today at six — sir keir starmer pledges to rebuild the country if labour wins the general election. in his first major speech of the campaign, he appealed to undecided voters. has labour changed enough? do i trust them with my money, our borders, our security? my answer is yes, you can. another half—hour speech, not a single new idea. he's taking the british public for granted. rishi sunak has been defending his plans for national service for 18—year—olds. we'll have the latest from the campaign trail. also on the programme — an israeli air strike hits a camp for displaced palestinians in rafah. hamas says 45 people were killed. protect yourself from the sun, warns a cancer charity, as cases of melanoma hit an all time high in the uk.

and high rollers — competitors from around the world take part in the annual cheesey contest in gloucestershire. good evening. the labour leader has pledged to "stop the chaos" and "rebuild the country" in his first major speech of the election campaign. sir keir starmer appealed to undecided voters and urged people to trust him to deliver economic stability and protect national security. rishi sunak, also out campaigning today, dismissed the speech as "waffle," saying it contained "not a single plan for the future." we'll have more about the prime minister in a minute, but first, here's our political editor chris mason on keir starmer�*s speech.

a man waiting, waiting for his moment, waiting, he hopes, to be prime minister. if you have ever wondered what this man is all about, today was his attempt to give you an answer. ., ., ., ,., answer. the leader of the labour pa , answer. the leader of the labour party. keir— answer. the leader of the labour party, keir starmer. _ party, keir starmer. applause. sir keir starmer spoke at a village hall in sussex. iii sir keir starmer spoke at a village hall in sussex.— hall in sussex. if you are working class, hall in sussex. if you are working class. you _ hall in sussex. if you are working class. you are — hall in sussex. if you are working class, you are scared _ hall in sussex. if you are working class, you are scared of- hall in sussex. if you are working class, you are scared of debt. - hall in sussex. if you are workingi class, you are scared of debt. my mum and dad were scared of debt. they said they would choose the bill that they wouldn't pay rather than going to bed, and they chose the phone bill, they would have the phone bill, they would have the phone cut off rather than pay the bill because it was the easiest one to do without —— rather than go into debt. to do without -- rather than go into debt. ., ., to do without -- rather than go into debt. ., ,., ., ., ,., debt. the labour leader also acknowledging _ debt. the labour leader also acknowledging he _ debt. the labour leader also acknowledging he has - debt. the labour leader also acknowledging he has plenty debt. the labour leader also i acknowledging he has plenty of persuading to do.— acknowledging he has plenty of persuading to do. acknowledging he has plenty of ”ersuadin to do. ~ . , persuading to do. whatever the polls sa , i know persuading to do. whatever the polls say, i know there _ persuading to do. whatever the polls say, i know there are _ persuading to do. whatever the polls say, i know there are countless - say, i know there are countless people who have not decided how they

will vote in the selection. they still have questions about us. has labour changed? can i trust them with my money, our borders, our security? i'd say yes you can. the challenae security? i'd say yes you can. the challenge is _ security? i'd say yes you can. the challenge is can _ security? i'd say yes you can. the challenge is can he _ security? i'd say yes you can. the challenge is can he convert the solution was the conservatives into votes for him, even enthusiasm for him? do you accept that there is perhaps an enthusiasm deficit, a lack of enthusiasm, foot you? you have to ask _ lack of enthusiasm, foot you? you have to ask why _ lack of enthusiasm, foot you? 7m. have to ask why people are looking to labour, and i think they are looking to labour because they can see a changed labour party, which is absolutely country first, partick second. , , , second. they might be looking, but are they enthusiastic? _ second. they might be looking, but are they enthusiastic? are - second. they might be looking, but are they enthusiastic? are you - are they enthusiastic? are you concerned about a lack of enthusiasm for labour? i do concerned about a lack of enthusiasm for labour? ., ~' concerned about a lack of enthusiasm for labour? ., ~ �* , ., for labour? i do think there's an underlying _ for labour? i do think there's an underlying issue _ for labour? i do think there's an underlying issue here, - for labour? i do think there's an underlying issue here, which - for labour? i do think there's an underlying issue here, which is. for labour? i do think there's an i underlying issue here, which is that over the last ia years, the government has probably beaten the hope out of many people, and i want to restore the idea that politics

