General Election 2024 LIVE: Rishi Sunak rides campaign 'choppy waters' catching lobster in Devon
Rishi Sunak has joined a group of fishermen catching lobster during a campaign visit in North Devon - after Sir Keir Starmer was grilled on Labour’s tax plans in an LBC phone-in.
The Prime Minister met Torridge and Tavistock candidate Sir Geoffrey Cox on the beach in Clovelly, where they talked to local Conservative supporters.
He took a brief trip out on a fishing boat amid choppy waters to look at lobster pots before returning to shore.
Earlier, Sir Keir refused to directly rule out council tax increases under a Labour government.
The Labour leader said he has no plans to put more financial pressure on working people and vowed that income tax, national insurance and VAT would not rise if he becomes Prime Minister next month.
But pressed about a raid on council taxes, he declined to promise the same.
During an LBC phone-in he said: “We’ve been really clear we’re not going to be raising tax on working people...What I’m not going to do is sit here two weeks before the election and write the budgets for the next five years.
“What I can say is that none of our plans require a tax rise. And that is for a reason and the reason is our focus is on getting our economy going, on building, on growing, on raising living standards and creating wealth.”
Sir Keir did also not directly rule out changing council tax bands, which bases payments on what a house was worth more than 30 years ago.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is due to be campaigning in south-west England as his Environment Secretary accused Labour of treating farmers with "contempt".
The Tories have talked up their promises to rural communities, including increasing the farming budget to £1 billion and keeping inheritance tax relief for farmers.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has also stepped into the general election battle as the Tories continue to desperately try to stop voters deserting them for Nigel Farage’s Reform.
Follow the latest developments below...
Sunak denies he has given up winning the election
Tuesday 18 June 2024 17:54 , Tom Davidson
Sunak denied he had given up on winning the election as he continued the Conservative campaign in seats with large Tory majorities on Tuesday.
Asked during a visit to a farm in North Devon, where Selaine Saxby is defending a majority of almost 15,000, whether he had given up on victory, the Prime Minister said: “No. It’s because as I say whenever someone asks me a question like that I say the same thing which is I don’t take a single vote for granted and I’m going to be in every single part of our country talking to people about the choice at this election.
“Why have I been in the places I’ve been today in Devon?
“Well firstly, I was with fishing communities, because the choice is crystal clear at this election, the Labour Party did not mention the word fishing once in their manifesto, whereas we’ve made sure there’s an extra billion pounds of cash available for British fishing fleets… again, there’s only one party at this election that’s really on the side of British farmers… that’s what I’m doing in Devon today.”
Sunak quizzed over fleeing sheep
Tuesday 18 June 2024 17:44 , Tom Davidson
It was put to Rishi Sunak that sheep at a farm in North Devon had appeared to run away from him while he tried to feed them on a campaign visit in the South West.
“I think they thought we were their shearers,” the Prime Minister joked.
Rishi Sunak and David Cameron feed sheep in north Devon
Tuesday 18 June 2024 16:16 , Jacob Phillips
Rishi Sunak and Lord David Cameron have been having a lighthearted visit to north Devon.
First the Prime Minister went fishing for lobsters before joining the Foreign Secretary to try and feed sheep at a farm nearby.
"Come on," the Prime Minister said as the flock ran to the other side of the pen.
"They don't want to play ball," a farmer accompanying Mr Sunak said.
Badger culls 'have to be part of solution' to stop tuberculosis spreading in cattle, says Sunak
Tuesday 18 June 2024 16:01 , Jacob Phillips
Rishi Sunak has said badger culls "have to be part of the solution" for preventing the spread bovine tuberculosis to cattle.
Speaking in a Q&A with farmers during a campaign visit to north Devon, the Prime Minister said: "The success of the badger culls where we've done them have brought the incidence rates down by just over 50 per cent, so that shows that that plan is working.
"I believe in the science. And yes, of course a vaccine is good and we're investing in research and development but that is going to take some time. So culls have to be part of the solution.
"And particularly when it comes to badgers, when you look around the world, there's no country that I think I know of where they've eliminated TB in cattle without eliminating it in, whether it's possums or badgers or the equivalent wildlife, which is why I think culls are important."
Ed Davey tackles game of political Jenga
Tuesday 18 June 2024 15:38 , Jacob Phillips
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey gas continued his colourful campaign on Tuesday.
Sir Ed visited Fair Oak, Eastleigh in Hampshire, where he tackled a game of political Jenga, pulling blocks representing Winchester and Eastleigh from the blue wall.
