'We're worse off now - we'll remember that when we vote'

"We eat according to price rather than enjoyment," Sarah Bowmer tells me when we meet on the high street of her hometown of Bakewell, Derbyshire.  

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Secret 'bunker' and 17,000 interviews: The science and security of the exit poll

It is the first big moment of election night. The exit poll is the moment millions tune in for a first sniff of the eventual result of the general election. 

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How Reform fares on Thursday will also determine the Tories' fate

They came in their droves: thousands of Reform supporters poured into a vast hall in a Birmingham conference centre on Sunday to hear Nigel Farage.

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If Starmer wins the election, he will be unprepared - just like every other PM | Adam Boulton

Becoming prime minister is a shock. Not so much the moment of being elected - any sensible democratic politician knows that opinion polls can be wrong and gets ready for all eventualities.

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From painfully awkward to downright cringe - memorable moments from elections gone by

Since Rishi Sunak called the election, Sky News' Politics Hub has been looking back over memorable moments from campaigns gone by.

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The last weekend

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard with their guide to the election day ahead.

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'Why are they doing this?!' Journalist FUMES over students being BANNED from saying 'illegal immigrants'

Journalist Clare Muldoon has been left furious and claimed that students are "paying to be taught nonsense" after a London university encouraged staff to avoid saying "illegal immigrant."

It has been reported that London Metropolitan University has encouraged staff and students to say "undocumented" instead to avoid offence.

Speaking on GB News, Muldoon fumed: " You can't use the term elderly. You can't use the term OAP. You can't say youngsters.

"You can't greet students in the morning by saying, good morning, ladies and gentlemen. You can't say guys it's all very generic. It's all very fluffy and all very woolly, and it removes fact from descriptions."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

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Donald Trump facing ‘lowered expectations’ in leadership debate as he takes on Biden: ‘Doesn’t have to do much to win’

Donald Trump is facing "lowered expectations" in tonight's presidential debate , a political commentator has claimed.

Trump will be going head-to-head with US president Joe Biden in a live debate later tonight in the first of two televised debates.

Polls show an extremely tight race between the 81-year-old incumbent and the 78-year-old former US president.

The debate tonight could be a deciding factor for many Americans when they go to cast their vote.

It is not just the candidates that could be facing some criticism. On Monday, Trump's spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused the CNN debate's moderators Jake Tapper and Dana Bash of being biased during an interview with CNN's Kasie Hunt before the host abruptly ended the conversation.

Speaking to GBN America, political commentator Tim Young said: "Trump gets ganged up on during these debates, so at least this time it's out in the open.

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"I think that lowers expectations for Trump in this debate as well.

"He knows that he's up against America, he knows that he's up against three people, not just President Joe Biden, but the two moderators.

"Trump really doesn't have to do much to win here."

Trump, 78, who is running for the White House after being convicted in New York’s Stormy Daniels hush money case, continued to suggest Biden, 81, is not fit to serve as Commander-in-Chief due to his age.

Young said: "Everyone around the world knows that Joe Biden can't hang for an hour and a half.

"They're going to fact-check him, they're going to debate him and they're going to cover for Joe Biden. It is completely live so there's no way they can edit it or manipulate it in some way.

"Again you're dealing with a network that has been completely adverse to Trump the entire time he's been on.

"It's not just Tapper and the other moderators who have hated on Trump, who have attacked Trump and made up things about Trump."

A survey by JL Partners revealed that 49 per cent believe the 46th President will forget where he is on Thursday, with 40 per cent also fearing he will have problems standing up.

Biden appeared to make a blunder at the recent G7 summit in Italy, with the 81-year-old seemingly walking away from world leaders before being brought back by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The opening debate of the 2024 White House race will take place in the swing state of Georgia, with the pair going head-to-head in Atlanta.

Biden agreed to participate provided there was no live studio audience and that CNN hosts use microphones that automatically shut off when each candidate’s allotted time is complete.

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Sunak's most senior adviser interviewed by Gambling Commission in election bets probe

Rishi Sunak's most senior adviser in Downing Street has been interviewed in the investigation into bets by Conservatives on the date of the general election.

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WATCH: Rishi Sunak GRILLS Keir Starmer on pension tax - 'Maybe you can change policy here tonight!'

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has grilled Keir Starmer on pension tax in tonights BBC debate ahead of the general election next week.

In the debate Sunak said: "Every pensioner that is watching should realise that under a future Labour government, for the first time in our country's history, the state pension will be subject to a retirement tax under Labour. Can you confirm?"

He added: "Will the pension be subject to income tax under a future Labour government? The only way for it not is for you to match our triple lock plus. So maybe you can change policy here tonight."

Keir Starmer responded: "Our position on pensioners on tax or pensions is exactly the same. It is the position of the government at their last budget."

WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE

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WATCH: Ed Davey explains reasoning behind General Election campaign: 'People don't want politicians to take themselves too seriously'

Sir Ed Davey has been grilled for his "fun" general election campaign as was asked: "What do you think subpostmasters make of you clowning around?"

The Lib Dem leader has recently come under fire for failing to do more to help wrongly-convicted subpostmasters when he held the brief and for initially refusing to meet Alan Bates in 2010.

Speaking to GB News political editor Christopher Hope, he said: "Well, listen, my heart has gone out to subpostmasters about what's happened with the worst miscarriage of justice in British history over horizon.

"I've said sorry for the mistakes I made when I was a minister, when I didn't see Alan Bates straight away. And then when I did see him not seeing through the lies that they told to me.

"So I hope they understand that I'm campaigning now, both for constituents of mine who are subpostmasters who are involved in this and had a really, really tough time.

"I'm campaigning for compensation. Compensation for all subpostmasters affected. Far more generous, far more quickly. And I supported this inquiry, which is so important to get to the bottom of it. So I hope they've heard that."