can be a for good. would you describe yourself as a socialist? look, yes, i would describe myself as a socialist. i describe myself as a progressive. how would you describe your socialism? because that word to some people might be scary, off—putting, but you're happy to answer that question directly. let me just explain exactly what i mean by that, because for me, this is about politics, it's about putting the country in the service of working people. only two people can be feminist after selection. only two people can be feminist afterselection. here's only two people can be feminist after selection. here's the verdict of his opponent. after selection. here's the verdict of his opponent-— of his opponent. another day, another speech _ of his opponent. another day, another speech from - of his opponent. another day, another speech from keir - of his opponent. another day, - another speech from keir starmer, another_ another speech from keir starmer, another half—hour speech, a single new idea — another half—hour speech, a single new idea. he is taking the british public— new idea. he is taking the british public for granted. keir new idea. he is taking the british public for granted.— public for granted. keir starmer talked today — public for granted. keir starmer talked today of _ public for granted. keir starmer talked today of this _ public for granted. keir starmer talked today of this road - public for granted. keir starmer talked today of this road in - public for granted. keir starmer l talked today of this road in surrey where he grew up. he claims it is about as english as it gets. those who seek to govern us seek too to

personify however imperfectly in the country they seek to lead. biography, background, beliefs — it is or under scrutiny. i'm talking about this place in surrey is an attempt to take on that label often used by his opponents as an insult when they describe keir starmer as a lefty lawyer from when they describe keir starmer as a lefty lawyerfrom north when they describe keir starmer as a lefty lawyer from north london, when they describe keir starmer as a lefty lawyerfrom north london, with all of the connotations about it metropolitan detachment. so we have spent the day to day with keir starmer, the labour leader, and in the coming days and weeks on this programme, we will spend time with the other major party leaders, too, to try to give you a sense of who they are and what they are all about. chris, thanks so much. chris mason there.

in the last hour, it's been announced that the conservatives have suspended their mp lucy allan with immediate effect after she endorsed the reform uk candidate in the seat she's vacating. before that, rishi sunak had been defending his plan for mandatory national service for 18—year—olds. the prime minister, visiting a football club in buckinghamshire, said it was a "bold" proposal which would foster a culture of service and strengthen the country's security. our political correspondent ione wells is travelling with the prime minister on the campaign trail. he has been complaining today in chesham — he has been complaining today in chesham and amersham. this seat was once a _ chesham and amersham. this seat was once a rock—solid tory seat, when they— once a rock—solid tory seat, when they never— once a rock—solid tory seat, when they never thought they would have to fight _ they never thought they would have to fight for —— campaigning. but in that shocked by—election in 2021, it was lost _ that shocked by—election in 2021, it was lost to— that shocked by—election in 2021, it was lost to the liberal democrats, this is— was lost to the liberal democrats, this is indicative of a wider concern _ this is indicative of a wider concern on the conservative camp that suits — concern on the conservative camp that suits that were once safe are now targets for both the liberal democrats but also the labour party as well _ democrats but also the labour party as well. rishi sunak has been speaking _ as well. rishi sunak has been speaking to members here, he levelled — speaking to members here, he levelled criticism at keir starmer, saying _ levelled criticism at keir starmer, saying that he has no clear plan,

