of tory say a regular 1a years of tory leadership. david cameron not even elected for the pointing to the house of lords or foreign secretary. they share churn of being a government for a long time with one party you start to run out of good people, don't you?— party you start to run out of good people, don't you? rishi sunak wants to sa look people, don't you? rishi sunak wants to say look at — people, don't you? rishi sunak wants to say look at my _ people, don't you? rishi sunak wants to say look at my record, _ people, don't you? rishi sunak wants to say look at my record, his - to say look at my record, his record in less than two years that he has been at the helm. labour will want to say, look at 1a years of conservative government we heard keir starmer say it's been chaos, a time of stagnating wages and living standards, he wants people to focus on bat. labours messages time to change. rishi sunak messages, i've been stabilising things give me more time. one thing he points to of course is his rwanda policy. he's passed legislation for that. ritchie sunak and speak to other countries are emulating us, they are not. other countries are talking about

how they are processing offshore but thatis how they are processing offshore but that is processing to allow people to then move to european countries was the puk scheme is very different it is deporting people to rwanda to be processed stay in rwanda if they... whatever the situation. a different thing but he hasn't had a chance to put that into practice yet. talk today, one of the reason for calling the selection at this point is he's put that legislation through, it could face legal challenges in the coming months. there could be arrivals coming by boat which are ready at a record high from year to date. they could go even further. an argument for going now, before that plans being tested for the rishi sunak thinking judge me on my record, give me more time. again he is gonna find questions on that.— time. again he is gonna find questions on that. lots of people cominu questions on that. lots of people coming out _ questions on that. lots of people coming out of — questions on that. lots of people coming out of downing _ questions on that. lots of people coming out of downing street. i questions on that. lots of people l coming out of downing street. this was a party- _

coming out of downing street. this was a party- as _ coming out of downing street. t�*i 3 was a party. as sendoff for coming out of downing street. t�*i 1 was a party. as sendoff for social justice for the people who are invited to downing street, the prime minister not there, in east london. do we know from either labour or the conservatives, conservatives are that the advantage, the call the election, they can organise a quick campaign event as we just saw. labour will no doubt, all add up and running with the events tomorrow the day after. do we know who the key players in both labour and tory is going to be? who are the faces of the campaigns?— going to be? who are the faces of the campaigns? even earlier before this was announced _ the campaigns? even earlier before this was announced labour- the campaigns? even earlier before this was announced labour was - the campaigns? even earlier before i this was announced labour was saying they were ready, they had their manifest are ready to go. they had their literature ready to go. the faces you're going to see are going to be keir starmer and rishi sunak. i think it's going to be a personalised campaign in that way. labours certainly feel that the polling daisy indicates that people favour keir starmer as a potential

prime minister over rishi sunak. rishi sunak as you heard in his speech to say keir starmer is someone who shouldn't be trusted. you'll see both of them. you will see keir starmer�*s future possible chancellor, rachel reeves. i think she will be pretty critical to. rishi sunak, you saw him today surrounded by his cabinet. he will want his sort of loyalties, his deputy prime minister is one of his closest associates. you will see those kind of faces, i think. but you will hear again and again and again those same messages that you've heard him saying they are today for them and keir starmer his message is chaos under the conservatives, time for change. labours slogan is simply change. that is it. they feel they have a powerful message they can focus on bear. and that you will hear again from labour to.— bear. and that you will hear again from labour to. damian, stay with us. from labour to. damian, stay with us- thank— from labour to. damian, stay with us- thank you- —

from labour to. damian, stay with us. thank you. let's _ from labour to. damian, stay with us. thank you. let's go _ from labour to. damian, stay with us. thank you. let's go to - us. thank you. let's go to hannah miller who was across that event that rishi sunak and his team had organised. we saw the full cabinet. who else was watching? did you manage to speak to anybody? me’oe manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able _ manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able to _ manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able to speak _ manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able to speak to _ manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able to speak to any - manage to speak to anybody? we've not been able to speak to any of- manage to speak to anybody? -- not been able to speak to any of the members who were at the event in order to broadcast live we were put outside here on the balcony and were not in the room for that we haven't spoken to any of the members in order to get their reaction to exactly what went on in the room. there were about 100 or so members in the room. that's what we were told, the vote conservative placards, clearly a photo opportunity. quite a short, swift one. some people have already left the building from here. there's no hanging around, chatting, discussing, making huge plans at this point. the photo opportunity has happen and some people are on their way home or out onto the