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WATCH: Labour leader takes hit at Prime Minister for Partygate in Sunak vs Starmer debate - 'He broke the rules he brought in!'

The Labour leader Keir Starmer has slammed the Prime Minister for Partygate in the a debate on the BBC ahead of next weeks general election.

Speaking to the live audience Starmer said: "Last week in the Gambling Commission, we saw Partygate earlier in this parliament.

"The Prime Minister himself was convicted and fined for breaking the rules, which he brought in and imposed on everybody else.

"Of course, we've seen what happened with the Covid contracts and the huge amounts of money that were made. This takes leadership.

"What I did when one of my team was alleged to have been involved and investigated by the Gambling Commission was suspend them within minutes."

WATCH THE CLIP ABOVE FOR MORE

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LISTED: The Tory Cabinet Members set to lose their seats in the Election

New MRP polling has revealed the Conservative Party could see their worst election result since at least 1900.

The Conservative Party are only expected to win 60 seats in the upcoming general election placing them behind the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.

Pollsters Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now conducted a large-scale poll for GB News using MPR to predict the results of the upcoming election.

The pollsters predict a Labour landslide with a majority of 250 seats, while the Liberal Democrats will become the Official Opposition with 72 seats.

In the 2019 general election the Conservative Party won 365 seats and Labour won 203.

Twenty-two Conservative Cabinet Members are likely to lose their seats in the upcoming general election.

Members likely to lose their seats to Labour include Rishi Sunak, Oliver Dowden, Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, Kemi Badenoch, Claire Coutinho, Mel Stride, Richard Holden, Chris Heaton-Harris, David Davies, Victoria Prentis, Esther McVey, Andrew Mitchell.

Jeremy Hunt, Alex Chalk, Michelle Donelan, Gillian Keegan, and John Glen are all projected to lose their seat to the Lib Dems.

Alister Jack is expected to lose to the SNP, Simon Hart to Plaid Cymru and Johnny Mercer to Reform.

Conservative cabinet members who are likely to keep their seats and might contest the next Conservative leadership contest are James Cleverly, Steve Barclay, Mark Harper, Lucy Frazer, Laura Trott, Tom Tugendhat, Michael Tomlinson.

Rishi Sunak has served the Richmond constituency since 2015 and was re-elected as the MP for Richmond (Yorks) in 2017 and 2019.

Now, the current prime minister is battling head-to-head with Labour to hold onto his Richmond and Northallerton seat.

According to the poll, Labour is sitting with 35 per cent of the vote share while the Conservatives are only one percentage point behind at 34 per cent.

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The fieldwork for these results was conducted from June 14 to June 24, with a sample size of over 19,000 people.

The poll used MRP methodology to predict every seat and also prompted respondents with the official list of candidates and parties in their own seat, and asked them to indicate how they would vote at the general election.

Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, said: "The Conservatives are predicted to be in third place in terms of both votes and seats. That would be a disaster for them.

"Labour look set for a massive landslide, but with about one million fewer votes than Jeremy Corbyn got in 2017. More than one voter in every three is going to vote for a party other than Labour or the Tories, which shows many people want change but are not thrilled by Labour."

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Youth Demand protesters send repulsive message to Sunak after invading grounds of £2m mansion

A demonstrator targeted Rishi Sunak's home by defecating in his lake in North Yorkshire in protest against river pollution and arms sales to Israel.

Youth Demand broke into the grounds of the Prime Minister's £2million mansion earlier today.

Activist Oliver Clegg was captured wearing a shirt which read "eat s**t Rishi" before he entered the lake.

The 21-year-old also wore a pair of pants with a large hole in them and appeared to defecate in the water.

Police detained Clegg along with two others and a "press photographer" swiftly.

The group said the protest was a "thank you and parting gift to Rishi Sunak".

According to Youth Demand, the targeted attack was part of a campaign "calling for a two-way arms embargo on Israel and for the incoming UK Government to revoke all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021".

The "poo" released into the water was reportedly fake and made of silicone.

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Clegg said: "We have so much to thank the Tories for: from crumbling schools, s**t in the rivers and a collapsing NHS; to creating a nation with more food banks than McDonalds and 4.3 million UK children living in poverty."

"From allowing their mates to get filthy rich from selling weapons to battle-test on toddlers in Gaza, or by drilling for more oil as the world burns – it’s quite a legacy!

"Yet this shit-show is set to continue with yet another party led by a pathological liar who will be taking office next.

"Both Labour and the Tories are content to keep shitting on Gaza, and on every future generation, by continuing weapons trading with Israel and by not revoking all oil and gas licences granted since 2021."

It comes after Greenpeace activists climbed onto Sunak's roof last August.

The group lay black fabric across his home while he and his family were on holiday in California.

At the time a former deputy chief constable of North Yorkshire police claimed it was a "major breach of security" and demanded an "investigation into how this has been allowed to happen".

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How to watch the general election live on Sky News - on TV, streaming and online

The fastest results, the sharpest analysis and an award-winning line up - as the general election unfolds, Sky News will bring you the full story, first.

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Ben Habib erupts at Boris Johnson over 'repugnant' act

Reform UK Deputy Leader Ben Habib has taken aim at Boris Johnson’s “repugnant” decision making in the wake of Brexit.

It comes after the former Prime Minister took aim at the leader of Habib’s party, Nigel Farage.

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Psychic eagle who predicted England's Euro 2024 win picks General Election winner

A psychic eagle has predicted who will win the upcoming General Election and it might bring jitters to candidates across the country.

African tawny bird Honey, who correctly guessed England would defeat Serbia in the Three Lions' opening Euro 2024 clash, was given sight of both leaders before selecting the winner.

The 23-year-old, who resides at Dartford’s Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation in Kent, flew towards Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a boost to the Tory Party’s campaign.

