What did Rishi Sunak do before he entered politics?

When Rishi Sunak moved into Number 10 two years ago, he was described as Britain's first hedge fund prime minister.

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Tory support has fallen most in areas where it was previously highest, poll suggests

Today's YouGov/MRP poll for Sky News confirms what we have been seeing in the polls for the last eighteen months, that the Conservative government is on course for a huge defeat - losing nearly two-thirds of its MPs.

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The 12 Tory 'big names' on course to lose their seats, major new poll finds

Twelve of the 26 members of the cabinet who are running for re-election are at risk of losing their seats, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by Sky News.

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Tories pledge to shake-up Equality Act to 'end confusion' over female-only spaces

The Conservatives have vowed to change the Equality Act to ensure "biological sex" is a protected characteristic.

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Starmer says national security 'comes first' as he makes pitch to Tory voters

Sir Keir Starmer will put defence and national security at the heart of Labour's election pitch to voters during a visit to the North West on Monday.

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What are Labour and Conservatives' immigration policies?

Immigration is one of the key battlegrounds of the 2024 general election for all the parties.

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Abbott confirms she will run as Labour candidate in general election

Diane Abbott has said she "intends to run and win" as Labour's candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington following speculation she may choose to stand down.

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How Sunak and Starmer will try to parachute in their candidates with many new faces on way

The last time there was a change in the main party of government an outgoing Labour minister famously left a note saying "I'm afraid there is no money". Never mind that, for the next five weeks until polls close at 10pm on 4 July the UK has no MPs.

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Tories could tumble like Gloucestershire's cheese chasers, but there is no mad enthusiasm for Labour

It's a mucky, hazardous, undignified race that is all about risk and survival.

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Starmer announces plans to lower legal migration

Labour has announced its plans to reduce net migration - with Sir Keir Starmer accusing the Conservatives of having "repeatedly broken their promises" to get the number down.

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Conservatives pledge £1bn to increase number of GP appointments - but will cut NHS management

The Conservative government has pledged £1bn a year in a bid to increase the number of GP appointments in the UK.

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Ivanka Trump posts message of support together with adorable throwback photo following guilty verdict in hush money trial

Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka has shared a heartfelt message on social media after her father was found guilty of falsifying 34 business records to cover up a hush-money payment.

Ivanka posted an old photograph of herself as a child with Trump on her Instagram story.

She captioned the sweet picture with "I love you dad."

Ivanka helped campaign for her father alongside her husband Jared Kushner in 2020.

However, she has since stepped back from politics and has not yet taken part in Trump's 2024 campaign.

Speculation over Ivanka's absence from court has been rife but many suggest it is because of her wish for a more private life.

Her latest post came in the wake of Trump's guilty verdict which could see him jailed for up to four years and face thousands of dollars in fines.

The 77-year-old - who refused to testify in his own defence - is the first criminally convicted US president.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Joe Biden warned of ‘real risk’ as Donald Trump mounts ‘effective appeal’ against guilty verdict
• Donald Trump's campaign donation page CRASHES following guilty verdict in hush money trial
• Trump's guilty verdict will 'help his chances massively' with election, claims GB News' Steven Edginton

The court heard from 22 witnesses over six weeks - including former adult film star Stormy Daniels who said Trump directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay her $130,000 days before the 2016 election for her silence on the alleged affair.

Speaking to members of the press following the verdict, the former president said: "This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial," and insisted that he was a "very innocent man".

He added: "I’m fighting for our country. I’m fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now."

Most of Trump’s family joined him at the courtroom to show their support.

Family members in attendance included his son Eric and his wife Lara, Donald Jr. and fourth child Tiffany - but not Trump's wife Melania.

In an interview with GB News’ Steve Edginton, US political commentator John Fund said Melania has been a “supportive spouse” over the course of the trial.

Edginton asked: “One of the aspects that has perhaps been forgotten throughout [the Trump trial] is Melania and how she has reacted to this whole ordeal. Is she offering him emotional support? Where does she stand in this whole area?”

