you now have the power, the feet. you now have the power, the chance, feet. you now have the power, the chance. to — feet. you now have the power, the chance. to end _ feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the _ feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, - feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to - feet. you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to turn i chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page — chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild britain. gn the page and to rebuild britain. on the page and to rebuild britain. the first full the page and to rebuild britain. (et the first full day of campaigning the page and to rebuild britain. on the first full day of campaigning we are following leaders around the country and with rishi sunak as he tries to hit the ground running. meanwhile, nigel farage says he will not stand as a candidate for the reform party, but wants to focus on getting donald trump elected in the united states. also today, this is the scene live at the post office it inquiry in central london where former boss paula vennells is appearing for a second day. a very warm welcome, good morning to

you from downing street. the battle for your votes and the keys to number ten has begun. the general election is exactly six weeks today on the 4th ofjuly. politicians are wasting no time in launching their election campaign. rishi sunak started a tour of all four nations, he began that in derbyshire. sir keir starmer began his campaign in gillingham in kent. in the last hour the prime minister was at his first major event of the day, laying out his pitch to voters. let's have a listen to what he had to say. eaten listen to what he had to say. even thou:h listen to what he had to say. even though there _ listen to what he had to say. even though there is _ listen to what he had to say. even though there is more _ listen to what he had to say. even though there is more work - listen to what he had to say. even though there is more work to do and it will take time to see the bennis —— benefits of that, the time —— the plan is working and we will have the economic stability back. but with that economic stability comes a choice. do we want to turn those foundations into a more secure future for you, your family and our country? do we want to build on that

stability? or do we want to risk all that progress, and as maggie said go back to square one with more uncertainty? that is the choice at this election. now, when it comes to economic security you know that i want to do that for you. that is why we are cutting taxes, cutting all of your taxes on average by about £900. the only certainty you get with the labour party is they will run out of your money and they will put your taxes up as clear as night follows day. wejust 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 do and all the things they want to spend money on, you talked all that up and it will cost you £2000 for every working family in our country, £2000 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. when you see what russia,

iran, china and north korea are all doing, working together, notjust abroad, having an impact on us, their proxies following missiles on our ships and interfering with our democracy at home, poisoning people on our streets, using migration as a tool of war to threaten the integrity of our borders. damaging our energy security. and these uncertain times call for bold action, a clear plan, so that we can chart a course to a secure future, and that is what i am about delivering for all of you and our country. delivering for all of you and our count . . . , delivering for all of you and our count . ., .,, , delivering for all of you and our count . ., , ,, country. that was rishi sunak s-ueakin country. that was rishi sunak speaking a — country. that was rishi sunak speaking a little _ country. that was rishi sunak speaking a little earlier. - country. that was rishi sunak speaking a little earlier. an i speaking a little earlier. an expectation this campaign could get quite personal. we heard rishi sunak saying keir starmer has no courage, no conviction and no plan. well, the labour leader has been at this morning as well, speaking to supporters in chillingham, and this is what he said to them. that supporters in chillingham, and this is what he said to them.— is what he said to them. at long last the election _ is what he said to them. at long last the election has _ is what he said to them. at long last the election has been - is what he said to them. at long | last the election has been called. the time — last the election has been called.

the time has come and the wait is oven _ the time has come and the wait is oven and — the time has come and the wait is over. and that means through the power— over. and that means through the power of— over. and that means through the power of our democracy the voters now get _ power of our democracy the voters now get to — power of our democracy the voters now get to choose. the power of the vote, _ now get to choose. the power of the vote, the _ now get to choose. the power of the vote, the power each and every one of you _ vote, the power each and every one of you has— vote, the power each and every one of you has to — vote, the power each and every one of you has to change our country, our community, and your future for the better~ — our community, and your future for the better. so whether you are a family— the better. so whether you are a family that has been battling the cost of _ family that has been battling the cost of living, dealing with anti—social behaviour, whether your business _ anti—social behaviour, whether your business has been struggling for years— business has been struggling for years against the odds in the economy— years against the odds in the economy that is in chaos under this government, whether you have served your country. — government, whether you have served your country, in whatever way, this election— your country, in whatever way, this election is— your country, in whatever way, this election is for you. because you now have the _ election is for you. because you now have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, — have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to — have the power, the chance, to end the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild _ the chaos, to turn the page and to rebuild britain. cheering.