Honey is seen as a psychic because she has never got a guess wrong and can even predict when it is about to rain.

Handler Ron Edwards told The Sun: “She’s a bit special, a bit different to the other birds.

“She knows what the weather’s gonna do. She can be cheeky with people who she knows don’t like birds, and she’ll fly a bit closer to them.

"Honey is very switched on. I’m pretty confident she’ll get this correct. All of her predictions turn out to be right.”

However, Honey’s prediction comes as the Tories continue to languish behind Labour in the opinion polls.

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A YouGov MRP poll found Labour is on course for a majority of 200, with Starmer returning 425 MPs to Westminster.

The landslide victory comes as the Conservative Party faces a worse result than in 1906, with just 108 MPs.

Reform UK could also make its first electoral breakthrough as the populist party looks poised to win a handful of Brexit-backing seats.

Despite Honey’s shock prediction, the Tory campaign appears to have flatlined since Sunak shocked Britain by calling a snap poll last month.

The Prime Minister was slammed for leaving D-Day commemorations early and the Conservative betting scandal continues to inflict damage on the party.

Nigel Farage also threatens to wreak havoc for Sunak, with the ex-Ukip leader being accused of risking a Labour super-majority by splitting the centre-right vote.

Honey is said to soar through the air at speeds of up to 80 miles an hour.

However, her home constituency of Dartford appears likely to fall to Labour for the first time since 2010.

Gareth Johnson returned to the House of Commons in 2019 with a majority of 19,160.

Despite his stonking victory in the Kent commuter town, Dartford is included in a number of seats highly at risk of a resurgent Labour Party under Starmer.

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Tories accused of 'playing fast and loose' with Good Friday Agreement

Northern Ireland's first and deputy first ministers have condemned the Conservative Party for the impact of Brexit on the region.

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Farage claims Trump 'learned a lot from me'

Nigel Farage has claimed former US president Donald Trump "learned a lot" from studying his speeches before he ran for office.

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Former Tory defence secretary joins minister's attack on Labour candidate's military service claims

Conservative former defence secretary Ben Wallace has joined veterans minister Johnny Mercer's attacks on his Labour electoral rival.

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First minister 'assured' publicly-funded stamps not used in campaign

Scotland's first minister says he has been "assured" by his staff there has been no use of publicly-funded stamps for the SNP's election campaign.

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'We need more support': Farming community's verdict on election manifestos

The Cheshire Show is a world away from Westminster - but amid the agriculture machinery displays, the pony club races and pens with the best of British livestock, we have smuggled our unwieldy parliamentary bench to an industry at the mercy of changing weather and politics.

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If the Tories win, the polling industry should be shut down for being useless | Adam Boulton

Have you ever taken part in an opinion poll? I was about to say that I haven't and then a dim memory surfaced from decades ago of a nice lady with a clipboard asking me questions in Pangbourne, Berkshire.

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Sunak claims Starmer could 'put Brexit in peril' – as Labour warn against election complacency

The Conservatives have claimed a Labour government could "put Brexit in peril" in statements and op-eds published on the eighth anniversary of the EU referendum.

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Union boss says Labour should 'give Britain a break' and borrow more to help 'hurting' workers

Union boss Sharon Graham has said she does not agree with Labour's fiscal rules and the party should borrow more to invest.

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WATCH: Sir Keir Starmer rejects Christopher Hope's bet of illegal migration: 'Not a good idea!'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has rejected GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope's bet on illegal migration, amid the Tory betting scandal over the General Election.

In an exclusive interview with GB News, Starmer said Christopher's bet of a "pint of beer" that in year one Labour would bring down the number of crossings was a "bad idea".

The Labour leader joked: "Chris, betting in politics at the moment is a very, very bad idea. I think Rishi Sunak's in all sorts of trouble with bets on his side."

When questioned on whether the Gambling Commission should ask the Prime Minister who was told about the July 4th election date, Starmer responded: "I think he should come clean and say who knew, he should take immediate action against those that are being investigated and suspend his candidate.

"If they were my candidate, I'd have had them out the door without their feet touching the ground. Show some leadership on this. I have to say there's a deeper point here, Chris, which is about where politics has gone under this Government.

"Because the first instinct of some of those Tories in relation to a General Election is not what's good for the country, but how quickly can I get to the bookies and make myself some money? I mean, it tells you everything that's wrong with 14 years of chaos and decline."

WATCH ABOVE.

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Tory donors go on strike... Perhaps Sunak should dip into his own pockets?

Follow the money, the saying goes. 

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Farage says West 'provoked' Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Nigel Farage has reiterated that he blames the West and NATO for the Russian invasion of Ukraine - as he confirmed that he previously said he "admired" Vladimir Putin as a statesman.

from Political News - International and UK Politics | Sky News https://ift.tt/2Co4MZR

Joe Biden blasted over ‘naked play for voters’ with latest border move: ‘Done absolutely nothing!’

Former United States Army officer Daniel Davis has slammed US President Joe Biden after announcing his latest border policy which will 'shield immigrants' married to American citizens from deportation.

The plan, dubbed a 'citizenship pathway', could affect upwards of 500,000 people and will allow certain spouses of US citizens who do not have legal status to apply for permanent residency and eventually, citizenship in the States.

The White House has said the move will "keep families together" and "promote family unity and strengthen our economy".

They added: "President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together, and that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country."

Reacting to the decision on GBN America, Davis fumed at Biden and said it is a "naked play for voters" despite the growing "border issue" affecting the United States.

Davis raged: "Quite frankly, the issue of the border has been smouldering for quite some time. It's been listed as the number one issue for voters across the country, across all demographics.

"Almost really since before Biden came into office. And he's done absolutely nothing about it. And the Congress has done nothing about it."