Fund replied: “Well, Melania hates politics and I think after two campaigns, half of a third [campaign] and four years in the White House she's probably justified in not having a very favourable opinion of Washington DC and now, of course, the American judicial system.

“So she's a supportive spouse, but I think the last thing she wants is to stir up more media coverage by attending the trial or by engaging in some blatantly public show of support.”

Ivanka is Trump’s second child with his first wife, Ivana.

Trump's sentencing will take place on July, 11 at 10am local time (15.00 BST).

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Sunak says Abbott decision shows who's really in charge of Labour

Rishi Sunak has said the decision to let Diane Abbott stand for Labour at the general election shows it is Sir Keir Starmer's deputy Angela Rayner who is really "in charge" of the party.

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Nigel Farage hits back at Piers Morgan over claims he ‘bottled’ major election decision: ‘You’ve never stood!’

Reform UK's Honorary President Nigel Farage has hit back at Broadcaster Piers Morgan in a bitter on-air row after he was accused of "bottling" his decision to stand in the upcoming General Election.

Farage, who is supporting Reform's campaign trail ahead of the July ballot, defended his decision on BBC panel show Question Time after being grilled by an audience member over why he chose not to stand.

Also appearing on the panel, former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan heckled Farage and claimed he "bottled" his decision because he "lost" his last attempt at election success.

Infuriated by Morgan's remarks, Farage scolded the broadcaster and told him: "You've never stood in an election!"

Morgan hit back at Farage, claiming the Honorary President has "had all year" to prepare an election campaign.

In response, Farage told Morgan that "I have a nightly TV show - yours has been shut down, but mine is still going!"

Host Fiona Bruce then interjected and told the pair to stop squabbling.

Farage made his 37th appearance on Question Time this evening.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Fiona Bruce forced to interject in bitter 'TV rivalries' row between Nigel Farage and Piers Morgan: 'You were sacked!'
• Nigel Farage blasts 'old bore' Michael Heseltine after claiming Reform UK is 'racist'
• Nigel Farage rages at BBC form asking to disclose his 'sexuality' and 'ethnicity'

Speaking on the show, Farage said there needs to be a "bigger think" about how to fix the NHS.

He said: "It actually isn’t working anymore, we’ve increased what we’re spending on the NHS and we’re not getting the delivery.

"The French have a mutual system where those that can afford to pay effectively into an insurance scheme, those that can’t afford it are covered, and they are getting a much better return.

"We need to fundamentally rethink how we fund the NHS."

Farage was also quizzed on Brexit, he told the audience: "Why did people vote for Brexit, there were lots of reasons get control of our lives was the main one, of which borders were the most important part.

"Labour opened the door (to migration) in the most incredible way. Under the Conservatives that has just accelerated.

"The point about Brexit is it gives us total control about who can live in this country."

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Bounced or not over VAT, Labour needs consistency on tax policy

The statement announcing the change of Labour's tax policy arrived at some point after 9pm on Wednesday night - hardly ideal optics for a change mid-campaign of something so consequential.

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'The Tories CAN still win this election – and it won't be because we're seen as the least worst option,' writes Kevin Foster MP

For many the story of this election has already been written, a Labour win, and it’s all over bar the shouting, another 1997, but this time in 2024 with social media involved.

Or is it? It’s easy to look at the start of this campaign and think the prevailing narrative is the right one.

The state of the polls. The number of colleagues retiring. The ill-advised decision to visit the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, with all the images of a sinking ship, etc.

Yet on the doorstep, it feels very different to 1997 and the reasons are clear when you think about why.

Ask yourself, when did a friend or colleague last say to you that they thought Sir Keir Starmer would make a great PM? Or on what issue did someone tell you they find Starmer particularly inspiring? The answer is none.

Alongside this, those of us involved in Westcountry politics back in 1997 remember that political giant Paddy Ashdown was in our region at that time.

Ashdown was respected across the political spectrum and appeared a natural for a senior role in Government regardless of his party.