and we have had ia years of going round _ and we have had ia years of going round and — and we have had ia years of going round and round in circles, getting absotuteiy— round and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. chaos and division — absolutely nowhere. chaos and division feeding chaos and division. and that _ division feeding chaos and division. and that has a cost, a human cost. in and that has a cost, a human cost. in milton— and that has a cost, a human cost. in milton keynes i met will, a fireman, _ in milton keynes i met will, a fireman, and he has a simple dream, notan— fireman, and he has a simple dream, not an unreasonable dream, he wants to own _ not an unreasonable dream, he wants to own his— not an unreasonable dream, he wants to own his own home. he has got two extra _ to own his own home. he has got two extra jobs— to own his own home. he has got two extra jobs on — to own his own home. he has got two extra jobs on top of being a farmer but he _ extra jobs on top of being a farmer but he still— extra jobs on top of being a farmer but he still can't afford it because the chaos — but he still can't afford it because the chaos and division of this government has robbed him of that dream _ government has robbed him of that dream. that is the price he is paying — dream. that is the price he is -a inc. ,, ., ,, paying. keir starmer speaking in chillingham _ paying. keir starmer speaking in chillingham this _ paying. keir starmer speaking in chillingham this morning. - paying. keir starmer speaking in chillingham this morning. let's i paying. keir starmer speaking in i chillingham this morning. let's talk to andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester, who also served as health secretary in gordon brown's government. good morning to you. a lot of people are surprised by the timing of this election. they

were caught on the hop, were you? yes, i thought we were heading to a november or even december election. i think the prime minister surprised his own troops. i noticed many conservative mps expressing some regret and disappointment at the timing. i do think he maybe has got the date wrong for that reason because his troops don't seem to be completely ready for it. but also because i don't think people are feeling the claims that he is making about things changing or coming through in the economy, or in terms of his plan on immigration. i do feel the prime minister made a missed step here with his choosing of the date. but also with the slogan about a clear plan. really? too many people feel he has a clear plan? although they are a loose collection of sound bites, although there was a plan i think it was called levelling up. that was torn

up called levelling up. that was torn up at the conservative conference in manchester last year. i think he has made a couple of missteps. obviously he has a long way to go in this campaign buti he has a long way to go in this campaign but i am not sure it has got off toa campaign but i am not sure it has got off to a sure—footed start. shire got off to a sure-footed start. are ou read got off to a sure-footed start. are you ready for _ got off to a sure—footed start. are you ready for an election campaign? i noticed at the campaign this morning the banners were all made and it will all unfold over six weeks of the campaign, but is labour ready? i weeks of the campaign, but is labour read ? , , , ., ., weeks of the campaign, but is labour read? ., ready? i guess you are asking the wron: ready? i guess you are asking the wrong person _ ready? i guess you are asking the wrong person because _ ready? i guess you are asking the wrong person because i _ ready? i guess you are asking the wrong person because i have - ready? i guess you are asking the wrong person because i havejust| wrong person because i havejust fought an election campaign in may and obviously anybody who was elected as a councillor or a mayor in may is fresh from that and a little baffle —— battle weary. but we will get going again. it is a bit odd why the prime minister didn't make that super thursday in may and then to come back with this timing now. i guess he is trying to surprise people. but from what i know of labour�*s operation they are