Davis highlighted that now the election is just months away Biden has "suddenly made this play" to appeal to more demographics of voters.

Davis told GBNA: "It's pretty naked play for some of the Hispanic vote in the American Southwest - in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, some of those areas down there."

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When asked by Mark how effective the policy will be, Davis claimed: "I don't think it's going to be very effective. It's not anything that's fixing a broken system. It's a temporary fix. It's an executive order, it's not a law.

"Which means that Biden, if he doesn't win this election, the next guy could come in and just sign it away. So it's nothing permanent, and it's kind of small.

"You just got to accept it for what it is, it's a political play heading into an election."

When asked by Mark if the November Presidential election will be on the majority an "immigration election", Davis stated that it is "the number one issue" amongst US voters.

Davis told GBNA: "It's certainly listed as the number one issue, not immigration per se much as the border because the majority of Americans want the border to be secured.

"Whatever the immigration policies are, they want the laws to be followed and the border to be secure. And of course, it's never very far from the economic issues, which are always on many voters' lists.

"So I'm not sure that I would say it's decisive, but it is in one of the top issues."

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Former Tory minister says he'll vote Labour in fresh blow to Sunak

A former Tory minister who quit in protest at the government's handling of the climate crisis has revealed he will vote Labour at the election.

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‘We must debate big-picture items that still dominate our lives,’ writes John Redwood

The last Parliament let us down badly. The Labour/Lib Dem/SNP opposition parties refused to oppose bad establishment mistakes over lockdown and economic policy, urging the Government to make things worse.

A terrifying conformity descended when we needed big debates. It was left to ad hoc groups of Conservative backbenchers to provide opposition where we had limited voice because the opposition parties would vote with the Government.

The mistakes began with the decision to lock down most people and close down large parts of the economy. Government gave too much power to official scientists. The opposition revelled in the extreme loss of liberty imposed on most of us and turned themselves into a thought police wanting to prevent criticism or alternative approaches.

A group of Conservative MPs loosely organised by Mark Harper questioned the data, the outcomes and the single approach. We proposed different ways of tackling the disease. We agreed with the others about the aim of defeating the virus. We pointed out that tackling air flows in busy buildings like hospitals, giving maximum protection to the vulnerable who were mainly the elderly and exploring a wider range of therapeutic responses should all be considered. We favoured keeping more hospitals Covid-free for other important work. The establishment bellowed back more lockdowns of more people for longer.

This led directly to the decision of the independent Bank of England to create or allow a big inflation.

I found myself alone in wanting to discuss the Bank’s likely mistakes when I first raised them with Ministers and later in Parliamentary debate. It always seemed likely to me that printing an extra £150billion to buy bonds at very high prices to drive interest rates to near zero as we started to recover from lockdown would be inflationary. I had supported the first £300billion as a necessary offset to extreme lockdown.

Parliament mouthed that the Bank was independent. It ignored the fact that money creation and bond buying needed the permission of Government and therefore Parliament under the rules of this policy which survived from the Labour Government that first tried it in response to the 2008 banking crash.

Once again the Opposition thought police worked with the official establishment to ensure no proper debate of this massive change to economic policy.

Parliament would spend hours debating a few billions of spending or tax and ignore £450billion of money creation and bond buying which were the key determinants of economic policy.

So in this election, we do need to debate the big-picture items that still dominate our lives.

We need a debate about the huge losses the Bank is making on bonds which stop us cutting taxes or spending more on public services.

We need a debate on how health policy came to so concentrate on Covid that many other conditions were put on waiting lists. Why was the private hospital capacity taxpayers paid for over Covidd not more and better used by the NHS? Why were the expensive Nightingale hospitals never used properly? All the parties in Parliament agreed these big decisions.

As an election drew near then the Opposition blamed the Government for the bad outcomes on inflation and health waiting lists, forgetting why they happened.

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Donald Trump issues scathing attack against Kamala Harris in slick new campaign ad

Donald Trump has released a new campaign advert mocking Kamala Harris’ public remarks.

The clip, with a duration of 82 seconds, features numerous quotes from the Vice President across the years, all in which she repeats the same phrases over and over again in a rambling manner.

The video, titled “Inspiring Thoughts from Kamala Harris”, begins with 59-year-old Harris the line “significance of the passage of time” four times in a short period.

“We're talking about the significance of the passage of time, right? The significance of the passage of time,” Harris said at an event in Louisiana in March 2022.

“So when you think about it, there is great significance in the passage of time in terms of what we need to do to lay these wires, what we need to do to create these jobs. And there is such great significance to the passage of time.”

The next section features Harris repeating the word “community” six times during a speech praising banks.

She said: “So the importance of community banks is they are, as they are called, they’re in the community, led by members of the community. People who understand the capacity of the community, the needs of the community, the culture of the community.”

In a similar manner, the video features a rambling of the Vice President where she repeats the word “time” in a January 2022 speech.

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“It is time for us to do what we have been doing, and that time is every day. Every day it is time for us to agree that there are things and tools that are available to us to slow this thing down,” Harris said whilst discussing the Biden administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ad ends with Harris - the first female and first black vice president in American history - saying: “I can imagine what can be and be unburdened by what has been.”

Republicans have mocked Harris for the phrase repeatedly after they noticed her using it frequently while speaking in public.

Doubts about Harris as second-in-command were raised today by a Washington Post columnist, who encouraged Biden to replace her with Hilary Clinton.

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Kathleen Parker argued that Harris lacks “competency” and Clinton would be a better alternative.

“If Biden needs to step down, even those who didn't vote for Clinton would have confidence in her ability to keep the country on track,” Parker wrote.