criticising — saying that he has no clear plan, criticising his plan to scrap the rwanda — criticising his plan to scrap the rwanda policy, to sense on asylum seekers _ rwanda policy, to sense on asylum seekers to — rwanda policy, to sense on asylum seekers to rwanda, he also spent some _ seekers to rwanda, he also spent some time — seekers to rwanda, he also spent some time to date defending the bold new plan— some time to date defending the bold new plan that the conservatives announced over the weekend to reintroduce a form of national service — this modern form of national service will mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities they need, which is going to serve them very well in life. it is going to foster a culture of service, which is going to be incredibly powerful for making our society more cohesive, and in a more uncertain and dangerous world it is going to strengthen our country's security and resilience. this policy has been heavily criticised _ this policy has been heavily criticised by the labour party, who say that— criticised by the labour party, who say that it — criticised by the labour party, who say that it isn't fully funded and that it _ say that it isn't fully funded and that it is — say that it isn't fully funded and that it is a — say that it isn't fully funded and that it is a bit desperate, in their words _ that it is a bit desperate, in their words but— that it is a bit desperate, in their words. but rishi sunak has also been a bit words. but rishi sunak has also been a hit on _ words. but rishi sunak has also been a hit on the _ words. but rishi sunak has also been a bit on the defensive today, after criticism _ a bit on the defensive today, after criticism from some of his own mps. criticism from some of his own mp5. the northern ireland minister steve baker— the northern ireland minister steve baker also suggested that this was a policy— baker also suggested that this was a policy he _ baker also suggested that this was a policy he would have supported. and

also the _ policy he would have supported. and also the conservatives have today been _ also the conservatives have today been forced to suspend one of their former— been forced to suspend one of their former mps, outgoing telford mp lucy allen _ former mps, outgoing telford mp lucy allen that— former mps, outgoing telford mp lucy allen. that was after she said she would _ allen. that was after she said she would lrack— allen. that was after she said she would back reform uk in the upcoming general— would back reform uk in the upcoming general election. this has raised some _ general election. this has raised some questions from journalists here today— some questions from journalists here today about whether, in his own mps in some _ today about whether, in his own mps in some cases cannot support some of his policies, _ in some cases cannot support some of his policies, then why should the general— his policies, then why should the general public? on that point, rishi sunak— general public? on that point, rishi sunak fought back, saying again, a message _ sunak fought back, saying again, a message i— sunak fought back, saying again, a message i think we will hear a lot of, message i think we will hear a lot of. but _ message i think we will hear a lot of. but he — message i think we will hear a lot of, but he wants voters to back him because _ of, but he wants voters to back him because he — of, but he wants voters to back him because he believes that his plan is working. _ because he believes that his plan is working, and stressing that inflation _ working, and stressing that inflation is falling and he does not want _ inflation is falling and he does not want to— inflation is falling and he does not want to rock the boat just yet. lone. — want to rock the boat just yet. lone, thank you. lone wells. the snp leader has told voters that the quickest way to "rid scotland of the tories is to vote snp." speaking at a campaign event, john swinney said the party would challenge every conservative seat in scotland. the liberal democrat leader sir ed davey has told voters that it's time for change. at the party's scottish launch, he said voters north of the border

had been doubly let down by the conservatives at westminster and snp at holyrood. he said the liberal democrats would fight for a fair deal for communities. plaid cymru's westminster leader liz saville roberts says the country should rejoin the single market and the customs union. she says the country has been made poorer by brexit, and politicians shouldn't be afraid of talking about reversing the damage. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has described an air strike which killed dozens of people in gaza as a "tragic accident." the hamas—run health ministry said at least a5 people were killed after the strike hit a camp for displaced people in rafah. the israeli army said it had been trageting two senior hamas leaders. a warning, lucy williamson's report contains some distressing images. morning didn't end the nightmare, but it brought the children,

picking through the debris of the dead. the burned remains of shelters mark the place where israel says a top hamas commander was hiding among thousands of displaced families fleeing the fighting in rafah to the south. translation: we were preparing our children's beds for the night _ and we heard a very loud noise and fire erupted all around us. all the children started screaming, the shelter was shaking and our room was full of shrapnel. the air strike hit an area seen as outside israel's current military assault. shouting. israel says it used precise munitions, intelligence and aerial surveillance to reduce the risk to civilians but that the strike ignited fires across the camp. local reports suggest

there was a fuelling station nearby. gaza's hamas—run government says dozens were killed and injured, many of them children. hospitals starved of supplies now flooded with patients, the barely alive. the emotionally dead. shouting. israel's army says it has launched an investigation. last night the idf targeted two hamas commanders in rafah whose hands were drenched in israeli blood. civilian casualties are desperately sad, but this is the war hamas wanted and started. yesterday, hamas rockets were fired from rafah towards tel aviv and surrounding israeli towns. all those heading for urban areas were intercepted.