very ready and they have been for some time, to be honest.- some time, to be honest. briefly, the labour _ some time, to be honest. briefly, the labour leader _ some time, to be honest. briefly, the labour leader is _ some time, to be honest. briefly, the labour leader is pouring - some time, to be honest. briefly,| the labour leader is pouring better than the conservatives. have you got this in the bag? trio. than the conservatives. have you got this in the bag?— this in the bag? no, i don't. i think there _ this in the bag? no, i don't. i think there is _ this in the bag? no, i don't. i think there is a _ this in the bag? no, i don't. i think there is a sense - this in the bag? no, i don't. i think there is a sense around| this in the bag? no, i don't. i. think there is a sense around the country that things aren't working and change is needed, but labour has got to earn that and prove it that we are the party, but i believe they will do that. i think keir starmer will do that. i think keir starmer will make an outstanding prime minister. it is all there for labour to win now. if i could say one final thing on the timing, it does feel wrong to me that on monday we had that momentous day with the infected blood community, promises made, and yet here we are, the attention has completely gone. sometimes westminster politics i think doesn't help itself by the way it works. i

just wanted to make that point because today now we are having these bills rushed through, or maybe not rushed through. westminster should get better at dealing with these things properly and fully. i just wanted to say that this morning because i think there are probably a lot of people in the country feeling a bit nonplussed about the turn of events this week.— a bit nonplussed about the turn of events this week. yes, it feels like there is some _ events this week. yes, it feels like there is some unfinished _ events this week. yes, it feels like there is some unfinished business| there is some unfinished business that needs to happen before this begins. andy, good to have you with us. ., . begins. andy, good to have you with us. ., ., . ., begins. andy, good to have you with us. ., ., _, let's begins. andy, good to have you with us-— let's talk - begins. andy, good to have you with us._ let's talk to i us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley _ us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley who _ us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley who is _ us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley who is out _ us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley who is out on - us. you are welcome. let's talk to nick eardley who is out on the - nick eardley who is out on the campaign trail with rishi sunak. good morning to you. you have been in ilkeston with the prime minister this morning. this is where the work begins. i see you are on the bus already. begins. i see you are on the bus alread . , ., , , ,, .,~ already. yes, it does. rishi sunak ist in: already. yes, it does. rishi sunak is trying to _ already. yes, it does. rishi sunak is trying to hit _ already. yes, it does. rishi sunak is trying to hit the _ already. yes, it does. rishi sunak is trying to hit the ground - already. yes, it does. rishi sunak| is trying to hit the ground running. we are seeing him travel across the uk today. i am about tojump on a plane, not sure where to, but we are

going somewhere to watch the pm give a speech and we are going to hear things about turning around the economy and he will try to draw the dividing lines with labour. one of the things that is interesting during an election campaign is the other pieces of news that come out, the non—scripted stuff. there are a couple of things this morning that might make some conservatives a bit more nervous. one, is the prime minister admitting this morning there will not be any flights to rwanda before the general election. he wants to set that up as a dividing line and say vote for is if you want the flights to go and if you want the flights to go and if you vote for labour it will not happen. but again there are questions about timetables slipping. why they're slipping and will this ultimately happened? secondly, net migration figures have come out that show 685,000 to the uk last year. it is a high figure, down a bit, but still high. again when the prime minister talks about dealing with

immigration, that is something he will be asked about. we are about to get chucked off this bus to jump on a plane, but wherever we pop up next i will bring you the latest. i a plane, but wherever we pop up next i will bring you the latest.— i will bring you the latest. i can't wait to see _ i will bring you the latest. i can't wait to see where _ i will bring you the latest. i can't wait to see where you _ i will bring you the latest. i can't wait to see where you end - i will bring you the latest. i can't wait to see where you end up. i i will bring you the latest. i can't i wait to see where you end up. good luck, we will talk to you later. nick eardley about to board a flight into the unknown. iain duncan smith is the former leader of the conservative party. good morning to you. just talking to andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester, the labour mayor, and there are questions around the timing. did rishi sunak call this right? is not the right time to go to the polls but mark it is always the right time to go to the polls when somebody goes to the polls, if you don't mind me saying so. goes to the polls, if you don't mind me saying so-_ me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the one that didn't _ me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the one that didn't fit _ me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the one that didn't fit the _ me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the one that didn't fit the mould - me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the one that didn't fit the mould and i me saying so. perhaps 1992 is the | one that didn't fit the mould and if it is in the hands of the prime minister he will figure out what is

