago. they seek some credit — a year—and—a—half ago. they seek some credit for that. it is worth saying — some credit for that. it is worth saying or— some credit for that. it is worth saying or clarifying that it went up to 11%, _ saying or clarifying that it went up to 11%, that was definitely due to global— to 11%, that was definitely due to global factors are going to the government but they want to credit now it _ government but they want to credit now it has — government but they want to credit now it has gone 22% which wasn't ordained, — now it has gone 22% which wasn't ordained, it— now it has gone 22% which wasn't ordained, it might have not fallen to what— ordained, it might have not fallen to what our— ordained, it might have not fallen to what our normal levels, close to the bank— to what our normal levels, close to the bank of— to what our normal levels, close to the bank of england target, but in truth _ the bank of england target, but in truth if— the bank of england target, but in truth if they are trying to peg it to that — truth if they are trying to peg it to that number, it didn't fall quite in the _ to that number, it didn't fall quite in the way— to that number, it didn't fall quite in the way they would have helped because _ in the way they would have helped because underlying measures inflation, service sector inflation stayed _ inflation, service sector inflation stayed quite tight which means if they were counting on the bank of england _ they were counting on the bank of england giving a nice present for

the incumbent government cutting interest— the incumbent government cutting interest rates in the middle of the campaign — interest rates in the middle of the campaign that is now deemed to be less likely— campaign that is now deemed to be less likely than expectations only this morning. we wait, we are not certain— this morning. we wait, we are not certain what — this morning. we wait, we are not certain what will happen in june the 20th. _ certain what will happen in june the 20th. but— certain what will happen in june the 20th, but at the moment it is not looking _ 20th, but at the moment it is not looking likely that we will get a cut but — looking likely that we will get a cut but we will get a cut in the months — cut but we will get a cut in the months afterwards although that would _ months afterwards although that would be up to the election campaign. the other bit of data course — campaign. the other bit of data course was a factor came out of recession. _ course was a factor came out of recession, it proved to be a mild recession— recession, it proved to be a mild recession at _ recession, it proved to be a mild recession at the end of last year and that— recession at the end of last year and that is— recession at the end of last year and that is growth stronger than expected — and that is growth stronger than expected but we can deduce from his speech— expected but we can deduce from his speech as _ expected but we can deduce from his speech as well that for the prime minister— speech as well that for the prime minister this is a campaign rooted in economics and when you talk to the shadow— in economics and when you talk to the shadow team they also say they want to— the shadow team they also say they want to fight for the election on the economy so you have this fundamental issue of perception, which _ fundamental issue of perception, which is — fundamental issue of perception, which is the government wants credit for a turning — which is the government wants credit for a turning point and the opposition want to say if the economy— opposition want to say if the economy had to have a turning point, they should _ economy had to have a turning point, they should get blamed for it going down _ they should get blamed for it going down. then there is the bigger point which _ down. then there is the bigger point which is _ down. then there is the bigger point which is even though you can see some _ which is even though you can see some of— which is even though you can see some of these numbers starting to stabilise _ some of these numbers starting to stabilise and turn, do people feel that change? i think in truth when i

talk to— that change? i think in truth when i talk to people in the cabinet involved _ talk to people in the cabinet involved in economics, i get the sense _ involved in economics, i get the sense that — involved in economics, i get the sense that if you are going to call this election purely in economics you protein might have waited until the autumn because it would have given— the autumn because it would have given an _ the autumn because it would have given an opportunity for potentially a tax cut, _ given an opportunity for potentially a tax cut, and other budget type event, _ a tax cut, and other budget type event, that is not what has happened but he _ event, that is not what has happened but he still— event, that is not what has happened but he still wants to talk a lot about — but he still wants to talk a lot about the economy and he wants people _ about the economy and he wants people to — about the economy and he wants people to think that this government, this prime minister has steered _ government, this prime minister has steered the — government, this prime minister has steered the economy through three massive _ steered the economy through three massive global crises, whereas the opposition— massive global crises, whereas the opposition clearly want to site, some _ opposition clearly want to site, some of— opposition clearly want to site, some of the blame for what we have seen lies— some of the blame for what we have seen lies with the government, that is the _ seen lies with the government, that is the fundamental dilemma. thank ou both is the fundamental dilemma. thank you both and _ is the fundamental dilemma. thank you both and more _ is the fundamental dilemma. thank you both and more from _ is the fundamental dilemma. thank you both and more from you - is the fundamental dilemma. thank you both and more from you later i is the fundamental dilemma. tiag'ia; you both and more from you later in the programme. now let's get reaction from across the uk — we'll be hearing from sara girvin in belfast and tomos morgan in cardiff but first let's go to our scotland editorjames cook who is in edinburgh. good evening. it is raining here as

well, i can tell you that much. this election, whether rain or shine, will be fought in a different electoral landscape in scotland. a lot of the constituencies have changed since the last election in 2019 because of boundaries being withdrawn. a lot of them even created a fresh and we heard briefly from the snp leaderjohn swinney. a little more of the message the snp are putting out this evening. they say that this is the moment to remove the tory government and in their words, remove the tory government and in theirwords, put remove the tory government and in their words, put scotland first by voting snp. they say the snp offers a betterfuture voting snp. they say the snp offers a better future to what they call the broken westminster consensus. i expect we will hear more of that sort of talk during this election campaign. but the snp themselves are also under quite a lot of pressure. the scottish national party has dominated politics here for well over a decade. under alex salmond... ..and then nicola sturgeon, the snp

notched up victory after victory. even after scotland had voted against independence, the wins kept coming. at the last general election in 2019, the snp won a8 seats in scotland. the conservatives took six, the liberal democrats four, while labour returned just one mp. but in the past year, polls suggest a swing in support from the snp to labour, especially in scotland's central belt where the party won the rutherglen and hamilton west by—election. so what do voters here make of going back to the ballot box? i don't know, i really don't. i've no confidence in any of them. so i don't know. as we are getting older, things are getting worse. they say it's for the better, but a lot, it's not, you know. the health service, the school system, everything, you know, it isjust not the way it should be. i think it is long -

overdue, to be honest. i think things are getting j a bit stagnated just now. nothing seems to be changing. if anything, itjust seems to be getting worse all the time. i so, yes, i would welcome a general i election, the sooner, the better. i for the snp, there has been change at the top, too. humza yousaf has come and gone as leader, replaced just a fortnight ago byjohn swinney. so, what are the big issues likely to be in this general election here in scotland? aside from the economy, voters tell pollsters that the things they are really interested in are the health service, housing and education. now, they are all devolved to the scottish parliament here but that doesn't mean they are irrelevant in a general election because the overall budget that the scottish government gets to spend is shaped in westminster. that is the picture here. over now to my colleague tomas morgan in cardiff.

vaughan gething has said the people of wales want a change and are calling for a change in uk government and an end to the tory chaos. as the campaigns begin across the uk, no doubt in wales they will be focused in north wales, and that is where the tories took five of their six seats from labour. but those seats and the constituents in wales will look remarkably different injuly, as a0 seats become 32, due to those in electoral boundary changes. the only seat that is not changing at all is on the isle of anglesey, which today was announced as the preferred site for a new nuclear power plant and it will be a target seat for labour after they lost it four and half years ago. one of those electoral boundary changes, what does it mean for plaid cymru and the lib dems? they look to take advantage of that. some political experts have said it could benefit labour more than any other party.

plaid cymru's leader has said his party is the only one that would put wales first and look for more money, whilst the welsh lib dems leader has said that there is no difference between red and blue, you will get nothing new there at all. and the welsh tory leader has attacked welsh labour on their record on health and education. now we can cross over to belfast and sara girvin. most education. now we can cross over to belfast and sara girvin.— belfast and sara girvin. most of northern ireland's _ belfast and sara girvin. most of northern ireland's westminster| belfast and sara girvin. most of i northern ireland's westminster seats are stuck between the two big parties, the dup has eight and sinn fein has seven. there will be 18 seats up for grabs over all. when northern ireland's power—sharing executive got back up and running againjust earlier this executive got back up and running again just earlier this year after a two—year hiatus, it did so with sinn fein as the largest party in michelle o'neill as first minister for the first time. that is a success. and they will look to

recreate that at westminster, even though sinn fein has an abstention is policy, which means its mps do not take their seats, and it could be argued that this is really bad timing for the dup. its former leader sirjeffrey donaldson stepped down in march after he was charged with rape and ten other historic sexual offences. he is denying all of those but his solicitor confirmed today he would not be seeking re—election. so the dup's new leader now faces the prospect of leading his party into a general election for the first time, while defending his own seatjust a matter of weeks into a newjob. as is often the case into a newjob. as is often the case in northern ireland, there is a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank ou ve a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank you very much _ a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank you very much to _ a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank you very much to sara _ a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank you very much to sara girvin i a lot in the mix. yes indeed, thank you very much to sara girvin in - you very much to sara girvin in belfast, thomas morgan from cardiff and james cook in edinburgh. thank you all very much for speaking to us, in this extended one hour long

six o'clock news. as protocol dictates, the prime minister had to inform the king of his plans and ask him to "dissolve" parliament — the offical term for closing parliament ahead of an election which he did earlier today. our royal correspondent, sarah campbell, is outside buckingham palace. i understand the palace has spoken since the announcement from the prime minister?— since the announcement from the prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone hoinu to prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone heping to see — prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone heping to see the _ prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone hoping to see the pictures _ prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone hoping to see the pictures of- prime minister? yes, indeed. anyone hoping to see the pictures of the - hoping to see the pictures of the prime minister's car leaving, being tracked by helicopters coming here to the palace and then pictures of him meeting with the king on this very important constitutional moment will i am afraid be disappointed because it already happened earlier this afternoon and we found out because the prime minister talked about it in his statement. as i say, it is one of the king's most important constitutional duties. it is of course the first time he has carried it out, after his mother, the late queen, did so so many times

over so many years. this is what we know, the king had been hosting a reception for the princes trust awards in buckingham palace this afternoon. when that finished, he met with the prime minister for around about 15 minutes. it would be very interesting to know exactly how that conversation carried out but of course, we will never know. conversations are not divulged but as the prime minister said outside downing street, he informed the king of his decision to call a general election and the king agreed the request for the dissolution of parliament. so what happens now going forward? the king effectively takes no further part in the election itself. he will of course welcome the new prime minister when it is all done and dusted. but there will be changes to his schedule and that of the royal family. i will be changes to his schedule and that of the royalfamily. i can will be changes to his schedule and that of the royal family. i can let you know a palace spokesperson has said in the last few minutes, the royal family will, said in the last few minutes, the royalfamily will, in said in the last few minutes, the royal family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from

the election campaign. their majesties centre their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result. so short—handed that, there will be engagements that carry on but they might be different in the diary at the moment, and so the royal household will be working out what can and cannot go ahead. thank you very much- — can and cannot go ahead. thank you very much. sarah _ can and cannot go ahead. thank you very much. sarah campbell. - there are 650 mps sitting in westminster — elected from across the uk. this is how things look right now. but, of course, this picture could appear very different byjuly 4th. so what has been the reaction from voters? gloucester voted labourfrom 1997 — 2005 and has been a conservative seat ever since. 0ur correspondent phil mackie has been there this afternoon. it's time. after all those elections in the 2010s, it is the first of this decade.

but outside the westminster bubble, it came as a big surprise. really? yes. i can't believe it, gosh. why not? well, it is out of the blue, isn't it? i thought it was the autumn. i guess it is not a lot of time for people to put together campaigns, to get across their ideas and market everything like that. but, yeah, he has obviously felt the need. people probably aren't happy with the way things are going, so... iruna i run a village hall and they put the polling _ i run a village hall and they put the polling station— i run a village hall and they put the polling station in— i run a village hall and they put the polling station in there - i run a village hall and they put the polling station in there so i i run a village hall and they put| the polling station in there so it helps _ the polling station in there so it helps us — in the tall ship, the telly wasn't working, so we had to improvise. the big announcement did not draw a crowd nor much of an enthusiastic reaction. i'm surprised it's been announced today, to be honest. i thought he would leave it a bit longer or as long as possible. if it is going to bejuly, i think that is about right. i don't think there's much optimism about for anything being any different after one than before one. things have been so awful for so long, it would be

a good idea if we had one. 0n the day they called the election in 1997, tony blair came to gloucester and launched his election campaign. they won the seat and the general election. but since 2005, it has been held again by the conservatives. it is why a seat like this has become such an important battleground. in the end, the prime minister did not cut things as fine as he could have done, but is there ever an ideal time? is it the right time for an election? in all honesty, i don't... as much as i think he is doing a bad job, i don't think he has had long enough, really, in politics and stuff. if you are promising stuff, you have got to keep up and you have got to be really quick about it. and a real—life tailor of gloucester is hoping for big alterations. well, the society is not very well, actually. if you look at the nhs and social care, the economy, those three areas are my main topics, really.