She said that Harris should instead be given the role of Attorney General in order to not alienate black voters.

from GB News https://ift.tt/iDLqjdu

Billionaire donor abandons Sunak as he announces switch to Labour - Tories in 'despair'

A former major Conservative donor has announced he will be voting Labour for the first time, describing Rishi Sunak as an "absolute dud."

Founder of Phones 4U John Caudwell said the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer "just really hits the spot with a lot of issues with me."

The 71-year-old, who donated £500k to the Conservatives ahead of the 2019 election, stopped short of saying he would donate money to Labour at this election.

Caudwell also ruled out backing Reform UK over its stance on climate change among other things.

Caudwell said: "The Labour Party in my estimation, as much as I disagree with some of the policies, are absolutely the very best for Britain going forward. What I see is a Labour Party committed to GDP growth and the environment.

"Without GDP growth you can’t look after your social services. And without focusing on the environment there won’t be a world to look after."

The Phones4U mogul said he had donated in 2019 "because I couldn’t possibly stand a Corbyn government."

He also praised Starmer's attempts to get rid of what he called "the loony Left" which he claimed had focused on "extreme socialist policies."

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Caudwell has been increasingly critical of the Rishi Sunak, both in his role as Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

He told the BBC: "Everything he did within COVID was wrong. He paid people for furlough which was all or nothing. He gave them too much in the wrong way.

"The criticisms that I made of Rishi during his chancellorship, I think were pretty much evidenced in the D Day situation...[it showed] a complete lack of judgement."

Giving his reaction, Sir Keir said: "I’m delighted that John, someone with such a successful track-record in business, has today thrown his support behind the changed Labour Party that I lead."

Caudwell added: "When Labour launched its manifesto last Thursday, I was delighted to see that accelerating economic growth was front and centre, and that projected growth is clearly tied into making Britain a clean energy superpower.

"So, I can declare publicly that I will vote for Labour, and I encourage everybody to do the same.

"We need a very strong Labour government that can take extremely bold decisions and you can rest assured that I will be doing my best to influence them wherever I can, in putting the great back in Britain."

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Billionaire donor endorses Labour for first time in 'despair' at Tories

A billionaire donor who backed Boris Johnson at the last election said he will be voting for Labour next month because the Tories' record has left him in "despair".

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'We need to have an adult conversation about migration'

More people in the UK think immigration has a negative impact on society than a positive one, according to a YouGov survey for Sky News.

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Nigel Farage wants to destroy the Conservatives - and his election ‘contract’ is the start – analysis by Christopher Hope

What's Nigel Farage up to? The Reform UK party leader launched his 'Contract with You' policy document in a deprived part of Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales today.

Farage himself said that it was aimed at disaffected Labour supporters - but its main target is surely disgruntled Conservative supporters.

Many of the policies are pure Conservative Viagra, a Tory manifesto on steroids. Take 30,000 more full-time members of the Armed Forces. Or frontloading benefit payments to let parents stay at home in the early years.

Or pulling out of the European Convention on Human Rights. Or taxing companies which rely on immigrant labour. Or rewriting -history lessons at school so children are taught about other countries' imperial and slave-trading past.

All of this would be paid for through £150billion worth of savings including the immigration tax (£4billion), benefits crackdown (£15billion), cut foreign aid (£6billion) and scrapping net zero targets (£30billion).

The Institute for Fiscal Studies was sniffy about whether these savings were realistic. While Cabinet Minister Michael Gove dismissed Farage as "not someone who can govern this country".

None of this bothered Farage though, in fact, he was probably expecting it. This was never meant to be a programme for government, but a cri de coeur aimed squarely at the Tory Right.

No wonder one headline on the Telegraph's website tonight said simply it was "the Conservative manifesto that never was".

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So what's next? Farage made clear his plan is to win a "beachhead" of seats in the House of Commons and build a mass movement over the next five years. And then what?

Farage refused to say he would not join the Tories (he told me it was "extremely unlikely"). But he didn't rule out trying to persuade any right-wing Conservatives who survive what the polls suggest would be a Tory Armageddon on July 4.

"I don't think the Conservative Party will reform itself," he told me. "There are people in there that are friends of mine, who I'm close to, I very much hope they come and join me….Suella and people like Jacob [Rees-Mogg], they're in the wrong party."

So there we have it. Farage and his chairman Richard Tice baited their hook. How many Conservatives will bite? And will it be enough to destroy the Tory party as we know it?

That, without question, is Farage's ultimate goal. His Contract published today is his first attempt at making it happen.

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Nigel Farage: Extremely unlikely that I will join the Conservatives

REFORM UK leader Nigel Farage has said it is “extremely unlikely” that he will join the Conservative Party.

Asked if his aim was to take over the party, he told GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope: “There isn’t a Tory Party.

“There isn’t one. Suella Braverman wants to marry me politically, and David Cameron says you shouldn’t go near me, and Michael Heseltine thinks I’m Oswald Mosley - what Tory Party? I think it’s extremely unlikely.

“My ambition is for this party to establish a beachhead right into Parliament and to use that to build a mass movement over the course of the next five years.

“I don't think the Conservative Party will reform itself. There are people in there that are friends of mine, who I'm close to, I very much hope they come and join me….Suella and people like Jacob [Rees-Mogg], they're in the wrong party.”

He was asked for his response to the Institute of Fiscal Studies’ reaction to Reform UK’s manifesto, which said its sums “do not add up”.

Farage said: “And they've said that about the Labour manifesto, as well as the Conservative manifesto.

“This will be very difficult, for any established or establishment group, this is going to be difficult and I’ll tell you why.

“This is radical…Liz Truss didn't propose spending cuts. Here, we’re proposing enormous spending cuts to fund what we believe is going to be a huge boost to the economy.

“And huge emphases in here, by the way, on things like small business - five and a half million men and women out there running their own businesses, they hate government because no one's on their side.