best to get the message across. we were kind of ready to go, just a matter of when we were going. coming out of the mayoral elections in london, so, yes, it is a bit of a surprise, but that is the nature of politics i'm afraid. the surprise, but that is the nature of politics i'm afraid.— politics i'm afraid. the reason i asked you _ politics i'm afraid. the reason i asked you whether _ politics i'm afraid. the reason i asked you whether it _ politics i'm afraid. the reason i asked you whether it is - politics i'm afraid. the reason i asked you whether it is the - politics i'm afraid. the reason i | asked you whether it is the right time, looking at the polls, labour on aa% and the conservatives on 23%, the labour lead at its biggest point this year. the tory poll at its lowest level since october 2022 when liz truss was prime minister. it is not a great time to be asking the public to back rishi sunak to go backin public to back rishi sunak to go back in that door behind me injuly with the poll numbers looking how they are. with the poll numbers looking how the are. , ., ., ., with the poll numbers looking how the are. , .,., ., ., they are. yes, i do a lot of campaigning _ they are. yes, i do a lot of campaigning in _ they are. yes, i do a lot of campaigning in my - they are. yes, i do a lot of - campaigning in my constituency and outside and something about these polls tells you that you have to interrogate them a bit more. what

you do find on the street, the reality is, as andy burnham said, it is not 1997, it is not mind made up, we are voting for labour. i was here in 1997 fighting my constituency and i remember exactly how it was going. they had made their minds up. tony blair was not a threat, they had a scottish bank in which people thought was a good news and he was sticking to blending spans and the conservatives were about to hand over a very strong economy with plenty of headroom. this is not 1997. it is nearer to 1992 in my book, which is that labour has a significant lead but there is not one person out there who mentions keir starmer�*s name or one person who says they want labour. mostly on the doorstep they are angry because they have had problems these last few years, massively down to the

covid outbreak and the terrible things we had to do and the money we had to spend. and then of course the invasion of ukraine, i have been out to ukraine on a number of occasions in the front line and seeing it myself. but all these things have impacted dramatically, but notjust here, they have impacted every single country in the developing world. so getting out of that is not an easy wish list, it has taken a lot of difficulty. that is the point about this. i think the public understand grudgingly that at the same time they are upset and angry, they have had to put up with this, and quite right too. so there is all to play for. i would say about a5% of the public is genuinely not made their mind up. they say, well, we don't know, you are all the same. so there is now a real election on our hands. five weeks in which to persuade them that the plan we have about restoring these things and getting houses built and making them

have a better life against labour's plan and these are the battlegrounds which we will see in the next five weeks. it is a very tense election. one thing that struck me from the campaign speeches and the rallies rishi sunak is done already this morning as he is framing this as an election about him. he talks a lot about his record as chancellor during some of the toughest times of the pandemic, the man who came up with the furlough scheme, the eat out to help out scheme, the man who kept the economy on track during the worst of that. he is distancing himself from the conservative party, isn't it? this is a vote for rishi sunak, not a vote for the conservatives.— sunak, not a vote for the conservatives. ., ., , , , ., conservatives. you could apply that to every single _ conservatives. you could apply that to every single election _ conservatives. you could apply that to every single election i _ conservatives. you could apply that to every single election i have - conservatives. you could apply that to every single election i have ever| to every single election i have ever been in. in 1997 it was all about tony blair. when you get to the next election it is invariably about the

last election and in 2019 it was all about borisjohnson versus last election and in 2019 it was all about boris johnson versus jeremy corbyn. these always come down essentially individual fights. there is a reason why rishi sunak would want to make that the case here. what is the problem for the public is they don't really have a view about keir starmer. but when you remind them this is the man that chose to sit besidejeremy corbyn when all of that was going on, anti—semitism, and many decent people in the labour party walked away and would not take jobs for him, he stayed there and fought to get the second referendum to put us back into the european union. this is a man who now says he has accepted the results. but the battle is about rishi sunak versus keir starmer. who do you think has the moralfibre to be starmer. who do you think has the moral fibre to be able to take those difficult decisions? who has not squared away with one group on the