they have to find a solution. maybe it was the drab weather but there was not much enthusiasm today. the parties have six weeks to change that. phil mackie, bbc news, gloucester. it's been an eventful four and half years since the last election — including three conservative prime ministers. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth takes us through the big moments since the election in 2019. with a clear plan and bold action, we will deliver a secure future for you, yourfamily, and our united kingdom. announcing the election, the third prime minister since the country last had a say. i am determined to deliver. thank you. his predecessor lasted just 49 days in the job. thank you all very much. the one before was in office a little longer. back in 2019, borisjohnson swept to power with the party's biggest majority in decades. we did it!

we pulled it off, didn't we? he pulled together tory voters from unexpected corners of the country under the banner of brexit. with this mandate i and this majority, we will at last be able to do, what? get brexit done! for labour, it was a dismal result, losing in their traditional heartlands. mr corbyn, this is the worst labour defeat in decades, why aren't you resigning today? right, are we here? his top team was buoyed by victory. i want to thank you all for your hard work in getting this - government re—elected, and backed by 109 new conservative mps. - but it wasn't long until the covid pandemic became the country's priority — taking lives and liberties. from this evening, i must givel the british people a very simple instruction. you must stay at home. then the chancellor, rishi sunak

played a central role in the government's response, crafting the furlough and eat out to help 0ut schemes. but as well as rules being made, they were also being broken, and the scandal around downing street parties was instrumental in boris johnson's doubtful. —— boris johnson's —— borisjohnson's downfall. hasta la vista, baby. thank you. applause. after a contest, conservative party members picked liz truss over rishi sunak to be their next leader, and the country's next prime minister. thank you for putting yourfaith in me. her tenure was short lived after the economic turmoil caused by the mini budget. enter rishi sunak, attempting to bring stability. i understand, too, that i have work to do to restore trust after all that has happened. he set out his priorities, with promises on small boats, the economy and the nhs, but so far, it seems, they have

failed to revive his party's ailing politicalfortunes. still, the third conservative prime minister since the last general election has now decided it is time the country does have its say. alex forsyth, bbc news, westminster. what can the current state of the polls tell us about the likely outcome of this general election? time to turn to our resident polling expert sir professorjohn curtice. what are the challenges as you see them and as the polls suggest for each of the parties? the them and as the polls suggest for each of the parties?— each of the parties? the most obvious and _ each of the parties? the most obvious and immediate - each of the parties? the most - obvious and immediate challenges for the conservative party. as things stand at the moment and averaged between the poles puts the conservatives 21 points behind at the moment, even the best of them put that at least 16 points behind. however you look at it that is an

outcome that would result in labour being elected with an overall majority. so the challenge facing rishi sunak is to try to overturn that very, very substantial labour lead and frankly apart from john major in 1997 no prime minister has called an election so far behind, so he is going to have to beat the records if he is going to win this election. it doesn't mean to say without challenges. the competition for the support of those who are unhappy with the conservatives, labour faces competition these days from the reform party. labour tentative at benefit in terms of winning seats from the reform party but for some of the people indeed quite a lot of the people who are unhappy with the current conservative at present at least, they don't necessarily regard labour as the answer, they are looking to

reform. they also have to worry about the greens who did well in the local elections, they are at their highest in the parliament in the opinion polls, and when the greens do well labour suffer. maybe when you talk about one or two constituencies here but there is still a challenge for labour there. the other party apart from the conservatives for him this will be a challenge above all is the scottish national party north of the border, because as you will know they have just changed their leader, humza yousaf eventually had to resign in the wake of the attempt to end the agreement with the greens, that help to keep the snp in power in the scottish parliament. that all ended rather unhappily for him. john swinney hasjust got rather unhappily for him. john swinney has just got his feet under the table. his party vibe are six points behind laboured in the polls, faces the risk of losing the position as the third largest party in the house of commons, and now he is finding that rather than having the autumn as an opportunity to be able to turn things around he has to turn them around very quickly

indeed. the liberal democrats, their position in the national polls is not particularly good, only around 10%, not even as good as they got last time, but they are helping that the polls are right and the message in the local elections are right, that the conservatives are in deep electoral trouble, that continues to be the case injuly and life are hoping that however few votes they get nationally they will be able to pick the constituencies where they start off second from the conservatives, not least perhaps some labour voters might help them along the way, but the challenge for them is to indeed actually deliver on that strategy which they have decided to focus on.— on that strategy which they have decided to focus on. professor sir john curtice. _ decided to focus on. professor sir john curtice, thank _ decided to focus on. professor sir john curtice, thank you _ decided to focus on. professor sir john curtice, thank you and - decided to focus on. professor sir john curtice, thank you and we i decided to focus on. professor sirl john curtice, thank you and we will hear much more from you in the weeks to come. and to other news...

the former chief executive of the post office, paula vennells, has been in tears at the public inquiry into its it scandal. she admitted she'd "made mistakes", but denied there'd been a conspiracy to cover up problems with the horizon system. ms vennells, who was chief executive from 2012 to 2019, apologised to sub—postmasters, after hundreds of were wrongly prosecuted when faulty technology made it appear that money was missing from their branches. our business correspondent, emma simpson, was at the inquiry. you said they were disturbing, didn't you, miss vennells? - paula vennells has come to face the music, but she first had to get past the cameras... anything to say at all to the people who suffered so greatly? _ ..to finally explain her role in the scandal. it has been a long time coming for the subpostmasters whose lives have been wrecked. why, why has she let this go on? did she put profits before people, is the big question. it is important that the truth

is there, that she is allowedj to speak, that she can put over what she, you know, _ was seeing at the time. i swear by almighty god... sworn in, the part—time priest was then given a warning about self—incrimination. do you understand all that? thank you, sirwyn, and i plan to answer all the questions. but there were also tears an apology for what she said? the post office knew that, i completely accept it. personally, i did not know that and i'm incredibly sorry that that happened to those people and to so many others. but what did she know and when? was there a conspiracy at the post office, which lasted for nearly 12 years, involving a wide range of people, differing over time, to deny you information and to deny you documents, and to falsely give you reassurance? no, i don't believe

that was the case. under her leadership, a lot of evidence emerged about flaws with horizon, but at key points, she said she was not aware of much of it, including crucial legal advice. do you think you are the unluckiest ceo in the uk? i was too trusting. i did probe and i did ask questions. and... iam... ..disappointed where information was not shared. but former royal mail boss and colleague dame moya greene is not so sure. the inquiry was shown a text chat between both of them earlier this year. "i think you knew," says moya, to which paula replies, "that isn't the case." moya then asks, "how could you not have known?" before saying, "i supported you all these years". adding, "i can't support you now".

and then she was asked about the case of subpostmaster martin griffiths, who took his own life after the post office ruined him. and i imagine that... i'm sorry. i imagine that i was probably... just pause. yes, ok. try to compose yourself if you can and then continue your evidence, please. thank you. she apologised to alan bates, too. she said he was right to persevere. i wonder about these apologies. these are just words. the big problem at the moment is trying to get money for the victims in all of this, and anything that does that will make a real difference, rather than a few words. and here is another thing. when paula vennells first joined the post office in 2007 as a director, she said it was another five years before she found out they did their own private prosecutions. and the inquiry heard that when she left herjob in 2019, she still believed there had not been any miscarriages ofjustice.

that thinking and decision—making will be tested again tomorrow. emma simpson, bbc news. ireland, norway, and spain have announced they will formally recognise a palestinian state from next week. spain and ireland said the decision was not against israel nor in favour of hamas, but rather in support of peace. israel has reacted angrily and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries. our diplomatic correspondent james landale explains the background and history. most of the world thinks there is such a thing as a palestinian state, something that yasser arafat declared unilaterally back in 1988. earlier this month, in a vote at the united nations, 143 countries supported a palestinian attempt tojoin the un, something that only states can do. but this has always been vetoed by the united states and other countries which say the palestinians should get a state only as part of the long—term

political deal with israel, known as the two—state solution. now, currently, only nine european countries recognise a palestinian state — many of which did so as long ago as 1988. they will now be joined by norway, ireland and spain, who say they want to support a political pathway towards peace in the middle east. recognition is an act of powerful, political and symbolic value. it is an expression of our view that palestine holds and should be able to vindicate the full rights of a state, including self—determination, self—governance, territorial integrity and security. crucially, they hope this will help get a ceasefire and the hostages released. translation: we will recognise the state of palestine so that - when the time comes, the state of palestine will also have the same status as the israeli government and thus be able

to empower the future palestinian authority in the face of hamas, a terrorist group which must obviously disappear if we want peace. palestinian leaders welcome the announcement. hamas claimed it was prompted by what it called its resistance. israel's government was furious, saying the decision rewarded terrorism. translation: this is not the place, nor the time now to come _ and unilaterally recognise a palestinian state. such things should only be determined through direct negotiations and not in a unilateral way. and any such decision harms israeli sovereignty and israeli security and we will not allow it. so what does this mean in practice? well, the decision will put some pressure on other european countries to follow suit, but many believe this is too early, that recognising a palestinian state should come later, to drive momentum towards a long—term political settlement and we are a long way from that. there are also many unanswered questions, what would the border

of a palestinian state be? would jerusalem be the capital? so the diplomatic dial has been shifted with these symbolic declarations but the reality for palestinians on the ground is unlikely to change. rainfall in the uk over the last few months was 20% heavier because of human—produced greenhouse gasses — according to scientists at the world weather attribution group. when the prime minister came out here to make a statement that he was drenched and there is more heavy rain expected today with flood warnings issued from many parts of the country. our climate editor, justin rowlatt, is in worcestershire to tell us more. iam i am outside the home of somebody who used concrete, the most widely used material on earth apart from water, to protect his lovely home from those winter floods. he used it to build this formidable wall. just

look how effective it was. but did you know that concrete is one of the most polluting materials on earth? it is responsible for about 8% of total co2 emissions. the good news is a team of frank cambridge university is come up with an ingenious process which could just massively reduce the emissions from concrete. concrete is everywhere — it is an incredibly versatile building material. but it is also very polluting. making a cement that binds it altogether produces a lot of co2. a team from cambridge university have a plan to sidestep all of that polluting chemistry by reactivating this stuff, used cement. it has been done before in cement kilns. the cambridge breakthrough was to realise they could piggyback on another heavy

industry, steel recycling. the electric arc furnaces used for steel recycling are hot enough and can be powered with renewable energy. and the composition of used cement is almost exactly the same as chemicals and steel makers add to their furnaces to stop impurities. so using it instead could cut costs and reduce emissions for steel makers too. but will the process work? that's the first sample of low carbon protein cement produced in an electric arc furnace. ever? ever — ever. so this is a world first? this is a world first. he believes it could mark the beginning of a revolution. so if you can make the cement with no carbon, that means we can keep on living with all the stuff we expect. it's quite important to be able to make cement with no carbon in the future. the first full scales will be in cardiff later this week. the hope is

this low—carbon cement good meet up to a quarter of uk demand. and because so much steel is now recycled the process could be rolled out all over the world, massively reducing emissions from one of the world's most polluting materials. justin rowlatt, bbc news, middlesbrough. scotland's manager, steve clarke, has announced his provisional squad for this year's euros in germany this summer. they take on the hosts in the opening match in munich on the 14th ofjune. chris mclaughlin has more. they are the men who gave scotland memories to savour during qualifying. the players who shocked norway in oslo, saw off georgia in the rain, before putting two past spain. a group who allowed the nation to believe once more. so, with less than a month to go, who is on the plane to germany? today, the thoughts of the man making the call. it really is beginning to feel real now, isn't it?