gaza's civilians can't rely on their government's defences. a family car, today a makeshift hearse for his only sister. where israel and hamas talk of victory, families cut of victory, families count their losses until all that is left are the people and then even they are gone. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. here cases of melanoma skin cancer are at an all—time high in the uk, with more than 20,000 people expected to be diagnosed with it this year. the charity cancer research uk is warning people to do more to protect themselves from the sun, and say there's been a particularly big increase in cases among older people. chi chi izundu reports. going to take a locating photograph. these are just some of the examples of what melanoma skin cancer can look like and, according to cancer research uk, the number of cases of this serious and often most dangerous form

of the disease is on the rise. rates of melanoma have increased by almost a third over a decade. it is more common in the elderly. among those aged over 80 there was a 57% rise, while amongst those aged 25 to a9 there was a 7% increase. 17,000 melanoma cases every year are preventable. and one source of the uv radiation comes from the sun, damaging skin cells and causing cancer. we think there are a few different reasons for this record high of melanoma skin cancer cases. the main one being too much exposure to ultraviolet or uv radiation from the sun and sunbeds. but there are other factors at play as well. here in the uk we have an ageing population and age is a big risk factor for cancer. we also have a growing population, so when you have more people

we are going to see more cases. another reason the figures are up is because people are getting better at spotting abnormalities and going to the gp. last month, experts revealed a game—changing jab is being trialled on british patients which has dramatically reduced the risk of melanoma returning. but prevention is key. in order to stay safe apply generously high factor sunscreen often, cover up and avoid the sun between 11 and 3. chi—chi izundu, bbc news. a woman who was stabbed to death on bournemouth beach on friday night has been named locally as amie gray. another woman, who's 38, remains in hospital with serious injuries. a 17—year—old boy arrested in connection with the incident has been released without charge. police have issued these cctv images of another man they now want to question.

the raf has grounded the battle of britain memorial flight following the death of one of its pilots in a spitfire crash on saturday. squadron leader mark long was flying near raf coningsby in lincolnshire when the aircraft came down. a spokesman said a pause has been implemented while a formal investigation is carried out. last summer, the british museum admitted it had been the victim of theft, saying that up to 2,000 items from its collections were missing, stolen or damaged. many were ancient greek and roman objects, removed from its storerooms, and some of them put up for sale on ebay. culture editor katie razzall has had special access to the museum. ican i can see a lot of white dots, what does that mean?— i can see a lot of white dots, what does that mean? that is my way of workin: does that mean? that is my way of working out — does that mean? that is my way of working out what _ does that mean? that is my way of working out what has _ does that mean? that is my way of working out what has come - does that mean? that is my way of working out what has come from i does that mean? that is my way of. working out what has come from the british museum. it working out what has come from the british museum.—

british museum. if he is right, you are looking — british museum. if he is right, you are looking at _ british museum. if he is right, you are looking at ancient _ british museum. if he is right, you are looking at ancient gems - british museum. if he is right, you are looking at ancient gems that i are looking at ancient gems that were stolen from the british museum, treasures he bought in good faith over years. treasures he bought in good faith overyears. how treasures he bought in good faith over years. how manyjams here do you think along to the british museum? i you think along to the british museum?— you think along to the british museum? ~ ., ' :: , ., ., museum? i think about 150 year and rou~hl museum? i think about 150 year and roughly about _ museum? i think about 150 year and roughly about the _ museum? i think about 150 year and roughly about the same _ museum? i think about 150 year and roughly about the same amount - museum? i think about 150 year and roughly about the same amount in l museum? i think about 150 year and i roughly about the same amount in my drawer. ~ ., ., ., roughly about the same amount in my drawer. a, ., ., , ., , roughly about the same amount in my drawer. ., ., , ., , , ., drawer. more than two years before the rlobal drawer. more than two years before the global scandal _ drawer. more than two years before the global scandal about _ drawer. more than two years before the global scandal about the - drawer. more than two years before the global scandal about the theft l the global scandal about the theft was revealed, ittai had warned the museum and insider was selling its artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed. fist artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed. �* , ., , artefacts online. back then he was rebuffed. �* , , ,, rebuffed. at first i was in shock, paralysed. _ rebuffed. at first i was in shock, paralysed. i _ rebuffed. at first i was in shock, paralysed, i couldn't _ rebuffed. at first i was in shock, paralysed, i couldn't believe - rebuffed. at first i was in shock, paralysed, i couldn't believe it. | paralysed, i couldn't believe it. ittai has since handed over the gems he believes belonged to the museum. and we have followed his mission to find other missing artefacts. to paris. and a meeting with a collector ittai sold gems too. hello, lovely to meet you. the collector has asked us not to show his face. he never imagined these items could have belonged to the british museum.—