far left and then has come across to do something with people in the opposite direction? whose does the course and sees it through? that will be the real battleground. who is keir starmer? he seems to have shifted shapes most of his political life. ~ ., , ., ., life. another big figure in all of this ruling _ life. another big figure in all of this ruling himself _ life. another big figure in all of this ruling himself out - life. another big figure in all of this ruling himself out this - this ruling himself out this morning, nigel farage says he will concentrate on getting donald trump elected, not on uk politics. is there a sigh of relief in conservative central office that nigel farage will not stand for reform uk and potentially split the conservative vote? i reform uk and potentially split the conservative vote ?_ conservative vote? i was always re conservative vote? i was always pretty certain — conservative vote? i was always pretty certain that _ conservative vote? i was always pretty certain that nigel- conservative vote? i was always pretty certain that nigel farage| conservative vote? i was always i pretty certain that nigel farage did not want to stand, i have fought enough elections now and don't want to go through another one. he is going to help out across the pond and that is what attracts him more. i had a feeling this was going to be the case anyway. the issue about...

but that is good news about conservatives.— but that is good news about conservatives. , , , , ., conservatives. yes, i suppose you are riaht, conservatives. yes, i suppose you are right, but — conservatives. yes, i suppose you are right, but all— conservatives. yes, i suppose you are right, but all those _ conservatives. yes, i suppose you are right, but all those candidatesj are right, but all those candidates find themselves standing and saying they are all about making sure that we make the most brexit. the answer is simple, you will simply end up putting into power either the liberal democrats who want to go back into europe, or a who plan to get as close to europe as possible or even go back in. you will see the exact opposite objective which you set out which is political nonsense and i would ask them all to take a really serious think about this and asked themselves do they want to go back into europe?— back into europe? before we let you to back into europe? before we let you no i want back into europe? before we let you go i want to — back into europe? before we let you go i want to ask _ back into europe? before we let you go i want to ask you _ back into europe? before we let you go i want to ask you about _ back into europe? before we let you go i want to ask you about reports i go i want to ask you about reports this morning that rishi sunak spoke to cabinet yesterday when he called this election and he said, we have got to own the choice and framed the choice. what do you interpret that

to mean? what does that mean in reality? what is the choice? the choice is almost _ reality? what is the choice? iie: choice is almost always the reality? what is the choice? i"ie: choice is almost always the same in elections. it is the choice of who you think most has that moral fibre, that strength, that courage, to take the tough decisions as well as the easy ones, but have a very clear idea of where they are going and what they want to do. that is the choice between the two leaders at the end of the day. on the one hand you have got a leader in keir starmer who seems to have drifted between different political positions but does run a party that has a very large number ofjeremy corbyn fans are still sitting in it, over a0%. corbyn fans are still sitting in it, overa0%. remember corbyn fans are still sitting in it, over a0%. remember in 2019 that was ajeremy corbyn over a0%. remember in 2019 that was a jeremy corbyn election and the people who got elected were very strong jeremy corbyn supporters, which he says he is not now. so the question is will the party in government be able to survive without massive divisions? in the case of rishi sunak it is somebody who has actually fought those tough

battles, who understands how difficult it is to get decisions made to do difficult things to look after people through covid and make sure people get extra money to get through the cost of living crisis caused by the war in ukraine. what you have got here is an identifiable person in rishi sunak who i think has stayed pretty straight course, and the choice between him and keir starmer, who seems to have weaved his way between different political factions for most of his political life. . ., , . factions for most of his political life. . ., ,., ., , life. elections are back moments, hoto life. elections are back moments, photo ops. _ life. elections are back moments, photo ops. or _ life. elections are back moments, photo ops, or about _ life. elections are back moments, photo ops, or about campaigns. l life. elections are back moments, photo ops, or about campaigns. i | photo ops, or about campaigns. i want to ask you about yesterday, the prime minister standing in the rain. it was not the start to his campaign he would have wanted. you have been leader of the conservative party. how was that allowed to happen? just talk me through the thinking that what the conservative leader out in the rain yesterday which dominated all the front pages today in a rather wet suit being drowned out by protesters. the