is that how you feel? yeah, i have been waiting quite a long time for this day, to be honest. since the march camp, it has been a bit of a drag. ben doak, first of all, i suspect that is going to be an inclusion that is going to excite a lot of people. ben is one of those players that as a coach, you watch a game and you think, "oh, he has got something. that boy has got a chance." he has got blistering pace which hits you in the eye straight away. another player that i know that many people over the past few weeks were really hoping that you would include is james forrest. he is a player who just never gives up. i think a great example to every professional player, is james forrest. his performances in recent weeks have grabbed my attention because he is scoring goals, creating goals, working up and down the line. he looks as fit as he's ever looked. what do you think, i'm not asking you for any huge predictions but what do you think success would look like for this group in germany? success, it's difficult to say,

that would be success. what we can say is, if we come out of the group stage, then we will have created a little bit of history for scottish football. that is the starting point, i think once you come out... if you are good enough to come out of the group stage, you get the points to come out of the group stage, then who knows what can happen after that? who knows, indeed ? but his optimism is shared by the 200,000 scots expected to travel. chris mclaughlin, bbc news. now, to the remarkable story of conservative mp craig mackinlay. he received a standing ovation in his first appearance at the house of commons since his hands and feet were amputated because of sepsis. he was taken ill last september in a coma for 16 days. in parliament, he

thanked his family and the nhs staff who saved his life, as well as well as the commons speaker sir lindsay hoyle and for the prime minister who visited him in hospital. and to other news now... we are here at downing street in the rain, as you can see, where a short time ago, the prime minister announced a general election, ending months of speculation. here is what happened next. parliament will be dissolved next week — with the election campaign getting into full swing. polling day will be thursday lith july. the new parliament will meet for the first time the following tuesday. and the official state opening of parliament, with all the pomp and ceremony that comes with it, is scheduled forjuly17th. here is the moment rishi sunak made the announcement an hour or so ago. now is the moment for britain to choose its future, to decide whether we want to build

on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one, with no plan and no certainty. earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the lith ofjuly. the prime minister speaking here just few moments ago. as we mentioned earlier... positive news about the uk economy has prompted today's election announcement. that includes the latest figures showing inflation has fallen to 2.3% compared with the same time last year. that's the lowest rate at which prices are rising in almost three years, with lower gas and electricity prices behind the drop. our economics editor faisal islam reports from east sussex. on rustington high street, shoppers can feel that inflation is calming, but the feel—good factor that the prime minister will depend on in a general election remains elusive. i don't know — some

products are going up, some products are plateauing. it's just... you know, it'sjust a difficult time for everybody. i think everything's still going up, it isjust going up slightly less fast than it was. gas and electric prices have gone down a little bit from last - year, so that's a help. you tend to shop around, you perhaps try the budget supermarket. - some things are still going up, unfortunately, but, there we are, what can you do about it? headline inflation has now come down sharply from double digit highs in 2022, to in aprilfalling close to the bank of england's target of 2%, as you can see. in the service sector, well, it didn't get so high. it, for now, looks stuck, just about falling below 6% today. this is driven by an actual decline in energy prices, including gas going sharply negative, but you can see some other areas remain higher — like car insurance or hairdressing. overall, some doubts now that they'll be a rate cut next month. so the big election question — how much of a change in the british economic weather has there been? this will be an election

defined by economics, called on the day of some big economic numbers, where both main parties say they do want to fight it on the economy. the government will argue that today's number and the growth number, too, will show an economy at a turning point after three years of global price shocks. the opposition will argue there is some blame for the government in those price shocks and that the public doesn't feel much of a turning point themselves. the mixed picture is reflected back in east sussex, where phil and teresa are amongst the millions paying the cost of a recent re—mortgage. i think, to be honest, the interest rates for us was the biggest hit because you have a pool of money that comes in every month and, normally, you kind of set a bit side and say that's what we'll have for our holidays, or that's what we'll have for our takeaways, etc. but a big part of that junk wasjust gone. —— chunk was gone. we fixed for five years this time. previously, we've only

ever done two years, but because of it going up and up and up, we wanted to know where we stood for the next five years because it could have gone up higher. on the country's high streets, the price shock of the past three years is beginning to ebb away. whether british families feel that and who gets the credit is the key economic battleground for who gets to downing street. faisal islam, bbc news. well, with an election announced, it means the current session of parliament is expected to come to an end on friday, which then prevents any new laws being passed. but there is still a lot of legislation going through the houses of parliament, and the government will have to decide which has priority and which doesn't get passed. with more details on this, our political correspondent harry farley joins us from westminster. harry, is there a sense of what new legislation is at risk of not making it? you are right, there is an awful lot of government legislation still to get through. in terms of any sense of which ones will go through, i am told there are very live

conversations going on between the conservatives and labour at the moment because essentially, what and how many government bills get to go through depends on whether the labour party oppose them. you would have thought the finance bill, that contains some measures that the chancellor announced in the budget, has to go through, so that will take up has to go through, so that will take up some time. but mps will only set for tomorrow and possibly into some of friday, so there is very limited time left to any get other bills through. rishi sunak, interestingly noted that he promised to make the next generation smoke—free. you would have thought to the tobacco and vaping bell might get through but there are other key pillars of the conservative manifesto from 2019 that still have not passed. the rent is a reform bill, for example, the leasehold and freehold bill, the criminaljustice bill, that contains amendments on decriminalising abortion, it addresses drugs and knife crime, homelessness and the amendment to causing death by

dangerous cycling illegal. that is all very much up in air and the power lies with the labour party in deciding which bills they will allow to pass and which ones will oppose. harry, thank you very much. lots of political reaction to the prime minister's announcement and in the last few minutes, the co—leader of the green party in england and wales said they were very pleased to have an election at last and said the party was ready. voters are telling us that they are really distraught by the direction the conservatives have been taking this country in over the last 1a years but they are not feeling at all inspired by keir starmer�*s labour party. so they are really excited by the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto will be coming out in a few weeks but our key priorities will be around protecting the nhs privatisation and making sure it is properly funded, making sure it is properly funded, making sure everyone has access to a secure, warm affordable home.

just a last word with our political editor, chris mason. the brollies have been up and down and it has been a very wet afternoon here in downing street but what can we expect now in the weeks to come in this election campaign? we expect now in the weeks to come in this election campaign?— this election campaign? we can exect this election campaign? we can expeet noise — this election campaign? we can expect noise and _ this election campaign? we can expect noise and we _ this election campaign? we can expect noise and we can - this election campaign? we can expect noise and we can expect persuasion and we can expect arguments. there is a curious backdrop in the coming weeks because we will have the euros, the football tournament under way, england and scotland fans and others around the uk keenly watching the football. whereas often it's a moment of unity, it will play out against a backdrop of arguments because we will have election debates competing with football matches and that argument beginning, and it will continue tonight with rallies and then interviews from the prime minister and from keir starmer and from others, as they start the art, they hope, of persuasion. tonight here at westminster, there is a whole set of views. there are some conservative mps who are quite surprised that they managed to keep

things going this one. there are others who are really angry and bemused that the prime minister has gone to the country early. they feel he could have waited until the autumn, some being pretty critical of that moment on the street where the prime minister was frankly soaking wet. you have the labour party saying that they feel, they hope that this is a moment of change. they will make an argument i think grounded in what they will say is a humble request for the british people to seek an alternative government. then we will see so many other parties making their cases as well. so what do we have in the coming weeks? we will have election debates, election manifestos, those bundles of promises upon which governments are held to account. here we go, the argument is just beginning. here we go, the argument is 'ust beaainnin. ., ., ~ i. beginning. here we go, thank you very much — beginning. here we go, thank you very much indeed. _ beginning. here we go, thank you very much indeed. chris _ beginning. here we go, thank you very much indeed. chris mason, l beginning. here we go, thank you l very much indeed. chris mason, our political editor. just a reminder that you can hear more analysis on the election from chris and friends on the latest news cast podcast, which is to be

published in the next 15 minutes or so on bbc sounds. since the last election in 2019, westminster has seen some of its most turbulent times in its history. let's look back now on just some of the memorable moments. big ben strikes. and i want you to know how sad i am to be giving up the bestjob in the world. but them's the breaks. and pay taxes here in london, in london! i have therefore spoken to his majesty the king, to notify him that i am resigning as leader of the conservative party.

we will have a general election on the 4th we will have a general election on the lith ofjuly. a look back on the last four and a half years. time for a look at the weather. here's louise lear. thank you, everybody, what a miserable may day it has been. this was staffordshire but in fact, rough and state park in hampshire has had most of the rainfall so far, 60 millimetres, overa most of the rainfall so far, 60 millimetres, over a months wear them 24 millimetres, over a months wear them 2a hours. the heaviest of the rain is starting to drift further north and west over the next few hours and in actual fact, you and west over the next few hours and in actualfact, you can and west over the next few hours and in actual fact, you can see and west over the next few hours and in actualfact, you can see how and west over the next few hours and in actual fact, you can see how you it turns showery across the london area but look at the darker blues, the heavy rain across north wales and north—west england. this is where we have an amber weather

warning, which will stay in force until tomorrow lunchtime, as we are likely to see a couple of inches of rain that may be in some areas to higher ground in north wales, we could see as much as 100 millimetres of rain plus and that could produce localised flooding. keeping an eye on that, it is this low pressure very slow moving at the moment. it is drifting steadily northwards. the wind is picking up in the north—west over night tonight, gusts in excess of 50 mph and still is in heavy rain to come. elsewhere, staying, quite cloudy and it will break in a few places and allow a little bit of misty nester form but it won't be a cold start to our thursday morning. 10-12. as cold start to our thursday morning. 10—12. as we go into tomorrow, gray. outbreaks of rain gradually starting to ease away and turn a bit more showery but for many of us, staying quite cloudy and overcast. but maybe across east anglia down towards the london area, we could see some brightness and as a result, temperatures perhaps peaking at around 18. as we move out of there is danger friday, we have a little

ridge of high pressure building and quietening things down and warming things up. i know it is bank holiday weekend but there is another one a weather front waiting in the wings. bank holiday weekend at the moment looks like a promising start, the weather on saturday sunny spells and scattered showers but all in all, not looking too bad. back to you. good news, thank you, louise. that is it for their special speaking of speaking of violent go in pouring rain prime minister rishi sunak said he had a plan for the future and it was up to the people to make a decision. ., , ., decision. now is the moment for britain to choose _ decision. now is the moment for britain to choose its _ decision. now is the moment for britain to choose its future. - decision. now is the moment for britain to choose its future. to i britain to choose its future. to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty. fin going back to square one with no plan and no certainty.— going back to square one with no plan and no certainty. on the 4th of jul ou plan and no certainty. on the 4th of july you have _ plan and no certainty. on the 4th of july you have the — plan and no certainty. on the 4th of july you have the choice _ plan and no certainty. on the 4th of july you have the choice and -

july you have the choice and together, we can stop the chaos, we can turn_ together, we can stop the chaos, we can turn the — together, we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild — can turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain. and to change our countrx _ rebuild britain. and to change our country. thank you. i�*m rebuild britain. and to change our country. thank you.— rebuild britain. and to change our country. thank you. i'm pleased to hear we country. thank you. i'm pleased to heor we are _ country. thank you. i'm pleased to hear we are having _ country. thank you. i'm pleased to hear we are having a _ country. thank you. i'm pleased to hear we are having a general - hear we are having a general election. _ hear we are having a general election. i_ hear we are having a general election, i think— hear we are having a general election, i think it— hear we are having a general election, i think it is- hear we are having a general election, i think it is about . hear we are having a general. election, i think it is about time people — election, i think it is about time people actually— election, i think it is about time people actually bother- election, i think it is about time people actually bother to - election, i think it is about time people actually bother to go - election, i think it is about time | people actually bother to go out election, i think it is about time - people actually bother to go out and vote _ people actually bother to go out and vote that _ people actually bother to go out and vote that does _ people actually bother to go out and vote. that does the _ people actually bother to go out and vote. that does the big _ people actually bother to go out and vote. that does the big thing, - vote. that does the big thing, people — vote. that does the big thing, people need _ vote. that does the big thing, people need to _ vote. that does the big thing, people need to get _ vote. that does the big thing, people need to get to - vote. that does the big thing, people need to get to the - vote. that does the big thing, . people need to get to the voting stations — people need to get to the voting stations hie _ people need to get to the voting stations. ~ ., . ., stations. we will have much more anal sis stations. we will have much more analysis and _ stations. we will have much more analysis and reaction _ stations. we will have much more analysis and reaction for- stations. we will have much more analysis and reaction for this - analysis and reaction for this special programme as five weeks of campaigning now begin. welcome to the downing street for this bbc news special. and as the drizzle starts again, i'm afraid this is where the prime minister stood getting extremely wet as he announced a general election to be

held onjuly the 4th. it ends months of speculation over when the uk would actually go to the polls. he was battling against the rain, loud music from some protesters and he said he was proud of what he had achieved to saying it was the moment for britain to choose its future and that he would fight for every vote. let's take a listen not to that statement that rishi sunak gave here outside downing street in the last couple of hours. in the last five years our country has fought to the most challenging time since the second world war. as i stand here as your prime minister, i stand here as your prime minister, i cannot help but reflect that my first proper introduction to you was just over four years first proper introduction to you was just overfour years ago. first proper introduction to you was just over four years ago. i stood behind one of the podiums upstairs in the building behind me. i told you we faced a generation defining moment and that we as a society would not bejudged by some

