the labour leader says the families. the labour leader says the election is the _ families. the labour leader says the election is the moment _ families. the labour leader says the election is the moment the - families. the labour leader says the election is the moment the country | election is the moment the country has been waiting for. fin election is the moment the country has been waiting for.— has been waiting for. on the 4th of jul we has been waiting for. on the 4th of july we have _ has been waiting for. on the 4th of july we have the — has been waiting for. on the 4th of july we have the choice _ has been waiting for. on the 4th of july we have the choice and - has been waiting for. on the 4th of. july we have the choice and together july we have the choice and together we can— july we have the choice and together we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page. _ we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page. we — we can stop the chaos, we can turn the page, we can start to rebuild britain _ the page, we can start to rebuild britain and — the page, we can start to rebuild britain and change our country. we will be britain and change our country. will be live britain and change our country. , will be live across the country for you this morning with the leaders as they begin their election campaigns. we will have all the reaction and the analysis here on bbc news. good morning and welcome to downing street. a very different day here today than that whether that beset the prime minister yesterday when he announced the date for the general election. the uk will go to the polls onjuly election. the uk will go to the polls on july the 4th.

election. the uk will go to the polls onjuly the 4th. there was a lot of rain and a lot of noise from the prime minister yesterday, but those leaders of the parties have wasted no time setting out their campaigns. six weeks today the uk will go to the polls to decide who enters that building behind me and who will form the next government. the prime minister has been speaking this morning and has been talking to bbc breakfast, and it is fair to say that announcement yesterday really did come as some surprise, catching many in westminster by surprise. that snap election just six weeks from now. the prime minister has been detailing some of his reason why the election will happen when it will. it why the election will happen when it will. . , , why the election will happen when it will. ., , , ., why the election will happen when it will. , ., f . will. it has been a difficult few ears for will. it has been a difficult few years for the _ will. it has been a difficult few years for the country - will. it has been a difficult few years for the country and - will. it has been a difficult few years for the country and in i will. it has been a difficult few| years for the country and in the last few weeks we have restored economic stability, inflation now back to normal, the economy growing at a healthy pace, wages have been rising sustainably for months, energy bills coming down, and now is

think about our future and where we want to build on the progress we have made or we go back to square one with more uncertainty with the labour party. when it comes to the economy, of course i know there is more work to do. i know people are onlyjust more work to do. i know people are only just starting to feel the benefits of the changes we brought and when some people look at their bank balance at the end of the month it will still be difficult. but we have made progress and stability has returned, inflation has returned back to normal, wages have been rising for months, we are now growing faster than our major competitors, energy bills are coming down, so that really is progress. there is stability and that is why we cannot think about the future and in an uncertain world i believe i am the one prepared to take bold action and we have a clear plan and that is how we deliver a secure future for everyone. you mention migration and there is a clear choice on this. i think illegal migration is unfair, it undermines the sense of fairness

thatis it undermines the sense of fairness that is so essential to the character of our country. people come here and putting pressure on services and endangering lives. i have got a clear plan to fix that, the rwanda scheme, so that we can return people to save on a third country. the other week 15 other european countries all signed a statement saying they agree, you need initiatives like that in order to solve this problem. but keir starmer does not believe that. so there we heard from the prime minister, giving us details about what exactly will happen next. as we said, the real work now begins as far as that said, the real work now begins as faras that campaign said, the real work now begins as far as that campaign is concerned. they will be laying out their stalls for how they intend to win your votes. let's talk a little more about what we have heard. we can speak to the labour mp for wolverhampton south east. he is the labour campaign coordinator. he spoke to us this morning about how a vote for labour is a vote for change. it vote for labour is a vote for chance. , ., vote for labour is a vote for chance. ,. . vote for labour is a vote for chance. y., ., ., vote for labour is a vote for change-— vote for labour is a vote for