Speaking at the event in Fair Oak, Sir Ed pledged to recruit 100 new water quality inspectors as part of a plan to clamp down on sewage-dumping water companies, "There's nowhere near enough sewage monitors, we're calling them sewage busters."
Prime Minister joins fishermen catching lobster
Tuesday 18 June 2024 14:47 , Jacob Phillips
Rishi Sunak joined a group of fishermen catching lobster during a campaign visit in North Devon.
The Prime Minister met Torridge and Tavistock candidate Sir Geoffrey Cox on the beach in Clovelly, where they talked to local Conservative supporters.
He took a brief trip out on a fishing boat amid choppy waters to look at lobster pots before returning to shore.
Farage demands to be in head-to-head BBC debate with Sunak and Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 14:15 , Jacob Phillips
Nigel Farage has said he is "pleased" the BBC "acknowledge" the rising support for Reform UK but reiterated his demand to be included in the broadcaster's June 26 head-to-head debate between Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.
It comes after the BBC announced an extra Question Time leaders' special featuring Reform UK and the Green Party.
The Reform UK leader tweeted: "I am pleased that the BBC acknowledge that support for Reform UK has been growing in this election.
"We must now be included in the head-to-head debate with Sunak and Starmer on June 26th."
Record number of London councillors standing for parliament
Tuesday 18 June 2024 13:37 , Jacob Phillips
A record number of almost 80 London councillors are standing for election to Parliament, raising concerns about a possible “brain drain” from the boroughs.
Those likely to be elected on July 4 include three Labour council leaders and a host of deputy leaders and cabinet members from the capital’s 33 local authorities.
But the “payback” could be a greater understanding within Parliament of the challenges facing London. Many are standing in the capital’s 75 parliamentary constituencies.
Read the full story here.
Children crossing the channel 'desperately sad' says Sunak
Tuesday 18 June 2024 13:25 , Jacob Phillips
The Prime Minister has said young children crossing the Channel is “desperately sad” and shows why his Rwanda policy needed to be implemented.
Rishi Sunak told broadcasters: "It's desperately sad to see young children being put in these very dangerous situations, making these crossings, which illustrates why we have to stop the boats, something I'm determined to do and have a clear plan to do so.
"If re-elected as Prime Minister, the flights will go to Rwanda, we will build that deterrent, removing the incentive for people to come here in the first place.
"That's the only way to solve this problem and in contrast Keir Starmer would release everyone that we have detained, illegal migrants would be on our streets, they wouldn't be on the planes, which would be cancelled. There would be no deterrent."
Boris support will make a difference, claims Sunak
Tuesday 18 June 2024 13:05 , Josh Salisbury
Rishi Sunak said Boris Johnson's support for the Conservatives "will make a difference" and his interventions had been "co-ordinated by the campaign".
The former Prime Minister has been writing letters and doing campaign videos for some candidates, including in the so-called “Red Wall”.
Mr Sunak told broadcasters: "It's great that Boris is supporting the Conservative Party, I very much welcome that.
"He is endorsing many candidates in videos and letters which have been co-ordinated by the campaign.
"I know that will make a difference and, of course, every week he is making the case in his column and making sure that everyone understands what the Labour government would do to this country and why it's important that everyone votes Conservative and I'm glad he's doing that."
Starmer: We will review voter ID rules
Tuesday 18 June 2024 13:01 , Josh Salisbury
A Labour government would "review" voter ID rules after the General Election, Keir Starmer has said, as he expressed concern about the effect of the policy.
The Labour leader was asked why his party has not pledged to scrap the laws requiring people to present ID to vote.
Speaking on a campaign visit to the South East, he told Sky News: "The first thing I'd say is, remember, every person who's watching this, you do need ID going into this election.
"Obviously there's been a review into the impact, and there will be a review into this General Election on the impact of ID. So we'll look at that in due course."
He continued: "I think we need to review and look at the ID rules. I am concerned about the impact. I won't shy away from that. But my message today is remember your ID when you go to vote this time around."
Nigel Farage to be interviewed in BBC special
Tuesday 18 June 2024 12:43 , Josh Salisbury
Reform leader Nigel Farage will be interviewed in a special edition of the BBC’s Panorama, the Corporation has confirmed.
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are among the party leaders who have already been grilled by the BBC’s Nick Robinson.
The veteran broadcaster tweeted: "Nigel-Farage has now agreed to be interviewed by me this Friday at 7pm on BBCPanorama on BBCOne."
The former Ukip leader had been due to take part in an interview set to have been broadcast on Tuesday night.
But it was pulled from the schedule and postponed.
