joining the m were“; 1mm gvemll, the sense m gverall, the sense in labour party. overall, the sense in the tone and _ labour party. overall, the sense in the tone and open _ labour party. overall, the sense in the tone and open the _ labour party. overall, the sense in the tone and open the optimism i labour party. overall, the sense in the tone and open the optimism is| labour party. overall, the sense in i the tone and open the optimism is no longer with the conservative party. questions over diane abbott, the deputy leader says she should be allowed to stand at the election. in other news, nine—year—old girl is in critical condition and three adults seriously injured following a shooting in east london. please confirm two bodies have been found in the search for missing father and sun in glencoe. —— son. the man who was until last at the conservative mp for bolton northeast in greater manchester has joined the labour party. mark logan is not standing at the general election and

standing at the general election and standing as the next prime minister. in the conservative party was unrecognizable than the party he joined a decade ago. amid continuing confusion in the fate of of one of labor is longest—serving mps, diane abbott. she said she is being banned standing and keir starmer said no decision has been taken. but angela rayner says she sees no reason why she should not be allowed to stand again after chris mason has this report. today, he says he is voting labor and isjoining the party too. yellow back when i looked back to 1997 when labor came to the fore and they said things can only get better. i they said things can only get better. ~ . , ,., ., .,

better. i think at this point again in british politics _ better. i think at this point again in british politics and _ better. i think at this point again in british politics and history. . better. i think at this point again | in british politics and history. and thatis in british politics and history. and that is why i decided that i'm going for labor at this next election on the 4th for labor at this next election on the lith ofjuly six. for labor at this next election on the 4th ofjuly six.— the 4th ofjuly six. you're recording _ the 4th ofjuly six. you're recording labor's - the 4th ofjuly six. you're recording labor's and - the 4th ofjuly six. you're recording labor's and the | the 4th ofjuly six. you're - recording labor's and the majority conservative mp 2a hours ago, that is quite a switch. mat conservative mp 24 hours ago, that is quite a switch.— is quite a switch. not 'ust the last 24 hours, is quite a switch. not 'ust the last 24 hours. been _ is quite a switch. notjust the last 24 hours, been thinking - is quite a switch. notjust the last 24 hours, been thinking about - is quite a switch. notjust the last| 24 hours, been thinking about this in a period of time and labour party has also been through a journey in the last few years. pare has also been through a 'ourney in the last few years._ the last few years. are you saying the last few years. are you saying the conservative _ the last few years. are you saying the conservative party _ the last few years. are you saying the conservative party right - the last few years. are you saying the conservative party right now. the last few years. are you saying | the conservative party right now is unfit to govern? i the conservative party right now is unfit to govern?— unfit to govern? i feel that the -a unfit to govern? i feel that the party that _ unfit to govern? i feel that the party that i _ unfit to govern? i feel that the party that i joined _ unfit to govern? i feel that the party that i joined a _ unfit to govern? i feel that the party that i joined a decade - unfit to govern? i feel that the | party that ijoined a decade ago unfit to govern? i feel that the i party that ijoined a decade ago is unrecognizable from the conservative party of today. that is not to say that my colleagues in the conservative party previously have been doing a lot of hard work or have not been doing good things they don't want to be critical in that sense but overall, the sense and the tone in the hope in the optimism is with the labor and it's no longer

with the labor and it's no longer with the labor and it's no longer with the conservative party. 1stilted with the conservative party. what about those _ with the conservative party. what about those is _ with the conservative party. what about those is that _ with the conservative party. what about those is that you _ with the conservative party. what about those is that you should across the floor as some of your other conservative police literally crossed the floor whilst you're still mp? crossed the floor whilst you're still mp7 i crossed the floor whilst you're still mp? ., ., ,., , ., still mp? i thought about it before but the thing _ still mp? i thought about it before but the thing was, _ still mp? i thought about it before but the thing was, i _ still mp? i thought about it before but the thing was, i felt _ still mp? i thought about it before but the thing was, i felt more i but the thing was, i felt more comfortable with my ending as an mp at midnight last night and just 12, 24 hours ago at a 5000 thing to do and i think is a conservative mp stop what you're going to join the labour party? absolutely. labor showing another formal conservative mp well in the noisy row with diane. asking if she can even be a candidate for them.- asking if she can even be a candidate for them. they 'ust want to excluded — candidate for them. they 'ust want to excluded from i candidate for them. they just want to excluded from parliament. i candidate for them. they just want | to excluded from parliament. diane abbott was suspended _ to excluded from parliament. diane abbott was suspended from - to excluded from parliament. d —.i;e: abbott was suspended from the to excluded from parliament. d —."i;e: abbott was suspended from the labour party after seeing jewish irish and