government action but by the small acts of kindness that we share with one another. you met that challenge and then some. and i have never been prouder to be british. when i introduce the furlough scheme i did so not because i saw a country simply in need of desperate help, albeit we were. but because i saw a country whose future hung in the balance. i could be pulled into trust in the tens of millions of you at home that you would rise to the moment or i could accept the inevitable, millions ofjob losses and pick up the pieces. in truth, it was no choice at all. i have never and will never leave the people of this country to face the darkest of days alone. and you know that because you have seen it. as i did then, i will forever do everything in my power to provide you with the strongest possible protection i can. that is my promise to you. because for so many of us, it is easy to

forget the scale of what we have been through. we were hit by a pandemic that up and did normal life, who would've thought that the government would ever tell us how many times a day we could leave our homes. then, just as we were recovering from covid, were returned to europe with putin cosmic invasion of ukraine sending your energy bills and spiralling. i came to office, above all, to restore economic stability. economic stability is the bedrock of any future success. whether that is rising good wages and jobs investment in our public services or the defence of the country and because of our collective sacrifice and your hard work we have reached two major milestones in delivering that stability. showing that when we work together, anything is possible. our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing germany, france and the united states. this morning it was confirmed inflation is back to normal. this means

pressure on prices will ease and mortgage rates will come down this is proof that the plans and priorities i set out working. i recognise that it is not always been easy, some of you will onlyjust be starting to feel the benefits and for some, starting to feel the benefits and forsome, it starting to feel the benefits and for some, it may still be hard when you look at your bank balance but that's hard earned economic stability was only ever meant to be the beginning. the question now is how and who would you trust to turn that foundation to a secure future for you, yourfamily that foundation to a secure future for you, your family and that foundation to a secure future for you, yourfamily and our country. now is the moment for britain to choose its future. to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty will stop earlier today, plan and no certainty will stop earliertoday, i plan and no certainty will stop earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the lith ofjuly. this election will take place with at a time when the world

has been more dangerous than since the end of the cold war. putin's russia is waging a brutal war in ukraine and will not stop there if he succeeds. that war is also made it all to clear their risk to our energy security. in the middle east, the forces of it extremism threaten regional and ultimately global stability. these tensions were exploited by seek to undermine our values and divide our society. here at home. china is looking to dominate the 21st century by stealing the lead in technology and migration is being weapon eyes by hostile states to threaten the integrity of our borders. these uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future. you must choose in this election, who has that plan. it was prepared to take the bold action necessary to secure a betterfuture the bold action necessary to secure a better future for our country and our children. i cannot and will not

claim that we have got everything right. no government should. but i am proud of what we have achieved together. the bold actions we have taken and i am confident about what we can do in the future. we have tackled inflation, controlled that, cut worker's taxes and increase the state pension by £900. we have reduced taxes on investment and seize the opportunities of brexit to make this the best country of the world to grow a business. put records amount of funding into our nhs and insured it is now training the doctors and nurses it needs in the doctors and nurses it needs in the decades to come. we have a firm to education for our children and they are now the best readers in the western world and we prioritise energy security and your family finances over environmental dogma in our approach to net zero. he fully funded an increase in defence spending too two and a half percent of gdp. we made a decision to invest more in local transport that you

actually use rather than and then sleep plough more money into a test tube. we set out a compressive plan to reform our welfare system, to make it fair for those who pay for it as well as those who need it —— hsz. it as well as those who need it —— hs2. immigration is finally coming down and we are stopping the boats with our rwanda partnership. and we will ensure that the next generation grows up smoke—free. i hope that my work since i became part minister shows that we have a plan and are prepared to take bold action necessary for our country to flourish. i have stuck with that plan and always been honest with you about what is needed, even when that has been difficult. because i am guided by doing what is right for our country, not what is easy. i can't say the same thing for the labour party. because i don't know what they are for, and in truth, i don't think you know either. and thatis don't think you know either. and that is because they have no plan. there is no bold action. as a

result, the future can only be uncertain with them. on the 5th of july, either keir starmer or i will be prime minister. he has shown time and time again that he will take the easy way out and do anything to get power. if he was happy to abandon all of the promises he made to become a labour leader once he got thejob, how can become a labour leader once he got the job, how can you know that he want to exactly the same thing if he were to become prime minister. if you don't have the conviction to stick to anything you say, if you don't have the courage to tell people what you want to do and if you don't have a plan, how can you possibly be trusted to lead our country, especially at this most uncertain of times. over the next few weeks, i will fight for every vote. i will earn your trust and i will prove to you that only a conservative government, led by me, will not put our hard earned economic stability at risk. can

restore pride and confidence in our country and with a clear plan and bold action, will deliver a secure future for you, your family and our united kingdom. the prime minister confirming the speculation over the last few hours with that general election announcement onjuly the 4th. our political correspondent is here. damien, i will confess to a bit of political gossip because i heard a very strong tip yesterday, early evening, i had been doing the rounds but the day, the meetings were being cancelled, and that something was afoot. we have had so much speculation, so much electioneering ljy speculation, so much electioneering by all of the party leaders, in a way, is it released everyone in westminster that finally we know the date? i westminster that finally we know the date? ~ , ., ., date? i think it is a relief to some. certainly, _ date? i think it is a relief to some. certainly, more - date? i think it is a relief to

some. certainly, more a i date? i think it is a relief to i some. certainly, more a relief date? i think it is a relief to - some. certainly, more a relief to all of those watching, the journalists, the media with the crowd around westminster have been speculating about this for months and months. less of a relief to some mps, particularly some conservative mps. some of them have been saying to me in the last hour or two that they would not have called that now. they are not sure of the reasoning for this, they are not sure of the reasoning forthis, not they are not sure of the reasoning for this, not sure they are convinced they would have done the same thing so there is some nervousness there about rishi sunak calling it early. but of course everyone else, as you say, there was speculation, there has been for weeks and weeks. it kept bubbling up and sign down. the last couple of days people say that they have been hearing from senior people in the cabinet, the prime minister election, advisers and people, that it would be happening after the summer and of course today, that all bubbled up again. why today?

particularly the economic news today. the news that inflation had come down and it seems that was likely to have been the trigger, if not the overarching reason. the conservatives _ not the overarching reason. the conservatives are _ not the overarching reason. the conservatives are 20 points behind in the polls, but the economic data projections are that things may improve a bit. presumably, they will be sane, stick with us, the plan is starting to work, things are going to get better if you stick with us, thatis to get better if you stick with us, that is going to have to be the tory message. that is going to have to be the tory messa . e. ., that is going to have to be the tory messaue. ., ., , ,, ., ~ message. you heard rishi sunak right here when the — message. you heard rishi sunak right here when the rain _ message. you heard rishi sunak right here when the rain was _ message. you heard rishi sunak right here when the rain was coming - here when the rain was coming down and he was getting soaked by the brain, exactly laying out that place. saying that picking up on the inflation figures of today saying, this was always just going to be the start, was what he was saying. this is the beginning of starting to change things around, economic growth, we are starting to see that, we think we are in a good position. stick with us for security, the economy, security, some of the

broader national sense. that is certainly at the heart of rishi sunak�*s pitch that he was making. it is worth saying that from the other side, what you have been hearing, from the labour party is absolutely the opposite. they are saying that this is nothing to celebrate, that people have been, have seen their incomes stagnate, their living standards stagnate, 1a years of conservative government, the question they what's up its people, do you feel better off after 1a years of conservative government. the labour message is, it is time for a change to deliver the stability and improvements. so the competing narratives, if you like. the directions that the parties are coming from directly colliding over that ground. coming from directly colliding over that ground-— coming from directly colliding over that ground. pmqs was interesting earlier today _ that ground. pmqs was interesting earlier today because _ that ground. pmqs was interesting earlier today because it _ that ground. pmqs was interesting earlier today because it was - that ground. pmqs was interesting earlier today because it was very . earlier today because it was very strange for all sorts of reasons but interesting that both leaders were not taking chunks out of each other, normally so keir starmer had labour been given the tip—off or had they

been given the tip—off or had they been privy to all speculation. i think they very clearly knew what everyone else was speculating or had seen to be speculating about which was that the prime minister may be on the brink of calling something and keir starmer, very deliberately, stayed clear of any ground in the questions he puts of the prime minister, any ground they gave the prime minister any scope for starting to election year, to discussing that inflation news, so keir starmer stuck to the questions about the inflected blood scandal and the need, as he sees it, to get change in law that civil servants have two, and others, have to be candid and tell the truth. some conservative mps even think that there is a need for that, and would like to see that happen.— like to see that happen. obviously conservatives _ like to see that happen. obviously conservatives mps _ like to see that happen. obviously conservatives mps that _ like to see that happen. obviously conservatives mps that you - like to see that happen. obviously conservatives mps that you have l like to see that happen. obviously - conservatives mps that you have been in touch with —— of these, how many

are sunak loyalist, if there are those that you can to find them at that and the party. and what is their reaction and how much of the criticism have you seen coming from the other factions that we have seen build—up in the conservative party over the last 1a years? build-up in the conservative party over the last 14 years?— over the last 14 years? even the ones who _ over the last 14 years? even the ones who are — over the last 14 years? even the ones who are sceptical - over the last 14 years? even the ones who are sceptical saying i over the last 14 years? even the i ones who are sceptical saying they can see reasons why you may want to go now and so certainly there is support for that. economic news today, yes, the idea that if you wait, you don't know what is coming. things may well not follow the way you would want them to. there is a chance that waiting, you may end up later in the year where people feel better and often more comfortable and may be more inclined to vote conservative. equally the opposite may happen and there could of the all sorts of potential political pitfalls that may happen in the next few months. pitfalls that may happen in the next few months-— few months. that is the danger of settin: a few months. that is the danger of setting a deep _ few months. that is the danger of setting a deep well— few months. that is the danger of setting a deep well in _ few months. that is the danger of setting a deep well in advance. i setting a deep well in advance. also the dancer setting a deep well in advance. also the danger of _ setting a deep well in advance. i"r the danger of waiting. so other saying you can see why you go on the

back of economic news, having got the rwanda plan through parliament before that is there, ready to go, we would say we are ready to do this. that sort of thing. nadine dorries tweeting _ this. that sort of thing. nadine dorries tweeting mischievously this. that sort of thing. nadine i dorries tweeting mischievously as one may expect that, is it a coincidence that the election is in july, but us school term start in august. there always my collection but if rishi sunak loses he will be off to california and he has two young children at school. that has been going around, the idea that rishi sunak might be tempted by a job in the united states, if you were to lose this election, i think it's hard to believe that might influence the timing of calling a national election, to be honest, but i think it's much more likely that rishi sunak looks at its, decided it's a gamble, it is certainly very big gamble for a prime minister to take, 20 odd points behind in the polls, going now when he could've waited a few months, going now when,

have time for the fall in inflation, potential cut or two in interest rates, might be waiting for a tax cut later in the year. again, the argument there is that actually, underneath, some of the figures today, not quite as good as that headline looked. everyone is focused on the headline but underneath that, government borrowing is not great, which means that the chancellor, over there next—door, the scope for any more tax cuts... over there next-door, the scope for any more tax cuts. . .— any more tax cuts... they were hoinr any more tax cuts... they were hoping for- — any more tax cuts... they were hoping for. seems _ any more tax cuts... they were hoping for. seems to _ any more tax cuts... they were hoping for. seems to have - any more tax cuts... they were | hoping for. seems to have been ebbina hoping for. seems to have been ebbing away- — hoping for. seems to have been ebbing away. that _ hoping for. seems to have been ebbing away. that will - hoping for. seems to have been ebbing away. that will be - hoping for. seems to have been i ebbing away. that will be another reason to think about going now. just finally, we have got a lot of people coming and going from downing street at the moment, various events going on at the moment, but rishi sunak came out here, he cannot control the... some might ask whether he can control the political weather at the moment, but it was pouring, he came out without a broadly, he was absolutely soaked —

one almost felt sorry for him, to be honest. is that the strong, vibrant, optimistic message that one might expect at the start of an election campaign?— expect at the start of an election campaign?_ was - expect at the start of an election campaign?_ was the j campaign? clearly, if... was the feedback been _ campaign? clearly, if... was the feedback been from _ campaign? clearly, if... was the feedback been from the - campaign? clearly, if... was the - feedback been from the conservative mps. ii feedback been from the conservative mps. , ., ., ~ , mps. if you were a prime minister, ou are mps. if you were a prime minister, you are not — mps. if you were a prime minister, you are not ideally _ mps. if you were a prime minister, you are not ideally choose - mps. if you were a prime minister, you are not ideally choose to - you are not ideally choose to deliver your big speech on the steps of downing street in the pouring rain, so certainly some eyebrows raised, some people saying... should someone have brought and on barella, something like that? but again, rishi sunak decided to seize this day and this moment, and that kind of necessitated, then, what we saw. of necessitated, then, what we saw. of course, people will draw conclusions they want from optics of it, and it... conclusions they want from optics of it. and it...— it, and it... what are people saying about it? people _ it, and it... what are people saying about it? people on _ it, and it. .. what are people saying about it? people on his— it, and it... what are people saying about it? people on his own - it, and it... what are people saying i about it? people on his own benches? to be honest... the about it? people on his own benches? to be honest---— to be honest... the whole sense of rishi sunak — to be honest... the whole sense of rishi sunak cosmic _ to be honest. .. the whole sense of rishi sunak cosmic political- rishi sunak cosmic political judgment. he is known to be some one who is hard—working, they believe he