rather wet suit being drowned out by rotesters. . , ., ., , ., ,, protesters. the decision was taken to no protesters. the decision was taken to to out protesters. the decision was taken to go out in — protesters. the decision was taken to go out in front _ protesters. the decision was taken to go out in front of _ protesters. the decision was taken to go out in front of downing i to go out in front of downing street, i will be honest with you, this is a more modern concept of speaking to journalists, which this is a more modern concept of speaking tojournalists, which i have found a little bit puzzling. but the decision was made, they wanted to show he has come out of downing street, quite rightly, and was addressing the public. in a way, though, i know that everyone in westminster, people in westminster take a different view from how the public sees things. generally what happens is the public looks at that and what they will get out of it is the rain was holding off, they decided to do it and then the rain came down. one thing i hope people will notice is the incredible stoicism of the prime minister. you did not see him bat an eyelid. i watch that closely, that presentation, the rain did come down and it must have been difficult for him. what is see just... and it must have been difficult for him. what is see just. . .- him. what is see 'ust. .. might he have made _ him. what is see 'ust. .. might he have made a — him. what is see just. .. might he have made a joke _ him. what is see just. .. might he have made a joke about - him. what is see just. .. might he have made a joke about it? i him. what is see just. .. might he have made a joke about it? sorry| him. what is see just. .. might he | have made a joke about it? sorry i have made a 'oke about it? sorry i didn't have made a 'oke about it? sorry i dun-t hear. —

have made a joke about it? sorry i didn't hear. might _ have made a joke about it? sorry i didn't hear. might he _ have made a joke about it? sorry i didn't hear. might he have - have made a joke about it? sorry i didn't hear. might he have made i have made a joke about it? sorry i didn't hear. might he have made a 'oke about didn't hear. might he have made a joke about it _ didn't hear. might he have made a joke about it and _ didn't hear. might he have made a joke about it and reference - didn't hear. might he have made a joke about it and reference the i didn't hear. might he have made a| joke about it and reference the fact it was a farcical situation? many people would say could he have referred to the strangeness of that scenario, being stood out here in the rain? he didn't bat an eyelid, but at the same time he didn't reference it in any way. he didn't appear to be reference it in any way. he didn't appearto be human reference it in any way. he didn't appear to be human on that level that people will want to look for in a prime minister. you that people will want to look for in a prime minister.— a prime minister. you ask him to references _ a prime minister. you ask him to references and _ a prime minister. you ask him to references and the _ a prime minister. you ask him to references and the truth - a prime minister. you ask him to references and the truth is i a prime minister. you ask him to references and the truth is that i references and the truth is that politicians and prime ministers do not get an inch. i was looking at it on the tv screen, which i might have done if i were sitting in a drawing room somewhere or the kitchen, and what i saw in that was really something else. i saw an individual who, 0k, something else. i saw an individual who, ok, that decision may not have been the greatest decision, but the one thing i did see, and i think it isa one thing i did see, and i think it is a very british characteristic, which is, frankly, you just get on with it. whatever happens around you, you get on with it, ignore it

and it shows the determination that has carried us through centuries of conflict and difficulty. you want somebody at the helm that literally cannot be moved when he has made a decision and i think that is what i will take away from that, real british pluck, a bit of stoicism. things didn't go quite right but he was not going to moan about it and say, oh, it is too wet, i am going back in. he stayed there and delivered the speech. yes, there were noises from individual down the road, there always are in westminster, it is a fact of life, so you have to put up with it. on the plus side it showed real plot and stoicism. i think the public get that. i think they want their prime minister is to actually know what they are doing and get on with it. good to have you with us this morning, so iain duncan smith. former leader of the conservative party joining former leader of the conservative partyjoining me from london. let's talk now about what keir starmer is doing. he is on the campaign trail