traveler people do not face racism all their lives. she apologized and was readmitted to the parliamentary party near the end of the day the deputy leader telling sky news that diane abbott should be able to stand again for the party. ii diane abbott should be able to stand again forthe party-— again for the party. if she wants to sta , she again for the party. if she wants to stay, she should _ again for the party. if she wants to stay, she should be _ again for the party. if she wants to stay, she should be able _ again for the party. if she wants to stay, she should be able to - again for the party. if she wants to stay, she should be able to stay. l stay, she should be able to stay. the first — stay, she should be able to stay. the first black _ stay, she should be able to stay. the first black female _ stay, she should be able to stay. the first black female mp - stay, she should be able to stay. the first black female mp in i the first black female mp in parliament_ the first black female mp in parliament and _ the first black female mp in parliament and she - the first black female mp in parliament and she has i the first black female mp in i parliament and she has shown the first black female mp in - parliament and she has shown people like me _ parliament and she has shown people like me that _ parliament and she has shown people like me that you — parliament and she has shown people like me that you can _ parliament and she has shown people like me that you can be _ parliament and she has shown people like me that you can be yourself. i like me that you can be yourself. keir stanner— like me that you can be yourself. keir starmer is— like me that you can be yourself. keir starmer is sounding - like me that you can be yourself. keir starmer is sounding rather. like me that you can be yourself. i keir starmer is sounding rather more circumspect. the keir starmer is sounding rather more circumsoeet-— circumspect. the situation with diane abbott — circumspect. the situation with diane abbott is _ circumspect. the situation with diane abbott is no _ circumspect. the situation with diane abbott is no decision i circumspect. the situation with diane abbott is no decision is l circumspect. the situation with i diane abbott is no decision is being taken and we have to remember that she was a trailblazer as an mp. in this labor activist proudly on the left of the party has been banned too. i left of the party has been banned too. ., ,., left of the party has been banned too. ., , ~ ., left of the party has been banned too. ., , .,, left of the party has been banned too. ., , ~ ., , ., too. i am so shocked to be treated this badly after _ too. i am so shocked to be treated this badly after being _ too. i am so shocked to be treated this badly after being such - too. i am so shocked to be treated this badly after being such an i this badly after being such an active — this badly after being such an active member of the parties. do to

run in a crucial _ active member of the parties. do to run in a crucial london _ active member of the parties. do to run in a crucial london seed, i active member of the parties. do to run in a crucial london seed, she i run in a crucial london seed, she has apologized for liking the social media post that allegedly downplayed anti—semitism. who keir starmer is willing to welcome to his party and reappears rather less enthusiastic about is generating no end of noise. let us give more analysis from our political analyst. let us give more analysis from our politicalanalyst. is let us give more analysis from our political analyst. is there much reaction that is going to join the labour party? reaction that is going to 'oin the labour fermi reaction that is going to 'oin the labour pa ? , ., , ., labour party? yes, the conservative pa of, labour party? yes, the conservative party of. fighting — labour party? yes, the conservative party of, fighting this _ labour party? yes, the conservative party of, fighting this evening i party of, fighting this evening after we heard that information about logan defecting. the local conservative association wanted and deselected for inactivity in his failure to be present for extended periods of time. and, asking number

ten for a peerage. a fight will continue for the rest of this evening and possibly under further days as well remember, this is not the first affection than the conservative party to the labour party that we have seen in recent weeks, we saw natalie, conservative mps defecting to labor as well and lots of talk on the town of natalie being on the right of the party and thatis being on the right of the party and that is probably not necessarily the case of mark logan and in recent weeks, he has been vocal about his want for a cease—fire in gaza it is also spoken about him watching the uk recognize palestine as its own state. and carrying on raising that particular issue with labour party without their own issues with gaza as well and as this route goes on with the labor left this evening, this all goes back to the ongoing

confusing situation of whether or not diane abbott, the long—standing labor mp will be allowed to stand again for labor labor mp will be allowed to stand againfor labor in labor mp will be allowed to stand again for labor in the selection and the labour party not known for having particularly straightforward rules and the national executive committee, they meet next week to formally approve all of labors candidates in the story seems to have changed somewhat throughout the day we've heard from one senior member of labor possible shadow cabinet saying it is not for him to express a personal view and for the national executive to come to the decision by next week and then later in the day as you just saw in the report there, labor's deputy leader did express personal views and satisfied she is concerned, she doesn't see why diane abbott cannot stand for labor. that is going to go on as well and diane abbott yourself said after what you saw in the piece

there, anotherfigure on said after what you saw in the piece there, another figure on the left was told she would not be able to stand and diane abbott saw it as a call of people on the left of the labour party they do not believe this going away. —— cull. this is what they wanted to be talking about, not necessarily the case for the better part of the day we began the better part of the day we began the day of the chancellorjeremy hunt writing in the daily telegraph newspaper pledging that the conservative party would not raise vat, but that is something that the labor and liberal democrats and the snop of said and both labor and the conservatives —— snp, the vat will not rise over the course of the next parliament but there is a slight

caveat and income tax frozen into 2028 and is understandable to conservatives and labor backed that approach and therefore peoples wages rise, they can still find themselves creeping into those higher tax brackets. we have seen in the parties is another indication certainly would labor in the conservatives seeing the real battle in the selection in the battle will see is who is the most credible victims of the economy and when it comes to peoples pockets. the liberal democrats want to put mental health professionals in all of england's state schools — saying there are almost 340 thousand children on mental health waiting lists. they say they would pay for it by trebling the taxes on social media giants and other companies. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth has been on the campaig trail with sir ed davey. another day, another stunt, as the liberal democrats try to slide into public view. laughter.