Ed Davey plays frisbee on campaign trail in south west of England
Tuesday 18 June 2024 12:15 , Jacob Phillips
Liberal Democrat party Leader Sir Ed Davey has been playing frisbee during a visit to Crowd Hill Farm, in south west England.Sir Ed has claimed his party could unexpectedly win back a host of Conservative seats in its former heartlands, announcing a last-minute “Project A30” election offensive.Davey told the Financial Times seats that were “out of reach” were now in range amid Tories dropping in opinion polls.
'Labour government will raid from families' says Tory minister
Tuesday 18 June 2024 11:46 , Jacob Phillips
The Conservatives have claimed that Labour has confirmed tax rises following Sir Keir Starmer’s phone-in with LBC.
Laura Trott, the chief secretary to the Treasury, claimed: “After repeated questioning, Keir Starmer has confirmed higher council tax and other tax rises are on the cards for pensioners and families if Labour win.
“It’s worrying that Keir Starmer won’t come clean about how much money a Labour government will raid from families – especially as Labour will be unaccountable after it locks itself into government for a generation by rigging the system through bringing in votes at 16.”
During the phone-in Sir Keir did not rule out a council tax band revaluation when asked about tax rises outside Labour's manifesto plans.
But he added that none of Labour’s plans required tax rises beyond what was set out in the party’s manifesto.
'Liberal Democrats could be very important in next parliament' says Ed Davey
Tuesday 18 June 2024 11:33 , Jacob Phillips
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey encouraged voters to turn to his party, quipping that the Tories have failed in government and would fail in opposition.
He told reporters in Eastleigh: "My job is to make sure we beat as many Conservative MPs as possible and SNP MPs in Scotland.
"Liberal Democrats, I think, are getting our messages over in this campaign on health and care, on sewage we've just been talking about and on the economy and the more liberal Democrats MPs we have, the better.
"The truth is the Conservatives have failed in government. They would fail in opposition.
"There are a divided party and I think the Liberal Democrats could be very important for next parliament."
Labour launch manifesto in Scotland
Tuesday 18 June 2024 11:23 , Jacob Phillips
Scottish Labour has launched the party’s manifesto in Edinburgh, promising to “turn the page on the chaos of the past few years".
Addressing activists and journalists as he launched the party's manifesto in Edinburgh, the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "People are fed up with politicians who focus only on their own priorities and put their party before country.
"Our country is crying out for change.
"So we need to change our politics, and turn the page on the chaos of the past few years."
Starmer 'frustrated' by 45 second limit on TV debate
Tuesday 18 June 2024 10:32 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has reflected on the first two TV debates he has taken part in ahead of the General Election.
He told LBC: “After the first debate I was slightly frustrated because I didn’t think the 45 seconds to answer a question really worked for me.
“I know why the programme set it up in that way. I was pretty... frustrated.”
He added: “On the second one I thought it went a bit better so I was happy with that.”
'Vile gangs are making a fortune' from channel crossings, says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 10:29 , Jacob Phillips
Taking a question on a LBC call-in Sir Keir Starmer has recalled a visit to a camp in Calais.
Sir Keir said he went to a camp in Calais some years ago and was moved when he "saw two children about the same age as my children going into a tent".
He added that "nobody should be in that situation" but "we cannot allow people to cross by small boats over the channel".
He adds "vile gangs are making a fortune" and "we have to take those gangs down".
Sir Keir explains that Labour would set up a border security command to take down the gangs that “run this vile, exploitative trade”.
Labour will play roll in resolving Israel-Gaza conflict, says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 10:22 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has labelled the war in Gaza as an “intolerable, catastrophic humanitarian crisis” and said it is Labour’s duty to play its part in resolving the conflict.
He told LBC: “We need that to stop. We need the hostages to be brought out and we need that humanitarian aid to come in at speed and at volume because it’s such an awful situation.”
He continued: “If we are able to form a government it will be important to me and to a Labour government that we play our full part in resolving this for the long-term and that means a two state solution. It means a political process.”
When asked if he would stop British arms being sold to Israel immediately the Labour leader said licenses which allow weapons to be sold to Israel need to be reviewed.
During the LBC call-in, Sir Keir said: "So far as arms are concerned, there are a number of licences that allow arms to be sold to Israel, they need to be reviewed. The Government has in fact got legal advice on this in relation to what's being sold and what it's being used for."
He added: "It depends what is actually being exported. Let me give you an example, if something is being exported for purely defensive reasons, you've seen the Iran attack on Israel, that is materially different to something which is being used, let's say, in a Rafah offensive."
Starmer questioned by mother of student killed in Nottingham attack
Tuesday 18 June 2024 10:20 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has committed to a judge-led inquiry into the Nottingham attacks, after Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates were stabbed to death last year.