as well. our political correspondent ian watson is travelling with him. those banners are still there behind you. change is what labour say will get them the keys to number ten. that is right, they have distilled the message into that one word, change. — the message into that one word, change, which is on the placards that activists are holding here at gillingham fc. ithink that activists are holding here at gillingham fc. i think the leader has left, — gillingham fc. i think the leader has left, but there is something of a pitch— has left, but there is something of a pitch invasion still going on with some _ a pitch invasion still going on with some of— a pitch invasion still going on with some of the activists and the candidacy here in kent still hanging around _ candidacy here in kent still hanging around. the fact they have chosen gillian _ around. the fact they have chosen gillian shows a degree of confidence. this is a seat last won under— confidence. this is a seat last won under tony— confidence. this is a seat last won under tony blair. it has a 15,000 conservative majority at this stage and they— conservative majority at this stage and they are very clear about the kind of— and they are very clear about the kind of areas they are targeting. the reason the word change is so prominent — the reason the word change is so prominent is they have been talking in focus _ prominent is they have been talking in focus groups to swing voters, those _ in focus groups to swing voters, those voters they need to win over or win _ those voters they need to win over or win back— those voters they need to win over or win back at this election, and the key. — or win back at this election, and the key, prime reason many have given— the key, prime reason many have given for— the key, prime reason many have

given for considering voting labour or saying _ given for considering voting labour or saying they want change, again backing _ or saying they want change, again backing labour, is they believe it is time _ backing labour, is they believe it is time for— backing labour, is they believe it is time for a change. labour want to is time fora change. labour want to repeat— is time for a change. labour want to repeat that — is time for a change. labour want to repeat that those messages, the messages they believe target voters want to— messages they believe target voters want to hear. when it comes to what sort of _ want to hear. when it comes to what sort of change, that is a different question — sort of change, that is a different question. the conservatives would say that— question. the conservatives would say that the labour party in effect are trying — say that the labour party in effect are trying to campaign on the government was back record, rather than putting forward their own policies — than putting forward their own policies i_ than putting forward their own policies. i asked than putting forward their own policies. iasked keir starmer about that at— policies. iasked keir starmer about that at the — policies. iasked keir starmer about that at the end of his speech and he said that _ that at the end of his speech and he said that he'd emerged from the fact that rishi _ said that he'd emerged from the fact that rishi sunak said he was not setting — that rishi sunak said he was not setting out a plan. in his speech here _ setting out a plan. in his speech here he — setting out a plan. in his speech here he did go through some of his policies _ here he did go through some of his policies. there are specifics. extra nhs appointments, the recruitment of more teachers, some are a much longer— more teachers, some are a much longer timescale, more teachers, some are a much longertimescale, he is more teachers, some are a much longer timescale, he is saying they will take _ longer timescale, he is saying they will take ten years to turn around britain _ will take ten years to turn around britain in — will take ten years to turn around britain in its current state. he

denounces the chaos, as he sees it, under— denounces the chaos, as he sees it, under the _ denounces the chaos, as he sees it, under the conservatives. what labour are banking _ under the conservatives. what labour are banking on is they believe in the lack— are banking on is they believe in the lack of— are banking on is they believe in the lack of trust in politicians as a whole — the lack of trust in politicians as a whole and people will be far more able to— a whole and people will be far more able to accept a message that you can't _ able to accept a message that you can't do _ able to accept a message that you can't do everything at once, that you cannot — can't do everything at once, that you cannot necessarily have massive change. _ you cannot necessarily have massive change, massive investment, all in one fell— change, massive investment, all in one fell swoop. they are concentrating on some very specific and some _ concentrating on some very specific and some small—scale priorities that nevertheless they would see as signalling a future sense of direction. that is what we have got today— direction. that is what we have got today from — direction. that is what we have got today from keir starmer. but, my goodness, — today from keir starmer. but, my goodness, he did not hold back on the conservatives' record. another word _ the conservatives' record. another word you _ the conservatives' record. another word you will start to see is chaos. he will_ word you will start to see is chaos. he will be — word you will start to see is chaos. he will be saying it is time to stop the chaos— he will be saying it is time to stop the chaos and trying to get people to focus— the chaos and trying to get people to focus and the fact we are not simply— to focus and the fact we are not simply talking about rishi sunak's time in _ simply talking about rishi sunak's time in government in the past 18 months. — time in government in the past 18 months, where he says he stabilised the economy, but ia years of months, where he says he stabilised the economy, but 1a years of the conservative government which keir starmer— conservative government which keir starmer claims is leaving the