is trying to push things through for his own valid reasoning, wherever he is coming from politically, but that question about his political judgment, hisjudgment in the question about his political judgment, his judgment in the way this was all delivered today, does that raise that again? to this was all delivered today, does that raise that again?— this was all delivered today, does that raise that again? to be honest i think that is — that raise that again? to be honest i think that is much _ that raise that again? to be honest i think that is much more _ that raise that again? to be honest i think that is much more of i i think that is much more of something that is raised by commentators watching it, people commenting on social media who will react to the immediate image there. what conservative mps are thinking about is the sort of underlying messages of the campaign, the bedrock on which it is built, and worrying, some of them worrying about that... do worrying, some of them worrying about that. . .— worrying, some of them worrying about that... , ~ ., about that... do they know whether there is, which _ about that... do they know whether there is, which messages _ about that... do they know whether there is, which messages are i about that... do they know whether there is, which messages are likely| there is, which messages are likely to get traction?— to get traction? certainly i think we have heard _ to get traction? certainly i think we have heard them _ to get traction? certainly i think we have heard them or- to get traction? certainly i think we have heard them or hurst i to get traction? certainly i think. we have heard them or hurst again and again over the last few weeks and again over the last few weeks and months and again here, the sort of messages, he is stabilising, he came in after borisjohnson and this trust, he stabilised things, he has a plan, he is making... —— liz

truss. he is delivering tax cuts, and that's what he wants to do. and then the negative message is that you should not trust labour, labour, this would be a risk to vote for labour, or sir keir starmer summit who has shifted his position, so do people know what he stands for? the idea, the line that is consulate repeated by rishi sunak, keir starmer does not have a plan. those are the themes you will hear again and again and again in the election. we will hear in a moment from keir starmer as well, who also responded to the announcement today. labour have also been in campaign mode, they have a lot of financial and growing political support, the momentum, as he puts it, has turned around infour momentum, as he puts it, has turned around in four years from where corbyn left it after a massive election defeat. did very well the local elections. the question of the

labour party is going to be too stressed to the public that this is not a done deal of the public are going to the parties out, it is their chance to vote injuly, and no vote can be taken for granted, and they want to get turnout, don't they? they want to get turnout, don't the ? , ., . they want to get turnout, don't the ? , ., ~ ,, ., ., they? they do. and keir starmer and they? they do. and keir starmer and the labour party _ they? they do. and keir starmer and the labour party have _ they? they do. and keir starmer and the labour party have been - they? they do. and keir starmer and the labour party have been pretty i the labour party have been pretty disciplined about this, about not trying to, not taking a polii for granted, that pull leads are simply a snapshot for a point in time, they don't tell you a thing about the result will get on july five, late on the fourth, early on the fifth, when we get the results of the election. they were very keen to make sure that they don't sound... complacent, yeah.— make sure that they don't sound... complacent, yeah. they know that has hurt them before _ complacent, yeah. they know that has hurt them before in _ complacent, yeah. they know that has hurt them before in previous _ hurt them before in previous elections. certainly that is forefront in labour's mine. and keir starmer, it is interesting, if you think back, cast your mind back to the last election in 2019, boris

johnson and jeremy corbyn, it seems like an age ago, there is been a huge amount of political upheaval and change since then. that election... b. and change since then. that election. . .— and change since then. that election... a different prime minister. — election... a different prime minister, liz _ election... a different prime minister, liz truss _ election... a different prime minister, liz truss and i election... a different prime | minister, liz truss and kwasi kwarteng, which is partly why the conservatives are pulling as they are. ., . ., , ., f~ii are. that election resulted in a 80 seat conservative _ are. that election resulted in a 80 seat conservative majority - are. that election resulted in a 80 seat conservative majority and i seat conservative majority and that's the worst share of seats the labour party have had since the 19305. labour party have had since the 1930s. that's the starting point. there have been by election losses and defection since then, but that's the starting point for labour. they know that even with a healthy poll lead, that they may well see some of that be eroded in the campaign, that they have a lot of work to do, and they have a lot of work to do, and they have a lot of work to do, and they have potential electoral threats from the green party, from the reform party taking some of those traditional labour voters perhaps you might have been turned

to brexit and borisjohnson, but might go that way, so labour know that they have many difficulties still to face as well in this, and there as one tory mp said to me, he said, he had been around since, he said, he had been around since, he said, back in the 1980s, 1990s, he remembered the 1992 election, john major, a 12 point lead then was overcome by the conservatives, 12 point deficit in the polls. he said, that's kind of doable, he thinks, so he said it is kind of there to play for. he would not have called it now, this mp, but he thinks it could still happen. bill now, this mp, but he thinks it could still happen-— still happen. all to play for. and the pulling _ still happen. all to play for. and the pulling and _ still happen. all to play for. and the pulling and the _ still happen. all to play for. and the pulling and the campaigning j still happen. all to play for. and l the pulling and the campaigning is about to begin, isn't it, damian? we will be back with you soon, but thank you very much indeed. let us get more of the political reaction, start with the labour leader sir keir starmer.— start with the labour leader sir keir starmer. tonight, the prime minister has _ keir starmer. tonight, the prime minister has finally _ keir starmer. tonight, the prime minister has finally announced i keir starmer. tonight, the prime l minister has finally announced the next general election. a moment the

country needs and has been waiting for. and where, by the force of our democracy, power returns to you. a chance to change for the better, your future, chance to change for the better, yourfuture, your chance to change for the better, your future, your community, chance to change for the better, yourfuture, your community, your your future, your community, your country. yourfuture, your community, your country. now, it will feel like a long campaign, i'm sure of that, but no matter what else is said and done, that opportunity for change is what this election is about. over the course of the last four years, we have changed the labour party. returned it once more to the service of working people. all we ask now, humbly, is to do exactly the same for our country and return britain to the service of working people. to

that purpose, we offer... why should change britain with labour. one, because we. the chaos. —— we will stop to chaos. look around our country to the sewage in our rivers, people waiting on trolleys in a&e, crime virtually unpunished, mortgages and food prices through the roof. it's all, every bit of it, a direct result of the tory chaos in westminster. time and again, they pursue their own interests rather than tackling the issues that affect your family, than tackling the issues that affect yourfamily, and if they than tackling the issues that affect your family, and if they get another five years, babel feel entitled to carry on exactly as they are. nothing will change. a vote for labour is a vote for stability, economic and political, a politics

that treads more lightly on all our lives, a vote to stop the chaos. two, because it's time for change. our offer is to reset both our economy and our politics, so that they once again serve the interests of working people. we totally reject the tory view that economic strength is somehow gifted from those at the top. over the past 14 years, through all the crises we have had to face, sticking with that idea has left our country exposed, insecure and unable to unlock the potential of every community. but a vote for labour is a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote to turn the page on all that, a vote for change. and finally, three, because we have a long—term plan to rebuild britain, a plan that is ready to go, fully costed and

fully funded. we can deliver economic stability, cut the end just waiting times, secure our borders with a new border security plan, harness great british energy, to cut your bills for good. tackle anti—social behaviour and get the teachers we need in your children's classroom. but most importantly of all, we do all this with a new spirit of service, country first, party second. a rejection of the gesture politics you will see in this campaign, i have no doubt, from the tories and the snp. i am well aware of the cynicism people hold towards politicians at the moment. but i came into politics late, having served our country as leader of the crown prosecution service, and i help to the police service in northern ireland to gain the consent

of all communities. service of our country is the reason and the only reason why i am standing here now, asking for your vote. and i believe, with patience, determination and that commitment to service, there is so much pride and potential we can unlock across our country, so here it is. the future of the country in your hands. on the 4th ofjuly, you have the choice, and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain and change our country. thank you. 5h britain and change our country. thank you-— britain and change our country. thank ou. ,, ,, ., ., thank you. sir keir starmer of the labour leader— thank you. sir keir starmer of the labour leader there, _ thank you. sir keir starmer of the labour leader there, speaking i thank you. sir keir starmer of the labour leader there, speaking a i labour leader there, speaking a little earlierjust labour leader there, speaking a little earlier just after labour leader there, speaking a little earlierjust after rishi sunak confirmed and announced the date of the general election for july the 4th, and as the prime

minister said, july the 4th, and as the prime ministersaid, it july the 4th, and as the prime minister said, it is a straight contest for who is going to be walking into downing street, and after 14 years of conservatives, is the country going to see a massive sea change with the labour party putting into power? they are ahead in the polls, but of course the polls can change, how much the campaign makes a difference is going to be the thing to watch. the liberal democrats did do very well in the local elections, they have done very well in by elections, they will also be hoping to take seats from the conservatives. here is ed davey, the liberal democrat leader. the liberal democrats are fighting a really strong campaign across the country, and in any part of the country, and in any part of the country is delivered to mckay to defeat the conservatives. we are only —— the only party who can defeat the consumers across the blue wall. here in surrey, so many other counties across the home counties, in the southwest of them in and many other places, if people want to get rid of the conservative mp, they

need to vote liberal democrat and they can get that local champion that will stand up for them. of course these are across all the nations, these elections, which we are going to see the campaigns roll—out for, here is scottish first ministerjohn swinney. first roll-out for, here is scottish first ministerjohn swinney.— roll-out for, here is scottish first ministerjohn swinney. first of all, i am pleased _ ministerjohn swinney. first of all, i am pleased we _ ministerjohn swinney. first of all, i am pleased we have _ ministerjohn swinney. first of all, i am pleased we have an _ ministerjohn swinney. first of all, i am pleased we have an election | i am pleased we have an election date and — i am pleased we have an election date and look forward to enormous lead to _ date and look forward to enormous lead to leading my party into this election— lead to leading my party into this election campaign. i step forward for the _ election campaign. i step forward for the party leadership knowing there _ for the party leadership knowing there would be a westminster election— there would be a westminster election soon, it is a wee bit sooner— election soon, it is a wee bit sooner than i think every buddy thought. — sooner than i think every buddy thought, but it is welcome, it is a welcome — thought, but it is welcome, it is a welcome opportunity to remove the tory government and put scotland first, _ tory government and put scotland first, and — tory government and put scotland first, and that is what i will be saying — first, and that is what i will be saying to _ first, and that is what i will be saying to the public for some i also want _ saying to the public for some i also want to— saying to the public for some i also want to say— saying to the public for some i also want to say that i think this is perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a _ perhaps the latest act of disrespect from a conservative government to call an— from a conservative government to call an election during the scottish summer— call an election during the scottish summer school holidays. there will be at _ summer school holidays. there will be at schools in skull than on holiday—