During an LBC call-in, the mother of Barnaby, Emma Webber said: "If you do get into Downing Street, what your thoughts are about following through with the call for a public inquiry or possibly a jury and judge-led inquest?
"And also your thoughts please on the urgent need to reform our homicide laws and also the victim support in this country? Which from bitter experience, I can confirm is woeful and very inadequate."
The Labour leader replied: "Just a horrific experience that she and all the family members and friends have been through, and she wants a judge-led inquiry and I said when I met her that I thought that was the right way forward, and we would do that.
"Because I was very concerned when I heard from her directly about the way the system had let her and the other family members down in relation to the charges that were brought, the communications with the family, and so many other aspects. It was a really difficult meeting, Nick, if I'm honest, just listening to what they had been through.
"And my resolve is to ensure that we have that inquiry and make sure that that doesn't happen to anyone else. I've had too many examples of victims and family members being let down. We have to improve here."
'Difficult decision' to not scrap two-child benefit limit, says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:57 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has also been quizzed on LBC about why he would not scrap the two-child benefit limit.
The Labour leader said it had been a “difficult decision” to not scrap the policy.
He explains: “We don’t have a magic wand. There isn’t money available, everything has to be fully costed and fully funded.
“We are not able to do that... Child poverty is a driving issue. I think there are things we can do straight away in relation to housing, in relation to bills, the cost of living crisis.”
Pushed further on what he would do to solve the country’s housing crisis, he added: “We need more housing. We can not go on like this. I have been an MP for nine years half my mail bag of people contacting my constituency are parents with two or three children in a one or two bedroom flat.
“That is intolerable it means there are huge health issues and growing up issues and it means inevitably, and I have seen this so many times, by the time they are in their early teens there will be a letter from the school saying ‘your child isn’t doing very well because you have not got anywhere for them to do their homework.’
Labour plan is 'growth, growth, growth'
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:44 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Labour is taking a different direction towards the economy at this general election.
He tells LBC: “Labour leaders in the past might have come on saying ‘tax, tax, tax’ we are not going to do that. We are going for ‘growth, growth, growth’.
“The missing ingredient here is our economy has been flatlining for 14 years and we need to turn that around and get the growth we need.”
He adds: “If we had grown the economy in the last 14 years at the same rate as in the last Labour government we would have tens of billions of pounds for our public services.”
'None of plans require a tax rise' says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:38 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out a council tax band revaluation when asked about tax rises outside Labour's manifesto plans.
On LBC's call-in, the Labour leader was asked by Sid in Lincolnshire if his party would look to change council tax bands or consider changing tax arrangements for private pensions, after it ruled out increasing VAT, income tax, or national insurance.
"None of our plans require tax rises over and above the ones we have set out," Sir Keir said.
Pressed on whether this would include a council tax band revaluation, he said: "What I am not going to do is sit here two-and-a-bit weeks before the election and write the budgets for the next five years.
"What I can say is that none of our plans require a tax rise, and that is for a reason, and the reason is our focus in getting our economy going, on building, on growing, on raising living standards, on creating wealth."
Asked what he meant when he said he would not raise taxes for "working people", Sir Keir said: "The person I have in my mind when I say working people is people who earn their living, rely on our services, and don't really have the ability to write a cheque when they get into trouble."
'Don't strike during election period' Starmer asks doctors
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:36 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir has now had a call-in about how he would solve the junior doctor dispute.
He said it was “shocking” that junior doctors strikes have dragged on for so long and that a deal has not been reached between the government and unions.
The Labour leader says his party would take a different approach.
He said: “We would say to doctors don’t strike during the election campaign because we are very close to the opportunity for a different approach with a Labour government if we get over the line.
“Don’t strike as that causes all sorts of issues for all sorts of patients. We are asking doctors to call that action off.”
He adds that Labour will get in the room and negotiate with doctors but it can not afford its demand of a 35 per cent pay rise.
He says he will clear the NHS waiting list in five years if Labour enter government.
We have a 'botch deal' with the EU says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:28 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has been asked what he thinks are the benefits of Brexit and the current deal with the EU.
He tells listeners: “As you probably know I voted Remain and campaigned for Remain but, as you know, we have left the EU and we are not rejoining.
“That means we are not going to rejoin the single market or custom’s union or reintroduce freedom of movement.
“I think the deal we have got is a botch deal, talk to any business, I was at Southampton Port yesterday, talk to anyone who works on the border and they will say they now have all sorts of checks and balances that aren’t necessary that they think can be improved.
“I’m in the business of making it easier for people. We would seek a better agreement.”