country— starmer claims is leaving the country worse off than it was when the conservatives first came to power — the conservatives first came to power in — the conservatives first came to power in coalition in 2010. we are auoin to power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let _ power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let you — power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let you go- _ power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let you go. this - power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let you go. this is - power in coalition in 2010. we are going to let you go. this is day i power in coalition in 2010. we are | going to let you go. this is day one of what could be a long campaign. six weeks from today when voters go to the polls and you will be following that campaign throughout. ian watson in gillingham in kent. the other story we are following for you is the post office inquiry. you can see the qr code on the screen if you want to follow that stop paula vennells, the ex—boss of the post office, is giving further evidence, the second day of evidence at the horizon it inquiry scandal that has caused so many problems and changed so many lives. it is the second day of evidence being given by paula vennells. but we are staying in downing street. with me is alessia fitzgerald, politicaljournalist. so much to discuss this morning. so far we have had a campaign speech from

rishi sunak and one from keir starmer. first of all, your impressions about how they are kick—starting their campaigns. i want to bring us back to something that the labour mayor for manchester, andy burnham, and so iain duncan smith both reference, and that was the comparison to 1997. both were saying this is not a 1997 style election because there are so many undecided voters at the moment who don't know who to vote for. something really interesting about what's iain duncan smith said was that rishi sunak is fighting this election as a sole candidate, trying to distance himself from the conservative party and so iain duncan smith said this always happens, it happened in 1997. but the key difference is rishi sunak and his government are in power and tony blair was fighting back from an opposition standpoint. it made more sense for tony blair to position himself as a standout candidate. for rishi sunak to do that that may be demonstrates he wants to disassociate himself from the conservative party record and

reiterate it is him who will be the candidate for change. he is not liz truss or borisjohnson and he is showing he will bring something different to the conservative party. talk to me about another difference with the 1997 election, the new constituency boundaries. that means it is a bit more difficult for labour to get the keys. they need a bigger swing in this general election than that swing of 1997 that tony blair got. even to get a small majority, labour will need a bigger swing. the swing is 12.7%, very drastic. if you look at the by—election, labour achieved a bigger swing which would add some fuel into their election campaign. they could say we have achieved swings of up to 30% in various by—elections. they don't always directly mirror to a general election but it gives a flavour that labour have some fire to grab the seats that potentially have always

been conservative. we have seen it happen time and time again in the past few months, so it's not to say labour cannot do it this time around, too.— labour cannot do it this time around, too. ~ , ,., ., , around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnle , around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnley. my — around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnley. my home — around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnley, my home town, _ around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnley, my home town, needs i around, too. the key battlegrounds, burnley, my home town, needs the| burnley, my home town, needs the tiniest shift to turn red once again, where are the key focuses for this campaign? tsine again, where are the key focuses for this campaign?— this campaign? one of the biggest electoral battle _ this campaign? one of the biggest electoral battle grounds _ this campaign? one of the biggest electoral battle grounds will- this campaign? one of the biggest electoral battle grounds will be i electoral battle grounds will be scotland. the snp set on a lot of the scottish sheets that are predicted to swing back towards the labour party. the snp have not had the best year or so, quite a lot of turbulence within the party. lots of those seats are expected to go back to the labour party, so that will be a big one. we need to look towards the west country in the south—west, lots predicted to go towards the liberal democrats. we have not heard a lot of them over the past few years, they haven't had a lot of seats in this parliament but a lot of those constituency expected to

leave conservative rule and be back in the