the tory party-— didn't start it off with a bang for - the tory party._ labour the tory party.nd labour? labour is meetin: the tory party. and labour? labour is meeting today — the tory party. and labour? labour is meeting today to _ the tory party. and labour? labour is meeting today to try _ the tory party. and labour? labour is meeting today to try to _ the tory party. and labour? labour is meeting today to try to tell - is meeting today to try to tell people who they are, which is significant in itself. keir starmer has been leader of the labour party for more than four years and nobody seems to know what he stands for. there are good reasons for this. he has somersaulted and you turned on just about every position that he took during his period injeremy corbyn�*s shadow cabinet, and everything from climate change through to university tuition fees, reform of the house of lords, you name it, he has reversed it. so the big problem for labour if there were to be a realfight big problem for labour if there were to be a real fight going big problem for labour if there were to b

a tory party, a tory?he same thing a tory party, not a not the old school tory party but the radical new form of conservatism that embraces people from all classes yields the promises of brexit and, and, and actually gives the people of this country half a chance and is unashamed about about putting the british people before international agreements. >> yes. >> yes. >> and is proud of our history of course, all of those things. >> and i think we're miles away from that at this moment in time, you say, i think the majority of conservative members are there, the majority of conservative voters. >> oh, i agree, and we just need i agree coalition together, you know. and it has i came to your conference, i came to your conference. you were mobbed. >> you know, i was mobbed by my conservative activists, donors, members. but most of your most of your colleagues walked past me and turn their heads to the side. >> well, i certainly didn't. we're almost there. we are getting we are getting a huge progress being made

the tory party is going down. come the general— tory party is going down. modest gains so far — remaining in control of four local authorities they were defending. the party's deputy leader, daisy cooper, told bbc breakfast that many people have been voting tactically. we have seen that in the four stunning by—election wins we have had in this parliament as well, where again a number of labour voters decided to vote for our liberal democrat candidates, and so our message really is if you want to get rid of this conservative in 80 seats, voting for the liberal democrats is the best way of getting rid of the conservative mp. the co—leader of the green party, carla denyer, is standing in the next general election. she says tonight's local election results are good for her chances. it is even more so with the boundary changes, we think the changes roughly half the labour majority on their own, not accounting for the fact that voters peoples opinions, leadership of the labour party has changed, a number of factors locally and nationally, and simply my experience

and the tory party is just saying no , tory party is just saying no, never mind that.ns and people aren't bothered. they're not buying it anymore. >> okay? james matthewson , i a >> okay? james matthewson, i a lot of people who get into gb news would say that maybe the problem is the tory party and the labour party are basically the labour party are basically the same. they're both high tax, both open borders, both obsessed with net zero. anyway, what do they know? james matthewson, thanks for joining us. they know? james matthewson, thanks forjoining us. always a thanks for joining us. always a delight to have you on. now i'll have lots more on that story, of course, at 5:00 and there's plenty of coverage on our website gbnews.com. and you've helped to make it the fastest growing national news website on the country. so thank you very much . now, don't miss out on much. now, don't miss out on your chance to win a £10,000 greek cruise, a luxury travel bundle and a whopping £10,000 in tax free cash . it's our biggest tax free cash. it's our biggest prize of the year so

i am not sure that even if the results are as bad as the tory party thinks they will be that enough toryrime minister this close to a general election. the mood might change over the weekend and into next week and we will be watching very carefully, phoning and speaking to tory mps off and on the record about what they think. ithink it and on the record about what they think. i think it would take quite a lot for enough tory mps to think the electoral salvation might lie in the upheaval of another leadership contest to try to save their party prospect position. i think they feel it could look completely absurd after borisjohnson, liz it could look completely absurd after boris johnson, liz truss, having rishi after borisjohnson, liz truss, having rishi sunak, after boris johnson, liz truss, having rishi sunak, trying to roll the dice again to find another leader who may save them from potential electoral catastrophe at the general election. i think it could look ridiculous to a lot of voters and i think that is the prevailing mood among most tory mps. prevailing mood among most tory mp5.