campaign trail. the banners behind rishi sunak said clear plan, secure future for them it sounds very much like that is going to be the conservative party slogan going into this election. the messages that we heard from rishi sunak and from james cleverley really were a reiteration of some of what we heard from the prime minister in downing street this afternoon, framing this as a general election between keir starmer and rishi sunak. talking about rishi sunak character as a leader and in some ways casting a aspersion about the labour leader keir starmer, suggesting that his character... he doesn't have the leadership skills that the conservative party would say that rishi sunak has built up and show that labour will be taking on that challenge when they do their campaign advance and also taking on the idea that the conservatives seem

to be repeating that labour had no plan. that the labour party will be publishing their plant of the manifestos, they do have ideas and plans in the making for a number of the policy areas and they will be stinky to convince people of those was our conservatives here trying to get the message across that they will say is working, they say the inflation figures today show that that plan is working and he had tried to argue there's a lot for the general election campaign that inflation has come down. that is a result of the prime minister is work and the argument will go that he gives you that if you give us a bit more time and we win the general election we will show you that we can do the other things as well. it would be up to voters whether they believe in that or they think is the labour party would say, they will be arguing that it is time for a change of party and government.- arguing that it is time for a change of party and government. thank you ve much of party and government. thank you very much for— of party and government. thank you very much for that _ of party and government. thank you very much for that for _ of party and government. thank you very much for that for the _ of party and government. thank you very much for that for the hedda - very much for that for the hedda miller across back conservative

campaign event in east london. —— hannah miller. just around the cornerfrom hannah miller. just around the corner from where we're, thank you forjoining us. first of all, your reaction. were you surprised? there's been a lot of speculation building over the day but the timing of the election, do you welcome this summer date for the polls? absolutely. it's much more favourable than the winter election that the conservatives had us contesting in 2019. it's hugely disappointing for voters in scotland who have been treated with such disregard where the prime minister of the united kingdom calls a general election during scottish school holidays where many families will be away. we will mount a serious campaign to get people onto postal votes so they have not been structurally disenfranchised by the story prime minister. d0

structurally disenfranchised by the story prime minister.— structurally disenfranchised by the story prime minister. do you know, have ou story prime minister. do you know, have you done _ story prime minister. do you know, have you done any _ story prime minister. do you know, have you done any calculations - have you done any calculations towards how many people might be way and how much it could affect voter turnout? it’s and how much it could affect voter turnout? �* , ., ., and how much it could affect voter turnout? �* , ., , and how much it could affect voter turnout? �*, ., , ., ., ., turnout? it's too early to have that information- _ turnout? it's too early to have that information. i'm _ turnout? it's too early to have that information. i'm not— turnout? it's too early to have that information. i'm not sure - turnout? it's too early to have that information. i'm not sure it - turnout? it's too early to have that information. i'm not sure it will. information. i'm not sure it will be able to compile that at all. it's a symbolism as much as the material of sex. we will take care of communicating with voters about what they have to do to protect their boat from the tories. i think it speaks that the parity scotland does not have within the united kingdom the prime minister would never have countenanced a prime doing a general election during england school holidays. but it seems overly acceptable in scotland school holidays. something of the slip—up from this prime minister. the holidays. something of the slip-up from this prime minister.— holidays. something of the slip-up from this prime minister. the snp is been through — from this prime minister. the snp is been through a _ from this prime minister. the snp is been through a very _ from this prime minister. the snp is been through a very turbulent - from this prime minister. the snp is been through a very turbulent time | been through a very turbulent time but the change of two leaders. you must be worried about the onward march of labour that we have seen

across the country. what are you going to do to push back against that threat? we going to do to push back against that threat?— going to do to push back against that threat? we can stand on our record in the _ that threat? we can stand on our record in the snp _ that threat? we can stand on our record in the snp both _ that threat? we can stand on our record in the snp both in - that threat? we can stand on our record in the snp both in terms i that threat? we can stand on our| record in the snp both in terms of 17 years and government in scotland and also the real opposition here at west minister. let's not forget, it was the snp who were calling for the energy bill support scheme to be introduced. if the snp that were calling for a mortgage support when the tories tank the economy under liz truss for the it's been the snp that have been calling to it and two of austerity with labour support and the due child child limit which labour support. and in the contemporary sense it was the snp the call for a cease—fire in gaza and lead labour by the nose to the same conclusion reluctantly. there is a really important role for i am my colleagues in west minister to be the real opposition. interestingly, if we have a swap of government of the two main london parties, which