british museum. very, very sad sto , british museum. very, very sad story. but _ british museum. very, very sad story. but i _ british museum. very, very sad story. but i am _ british museum. very, very sad story, but i am glad _ british museum. very, very sad story, but i am glad they - british museum. very, very sad story, but i am glad they are i british museum. very, very sad i story, but i am glad they are going back to _ story, but i am glad they are going back to the — story, but i am glad they are going back to the museum. in story, but i am glad they are going back to the museum.— back to the museum. in 2023, a curator at _ back to the museum. in 2023, a curator at the _ back to the museum. in 2023, a curator at the british _ back to the museum. in 2023, a curator at the british museum, | curator at the british museum, doctor peter higgs, was sacked in connection with the theft. he denies any wrongdoing and the police are still investigating. we have had exclusive access to the british museum's a recovery programme. it still has not been able to prove in most cases that the objects belong to the museum because so many were never catalogued. it has now begun to register all its collection. there were things we could have done better as a museum and we have apologised. the museum today a couple of years on is much more open and transparent. the couple of years on is much more open and transparent.— and transparent. the british museum sa s it has and transparent. the british museum says it has recovered _ and transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost - and transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost half - and transparent. the british museum says it has recovered almost half of l says it has recovered almost half of the 1500 items it believes were stolen or missing. but it is likely many others, particularly priceless ancient, gold jewellery, many others, particularly priceless ancient, goldjewellery, it will never be found and hundreds of its artefacts have been damaged.

and you can see the full documentary, thief at the british museum, tonight at 7pm on bbc two or watch anytime on bbc iplayer. just a taste for you now of gloucestershire's famous annual cheese rolling competition. dozens of competitors ignored warnings about potential dangers. there were a number of injuries last year, but earlier today people willingly threw themselves down cooper's hill in a tradition that began two centuries ago. the prize for the winners? appropriately, a large wheel of double gloucester. i'm buzzing, i'm buzzing! it's like you start, and then the adrenaline takes over and then you just go, go, go! you just have to roll. you have to send it. and then you'll get it. it was an amazing... how do you feel? i mean, there's a little bit of pain. just a little bit of pain. you can

watch every single race on the iplayer. they are all there, i promise. time for a look at the weather, here's tomasz schafernaker. that is fascinating. the weather has been a bit cheeky today with sunshine and pesky showers and one or two rumbles of thunder. the showers are starting to ease with a bit of late sunshine out there. the heaviest have been in northern and eastern scotland. the skies should be clear for most of us but not in south—west england and wales and northern ireland. there is thick cloud and outbreaks of rain early on tuesday morning. but from norwich to newcastle and aberdeen the morning will be quite sunny. that low pressure is moving in tomorrow with a lot of cloud. it sweeps into western areas and all of us are in for thick cloud and a bit of rain. temperatures are about to the same to today, typically mid to high teens. tomorrow later in the

afternoon and towards the evening the chances are that the skies were bright and across many central and western areas. there will still be a few cheeky showers about. here is the forecast into wednesday. again, showers are expected almost anywhere, but the heaviest will develop in eastern scotland and into the borders, around the movers and yorkshire and lincolnshire. elsewhere they will be hit and miss and the best of the weather will be out towards the west. that is the trend for the week ahead. the weather will slowly improve as we go through the course of the week. i can't wait to show this, finally this weekend, if you have got any plans, the high pressure will establish itself and if you are checking your apps already, look at the outlook. cracking in edinburgh, saturday and sunday, full sunshine. beautiful in belfast. back to you. and that's bbc news at six, it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are, goodbye.