i'm asking, is this the end of the tory party as we know it? cal elections across the country, losing hundreds of seats to the opposition party. so for the great british debate this hour, i'm asking , is this the end of i'm asking, is this the end of the tory party as we know it? then at 450, it's royal roundup time. royal biographer angela levin will be here to give us the latest. from behind the palace walls on the menu . palace walls on the menu. princess charlotte's birthday this week. prince harry returning to the uk next week. but will he see his father and the king returns to public duties? then, at five, it's this week's difficult conversation. i'll be joined by married at first sight star rosalind darlington. what is it like to marry a complete and utter stranger? well i suppose that usually happens in most cases. anyway, we learn who they are later . well, that's coming up in later. well, that's coming up in the next hour. tell me what you think on everything we're discussing. get in touch. gbnews.com/yoursay . right. let's gbnews.com/

the tory party needed?olitical commentator , stadler, political commentator, david campbell bannerman, chairman for the conservative democratic organisation, and former mep nigel nelson, gb news senior political commentator and emma woolf writer, columnist and commentator. emma woolf writer, columnist and commentator . okay, so emma woolf writer, columnist and commentator. okay, so i'm going to start with you, matthew stadlen . stadlen. >> well, suella braverman sounds as desperate as she does because she stands potentially to lose her own seat at the general election . election. >> i'm not sure why we're particularly bothering with what she has to say. she's a failed home secretary. she had to resign twice as home secretary. not once. but twice. she wants the tories to lurch to the right. and yet we've just come back off these mayoral elections and these local elections and reform uk have been utterly humiliated . so i think that way humiliated. so i think that way lies even greater electoral disaster for

the tory party should be looking at in terms of social cohesion, breaking down barriers, etc. to the tory party is they announced this bold eye-catching policyin a bid to take control of the conversation, to get people's attention. but if you are going to announce something as bold and eye-catching, if it is not also completely watertight, if you have not fully thought it through, that will become exposed. what we've seen in the past 48 hours, questions about how this policy will work. for example, questions are, if you are a parent and your 18-year-old child doesn't partake in this service, will you be punished? if so, what do those punishments look like? will it be financial? does that mean wealthier parents will essentially be able to buy their kids out of the program? also questions about how this will work in northern ireland. northern ireland has a particular context, particular ideas of identity, which would make this policy rolled not challenging there. the issue for the prime minister and the tory party, it is not so much of the gist of the idea, the direction they ar

and we'll get an exclusive look inside tory party hq.u what happened when this skier hit the slopes, dreamed about this his whole life welcome back to the saturday night showdown. he literature festival has cut ties with a sponsor due to links with israel. but first, i promised i would show you what happened when a skier took to the slopes. >> dreamed about this his whole life. oh, oh , that is not good. life. oh, oh, that is not good. >> that was an unlucky. unlucky? i mean, i shouldn't be laughing. the guy's probably , you know, the guy's probably, you know, broken a toe, but he's fine. he's fine. >> are you all right? do we? >> are you all right? do we? >> when we grew up, when you've been framed, we. >> well, this section, i always say should be sponsored by personal injury lawyers. because every single week you show people you think we get any sponsors on this show? >> oh, you sweet summer child. there it is again. >> oh, that's some bad timing. actually, when i was, i was skiing in yugoslavia when i was 14. yeah, as you did. it was

, that's just coming into us. by the tory party, that's 'ust coming into usfi by the tory party, that'slucy allan _ coming into us. that's right, yes, so lucy allan is — coming into us. that's right, yes, so lucy allan is a _ coming into us. that's right, yes, so lucy allan is a long-standing l so lucy allan is a long—standing conservative mp in telford. she announced a little while ago she would not be standing in the selection and then we got the news in the last hour so she is actually endorsing the reform candidate there. lucy allan is a muddy scene is on the right of the conservative party, so if she wants to go to another party, it is not a huge price it would be reform uk, she is somebody talks about lowering immigration, lowering taxes, so the message the reform pretty and richard tice are trying to put out there which i'm with those think she is interested in, and to be honest, not a huge price the consummate party has suspended her from the party. to endorse a rival candidate, thatis party. to endorse a rival candidate, that is essentially the rule book says. that is essential

many, many times in some places, is no longer the tory party that they see, and i say to every tory feels that they want to be part of a national mission to change our country for the better that the project we've built here in this changed labour party is a project that i hope they would feel that they could get behind. you can hear why sir keir starmer is so keen to welcome the deflection because he can make an argument to the country about the way the conservative party has changed and he can save even natalie elphicke cannot be in the conservative party any more, you shouldn't vote for it. there is a bit of unease among labour mps, some of whom are whether she frankly was too right—wing for them to have legitimately accepted. evidently sir keir starmer disagrees with amongst conservative mps, it is fair to say the initial bafflement has curdled into cold fury will stop a little earlier i spoke to hugh merriman, the transport minister. we have to be is completely consistent to our principles that got us elected, and rememberwhy we are here — and when people just make career opport