it looks inevitable like we will have, we will be the real opposition against labour as well because the tories, you can't get a cigarette paper between the tories ambition for the united kingdom and labours ambition. that's what voters in scotland will be thinking about how do we put scotland first? they will conclude i hope that is taught by voting labor. i think it's really important that people... i’m voting labor. i think it's really important that people... i'm sure the will important that people... i'm sure they will say _ important that people... i'm sure they will say is — important that people... i'm sure they will say is a _ important that people... i'm sure they will say is a lot _ important that people... i'm sure they will say is a lot more - important that people... i'm sure they will say is a lot more than a | they will say is a lot more than a cigarette paper between them in terms of policy. of course the snp has been dominant, very successful in recent years you've been through a very, very turbulent time with your leadership. this is going to be fresh, quick, rapid, difficult challenge forjohn swinney to take. he's onlyjust taken over leadership of your party. are you ready? me’ue of your party. are you ready? we've anticipated — of your party. are you ready? we've

anticipated this _ of your party. are you ready? we've anticipated this general _ of your party. are you ready? we've anticipated this general election - anticipated this general election for the last seven months. we knew it was common. the government under this tory government has been on its knees for the last two years we know there's an election coming, out speaking to people on the doors, communicating our message. to your specific point aboutjohn swinney, let me assure you thatjohn swinney is one of the most seasoned and capable parliamentarian anywhere on these islands. and when he has taken these islands. and when he has taken the reins of the snp as he has done just recently, which i'm very glad of and gratefulfor, he just recently, which i'm very glad of and grateful for, he studied the ship and got us back on course. that has been registered by voters in scotland. they can see that surety, that command thejohn swinney brings with him to the role of snp leader and first minister of scotland. he will take that on until the west minister campaign alongside our leader here stephen flynn. between the two they will demonstrate to the people of scotland that it's only the snp that will put scotland 1st.

finally, the issue of independence. how much of an issue is it going to be for voters or a day like most of the world on questions of the economy voting and public services? is a combination of things. there is a spectrum of political ambition in scotland. as you point out, we've had our challenges in the snp over the last few months. the ambition for independence has remained rock—solid around about 50%. there is a clear will amongst the people of scotland to have a say at lead at what our constitutional future will be. only the snp will hold the democratic rights of the people of scotland because consistent with much else the tories and labour are in lockstep at denying the people of scotland a democratic choice over their future. scotland a democratic choice over theirfuture. we in the snp scotland a democratic choice over their future. we in the snp will uphold that right for the people of

scotland. ., ., uphold that right for the people of scotland. ., ,, ~ scotland. dave doogan, snp mp in west minister, _ scotland. dave doogan, snp mp in west minister, thank _ scotland. dave doogan, snp mp in west minister, thank you - scotland. dave doogan, snp mp in west minister, thank you very - scotland. dave doogan, snp mp in| west minister, thank you very much forjoining us tonight. i'm joined by andrew blake at kings college here in london. thank you much for joining us. a summer election, a surprise election to many even at the top end of the conservative party, probably even to some members of the cabinet what do you make of the time in? i of the cabinet what do you make of the time in?— the time in? i think one interesting fact that all — the time in? i think one interesting fact that all of — the time in? i think one interesting fact that all of this, _ the time in? i think one interesting fact that all of this, it _ the time in? i think one interesting fact that all of this, it tells - the time in? i think one interesting fact that all of this, it tells us - fact that all of this, it tells us how our system is changed back again. after 2011 we didn't have things turned parliament, where ministers could go to the monarch, go to the dues get one. either they have to wait a full five years, people knew when the election was can happen or they had to go through powell green parliament get permission for an early election. now it's all in the hands of the prime minister again. we could see some of the qualities of that

decision, you gaza, you don't really know. it's ultimately in the mind of the 1—person. we not quite sure why it's happening this time. time to explain for are questioning it but that's what happens with that discretion is going back to the prime ministerfor the discretion is going back to the prime minister for the this is where the outcomes of that. do prime minister for the this is where the outcomes of that.— the outcomes of that. do you think it is beneficial _ the outcomes of that. do you think it is beneficial for _ the outcomes of that. do you think it is beneficial for the _ the outcomes of that. do you think it is beneficial for the country - the outcomes of that. do you think it is beneficial for the country to i it is beneficial for the country to have fixed term parliaments or is it hard to say? how do you judge whether it's better for the hard to say? how do you judge whether it's betterfor the prime minister to always have the individual say at the moment of whether it should be set? hard to call, as a matter of principle, i think it should not just be in that prime minister hand, but the devil is in the detail, we had an act in 2011 which was abolished in 2022, it was controversial, etc term five years, had complex mechanisms regarding when you can get an early election, maybe it wasn't devised properly,