chance. ., ., , change. if you are a young person waitin: to change. if you are a young person waiting to buy _ change. if you are a young person waiting to buy your _ change. if you are a young person waiting to buy your first _ change. if you are a young person waiting to buy your first home, i change. if you are a young person l waiting to buy your first home, you want to know that the government is going to put stability first. that is not what we saw from the conservatives, that is a massive change. what we saw from them was huge, reckless, ideological irresponsibility. if you are waiting in pain on an nhs waiting list and we say we will have 2 million more operations per year, 40,000 more per week, that will make a difference to your life. if you are living in a town that is blighted by anti—social behaviour and we say we want to bring back neighbourhood policing with new powers to crack down on anti—social behaviour, that will make a difference to your life. if you have children at school who too often are taught by supply teachers and temporary teachers and we say we will have thousands more qualified, permanent teachers in the schools to make sure your child gets the best start in life, that is change worth having. these are changes worth

having. these are changes worth having and changes worth voting for. they sound like changes that could be very expensive, so when do we see the clear figures. where do we see the clear figures. where do we see the breakdown? people will want to know whether what you are pledging can be paid for. when do we see those numbers?— can be paid for. when do we see those numbers? when we published these first steps _ those numbers? when we published these first steps last _ those numbers? when we published these first steps last week _ those numbers? when we published these first steps last week we - those numbers? when we published these first steps last week we met l these first steps last week we met that test and we said not only will we say what we will do, we will say how we will do it and how it will be funded. in every case we will do that, we know that this test of trust with public money is one that people want to see from anyone who wants to form a government. that is why we have not done the irresponsible think that the conservatives have done, which is to promise £46 billion a year of unfunded tax cuts if they win the election. we are not in the business of making unfunded promises. where we talk about more teachers and

reducing nhs waiting list, we do say how we will pay for it and that is a test we will meet.— how we will pay for it and that is a test we will meet. patrick mcfadden s-ueakin to test we will meet. patrick mcfadden speaking to charlie _ test we will meet. patrick mcfadden speaking to charlie earlier. - test we will meet. patrick mcfadden speaking to charlie earlier. as - test we will meet. patrick mcfadden speaking to charlie earlier. as we i speaking to charlie earlier. as we said, the campaign now begins in earnest. they have got six weeks to convince you to vote for them, whatever the party. let's take you to nick eardley who is with rishi sunak. next, the work really begins now. we saw yesterday firing the starting gun and now they have got to convince voters they are the person to enter the building behind you. person to enter the building behind ou. , ., ., ., , person to enter the building behind ou. , ., , ., person to enter the building behind ou. ., , ., ., you. good morning, it is one of the advantages — you. good morning, it is one of the advantages you _ you. good morning, it is one of the advantages you have _ you. good morning, it is one of the advantages you have as _ you. good morning, it is one of the advantages you have as prime - advantages you have as prime minister, that you set the date and you can hit the ground running. we are in derbyshire where the prime minister is about to do a 0&a are in derbyshire where the prime minister is about to do a q&a with some staff here you can see behind me, and somejournalists some staff here you can see behind me, and some journalists as well. he has got a packed day. we expect him to hit the four nations of the uk

before the weekend. and he is trying to set out what he thinks the battle lines were the election are, trying to get on the front foot and persuade us all these are the things that really matter. the interview you are playing and in the other interviews this morning it is pretty clear what he wants voters to think about. firstly, the economy, the argument that rishi sunak will batter over the next six weeks is, yes, the economy has been tough and, yes, the economy has been tough and, yes, people are only starting to feel changes a wee bit at the moment, but ultimately he argues things are on the right path and he can continue with that. he will argue that labour don't have a plan although we are about to hear from keir starmer the exact opposite. he thinks the economy is in really bad place and labour can fix it. one thing that struck me this morning that i think rishi sunak will face more questions about today was what he said about the flights to rwanda. there was pretty much an admission from the prime minister that his plans to send some asylum seekers to

rwanda will not happen before the general election. we have been talking about it for more than two years now, but rishi sunak was saying he will do that if he is re—elected as prime minister. those flights will not go untiljuly. it feels to me that is something that although the government was saying it would get it done in the first few months of this year, it is now going to be something that rishi sunak was at the front of his election campaign. it is another dividing line with labour and allows the prime minister to say here is something we would do that labour would not and whether voters buy it or not is up to them. a, would not and whether voters buy it or not is up to them.— or not is up to them. a word on the timin: of or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all _ or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all this, _ or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all this, if— or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all this, if you _ or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all this, if you will. - or not is up to them. a word on the timing of all this, if you will. as - timing of all this, if you will. as you say, the rwanda flights are not expected to take off until after the election. then we got the inflation figures yesterday, suggesting the economy is heading in the right direction. some suggestions he might have waited a bit longer until we start to feel we have got more cash