and one of the challenges the tory party has had is nobody scrutinising the labour party.hey can say, as they like keir starmer talking about chaos, keir starmer talking about austerity, the labour party calls austerity. he's talking about the only reason to serve is because you want to serve the public. they voted to bail out the bankers, same as everybody else. so let's now have a real look at where people actually stand. and i think the prime minister is right to say, let's have this election. let's really look at people's records. >> i'm sure i heard a snicker from you as well. whilst christopher was explaining the goings on. >> i think there are two points for me that were really striking from from what we just heard is that actually on two of rishi's economic tests , on his, economic tests, on his, particularly on his pledges to the country, i know there's real concerns in government that there is no way that the small boats numbers are going to come down. in fact, they're going to go down. in fact, they're going to 9° up down. in fact, they're going to go up over th

tories are in a dl et al. hole. some of the councils that stand out, hartlepool. —— are in a very deep electoral hole. there are good wins for the labour partyse big male contests, two in particular, the conservative mayor in the tees valley and the tory mayor in the west midlands are hoping desperately for one or both of them to be real elected. if that happens, that could shift the narrative quite a lot. let's treat the elections in their own right for a second. broadly underline the significance of local elections, democratic exercises, but day—to—day impact on people's lives. councils are responsible for large budgets and deliver the services people most experienced day—to—day. in their communities, and that is why the make—up of a council really matters to people. we should not forget that. that is why millions of people voted yesterday, it's about local services. inevitably, this is seen as a snapshot of the national mood. the electoral suffer logistical later will come up with a projected national share and an indication of what may happen in terms of the parties' national support, when the results are extrapolated across the country.

party. yet you welcome tories . what do you you welcome tories. obably guess who they are. some of them who would make that argument to you. >> we want to be a party that can bring this country back together after the tories have divided it. every single tory mp and every single tory voter that comes over to the labour party is more than welcome, because they are backing a changed labour party, unrecognisable from the labour party that lost the last general election , the last general election, offering the country its future back after these years of failure under under the conservatives, i mean, natalie elphicke is only doing what a lot of conservative voters have done. if north yorkshire, we won the mayoralty there. that used to be rock solid tory heartlands. all the, the home of the british army, rushmoor council voted a labour council for the first time last week. so tories are coming across to labourin tories are coming across to labour in their droves because they've given up on their party's failure and they're investing their hope in keir

has changed. — voters in saying the tory party has changed. it — voters in saying the tory party has has left the centre ground~ — changed, it has left the centre ground. but equally the labour party has changed and we are very clearly the party— has changed and we are very clearly the party of— has changed and we are very clearly the party of the national interest, of the _ the party of the national interest, of the country first, party second. realty _ of the country first, party second. really good day. it of the country first, party second. really good day-— of the country first, party second. really good day. it has been a great da . cue really good day. it has been a great day- cue the — really good day. it has been a great day. cue the mildly _ really good day. it has been a great day. cue the mildly awkward - really good day. it has been a great day. cue the mildly awkward first i day. cue the mildly awkward first date for the _ day. cue the mildly awkward first date for the cameras _ day. cue the mildly awkward first date for the cameras in _ day. cue the mildly awkward firs

minister's proposals , got minister's proposals, got desperate policies being made up on the hoof by the tory partynd then the image of their party arguing about the policy they only announced in the last couple of days, and that in a way , is the choice at the way, is the choice at the election a labour party that is laser focused on the issues that really matter to people. >> in saying we're going to fight for you and a conservative party that's out of road, out of ideas. driven by chaos and division . and that has a cost, division. and that has a cost, a human cost . human cost. >> a tory mp has been suspended by the conservative party for backing reforms. uk candidate in the telford seat she is vacating, lucy allan, who is standing down at the general election, said on social media she'd be supporting allan adams to be the town's next mp. a spokesman for the conservative party said miss allan had been suspended from the party with immediate effect . for the latest immediate effect. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. slash