be at schools in skull than on holiday at _ be at schools in skull than on holiday at the time pulling date comes— holiday at the time pulling date comes and that when i have been given— comes and that when i have been given a _ comes and that when i have been given a moment's thought by the tory government. chose the contempt these tories _ government. chose the contempt these tories have _ government. chose the contempt these tories have for scotland. the green's party co—leader has also been giving their reaction. the green party — been giving their reaction. the green party would have liked to seen a general— green party would have liked to seen a general election— green party would have liked to seen a general election before _ green party would have liked to seen a general election before now- green party would have liked to seen a general election before now so- a general election before now so we are very— a general election before now so we are very pleased _ a general election before now so we are very pleased to _ a general election before now so we are very pleased to have _ a general election before now so we are very pleased to have an - a general election before now so we are very pleased to have an election at last _ are very pleased to have an election at last we — are very pleased to have an election at last we are _ are very pleased to have an election at last. we are ready _ are very pleased to have an election at last. we are ready and _ are very pleased to have an election at last. we are ready and we - are very pleased to have an election at last. we are ready and we think. at last. we are ready and we think the voters — at last. we are ready and we think the voters are _ at last. we are ready and we think the voters are as _ at last. we are ready and we think the voters are as well. _ at last. we are ready and we think the voters are as well. in - at last. we are ready and we think the voters are as well. in places i the voters are as well. in places like bristol— the voters are as well. in places like bristol where _ the voters are as well. in places like bristol where i— the voters are as well. in places like bristol where i live - the voters are as well. in places like bristol where i live and i the voters are as well. in places l like bristol where i live and where i like bristol where i live and where i am _ like bristol where i live and where i am standing _ like bristol where i live and where i am standing to— like bristol where i live and where i am standing to be _ like bristol where i live and where i am standing to be the _ like bristol where i live and where i am standing to be the next- like bristol where i live and where i am standing to be the next mp i like bristol where i live and wherel i am standing to be the next mp in the first— i am standing to be the next mp in the first green _ i am standing to be the next mp in the first green mp _ i am standing to be the next mp in the first green mp for— i am standing to be the next mp in the first green mp for the - i am standing to be the next mp in the first green mp for the city, i the first green mp for the city, voters — the first green mp for the city, voters are _ the first green mp for the city, voters are telling _ the first green mp for the city, voters are telling us _ the first green mp for the city, voters are telling us that i the first green mp for the city, voters are telling us that theyl the first green mp for the city, i voters are telling us that they are really _ voters are telling us that they are really distraught _ voters are telling us that they are really distraught by _ voters are telling us that they are really distraught by the _ voters are telling us that they are really distraught by the direction, the conservatives— really distraught by the direction, the conservatives have _ really distraught by the direction, the conservatives have been i really distraught by the direction, i the conservatives have been taking this country— the conservatives have been taking this country in _ the conservatives have been taking this country in over— the conservatives have been taking this country in over the _ the conservatives have been taking this country in over the last- the conservatives have been taking this country in over the last 14 i this country in over the last 14 years — this country in over the last 14 years. they— this country in over the last 14 years. they are _ this country in over the last 14 years. they are not _ this country in over the last 14 years. they are not feeling i this country in over the last 14 i years. they are not feeling at all inspired — years. they are not feeling at all inspired by— years. they are not feeling at all inspired by keir— years. they are not feeling at all inspired by keir starmer's- years. they are not feeling at all| inspired by keir starmer's labour party— inspired by keir starmer's labour party so— inspired by keir starmer's labour party so they _ inspired by keir starmer's labour party so they are _ inspired by keir starmer's labour party so they are really— inspired by keir starmer's labour party so they are really excited i inspired by keir starmer's labourl party so they are really excited by the opportunity— party so they are really excited by the opportunity to _ party so they are really excited by the opportunity to vote _ party so they are really excited by the opportunity to vote green. i party so they are really excited byi the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto — the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto of — the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto of course _ the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto of course will _ the opportunity to vote green. our manifesto of course will be - manifesto of course will be coming out in _ manifesto of course will be coming out in a _ manifesto of course will be coming out in a few — manifesto of course will be coming out in a few weeks _ manifesto of course will be coming out in a few weeks but _ manifesto of course will be coming out in a few weeks but are - manifesto of course will be coming out in a few weeks but are key i out in a few weeks but are key priorities— out in a few weeks but are key priorities will— out in a few weeks but are key priorities will be _ out in a few weeks but are key priorities will be around - out in a few weeks but are key i priorities will be around protecting the nhs _ priorities will be around protecting the nhs from _ priorities will be around protecting the nhs from privatisation - priorities will be around protecting the nhs from privatisation and i the nhs from privatisation and making — the nhs from privatisation and making sure _ the nhs from privatisation and making sure that _ the nhs from privatisation and making sure that it _ the nhs from privatisation and making sure that it is - the nhs from privatisation and making sure that it is properlyl making sure that it is properly funded — making sure that it is properly funded. making _ making sure that it is properly funded. making sure - making sure that it is properlyj funded. making sure everyone making sure that it is properly- funded. making sure everyone has access— funded. making sure everyone has access to — funded. making sure everyone has

access to a — funded. making sure everyone has access to a secure, _ funded. making sure everyone has access to a secure, warm, - funded. making sure everyone has. access to a secure, warm, affordable home _ access to a secure, warm, affordable home and _ access to a secure, warm, affordable home and clearing _ access to a secure, warm, affordable home and clearing out— access to a secure, warm, affordable home and clearing out the _ access to a secure, warm, affordable home and clearing out the sewage i access to a secure, warm, affordable i home and clearing out the sewage and our rivers _ home and clearing out the sewage and our rivers caused — home and clearing out the sewage and our rivers caused by _ home and clearing out the sewage and our rivers caused by the _ home and clearing out the sewage and our rivers caused by the water - our rivers caused by the water companies, _ our rivers caused by the water companies, making _ our rivers caused by the water companies, making sure i our rivers caused by the water companies, making sure thati our rivers caused by the water i companies, making sure that we tackle _ companies, making sure that we tackle the — companies, making sure that we tackle the cost—of—living - companies, making sure that we tackle the cost—of—living crisis i tackle the cost—of—living crisis with _ tackle the cost—of—living crisis with practical— tackle the cost—of—living crisis with practical measures - tackle the cost—of—living crisis with practical measures that l tackle the cost—of—living crisis i with practical measures that can help people _ with practical measures that can help people right— with practical measures that can help people right now— with practical measures that can help people right now and i with practical measures that can help people right now and of. with practical measures that can i help people right now and of course, holding _ help people right now and of course, holding the _ help people right now and of course, holding the next _ help people right now and of course, holding the next government - help people right now and of course, holding the next government to i holding the next government to account — holding the next government to account to — holding the next government to account to make _ holding the next government to account to make sure _ holding the next government to account to make sure that i holding the next government to account to make sure that they| holding the next government to - account to make sure that they take ambitious _ account to make sure that they take ambitious climates— account to make sure that they take ambitious climates action. - account to make sure that they take ambitious climates action.— ambitious climates action. green party co-leader_ ambitious climates action. green party co-leader there. _ ambitious climates action. green party co-leader there. let's - ambitious climates action. green party co-leader there. let's go i ambitious climates action. green| party co-leader there. let's go to party co—leader there. let's go to scotland to speak to our correspondent there who is in glasgow for us. john swinney who was onlyjust taken over the leadership, the snp have had a very tough few months and now they face this huge campaign for the country. the months and now they face this huge campaign for the country.— campaign for the country. the snp had been the _ campaign for the country. the snp had been the dominant _ campaign for the country. the snp had been the dominant party - campaign for the country. the snp had been the dominant party here | campaign for the country. the snp i had been the dominant party here in scotland for a good many years now. they won 48 out of 59 seats at the last general election, but as you say, john swinney is their new leader, the new scottish first minister it has only been in the position for a couple of weeks. he has plenty in his in training, challenges by his own admission, but

i think this is one challenge he did not expect quite so soon. those comments you heard from him, he said this was the latest act of disrespect from the conservatives to call an election during the scottish school holidays, he said he showed it showed contempt by the conservatives and it is at the start of the scottish school holidays, right at the starch which means actually quite a few films are likely to be jetting away from the dismal weather we have been having here in scotland so far this spring and into the summer. but i think there is a lot to play in scotland in this upcoming general election. the polls suggest that labour is ahead by four or five the polls suggest that labour is ahead by four orfive points. they are in the lead. it is not necessarily those numbers that count, but the distribution across the country. there are a lot of marginal seats here, particularly across the central belt which labour will be targeting. so keir starmer has previously said that his party

needs to win a considerable number of seats in scotland in the next general election to be a legitimate party across the uk. the stage conservatives have been commenting, they are calling for tactical voting in seats where they sit in second place and the scottish liberal democrats are saying that they are set to overtake the snp in westminster saying there will be more liberals than nationalist and that they are totally up for the fight. so it is going to be a very interesting general election campaign here in scotland. absolutely. we know about pretty dreadful weather here as well in downing street getting progressively wetter. let's go now to cardiff to speak to our correspondent there, thomas morgan. labour dominique in wales but that means they can be held to account in the public mines, and the public vote on the record ——

dominate in wales. and the public vote on the record -- dominate in wales.— dominate in wales. that's right and already since _ dominate in wales. that's right and already since we _ dominate in wales. that's right and already since we have _ dominate in wales. that's right and already since we have had - dominate in wales. that's right and already since we have had this - already since we have had this announcement over the past two hours and so, familiar arguments have been thrown from the political parties. the welsh labour leader comes a new first minister saying that welsh public are calling for a change, an end to the tory chaos. the tory leader here in wales throwing it straight back saying, look at the track record welsh labour have an education and health key developed policies here that have not gone particular bowl of the last few years and then you have plaid cymru saying we are the only party that are going to fight rebels in the lead them saying here, you are not going to get any difference between right and blue. of the one thing that will be different in wales this time around comejuly the 4th is that 40 mp5 will become 32. last time around, the key battleground was in north well specifically in north—eastern will switch was the

so—called redwall seat but five of the 605 some tories one from labour were in north wales. now that the number of mp5 is producing by eight innings the boundaries are changing into question will being, who does that benefit. some political experts say that will benefit labour, plaid cymru could lose one of their forces because of the boundary changes as well. could the lib dems capitalise on these changes? the other thing to call into question is three or four of the former and current welsh secretaries in the tory parties, all of their seats are potential target seats for labour. this could be an interesting election in wales. even though, the same old arguments may crop up from each of the parties, actually, the battlegrounds may be different because of these changes to the electoral boundaries. izieri; to the electoral boundaries. very interesting _ to the electoral boundaries. very

interesting there. _ to the electoral boundaries. very interesting there. let's _ to the electoral boundaries. very interesting there. let's cross the belfast and speak to our ireland correspondent. again, a very difficult political picture there, how is he going to look over the next five weeks? figs how is he going to look over the next five weeks?— next five weeks? as always in northern ireland _ next five weeks? as always in northern ireland it _ next five weeks? as always in northern ireland it is - next five weeks? as always in northern ireland it is a - next five weeks? as always in northern ireland it is a bit - northern ireland it is a bit different. it is always argued that northern ireland politicians don't often agree on too much, so far the reaction has been welcoming all saying that their party is best placed to represent northern ireland. just to recap how it works in northern ireland, most of westminster�*s seats are split between the two biggest parties here so democratic unionist party has eight seats and sinn fein has seven. there are 18 seats up for grab. just to recap on what is happening politically in northern ireland at the moment. the power—sharing

executive, the default government has only been up and running again earlier this year, after a hiatus of two years it did not sit for two years and when it came back, sinn fein wa5 years and when it came back, sinn fein was the biggest party and michelle o'neill wa5 fein was the biggest party and michelle o'neill was the first ministerfor the michelle o'neill was the first minister for the first michelle o'neill was the first ministerfor the first time. michelle o'neill was the first minister for the first time. so that party will be looking to capitalise on that and to recreate those gains at westminster even though sinn fein follows a policy of abstention is a him which means they don't actually take their seats. a5 for the dup, it could be argued that this is not great timing for them. their former leader, sirjeffrey donaldson stood down in march after being charged with rape and ten other accounts of historical sexual offences. he is denying all of those, but we heard from his solicitor today saying, he will not be standing for reelection so that will be one of the focus points for the general election

here. then you have the new leader of the dup who was leading his party into the general election defending his seat so, although northern ireland has enjoyed political stability for the past few months, there is still an awful lot of that going on and now a general election thrown into the mix injust a going on and now a general election thrown into the mix in just a few weeks when we hope the weather will be much better than it has been today. be much better than it has been toda . ~ . . ~ today. we will leave it there. thank ou ve today. we will leave it there. thank you very much _ today. we will leave it there. thank you very much indeed _ today. we will leave it there. thank you very much indeed for _ today. we will leave it there. thank you very much indeed for that. - today. we will leave it there. thank you very much indeed for that. i'ml you very much indeed for that. i'm joined now by andrew fisher former executive director of policy and research for the labour party. thank you forjoining us. of course you were involved in writing jeremy corbyn's manifesto, do you support the current labour position, there are six key targets in their five missions with a pretty changed look now under keir starmer? i

missions with a pretty changed look now under keir starmer?— missions with a pretty changed look now under keir starmer? i think they are important— now under keir starmer? i think they are important priorities _ now under keir starmer? i think they are important priorities that - now under keir starmer? i think they are important priorities that keir - are important priorities that keir starmer has set up at the same time i don't think they will be on the scale that will meet the inheritance of this almost certain labour government, as we can be, labour is going to inherit. we are in a deep crisis after 14 years of the conservatives in power, we've had stagnant growth ever since the bank and crash in 2008 and the longest and crash in 2008 and the longest and deepest of cost of logic —— cost—of—living crisis housing is unaffordable whether you are a renter, a mortgagor or remortgaging, record lists, social care is in crisis, councils are collapsing around the country. sewage and our rivers and cities. the country is in a state. there is a lot to be done and i think when labour gets into part they are going to be a lot more ambitious than they have set out already because the times demand it. that of course requires money and we know the economic position of the country at the moment and keir starmer has said that these are