“I think the most radical thing in here, I think the most exciting thing in here, and you mark my words, this will be popular within two or three years with everybody, is we have to lift the threshold at which people start paying tax from £12,500 to £20,000.

“Why? Make work pay. Those people trapped on benefits can suddenly go to work and genuinely be better off...

“So, number one, you get people off benefits and going back to work. Number two, those on low incomes will actually be better off, genuinely better off, and number three, you reduce the need for masses of unskilled migration.”

On stopping small boats crossing the Channel, he said: “Leave the ECHR, establish a law that says that no one who comes by this route will ever be given refugee status, and then, if you have to, pick them up and take them back for their own safety.”

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Do the figures in Reform UK's 'manifesto' add up?

The Reform manifesto, or "contract" as they're calling it, is a strange document.

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POLL OF THE DAY: Are Reform UK the new opposition in Britain? - VOTE NOW

A recent poll put Reform above the Conservatives for the first time.

A YouGov survey saw Reform's increase by two points to 19 per cent. The Tories remained unchanged on 18 per cent.

The polling was conducted after the Conservative Party published its manifesto on Tuesday.

The Midlands and the North are the areas where Reform are striding ahead of the Tories.

In the Midlands it's 24 per cent compared to 19, while in the North it's 21 compared to 19.

As a result, Farage said in an ITV election event on Thursday evening: "Just before we came on air, we overtook the Conservatives in national opinion polls. We are now the opposition to Labour."

Despite these findings, the Reform leader hit out at the BBC for not including him in a leadership debate, which instead will feature the Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the SNP.

Addressing the snub at a press conference, Farage declared that Reform are the "opposition to Labour" and demanded that the BBC "put us in the debate".

Offering a direct challenge to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Farage added: "I would also very much like to do a debate head to head with Keir Starmer.

"And the reason is very simple. We think that this should be the immigration election."

With that in mind, are Reform UK the new opposition in Britain? Have your say.

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Two-child cap to hit extra 670,000 children in next five years, thinktank warns

An extra 250,000 children will be hit by the two-child benefit cap next year, rising to an extra half a million by 2029, a leading thinktank has warned.

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Reform candidate resigns over 'unacceptable historic social media comments'

The Reform Party has accepted the resignation of one of its election candidates after "unacceptable historic social media comments" came to light.

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Nigel Farage to launch 'contract with the people' in Wales following poll boosts

Nigel Farage will kick off Reform UK's policies in South Wales on Monday, where he is poised to put pressure on the Tories over immigration and tax.

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How much would a Labour government change football?

Politics can shape the future of football at the best of times, but after the past five years it's arguably as important as ever to gauge how Westminster will approach the national sport.

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Starmer may echo Blair by getting Labour across the finish line but a heavy burden awaits him there | Adam Boulton

There are still two and a half weeks to go.

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Tories heading for 'warfare', Farage predicts, as ex-Cabinet minister pleads with voters to 'unite the right'

Nigel Farage has predicted the Tories will soon descend into "warfare" as a former Conservative minister warned voters about a "Labour elective dictatorship" if they voted for Reform.

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Fresh poll predicts Tories will win just 72 seats in next parliament

Two polls published today spell bad news for Rishi Sunak, with one showing a drop of four points and the other that his party is on course to pick up just 72 seats.

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Tory donations top £570,000 in first week of election campaign - down from £5.7m in 2019

The Conservatives have raised just 10% of the donations they managed to collect in 2019 under Boris Johnson in the first week of the election campaign.

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Parliamentary watchdog 'satisfied' Douglas Ross didn't break expenses rules

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is "satisfied" Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has not broken expenses rules, a statement said on Friday.

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Majority of Sky News Voters Panel still undecided despite manifesto launches

Manifestos have failed to make up the minds of the majority of the Sky News YouGov Voters Panel.

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Joe Biden ‘spitting in the face of the black community’ with latest bizarre moment, says Brandon Tatum

Political Commentator Brandon Tatum has accused US President Joe Biden of "spitting in the face" of the American black community, following his most recent gaffe at The White House.

The 81-year-old Potus appeared to freeze at the annual Juneteenth concert event at his residency, where the large crowds were enjoying a live music set.

Biden was noticeably still during the event, but Vice President Kamala Harris was seen actively dancing next to him.

Brother of the late George Floyd, Philonise, offered the President a helping hand as he was seen wrapping an arm around him during the incident.

Reacting to Biden's behaviour at the event, Tatum scolded the US leader and claimed the President is "circling the drain" when it comes to his "mental health and physical ability".

Tatum told GBNA host Patrick Christys: "It's shameful, because what they're doing is they're pandering Joe Biden in front of the black community.

"He's at an event of gospel music, which black people celebrate to no end, and he's stiff as an ironing board."

Slamming the President apparent decline in his physical and mental health, Tatum added: "He's off beat, he's stiff, he's drinking some concoction that nobody knows what it is during the celebration.

"He's not clapping, he's not singing, he don't have an idea about any of the songs - they should not have him there."

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When asked by Patrick if Biden's actions at the event are being perceived as "offensive" to the black community in America, Tatum agreed, and lambasted the President's behaviour.

Tatum raged: "It's absolutely ridiculous, it's spitting in the face of the black community. Don't bring a man to a gospel music event when the man doesn't know the words. He can't even clap on beat. He looked like he's halfway asleep.

"Don't disrespect the gospel singer, the performer. Don't disrespect the culture in the tradition with a guy who don't know where he's at. If anything, he should have been sitting at home Skyping in or something and waving to the crowd and saying, hey, I wish I could be there, but I have no idea what's going on at this event and I just look like a clown."

Patrick shared his thoughts on Biden's latest mishap and argued that Biden being made to attend such events is "elder abuse" and there's "a duty of care for this man and that actually isn't being delivered".