you're watching bbc news. i'm nicky schiller. we will have a full round—up of the bank holiday sport shortly. first, more on the general election, and we are into the first full week of campaigning. rishi sunak has been in buckinghamshire today. he wanted to talk about security — both national and personal. here's his speech, made in front of supporters, which came into us just a few minutes ago. let's ta ke let's take a look. friends, you know it's been a tough few years. it's been tough for everyone. you know that, i know that. or do we go back to square one, with no plan and no certainty? and we all know, don't we, that all labour offer is running out of money and putting up all of your taxes and everyone else's? and we've crunched the numbers and we know all their spending plans, when you top them up, but does it amount to? £2,000 worth of tax rises for every working family in our country. we can't let that happen, can we? crowd: no! no. and, look, the world is sadly a more dangerous and uncertain place

than it's been for decades. iran, russia, china, north korea, working together to threaten our values, our interests abroad and at home. and in these uncertain times, we need action, we need a clear plan to chart a course to a secure future, and that's what we conservatives offer. just take our borders. while others want to threaten the security, the integrity of our borders, we've got a bold plan with rwanda, to make it crystal clear that if you come to our country illegally, you won't be able to stay, you'll be returned. that's how you create a deterrent. and you know what? i travel around now — the penny is dropping across europe, multiple other european countries realising that our approach is the right one. but who's the one person that doesn't? it's keir starmer. opposes our plan. he'll let everyone that we've detained out, scrap the flights, offer an amnesty to illegal migrants and turn the united kingdom into a magnet for migrants across europe.

in every which way, the labour party will make our country less secure, and that's what we're going to stop. now, look, labourwant you to believe, want everyone to believe that this election is a foregone conclusion, that it's over before it's even started, but we know something, don't we? the british people don't like being taken for granted, do they? crowd: no! so we are going to fight very hard. and just look at the last couple of days. contrast what we're doing — bold action, a new plan, a modern version of national service, to give our young people the skills and the opportunities they need to succeed in life, to foster a sense of service, to make society more cohesive and to strengthen our country's resilience and our security. and in contrast, keir starmer has made yet another half—hour speech today, but was there one single new idea in that speech? no! they've had 1a years to think about what they want to do and they've got nothing to say

about the future of our country, and that's what we are going to show. we are going to show that we've got a plan for the future. he will say and do anything to get in power. know this — if he was prepared to abandon every single promise that he made to become labour leader as soon as he got the job, how do you know that he won't do exactly the same thing if he becomes prime minister? if he can't stand for anything himself, how can he stand up for all of you? and that's a choice. we've got a plan. we are prepared to take bold action. that's how we're going to deliver a future for everyone in our country. we are working for a britain where we can have a renewed sense of confidence in ourselves, in our communities, pride in our country, a britain where your hard work is always rewarded and the opportunities that were there for the previous generation are going to be there for the next, and a britain where our defence and your safety is assured. that is the secure future that i'm going to fight for every day of this election, and with your support, we are going to fight to win. thanks very much!