It’s a sign of how far his former party has fallen since, that Sir Ed Davey now must engage in childish publicity stunts to get attention, all the time trying to avoid talking about his role in the Horizon Post Office scandal.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• Keir Starmer celebrates again as ANOTHER Tory defects to Labour - 'We need new leadership'
• ‘I will NOT stand’: Lee Anderson warns Richard Tice against pact with Tories
• Labour claim that National Insurance cut is underfunded is a ‘myth’ says minister

Suggesting Ashdown should hold a Great Office of State produced votes, suggesting Davey hold one produces laughter.

Some will say, 'But surely Reform will take lots of votes and let Starmer in by default'. Perhaps.

Yet many thinking of voting for them dearly love our country, hence their frustration on issues such as small boats and ensuring Parliament, not foreign courts, decide our laws.

They don’t need me to tell them what voting Reform will produce for our nation now Nigel is not standing, while Labour talking about changing the rules on who can vote in future elections.

So, could the Blues still win it? Despite all the current polls. The answer is yes! Yet we will not win by simply being viewed as the least worst option by an electorate bored with Starmer and bemused by Davey.

Elections hang on three core factors:

1. Priorities – Are yours the same as the nation’s?

2. Policies - Do you have answers to the issues voters are prioritising?

3. Delivery - Credible plans to deliver your policies on voters’ priorities.

There is a real opportunity for the Prime Minister to set out policies which appeal, like triple lock plus and more apprenticeships, alongside clear answers on how we will deliver change on problems like NHS dentistry, housing and immigration.

Use the forthcoming TV debates to show the positive plan versus the non-existent alternative, then get the soapbox out and campaign hard.

No one votes purely based on the swing in their mosaic group, therefore every leaflet delivered, every phone call to an undecided voter, and every doorstep conversation will make a difference.

In Torbay, Conservatives believe you can win against the odds. We did so in last year’s council elections when it had been assumed we could not possibly get the votes needed for victory. A year later our national party can do the same.

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Corbyn claims one issue links candidates 'purged' by Labour - and that Starmer is 'intervening'

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "clearly intervening" in a "purge" of left-wing candidates from the party.

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Angela Rayner owes NO capital gains tax over sale of former council house, HMRC confirm

HM Revenue and Customs has confirmed that Angela Rayner owes no capital gains tax for the sale of her former council house, according to new documents.

The official paper states that no further action will be taken against the deputy Labour leader.

Rayner has denied any wrongdoing after she was formally investigated over the sale of her council house.

On Tuesday, Greater Manchester police said that Rayner had been cleared of claims that she wrongly declared her permanent address on the electoral register.

Officers added that no further action would be taken because matters involving personal tax or council tax do not fall under its jurisdiction.

However, it had shared information from its six-week investigation with HMRC and Stockport council.

A spokesperson for the council said it had "reviewed and responded to all correspondence" on the matter, and said: "We have also concluded that no further action will be taken on behalf of the council."

Rayner registered the former council house in Stockport as her main address on the electoral register, meaning she was not liable to pay capital gains tax on the £48,000 profit.

The police had initially said that the Labour MP would not face an investigation over claims she gave false information about her primary address on the electoral roll in a statement earlier this month.

The investigation was launched after she was reported to the police by Tory MP James Daly.

A spokesperson for Stockport Council said: "Stockport Council has reviewed and responded to all correspondence relating to this matter, including information received from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) who have concluded that no further police action will be taken.

"We have also concluded that no further action will be taken on behalf of the council."

The HMRC document seen by the Guardian found "no capital gains tax is due" on the sale of Rayner’s former home.

In a statement following Greater Manchester Police concluding its investigation, Rayner said: "I welcome the conclusion of the police investigation, and confirmation that no further action will be taken.

"We have seen the Conservative Party use this playbook before - reporting political opponents to the police during election campaigns to distract from their dire record.

"The public have had enough of these desperate tactics from a Tory Government with nothing else to say after 14 years of failure.

"I am grateful to all those who have stood by and supported me and my family.

"My focus now is squarely on securing the change Britain needs, with the election of a Labour Government."

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