well, i think there are credible but relatively unknown people vying will be vying to lead the tory partyan unknown unknown. there aren't. >> michael, michael, briefly, what do you think? michael saves the tories if they lose the election? >> well, look, jonah knows more about politics than i do. >> is that his secret? >> is that his secret? >> no, no, but hang on, how can he suddenly take off the cloak of reform and become a tory again without insisting that he takes reform policies? he'll be an antidote to the tory party. >> okay, what it would happen. >> okay, what it would happen. >> i think he's still. he's told us what he wants to do. he wants to go off and have a big role in america. >> i'll tell you what, make donald trump president time . donald trump president time. >> we'll come back to this because it's a fascinating debate. but next up, how much will the smaller parties like the lib dems reform who we've mentioned and the greens as well as the independents, influence the outcome of the election and our tv debates. good for democracy. we'll debate that next. well, so far, ther

well, i think there are credible but relatively unknown people vying will be vying to lead the tory partyan unknown unknown. there aren't. >> michael, michael, briefly, what do you think? michael saves the tories if they lose the election? >> well, look, jonah knows more about politics than i do. >> is that his secret? >> is that his secret? >> no, no, but hang on, how can he suddenly take off the cloak of reform and become a tory again without insisting that he takes reform policies? he'll be an antidote to the tory party. >> okay, what it would happen. >> okay, what it would happen. >> i think he's still. he's told us what he wants to do. he wants to go off and have a big role in america. >> i'll tell you what, make donald trump president time . donald trump president time. >> we'll come back to this because it's a fascinating debate. but next up, how much will the smaller parties like the lib dems reform who we've mentioned and the greens as well as the independents, influence the outcome of the election and our tv debates. good for democracy. we'll debate that next. well, so far, ther

so the issue for the prime minister and the tory party — it's not so much the gist of the policy, the the specifics, the details of the policy, and that's where the prime minister has come under pressure on this bank holiday monday. imilli minister has come under pressure on this bank holiday monday.— this bank holiday monday. will come back to how — this bank holiday monday. will come back to how policy _ this bank holiday monday. will come back to how policy is _ this bank holiday monday. will come back to how policy is decided - this bank holiday monday. will come back to how policy is decided within l back to how policy is decided within the conservative party. just a quick word on the smaller parties, particularly of that liberal democrats — ed davey today making his claim that his party can become a third big power in westminster ahead of the si a third big power in westminster ahead of the s i was looking at the figures, and when you look at what they did in 2019, they were sex and they did in 2019, they were sex and the microsecond and 91 constituencies in around the country,

a travel lodge amnesty, handed out by the tory party, and thatis handed out by the tory party, and thatvas near a beachin spending winter under canvas near a beach in northern france. and if you don't think that is what the gangs are telling the people they exploit, you've never met one of these gangs. so, no, we have to restore integrity and rules to our asylum system. we have to clear the backlog so that we can return people swiftly. that is the path, the only path to real deterrence. that is why we will hire hundreds of new caseworkers for the home office, and we will do it straightaway. we will create a new fast—track returns on enforcement unit that will make sure the courts can process claims quickly, and we will save taxpayers billions. the e8 will save taxpayers billions. the £8 million we spend every day on hotels, the £8 million a day message that tory chaos has a cost. labour will stop the chaos, they will bust the backlogs, we will rebuild our broken asylum system. applause now, these plans will be fiercely resisted. 0f now, these plans will be fiercely resisted. of course t

tories for that? >> well, it's a novel idea. if the conservative partying to go into an election trying to claim , after 14 years in power, claim, after 14 years in power, that the state of the economy is nothing to do with them, i think we can. >> clearly that's not what i said. nick thomas—symonds i said that interest rates, which are set by the independent bank of england, the bank of england that has not been under political control since tony blair came in in 1997, day one of new labour took that out of political control. now we can talk about economic growth, separate issue control of the government, interest rates, control of the bank of england. but but you are you're entirely right to say that there is an independent central bank and you're entirely right to say that that was introduced as a measure for economic stability in the early days of 1997. >> but of course, when the bank of england's monetary policy committee set interest rates, they have to take into account they have to take into account the overall economic picture of the overall eco