in our pockets, that the cost of living crisis is easing. is it your assessment that the number ten yesterday things are getting better but it will not be significantly different by the autumn? i think that is right- _ different by the autumn? i think that is right. it _ different by the autumn? i think that is right. it is _ different by the autumn? i think that is right. it is hard _ different by the autumn? i think that is right. it is hard to - different by the autumn? i think that is right. it is hard to see . different by the autumn? i think. that is right. it is hard to see why else rishi sunak would have decided to go now. when i woke up yesterday morning i did not expect to be on a tour of the uk with the prime minister this morning. yes, there are a couple of things that work in the prime minister's favour if he goes now. firstly, he gets out the traps are nice and early and he can come and do events like this before labour can. it is also a chance for him to say look at what happen to inflation yesterday, it is a lot closer to the 2% target, so it is something we have delivered on that we promised we would do. but there is nervousness in conservative circles about why this decision has been made. does it suggest, and some believe, that actually rishi sunak ran out of road for more good news?

this is as good as it is going to get for the prime minister. maybe nervousness about the legal challenges on the rwanda scheme. maybe nervousness about the tax rises that the chancellor was telling me ten days ago, sorry tax cuts, telling me ten days ag0, sorry tax cuts, that he telling me ten days ago, sorry tax cuts, that he was going to try and implement in an autumn statement in october or september. maybe the room for that is disappearing. maybe there is not enough cash in the treasury to introduce more tax cuts like they had hoped to do. it does feel that rishi sunak has decided this is his best moment to go. but be under no illusions, rishi sunak has a mountain to climb. he is going to run around the country for the next six weeks at events like this, trying to persuade us all that he does have a vision of the country, trying to persuade voters to give him more time. but the conservatives are miles behind in the polls, we saw the local elections at the start of the month which added weight to the evidence that the conservatives were struggling in certain parts of

the country and labour were making real gains. all of that means that rishi sunak goes into this with, as i say, a rishi sunak goes into this with, as isay, a mountain rishi sunak goes into this with, as i say, a mountain to climb. it is a big, big gamble for the prime minister. that is why he will be spending the next six weeks to persuade us all it is worth it. yes. persuade us all it is worth it. yes, and a busy — persuade us all it is worth it. yes, and a busy few — persuade us all it is worth it. yes, and a busy few weeks _ persuade us all it is worth it. yes, and a busy few weeks ahead for you, nick. pace yourself. we will talk to you a little later. our political correspondent. let's assess where we are here on day one of this six—week campaign. with me alicia fitzgerald, politicaljournalist. nick was telling us there that all the work begins now. a word first of all about what the choice may be at this election. we know rishi sunak is saying stick with us, the plan is working, give us more time. and yet that one word slogan we are getting from keir starmer of the labour party is changed, now is the time for change. it will come down to

those very key messages, won't it? it well. and it is clear since last night rishi sunak is fighting this election as the sole candidate. he is not fighting on the conservative record, he is saying that he is the prime minister who will lead us to stability. it is easy for the labour party to say it is the opposite of stability for the last few years with a number of leaders and a lot of blows to the conservative government. it is very easy for keir starmer tojump government. it is very easy for keir starmertojump in and government. it is very easy for keir starmer tojump in and say he is the candidate for change, rather than what rishi sunak is trying to pitch himself as. we what rishi sunak is trying to pitch himself as. ~ .., what rishi sunak is trying to pitch himself as. ~ , , . , ., himself as. we can see pictures of rishi sunak _ himself as. we can see pictures of rishi sunak in _ himself as. we can see pictures of rishi sunak in ilkeston, _ himself as. we can see pictures of rishi sunak in ilkeston, the - himself as. we can see pictures of rishi sunak in ilkeston, the real. rishi sunak in ilkeston, the real work beginning today. a word if you will on timing. with the conservatives being so far behind in the polls this is a huge gamble for the polls this is a huge gamble for the prime minister. does he genuinely think he can pull it back and he can turn around those poll ratings in the next six weeks? it was widely assumed the general election would be in the autumn.

