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With only two weeks to go until the general election, Rishi Sunak was accused of “lying through his teeth” as he defended the Tories’ record on housing after 14 years on a brutal LBC phone-in this morning.
The prime minister faced fierce criticism from voters who dubbed him a “pound-shop Nigel Farage” over his record on LGBT rights.
They also slammed him for failing to improve living standards and being unable to relate to “struggling people” for being richer than the King.
A rare ray of hope for the Tories emerged today with the inflation rate dropping to 2 per cent in May, but the party faced a further blow as Mel Stride warned Labour could secure the “largest majority virtually in the history of this country” if the polls hold until July 4.
Jeremy Hunt also predicted that Labour could be in power for “a very long time” if Sir Keir Starmer wins by a landslide.
Meanwhile, SNP leader John Swinney is launching the party’s manifesto in Edinburgh where he will call for an “end to Westminster cuts” and a £10bn boost in NHS spending.
Key Points
- Labour on course for ‘largest majority virtually in the history of this country’
- Sunak accused of becoming ‘pound shop Nigel Farage’ and a ‘liar'
- Swinney accuses Tories of being ‘morally lost’ over two-child cap
- PM gets boost after inflation falls 2% returning to Bank of England target
- Home Office records 882 people crossed the English Channel
- Hunt: Labour could be in power for a ‘very long time’
SNP’s manifesto key pledges
While John Swinney unveils the party’s manifesto, the document has already been published on the SNP official website. Here are the key pledges:
- Deliver independence. The party says starting a new referendum process would “strengthen our economy, tackle the cost of living, and bring about a fairer country”.
- End 14 years of austerity by “reversing deep damaging cuts to public services that have put real pressure on the money available for the NHS and schools”. The SNP vows to stand against the Westminster consensus on cuts.
- Rejoin the EU. The party pledges to reverse Brexit and re-enter the single market to “restore free movement for EU citizens”.
- Provide urgent support for household finances and reduce the impact of rising interest rates and inflation.
- Protect the NHS from “the twin threats of Westminster privatisation and austerity”. The party urged the future UK Government to back the SNP Bill to keep the NHS in public hands and invest at least £16bn of funding each year, providing an extra £1.6bn to NHS Scotland.
- Reverse the £1.3bn Westminster cut to Scotland’s capital budget, “to enable us to invest in new hospitals, schools, rail and road infrastructure and help to achieve net zero”.
Swinney: People are ‘crying out for principled leaders’
People are “crying out for principled leadership”, SNP leader John Swinney has said.
Launching his party’s manifesto ahead of the July 4 General Election, the First Minister said: “We are living in a period of rapid change where new technology, the climate emergency and the implications of an ageing population will all have a profound impact on the way we live our lives in the future.
“Given this atmosphere of turmoil, more than ever I believe political leaders and political parties need a set of values as a foundation from which to respond to those challenges.
“I believe people are crying out for principled leadership which is prepared to argue for what it believes in.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 June 2024 11:45 1718793894SNP pledge to abolish the House of Lords
John Swinney has promised to “support the abolition of the undemocratic House of Lords” under a potential future Scottish governmnet.
The first minister of Scotland also vowed to scrap the Rwanda scheme and end the “demonisation of migrants”.
In a bid to stop “waistful spending” and investment, the party promised to scrap Trident and use the money to fund “conventional defence and public services”.
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 11:44 1718793623'A vote for SNP is a vote for Scotland’s values’
A vote for the SNP, First Minister John Swinney said, is a vote for “Scotland’s values”.
The party would fight against the two-child benefit cap, he said, as well as nuclear weapons and the push for the abolition of the House of Lords.
“Elected government, not ermine-clad cronies, lift the two-child cap, not the cap on bankers’ bonuses, bairns, not bombs, and investment, not cuts,” he said.
“I believe these choices represent the values most of us share.
“They are Scotland’s values - and a vote for the SNP - a vote for this manifesto - is a vote for those values.”
Swinney fails to rule out tax rises
Asked whether he will raise taxes, John Swinney says: “We’ve taken some hard decisions in the Scottish government - we’ve increased tax on higher earners so we could invest more in our public services.”
He then fails to confirm whether he would rise tax rises in a future SNP government.
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 11:38 1718793329Swinney: ‘No other way’ to independence than democracy
John Swinney has said there is “no other way” to Scottish independence than through democracy.
Speaking as he launched his party’s manifesto in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: “With independence, people in Scotland will always get the governments they vote for.
“That’s how democracy should work: engaging in respectful persuasion, taking account of everyone’s view, working together wherever possible in the national interest.
“And it is through the power of democracy that we will win our independence - there is no other way.
“We must never lose faith in the power of the democratic voice of the people of Scotland.”
Scots voted in a “clear majority” of independence-supporting MSPs in the 2021 Holyrood election, the First Minister said, a “democratic choice which must be respected”.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 June 2024 11:35 1718793259SNP accused of publishing ‘very slimline’ 32-page manifesto
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 11:34 1718793093Swinney: 'Voting Labour in Scotland will get you spending cuts’
The SNP leader has warned voters against backing Labour in Scotland as it could “cause more spending cuts”.
While facing questions from the press, John Swinney said the Labour party committed themselves to cut public spending in Scotland but it is now trying to reverse what they have caused.
“Voting Labour in Scotland will get you spending cuts,” he slammed.
Swinney: Scotland independence would be challenging
John Swinney has said there is no guarantee that an independent Scotland could be achieved.
Speaking in Edinburgh, the SNP leader said: “Of course, an independent Scotland like all countries would face challenges. Success would not be guaranteed.
“That would be determined by our own decisions as a country and the choices we make. But when we look at independent European countries similar to Scotland there are grounds for optimism and hope.”
Salma Ouaguira19 June 2024 11:28 1718792798Scottish independence is 'fundamental’
Scottish independence is “fundamental” to people’s daily concerns, the First Minister said.
“Never let anyone tell you that independence is separate from people’s daily lives and concerns,” John Swinney told activists and journalists.
“It is fundamental to those lives and concerns.”
He added: “It is about where decisions about Scotland are made, decisions over our economy, our health service, our living standards.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain19 June 2024 11:26 Newer1 / 5OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