but we are seeing one of the reasons why we moved away from that system now, that you do get these arbitrary decisions be made that aren't even necessarily to the benefit of the governing party, because you could argue this is not the right call to me. {131 argue this is not the right call to me. . ., , argue this is not the right call to me, . ., , ., , argue this is not the right call to me. , ., me. of course, as always, the choice ofthe me. of course, as always, the choice of the prime — me. of course, as always, the choice of the prime minister _ me. of course, as always, the choice of the prime minister in _ me. of course, as always, the choice of the prime minister in our - me. of course, as always, the choice of the prime minister in our current l of the prime minister in our current system, ijust talk of the prime minister in our current system, i just talk us through what happens now, just to explain to people, obviously the government remains in position until the new government is elected, whether it is the conservative party are not, what about recess and the brick that was supposed to be occurring and parliamentary business to be wrapped up? parliamentary business to be wrapped u . ? �* , parliamentary business to be wrapped u? �*, ., ., , parliamentary business to be wrapped up? there's parliamentary business to finish up. — up? there's parliamentary business to finish up, and _ up? there's parliamentary business to finish up, and to _ up? there's parliamentary business to finish up, and to be _ up? there's parliamentary business to finish up, and to be honest, - to finish up, and to be honest, there hasn't been much legislation going through lately. your wonder billy was got through, so there is not a huge amount of business to deal with, then parliament will be

dissolved, which means it effectively, this parliament, the 2019 parliament, ceases to exist, there will be no mps or for that. during the solution, ministers carry on, as you said, the government carries on and they have to respond to some of the emergencies that rishi sunak has told us about, so there's always a government in place, but no one is an mp any longer, the arnold mps, they have to take mp off their website and these are different social media handle, then the election was a place, and a new parliament returned, then mps will come back, then you have the swearing in of mps, the questions around what kind of summer break they get, when they come back, and when we get a kings speech outlining the new government programme? assuming it's a labour government, we will see, if it is a labour government, i think keir starmer, if he becomes prime minister, we want to set the prime —— gender quickly

and gets a kings speech, when will it happen? would it happen before sending them off our summer holiday, oras sending them off our summer holiday, or as time, these are interesting questions. it could happen, but it might want to think on the timing of that, the things they do, where parliament, how does parliamentjust go away, what is not like, so there is no reason party conferences and cannot happen, but it would be interesting, it would be potentially a big victory lap for one party and potentially the beginning of a infighting for another party, but no reason it cannot happen. we infighting for another party, but no reason it cannot happen.— reason it cannot happen. we will leave it there, _ reason it cannot happen. we will leave it there, thank _ reason it cannot happen. we will leave it there, thank you - reason it cannot happen. we will leave it there, thank you very . reason it cannot happen. we will i leave it there, thank you very much indeed for your time today, and lots of questions i had about what would happen over the course of this campaign, professorandrew happen over the course of this campaign, professor andrew blick

from king's college london. with me still is damian grammaticas, or a political correspondent, just having a look on nine from political colleagues, a sense of frustration and anger, maybe, among some conservative mps that it is been called so quickly, because potentially puts people at of a job and takes ministers out of a job, people out of their departments, they might�*ve had plans they thought could make headway. to they might've had plans they thought could make headway.— they might've had plans they thought could make headway. to give you one examle, could make headway. to give you one example. one — could make headway. to give you one example, one experience _ could make headway. to give you one| example, one experience conservative mp i was checked into earlier, just after the announcement, i said to him, what you think of this? and he said it would not have been his choice to call it now. he said he worries that the prime minister is surrounded by young advisers who can be easily lose this election, can go off the highly paid jobs in the public relations industry. for them, there is less at stake than for mps, whose jobs are at stake, so his view