Noting the upcoming leadership election in November between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, Tatum claimed that Trump is "winning the black vote" by "siphoning away a lot of the black vote from Joe Biden".

Tatum explained: "Biden has been a corrupt politician for 40 years. They get out every election season to say what they're going to do for America, but they've been in there forever and they've done nothing.

"And Joe Biden is ruining our country by with open borders - the economy is going to cr*p. He's half dead everywhere he's going.

"He's a terrible example of America. He shows up on D-Day and falls asleep. There's wars all around the world because America is lacking the visibility of strength and also the manifestation of strength."

from GB News https://ift.tt/xUtdMeT

'Suspicious package' found at Tory MP's office as bomb disposal units rush to scene

A bomb disposal unit has attended the office of Tory candidate Jeremy Quin in West Sussex after a "suspicious package" was found.

Pictures show emergency services surrounding the Horsham Conservative Association this afternoon.

A witness told GB News that two homes near the office have been evacuated.

Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and a bomb disposal unit have been spotted at the scene.

A police cordon has been erected outside of Quin's office at Gough House, Madeira Avenue.

A Horsham police spokesperson said: "We are currently at responding to a report of a suspicious package at a premises in Madeira Avenue, Horsham, received at about 2.40pm this afternoon.

"Police and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal team are currently at the scene.

"If anyone in the area has concerns, they can speak to an officer at the scene, or call 101.

"Further updates will be provided in due course."

One witness told GB News that a police officer refused to comment on the specifics of the incident.

The officer told the witness: "The big truck [bomb disposal unit vehicle] and the sign on it should be a subtle giveaway."

It comes just two days after Reform UK candidate, Nigel Farage was attacked with objects while on a campaign bus.

South Yorkshire Police have since arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences.

It’s not the first time this campaign Farage has been subject to objects being hurled at him.

A milkshake was pelted at him as he launched his election campaign in Clacton earlier this month.

A woman was later charged with assault.

from GB News https://ift.tt/vD5Xxcd

Sunak 'disappointed' after 'huge error of judgement' by aide who bet on election

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is "disappointed" after his aide Craig Williams bet on a July election.

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Donald Trump and Joe Biden have 'very troubled history' with healthcare policy, Cannon claims

Director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, Michael F. Cannon, has highlighted the "deeply problematic" approaches held by both Donald Trump and Joe Biden towards US healthcare ahead of the Presidential election.

Biden has affirmed to voters on the election campaign that "healthcare should be a basic right", and pledged to "keep health insurance premiums low" and commit to closing the Medicare insurance coverage gap.

FULL STORY HERE.

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Starmer reveals 'worry' for family if he enters No 10 as Sunak faces tough questions on 'broken promises'

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed the thing he fears the most about becoming prime minister is the impact it will have on his children.

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Police 'aware' as name of YouTuber to stand in 11 constituencies in election

Police have been "made aware of a potential electoral matter" after multiple general election candidates were registered under the name of a YouTube prankster.

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Donald Trump and Joe Biden ‘both deeply problematic’ on key issue

Director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, Michael F. Cannon, has highlighted the "deeply problematic" approaches held by both Donald Trump and Joe Biden towards US healthcare ahead of the Presidential election.

Biden has affirmed to voters on the election campaign that "healthcare should be a basic right", and pledged to "keep health insurance premiums low" and commit to closing the Medicare insurance coverage gap.

However, Donald Trump has previously campaigned to reform the current healthcare systems and repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Speaking to GBN America, Cannon claimed that both Biden and Trump's "deeply problematic" stances on the American health system reflects on their "very troubled histories" in managing the sector.

In conversation with host Bev Turner, Cannon explained: "President Biden and former President Trump are each very deeply problematic, their record on health policies is deeply problematic.

"Trump has said he doesn't want to reform the Medicare program, which is a big mistake, but he has done some small things that were very positive that worked with his administration to do."

Detailing Biden's plans for his possible next term in office, Cannon revealed the current Potus wants to "vastly increase government spending" on health care, which the Republicans are "fighting him" over.

Cannon told GBNA: "President Biden is doing some small things to try to reduce Medicare spending on prescription drugs, for example. And the pharmaceutical industry is fighting him, and a lot of Republicans are fighting him.

"President Biden also wants to vastly increase government spending on health care in the United States. So they each have very troubled histories when it when it comes to health care."

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Listening to Cannon's remarks, Bev joked that Biden and Trump should "listen to him" on his suggestions for how US healthcare should be run.

Offering his ideas for the future of US healthcare, Cannon highlighted that there are "opportunities for reform" that could "serve both the Democrats and Republicans".

Cannon expanded: "I think there are opportunities for bipartisan reform in the United States of specifically employer sponsored health insurance that would serve both Democratic and Republican goals.

"And it doesn't have to be some sort of flashpoint where only one member of one political party is going to line up for this."

Turning the discussion to the US voters, Cannon told Bev that the "real fight" in America to healthcare universal is "not between the Democrats and Republicans", but it is down to "the health care industry that is profiting off of government intervention".

Cannon said: "The real fight in the United States, and I think in most nations, over making health care more universal, is not between Republicans and Democrats or the right and the left.

"It's between consumers and their advocates versus the health care industry that is profiting off of government intervention in health care in every country."

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Nigel Farage can help 'inspire politicians' to speak out on 'troubling' attacks: 'He's set the tone!'

Nigel Farage could now be an "inspiration" to other politicians to "speak out" on violent attacks aimed at public figures, it has been claimed.

This comes as the Reform UK leader was targeted by a protester with suspected building rubble during his campaign trail in South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of public order offences following the incident.

Taking to social media, Farage hit out at the "violent youngsters" attempting to bring down his campaign.

He told supporters: "What we've now got is a mob that want to close down all debate. A mob that are prepared to use violence to achieve their goals and that for a democratic country is very, very worrying indeed.