rishi sunak campaigning this evening in amersham, buckinghamshire. earlier, the labour leader sir keir starmer has focused on his own upbringing — as well as national security — in his first major speech ahead of polling day on the fourth ofjuly. he was in west sussex, where he promised that his party will deliver stability if it wins power. he says labour would carry out a ioo—day national security review, looking at all the threats facing britain, and he said voters faced a choice about the future of the country. i have changed the labour party, dragged it back to service, and i will do exactly the same for westminster. that is the choice of this election — service or self—interest, stability or chaos, a labour party that has changed or a tory party that has run away from the mainstream. the choice is yours. you can stop the chaos, you can turn the page, you canjoin us, and together

we can rebuild our country. thank you so much. thank you. the liberal democrats have launched their campaign in scotland. the party leader, sir ed davey, said they wouldn't form a coalition with the conservatives but didn't rule out a deal with labour. sir ed also says his party can become the third biggest in the commons after the general election, overtaking the snp. here's a little of what he said on a campaign visit to fife. in many parts of the country, we can do that... we have the amazing susan marie who, already, people think she is the mp, she is so active. if you go to the highlands and islands, if you go to inverness, you see avis mcdonald, knocking on doors, in places like fort william, people are

really turning to the liberal democrats and to candidates like angus macdonald. if you go to argyll and butte and see my former parliamentary collie now standing again, alan read, you see a little democrat early on the march. i'm really confident we are going to make gains across scotland in these elections. the leader of the scottish national party has been out campaigning in dumfries. john swinney says his party can remove the conservatives from "every single one of the tory—held seats in scotland". i've got to make sure that i lift the poor fortunes of the snp. we've had a tough time as a party. i've been completely open and candid about it. that's why i'm now the first minister and leader of the snp, because the snp's had a tough time. but i've got the party focused on what our core message is, and that message for this election is that we've had austerity, brexit and the cost of living crisis inflicted upon scotland. they're all the product of westminster and the tory government. we've got a chance in scotland to remove every tory mp who's inflicted such damage on scotland, by voting for the snp, because we are the principal

challengers to every one of those tory mps and we've got a big chance to make sure that scotland's interests are protected at westminster by electing snp mps who, apart from anything else, are there for scotland. john swinney. let's speak to sonia sodha, a columist for the observer. macklin, thank you forjoining us. we are in for a long haul, aren't we, but can i get you to start by just give me an outline of how you think the campaigns have started? i think the campaigns have started? i think if you look at the conservatives, their campaign has really got a shambolic start. we had rishi sunak make a series of key errors last week and then on saturday, we saw the conservative launch an idea for national military service, national community service, the young people who don't want to do military service, really...

audio loss huge questions about if it is compulsory, how it would be enforced. a really strict he started to campaign for the conservatives will subject today we see a conservative mp, lucy allan, she was the conservative mp for telford, she has not had the whip suspended because she said she wants the reform candidate to win in that seat. it has not been auspicious start for the conservatives. i think for labour, it's been more positive, as you might expect for a party 20 points ahead in the polls at the moment. we saw keir starmer give his first speech on the campaign trail today, and i think labour can be please without the first days have gone. please without the first days have one. ., ., ., ,., ., ., gone. you mentioned labour ahead in the olls, gone. you mentioned labour ahead in the polls. but — gone. you mentioned labour ahead in the polls, but does _ gone. you mentioned labour ahead in the polls, but does that _ gone. you mentioned labour ahead in the polls, but does that translate - the polls, but does that translate into an enthusiasm for keir starmer himself or is it more, wejust into an enthusiasm for keir starmer himself or is it more, we just don't want to vote for the conservatives, which is why we would vote for

labour? i which is why we would vote for labour? ., ,. , ., ., labour? i would describe the mood in the country as — labour? i would describe the mood in the country as an _ labour? i would describe the mood in the country as an overwhelmingly... i the country as an overwhelmingly... a very strong message voters send the local elections, anti—conservative. if you look at the ratings, keir starmer is way ahead of sunak in terms of his personal ratings, but both of them have negative ratings. that is not that unusual, but it does not compare that favourably, say, to tony blair, who had positive ratings into the 1997 general election. so i think there is definitely a sense voters are turned off to politics at the moment, it there is a decline in interest in politics, so it is more of an anti—conservative mood and labour will be seeking to get key messages across. people start to pay more attention to politics when there is a general election campaign on, so and we are only a few days into it so far, five and half weeks to go, so that is something labour is going to begin difference to. find

is going to begin difference to. and in particular— is going to begin difference to. and in particular keir