'so so here at number so here atnumber10 past year or so here at number 10 downing street but that is definitely the way he's going with this campaign. it’s definitely the way he's going with this campaign-— definitely the way he's going with this campaign. it's only day one but how personal _ this campaign. it's only day one but how personal do — this campaign. it's only day one but how personal do you _ this campaign. it's only day one but how personal do you think - this campaign. it's only day one but how personal do you think this - how personal do you think this campaign could get? it is how personal do you think this campaign could get? it is already uuite campaign could get? it is already quite personal- — campaign could get? it is already quite personal. even _ campaign could get? it is already quite personal. even before - campaign could get? it is already quite personal. even before the l quite personal. even before the campaign began you could very much see in prime minister's questions for example rishi sunak and sir keir starmer really going at each other with personal insults. the one issue sir keir starmer will have is not being accused of flip—flopping. it's something rishi sunak in sight to sir keir starmer, especially given that when sir keir starmer first place thejeremy corbyn he came in with these pledges and said this is what he would do as labour leader and he has gone back on all of those initial promises. it will be interesting to see how cased ammo deals with that but i can say that i think it will be a nasty campaign. thank you for now. let's talk to the acting editor of the political news website conservative home henry

hill. the day started with the prime minister being asked on bbc radio i now, why do you think now? the briefed media _ now, why do you think now? the briefed media reports have been planned — briefed media reports have been planned for a few months. the room as i'rn _ planned for a few months. the room as i'm hearing is that it'sjust a couple — as i'm hearing is that it'sjust a couple of— as i'm hearing is that it'sjust a couple of days. there really isn't a good _ couple of days. there really isn't a good reason for going now. there was a case _ good reason for going now. there was a case for— good reason for going now. there was a case for having won in may and for doing _ a case for having won in may and for doing it _ a case for having won in may and for doing it in _ a case for having won in may and for doing it in the autumn. but refusing to go— doing it in the autumn. but refusing to go in_ doing it in the autumn. but refusing to go in may and then going in the summer— to go in may and then going in the summerjust looks as if the prime minister— summerjust looks as if the prime minister has looked at the next six months _ minister has looked at the next six months and thought there is more risk than _ months and thought there is more risk than opportunity and i may as well go _ risk than opportunity and i may as well go now. it's an extraordinary decision — well go now. it's an extraordinary decision. ., . ., , decision. how much anger is there behind-the-scenes _ decision. how much anger is there behind-the-scenes because - decision. how much anger is there behind-the-scenes because i've i decision. how much anger is there i behind-the-scenes because i've been behind—the—scenes because i've been reading reports of people still talking about putting in letters of

no confidence and a whatsapp group discussing whether it is possible at this stage to get him out and stop this stage to get him out and stop this election. that sounds bonkers. it is bonkers. that would be my decision— it is bonkers. that would be my decision and it wouldn't work anyway~ _ decision and it wouldn't work anyway. but there is vast anger because — anyway. but there is vast anger because conservative mps and importantly their staff who could lose theirjobs at the end of the election. — lose theirjobs at the end of the election, they thought they had a few months and hopefully the prime minister— few months and hopefully the prime minister would come up with a plan, but if— minister would come up with a plan, but if not _ minister would come up with a plan, but if not they could line up what they were — but if not they could line up what they were going to do next to try and work— they were going to do next to try and work out what their employment would _ and work out what their employment would he _ and work out what their employment would be. they don't receive payments from losing the seats so it can he _ payments from losing the seats so it can he a _ payments from losing the seats so it can be a real shock. instead they have _ can be a real shock. instead they have been— can be a real shock. instead they have been plunged with no warning into the _ have been plunged with no warning into the fight of their lives and many— into the fight of their lives and many of— into the fight of their lives and many of them will be without a job in six _ many of them will be without a job in six weeks. there is absolute fury~ _

in six weeks. there is absolute fury~ it's — in six weeks. there is absolute fury. it's not as if the party has been _ fury. it's not as if the party has been secretly getting ready for this election _ been secretly getting ready for this election. there are still many seats the conservatives don't have a candidate _ the conservatives don't have a candidate for. everybody has been caught _ candidate for. everybody has been caught off—guard. a candidate for. everybody has been caught off-guard— caught off-guard. a couple of thou~hts caught off-guard. a couple of thoughts with _ caught off-guard. a couple of thoughts with the _ caught off-guard. a couple of thoughts with the same - caught off-guard. a couple of l thoughts with the same theme, caught off-guard. a couple of - thoughts with the same theme, wonder is a good politics to make this a dividing line on the election or a weakness that perhaps they will only be a few numbers on flights by the autumn and similarly in terms of strategy, good politics otherwise to make it about him are not even mention his predecessors liz truss and the wrecking ball of that underlying of borisjohnson. is it good politics those approaches and strategies or signs of weakness? it would be very strange of rishi sunak went into _ would be very strange of rishi sunak went into a _ would be very strange of rishi sunak went into a general election talking about— went into a general election talking about the _ went into a general election talking about the mini budget and how much borisjohnson light. that