various reasons, lots of the top team saying it would be the best time to go. team saying it would be the best time to 90-— team saying it would be the best time to no, , ., ., , time to go. just going to interrupt ou, we time to go. just going to interrupt you. we are _ time to go. just going to interrupt you. we are going _ time to go. just going to interrupt you, we are going straight - time to go. just going to interrupt you, we are going straight to - you, we are going straight to ilkeston where the prime minister is speaking. you ilkeston where the prime minister is s-ueakin. ., . , speaking. you are very lucky with her as your _ speaking. you are very lucky with her as your mp. _ speaking. you are very lucky with her as your mp, she _ speaking. you are very lucky with her as your mp, she works - speaking. you are very lucky with her as your mp, she works her. speaking. you are very lucky with i her as your mp, she works her socks off. it has been tough for the last few years, you know that, i know that, we were dealing with the pandemic and all the drama that that brought to everyone's lives. just as we were recovering from that we got hit by a war in ukraine and higher energy bills. but i hope you know during those times i was there to do what i could to help you. the first time you got to know me it was during covid and the furlough scheme that help to protect people because �*s jobs, that help to protect people because �*sjobs, there that help to protect people because �*s jobs, there were energy bills and the government stepped in to try and alleviate some of the increase in those bills as well. but now what has happened, collectively to all your hard work and sacrifice and

resilience, we have made progress. we just got the news yesterday inflation is down from 11% when i got thejob down inflation is down from 11% when i got the job down back to normal to just over 2%. energy bills are now followed by hundreds of pounds. wages have been rising faster than prices for ten months now. and the economy we discovered in the first few months of this year is growing faster than pretty much all our own competitors. even though there is work to do and it will take time to feel the benefits of that, the plan is working and we have the economic stability back. but, with the economic stability comes a choice. do we want to turn those foundations into a more secure future for you and yourfamilies and our into a more secure future for you and your families and our country? do we want to build on that stability or do we want to risk all that progress and go back to square one with more uncertainty and no plan? that is the choice at this election. now, when it comes to

economic security you know that i want to do that for you and that is why we are cutting taxes. cutting taxes on average by about £900. the only certainty you get with the labour party is they will run out of money and they will put your taxes up, as clear as night follows day. we just ran the numbers the other week and all the things they said they want to spend their money on, taught all of that up, and it will cost you £2000 for every working family in our country, of extra tax rises. that is what it means when i want to get your taxes down and give you that financial security. you all read the papers and watch the news and you know the world is more uncertain and more dangerous than it has been in decades. see what russia, iran, china and north korea are all doing, working together, not just abroad, their proxies are firing missiles at our ships and interfering with our democracy here at home and poisoning people on our streets. using migration as a tool

of war, to threaten the integrity of our borders, damaging our energy security. these uncertain times call for bold action, a clear plan, so that we can chart a course to a secure future. that is what i want to deliver for all of you and our country. just pick one example, the boats and our borders. how do we stop the boats? i am clear that requires bold solutions, it requires a clear plan and that is what i have got. it is a matter of fairness. like you, i believe it is unfair that people jump the queue and come to the country illegally and put pressure on services and put their lives at risk. we have got to stop that and the only way to do it is to be bold and that is why we need rwanda. you come to our country illegally, you will not get to stay and we will be able to remove you to and we will be able to remove you to a safe alternative because that will break the cycle. ijust got back from austria and 15 other european countries have all now signed a

statement that they agree with that approach, they think it is necessary. the only person who does not believe and that approach is keir starmer, he said he would scrap it. he wants to offer an amnesty to illegal migrants here and that would make us a soft touch in europe and attract even more people to come to our country. on that and on so many issues you can't trust them to deliver the security that our country needs. look, he wants to tell you this election is over before it has even begun, but i will fight very hard every single day and with your support i think the british people will say they don't like being taken for granted. what we know about him is he will say anything, take the easy way out, to get into power. if he has abandoned all the promises he made when he ran to beat labour leader, how do you know that he would do exactly the same thing if he becomes prime minister? if you can't stand up for