was that perhaps the advisers around rishi sunak took a different view from what conservative mps would take and some of them are nervous about going out, wondering, saying, why not wait to have these if rishi sunak believes that the economic changes are happening, that his plan is working, why not leave that sometime to see the benefits coming from that? another conservative mp said he would not have called it now. i said he would not have called it now. ., ., ., , , ., now. i have also heard very senior conservatives _ now. i have also heard very senior conservatives also _ now. i have also heard very senior conservatives also not _ now. i have also heard very senior conservatives also not happy i now. i have also heard very senior| conservatives also not happy about the timing, don't think it is wise either. in terms of the labour party and where they are, obviously they do not know for sure it was happening, they have been on an election and have done groundwork and policy work, but if they were elected, they would be in here in five weeks or so, and they would have to hit the ground running the

stop it is kind of odd to have a new government of the start of the summer holidays, we don't requirement normally have that, but the big questions are, they face huge policy challenges and challenges in the country. how prepared are they and what do you think, from the information you have? �* . ., ., have? and election white earlier than this one _ have? and election white earlier than this one has _ have? and election white earlier than this one has been - have? and election white earlier than this one has been called, i have? and election white earlier| than this one has been called, so not that unusual, but we saw last week keir starmer give a big event where he laid out six priorities, steps, yes, that is what he said, so they have been thinking about it and trying to boil their message down to things that people can take away from that, and one of, the first one, the economy, economics and security, that they would take steps to ensure that the economy is put on a sound footing. that is kind of

slightly vague and he will be questioned about that in the campaign, what he means about that, and the second when he was talking about was securing the borders. so, we are going to see that question of immigration, irregular migration, boats crossing the china, that is going to be one of the issues. the labour party will see their plan is to set up the special border command that pulls together specialists from across the intelligence and security and prosecution, working with european counterparts, that they want to get that up and running, so that would be another thing they will seek to deliver early on if they were to win.— will seek to deliver early on if they were to win. there are five missions in _ they were to win. there are five missions in six _ they were to win. there are five missions in six steps, _ they were to win. there are five missions in six steps, and i they were to win. there are five missions in six steps, and the l missions in six steps, and the missions, as he proceeds in the labour party the way the state, their mission is for the country not just an incoming labour government. do you think the public understands

that and will look in detail at that? orwere that and will look in detail at that? or were they simply say i my worse off are better off than i was under the tories, is labour going to make my life better?— make my life better? there will be a bit of both, — make my life better? there will be a bit of both, its _ make my life better? there will be a bit of both, it's confusing _ make my life better? there will be a bit of both, it's confusing one i bit of both, it's confusing one thing you can say about the labour party approach, five missions, six steps, it all sounds confusing, so yes, the labour party wants to send a message that the ties of what it is focusing on but it is part of try to shape the thinking in the party to shape the thinking in the party to what they need to focus on or what they should be focusing on should the wind, so economy, and hs, the state of teaching, energy security, that kind of thing, but underline it might i think what certainly drives voters even more than that sort of thing, looking at the leaflets that come, it was say all of these things and see them a lot, is, as you say, that broad sense which will ultimately drive

people. the labour party focusing on that idea, how are you feeling? are you feeling better off? you heard rishi sunak say we are turning the corner and my plan is working and i'm delivering, and the labour party is asking how people are feeling at or after 1a years was to mark they see an opportunity to talk into that. , . , see an opportunity to talk into that. , ., , , . ., that. they had this structure do wear their— that. they had this structure do wear their head _ that. they had this structure do wear their head in _ that. they had this structure do wear their head in the - that. they had this structure do wear their head in the polls i that. they had this structure do wear their head in the polls a i that. they had this structure do i wear their head in the polls a few years, did not want to drop the vase and make any mistakes, so five weeks of intense pressure on all the key players, we have seen angela rayner come under pressure from certain newspapers, certain parts of the conservative back and press to be frank, it could get quite savage, couldn't it? and for the labour party, if they are ahead in the pose, you need to not have errors and make sure people are not complacent and vote for them. there are conservatives _ complacent and vote for them. there are conservatives out _ complacent and vote for them. there are conservatives out there _ complacent and vote for them. there are conservatives out there seen i complacent and vote for them. iii”