about the mini budget and how much boris johnson light. that as about the mini budget and how much borisjohnson light. that as labour plasma _ borisjohnson light. that as labour plasma joh — borisjohnson light. that as labour plasmajob. he has borisjohnson light. that as labour plasma job. he has the challenge of trying _ plasma job. he has the challenge of trying to— plasma job. he has the challenge of trying to win a real action for a fifth _ trying to win a real action for a fifth time _ trying to win a real action for a fifth time as the conservative party and he's _ fifth time as the conservative party and he's trying to run has himself because _ and he's trying to run has himself because he's only been in office for less than— because he's only been in office for less than two years and is hoping he can present — less than two years and is hoping he can present himself as a product that doesn't carry some of that baggage — that doesn't carry some of that baggage. no wonder it's baffling. when _ baggage. no wonder it's baffling. when he — baggage. no wonder it's baffling. when he announced the election one of the _ when he announced the election one of the things that was to me was either— of the things that was to me was either the — of the things that was to me was either the government know they are going _ either the government know they are going to _ either the government know they are going to get a flight byjuly the 4th and — going to get a flight byjuly the 4th and can pack the benefits of that first — 4th and can pack the benefits of that first flights or they know they are absolutely not because if they are absolutely not because if they are not— are absolutely not because if they are not then that risks having a summer— are not then that risks having a summer with better weather means more _ summer with better weather means more channel crossings and we still haven't— more channel crossings and we still haven't got— more channel crossings and we still haven't got a flight of the ground after— haven't got a flight of the ground after all— haven't got a flight of the ground after all the attention the government through to the importance of getting _ government through to the importance of getting through and act over the line which— of getting through and act over the line which it is now done, if we were _ line which it is now done, if we were they— line which it is now done, if we were they months later with more crossings— were they months later with more crossings and nothing happening it would _ crossings and nothing happening it would have been damaging so this may be a damage control measure. going

back to mentioning _ be a damage control measure. going back to mentioning liz _ be a damage control measure. going back to mentioning liz truss - be a damage control measure. (it? “i; back to mentioning liz truss and borisjohnson, the point there is whether it expects the electorate to have forgotten about those things. i don't think it really does because he has _ don't think it really does because he has distanced himself from boris johnson _ he has distanced himself from boris johnson and from liz truss. rishi sunak— johnson and from liz truss. rishi sunak refers to the first year of trying _ sunak refers to the first year of trying to — sunak refers to the first year of trying to draw a line under the liz truss— trying to draw a line under the liz truss premiership. i don't see any truss premiership. idon't see any earthly— truss premiership. i don't see any earthly reason why he would be going around _ earthly reason why he would be going around talking about liz truss and the mini _ around talking about liz truss and the mini budget. hisjob is to present— the mini budget. hisjob is to present as positive a vision as he can of— present as positive a vision as he can of the — present as positive a vision as he can of the prospects of returning as government. the labour party will talk about — government. the labour party will talk about liz truss and he will answer — talk about liz truss and he will answer those questions when put in byjournalists but it would be bizarre — byjournalists but it would be bizarre for him to be putting her or

boris _ bizarre for him to be putting her or borisjohnson front and bizarre for him to be putting her or boris johnson front and centre in what _ boris johnson front and centre in what is _ boris johnson front and centre in what is fundamentally his government election— what is fundamentally his government election campaign.— election campaign. gauge the threat from reform- — election campaign. gauge the threat from reform. reduced _ election campaign. gauge the threat from reform. reduced now- election campaign. gauge the threat from reform. reduced now that - election campaign. gauge the threat| from reform. reduced now that nigel faraue isn't from reform. reduced now that nigel farage isn't going _ from reform. reduced now that nigel farage isn't going to _ from reform. reduced now that nigel farage isn't going to be _ from reform. reduced now that nigel farage isn't going to be leading - from reform. reduced now that nigel farage isn't going to be leading it. i farage isn't going to be leading it. i farage isn't going to be leading it. i don't _ farage isn't going to be leading it. i don't think he would have won a seat, _ i don't think he would have won a seat. he — i don't think he would have won a seat, he never has, but he would have _ seat, he never has, but he would have been— seat, he never has, but he would have been worth a few plants in the polls _ have been worth a few plants in the polls. reform could make it difficult _ polls. reform could make it difficult for the conservatives. if the hard—fought marginals on election— the hard—fought marginals on election night reform candidate who performs— election night reform candidate who performs well could cost the tory mp the seat _ performs well could cost the tory mp the seat and that could happen in a lot of— the seat and that could happen in a lot of seats. there is minimal risk of reform — lot of seats. there is minimal risk of reform being a parliamentary force _ of reform being a parliamentary force in — of reform being a parliamentary force in the next parliament. do you think tory mps _ force in the next parliament. do you think tory mps think _ force in the next parliament. do you think tory mps think they _ force in the next parliament. do you think tory mps think they can - force in the next parliament. do you think tory mps think they can win? i i