anything, if he can't stand up for anything, if he can't stand up for anything himself, how can he stand up anything himself, how can he stand up for you and yourfamilies? i am prepared to take bold action and stick to a plan even when it is difficult. i am getting criticism evenif difficult. i am getting criticism even if it is the right thing to do for our country and that is what you see me do and that is what i will keep doing. i want to build britain, a country, where you can have all confidence and restore confidence and pride in our communities and our society and our nation. where we have opportunities for the next generation that were enjoyed by the previous generation. where all your hard work is rewarded and there is safety and security and our defence is secured. that is the future that i am working towards and with bold action and a clear plan and your support that is the secure future we can deliver. thank you very much. all right. 0k! the can deliver. thank you very much. all right- 0k!— all right. ok! the prime minister talkin: in all right. ok! the prime minister talking in ilkeston, _ all right. ok! the prime minister

talking in ilkeston, really- all right. ok! the prime minister talking in ilkeston, really laying. talking in ilkeston, really laying out his very personal story, really making it clear that he is the candidate, somewhat distancing himself from conservative leaders of the past. he said he held the position of responsibility during the pandemic, he was chancellor, and really laying out his record and his qualifications to be a prime minister comejuly. let's listen into some of the questions at that eventin into some of the questions at that event in ilkeston. the into some of the questions at that event in ilkeston.— event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things _ event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things is _ event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things is to _ event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things is to have - event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things is to have a - event in ilkeston. the only way to fix those things is to have a clear| fix those things is to have a clear plan. you know you can trust me when it comes to the economy. i got our country through covid and that is because i was prepared to do bold things. then i was prepared to do difficult things. i am not going to pretend that we didn't have to spend a lot of money in covid and to help with energy bills. it is reasonable that we have to pay that money back. you can do what keir starmer and the labour party did, which was snipe from the sidelines whenever i took a

difficult position to get our borrowing under control to get inflation back down. when it came to public sector pay i said we had to do it in a moderate way because we do it in a moderate way because we do have to get inflation down to ease the cost of living challenges you are facing. we got through it, all of us together. look at what we can achieve, inflation down from 11% back to normal, which is rising, and now because of all of that your taxes are being cut. because of what we have been able to do an average person earning £35,000 is getting a £900 tax cut. that is what you get from the conservatives. your taxes being cut if your hard work is being rewarded and yourfamily being cut if your hard work is being rewarded and your family is secure. as i said, the labour party will spend more money and that willjust put taxes up. they can pretend all they want, more spending equals more taxes and i don't want to see that happen. that is the clear difference in the next election. you, sir, and then you have a question. good

morning. then you have a question. good morninu. , ., ., ., ,, then you have a question. good morninu. , ., ., ., ~ ., morning. first of all, thank you for doinu a morning. first of all, thank you for doing a great _ morning. first of all, thank you for doing a great job _ morning. first of all, thank you for doing a great job when _ morning. first of all, thank you for doing a great job when you - morning. first of all, thank you for doing a great job when you are - doing a great job when you are chancellor and during the covid crisis. — chancellor and during the covid crisis, thank you for that. but my main _ crisis, thank you for that. but my main question as the prime minister is the _ main question as the prime minister is the nhs — main question as the prime minister is the nhs. i have got personal issues — is the nhs. i have got personal issues with the nhs regarding health and i issues with the nhs regarding health and i am _ issues with the nhs regarding health and i am concerned that nothing is being _ and i am concerned that nothing is being done — and i am concerned that nothing is being done on the short term. i have been _ being done on the short term. i have been waiting for 12 weeks for a prostrate — been waiting for 12 weeks for a prostrate scan and i have got my wife as _ prostrate scan and i have got my wife as well waiting for a scan, she has been _ wife as well waiting for a scan, she has been waiting for three years and i am has been waiting for three years and i am just— has been waiting for three years and i am just concerned. i know you have said about _ i am just concerned. i know you have said about the nhs, training doctors and nurses— said about the nhs, training doctors and nurses up, which is absolutely great, _ and nurses up, which is absolutely great, but — and nurses up, which is absolutely great, but i — and nurses up, which is absolutely great, but i want to know what the future _ great, but i want to know what the future of _ great, but i want to know what the future of the nhs is. a great, but i want to know what the future of the nhs is.— future of the nhs is. a great question- — future of the nhs is. a great question. thank _ future of the nhs is. a great question. thank you - future of the nhs is. a great question. thank you for - future of the nhs is. a great| question. thank you for what future of the nhs is. a great - question. thank you for what you said about my time as chancellor. i come from an nhs background. my dad was a gp and my mum was a pharmacist and i grew up working in the pharmacy and i know how important it is. the area where i wish i had made