these eye—catching moments are meant to grab attention, so they say they can talk about their policies. fantastic. great fun. today, as the big yellow bus headed through somerset, it was a promise to tax social media firms to fund mental health professionals in england's schools. the conservatives say they've already increased training places for mental health nurses, while labour's pledged support in every school. for the lib dems, health services are high on the agenda, as is sewage. it's appalling, and it's time for a change. cheering. the liberal democrats have got a really clear strategy in this campaign. they are standing right across the country, but they're really focusing their efforts on key seats and a lot of those are here in the south west of england. hi. so are promises to keep working taxes down and improve public services realistic? are you being honest with the public about the choices that are coming down the line? we are saying we're going to have to find money from somewhere. we're pointing out where — whether it's on the oil and gas

giants, on the social media giants. and we will make sure our sums add up. we're in week one of this campaign. you've already fallen off a paddleboard, ridden a bike down a hill with your legs up in the air and slipped down a giant waterslide. is there a danger that people will see you as a bit of a joke? no, you see, i believe politicians need to take the voters' concerns seriously. but i don't think politicians have to take themselves quite so seriously. the level of attention we've had on our policies, because we've attracted people to come and see the bit of fun we've been having, has actually meant that our ideas are being taken more seriously. so expect to see a lot more of this before this campaign is over and out. alex forsyth, bbc news, somerset. the green party of england and wales has told voters it offers "real hope" and "real change" and accused labour of offering what it called "timid half—measures" as they launched their election campaign in bristol 0ur political correspondent harry farley reports.

colourful, young and generally left wing. bristol is one of the areas that could vote in a green mp onjuly the 4th. to have the greens convince people here that only they offer what they call real change. definitely. i'm going to vote for the greens. i'm an outdoory person. i like our green space. i'm not going to lie — and i don't know anything about the green party. cheering. like all parties, getting their message out is key to the greens' success or otherwise at this election. we have the practical solutions to the cost—of—living crisis, building new affordable homes, protecting our nhs from creeping privatisation and cleaning up our toxic rivers and seas. for a long time, the greens were political minnows. but there is a real sense of buzz and excitement here for what the greens unashamedly say is their most ambitious election launch ever.

but the board of deputies of britishjews said today it is increasingly concerned over alleged anti—semitism from some green candidates. i don't know the details of that case. there have been press reportings of it, so you are aware of it. we will make sure our internal process investigates all accusations and clearly, if they are serious ones, action will need to be taken. cheering. the party is proud of its record of long calling for a ceasefire in gaza. and whether on foreign or domestic policy, the greens argue they offer a challenge to labour from the left. harry farley, bbc news, in bristol. plaid cymru have launched their general election campaign in bangor, north wales today. their leader, rhun ap iorwerth, said his party had a strong track record of punching above their weight in westminster, and a vote for plaid would keep labour in check, and keep the tories out of power. 0ur wales correspondent tomos morgan was at the event applause. launching their campaign

to the delight of supporters in north wales, plaid cymru's leader rhun ap iorweth took aim at the opposition. it is time to kick the tories out of power. his message to voters was that plaid was the only party that would put wales first. yet, mr ap iorweth also admitted this could be a challenging election for them. in this general election, 40 welsh seats have been reduced to 32 due to boundary changes. and having won four in 2019, plaid will do very well to win the same number this time around. so swimming against the current, they've been somewhat conservative with their targeting of seats this year. your target seats are still only in welsh—speaking heartlands. it doesn't seem like the party is moving on and targeting other seats in wales. when will you try and make that push, and will you ever be able to cross into those areas that you haven't

ever been successful? i have visited, i think, half of all the welsh constituencies already in the first week of the campaign, including newport, including wrexham. and remember that plaid cymru represents every square inch of wales in the welsh parliament. that is no part of wales where i don't think plaid cymru's message can resonate. yes, of course, the first—past—the—post system and the polarising of an election in the uk media in particular around it being a choice somehow between blue and red, which it isn't, makes things challenging for us. two weeks today we'll hear plaid's manifesto pledges, which will then give the party another three weeks not only to convince supporters but also the welsh public that they can make a difference for wales. tomos morgan, bbc news, bangor. reform uk leader richard tice has proposed a multi—billion pound tax on businesses for employing overseas workers. he and nigel farage spoke in london earlier today, where they outlined the policy to tax employers who hire immigrant workers over british applicants. here he is making the announcement.