think tory mps think they can win? i have not yet met one who thinks they can win _ have not yet met one who thinks they can win but _ have not yet met one who thinks they can win but six weeks is a long time and anything can theoretically happen — and anything can theoretically ha en, , ., and anything can theoretically ha en, ., ., o' and anything can theoretically hauen. ., . ~' ., and anything can theoretically ha en, ., ., ~' ., and anything can theoretically hauen. ., . ~' ., ., ~ happen. good to talk to you. thank ou for happen. good to talk to you. thank you for talking _ happen. good to talk to you. thank you for talking to _ happen. good to talk to you. thank you for talking to us. _ happen. good to talk to you. thank you for talking to us. we _ happen. good to talk to you. thank you for talking to us. we are - you for talking to us. we are already through the course of the day we had those party launches and multiple claims from the party leaders. let's cross to bbc verify where our policy and analysis correspondent is already looking through some of those claims. it’s through some of those claims. it's da one through some of those claims. it's day one of — through some of those claims. it�*s day one of the election campaign and there were some big claims on the economy today from the leaders of both main parties. firstly rishi sunak claimed the uk economy is growing faster than ever major economies including the us. he was talking about the first three months of 2024 and as you can see the uk economy to grow faster of the period at 0.6% than the us at 0.4% and faster than other big western economies except canada. this is

only 13—month period. it is like saying if a football team wins on the first day of the season they are winning the league. if you look at the uk performance against the us since the end of the pandemic the record is a lot less flattering. the us has grown by 9% in the uk byjust 2%. another claim from the pm was that thanks was government's tax changes in the person earning on average £35,000 is getting a £900 tax cut. 0n the one hand yes it won £35,000 will get a £900 tax benefit due to the employee national insurance cuts. but they will be hit by other tax rises announced since 2021 when you put all of that together and have earner will benefit by around 300 and £40, not £900. and people earning around £15,000 or £75,000 are actually

worse off as a result of this government's tax changes over the last two years. finally, let's look at sir keir starmer�*s claim that rishi sunak is planning a £46 billion unfunded tax cut. the government has indeed said it would like to scrap national insurance on workers and that would be very expensive. national insurance on workers set to bring in £46 billion a year but the government has not given any timeframe for getting rid of national insurance on workers. the chancellorjeremy hunt after the march budget described only as a long—term ambition. this isjust a one—off cost and we will be to verify many more claims about the economy and other areas over the next six weeks of this campaign. next on the programme we will talk to labour's yvette cooper. now that we will check on the weather details.

the rain has felt relentless across some parts of the uk over the last couple of days. a swirl of cloud and rain, an area of low pressure worked its way in from the near continent and then became very slow—moving. in parts of cumbria, we've seen more than 120 millimetres of rain in the space ofjust 48 hours. the area of low pressure responsible is still with us. but it is filling, it is weakening, loosening its grip so the rain is starting to ease off. that said, still some fairly heavy bursts of rain to come across parts of north west england and southern scotland. a number of flood warnings still in force. a lot of cloud as well for many areas, and the best of any sunshine, i think, found across some southern and eastern counties of england, where temperatures will get to 19 or 20 celsius, but cooler further north and west with the cloud, with the splashes of rain. and then, through this evening and tonight, well, it's just a process of this area of low pressure gradually weakening and filling, but still providing lots of cloud, still providing some outbreaks of rain. a mild night for most, but where skies do clear across southern england,

south wales, it will turn just a little bit chilly down to six or seven celsius in places. for tomorrow, our area of low pressure still with us. that means a lot of cloud for much of scotland, maybe the odd bright spell in western scotland. also rather cloudy for northern ireland, northern england into the midlands, a good part of wales. still some bits and pieces of rain, but certainly not as wet as it has been. best chance of sunshine further south and east, again, temperatures up to 19 or 20 celsius in parts of south east england. and as we head into the weekend, a bank holiday weekend, of course, it is going to feel a little bit warmer. we will see some spells of sunshine, still the chance of some hefty showers. now, saturday should bring a decent amount of dry weather for many. this little weather system trying to push out of northern europe, that mayjust fringe some showery rain into some eastern counties of england. we'll have to keep an eye on that. still, a little bit of uncertainty. cloud and rain pushing into the west, later in the day. but in between those two weather systems, actually a slice of sunshine and warmth with temperatures up to around 20 or 21 celsius, or warmer day on saturday.

keeping a relatively warm feel into sunday and indeed monday. some sunshine, yes, but some showers as well, some of which will be heavy, perhaps thundery.

live from downing street. this is bbc news. party leaders hit the campaign trail after the prime minister fired the starting gun for a snap summer election in six weeks' time. rishi sunak and labour leader sir keir starmer have been touring the country, with their messages for voters. even though there's more work to do and i know it will take time for you to all see the benefits of that, the plan is working and we have that economic stability back. this election is for you, because you now have the power, the chance to end the chaos, to turn the page and

to rebuild britain. 0n 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. reform uk sets out plans to run candidates in nearly every seat — but nigel farage says he won't be standing. and this is the scene at the post office it inquiry — where former boss paula vennells is appearing for a second day. welcome to downing street. party leaders have hit the campaign trail with six weeks to go until the general election. the prime minister rishi sunak said only the conservatives offer security and economic stability, while the labour leader

sir keir starmer promised an end to what he called 14 years