the tory party criticising him. the tory party is riven from top to bottom.o bottom. the public recognises that and that's why . and it's part of the that's why. and it's part of the reason that we're going to get lauren. >> i'm going to ask you to sell the conservative party now, if you don't mind , to our to our to you don't mind, to our to our to our viewers, to our listeners, because , you know, it's looking because, you know, it's looking like a tricky job at the moment. >> i actually think that you're not entirely wrong. i think labour are going to come into power if they do come into power and revert to type and say that they're going to start taxing, that they're going to introduce a wealth tax, i think they're going to have enormous pressure on trying to change how taxation is, is weighted within the united kingdom between generations, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but i think that labour are going to , think that labour are going to, revert to what they always do, which is to end up with a higher tax burden. and the one we've got at the momen

the tory party have run out of steam, and i— it is clear that the tory party have run out of steam,ually, — to somebody yesterday who said to me. actually, it— to somebody yesterday who said to me, actually, if they _ to somebody yesterday who said to me, actually, if they really - to somebody yesterday who said to me, actually, if they really care i me, actually, if they really care for our— me, actually, if they really care for our country, _ me, actually, if they really care for our country, they— me, actually, if they really care for our country, they need i me, actually, if they really care for our country, they need to l for our country, they need to recognise _ for our country, they need to recognise that _ for our country, they need to recognise that themselves, i for our country, they need to . recognise that themselves, call for our country, they need to - recognise that themselves, call a recognise that themselves, calla election— recognise that themselves, call a election and _ recognise that themselves, call a election and let _ recognise that themselves, call a electio

but you've got people on the left of the tory party saying, "the leader has to change how he is, what". you've got people on the right of the party saying the leader has to change, but he's still stuck too. he's stuck in the middle of that tory coalition, that borisjohnson coalition that was so broad and it ain't really working for him. the plan is not working and i- despair at these terrible results. there's no spinning these results. there's no disguising the fact that these have been - terrible election results for the conservatives . and they suggest that we are heading to a labour government and that - fills me with horror. i love my country, i care _ about my party and i want us to win. and i'm urging the prime minister. to change course to, with humility, reflect on what the voters - are telling us and and change the plan and the way that he'sl communicating and leading us. if it's that dire, why not change the leader? listen, ijust don't think that's a feasible prospect right now. | we don't have enough time, i and it's impossible for anyone new to come and change our fortunes

— to all the issues and scandals the tory party have faced over the last five years — tory party havee economy, we know elections - five years. and kathleen, on thei economy, we know elections are normally one unless and how inflation is coming down, interest rate at some point this year might start to fall, but the imf purchasing this week, upgrading for a class for growth for the uk economy, so good news for the prime minister, but they warned of things —— born—again things like further tax cuts, and one that who are next in downing street in parliament, they will face some interesting financial situations, not a lots of money. financial situations, not a lots of mone . ~ , financial situations, not a lots of mone. , .,, financial situations, not a lots of mone. ..,.,_ financial situations, not a lots of mone. ., financial situations, not a lots of mone. , ., . money. why the economy is a massive deal for everything _ money. why the economy is a massive deal for everything in _ money. why the economy is a massive deal for everything in this _ money. why the economy is a massive deal

it promises to be a matchup between sunak's tory party and the labor party led by keir starmer. let's go to chapman bell. do we know who's favored to win? >> reporter: good morning, frances. as you say, bringtish prime minister sunak calling that surprise election. after 14 years in power, his conservative party is polling 20 points behind the opposition labor party. and, as usual, the papers in the uk having a field day with it, one saying sunak bets the house. another saying drown and out. that referring to his speech in a rainy london yesterday, calling this election and alluding to his uphill battle he has, and in front of downing street, covered in rain, the prime minister had this to say. >> i'm guided by doing what is right for our country, not what is easy. i can't say the same thing for the labor party. because i don't know what they offer. and, in truth, i don't think you know either. and that's because they have no plan. >> reporter: now some analysts believe sunak's gamble was attempt to get a bounce off falling inflation levels and a better economic outlook. and whi

i started by asking him about suella braverman�*s comments urging the tory party to swing further to t it. i mean, i think there are two schools of thought in this in the conservative party. clearly, those on the right of the party look at the projections of the reform party and the number of votes that they won and think you should tack to the right. whereas andy street, who's more on the moderate wing of the conservative party, thinks that the party is best when it's moderate, inclusive and tolerant. and i actually think that if you look at where the conservatives perform best in the mayoral and local elections, it was where there was a strong brand, a strong independents, a strong sense of being moderate, inclusive and tolerant. so i would tend to side with where andy street was, given that he defied a national swing of almost 9% and was only 1500 votes off being re—elected in the west midlands. andy street did lose though, and you're talking about a strong brand. andy street, ben houchen, there was a move to distance themselves from rishi sunak, they didn't wear their brand affili