first steps and you have to accept that there has been a massive turnaround in public support for the labour party since corbin wa5 turnaround in public support for the labour party since corbin was ousted and keir starmer took over so he was surely in a position to justify his current position. it is surely in a position to 'ustify his current position._ current position. it is not about keir starmer _ current position. it is not about keir starmer versus _ current position. it is not about keir starmer versus jeremy - current position. it is not about - keir starmer versus jeremy corbyn, keir starmer versusjeremy corbyn, keir starmer versusjeremy corbyn, keir starmer versusjeremy corbyn, keir starmer will be the prime minister in a matter of months taking less than two months and he will have to sort the problems of the uk, not have an argument internally within the labour party. and he has have a plan that is up to the task. and we have record levels of child property. we have rising unemployment. there are lots of other problems, i could go on. yes to meet those. it is not about some past debate about whether the labour party is or was, it is about people in the here and now. do party is or was, it is about people in the here and now.— party is or was, it is about people in the here and now. do you think, if the labour— in the here and now. do you think, if the labour government - in the here and now. do you think, if the labour government does - in the here and now. do you think, i if the labour government does come in injuly, that they will end up disappointing the public because they will not be able to me all of this challenge, or will they have to look again at tax. they of course say that they want to fund a change

through growing the economy. growth does not come — through growing the economy. growth does not come overnight. _ through growing the economy. growth does not come overnight. it _ through growing the economy. growth does not come overnight. it will - does not come overnight. it will take a wild to turn around economy, evenif take a wild to turn around economy, even if you put in the necessary investment. we have seen labour cut the amount of investments they say will put in through their green prosperity plan. so i think reality is going to have to bite at some point. you say there is less money around, so the sunday times rich list this weekend, it's at the richest and people in this country expended their wealth by tens of billions of pounds in the last year alone. the money is there, it is just in the wrong hands. actually, we do need some redistribution of taxation in this company. missing water companies say they need to hide bills from anything of 20% upwards. people are being ripped off they need a government that is when to stand up for them, take the money off of the people that are ripping us off and put it back in the hands of people who need it. we have record level of food bank use in this country we are the sixth richest country in the world we should not have rising child poverty comprising unemployment and record food bank use. do comprising unemployment and record food bank use-— food bank use. do you think those who sunported —

food bank use. do you think those who supported jeremy _ food bank use. do you think those who supported jeremy corbyn, - food bank use. do you think those i who supported jeremy corbyn, those who supported jeremy corbyn, those who are still in the labour party will not go out and campaign and vote for this labour party? i will not go out and campaign and vote for this labour party? i think it is a mix — vote for this labour party? i think it is a mix is _ vote for this labour party? i think it is a mix is the _ vote for this labour party? i think it is a mix is the honest _ vote for this labour party? i think it is a mix is the honest truth, - it is a mix is the honest truth, some people have left and gone to green or to support independence. one thing that keir starmer and his labour leadership could do tonight that would helped unify the party and encourage people to come back and encourage people to come back and that is to restore the whip to jeremy corbyn and diana and allow them to stand if they so wish in the general election in a labour banter they have given their lives to the labour party and that been treated terribly and people see that as a reflection of the attitude of the left of the party. reflection of the attitude of the left of the party-— left of the party. can't see that happening _ left of the party. can't see that happening certainly _ left of the party. can't see that happening certainly with - left of the party. can't see that| happening certainly with jeremy corbyn. happening certainly withjeremy corbyn. i am sure you would agree. thank you very much, andrew. i'm sure we'll talk again for subverting me now is a former political adviser to tony blair so on the other side of the labour party and lauren, a former conservative special adviser

and david cameron's administration. thank you. john, first, your reaction to rishi sunak calling the election today forjuly here in the rain. �* . election today forjuly here in the rain. �* , , . . rain. i've never seen such a symbolic— rain. i've never seen such a symbolic declaration - rain. i've never seen such a symbolic declaration of - rain. i've never seen such a symbolic declaration of a i rain. i've never seen such a - symbolic declaration of a general election campaign, if that is the level of preparedness that reducing the cost for an election campaign, macro two are going to walk us. —— labour are going to walk this. i labour are going to walk this. i agree withjohn here, it seems to be rushed _ agree withjohn here, it seems to be rushed out, — agree withjohn here, it seems to be rushed out, i— agree withjohn here, it seems to be rushed out, i don't know if i believe _ rushed out, i don't know if i believe the line that there was a slow— believe the line that there was a slow bum — believe the line that there was a slow burn for rishi over several weeks — slow burn for rishi over several weeks i'm _ slow burn for rishi over several weeks. i'm not certain that was what actually— weeks. i'm not certain that was what actually went on for here. i think the inflation figures that came out, while _ the inflation figures that came out, while lower than they have dropped, i while lower than they have dropped, i own— while lower than they have dropped, i own and _ while lower than they have dropped, i own and not low enough to guarantee rate cuts injune and july which _ guarantee rate cuts injune and july which means there is not an immediate good economic news story in the _ immediate good economic news story in the next _ immediate good economic news story in the next couple of months which would _ in the next couple of months which

would have — in the next couple of months which would have help them to go for a december— would have help them to go for a december election. if that is the case _ december election. if that is the case then— december election. if that is the case then why are you continuing to han- case then why are you continuing to hang on. _ case then why are you continuing to hang on, you may as well go now. i'm not entirely— hang on, you may as well go now. i'm not entirely certain that this was a well—thought—out and long thought out plan _ well—thought—out and long thought out plan as i understand, he went to the king _ out plan as i understand, he went to the king before he spoke to his own cabinet _ the king before he spoke to his own cabinet which would seem to indicate that, yes, _ cabinet which would seem to indicate that, yes, this was hastily put togethen _ that, yes, this was hastily put together. do that, yes, this was hastily put touether. ,, that, yes, this was hastily put touether. i. . that, yes, this was hastily put touether. , ., . . that, yes, this was hastily put touether. . . together. do you agree with that? do ou think together. do you agree with that? do you think this — together. do you agree with that? do you think this was _ together. do you agree with that? do you think this was a _ together. do you agree with that? do you think this was a last-minute - you think this was a last—minute decision? it you think this was a last-minute decision? ., , �* ~' decision? it doesn't feel like there has been any _ decision? it doesn't feel like there has been any build-up _ decision? it doesn't feel like there has been any build-up to - decision? it doesn't feel like there has been any build-up to it - decision? it doesn't feel like there has been any build-up to it in - has been any build—up to it in any way. i agree with lauren that there is not the sign of any good news. maybe it is the worries about what the summer is going to hold in terms of boats. he is not been able to stop the boats, may be a good summer weather will need more people coming across. it feels almost as if he has had enough, that rishi sunak personally has had enough, he is not

consulted with the cabinet, he's gone for the palace and told them what he is done, and there was in the room this afternoon there was flurries, has hejumped or has he been pushed, it is hard to tell. but there was no definition given in the context by the way the prime minister spoke to the country. it was a very trampled prime minister who walks back into number ten. i think a very confused set of journalists watching it, political advisers and the public watching it because what is the selection about? what is the question we are going to answer? because unless the conservatives have a question, this will end up being a referendum on their government and i don't think it is looking good for them in that sense. lauren, what would you say the wider political reaction has been? i don't know whether you've spoken to your old boss david cameron, he apparently had to fly back early from a trip overseas in order to be here today. i5 from a trip overseas in order to be here today. is the general reaction disappointment that this has come

earlier than expected? lots of speculation about an october or november date. 50 speculation about an october or november date.— speculation about an october or november date. , ., ,.,,, ., november date. so my former boss was david jones. _ november date. so my former boss was david jones, secretary _ november date. so my former boss was david jones, secretary of _ november date. so my former boss was david jones, secretary of state - november date. so my former boss was david jones, secretary of state for - david jones, secretary of state for wales _ david jones, secretary of state for wales. ok. so david jones, secretary of state for wales. gk. sol david jones, secretary of state for wales. ok. so i have spoken to him and he is retiring, i think several of the _ and he is retiring, i think several of the retiring mps may have thought they were _ of the retiring mps may have thought they were slightly longer to run. tracey _ they were slightly longer to run. tracey crouch was tweeting earlier that she _ tracey crouch was tweeting earlier that she had anticipated doing more later in— that she had anticipated doing more later in the — that she had anticipated doing more later in the year, before an election— later in the year, before an election year in the autumn, and she had think— election year in the autumn, and she had think she had to do, and there are some — had think she had to do, and there are some people like my old boss who genuinely. _ are some people like my old boss who genuinely, this was his decision to retire. _ genuinely, this was his decision to retire. this — genuinely, this was his decision to retire, this was time for him to go, i do retire, this was time for him to go, i do think— retire, this was time for him to go, i do think there have been several retirements where they are just afraid _ retirements where they are just afraid of— retirements where they are just afraid of what's coming and don't really— afraid of what's coming and don't really want to lose their seat and want _ really want to lose their seat and want to _ really want to lose their seat and want to have it be more of their decision— want to have it be more of their

decision then some quite bad stuff going up in the snp administration in scotland, they certainly— snp administration in scotland, they certainly won't be happy. i think that's— certainly won't be happy. i think that's since the things for labour in scotland they have a good chance of taking _ in scotland they have a good chance of taking quite a few up there. i think— of taking quite a few up there. i think reform are slipping in the bolts. —

think reform are slipping in the polls, nigel farage 0xley has not made _ polls, nigel farage 0xley has not made a _ polls, nigel farage 0xley has not made a decision about is he in or out, _ made a decision about is he in or out, is _ made a decision about is he in or out, is he — made a decision about is he in or out, is he going to run this takes them _ out, is he going to run this takes them by— out, is he going to run this takes them by some prize as well so it is conceivable — them by some prize as well so it is conceivable that from the point of view of _ conceivable that from the point of view of the political machinations between — view of the political machinations between each party that, yes, this may be _ between each party that, yes, this may be surprised now and most people would _ may be surprised now and most people would think— may be surprised now and most people would think it was in the autumn, that there — would think it was in the autumn, that there could be some benefit there _ that there could be some benefit there i— that there could be some benefit there. i thinkjohn is right, there. ithinkjohn is right, i think— there. i thinkjohn is right, i think we _ there. i thinkjohn is right, i think we were heading for a bad summer— think we were heading for a bad summer in— think we were heading for a bad summer in terms of illegal immigration across the channel. i think— immigration across the channel. i think we — immigration across the channel. i think we were already looking at realty— think we were already looking at really large numbers of illegal migrants within the uk and that is beginning — migrants within the uk and that is beginning to really filter through into how— beginning to really filter through into how people feel the government is performing. they have of these arguments— is performing. they have of these arguments of the last weeks about university— arguments of the last weeks about university graduate visas and after work visas — university graduate visas and after work visas and i think this is something that is going to be an issue _ something that is going to be an issue on— something that is going to be an issue on the doorstep for us on this etection— issue on the doorstep for us on this election campaign. this is not something that we get the blame on anybody— something that we get the blame on anybody else. we can't say, oh well,

labour— anybody else. we can't say, oh well, labour left _ anybody else. we can't say, oh well, labour left no money. this is our record. _ labour left no money. this is our record. we — labour left no money. this is our record, we absolutely have to stand by. record, we absolutely have to stand by there _ record, we absolutely have to stand by. there are a lot more people migrating — by. there are a lot more people migrating legally into this country than there have been in years. and a lot of— than there have been in years. and a lot of people — than there have been in years. and a lot of people are not going to be happy— lot of people are not going to be happy about that and that is going to be _ happy about that and that is going to be on— happy about that and that is going to be on the doorstep. immigration obviously going _ to be on the doorstep. immigration obviously going to _ to be on the doorstep. immigration obviously going to be _ to be on the doorstep. immigration obviously going to be an _ to be on the doorstep. immigration obviously going to be an issue. - obviously going to be an issue. john, for the labour party and labour leadership, there are questions, andrew fisher referred to them in terms of whether their plans are ambitious enough and whether their policy areas are thought through enough, if they do get into government. when those policy areas in the shadow cabinet members are really interrogated now, as they will be, are they actually ready? are they up to it?— are they up to it? they are totally read . are they up to it? they are totally ready- they _ are they up to it? they are totally ready. they were _ are they up to it? they are totally ready. they were ready _ are they up to it? they are totally ready. they were ready from - are they up to it? they are totally ready. they were ready from the l ready. they were ready from the second election. labour has had extra months now since may the 2nd, since but labour already. share extra months now since may the 2nd, since but labour already.—

since but labour already. are they ambitious enough _ since but labour already. are they ambitious enough in _ since but labour already. are they ambitious enough in what - since but labour already. are they ambitious enough in what they - since but labour already. are they i ambitious enough in what they want to achieve? haste ambitious enough in what they want to achieve? ~ . ., ., to achieve? we are going to inherit a wrecked economy, _ to achieve? we are going to inherit a wrecked economy, a _ to achieve? we are going to inherit a wrecked economy, a broken - to achieve? we are going to inherit i a wrecked economy, a broken britain, a wrecked economy, a broken britain, a country needs rebuilding. labour needs to be absolutely clear what it can do, but it will do and over a io—year period, two terms of a labour government, we will make major changes. you have to be honest with the public. the choice of a wrecked country and it cannot be rebuilt in a moment. it will take years to restore some of the things that we need to rebuild and restore. i think being honest and level with the country is critical and keir starmer is not a guy with overblown ambitions, not a guy for overblown claims. you will make some good changes in british energy, in re—nationalizing the railway, big changes in rates for workers. those are big and bold plans, but they have all got to be done in the light