more progress is with waiting lists. it was a priority of my to cut waiting lists and we have not made as much progress as i would have liked and i want to be honest with you about that. they are starting to come down, 200,000 over the last few months. if we had not had all the strikes, we would have cut them by almost half a million. the strikes have had an impact. but it doesn't help you or your wife. what am i doing to make a difference? we are rolling out community diagnostic centres and it means you don't have to go to a big hospital and you have got one not too far from here, have a new, maggie? you can go to a local place and get your mri or x—ray much quicker and easier, and we are rolling them out across the country. as we do that it means we can rattle through the backlog much quicker. that is starting to happen and hopefully we can get you and your wife onto those as quickly as possible. he talked about training more doctors and nurses and we are doing that. with the best will in the world i will not be a prime

minister in 15 years permit time, which is how long it takes to train doctors. five years will do, thank you very much. i made that decision because we have not done that before. we are always importing people from abroad and we should train people here at home. i took the decision to do that even though i will not be around to see the benefits. i talked about being a pharmacist. if you have a young kid, an ear infection, you can go straight to your pharmacist to get the medicine you need. you don't have to wait until 8am on monday morning, you can go straight to your pharmacist. she or he can give you the drugs that you need, save you the drugs that you need, save you the time, get you the health team quicker. it is an example of doing something a bit different to get you better health care. the last thing i say, and i thought really hard about this, we have brought plans for so

our kids grow up who are smoke—free. if we can stop them smoking in the first place we have got a chance of something incredibly special. it will prevent loss of cancer deaths which will be a great thing and it will prevent ill—health, disability, and ease the burden on the nhs and make sure we save the country about a year. that is something that is radical, but that is what you will get from me. i will do what is right for the country. when i have not done as well as i wanted to, like waiting lists, i will be straight about it. , waiting lists, i will be straight aboutit. , ,, about it. rishi sunak, answering questions. _ about it. rishi sunak, answering questions, something _ about it. rishi sunak, answering questions, something he - about it. rishi sunak, answering questions, something he will. about it. rishi sunak, answering l questions, something he will have about it. rishi sunak, answering - questions, something he will have to get used to as the six—week election campaign gets under way. a reminder, six weeks to the day that the uk will go to the polls in that general election. that is what the conservatives are doing right now, the prime minister in ilkeston. let's take you to kent where keir

starmer is beginning his campaign. ian watson is there. we were discussing a little earlier about the slogans, the campaign messages that have already been revealed. the labour campaign is a vote for change, that simple word change. it is quite a stark contrast between what we are hearing what the conservatives are saying. they are saying stick with the planet is working on labour say it is time for change. i5 working on labour say it is time for chance. , , ., change. is right. one single word which the activists _ change. is right. one single word which the activists are _ change. is right. one single word which the activists are wearing i which the activists are wearing around here on placards in kent. why is that? in labour�*s focus groups swing voters say that the top reason for potentially changing their vote to labour is it is time for a change. that is something of a double—edged sword because what they are not saying is because we love all of labour's policies. the government is hoping that perhaps under the heat of the election campaign that labour will begin to wilt as those policies are put under greater scrutiny. wilt as those policies are put under

greaterscrutiny. in wilt as those policies are put under greater scrutiny. in terms of labour�*s campaign strategy, it is not simply a vote for change, they are also effectively wanting to have this as a referendum on the conservatives�* record, so they are saying it is time to stop the chaos and remind people that it is not just rishi sunak that has been in powerfor 18 months, the power for 18 months, the conservatives powerfor 18 months, the conservatives have been in powerfor 18 years —— 14 years. they want to set out a vision of how they would change the country. keir starmer has his omissions, but we will hear a lot more about change than about policy detail at this initial launch. it is interesting it is taking place in a part of kent that labour last won under tony blair. this particular area has got a massive conservative majority. it is a sign of some confidence that they are choosing to launch here in kent. interesting you see behind me as it is a football stadium and i am told there will be similar venues during there will be similar venues during