what i do know is we have been trying to push the tory party— is we have been trying to push the torymen _ promises. we have got the torsby women who have been mistreated by this government and there is so much to do _ this government and there is so much to do it _ this government and there is so much to do it is _ this government and there is so much to do. it is not going to be an easy 'ob to do. it is not going to be an easy job if_ to do. it is not going to be an easy job if labour— to do. it is not going to be an easy job if labour is lucky enough to get into government, but it is a job that— into government, but it is a job that we — into government, but it is a job that we are _ into government, but it is a job that we are ready and prepared to do. that we are ready and prepared to do you _ that we are ready and prepared to do. you know, businesses, people, they like— do. you know, businesses, people, they like rachel reeves, they liked what she _ they like rachel reeves, they liked what she has to say.— what she has to say. interestingly, the rachel reeves _ what she has to s

nobody in the tory party saw this coming. nobody in the labour party saw this coming. jump, you know, in a very reactive way after the local elections and thought, well, i can i can be more comfortable in the, the labour party than i ever could have been previously because it's obviously a broad church in the work. the party's done to reform itself. but at the same time i am not going to keep my seat in the tory party and i'm no longer comfortable, you know, with that, because she'll have been getting a lot of grief, no doubt, from constituents, family members , friends, all that kind members, friends, all that kind of stuff. and that pressure will be equal on all other tory mps as well. >> i wonder, james, if she's, taken the leap before she's pushed off the white cliffs of doven pushed off the white cliffs of dover. metaphorically. i was in dover. metaphorically. i was in dover at a live event, and when she came on the screen, she didn't attend the event in person . she was widely booed and person. she was widely booed and hissed by her constituents because it's okay

we'll do it there or tory party hq outside tory party hq. >> yeah, they could have done it inside.of places they could have done it, but they. it just smelt of rushing it. yeah. and this, this again you know , it feels as though you know, it feels as though this was a rushed decision. suddenly this is happening. it caught most of the mps off guard . some of them last night were talking about trying to stop the election, which is absolutely absurd. idea and of course hopeless. the other question i have is, which no one seems to have is, which no one seems to have mentioned, is we've been heanng have mentioned, is we've been hearing a lot of rumours about a lot of mps going to defect other than the poll man and that ghastly woman . yeah, to become ghastly woman. yeah, to become traitors, and there was someone saying there were as many as 26 about to cross the floor. did he call the election to stop them crossing the floor? >> quite likely. >> quite likely. >> that's a that is in the back of my mind. yeah. there may have been more defectors lining up and he couldn't have stood. >> tha

great days for the tory party. great days for the labour party.ern. and we won't know that till they're in power. there's no point. thumbsucking. i can read the daily telegraph four articles a day saying labour government will be a disaster. that's total drivel. a lot of civil servants, a lot of business, a lot of economic actors know that we need to repair, renew, reform britain the way we do it will be incredibly problematic. it won't be easy, but there'll be a lot of goodwill to begin with. but as always in politics, the politicians live or die by the results they produce. and tony blair was there in 1997. you i think you interviewed or somebody did camilla tominey about my book about that the diaries of that era, and we kept delivering results for the first few years. then we hit the buffers of iraq war and so on. and the tories were delivering results until they turned to bofis results until they turned to boris johnson and liz sunak. sorry, liz truss , and we've just sorry, liz truss, and we've just had the disastrous recent years . had the d

but given that the tory party had talked up their prospects here, one of those beacons has been turneda couple of council results here and there but there's not a lot to go on for them. contrast that with labour and you will not be surprised that keir starmer is wearing a broad smile and you will not be surprised either that he has been here in birmingham in the last hour. 50 that he has been here in birmingham in the last hour.— in the last hour. so the message from these _ in the last hour. so the message from these elections, _ in the last hour. so the message from these elections, the - in the last hour. so the message from these elections, the last i from these elections, the last elections _ from these elections, the last elections now, the last stop before we go _ elections now, the last stop before we go to— elections now, the last stop before we go to the general election is the couhtry_ we go to the general election is the country wants change. i hope the prime _ country wants change. i hope the prime minister is listening and gives— prime minister is listening and gives the