of, the government have borrowed massively, two thirds of their tax cuts in the last two fiscal events have been financed by borrowing. so there is a huge burden there and hopefully we will turn the corner quickly. hopefully we will turn the corner cuickl . . ~' ,, hopefully we will turn the corner cuickl . . ~ i. quickly. ok. thank you both indeed for 'oinin: quickly. ok. thank you both indeed forjoining us- _ quickly. ok. thank you both indeed forjoining us. i'm _ quickly. ok. thank you both indeed forjoining us. i'mjoined _ quickly. ok. thank you both indeed forjoining us. i'mjoined now- quickly. ok. thank you both indeed forjoining us. i'mjoined now by i forjoining us. i'm joined now by jonathan, shadow secretary of state for business and for trade. thank you for your time. are you ready and is labour being honest with the public about how it's going to fund tackling the huge problems that it says it's going to face? the answer is es and says it's going to face? the answer is yes and yes _ says it's going to face? the answer is yes and yes again. _ says it's going to face? the answer is yes and yes again. this - says it's going to face? the answer is yes and yes again. this is - says it's going to face? the answer is yes and yes again. this is an - is yes and yes again. this is an election for the british people will get the chance to vote for change, if they are happy with things under the conservative party, that is what they will be but if they want change and something better, it is to labour they can look at what gets it that with confidence first focus you have the humility to change ourselves, if we had kept the direction we were in 2019, i don't

think we'll be competitive in the selection. but you saw think we'll be competitive in the selection. but you 5awju5t last week when keir starmer laid out our first six steps that we were taking in government, notjust the actions we would take, to make the difference, initially. but we do first fall, but how we would pay for those things it also asked the question, to be frank, which people have tonight, which is, there is so much wrong in the community, so much wrong around them in the uk, how can any political party seem to make a difference? it is through this practical first steps we that we seek to do that and of course wherever we have a pledge, six and have thousand extra teachers pledges funded by raising taxes on private education, vat and business rates, if it is for instance setting up gb energy, a pledge, six and have thousand extra teachers pledges funded by raising taxes on private education, vat and business rates, if it is for instance setting up gb energy, is the own energy copy to bring down bills for the long—term, that will be funded by a slightly pay for the sink.— that will be funded by a slightly pay for the sink. those who looked at the numbers _ pay for the sink. those who looked at the numbers say _ pay for the sink. those who looked at the numbers say that _ pay for the sink. those who looked at the numbers say that the - pay for the sink. those who looked l at the numbers say that the amount you are going to raise firm those steps is minuscule compared to the

actual challenges of the country faces just of the next five years, let alone a tenure plan. again, is the question really about honesty from all the parties in terms of how much tax people should pay and what you can actually do to solve these enormous deep—seated and long—term challenges? i enormous deep-seated and long-term challenues? ~' , ., enormous deep-seated and long-term challenues? ~ , ., . ., challenges? i think you are right to sa --eole challenges? i think you are right to say people have — challenges? i think you are right to say people have a _ challenges? i think you are right to say people have a sense _ challenges? i think you are right to say people have a sense that - challenges? i think you are right to say people have a sense that therej say people have a sense that there is so much going wrong and frankly, what works better today in the uk than when the conservative party came to power in 2010. so when we set up as far steps is to ensure people that practical deliverable actions can be taken, that they can be funded and supported. of course they are notjust be funded and supported. of course they are not just for steps, be funded and supported. of course they are notjust for steps, they are not to scale of our conditions, we want to renew the country and the chance to have a mentally better and different pass but we know when the problems are so great people want to know how to practically make a difference to those things. for instance, can if we were to look at the 40,000 additional nhs procedures every week under a labour

government, we would change the rules the government have slightly stolen from us on the non—dom tax policy and in how taxes are collected and specifically we would use that money to deliver that pledge so we want to be able to show people we can make a real difference as soon as possible to their lives. of as soon as possible to their lives. of course have a whole range of pledges in the long—term, building wouldn't have homeowners over the course of a government's first term in parliament. things that would make that long term difference, but also we know we have to punch through that ceiling, show people the practical difference we can make early on and how we can pay for that. . ~ early on and how we can pay for that. . ,, , ., early on and how we can pay for that. . ~' , ., , that. thank you very jonathan reynolds. _ that. thank you very jonathan reynolds, thank you - that. thank you very jonathan l reynolds, thank you very much that. thank you very jonathan - reynolds, thank you very much indeed forjoining us today. joining me now is lucy fisher of whitehall editor from the financial times, and sonia soda, thank you both forjoining us. lucy, you tweeted a few days ago that there was potential talk about an election being called today. you are right. i got a bit of it to myself yesterday also, but there's been so much speculation, can you tell us any more about how sure you

where it was going to be called today? where it was going to be called toda ? ~ ., ., ~ where it was going to be called toda ? ~ , ., ., today? well, look, i should not overla today? well, look, i should not overplay it _ today? well, look, i should not overplay it - — today? well, look, i should not overplay it - when _ today? well, look, i should not overplay it - when i _ today? well, look, i should not overplay it - when i got - today? well, look, i should not overplay it - when i got wind i overplay it — when i got wind of last week was that last monday, last week, tory party bosses at the conservative campaign headquarters had got together to discuss the financing plans for a potentialjuly election, the talked about what budget the party would have left, the instruction was given to the pen holders on key relationships with mega donors to try and discreetly inquire as to the likelihood of them being able to give large donations at short notice, and since then i picked up chatter about the events and visits team at downing street going into overdrive, a flurry of activity in recent days, talking to teresa pathetic businesses about their willingness to hand over their sites, theirfactories their willingness to hand over their sites, their factories for their offices for events in coming weeks —— tory sympathetic. all these

factors were fuelling the speculation which reached 50 or pitch this morning in westminster. look, i think the decision was obviously kept very close in number ten, and that's evidenced by the fact that key cabinet ministers, david cameron had to cut short a visit to albania today where he was meeting the albanian p.m. , to be briefed by sunak this afternoon, grant shapps early this morning learned he had to delay a planned trip to the baltics in order to attend this cabinet meeting, so it really was a very small number of people who were in on this decision which i think the final call was made only very late on.- which i think the final call was made only very late on. yet, lucy, i cuess it made only very late on. yet, lucy, i guess it always _ made only very late on. yet, lucy, i guess it always has _ made only very late on. yet, lucy, i guess it always has to _ made only very late on. yet, lucy, i guess it always has to be, _ made only very late on. yet, lucy, i | guess it always has to be, otherwise it is so easy for these things to leak. sonia sodha, laboursay it is so easy for these things to leak. sonia sodha, labour say they have been ready, they were expecting a potential may election, but they are really going to come under scrutiny like they have never faced until now, keir starmer is going to be drilled as a potential future inhabitant of downing street. thea;t

inhabitant of downing street. they will, inhabitant of downing street. they will. scrutiny _ inhabitant of downing street. they will, scrutiny of _ inhabitant of downing street. they will, scrutiny of the _ inhabitant of downing street. they will, scrutiny of the opposition party— will, scrutiny of the opposition party and _ will, scrutiny of the opposition party and the man who wants to be prime _ party and the man who wants to be prime minister will always hot up during _ prime minister will always hot up during a — prime minister will always hot up during a general election campaign, and there's— during a general election campaign, and there's going to be more focus on labour— and there's going to be more focus on labour cosmic policy than there ever has— on labour cosmic policy than there ever has before, but i think labour are feeling — ever has before, but i think labour are feeling quite confident. they would _ are feeling quite confident. they would not — are feeling quite confident. they would not want that to be known, but going _ would not want that to be known, but going to _ would not want that to be known, but going to this campaign, you've had labour's _ going to this campaign, you've had labour's campaign chief that he has been _ labour's campaign chief that he has been warning shadow cabinet ministers for months that an early generat— ministers for months that an early general election could be on the way. _ general election could be on the way, there has been a great deal of work— way, there has been a great deal of work going — way, there has been a great deal of work going on behind the scenes, not only around _ work going on behind the scenes, not only around that pledge card that we saw launched last week but around what's _ saw launched last week but around what's going to be in the labour manifesto, and very clear message from _ manifesto, and very clear message from keir— manifesto, and very clear message from keir starmer and rachel reeves so far— from keir starmer and rachel reeves so far that _ from keir starmer and rachel reeves so far that nothing is going in that manifesto — so far that nothing is going in that manifesto that costs money unless it has been _ manifesto that costs money unless it has been fully costed. do manifesto that costs money unless it has been fully costed._ has been fully costed. do you think all the shadow _ has been fully costed. do you think all the shadow cabinet _ has been fully costed. do you think all the shadow cabinet members i has been fully costed. do you think. all the shadow cabinet members are equally prepared, with actual policy plans ready to hit the ground running if they were to be elected?

are they being ambitious in terms of how much money they are going to have to raise to tackle all these problems? i have to raise to tackle all these problems?— have to raise to tackle all these roblems? ~ . ., , problems? i think labour has played in uuite problems? i think labour has played in quite consciously _ problems? i think labour has played in quite consciously so _ problems? i think labour has played in quite consciously so far, - problems? i think labour has played in quite consciously so far, and - problems? i think labour has played in quite consciously so far, and we i in quite consciously so far, and we should _ in quite consciously so far, and we should expect that to continue stop it's should expect that to continue stop its been— should expect that to continue stop it's been quite a risk—averse strategy— it's been quite a risk—averse strategy in the sense that labour don't _ strategy in the sense that labour don't want — strategy in the sense that labour don't want to commit to anything that distracts from the fact that they say— that distracts from the fact that they say their main mission is around — they say their main mission is around stability and achieving economic stability, and that is the way to— economic stability, and that is the way to growth, that's the way to higher— way to growth, that's the way to higher tax— way to growth, that's the way to higher tax revenues, so that is the message _ higher tax revenues, so that is the message they really want to send, so it would _ message they really want to send, so it would be... you are not going to see toads — it would be... you are not going to see loads of— it would be... you are not going to see loads of snazzy, costly pledges from labour. it is going to be very different— from labour. it is going to be very different to — from labour. it is going to be very different to the 2019 election campaign. different to the 2019 election campaign-— different to the 2019 election camaiun. , , , ., campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha. _ campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha, we _ campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha, we are _ campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha, we are out - campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha, we are out of- campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and sonia sodha, we are out of time, j campaign. lucy,, lucy fisher and - sonia sodha, we are out of time, but thank you very much indeed. we are getting lots of reaction, hearing of some surprise and disappointment especially on the tory benches, who thought they might have a bit more time, hoping for better economic

news. there has been good inflation data, rishi sunak has chosen to make his announcement on the back of those figures, some asking whether, has he effectively given up, because they are 20 points behind in the polls. the public was the only clinical parties out campaigning —— will see the political parties. a vote in july. will see the political parties. a vote injuly. this is bbc news. live from downing street this is bbc news. speaking a while ago in the pouring rain prime minister rishi sunak said he had a plan for the future and it was up to the people to make a decision. haifa future and it was up to the people to make a decision.— to make a decision. now is the moment for— to make a decision. now is the moment for britain _ to make a decision. now is the moment for britain to - to make a decision. now is the moment for britain to choose i to make a decision. now is the i moment for britain to choose its future. to decide whether we want to build on the progress we have made or risk going back to square one with no plan and no certainty. fin

with no plan and no certainty. on the 4th ofjuly you have the choice and together we can stop the chaos, we could _ and together we can stop the chaos, we could turn the page, we can start to rebuild _ we could turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain and change our country — to rebuild britain and change our country. thank you. applause. i�*m country. thank you. applause. i'm reall country thank you. applause. i�*m really pleased to hear we have in a general election. i think it's about time that people bother to go out and vote that's a big thing, people need to get to their voting stations. need to get to their voting stations-— need to get to their voting stations. ~ ., ., ., ., i, , stations. we will have more analysis and reaction — stations. we will have more analysis and reaction throughout _ stations. we will have more analysis and reaction throughout the - stations. we will have more analysis and reaction throughout the speciall and reaction throughout the special programme as five weeks of campaigning began. hello and welcome from downing street. in the last few hours rishi sunak announced that they will be a general election onjuly sunak announced that they will be a general election on july the sunak announced that they will be a general election onjuly the 4th. he stood here in the pouring rain, i'm afraid the weather has not been kind to us today.