the course of the campaign, playing much to keir starmer�*s love of the game, but he will be hoping he will do better than his beloved arsenal�*s close second in the league when it comes to polling day injuly. goad comes to polling day in july. good to talk to you. _ comes to polling day in july. good to talk to you, we _ comes to polling day in july. good to talk to you, we will— comes to polling day in july. good to talk to you, we will be - comes to polling day injuly. good to talk to you, we will be back a little later. of course the campaign and getting under way with some gusto. but everyone, pace yourself, it is six weeks, it will be busy and this is day one. we are hearing about what we know about the candidates who are standing. someone who has been quite so far as nigel farage. he has tweeted his intentions as far as this election is concerned. there was speculation about whether he would stand. he says, i have thought long and hard as to whether i would stand in the upcoming general election is the honorary president of reform uk. i am fully supportive of richard tice as the leadership. but the crucial bit, now is not the right time for me to go any further than that. he

talks about what he wants to do on the us election. but the final paragraph, the choice between labour and conservatives he says is uninspiring. only reform uk have the radical agenda that is needed to end decline in this country, as he signs off. nigel farage, honorary president of reform uk, but will not stand in the upcoming general election. let�*s go back to ilkeston. the prime minister is answering more questions. he is laying out some more of his ambition and plans to get you to vote for him injuly. let�*s have a listen. i get you to vote for him in july. let's have a listen.— get you to vote for him in july. let's have a listen. i will be more hard-headed _ let's have a listen. i will be more hard-headed about _ let's have a listen. i will be more hard-headed about it. _ let's have a listen. i will be more hard-headed about it. lots - let's have a listen. i will be more hard-headed about it. lots of - let's have a listen. i will be more - hard-headed about it. lots of people hard—headed about it. lots of people criticise me for that, i don�*t care about the environment, that is nonsense. of course i care about it. we are doing a betterjob than anyone else but i will not do it at the expense of our energy security and not at the expense of the financial security for you and your families. we are going to do it in a

proportionate way and at this election that is a choice. not everyone will agree with me and that is ok, but i believe i am doing what is ok, but i believe i am doing what is right for the country and for families. keir starmer will promise all these things and cost you a fortune, £28 million in hard taxes, and we will not have energy security. you want to ban british oil and gas. that is nonsensical. we need it in our country for decades to come, even though we get to net zero. far better getting it off from here at home, supporting our security than importing it from abroad. it is about policy and is not right for our country and i am happy to have a debate with about that. mental health is quite rightly and understandably a hot topic. dealing with the _ understandably a hot topic. dealing with the everyday stresses of life my coping mechanism is to go to the leti my coping mechanism is to go to the gym or— my coping mechanism is to go to the gym or take — my coping mechanism is to go to the gym or take long walks. what strategies do you have, you must

have _ strategies do you have, you must have one — strategies do you have, you must have one of— strategies do you have, you must have one of the most stressfuljobs anyone _ have one of the most stressfuljobs anyone can — have one of the most stressfuljobs anyone can have, to cope and deal with your— anyone can have, to cope and deal with your own mental well—being? my with your own mental well— being? strategies with your own mental well—being? ii strategies are with your own mental well—being? ii: strategies are pretty similar with your own mental well—being? i: strategies are pretty similar to yours, so there we go. i have a dog called nova, a three—year—old labrador. which i have to say, i wasn�*t keen to get put my two young girls and my wife conspired against me and she showed up a few years ago and she is very much the love of my life. so when i can go out for a walk with her, ifind life. so when i can go out for a walk with her, i find that very helpful. i would be happy to go for a walk with myself, but people think you are a bit funny if you do that. having the dog means i canjust go for a walk essentially by myself. i think fitness is a really good thing. i went for a run with the hardest geezer and he was talking about how fitness and being out and about how fitness and being out and about helps him cope with some of the challenges he has had to overcome. i think family is important. the most important thing