, all on the left of the tory party.s an outlier in that respect. but i guess you don't look a gift horse in the mouth and actually give her her due. it may be she's been on a journey because i completely disagreed with robert jenrick when he said why should join labour? they're in favour of open borders. no, we're not in favour of open borders. and when we were in government, net immigration was the third of what it is today. we didn't spout off about about it. we actually got the job done and that's what's been lacking. >> all right. go on. >> all right. go on. >> i mean look everybody's been speculating for the last week or two after dan poulter , the two after dan poulter, the little known dan poulter defected to labour, who was going to be next? oh, to have been a fly on the wall in the conservative whips office. i bet they've got a list of 1012 tory mps who are a bit wobbly. they've got a list of 1012 tory mps who are a bit wobbly . might mps who are a bit wobbly. might defect to labour. she would have been nowhere

it's about certain vie delivery of the tory party's, his plans against uncertainty of labour. but a lot of tory mps do not understand it. they listen again to that statement, saying the pm has spoken to the king already and they wonder why that's happened. because, of course, normally you go to the king and ask him to dissolve the parliament. you don't do it in the past, they tell me that there could be a challenge against him by the time before parliament is dissolved on july 30th, not prorogued as it will be later this week. i don't know if that will get to anything. there is a lot of concern, though, amongst tory mps faced with losing their livelihoods by a by a prime minister calling election six months before he has to when he's mild miles behind in the polls. that's the concern from the tory side , chris. >> i think one of the most extraordinary things about today was potentially the optics just how wet the prime minister became. the rain was torrential. why do you think he chose to do it on today of all days ? it on today of all days? >> i don't know, and they they won't

the tory party criticising him. the tory party is riven from top to bottom.bottom. the public recognises that and that's why . and it's part of the that's why. and it's part of the reason that we're going to get lauren. >> i'm going to ask you to sell the conservative party now, if you don't mind , to our to our to you don't mind, to our to our to our viewers, to our listeners, because , you know, it's looking because, you know, it's looking like a tricky job at the moment. >> i actually think that you're not entirely wrong. i think labour are going to come into power if they do come into power and revert to type and say that they're going to start taxing, that they're going to introduce a wealth tax, i think they're going to have enormous pressure on trying to change how taxation is, is weighted within the united kingdom between generations, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but i think that labour are going to , think that labour are going to, revert to what they always do, which is to end up with a higher tax burden. and the one we've got at the moment

bit happier, but also crucially, more and more tory mp have been standing down and i think the tory partyecome harder and harder and harder to govern. been saying for some time, "my working assumption is the general election will be in the second half of this year". the 4th ofjuly is just in the second half of this year, so he's consistent with what he said, just. he is, although i have to say, as i said at the weekend, there's going to be a lot about this in different parts of the country. it's the school holidays in then in scotland and in northern ireland as well. and i think if you're a scottish conservative, and i think if you're a scottish conservative, you'd be thinking, "thanks very much, boss", because i think that that is a factor, ight? what, ecause people might be away from home, so we'll have to make sure they've got a postal vote? yeah, yeah, yeah. i mean, the schools in scotland will be free to be polling stations though. yeah, but then people will have to be paid to go and open them up. oh, yeah. good point. faisal, can you can you interpret the economic numbers we got tod

>> not when the tory party.ow people would think that 20 points behind the polls, they should have an early election. i think he'll be a bit of mumbling and grumbling, but i don't see a challenge at this stage. >> okay, good to see you as always, james. thanks very much indeed. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> well, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, says it's win in blackpool's south by—election is the most important result today. chris webb took the seat taken previously by scott benton, who stood down following a lobbying scandal. >> so let's look at the results. and chris webb for the labour party, 10,825 votes, david jones for the conservatives, 3218 a heck of a gap there. but mark butcher for reform uk 3101. so there's only 117 votes in that. ben thomas of the green party, 368 and andrew cregan for the lib dems, 387. >> i declare that christopher paul webb is duly elected as the member of parliament for the blackpool south constituency . blackpool south constituency. >> well, we're joined now by our politi

but i think the public have stopped listening to the tory party.er however, i think that all is not totally lost . there is a record of 14 lost. there is a record of 14 years, and i do commend the paragraphs in william hague's article in the times this morning when he said, look, there are 4 million more people in work today than there were on the day that david cameron became prime minister, the education standards in this country are far better than 14 years ago. so there are 1 or 2 things if you string together the record that does that might at the margins hold several indeed dozens of conservative members of parliament seats. but if you're looking to rishi sunak to change his policies , i don't to change his policies, i don't think one of the really important points in hague's article was he said, you need to set out your long term view and this is part of the vision of the values that we need to show how. >> now. >> you need to do some things to show we're actually serious, but it's actually about the long term values that you're aligned with