"I'm used to it. I don't like it, of course not. This is stopping me doing what I want to do. It didn’t hit me this time, but you do wonder to what length these people will go."

Discussing the incident on GB News, Journalist Ella Whelan condemned the actions of "attention seeking morons" and Farage has "set the tone" in his reaction to this attack and the milkshake attack in Clacton.

In discussion with host Michelle Dewberry, Whelan explained: "What happened with Nigel Farage seems to be attention seeking morons, but there's actually a peaceful protest against him going on in the background.

"He says I'm used to it, it's absolutely fine, but I think actually Farage has set the tone for us not letting this turn into a moral panic."

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Whelan argued: "Whether you agree with him or not, politically, you really have to give it to him that he is committed to being a politician. He gets out there, isn't afraid. He doesn't let any of the attacks stop him."

When discussing what the possible solution to the growing attacks against politicians should be, Whelan suggested Farage could "inspire other politicians" to take a stand against politically motivated attacks.

Whelan told the panel: "I actually think Farage should inspire other politicians to be more brave about getting out there - let's not fear attacks."

Offering his view on the incident, Professor James Orr highlighted the "pattern" of targeted attacks on politicians and said the violent nature of them is "troubling".

Orr told the panel: "It's very troubling. Last week it was a milkshake, this week, a piece of rubble. What's it going to be next week?

"We had an MP murdered in cold blood in his constituency surgery, Sir David Amess. Mike Freer has now stepped down because of Islamists and and Islamo-leftists threatening to burn his constituency surgery down. It's a real pattern.

"And the response has never been adequate enough to send the kind of strong signal that would prevent these things from happening again, that would at least sort of deter people from acting like this."

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Can the Conservative Party manifesto revive Sunak's campaign?

Rishi Sunak has launched the Conservatives' election manifesto, promising to slash taxes in a bid to revive the party's floundering campaign.

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Manifesto checker: What are the Lib Dems' key pledges?

The Liberal Democrats have released their manifesto - the first party to do so during the 2024 general election campaign.

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Emmanuel Macron calls shock snap national election after being hit by disaster in European Parliament vote

Emmanuel Macron has called a snap national vote and dissolved parliament after his party was projected to lose heavily in the European elections.

The French President has said he is calling for new national elections following the performance of the hard-right National Rally in the European elections.

According to the first exit polls, Marine Le Pen's National Rally won around 32 per cent of the votes, a 10 point increase on the last EU election in 2019 and some 17 points ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's party.

Across Europe, some 272 million people are voting in the 27 EU member states in order to elect 720 representatives to the European Parliament.

In a surprise announcement on Sunday evening, the president admitted he could not ignore the results of the European vote.

In a high-risk political gamble, less than two months before Paris hosts the Olympics, he said lower house elections would be called for June 30, with a second-round vote on July 7.

"Having carried out the consultation provided for in Article 12 of our constitution, I have decided to give you back the choice of our parliamentary future by voting," he said in a televised address.

"I have heard your message, your concerns, and I will not leave them unanswered.

"I know I can count on you to vote massively on June 30 and July 7.

"France needs a clear majority in order to act with serenity and harmony".

Yesterday, the president had issued a warning to French voters that there would be severe consequences to backing National Rally.

“If France tomorrow sends a significant contingent of the far right and other big countries do the same, Europe could find itself at an impasse," he said.

The unexpected decision to call fresh national elections was welcomed by Le Pen, who has signalled this week's European vote as a landmark moment for France.

Reacting to Macron's decision to dissolve parliament, the 55-year-old told a rally of supporters: "This historic vote shows that when people vote, people win."

"We are ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections," she added.

"We are ready to exercise power, to end mass migration, to prioritise purchasing power, ready to make France live again."

France is not the only country to have seen a rise in support for parties on the Right during the European elections.

In Germany, The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) looks set for second place in EU, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats recording their worst ever result.

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Putin's next target REVEALED by ex-CIA chief - 'He wouldn't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine'

A former top US Army general has warned Vladimir Putin's threats to bring a new war to Europe must be taken seriously.

General David Petraeus said the Russian dictator "won't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine."

Petraeus, who served in the forces for four decades, said Ukraine's allies in the West must do more to help win the war against Putin.

He added that the Baltic states would be the Russian leader's next target.

He told The Sun: "The Ukraine war could expand in the region if Putin succeeds in Ukraine. He wouldn't be satisfied to stop with Ukraine. Moldova clearly would be next. After that it might be Lithuania or one of the other Baltic states.

"He's been very clear and I think it's also clear in hindsight that we should listen to this individual. He tells us what he believes."

US President Joe Biden said if Putin succeeds in his war with Ukraine, he would not stop there.

Speaking on a state visit to France, President Biden said: "It’s about much more than Ukraine. All of Europe will be threatened, but we’re not going to let that happen...the United States is standing strong with Ukraine. We’re standing with our allies. And we’re standing with France."

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Lithuania has been vocal about its support for Ukraine's right to strike targets inside Russia.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said: "The way to react to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, and also in our countries, is to support Ukraine, is to allow Ukraine to use the weapons that they already have, the way that they need use them.

"That is how you manage escalation... this is how you stop Russia."

Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics said: "If Russia feels it has won in Ukraine the temptation will be for it to continue... if it feels it was defeated, the desire will be for revenge."

Meanwhile, two civilians were killed in Ukrainian attacks on Russian-controlled areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, according to Moscow installed officials.

One man was killed and a woman wounded by artillery fire that hit the town of Nova Maiachka in the southern Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, its pro-Russian governor, wrote on Telegram.

Another man was killed in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine by an explosive dropped from a drone, according to Alexei Kulemzin, the city's Russian-installed mayor.

The claims could not be verified independently.

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