are conservatives out there seen the state of the polls in a moment, the labour party 15 or 20 points ahead, this is there election campaign to lose. there's a lot at stake for the labour party, qui keir starmer has been criticised for being cautious in his approach, but you would say he had a series of tasks which were first about reshaping the party and second focusing on the conservative failures in getting that message through, and third focusing on what he's delivering, which is what he's focusing on now, but she would come under scrutiny and so with the conservatives and rishi sunak in particularfor his conservatives and rishi sunak in particular for his record and conservatives and rishi sunak in particularfor his record and his parties record in 1a years, and that would be the big challenge for rishi sunak. borisjohnson brought this coalition of voters together, and that was quite a sort of change for the conservatives, many web drifted away, how can the conservatives get them back? find away, how can the conservatives get them back?— away, how can the conservatives get them back? �* , , .,, them back? and quickly, people look at keir starmer _ them back? and quickly, people look at keir starmer as _ them back? and quickly, people look at keir starmer as a _ them back? and quickly, people look at keir starmer as a person, - them back? and quickly, people look at keir starmer as a person, becausej at keir starmer as a person, because he could walk through the store at the beginning ofjuly, people will want to know who is the? what kind

of person is he? and he has done a list of company like rishi sunak, how much do we know? we know that she has been — how much do we know? we know that she has been trained _ how much do we know? we know that she has been trained to _ how much do we know? we know that she has been trained to put _ how much do we know? we know that she has been trained to put himself. she has been trained to put himself out there, seen his record in the parliament —— crown prosecution service, is finding that stram has been doing events. {lilia service, is finding that stram has been doing events.— service, is finding that stram has been doing events. 0k, david, thank ou ve been doing events. 0k, david, thank you very much _ been doing events. 0k, david, thank you very much indeed, _ been doing events. 0k, david, thank you very much indeed, we _ been doing events. 0k, david, thank you very much indeed, we would i been doing events. 0k, david, thank| you very much indeed, we would back very soon. hello, there. it has been a thoroughly wet day for many areas, particularly central and northern parts of the uk. the rain is set to continue through this evening and overnight and lasts into much of tomorrow as well across more northern areas. no surprise, the met office have widespread yellow rain warnings in force but the amber rain warning in force for parts of north—west england and north wales remains in place till around midday tomorrow with a risk of some travel disruption and localised flooding likely. the area of low pressure responsible is sitting slap bang on top of the uk which is why the rain

is going to continue to be so persistent. some of the heaviest rain through tonight will be across scotland and northern ireland and northern england, particularly north west england and north wales, pushing into the midlands at times. southern parts of the country will be dry with variable cloud and a bit of murk around and also a few clear spells. a mild night to come for many. temperatures sticking in double figures for most. thursday promises to start again grey and cloudy with outbreaks of rain across scotland and northern ireland and northern england and north wales. it will peter out gradually. you will notice a fairly strong breeze around the area of low pressure through the irish sea. slightly lighter winds through the south—east. given some breaks in the cloud, a bit of brightness, we could get up to 17—18. it won't feel too bad. but where we have the cloud and rain, generally around the mid—teens. it stays quite damp through thursday night. eventually, the rain begins to fizzle out and it turns a lot lighter with some patchy drizzle here and there to start friday morning. a lot of cloud around and another fairly mild one to come for most. a very wet next couple of days to come. those rainfall totals really mounting up. some of the worst affected areas, by the time we reach friday morning,

or the end of thursday, could be in excess of 100 millimetres of rain. it is a big improvement as we head into friday. that area of low pressure, barely in existence, as you can see, hardly any isobars so the wind much lighter on friday. however, because of all the rain, the moisture in the air, i think it is going to stay quite cloudy for most of us. a few spots of light rain and drizzle here and there, northern england and north wales and scotland. most places dry. given a bit of brightness, it could be up to 18 degrees. the wind will be lighter and it will feel fairly pleasant, i think. it looks pretty pleasant into the bank holiday weekend. it is not going to be completely dry. there will be some showers around and some of them could turn out to be heavy and thundery at times. but if you dodge them and stay dry altogether, it will feel a little bit warmer and quite pleasant.

hello. this is the context on bbc news. 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 4th ofjuly you have the choice, and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn to page, we can start to rebuild britain and change our country. 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. this is it. a general election is on. power will leave these most powerful of streets and you will be able to decide whether he stays or whether he goes. a uk election date is set. we'll have a special edition of the context tonight. we'll discuss a busy day in westminster and ask what happens next with journalist and author, jenny kleeman, and westminster editor at the lead, zoe grunewald. but first, the latest bbc news headlines. so now we know — britain will go to the polls on july the fourth. prime minister rishi sunak said only his conservatives could deliver bold action, and hailed his record on the economy. leader of the opposition labour party — keir starmer, said 1a years of conservative government had led to chaos and it was time for change.