but i think the public have stopped listening to the tory party.er however, i think that all is not totally lost . there is a record of 14 lost. there is a record of 14 years, and i do commend the paragraphs in william hague's article in the times this morning when he said, look, there are 4 million more people in work today than there were on the day that david cameron became prime minister, the education standards in this country are far better than 14 years ago. so there are 1 or 2 things if you string together the record that does that might at the margins hold several indeed dozens of conservative members of parliament seats. but if you're looking to rishi sunak to change his policies , i don't to change his policies, i don't think one of the really important points in hague's article was he said, you need to set out your long term view and this is part of the vision of the values that we need to show how. >> now. >> you need to do some things to show we're actually serious, but it's actually about the long term values that you're aligned with

it's virtually a spending commitment a day from the tory party at the moment.money is going to come from. and i think, you know, objective only if you look at the last 14 years, pensioners have been protected and whilst others, particularly the young, have been hammered and i don't think this is the right priority to move forward. >> oh, i can hear a few pensioners out there shouting tell me your thoughts and on to yours. well, i think it's absolutely ridiculous that you work to pay in, to be paid out when you retire. >> and now if you're taxed on it, to pay it back again, that to then be paid back in your own pension. this seems like a crazy zigzag of unnecessary bureaucracy . what the government bureaucracy. what the government should do is unfreeze income tax. that young or old, you should not be paying income tax on levels of this kind. it needs to be substantially raised. it's not going to be cheap, but it will help the economy by increasing growth and people being able to spend their money more freely rather than it disappearing to the tax man. but the le

party. has rayner just made starmer's life very difficult and no deal with the tories? doesn't own conservatism . but is he just conservatism. but is he just hurting his own chances of securing mps in the general election? >> and kensington palace confirms that the princess of wales will not take part in the colonel's review, as she's continuing her cancer recovery . continuing her cancer recovery. >> curious deputy leader of the labour party making things difficult for sir keir starmer. what is she playing at? well it's happened once before, of course, after the local election results in 2021, when the labour party, not only lost loads of seats, boris johnson surged ahead. >> there was the vaccine bounce. the hartlepool by—election was one. well, keir starmer went into panic mode as he sometimes does, tried to sack angela raynerin does, tried to sack angela rayner in a reshuffle and ended up having to give her 5 or 6 new jobs instead. so you do get this sort of, tension at the top of the labour party between keir starmer and angela rayner. she's a strong, powerful left

elphicke was happily ensconced in the tory party for all those years to . ose years to. >> yes, it is interesting. it sort of does feed a little bit into this narrative that we've been hearing time and time again from rishi sunak that labour has no plan. we're going to, i suppose, hear a lot more about that in the coming months and weeks. but chris, it's interesting seeing rishi sunak taking on a foreign policy speech. he's traditionally been a very domestic policy focused person. of course, his portfolios before becoming prime minister were all economics related, were all domestic . this related, were all domestic. this is almost new territory for him, but i suppose it's crucial in order to create that dividing line with keir starmer . line with keir starmer. >> yeah, he is that kind of individual who's globally facing. he's got a house in california. don't forget he's married to a wife who's part of a of a of a almost a first family in india. given the given that given their wealth , he is that given their wealth, he is globally facing, but he has spent th

the tory party itself. mps were not ready for this election. mps are falling away today.esigned today saying they're not going to carry on as being mps, including damian lang, the deputy speaker. they are not filled. i do know, by the way, that david frost, who has been a champion of the right sometime critic of parts , elements of critic of parts, elements of government policy under the tories, he is not yet been offered a safe seat. friends of his are wondering why. i understand that activists are trying to approach him directly to be their mp. there's lots of lots of drama behind the scenes as this campaign gets up and running and of course, different rules in a snap election. >> much more control from the centre about imposing candidates on local associations. christopher hope, thank you very much for joining christopher hope, thank you very much forjoining us live from much for joining us live from inverness. well, with me now is someone you might recognise who normally sits in this chair at this time . sirjacob rees—mogg this time. sirjacob rees—mogg is with me, as