Sir Keir said he wants a better deal with the EU in areas such as trade, research and development, and security as well as help taking down “vile gangs” that are taking people across the channel in boats.
VAT on private school fees was 'a tough choice' says Starmer
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:20 , Jacob Phillips
One parent writes in to tell LBC that VAT on private school fees “feels like a super tax on me”. They ask the Labour leader “how come you know better than all these teachers?”
He responds: “I have got nothing against private schools and I understand that a lot of parents save hard and work hard to send their children to private schools because they have real aspiration for them.
“But I also understand that all parents have aspirations for their children, including parents who send their children to a state school.
“I want to make sure every single child, wherever they come from, whatever their background has the opportunity to get on in life and feel like success belongs to them.
“It is a tough choice there isn’t a lot of money but it is a choice we have made to make sure we have the money for teachers in our state secondary schools.”
Keir Starmer: 'we don't have a magic wand'
Tuesday 18 June 2024 09:11 , Jacob Phillips
Sir Keir Starmer has taken his first question from voters on LBC.
The Labour leader is asked about the true impact of plans to add VAT onto private school fees.
Sir Keir explains that the policy to recruit 6,500 teachers to state secondary schools is to prevent subjects like maths being taught by substitute teachers or PE teachers.
He adds that “money is tight, we don’t have a magic wand” and that Labour would get rid of the VAT break on private schools.
The Labour leader adds that there will be an exemption for “anyone with special educational needs who is on a plan that requires them to be in a different kind of school”.
Farage claims Reform was "stitched up" over candidate vetting
Tuesday 18 June 2024 08:47 , Jacob Phillips
Nigel Farage has claimed Reform UK has been "stitched up" by a firm it contracted to vet candidates.
The party has been hit by a series of revelations about the online activities of some of its would-be MPs, from links to a British fascist leader to suggestions the UK should have remained neutral in the fight against the Nazis and admiration of Hitler's "brilliant" ability to inspire action.
Mr Farage said Reform had paid a "large sum of money" to the vetting firm, which he did not name, but claimed the party has been let down.
He told LBC Radio: "Have we had trouble with one or two candidates? Yes, we have.
"We paid a large sum of money to a well-known vetting company, and they didn't do the work.
"We have been stitched up politically, and that's given us problems. And I accept that and I'm sorry for that."
He dismissed as "utter nonsense" questions about candidate Jack Aaron, who is standing against Defence Secretary Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield, over comments about Hitler's personality traits.
Mr Aaron said in a social media post in 2022 that Hitler "was basically incoherent in his writing and rationale" but was "brilliant" at using specific personality traits "to inspire people into action".
Asked about the suggestion that Mr Aaron thought Hitler was "brilliant", Mr Farage said: "This is utter nonsense. It's rather like... if you asked me, you know, was Hitler a good public speaker? And I say yes - suddenly I'm a supporter.
"This is nonsense."
Boris Johnson steps in to the election battle
Tuesday 18 June 2024 08:37 , Jacob Phillips
Boris Johnson has entered the general election battle as the Tories were desperately trying to stop voters deserting them for Nigel Farage’s Reform.
The former Prime Minister was writing letters and doing campaign videos for some candidates, including in the so-called “Red Wall”.
In one for Alice Hopkin, Tory candidate in Normanton & Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, he warns voters against giving Sir Keir Starmer a “super-majority”.
His intervention comes as polls pointed to voters deserting the Conservatives for Reform in significant numbers, which could cost Rishi Sunak’s party dozens of seats.
Read the full story here.
Huge thank you to @BorisJohnson for the endorsement.
Voters must decide if they want a Labour super majority or be represented by true Conservative MPs who will fight to end illegal migration, cut taxes and deliver the benefits of Brexit.
I am firmly committed to doing that. pic.twitter.com/cVVLGmwqJz— Alice Hopkin (@AliceMHopkin) June 17, 2024
Nigel Farage speaks about manifesto on LBC
Tuesday 18 June 2024 08:23 , Jacob Phillips
Ahead of Sir Keir Starmer taking questions from LBC listeners Nigel Farage has been speaking to host Nick Ferrari.
When quizzed about how his “contract” with voters does not appear to balance the books, Mr Farage responded: “Every single party manifesto from last week all the experts said they they had black holes.
“Funnily enough some of the experts are saying our black hole is smaller than the Labour party’s.”
He added that Reform have put forward some radical ideas to change the country when it launched its plan for the country on Monday.
Speaking about Reform’s plans the right wing stalwart blamed a “population explosion” for putting pressure on the NHS and dubbed net zero policies as “absolutely crackers”.
